I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation… Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Dan 4:2,3,37).
Yes, Nebuchadnezzar did learn his lessons eventually, but he had to become as a beast of the earth first( see Daniel chapter 4). He needed to humble himself under the mighty hand of God, and all Christians are exhorted to do the same. Because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
The prophetic book of Daniel is one very powerful book in the Old Testament. It gives us so many revelations that relate to the present, and also to the near and distant future. Yet the "higher critics" refused to accept it as given by divine revelation. But Christ called him "Daniel the prophet:, and that should have settled the question.
What is remarkable is the steadfastness of Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-nego). In the face of certain death (from the human perspective). They remained steadfast in their faith and trust in “the God of Heaven”, and as a result the pre-incarnate “Son of God” appeared in that fiery furnace, and kept the three young men totally unharmed, and an angel of the Lord shut the lions’ mouths so that they could not touch Daniel.
Even before these incidents (which are all historically true) God’s hand was always over those four young men (all of whom were of a high rank in Judah). They refused to eat the king’s food, and thrived on pulses (vegetables, herbs, or lentils), and God blessed them for it. As a result they received great wisdom, shrewdness and knowledge. On the other hand, proud and unbelieving king Nebuchadnezzar had to learn some hard lessons before he finally recognized and worshipped the one true God.
At the same time, Nebuchadnezzar received dreams which have great prophetic significance. They all include that eternal Kingdom of God under Christ, and how the Antichrist will blaspheme God and be eventually destroyed.
When Nebuchadnezzar dreamt of the image with a head of gold, he also saw a stone in that dream which was remarkable. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:34,35) This was nothing less than the eternal Kingdom of God on earth.
While Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, Daniel had visions. In his first vision this is what he saw: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened…I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Dan 7:9,10,13,14).
So there was a correspondence between Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and Daniel’s visions. And they all culminated in the eternal Kingdom of God on earth, under Christ.
After that Daniel saw the Antichrist in another vision, and was told that this Man of Sin (given various names and titles in the book of Daniel) would be utterly destroyed: And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Dan 8:25) However, Daniel’s visions troubled him, and made him sick.
But then he saw that eventually Christ would thoroughly cleanse this earth from sin and evil, and establish everlasting peace and righteousness: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Dan 9:24). But long before that “Messiah” (Christ) would be crucified (v 26) -- "cut off but not for Himself".
Daniel’s visions were not meant to be understood until the end of the age, and the revelations in the New Testament: And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Dan 12:13)
Thus Christ speaks of the Abomination of Desolation “spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (Mt 24:15). And Paul and John elaborate on Daniel’s prophecy regarding the Antichrist, and also the ultimate victory of Christ. So the book of Revelation brings all these prophecies together, and shows us that ultimately God will establish "a New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness".
Yes, Nebuchadnezzar did learn his lessons eventually, but he had to become as a beast of the earth first( see Daniel chapter 4). He needed to humble himself under the mighty hand of God, and all Christians are exhorted to do the same. Because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
The prophetic book of Daniel is one very powerful book in the Old Testament. It gives us so many revelations that relate to the present, and also to the near and distant future. Yet the "higher critics" refused to accept it as given by divine revelation. But Christ called him "Daniel the prophet:, and that should have settled the question.
What is remarkable is the steadfastness of Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-nego). In the face of certain death (from the human perspective). They remained steadfast in their faith and trust in “the God of Heaven”, and as a result the pre-incarnate “Son of God” appeared in that fiery furnace, and kept the three young men totally unharmed, and an angel of the Lord shut the lions’ mouths so that they could not touch Daniel.
Even before these incidents (which are all historically true) God’s hand was always over those four young men (all of whom were of a high rank in Judah). They refused to eat the king’s food, and thrived on pulses (vegetables, herbs, or lentils), and God blessed them for it. As a result they received great wisdom, shrewdness and knowledge. On the other hand, proud and unbelieving king Nebuchadnezzar had to learn some hard lessons before he finally recognized and worshipped the one true God.
At the same time, Nebuchadnezzar received dreams which have great prophetic significance. They all include that eternal Kingdom of God under Christ, and how the Antichrist will blaspheme God and be eventually destroyed.
When Nebuchadnezzar dreamt of the image with a head of gold, he also saw a stone in that dream which was remarkable. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:34,35) This was nothing less than the eternal Kingdom of God on earth.
While Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, Daniel had visions. In his first vision this is what he saw: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened…I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Dan 7:9,10,13,14).
So there was a correspondence between Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and Daniel’s visions. And they all culminated in the eternal Kingdom of God on earth, under Christ.
After that Daniel saw the Antichrist in another vision, and was told that this Man of Sin (given various names and titles in the book of Daniel) would be utterly destroyed: And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Dan 8:25) However, Daniel’s visions troubled him, and made him sick.
But then he saw that eventually Christ would thoroughly cleanse this earth from sin and evil, and establish everlasting peace and righteousness: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Dan 9:24). But long before that “Messiah” (Christ) would be crucified (v 26) -- "cut off but not for Himself".
Daniel’s visions were not meant to be understood until the end of the age, and the revelations in the New Testament: And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Dan 12:13)
Thus Christ speaks of the Abomination of Desolation “spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (Mt 24:15). And Paul and John elaborate on Daniel’s prophecy regarding the Antichrist, and also the ultimate victory of Christ. So the book of Revelation brings all these prophecies together, and shows us that ultimately God will establish "a New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness".