Eleventh Hour Herald - Bible Prophecy - Daniel Chapters Three, Four, Five

The Book of Daniel Chapter by Chapter
Chapters 3, 4 and 5

Daniel 3 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Image

Daniel 3 is the account of another great image. Although in Chapter 2: 46 Nebuchadnezzar had acknowledged that Daniel’s God was “a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets” his pride quickly restored his view of himself as the ruler of the world forever. To bring this about, he ordered a giant 90-foot-tall statue. This didn’t just have a gold head - it was completely of gold. When it had been erected on the Plain of Dura, every ruler within reach was ordered to come to its dedication, and to bow down and worship it when the music was played. Anyone who didn’t was to be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came as ordered, but they did not bow down. Amazingly, Nebuchadnezzar gave them a second chance, asking haughtily: “Who is that God that shall deliver thee out of my hands?” The three Hebrews made it plain that their decision was no preference - it was a conviction for which they were prepared to die rather than submit. They “said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” Daniel 3:16- 18. Whatever God willed, they were content to accept, knowing that their place in His kingdom was assured if they did not fail Him.

Ancient despots were not used to being disobeyed so the three were thrown into the furnace, bound hand and foot, and with all their clothing on - even their hats. Those who threw them in were killed by the heat. But then Nebuchadnezzar saw four men loose and walking unharmed in the midst of the fire, and he said “The form of the fourth is like the Son of God (v25.)” How did the king know that? It has been said that when the Son of God manifests himself to men, an unseen power speaks to the soul that this is God. And before His majesty, kings and nobles tremble, and acknowledge the superiority of the living God over every earthly power. That seems a very likely explanation because Nebuchadnezzar was moved to say “there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.”

So far the book of Daniel has focused on the trials and victories of ordinary individuals who have accepted God’s offer of salvation in Jesus and are walking in His light. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on the trials of two kings of Babylon, who are offered the choice of acknowledging the true God, and walking in His light, or choosing to depend on self and so walk in the darkness of this world. In chapter 4 one king finally chooses light; in chapter 5 the other chooses darkness.

Daniel 4 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

After his encounter with the Son of God in Chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar’s wish for his people was “Peace be multiplied unto you” (Daniel 4:1) and he related the signs and wonders God had done for him. (verses 2,3.)

But that attitude was to change, as shown in verses 10-18, which tell of another dream the king had. He related this to his wise men, but they could not interpret it. Then Daniel came in, and Nebuchadnezzar told him the dream, which was of a great tree which “reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.”(v11.) But a heavenly visitant gave orders for it to be cut down, leaving only the stump in the ground. The person the tree represented was to live with the beasts; and have his human heart changed into that of a beast “until seven times pass over him.” (v16.)

Even though the dream and its meaning filled Daniel with astonishment, he faithfully told the king what it meant. If Nebuchadnezzar did not lay his pride in the dust he would spend 7 years living in the dust as a beast of the earth “till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” (v 25b).

Babylon To avoid the judgment of God, Nebuchadnezzar was told to “break off thy sins by righteousness and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” (v27.)

Twelve months later the king showed he had not changed, saying:

“Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (v30.)

Immediately the judgment came and he lived as a beast for the next seven years (vv 31-33.) Happily, he then realised that God alone is in charge of our existence and that “his (God’s) dominion is an everlasting dominion... and that all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing….” (vv34, 35.)

The king’s reason returned, he was re-established in his kingdom, and the last verse expresses his change of heart: “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.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s long reign of over 40 years ended in 562BC and the Bible does not mention him again. There is every reason to believe that the last part of his life was spent in true service for God.

DANIEL 5 – The End of King Belshazzar; The Medes and Persians Capture Babylon

Even though the armies of the Medes and Persians had surrounded the city of Babylon, Belshazzar felt secure in that seemingly impregnable fortress. He little knew that the exact method by which it was to be captured had been told many years previously. Isaiah 45:1 and 2 prophesied: “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut….” The Medes and Persians diverted the river which flowed under Babylon, then marched up the river bed until they came to the massive two leaved gates set in the river bed. As foretold, these were not shut, and Babylon was easily captured.

That was something Belshazzar did not know and he “made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.” (5:1.)

He then showed his contempt for God by sacrilegious acts: “Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his (grand)father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein….and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” (verses 2-4.)

God’s answer came “in the same hour” when Belshazzar saw a man’s hand write on the palace wall. A thoroughly frightened king fulfilled another part of Isaiah’s prophesy which says: “I will loose the loins of kings…” (Isaiah 45:1.)

He could not read the writing; neither could any of his wise men. Belshazzar’s grandmother recalled how Daniel had interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, when all of his wise men could not do so, and she said: “now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” (v 12.)

Daniel was called in, and Belshazzar offered to clothe him in scarlet, put a chain of gold around his neck, and make him third ruler in the kingdom if he could read the writing and give the interpretation. (v16.) Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.” (v17.)

Daniel then recounted the story of how God had dealt with Belshazzar’s grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, and gave the explanation and the interpretation, of the writing on the wall: “And thou his (grand)son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified….”:

He then told Belshazzar what the writing said, and the interpretation:
The writing said, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” and Daniel then said:
“This is the interpretation of the thing:
“MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
“TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
“PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

The chapter ends with the words: “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom….”

The glory of Babylon was over, and Medo-Persia, the second of the four world empires shown to Daniel in chapter 2, took its place.

Next Chapter: Daniel 6

Top of Page

For information about Physical Health, Mental Health and Spiritual Health please visit our sister site at TotallyHealth.info.

This page has been visited times since February 2008