WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.419 Welcome to The Deep Dive. Today, we're embarking 00:00:02.419 --> 00:00:05.480 on really a fascinating journey into one of the 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:08.400 most compelling, maybe enigmatic, ancient texts 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.679 out there, the book of Daniel. That's right. 00:00:10.859 --> 00:00:13.220 You've provided us with excerpts from this really 00:00:13.220 --> 00:00:16.019 powerful source. And our mission, well, it's 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:18.260 to unpack its rich narratives, its prophetic 00:00:18.260 --> 00:00:21.440 visions, and pull out those key insights, those 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.179 surprising facts that really help you get properly 00:00:24.179 --> 00:00:28.469 informed. It's a text that... It masterfully 00:00:28.469 --> 00:00:31.250 weaves together, you know individual perseverance 00:00:31.250 --> 00:00:34.729 really dramatic historical events and some complex 00:00:34.729 --> 00:00:37.770 symbolic prophecies Yeah, we'll explore how one 00:00:37.770 --> 00:00:40.530 remarkable individual navigated just immense 00:00:40.530 --> 00:00:43.770 political pressure and how his wisdom well It 00:00:43.770 --> 00:00:46.130 fundamentally shaped the fate of empires all 00:00:46.130 --> 00:00:48.409 while drawing out, you know, what's the lasting 00:00:48.409 --> 00:00:50.619 relevance for you? Okay, let's dive right in. 00:00:50.700 --> 00:00:51.939 We'll start at the very beginning of our source 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:53.679 material, kind of setting the scene and into 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:57.119 Babylon. So our source is open with King Nebuchadnezzar 00:00:57.119 --> 00:00:59.460 of Babylon laying siege to Jerusalem. This is 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:01.719 during the reign of King Jehoiakim. And we learned 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:05.040 that Jehoiakim himself and valuable vessels from 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:07.280 the temple were taken back to Babylon. And what's 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.599 truly striking here isn't just the conquest itself, 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:13.219 though that's significant, but the meticulous 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:15.739 instructions King Nebuchadnezzar gave to Ashkenaz, 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:18.420 his master of eunuchs. They weren't just grabbing 00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:21.159 any captives, you see. The king specifically 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:24.000 sought out very particular young men from Israel. 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:27.079 Like a specific type. Exactly. The text describes 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:29.920 them as those in whom was no blemish, but well 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:33.000 -favored and skillful in all wisdom and cunning 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.939 in knowledge. You know, basically the best and 00:01:35.939 --> 00:01:38.280 brightest. Physically perfect, smart, capable. 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:40.879 Precisely. Yeah. People who could be trained 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:43.939 in the learning in the tongue of the Chaldeans 00:01:43.939 --> 00:01:46.560 for three years, he wanted them integrated into 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.269 his court. And among these, these carefully selected 00:01:49.269 --> 00:01:53.790 youths were Daniel, Hanemiah, Michelle, and Azariah. 00:01:54.549 --> 00:01:56.569 Now, here's where, you know, an early test of 00:01:56.569 --> 00:01:58.769 conviction comes up. The king appointed them 00:01:58.769 --> 00:02:01.310 a daily provision of his own meat and wine, royal 00:02:01.310 --> 00:02:04.390 fare. Yeah, good stuff. But Daniel, as our source 00:02:04.390 --> 00:02:06.890 says, he purposed in his heart that he would 00:02:06.890 --> 00:02:10.009 not defile himself. And this immediately presented 00:02:10.009 --> 00:02:12.129 a, well, a significant challenge for Daniel. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:15.520 How do you uphold your deeply held convictions 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:18.879 without putting the guy in charge of you, the 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:21.879 eunuch, his life in jeopardy? Tricky situation. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:26.000 Very. His solution was remarkably wise, sort 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:29.060 of strategic. He requested a 10 day trial. He 00:02:29.060 --> 00:02:31.900 proposed, let them give us pulse to eat and water 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:35.180 to drink. Pulse, so like vegetables, legumes. 00:02:35.419 --> 00:02:37.620 Exactly, a simple vegetarian diet basically. 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:40.330 And the outcome? After those 10 days, well, the 00:02:40.330 --> 00:02:43.389 source reveals a frankly unexpected result. Completely 00:02:43.389 --> 00:02:45.750 unexpected. Their countenances appeared fair 00:02:45.750 --> 00:02:48.129 and fatter in flesh than all the children which 00:02:48.129 --> 00:02:50.270 did eat the portion of the king's meat. They 00:02:50.270 --> 00:02:52.330 looked better. Yeah, healthier, more robust. 00:02:53.009 --> 00:02:55.189 Which, you know, led Melzar, the attendant, to 00:02:55.189 --> 00:02:57.439 just keep giving them the simple diet. It worked. 00:02:57.699 --> 00:02:59.900 But it wasn't just physical, was it? No, not 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:02.199 at all. And this is crucial. Beyond the physical, 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:04.580 the text highlights that God granted these four 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:06.979 young men knowledge and skill in all learning 00:03:06.979 --> 00:03:09.580 and wisdom. And specifically, Daniel received 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:13.599 a unique understanding in all visions and dreams. 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:17.080 This divine enablement, it isn't just a footnote. 00:03:17.419 --> 00:03:20.520 It's critical. It subtly suggests Daniel's commitment 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.500 wasn't just about rule following. Ah, it's deeper. 00:03:23.870 --> 00:03:26.810 It seems to be a pathway to a deeper, divinely 00:03:26.810 --> 00:03:29.550 given wisdom that actually made them intellectually 00:03:29.550 --> 00:03:32.229 superior. And that's a pattern we'll see again 00:03:32.229 --> 00:03:34.189 and again in this book. So by the end of their 00:03:34.189 --> 00:03:35.810 three years of training, when they finally stood 00:03:35.810 --> 00:03:38.250 before Nebuchadnezzar, they were found and get 00:03:38.250 --> 00:03:41.310 this. Ten times better than all the magicians 00:03:41.310 --> 00:03:43.930 and astrologers that were in all his realm. Ten 00:03:43.930 --> 00:03:46.569 times in matters of wisdom and understanding. 00:03:46.810 --> 00:03:48.870 That's incredible. And Daniel's influence, the 00:03:48.870 --> 00:03:51.650 source notes, it extended a long time even onto 00:03:51.650 --> 00:03:54.050 the frontier of King Cyrus. Quite a career. A 00:03:54.050 --> 00:03:56.599 very long and influential one, yeah. So Building 00:03:56.599 --> 00:03:59.060 on Daniel's, you know, newfound prominence, we 00:03:59.060 --> 00:04:00.979 hit another big challenge for the Babylonian 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:04.099 court. King Nebuchadnezzar's spirit is deeply 00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:06.379 troubled by a dream. Yeah, so troubled he can't 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:08.759 sleep. Right. So he summons all his wise men, 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:12.340 magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans. 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:16.220 Who are like a specific class of learned astrologers 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:19.879 and diviners in Babylon. The experts go to guys 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:23.120 and he demands not only the interpretation of 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.259 the dream But he wants them to tell him what 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:27.899 the dream itself was because he'd forgotten it 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:30.720 It had gone from him as the text says which is 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:33.540 I mean that's an impossible demand surely absolutely 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:36.500 impossible for any human and the Chalbians themselves 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:39.040 rightly pointed this out They basically said 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:42.439 look there is not a man upon the earth that can 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:46.040 show the king's matter Except the gods but the 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:49.360 king wasn't having it No, not at all. He accused 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.040 them of stalling, trying to buy time. And he 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:54.120 threatened them with, well, severe penalties. 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:56.759 We're talking dismemberment. Their homes reduced 00:04:56.759 --> 00:05:00.579 to rubble. A dung hill. Ouch. But if they succeeded. 00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:04.000 Ah, then gifts and rewards in great honor. High 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:06.800 stakes. So in his fury, the king commanded the 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:09.600 destruction of all the wise men of Babylon. A 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.800 sweeping decree. Which of course included Daniel 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:13.639 and his companions. They were lumped in with 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:15.459 the rest. So now it's a life or death crisis 00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:18.139 for them too. How does Daniel handle this? Well, 00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:20.860 he approaches Ariach, the captain of the king's 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:25.279 guard, with remarkable counsel and wisdom. Calmly. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:29.800 He doesn't panic. Doesn't seem to. He calmly 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:32.759 asks why the decree is so hasty, you know, by 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:36.240 the rush. And then, with incredible poise, he 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.620 requests time from the king. He says, give me 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:40.660 time and I'll show the interpretation. Gutsy 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:44.319 move. Very. And he gets the time. He does. Upon 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.889 receiving that crucial time. Daniel goes straight 00:05:46.889 --> 00:05:49.730 home, tells his friends, Hananiah, Michelle, 00:05:50.149 --> 00:05:52.269 and Azariah. The same guys from the diet test. 00:05:52.389 --> 00:05:54.870 The very same. And they collectively pray. They 00:05:54.870 --> 00:05:57.189 appeal to God for mercy for help with this secret. 00:05:57.449 --> 00:05:59.889 And just as our source describes, the secret 00:05:59.889 --> 00:06:02.389 was revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Wow, 00:06:02.810 --> 00:06:05.350 just like that. Just like that. So Daniel, filled 00:06:05.350 --> 00:06:07.730 with praise and gratitude, goes to the king. 00:06:08.350 --> 00:06:10.209 But for almost he makes a crucial point. Which 00:06:10.209 --> 00:06:13.180 is? He declares that no human wise men None of 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:15.139 the magicians or astrologers can reveal such 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:18.019 mysteries. Instead, there is a God in heaven 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.000 that reveals its secrets. He gives the credit 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.759 to God. Entirely. He clarifies, this isn't because 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:26.120 I'm smarter than anyone else, but it's so you, 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:29.139 O King, might understand your own thoughts. Understand 00:06:29.139 --> 00:06:32.279 this dream that's troubling you. Okay, so spill 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:35.139 the beans. What did the King dream? Right, the 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:39.889 dream itself. He saw a great image. A huge colossal 00:06:39.889 --> 00:06:42.149 statue. Made of different materials. Exactly. 00:06:42.730 --> 00:06:45.310 A head of fine gold, breast and arms of silver, 00:06:45.689 --> 00:06:48.750 belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron. Okay. 00:06:49.129 --> 00:06:52.290 And feet, partly iron and partly clay. A mixture. 00:06:52.850 --> 00:06:54.810 Iron and clay, that doesn't sound very stable. 00:06:55.029 --> 00:06:57.579 Precisely. And the dream concluded with a stone 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:00.399 described as cut out without hands, meaning not 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.040 by human effort. This stone strikes the image 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.759 on its feet, those unstable iron and clay feet, 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:08.279 and the whole thing shatters, crumbles into tiny 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:10.439 pieces like chaff, which the wind just carries 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:13.839 away, vanished. And the stone, the stone itself 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:16.100 then grew into a great mountain and filled the 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:18.860 whole earth. Wow, that's quite a visual. So the 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:21.399 interpretation. Daniel's interpretation is just 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:24.610 as powerful and specific. The head of gold, he 00:07:24.610 --> 00:07:27.410 says, represents Nebuchadnezzar himself, and 00:07:27.410 --> 00:07:29.949 his glorious Babylonian kingdom granted power 00:07:29.949 --> 00:07:33.649 by God. After him, another kingdom inferior, 00:07:34.250 --> 00:07:36.569 symbolized by the silver, usually interpreted 00:07:36.569 --> 00:07:39.389 as the Medo -Persian Empire, then a third kingdom 00:07:39.389 --> 00:07:42.290 of brass destined to rule over all the earth, 00:07:42.769 --> 00:07:44.649 generally seen as Greece under Alexander the 00:07:44.649 --> 00:07:48.089 Great. Then the fourth kingdom, strong as iron, 00:07:48.370 --> 00:07:50.870 breaking and subduing everything, often understood 00:07:50.870 --> 00:07:53.750 as the Roman Empire. and the feet, the iron and 00:07:53.750 --> 00:07:56.769 clay mix? That signifies a divided kingdom, partly 00:07:56.769 --> 00:07:59.430 strong like iron, partly fragile or brittle like 00:07:59.430 --> 00:08:03.029 clay. It suggests internal division, maybe attempts 00:08:03.029 --> 00:08:05.490 to mingle with the seed of men, perhaps through 00:08:05.490 --> 00:08:09.089 alliances or marriages, but ultimately they won't 00:08:09.089 --> 00:08:11.569 cleave together, they won't hold. A fractured 00:08:11.569 --> 00:08:13.870 ending for these earthly kingdoms, but what about 00:08:13.870 --> 00:08:16.990 the stone that seems key? It is absolutely the 00:08:16.990 --> 00:08:19.449 pivotal element. Our source explains that in 00:08:19.449 --> 00:08:21.740 the days of those later kings, represented by 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:23.980 the feet and toes. The God of heaven shall set 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:26.240 up a kingdom which will never be destroyed. Never 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:28.839 destroyed. Never. This kingdom would consume 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:30.699 all those other kingdoms and it would endure 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:34.000 forever. So this interpretation isn't just identifying 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.299 future empire. No, it's making a bigger point. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.340 Exactly. It offers this profound insight into 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:44.779 the transient nature of all human power. It asserts 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:47.379 that even the mightiest earthly kingdoms, they're 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:50.429 ultimately finite. There's subservient to an 00:08:50.429 --> 00:08:53.429 eternal overarching divine plan. So how does 00:08:53.429 --> 00:08:56.350 Nebuchadnezzar take this news? His reaction is 00:08:56.350 --> 00:08:59.190 profound and immediate. He falls on his face, 00:08:59.730 --> 00:09:02.590 worships Daniel, which is a bit much, but shows 00:09:02.590 --> 00:09:05.909 his awe. Understandable, maybe. Perhaps. And 00:09:05.909 --> 00:09:07.850 he declares of the truth it is that your God 00:09:07.850 --> 00:09:10.070 is God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer 00:09:10.070 --> 00:09:12.730 of secrets. He gets it. Any rewards, Daniel? 00:09:13.009 --> 00:09:15.500 Big time. He promotes Daniel, makes him ruler 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:17.559 over the province of Babylon and chief over all 00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:19.980 the wise men. Wow. And Daniel, showing his loyalty, 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:22.740 requested his companions, Shadrach, Meshach, 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:25.000 and Abednego be placed over the affairs of the 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.480 province alongside him. Spreading the responsibility. 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:30.039 Okay, so Daniel's integrity saved them all there. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:34.919 But Nebuchadnezzar's understanding of God, it 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:36.639 seems like it's about to be tested again, right? 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:38.960 Oh, absolutely. A much bigger test is coming. 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:42.600 Our source recounts him commissioning this colossal 00:09:42.809 --> 00:09:45.350 golden image. The statue in Dura. That's the 00:09:45.350 --> 00:09:48.710 one. 60 cubits high, six cubits wide. That's 00:09:48.710 --> 00:09:51.470 roughly 90 feet tall and nine feet wide. Huge. 00:09:51.809 --> 00:09:53.929 It's massive and he sets it up in the plane of 00:09:53.929 --> 00:09:56.809 Dura. And then issues a decree. At the sound 00:09:56.809 --> 00:09:59.929 of all kinds of musical instruments, horns, flutes, 00:10:00.190 --> 00:10:03.250 harps, the whole orchestra, everyone, everyone 00:10:03.250 --> 00:10:05.889 was to fall down and worship the golden image. 00:10:06.169 --> 00:10:08.470 and if they didn't. The penalty was swift and 00:10:08.470 --> 00:10:10.809 brutal, immediate casting into the midst of a 00:10:10.809 --> 00:10:12.649 burning fiery furnace. Are all messing around. 00:10:12.870 --> 00:10:14.850 Not at all. And the text says the decree was 00:10:14.850 --> 00:10:17.250 obeyed by all the people, the nations, and the 00:10:17.250 --> 00:10:21.309 languages. Except. Except Daniel's friends. Shadrach, 00:10:21.370 --> 00:10:23.809 Meshach, and Abednego. Exactly. Certain Cheldians 00:10:23.809 --> 00:10:25.850 may be jealous of their promotion after the dream 00:10:25.850 --> 00:10:29.070 incident. Uh, office politics even then. seems 00:10:29.070 --> 00:10:31.429 like it. They specifically accused Shadrach, 00:10:31.570 --> 00:10:35.210 Meshach, and Abednego, the very men Nebuchadnezzar 00:10:35.210 --> 00:10:38.610 had promoted, of ignoring the king's command, 00:10:39.190 --> 00:10:41.690 not serving his guides, not worshiping the image. 00:10:41.830 --> 00:10:43.909 So Nebuchadnezzar finds out how does he react? 00:10:44.070 --> 00:10:47.129 Predictably, with rage, he confronts them directly, 00:10:47.490 --> 00:10:49.870 gives them one last chance, basically says, okay, 00:10:49.970 --> 00:10:51.769 maybe you didn't hear the music clearly, when 00:10:51.769 --> 00:10:54.669 it plays again, bow down. And he adds that challenge. 00:10:54.889 --> 00:10:58.120 He does, dramatically challenging them. Who is 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:00.460 that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:03.500 A direct challenge to their faith. So what do 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:06.000 they say? This is the moment of truth. It really 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.080 is. And what's truly remarkable here is their 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:12.679 calm... unwavering response. They tell the king 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:14.759 essentially, we don't even need to think about 00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:17.480 how to answer you on this. Wow, bold. Incredibly 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:20.740 bold. They declare, our God whom we serve is 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:23.100 able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:25.419 and He will deliver us out of thine hand -o -king. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:27.899 They state their faith in God's power. But then 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:30.080 they add something crucial, don't they? Yes. 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:34.279 But if not, even if God doesn't save us physically. 00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:44.580 So their obedience isn't conditional on being 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:47.879 rescued. Exactly. Their conviction stands regardless 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:50.259 of the outcome. It's this powerful demonstration 00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:53.879 of faith in the face of absolute power, a refusal 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:56.399 to compromise their core beliefs, even with death 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:58.639 literally staring them down. How does the king 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.440 take that? He is now full of fury. His face changes. 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:04.500 He commands the furnace to be heated. won seven 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:06.500 times more than it was wanted to be heated. Seven 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:08.379 times hotter? I mean, how much hotter can you 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:11.120 make a furnace? It's clearly hyperbole to emphasize 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.679 just how incredibly hot, unimaginably hot he 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:16.120 wanted it. And the most mighty men in his army, 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:18.360 buying the three men and just tossed them in. 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:21.600 And the heat. It's lethal, even for the executioners. 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:23.500 That's what the text says. The flames were so 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:25.679 intense, they slew those men that took up Shadrach, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.200 Nishak, and Venio. Just getting close was deadly. 00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:31.139 But then Nebuchadnezzar looks in. Yes. And he's 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:34.259 utterly astounded. completely astounded, shocked. 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.399 He asks his counselors, almost confused, did 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.980 not we cast three men bound into the midst of 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:42.379 the fire? And they confirm, yes, king. And then 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:45.820 he declares, Low, I see four men loose, walking 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:47.980 in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt. 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:50.019 And the form of the fourth is like the Son of 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:53.159 God. Or, like a son of the gods, depending on 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:56.080 translation, a divine being. Four men, loose, 00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:59.830 unharmed. Exactly. He calls them out, Shadrach, 00:12:59.929 --> 00:13:02.789 Neshach, Abednego come out, and they emerge completely 00:13:02.789 --> 00:13:05.629 unharmed. And the text really emphasizes this 00:13:05.629 --> 00:13:18.529 miracle. It does. Incredible. What's the impact 00:13:18.529 --> 00:13:28.120 on Nebuchadnezzar this time? and another decree 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:31.120 follows. Yes, a new decree throughout his kingdom. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:34.240 Now, instead of demanding worship of his statue, 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.100 he states that any people, nation, or language 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:39.840 speaking anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:42.299 Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut in pieces. 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:46.019 Because, he says, there is no other God that 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:49.580 can deliver after this sort. He recognizes the 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:52.539 unique power of their God. And of course, this 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:54.559 leads to the further promotion of the three men. 00:13:54.809 --> 00:13:57.190 It seems Nebuchadnezzar is learning, but maybe 00:13:57.190 --> 00:13:59.870 slowly, he keeps getting these incredible proofs. 00:13:59.909 --> 00:14:02.169 He does, and the next section shows perhaps the 00:14:02.169 --> 00:14:05.169 deepest lesson he had to learn. Our source describes 00:14:05.169 --> 00:14:08.029 Nebuchadnezzar himself, addressing all people, 00:14:08.389 --> 00:14:10.870 nations, and languages. Testifying personally. 00:14:11.230 --> 00:14:13.590 Testifying about what? About the signs and wonders 00:14:13.590 --> 00:14:15.850 that the High God hath wrought toward me. He 00:14:15.850 --> 00:14:17.610 recounts another dream that troubled him, one 00:14:17.610 --> 00:14:19.769 his wise men again couldn't interpret, leading 00:14:19.769 --> 00:14:22.250 back to Daniel. Another dream? What was this 00:14:22.250 --> 00:14:25.450 one about? This dream featured a massive towering 00:14:25.450 --> 00:14:28.850 tree, reaching to heaven, visible to the end 00:14:28.850 --> 00:14:30.990 of all the earth, providing food and shelter 00:14:30.990 --> 00:14:33.909 for everything, all living creatures. A symbol 00:14:33.909 --> 00:14:36.570 of his own great power and reach. Okay, so far 00:14:36.570 --> 00:14:39.570 so good for him. Well, then a watcher and a holy 00:14:39.570 --> 00:14:41.750 one. A divine messenger comes down from heaven. 00:14:41.950 --> 00:14:44.389 Oh. Yeah. And commands the tree to be cut down. 00:14:44.750 --> 00:14:47.669 Branches scattered, fruit removed, total destruction 00:14:47.669 --> 00:14:50.070 almost. Almost. Because the stump of his roots 00:14:50.070 --> 00:14:52.009 was to be left in the earth but bound with iron 00:14:52.009 --> 00:14:54.789 and brass left out in the field wet with dew. 00:14:54.990 --> 00:14:58.750 So preserved but restrained. Exactly. And crucially 00:14:58.750 --> 00:15:01.330 the decree says the tree's heart be changed from 00:15:01.330 --> 00:15:03.750 man's and a beast's heart be given unto him and 00:15:03.750 --> 00:15:06.330 let seven times pass over him. A beast's heart. 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:09.259 For seven times, what does that mean? It signifies 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:12.159 a period of madness, of living like an animal, 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:15.240 and the stated purpose of this humbling experience. 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:18.139 That the living may know that the most high rule 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:20.740 is in the kingdom of men and give it to whomever 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:24.000 he will and set it up over it the basest of men. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:27.460 A lesson in sovereignty. So Daniel has to interpret 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:29.919 this for the king. How does he react? Daniel 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.980 is visibly troubled, the text says. He's disturbed 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:35.600 for the king's sake, but he interprets it directly. 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:39.480 The tree is Nebuchadnezzar. Yes. The mighty tree 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:41.500 is Nebuchadnezzar himself, whose greatness has 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:44.200 reached to heaven. The decree means he will be 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:46.679 driven from men, he'll dwell with wild animals, 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:50.460 eat grass as oxen until seven times, probably 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:53.080 seven years pass over him. A severe humbling. 00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:55.639 Extremely severe, until he finally acknowledges 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.980 that the most high ruleeth in the kingdom of 00:15:57.980 --> 00:16:01.799 men. But there's hope. The stump being left signifies 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:05.309 his kingdom would be sure unto thee. restored 00:16:05.309 --> 00:16:08.110 to him after he learns that lesson. After that, 00:16:08.210 --> 00:16:11.090 thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 00:16:11.429 --> 00:16:13.990 Does Daniel offer any advice? He does. He gives 00:16:13.990 --> 00:16:16.870 heartfelt counsel. Break off thy sins by righteousness 00:16:16.870 --> 00:16:19.250 and line iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. 00:16:19.470 --> 00:16:21.769 Basically repent, change your ways, maybe you 00:16:21.769 --> 00:16:25.049 can avert this. Does the king listen? Well, here's 00:16:25.049 --> 00:16:27.649 a truly chilling detail from our source. Exactly 00:16:27.649 --> 00:16:29.950 at the end of 12 months, so a full year later. 00:16:30.110 --> 00:16:32.669 He had time to change. He did. But as Nebuchadnezzar 00:16:32.669 --> 00:16:42.409 walked in his palace, boasting, And while the 00:16:42.409 --> 00:16:44.769 words were still in his mouth, a voice from heaven 00:16:44.769 --> 00:16:47.259 declared his kingdom had departed from him. Just 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:49.919 like that instant judgment. The same hour was 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:52.159 the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar. He was 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:54.759 driven from men, ate grass like oxen, body wet 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:57.759 with dew, hair grew like eagles, feathers, nails 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:01.139 like birds claws. It's a stark disturbing image 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:04.960 of complete dethronement, dehumanization. Wow. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.859 But that's not the end of his story, is it? No, 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:09.960 crucially it's not. The narrative highlights 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:13.180 the outcome. At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:15.559 lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:18.950 returned unto me. His sanity returns. Yes. And 00:17:18.950 --> 00:17:21.930 his first act. He blessed and honored God, declaring 00:17:21.930 --> 00:17:24.690 his everlasting dominion and his absolute rule 00:17:24.690 --> 00:17:26.890 over heaven and earth. His reason and honor were 00:17:26.890 --> 00:17:28.730 restored. He was reestablished in his kingdom, 00:17:29.089 --> 00:17:31.109 more glorious than before praising God, who was 00:17:31.109 --> 00:17:33.970 able to abase those who walk in pride. So we 00:17:33.970 --> 00:17:36.329 finally learned the lesson. It seems so. A fundamental 00:17:36.329 --> 00:17:39.069 principle. True power, true understanding comes 00:17:39.069 --> 00:17:41.990 from recognizing something, someone greater than 00:17:41.990 --> 00:17:45.890 oneself. A powerful arc for Nebuchadnezzar. But 00:17:45.890 --> 00:17:48.369 the story shifts then, doesn't it, to a different 00:17:48.369 --> 00:17:51.410 king? It does. Our source has transitioned to 00:17:51.410 --> 00:17:54.470 Belchazar. He's referred to as Nebuchadnezzar's 00:17:54.470 --> 00:17:56.630 son or father, depending on the translation, 00:17:56.990 --> 00:17:59.890 but really means successor or royal descendant 00:17:59.890 --> 00:18:02.690 in the context of the kingdom. Okay, so Belchazar 00:18:02.690 --> 00:18:05.029 is in charge now. What does he do? He holds a 00:18:05.029 --> 00:18:09.210 great feast, a huge party, and in an act of, 00:18:09.210 --> 00:18:13.000 well, profound disrespect, maybe arrogance. What 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.119 does he do? He commands the golden and silver 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:17.700 vessels, the ones taken from the temple in Jerusalem 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:19.640 by Nebuchadnezzar to be brought out. The sacred 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:22.900 vessels? Yes. And he, his princes, his wives, 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:25.440 his concubines, they all drink wine from them. 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:28.980 And then, adding insult to injury, they praise 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:31.660 the gods of gold and a silver of brass, of iron, 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:34.700 of wood and of stone, using holy items to toast 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:36.700 pagan gods. That sounds like crossing a line. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:39.230 A big one. And the reaction is immediate and 00:18:39.230 --> 00:18:41.210 dramatic in the same hour it came forth fingers 00:18:41.210 --> 00:18:43.490 of a man's hand and wrote over against the candle 00:18:43.490 --> 00:18:45.269 stick up on the plaster of the wall of the king's 00:18:45.269 --> 00:18:47.650 palace fingers writing on the wall literally 00:18:47.650 --> 00:18:50.430 literally disembodied fingers writing on the 00:18:50.430 --> 00:18:53.789 wall The king sees it his face changes knees 00:18:53.789 --> 00:18:56.769 knocked together. He's terrified. I bet so he 00:18:56.769 --> 00:19:00.289 calls his wise men immediately Offers great rewards 00:19:00.289 --> 00:19:03.049 scarlet clothing gold chain third ruler in the 00:19:03.049 --> 00:19:04.769 kingdom if they can just read and interpret the 00:19:04.769 --> 00:19:09.130 writing hmm But they can't utterly baffled go 00:19:09.130 --> 00:19:11.890 panic in the palace total panic until the queen 00:19:11.890 --> 00:19:14.950 steps in Maybe the queen mother and she remembers 00:19:14.950 --> 00:19:18.329 someone exactly she reminds Belchazar about Daniel 00:19:18.329 --> 00:19:21.849 Who in Nebuchadnezzar's time had shown an excellent 00:19:21.849 --> 00:19:24.170 spirit and knowledge and understanding interpreting 00:19:24.170 --> 00:19:27.509 of dreams and dissolving of doubts? She says 00:19:27.509 --> 00:19:30.269 essentially call Daniel he could figure this 00:19:30.269 --> 00:19:32.970 out so Daniels brought in again does Belchazar 00:19:32.970 --> 00:19:36.099 offer him the rewards he does same deal Scarlet, 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:39.140 Gold Chain, Third Ruler. But Daniel's reply sets 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:41.440 this powerful contrast with the other guys. What 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:49.640 does he say? He says, He's not in for the prizes. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:52.759 Just the truth. Just the truth. But before he 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:56.000 interprets, he delivers this powerful, unvarnished 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.779 rebuke. Can he choose out the king? Pretty much. 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:01.960 He reminds Belshazzar pointedly about his predecessor 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:04.279 Nebuchadnezzar, how God gave him the kingdom, 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:07.000 how he became proud, how he was humbled like 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.160 a beast, and how his understanding returned only 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:11.599 when he acknowledged God. Laying the groundwork. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:14.819 Exactly. And then he says, And thou his son, 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:17.660 O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though 00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:20.819 thou newest all this. You knew the story, but 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:23.140 hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven, 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:26.200 desecrating his temple vessels. Oof. Then comes 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:28.750 the writing. Then comes the interpretation of 00:20:28.750 --> 00:20:32.730 the words. Min, min, tekel, ufarsan, or pairs. 00:20:33.029 --> 00:20:35.390 Okay, what do they mean? Min, min, min. Daniel 00:20:35.390 --> 00:20:37.609 says, God have numbered thy kingdom and finished 00:20:37.609 --> 00:20:40.349 it. Basically, your time is up, numbered and 00:20:40.349 --> 00:20:42.809 done. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art 00:20:42.809 --> 00:20:45.509 found wanting. You've been judged, and you don't 00:20:45.509 --> 00:20:49.109 measure up. Found efficient. Pierce, the singular 00:20:49.109 --> 00:20:51.960 form of a parson. The kingdom is divided and 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:54.440 given to the Medes and Persians your empire is 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:56.839 being carved up and handed over numbered Wade 00:20:56.839 --> 00:21:01.259 divided Stark very stark and an incredibly direct 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:04.359 and the fulfillment Does it happen quickly? Chillingly 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:07.160 fast our source states in that night was Belchazar 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:10.279 the king of the Chaldeans slain and Darius the 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:13.299 median took the kingdom that very night at very 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:15.519 night the immediate fulfillment is incredibly 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.740 striking it powerfully underscores the swift 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:21.920 consequences of that kind of hubris and blatant 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:25.940 disrespect towards divine power. So Babylon falls 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:29.750 and now Darius the Mede is ruling. What happens 00:21:29.750 --> 00:21:32.369 to Daniel? Well, with Darius the Mead now in 00:21:32.369 --> 00:21:35.509 charge, Daniel's exceptional ability, his excellent 00:21:35.509 --> 00:21:38.589 spirit shines through yet again. Darius sets 00:21:38.589 --> 00:21:41.750 up a new administration, 120 princes over the 00:21:41.750 --> 00:21:44.410 kingdom, and over them, three presidents or high 00:21:44.410 --> 00:21:46.849 officials, and Daniel is appointed as the first, 00:21:47.069 --> 00:21:49.369 the chief among them. Top job again? Yes. He 00:21:49.369 --> 00:21:51.369 was preferred above the presidents and princes 00:21:51.369 --> 00:21:54.089 because an excellent spirit was in him, so much 00:21:54.089 --> 00:21:56.069 so that the king was actually considering setting 00:21:56.069 --> 00:21:58.529 him over the whole realm. Making him like a prime 00:21:58.529 --> 00:22:00.450 minister. That must have ruffled some feathers. 00:22:00.930 --> 00:22:04.109 Oh, absolutely. Predictably, it caused immense 00:22:04.109 --> 00:22:06.410 resentment among the other presidents and princes. 00:22:06.930 --> 00:22:10.109 They sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning 00:22:10.109 --> 00:22:12.930 the kingdom, looking for corruption, mismanagement. 00:22:13.130 --> 00:22:15.490 But they couldn't find anything. Nothing. They 00:22:15.490 --> 00:22:18.690 could find none occasion nor fault. For as much 00:22:18.690 --> 00:22:21.750 as he was faithful, his record was spotless. 00:22:22.269 --> 00:22:25.130 So they changed tactics. They do. Their conclusion 00:22:25.130 --> 00:22:27.910 was telling... We shall not find any occasion 00:22:27.910 --> 00:22:30.069 against this Daniel except we find it against 00:22:30.069 --> 00:22:32.990 him concerning the law of his God. Attack his 00:22:32.990 --> 00:22:35.630 faith because his work is impeccable. Precisely. 00:22:36.009 --> 00:22:37.950 It highlights the depth of Daniel's integrity. 00:22:38.250 --> 00:22:41.130 His only perceived vulnerability was his unwavering 00:22:41.130 --> 00:22:43.230 faithfulness to his God. So what's their plan? 00:22:43.670 --> 00:22:46.170 These presidents and princes conspire. They go 00:22:46.170 --> 00:22:48.650 to King Darius with this this deceptive plan 00:22:48.650 --> 00:22:51.190 flattering him. They propose a royal statute. 00:22:51.529 --> 00:22:54.890 and irrevocable decree. For 30 days, no one in 00:22:54.890 --> 00:22:56.950 the entire kingdom should ask a petition of any 00:22:56.950 --> 00:23:00.390 god or man, save of thee, O king, only pray to 00:23:00.390 --> 00:23:03.190 Darius. Wow, appealing to his ego. Big time. 00:23:03.609 --> 00:23:05.569 End the penalty for breaking this temporary law, 00:23:05.710 --> 00:23:08.650 being cast into the den of lions. The lion's 00:23:08.650 --> 00:23:11.369 den. Yes. And they urge the king to sign it, 00:23:11.509 --> 00:23:14.329 making it official, invoking the law of the Medes 00:23:14.329 --> 00:23:17.470 and Persians, which Altarith not. Once signed, 00:23:17.710 --> 00:23:19.690 it can't be changed, not even by the king himself. 00:23:19.990 --> 00:23:23.220 And Darius signs it. He does, perhaps flattered, 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:25.819 perhaps not realizing the trap. He signed the 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:28.779 decree. So how does Daniel respond when he finds 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:31.599 out about this law targeting his prayer life? 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:34.299 Well, what's truly illuminating is his response 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:37.259 when he knew that the writing was signed. He 00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:39.359 doesn't panic. He doesn't hide. He doesn't compromise. 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:42.420 What does he do? He just went into his house. 00:23:42.750 --> 00:23:44.990 and his windows being open in his chamber toward 00:23:44.990 --> 00:23:47.750 Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times 00:23:47.750 --> 00:23:50.490 a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God 00:23:50.490 --> 00:23:53.529 as he did a four -time. Windows open, facing 00:23:53.529 --> 00:23:55.890 Jerusalem, same as always. Exactly the same. 00:23:56.049 --> 00:23:57.990 He just continued his regular practice. This 00:23:57.990 --> 00:23:59.970 wasn't, you know, an act of defiance for show, 00:24:00.230 --> 00:24:02.650 but simply a continuation of his consistent, 00:24:02.950 --> 00:24:05.569 deeply rooted faith. He wasn't going to change 00:24:05.569 --> 00:24:07.210 his relationship with God because of a human 00:24:07.210 --> 00:24:10.130 law. So of course the conspirators see him. Immediately. 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:12.880 They were watching. They find him praying and 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:16.059 report it straight to the king. Daniel, whom 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:19.460 you promoted, is ignoring your decree. How does 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:22.579 Darius react now? He liked Daniel. He's devastated. 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:25.480 The text says he was sore displeased with himself. 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:28.420 He realized he'd been tricked, manipulated into 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:31.259 endangering his valued official. And he labored 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:33.180 till the going down of the sun to deliver him, 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:36.819 trying to find a loophole. But the law was unchangeable. 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:39.160 That's what the officials insisted. They reminded 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:42.400 him, No, O King, that the law of the Medes and 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:45.420 Persians is that no decree nor statute which 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:48.099 the king establishedeth may be changed. His hands 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:50.799 were tied. So Daniel has to face the lions. He 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:53.799 does. He's cast into the den of lions. But King 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:56.500 Darius' last words to Daniel before the stone 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:58.400 was placed over the den opening were actually 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:00.220 a statement of hope, maybe faith. What did he 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:07.049 say? He said, Interesting. Even the pagan king 00:25:07.049 --> 00:25:09.730 had some sense of Daniel's god. It seems so. 00:25:10.089 --> 00:25:12.490 The king then spent a miserable night, fasting, 00:25:12.849 --> 00:25:15.549 refusing entertainment, unable to sleep, clearly 00:25:15.549 --> 00:25:17.950 tormented by what he'd been forced to do. Yeah. 00:25:18.029 --> 00:25:20.109 And the next morning. At the first light of dawn, 00:25:20.410 --> 00:25:22.849 Darius rushed to the lion's den, and he cried 00:25:22.849 --> 00:25:25.170 out anxiously, Oh Daniel, servant of the living 00:25:25.170 --> 00:25:27.769 god, is thy god whom thou service continually 00:25:27.769 --> 00:25:30.170 able to deliver thee from the lions. You can 00:25:30.170 --> 00:25:32.369 almost hear the desperation in his voice. And 00:25:32.369 --> 00:25:35.880 Daniel answers, From the den. He does, and Daniel's 00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:39.759 reply is calm, profound, O King, live forever. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:42.220 My God have sent his angel and have shut the 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:44.759 lion's mouth that they have not hurt me. An angel 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:47.039 shut the lion's mouth. That's what Daniel says. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:58.839 He continues, So they get him out. Immediately. 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:01.920 He was taken up and no manner of hurt was found 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:04.819 upon him because he believed in his God. Another 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:07.619 powerful testament to his unwavering faith. But 00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:10.259 what about the guys who set him up? Ah, here's 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:13.519 a chilling, swift turn of justice. The king commanded 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:16.079 that those men who had maliciously accused Daniel 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:18.539 along with, and this is harsh, their children 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:21.779 and their wives, be cast into the den. The whole 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:24.490 families. The whole families, and our source 00:26:24.490 --> 00:26:27.509 states grimly, the lions had the mastery of them 00:26:27.509 --> 00:26:29.890 and break all their bones and pieces or ever 00:26:29.890 --> 00:26:31.930 they came at the bottom of the den before they 00:26:31.930 --> 00:26:35.069 even hit the ground. Wow. Swift and brutal justice. 00:26:35.450 --> 00:26:39.230 Indeed. And Darius, he issues another powerful 00:26:39.230 --> 00:26:41.630 decree. What does this one say? He writes to 00:26:41.630 --> 00:26:44.710 all peoples, nations, and languages in His vast 00:26:44.710 --> 00:26:47.289 kingdom, declaring that they should tremble and 00:26:47.289 --> 00:26:50.289 fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the 00:26:50.289 --> 00:26:53.369 living God and steadfast forever. He's really 00:26:53.369 --> 00:26:56.089 proclaiming Daniel's God now. Absolutely. He 00:26:56.089 --> 00:26:58.450 delivereth and rescueeth, and He worketh signs 00:26:58.450 --> 00:27:00.910 and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath 00:27:00.910 --> 00:27:03.089 delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:06.519 This narrative powerfully reinforces those themes 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:08.839 of divine protection, the power of faith, and 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:10.779 the ultimate vindication of integrity against 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:13.380 conspiracy. Okay, so we've seen Daniel navigate 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:16.220 these incredible political and personal challenges, 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:19.240 influencing kings, surviving deadly plots. But 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:22.029 the book shifts gear then, right? It does, quite 00:27:22.029 --> 00:27:24.869 dramatically. Having explored Daniel's remarkable 00:27:24.869 --> 00:27:27.509 influence on the kings and empires of his day, 00:27:28.029 --> 00:27:30.450 our source material now shifts focus to Daniel's 00:27:30.450 --> 00:27:32.289 own personal encounters with the future. His 00:27:32.289 --> 00:27:35.430 own visions. Exactly. A series of profound dreams 00:27:35.430 --> 00:27:38.190 and visions that look centuries beyond his own 00:27:38.190 --> 00:27:40.750 lifetime. These were given during the reigns 00:27:40.750 --> 00:27:43.849 of Belchazar and later, Cyrus. So what kind of 00:27:43.849 --> 00:27:46.529 things did he see? Well, in Belchazar's first 00:27:46.529 --> 00:27:50.750 year, Daniel saw a vision of four great beasts 00:27:50.750 --> 00:27:53.049 came up from the sea, diverse one from another, 00:27:53.390 --> 00:27:56.230 highly symbolic. Four beasts, like the statue 00:27:56.230 --> 00:27:59.009 dream, representing kingdoms. Very much like 00:27:59.009 --> 00:28:01.150 that. They're generally interpreted as representing 00:28:01.150 --> 00:28:03.670 successive world empires, each with distinct 00:28:03.670 --> 00:28:06.029 characteristics. Like a lion and had eagle's 00:28:06.029 --> 00:28:09.349 wings. Often seed is Babylon powerful. Swift 00:28:09.349 --> 00:28:12.089 like to a bear raised up on one side with three 00:28:12.089 --> 00:28:14.230 ribs in the mouth usually taken as the middle 00:28:14.230 --> 00:28:16.750 Persian Empire perhaps indicating its dual nature 00:28:16.750 --> 00:28:20.089 or conquests third like a leopard, but with four 00:28:20.089 --> 00:28:23.150 wings of a fowl and four heads. This is widely 00:28:23.150 --> 00:28:25.410 understood to symbolize the incredibly swift 00:28:25.410 --> 00:28:28.089 rise of the Greek Empire under Alexander the 00:28:28.089 --> 00:28:30.589 Great and its subsequent division into four kingdoms 00:28:30.589 --> 00:28:33.190 after his death. Fast and divided, makes sense. 00:28:33.450 --> 00:28:36.349 And the fourth. Ah, the fourth beast. It's described 00:28:36.349 --> 00:28:38.750 differently, dreadful and terrible and strong 00:28:38.750 --> 00:28:42.190 exceedingly. It has great iron teeth. It devours, 00:28:42.549 --> 00:28:45.170 breaks things, stamps on the remains. Really 00:28:45.170 --> 00:28:48.369 destructive. Sounds ominous. It is. This beast 00:28:48.369 --> 00:28:51.869 also had ten horns. And then coming up among 00:28:51.869 --> 00:28:54.869 them, another little horn emerged, which uprooted 00:28:54.869 --> 00:28:57.750 three of the original ten horns. This little 00:28:57.750 --> 00:29:00.410 horn had eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth 00:29:00.410 --> 00:29:02.970 speaking great things, boastful, arrogant things. 00:29:03.190 --> 00:29:05.769 So a powerful, destructive kingdom, internal 00:29:05.769 --> 00:29:08.470 divisions, and then a particularly arrogant leader 00:29:08.470 --> 00:29:11.559 or power emerges. That's the common interpretation. 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:13.700 The fourth kingdom often linked to Rome and its 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:15.779 later divisions with the little horn representing 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:18.619 a significant, often persecuting, anti -God ruler 00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:20.720 or power arising from it. And where does this 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:23.480 vision lead? It culminates in this amazing scene 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:26.500 of divine judgment. Daniel sees thrones being 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:29.299 cast down or set in place, and the ancient of 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:31.980 days did sit. The ancient of days, that's God. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.980 A powerful image of God, eternal sovereign judge, 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:38.740 his clothing whitest snow, hair like pure wool, 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:42.099 his throne like fiery flame, a scene of ultimate 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:44.339 authority. And what happens to the beast? The 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:47.079 fourth beast, the dreadful one, is judged and 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:50.089 destroyed. slain, its body given to the burning 00:29:50.089 --> 00:29:52.849 flame, but the dominion of the other beasts was 00:29:52.849 --> 00:29:54.849 taken away, though their lives were prolonged 00:29:54.849 --> 00:29:57.349 for a time. Okay, judgment on the oppressive 00:29:57.349 --> 00:29:59.950 power. Then what? Then Daniel sees something 00:29:59.950 --> 00:30:02.930 incredible. One, like the Son of Man came with 00:30:02.930 --> 00:30:05.509 the clouds of heaven. This figure approaches 00:30:05.509 --> 00:30:08.490 the ancient of days. The Son of Man. Yes. And 00:30:08.490 --> 00:30:11.109 to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom 00:30:11.109 --> 00:30:13.630 that all people, nations, and languages should 00:30:13.630 --> 00:30:16.710 serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion 00:30:16.710 --> 00:30:19.410 which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that 00:30:19.410 --> 00:30:22.089 which shall not be destroyed. So after the judgment 00:30:22.089 --> 00:30:24.329 of the earthly kingdoms, an eternal universal 00:30:24.329 --> 00:30:26.289 kingdom is established under this Son of Man. 00:30:26.609 --> 00:30:29.990 Exactly. Daniel, understandably troubled by all 00:30:29.990 --> 00:30:33.230 this, asks for the interpretation. He's told, 00:30:33.569 --> 00:30:37.890 yes, the four great beasts are four kings, or 00:30:37.890 --> 00:30:40.150 kingdoms, which shall rise out of the earth. 00:30:40.410 --> 00:30:43.299 But they won't last. No. Ultimately, the saints 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:45.579 of the Most High will take the kingdom and possess 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:48.160 the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. And 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:50.319 the fourth beast gets special attention. It does. 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:53.339 The interpretation confirms it's a fourth kingdom 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:55.680 upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:58.680 and shall devour the whole earth. The ten horns 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:01.039 are ten kings that arise from it. And the little 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:03.519 horn. That's another king arising after the ten 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:05.940 who is different. He'll subdue three kings, speak 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:08.619 great words against the Most High, will wear 00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:10.799 out the saints, try to change times and laws 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:13.349 based basically a figure of intense opposition 00:31:13.349 --> 00:31:15.690 to God and his people. But his dominion won't 00:31:15.690 --> 00:31:19.450 last either. No. The judgment will sit and his 00:31:19.450 --> 00:31:21.809 dominion will be taken away, consumed and destroyed. 00:31:22.549 --> 00:31:24.789 And then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness 00:31:24.789 --> 00:31:27.109 of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be 00:31:27.109 --> 00:31:28.829 given to the people of the saints of the Most 00:31:28.829 --> 00:31:32.140 High, whose kingdom is everlasting. It's this 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:35.380 grand sweep of history. Human empires rise and 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:38.079 fall, often oppressively, but are ultimately 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:41.420 replaced by God's eternal kingdom. That's a huge 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:44.400 vision. Does he have others like this? Yes. In 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:46.680 Belshazzar's third year, he has another one by 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:49.059 the river Ulay. This time it's animals again, 00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:51.079 but different ones. Okay, what does he see now? 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:54.660 He sees a ram which had two horns. One horn was 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:56.420 higher than the other and the higher one came 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:59.640 up last. This ram was pushing powerfully westward, 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:02.740 northward, southward. No beast could stand before 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:06.019 it. Powerful ram, two horns, meads and persians 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:08.099 again. That's exactly how Gabriel interprets 00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:10.799 it later. The ram with two horns represents the 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:13.240 kings of media and Persia, with Persia becoming 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:16.180 dominant. Okay, so the ram is dominant, then 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:19.089 what? Then, charging from the west comes an he 00:32:19.089 --> 00:32:22.609 -goat moving so fast its feet touch not the ground, 00:32:22.829 --> 00:32:26.710 supernaturally swift. A goat from the west, Greece, 00:32:27.490 --> 00:32:31.230 Alexander. Precisely. And this goat had a notable 00:32:31.230 --> 00:32:34.349 horn between his eyes, a very conspicuous large 00:32:34.349 --> 00:32:38.170 horn. This goat attacks the ram furiously, breaks 00:32:38.170 --> 00:32:41.720 its two horns, tramples it, Total victory. Alexander 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:44.720 conquering Persia. Fits perfectly. The Higo becomes 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:47.599 very great. But then, at the height of its power, 00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:50.359 its great horn was broken. Alexander's early 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:53.819 death. Yes. And in its place, four notable ones, 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:56.220 four horns came up pointing towards the four 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:58.539 winds of heaven. The four general who divided 00:32:58.539 --> 00:33:01.579 his empire, Ptolemy Seleucus. That's the standard 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:03.539 historical interpretation, matching the four 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:05.779 main Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged. Okay, 00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:08.099 this is mapping on to history incredibly well. 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:10.559 What next? Well, here's where it gets particularly 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:13.460 significant and maybe more controversial in interpretation. 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:16.519 From one of those four horns came forth a little 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:18.940 horn. A little horn, like in the beast vision. 00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:21.299 Yes, but this one seems distinct, though sharing 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:23.559 some characteristics. This little horn waxed 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:26.519 exceedingly great, grew incredibly powerful specifically 00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:29.920 towards the south, the east and towards the pleasant 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:32.700 land, usually understood as Israel. So a power 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:35.400 arising from the Greek divisions expanding towards 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:38.819 Judea. Exactly, and it gets worse. It even grew 00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:42.099 great against the host of heaven, cast down some 00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:44.839 of the host and stars, symbolic language perhaps 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:48.359 for powers or people, and trampled them. It magnified 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:51.200 itself even against the prince of the host, God 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:53.680 or perhaps the high priest, like taking away 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:56.259 the daily sacrifice from him and casting down 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:59.099 the place of his sanctuary, the temple. and it 00:33:59.099 --> 00:34:01.240 prospered in this wickedness. This sounds very 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:04.359 specific, taking away the daily sacrifice. Extremely 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:07.839 specific, and Daniel hears a question ask, how 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:10.460 long will this vision concerning the daily sacrifice, 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:13.280 the transgression that makes desolate, and the 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:16.099 trampling of the sanctuary and host last? And 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:19.019 the answer? The answer given is, unto 2 ,300 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:22.530 days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. A 00:34:22.530 --> 00:34:25.090 specific time period for this desecration followed 00:34:25.090 --> 00:34:27.929 by restoration. So who is this little horn? Gabriel 00:34:27.929 --> 00:34:30.610 interprets this one, too. Yes. Gabriel comes 00:34:30.610 --> 00:34:32.889 to make Daniel understand the vision, stressing 00:34:32.889 --> 00:34:35.690 it refers to the time of the end, or a latter 00:34:35.690 --> 00:34:37.750 time period relative to Daniel, he confirms. 00:34:38.210 --> 00:34:41.449 Ram, Edia, and Persia. Rough goat. King of Grisha. 00:34:41.909 --> 00:34:44.829 Grease. Great horn. the first king, Alexander, 00:34:45.630 --> 00:34:48.469 four horns, four kingdoms that arise from his 00:34:48.469 --> 00:34:50.869 nation, but not with his power. And the little 00:34:50.869 --> 00:34:52.929 horn from one of them. Gabriel says that in the 00:34:52.929 --> 00:34:54.869 latter time of their kingdom, when transgressors 00:34:54.869 --> 00:34:57.070 have reached their fullness, a king of fierce 00:34:57.070 --> 00:34:59.949 countenance, understanding dark sentences, or 00:34:59.949 --> 00:35:02.530 skilled in intrigue, will arise. Okay, tell me 00:35:02.530 --> 00:35:05.869 about this king. He will be mighty, but significantly 00:35:05.869 --> 00:35:09.909 not by his own power. He will destroy wonderfully. 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:12.980 cause astonishing destruction, prosper, practice 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:15.260 deceit, destroy the mighty and the holy people. 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:18.579 By peace, or through prosperity and false security, 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:20.659 he shall destroy many. Deceptive and destructive. 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:23.760 Very. And he will even stand up against the prince 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:26.019 of princes directly opposed God. But ultimately, 00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:29.619 he shall be broken without hand. Destroyed supernaturally, 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:32.119 not by human means. Who do historians usually 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:35.449 see this as? Overwhelmingly, this figure is identified 00:35:35.449 --> 00:35:39.269 with Antiochus V Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who 00:35:39.269 --> 00:35:43.630 ruled from 175 to 164 BC. He fits the description 00:35:43.630 --> 00:35:46.409 remarkably well. He called himself Epiphanes, 00:35:46.489 --> 00:35:49.690 meaning God Manifest, was known for intrigue, 00:35:49.889 --> 00:35:52.289 brutally persecuted the Jews, outlawed their 00:35:52.289 --> 00:35:54.789 religious practices, stopped the daily sacrifices 00:35:54.789 --> 00:35:57.369 in the temple in Jerusalem, and set up an idol 00:35:57.369 --> 00:36:00.409 there, the Abomination of Desolation, mentioned 00:36:00.409 --> 00:36:04.980 elsewhere. and the cleansing. That timing is 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:07.099 debated, but it broadly aligns with the period 00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:09.960 of Antiochus' persecution and the eventual Maccabean 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:12.059 revolt which cleansed and rededicated the temple, 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:14.519 an event still celebrated today as Hanukkah. 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:17.119 The historical fulfillment is quite striking. 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:19.599 Wow, okay, so these visions are giving Daniel 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:22.119 this detailed look into future empires and conflicts, 00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:24.320 especially affecting his people. What else does 00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:26.119 he receive? Well, our source then moves to a 00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:27.739 different kind of revelation. It's the first 00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:30.199 year of Darius the Mead. Daniel is studying the 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:32.179 scriptures, specifically the prophet Jeremiah. 00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:34.639 What does he learn from Jeremiah? He understands 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:36.760 from Jeremiah's writings that the desolations 00:36:36.760 --> 00:36:39.659 of Jerusalem, the period of exile, were determined 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:43.079 to be 70 years. The 70 -year exile prophecy. 00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:46.260 Exactly. And realizing this time might be nearing 00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:49.260 its end, Daniel responds not with presumption, 00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:52.260 but with intense prayer and fasting. He makes 00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:55.500 this deep, heartfelt confession of sin, not just 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:58.199 his own, but on behalf of all his people, acknowledging 00:36:58.199 --> 00:37:00.320 their rebellion against God, which led to the 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:03.449 exile. He pleads for God's mercy, for God's to 00:37:03.449 --> 00:37:05.809 turn his face back towards the desolate sanctuary 00:37:05.809 --> 00:37:08.510 in Jerusalem for the Lord's sake. So, a prayer 00:37:08.510 --> 00:37:11.179 of repentance and intercession. A profound one. 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:13.599 And while he is still praying, the angel Gabriel, 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.920 whom he'd seen in the earlier vision, appears 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:18.280 to him again, arriving swiftly. What does Gabriel 00:37:18.280 --> 00:37:20.800 say this time? Gabriel tells Daniel he has come 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:22.699 to give him skill and understanding, because 00:37:22.699 --> 00:37:25.320 at the beginning of Daniel's prayers, a commandment 00:37:25.320 --> 00:37:27.639 went forth, and Gabriel came to show him because 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:30.239 Daniel is greatly beloved. Greatly beloved? That's 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:32.559 quite an affirmation. It is. And then Gabriel 00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:35.219 delivers another incredibly significant and much 00:37:35.219 --> 00:37:39.420 debated prophecy, the 70 weeks prophecy. 70 weeks. 00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:42.420 What's it's about? Gabriel says, 70 weeks are 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:44.579 determined upon thy people and upon thy holy 00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:46.679 city Jerusalem for several specific purposes. 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:49.380 Like what? To finish the transgression and to 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:51.559 make an end of sins and to make reconciliation 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:54.579 for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:57.480 and to seal up the vision and prophecy and to 00:37:57.480 --> 00:38:00.360 anoint the most holy. Basically, a period decree 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:02.699 to deal fully with sin and bring about God's 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:05.880 ultimate redemptive purposes. 70 weeks. That 00:38:05.880 --> 00:38:08.659 sounds short 490 days. Well, it's almost universally 00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:11.469 understood not as literal of days, but as weeks 00:38:11.469 --> 00:38:14.230 of years. So 70 sets of seven years equaling 00:38:14.230 --> 00:38:17.409 490 years. Ah, okay. A much longer time frame. 00:38:17.849 --> 00:38:20.800 How is this 490 year period broken down? Gabriel 00:38:20.800 --> 00:38:23.380 gives a specific structure. No, therefore, and 00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:26.280 understand that from the going forth of the commandment 00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:28.639 to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah, 00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:31.300 the Prince shall be seven weeks and three score 00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:34.280 and two weeks. Okay, so seven weeks plus 62 weeks, 00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:37.500 that's 69 weeks of years, or 483 years. From 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:39.699 a command to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah 00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:42.639 the Prince. Exactly. The starting point is usually 00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:45.639 linked to a decree by Persian kings like Arteserpsis 00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:48.579 allowing the rebuilding. Then, after that 69 00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:53.110 week, 183 year period Gabriel says shall Messiah 00:38:53.110 --> 00:38:55.710 be cut off, but not for himself Messiah will 00:38:55.710 --> 00:38:58.730 be cut off killed. That's the common interpretation 00:38:58.730 --> 00:39:01.130 suggesting a violent death and not for himself 00:39:01.130 --> 00:39:04.670 implies a vicarious substitutionary aspect. And 00:39:04.670 --> 00:39:06.809 following this, the prophecy states that the 00:39:06.809 --> 00:39:08.610 people of the prince that shall come shall destroy 00:39:08.610 --> 00:39:10.909 the city and the sanctuary. Destroy Jerusalem 00:39:10.909 --> 00:39:13.269 in the temple after the Messiah is cut off. Yes, 00:39:13.570 --> 00:39:15.349 often linked historically to the destruction 00:39:15.349 --> 00:39:18.710 of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD led by Titus, 00:39:18.849 --> 00:39:21.309 the son, prince of the emperor of Asasian. The 00:39:21.309 --> 00:39:23.670 prophecy continues speaking of war, desolations, 00:39:24.070 --> 00:39:26.269 and a figure who shall confirm the covenant with 00:39:26.269 --> 00:39:29.409 many for one week. The final week, the 70th week. 00:39:29.650 --> 00:39:32.469 Yes, that last seven year period. This figure 00:39:32.469 --> 00:39:34.670 confirms a covenant for that week, but in the 00:39:34.670 --> 00:39:36.530 midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice 00:39:36.530 --> 00:39:39.190 and the oblation to cease. He stops the temple 00:39:39.190 --> 00:39:41.489 worship. And because of the overspreading of 00:39:41.489 --> 00:39:43.809 abominations, he shall make it desolate until 00:39:43.809 --> 00:39:45.949 a determined end is poured out on the desolator. 00:39:46.309 --> 00:39:49.610 So a final seven year period involving a broken 00:39:49.610 --> 00:39:52.969 covenant and desecration. This sounds complex 00:39:52.969 --> 00:39:56.070 and heavily debated. Extremely complex and subject 00:39:56.070 --> 00:39:58.610 to numerous interpretations regarding the timing, 00:39:58.909 --> 00:40:00.730 the identity of the figures, and whether that 00:40:00.730 --> 00:40:04.030 final week is historical or still future. But 00:40:04.030 --> 00:40:07.230 it provides this remarkable, detailed, prophetic 00:40:07.230 --> 00:40:10.130 timeline centered around the Messiah and the 00:40:10.130 --> 00:40:12.760 fate of Jerusalem. Okay, one more major vision, 00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:16.260 right? In the time of Cyrus. Yes, finally, we 00:40:16.260 --> 00:40:18.860 come to Daniel's last incredibly detailed vision, 00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:21.280 recorded in the third year of Cyrus, King of 00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:23.960 Persia. It follows a period where Daniel had 00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:26.159 been mourning and fasting for three full weeks. 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:29.260 Why was he mourning? The text doesn't explicitly 00:40:29.260 --> 00:40:31.559 state why, but perhaps it was due to difficulties 00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:33.719 faced by the returning exiles and rebuilding 00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:35.800 the temple, or maybe the weight of the future 00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:38.179 conflicts revealed to him. While by the river 00:40:38.179 --> 00:40:41.280 Hitticale, the Tigris, he has an encounter. with 00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:43.739 Gabriel again. Not named as Gabriel this time, 00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:47.550 but a glorious heavenly being. He sees a certain 00:40:47.550 --> 00:40:50.329 man clothed in linen whose loins were girded 00:40:50.329 --> 00:40:53.469 with fine gold of uphaz. His body like barrel, 00:40:53.789 --> 00:40:56.389 face like lightning, eyes like lamps of fire, 00:40:56.610 --> 00:40:58.989 arms and feet like polished brass, and his voice 00:40:58.989 --> 00:41:01.710 like the voice of a multitude. An awe -inspiring 00:41:01.710 --> 00:41:04.570 figure. Absolutely. Daniel is terrified, falls 00:41:04.570 --> 00:41:07.369 on his face. The being touches him, strengthens 00:41:07.369 --> 00:41:09.929 him, and again tells Daniel he is greatly beloved. 00:41:10.329 --> 00:41:12.730 What is this being revealed? First, he reveals 00:41:12.730 --> 00:41:14.869 something fascinating about the spiritual battle 00:41:14.869 --> 00:41:17.570 behind earthly events. He says he was coming 00:41:17.570 --> 00:41:20.650 to Daniel, but the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia 00:41:20.650 --> 00:41:23.429 withstood me one in 20 days. The Prince of Persia, 00:41:23.989 --> 00:41:26.510 a spiritual entity opposing God's messenger. 00:41:26.829 --> 00:41:29.769 That's the interpretation, a demonic power associated 00:41:29.769 --> 00:41:31.809 with the Persian Empire hindering the angel. 00:41:32.230 --> 00:41:34.570 But then, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, 00:41:34.730 --> 00:41:37.329 the archangel, came to help me. This gives a 00:41:37.329 --> 00:41:39.750 glimpse into unseen spiritual warfare influencing 00:41:39.750 --> 00:41:42.429 human history. Wow, so what message did this 00:41:42.429 --> 00:41:45.769 being finally bring? He came to make Daniel understand 00:41:45.769 --> 00:41:48.130 what will happen to his people in the latter 00:41:48.130 --> 00:41:51.289 days. And then he unfolds this remarkably detailed 00:41:51.289 --> 00:41:54.349 prophecy of future conflicts, primarily between 00:41:54.349 --> 00:41:56.809 two recurring figures, the King of the South 00:41:56.809 --> 00:41:58.869 and the King of the North. King of the South, 00:41:59.030 --> 00:42:02.369 King of the North, Egypt and Syria, Ptolemies 00:42:02.369 --> 00:42:04.849 and Seleucids again. That's the predominant historical 00:42:04.849 --> 00:42:07.690 understanding. The vision provides an incredibly 00:42:07.690 --> 00:42:10.130 granular account of the back -and -forth wars, 00:42:10.429 --> 00:42:13.050 alliances, betrayals, and political maneuvering 00:42:13.050 --> 00:42:15.909 between these two Hellenistic kingdoms that constantly 00:42:15.909 --> 00:42:18.389 fought over the territory of Judea, caught in 00:42:18.389 --> 00:42:20.650 the middle. How detailed does it get? Amazingly 00:42:20.650 --> 00:42:23.429 detailed, it mentions. Three more Persian kings 00:42:23.429 --> 00:42:26.150 will arise, then a fourth, very rich one who 00:42:26.150 --> 00:42:28.309 will stir up everyone against Greece, likely 00:42:28.309 --> 00:42:31.389 Xerxes. Then a mighty Greek king, Alexander, 00:42:31.710 --> 00:42:33.670 whose kingdom will be broken and divided into 00:42:33.670 --> 00:42:36.710 four, but not to his descendants. Then it outlines 00:42:36.710 --> 00:42:39.360 specific conflicts. The king of the south becoming 00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:42.340 strong, alliances through marriage, a king's 00:42:42.340 --> 00:42:43.820 daughter given to the king of the north which 00:42:43.820 --> 00:42:47.000 fails, betrayals, captures of fortresses, invasions 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:50.039 back and forth, shifting power dynamics. It reads 00:42:50.039 --> 00:42:52.440 almost like a historical chronicle written in 00:42:52.440 --> 00:42:55.019 advance. Including specific tactics and outcomes. 00:42:55.280 --> 00:42:58.239 Yes, things like naval powers, strategic retreats, 00:42:58.400 --> 00:43:00.960 honoring gods with plunder. It also mentions 00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:04.199 the rise of a vile person who obtains the kingdom 00:43:04.199 --> 00:43:07.139 by flatteries and works deceitfully again, strongly 00:43:07.139 --> 00:43:10.039 pointing to Antiochus epiphanies. Does it describe 00:43:10.039 --> 00:43:12.260 his actions again? It does, referring to him 00:43:12.260 --> 00:43:14.280 polluting the sanctuary, taking away the daily 00:43:14.280 --> 00:43:16.559 sacrifice, placing the abomination that maketh 00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:18.960 desolate. It also mentions those who forsake 00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:21.000 the covenant being corrupted by flatteries, but 00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:23.699 the people who do know their God shall be strong 00:43:23.699 --> 00:43:26.559 and do exploits, hinting at the Mechabean resistance. 00:43:27.019 --> 00:43:29.360 It also talks about a king who exalts himself 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:33.030 above all gods. Yes. Later in the prophecy, it 00:43:33.030 --> 00:43:35.849 describes a powerful king, often still linked 00:43:35.849 --> 00:43:38.670 to Antiochus, or perhaps a future figure embodying 00:43:38.670 --> 00:43:42.750 similar traits, who shall exalt himself and magnify 00:43:42.750 --> 00:43:45.289 himself above every god, speaking marvelous things 00:43:45.289 --> 00:43:47.610 against the god of gods. He won't regard the 00:43:47.610 --> 00:43:49.849 gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, 00:43:50.050 --> 00:43:52.210 perhaps a deity like Tamuz or maybe family ties, 00:43:52.849 --> 00:43:55.789 nor any god, but will magnify himself above all. 00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:58.280 honoring a different God. He will honor the God 00:43:58.280 --> 00:44:01.599 of forces, or fortresses, a God his fathers didn't 00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:04.260 know, honoring him with gold, silver, precious 00:44:04.260 --> 00:44:07.239 stones, basically a God of military power. And 00:44:07.239 --> 00:44:09.969 this leads to a final conflict. Yes. The prophecy 00:44:09.969 --> 00:44:12.469 describes a final clash at the time of the end 00:44:12.469 --> 00:44:14.170 where the king of the south will push at him 00:44:14.170 --> 00:44:15.690 and the king of the north will come against him 00:44:15.690 --> 00:44:17.849 like a whirlwind with chariots, horsemen, and 00:44:17.849 --> 00:44:20.789 many ships. This king of the north will overflow, 00:44:21.269 --> 00:44:23.170 pass through countries, including entering the 00:44:23.170 --> 00:44:25.769 glorious land, Israel. Many countries will be 00:44:25.769 --> 00:44:28.250 overthrown. And his end. He'll eventually plant 00:44:28.250 --> 00:44:31.210 his royal tents between the seas and the glorious 00:44:31.210 --> 00:44:35.210 holy mountain, Jerusalem Mount Zion. Yet he shall 00:44:35.210 --> 00:44:37.690 come to his end and none shall help him. his 00:44:37.690 --> 00:44:40.550 destruction is certain. This whole section is 00:44:40.550 --> 00:44:42.849 just incredibly granular. It really feels like 00:44:42.849 --> 00:44:45.630 a pre -written script for history. It's why it's 00:44:45.630 --> 00:44:48.090 called the scripture of truth. The level of specific 00:44:48.090 --> 00:44:51.170 detail in predicting these intricate geopolitical 00:44:51.170 --> 00:44:53.989 maneuvers, alliances, and betrayals centuries 00:44:53.989 --> 00:44:57.449 in advance is unparalleled, making it a profound 00:44:57.449 --> 00:45:00.050 testament to foresight, however one interprets 00:45:00.050 --> 00:45:03.059 the mechanisms behind it. Wow. What an incredible, 00:45:03.300 --> 00:45:05.219 incredible deep dive into the book of Daniel. 00:45:05.400 --> 00:45:08.840 We've really journeyed through so much, personal 00:45:08.840 --> 00:45:11.900 resolve, you know, facing immense pressure. Miraculous 00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:14.340 deliverance, time and again. Yeah, the humbling 00:45:14.340 --> 00:45:16.619 of these incredibly proud rulers and then these 00:45:16.619 --> 00:45:19.400 intricate mind -bending prophecy spanning centuries. 00:45:19.900 --> 00:45:21.739 And if we try to connect this to the, you know, 00:45:21.780 --> 00:45:24.579 the bigger picture, the book of Daniel powerfully 00:45:24.579 --> 00:45:27.590 highlights these enduring themes. unwavering 00:45:27.590 --> 00:45:29.750 conviction, integrity, even when it costs you 00:45:29.750 --> 00:45:31.949 everything. The consequences of pride, that's 00:45:31.949 --> 00:45:34.710 a huge one. Huge. And the idea of these often 00:45:34.710 --> 00:45:37.969 unseen forces, both divine and maybe spiritual 00:45:37.969 --> 00:45:41.210 opposition, at play in the rise and fall of human 00:45:41.210 --> 00:45:44.329 empires, it's just this compelling exploration 00:45:44.329 --> 00:45:48.150 of how wisdom, integrity, and faith are portrayed 00:45:48.150 --> 00:45:50.809 as fundamentally shaping destiny, both personal 00:45:50.809 --> 00:45:54.130 and national. So, okay, bottom line. What does 00:45:54.130 --> 00:45:56.929 this all mean for you listening right now? Beyond 00:45:56.929 --> 00:45:59.690 the you know fascinating history and the prophetic 00:45:59.690 --> 00:46:02.289 insights what really stands out as the resilience, 00:46:02.429 --> 00:46:04.289 isn't it? Absolutely the resilience of Daniel 00:46:04.289 --> 00:46:06.730 and his friends Shadrach Meshach a bednego facing 00:46:06.730 --> 00:46:08.929 these impossible demands these life -or -death 00:46:08.929 --> 00:46:10.989 situations It really makes you think doesn't 00:46:10.989 --> 00:46:13.849 it when you're confronted with? Significant pressures, 00:46:13.849 --> 00:46:16.449 maybe not a fiery furnace, but pressures nonetheless 00:46:16.449 --> 00:46:20.059 to compromise your core beliefs your values What 00:46:20.059 --> 00:46:22.719 inner resources or maybe external support do 00:46:22.719 --> 00:46:25.059 you draw upon to remain steadfast? That's a great 00:46:25.059 --> 00:46:27.159 question and the narrative really emphasizes 00:46:27.159 --> 00:46:29.880 that knowledge and understanding the kind Daniel 00:46:29.880 --> 00:46:32.760 had aren't just about acquiring facts You know 00:46:32.760 --> 00:46:34.900 knowing stuff. It's more than that. It's about 00:46:34.900 --> 00:46:37.519 discerning deeper truths understanding their 00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:39.599 implications and figuring out how to navigate 00:46:39.599 --> 00:46:43.119 a world where power shifts Challenges are constant 00:46:43.119 --> 00:46:45.840 and standing for what's right isn't always easy 00:46:45.840 --> 00:46:49.190 or popular hmm Some profound things to think 00:46:49.190 --> 00:46:50.730 about there. Thank you so much for joining us 00:46:50.730 --> 00:46:52.829 on this deep dive. It's been fascinating. We 00:46:52.829 --> 00:46:54.469 really hope this exploration has given you a 00:46:54.469 --> 00:46:56.429 fresh perspective, maybe a shortcut to being 00:46:56.429 --> 00:46:59.269 really well informed and perhaps sparked some 00:46:59.269 --> 00:47:03.449 significant aha moments about one of history's 00:47:03.449 --> 00:47:06.469 most compelling figures and truly remarkable 00:47:06.469 --> 00:47:07.010 texts.