Nebuchanezzer’s Dream

So, as background, i had the urge the other night to read all the way through Daniel. It was a much easier read than I expected (most prophesy books are BORING to me- mostly cuz I can’t keep up with whats real, whats a vision, and no idea what the visions mean, etc.). But anyways, here’s my commentarie’s opinion on a couple places. Most of the rest of the story is pretty familiar- SHadrach, Meshack, Abednego in the furnace, Daniel In the Lions’ den. Watch the veggie tales stories, and you’ll get the gist (and some pretty catchy songs). :-) BUT… for a more “grown-up perspectives, here’s enduring word’s thoughts:

Here’s a “did you know…” Did you know that ‘from Daniel 2:4 to 7:28, the text is in Aramaic – not Hebrew. This is the only section of the Bible written in Aramaic. This was the language of the Babylonian Empire.’ (Enduring Word commentary)

I like this: “Christianity begins with the principle of revelation. What we know about God is what He has revealed to us. We do actively seek Him, but we seek what He has revealed. Our job isn’t to figure things out about God, but to understand what He has revealed to us.” (from Enduring Word Commentary on Daniel-as is most of what is below)

Nebuchanezzer’s First Dream:

Nebuchanezzer is the head of Gold (his absolute monarchy lasted 66 years). (”But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.”)

The three dominating empires that came after Babylon were: Medo-Persia (208 years), Greece (185 years), and Rome (more than 500 years). The nature of these empires is accurately reflected by the nature of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. Persia, a monarchial oligarchy with the nobles equal to the king in all but office, is represented by silver. Greece is set forth by brass, indicated the still lower value of it aristocracy of mind and influence, and Rome was a democratic imperialism, with military dominion dependent upon the choice of army and citizenry and administered in the spirit of martial law, is set forth by iron.” (Newell)

The stone cut without hands shatters a confederation of kings, represented by the feet of the image, and then God’s Kingdom dominates the earth. Since Roman history provides no fulfillment of this federation of kings (which seems to number ten, because of passages like Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12, and because of the number of toes) this prophecy must still be future. This final world empire will be according to the nature of clay mixed with iron. It will have more the image of true strength than the substance of strength. This stone cut without handsis the Messiah, not the Church. Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 8:14, Isaiah 28:16, and Zechariah 3:9 also refer to Jesus as a stone.

…interesting… but there’s more…