Daniel 8:9 says, And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.  We now have the little horn that became powerful against the south and east.  Matthew Henry says that Daniel saw a little horn which became a great persecutor of the church and people of God; and this was the principal thing that was intended to be shown to him in this vision, as afterwards.  Matthew Henry then says that "All agree that this was Antiochus Epiphanes (so he called himself) - the illustrious, but others called him Antiochus Epimanes - Antiochus the furious."  He also defeated that pleasant land, which referred to the Jews.  Verse ten says, And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.  According to Matthew Henry the host of heaven refers to those who believe in Christ and the stars cast down refer to their being killed, though they will never be truly defeated.  I know there are other interpretations, but I do not claim to know enough to support or dispute them.  I believe that the main message is the persecution of the church.  Verse eleven states, Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.  This ruler will make himself the object of worship and will take away the worship of all other gods, especially the one true God.  Verse twelve says, And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.  Daily worship of God was denied.  This was all going to occur because God's people had become profane in their worship of Him. Their daily sacrifices would become ritualistic instead of being based on a personal relationship with God.  This is why God would allow them to be defeated.  Verse thirteen says, Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?  Matthew Henry says that here the saints refer to two angels.  The question was asked how long this transgression against God's temple would last.  If we are suffering because of our faith in God, we may well ask how long this will last.  However long it is, it will not be forever, even if it lasts for the rest of our earthly existence.  Verse fourteen states, And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.  Daniel did not ask the question, but the answer was given to him.  We can be certain that God knows our questions and concerns even before we express them.  This oppression would be limited to two thousand three hundred days.  The oppression of God's people will always be for a limited time, but God's deliverance of His people is for time without end.

Daniel 7:24 says, And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.  Though still dealing with this fourth kingdom, Daniel is now told that the ten horns represent ten kings, and the little horn a king who will subdue three kings.  Matthew Henry says that the understanding of what kingdom and kings this represents is not agreed upon, and I believe there may be even more views today.   He then states, "Now I cannot prove either side to be wrong; and therefore, since prophecies sometimes have many fulfillings, and we ought to give scripture its full latitude (in this as in many other controversies),"  As I have said before, I believe that the important thing to realize is that there will be many rulers, or kingdoms, that will oppose Christianity and that before the return of Christ there will be one who is especially brutal to Christians.  We may assign this last kingdom, and even this last ruler, or little horn, to any nation or ruler today who opposes and persecutes Christians, but this should never change our faith in God.  Verse twenty-five says, And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.  When this last ruler is in power, he will speak boldly against God and wear out the saints.  He will attempt to change laws and customs, especially those relating to the word of God.  I don't believe the changing of times relates to something like daylight savings time, but to the times of the worship of God.  I know a lot of this is already happening in the world today, and it is only going to get worse as we get closer and closer to the return of Christ.  Verse twenty-six declares, But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.  This is what we as followers of Christ need to understand most of all.  Christ is already victorious, and as His followers so are we.  Verse twenty-seven states, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.  I believe that this will really just be a restoration of the way things were supposed to be from the beginning.  People were supposed to worship and serve God while having communion with Him. When Christ returns, this will be the way it is for the saints, those who have accepted salvation through faith in Christ.  Verse twenty-eight says, Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.  Daniel said that the matter was settled, but he was still troubled, but kept the matter in his heart.  We may not always understand everything about the prophesies of God, but we can be certain of the most important one, and that is that Christ will return victorious.

Daniel 7:19 says, Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;  This fourth beast was different than the others, seemingly being indestructible and very cruel.  Verse twenty states, And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.  The beast had ten horns, then another horn came up and overcame three of the other horns.  Daniel really wanted to know about the little horn with eyes and a mouth that spoke great things.  Verse twenty-one gives us the reason, stating, I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;  Daniel saw the little horn making war against the saints and prevailing.  I believe that Daniel was wondering if God's kingdom was some day going to be defeated.  Until this fourth beast, it had been an earthly kingdom against an earthly kingdom, but now it was an earthly kingdom against the saints of God and the earthly kingdom prevailed.  We can be certain that such a time is coming when there will be all out war by the world against the saints, the followers of Christ, but I do not profess to know when that will occur, but I believe there will be little doubt when it does.  Verse twenty-two states, Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.  Daniel was told that even though it seemed that the little beast had defeated the saints that this was not the case.  This would end when the Ancient of days, God Himself, judges the world at the second coming of Christ.  Then we, as followers of Christ, will truly possess the kingdom.  Verse twenty-three states, Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.  Daniel was told this fourth kingdom would be different than all the others and would devour the whole earth, treading it down and breaking it into pieces.  I believe that this means that this kingdom will have no concern for the world, but will destroy anything and everything to carry out its purpose, especially against the saints of God.  Though we can see where this might seemingly apply to certain countries today, so could the early Christians see it as applying in their day.. 

Daniel 7:15 says, I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.  Daniel had interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream and the hand writing on the wall for Belshazzar, but his own dreams left him troubled.  I will never claim to understand all of Daniel's dreams and visions, but do know that they represented certain kingdoms that would rule the earth.  The most important point is the coming kingdom of Christ, when all other kingdoms will pass away.  Verse sixteen states, I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.  Daniel had always relied on God to allow him to interpret God's message, whether in dreams or writing.  We must do the same.  Daniel asked one of those that stood by, an angel what this dream meant.  We may not have an angel to help us understand God's word, but we have the Holy Spirit, which is even better.  Daniel was given the interpretation.  I believe that we can always rely on God to help us understand His word to us.  Verse seventeen says, These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.  The great beasts represented four great kings, or kingdoms.  They were earthly kingdoms, and would pass away, as Matthew Henry says, like dust.  We can name four certain kingdoms that this applies to, but I don't believe that is not the main point.  Verse eighteen declares, But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.  For me, this is what I really need to know.  We, as followers of Christ, will live forever and ever in the kingdom of God when Christ returns.  Earthly kingdoms come and go, but God's kingdom is everlasting.  Daniel then asks for a better understanding of the fourth beast, so we will look at it separately.

Daniel 7:9 says, 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.  Here, Daniel speaks of the coming kingdom of God, which was ushered in by the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  God is referred to as the Ancient of days, sitting in white garment with a throne like flame.  All other thrones, or kingdoms are already defeated, since the coming of Christ, but when Christ returns all will bow down and worship Him.  For some, this will come too late and will result in the judgment of God without the mediation of Christ.  This is why we must be witnessing for Christ today with urgency. Verse ten declares, 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.  As the heavenly host ministers to God, the fiery stream awaits those who have not acknowledged Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Then, the books will be opened.  No one will be sent away unjustly by God, but they will be judged by their actions, if they have not accepted Christ.  Verse eleven says, I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.  Matthew Henry sees this as an earthly ruler, but I believe that it refers to the defeat of Satan himself.  Satan is the great deceiver behind all those kingdoms that do not acknowledge or even defy God, but he will be sent away to eternal punishment at the second coming.  Verse twelve states, As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.  Matthew Henry sees these other kingdoms as any that came after the Roman or Syrian empires, but this would not be after the books were opened in judgment.  I believe that this means that they have lost all their claim to power and are sent away to everlasting punishment.  Though all that people claim in this life will be destroyed, the soul is eternal.  Verse thirteen says, 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.  Daniel said he saw One like the Son of Man come in the clouds before the Ancient of Days.  As followers of Christ, He will come before God on our behalf.  Matthew Henry discussed this as referring to the birth or ascension of Christ, but I believe that it refers to the second coming.  Verse fourteen declares, 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.  When Christ came the first time, He came as a lowly carpenter's Son, but when He returns all dominion and glory will be given to Him forever.  Unlike all earthly kingdoms, no matter how powerful, the kingdom of Christ will never pass away.

Daniel 8:1 says, In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.  The book of Daniel is not chronological, and this vision, like the one in the last chapter, occured during the reign of Belshazzar.  When this vision occurred, Daniel seemed to be awake and the vision did not come in a dream.  God does indeed speak to us in many different ways.  Matthew Henry says it was most likely during the last year of his reign.  Matthew Henry also says that these events will also occur soon, affecting only the kingdoms of Persia and Greece.  We know that some of God's prophecies are fulfilled quickly, while others are yet to be fulfilled.  Verse two says, And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.   Daniel states that he saw a vision and that when he saw the vision he was at Shusan palace in the province of Elam, but in the vision he was by the river of Ulai.  This was one of the palaces of Persia, and Daniel was still in Babylon, so he was there spiritually and not physically.  We as followers of Christ are already spiritually in the kingdom of God, but we may never be there physically in this lifetime.  Yet, just as the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies was or is certain, so is the coming of God's kingdom.  Verse three states, Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.  Daniel begins to relate his vision.  He saw a ram with two horns, one of which was higher than the other.  This was really nothing all that unusual.  Sometimes God speaks to us through ordinary things, if we are listening to Him.  Verse four states, I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.  Daniel said the ram became great and none could stand against him.  Matthew Henry says this represented the Medes and the Persians, of which the Persians were greater.  Verse five says, And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.  There is still nothing truly extraordinary about what Daniel saw, other than maybe the fact that the goat didn't touch the ground and had a notable horn.  Matthew Henry says this refers to Alexander the Great and the Grecian empire, which defeated the Persians.  Verse eight says, And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the Medes and Persians, who had greater numbers in battle, but were no match for Alexander's army.  Sometimes, victory does not come to the army with the largest number.  Verse seven states, And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.  This is still a reference to Alexander's defeating the Medes and Persians.  Verse eight says, Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.  Like all the others, Alexander's kingdom, again which Matthew Henry says this refers to, came to an end and was divided into four parts.  He said these were Syria, Egypt, Asia and Greece.  The one message that I am sure that we can get from this is that no earthly kingdom, no matter how powerful, will never last forever.

Daniel 7:1 says, In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.  We are now backing up in time to the first year of Belshazzar's reign.  We are also being told of some of Daniel's dreams and visions.  These are prophetic visions, and as Matthew Henry says they are hard to interpret.  They do point to suffering for God's people and not for the prosperity that many Jews expected to come in this world.  God's kingdom is spiritual and not physical.  The first eight verses speak of the four beasts that Daniel saw in his dreams.  Verse two states, Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.  Daniel first speaks of the four winds of heaven.  Matthew Henry said this represented kingdoms or those rulers within a kingdom always being at war with each other.  Verse three states, And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.  After the four winds, Daniel saw four great beasts rising out of the sea.  These beasts were different from one another.  Verse four states, The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.  Matthew Henry says this first beast represented the Chaldeans, who had a heart like a lion and wings like an eagle for a time.  Then, they had their wings plucked and their heart was a man's heart.  Their power went away.  Kingdoms on earth can be powerful for a time, then just lose their power.  Verse five states, And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.  Matthew Henry says this beast represented the Persian monarchy, which was like a bear and the ribs in its mouth represented kingdoms that were devoured.  This kingdom was not quite as glorious as the Chaldean kingdom, but was more brutal.  Verse six states, After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard,which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.  According to Matthew Henry, this beast represented the Grecian empire, which under Alexander the Great was even larger and more powerful than the empire of Nebuchadnezzar.  Upon the death of Alexander the Great, the kingdom was divided between four rulers.  Verse seven says, After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.   This is unnamed beast is considered by some to represent the Roman empire, which did rule most of the known world and was at times very brutal.  Verse eight says, I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.  This little horn in this case would be the Turkish empire, which defeated three of the kingdoms within the Roman empire.  Others consider this fourth kingdom to be Syrian, and the horns its ten rulers, with the little horn representing Antiochus Epiphanes, who by whatever means claimed the power of three of the other ten.  This is all according to Matthew Henry.

Daniel 6:24 says, And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.  These were the men who had plotted against Daniel, and in effect against God.  They had wanted to silence Daniel because he had prospered under God's blessing.  Instead of looking to God for this same type blessing, they wanted to silence Daniel and remain true to their gods.  There are people today who will do everything they can to silence those who truly follow and speak for the only true God.  We might think it extreme that the wives and children were thrown into the lions den as well, but it was a common practice to punish the family along with the guilty in that day.  They were all devoured by the lions, but if there were those who had acknowledged God as their God, they were still delivered to everlasting life.  Verse twenty-five states, Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.  Darius was once again writing to all people, but this time he was wishing them peace.  He really could not dictate peace though, because only God can bring peace to the world. Verse twenty-six says, I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.  Though it was better that Darius decree that everyone worship the God of Daniel than that they worship some other God, that did not mean that everyone was suddenly saved.  The only way that we can acknowledge God as our God is individually.  A right relationship with God can only come from a person accepting Christ as Savior and Lord themself.  Darius could not, nor can we, force people to acknowledge God for Who He is.  Verse twenty-seven states, He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.  Darius was correct about Who God is.  God does indeed deliver and rescue us from the power of sin, and by the very order of the universe He works signs and wonders.  In our own lives, though it may not be from the lions den, we as followers of Christ should be able to see where God has delivered us from bad situations.  Most importantly, we can see where God, through our faith in Christ, has delivered us from the power of sin and death.  Verse twenty-eight says, So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.  Daniel continued to prosper, even during another reign change.  Kingdoms on earth may change but, if we are followers of Christ, we know that we shall prosper forever, no matter what happens in this life.  We should simply remain true to God, whether we are in the lions den or are one of the most powerful people in the country.

Daniel 6:16 says, Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.  Darius had no choice.  He had to put Daniel in the lions den.  Still, he expressed faith that Daniel's God would deliver him.  Sometimes, even those who are not followers of Christ recognize God's power.  I believe that this will only occur when we are totally obedient to God through the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit.  Daniel's obedience only rewarded him with the lions den.  We sometimes hear the thought expressed that God does not want us to be unhappy, so He will give us anything we desire strongly enough.  This has never been God's teaching.  Verse seventeen states, And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.  The king made sure that Daniel could not sneak out, but I don't think Daniel would have anyway.  He was relying on and being true to God, no matter what.  Daniel defied the law that came between God and him, but being held accountable for the consequences did not change.  We cannot stay true to our faith in God only because we believe that He will always keep us from suffering any consequences for our faith.  Daniel's faith got him sealed in a den of lions.  We need this same faith.  Verse eighteen states, Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.  Darius had a sleepless night, but I don't believe that Daniel did.  When we are secure in our relationship with God, we should rest easy at night.  Through our relationship with Christ we should be at peace in our lives, no matter what.  We are God's children forever through our faith in Christ.  Verse nineteen says, Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.  The king had sealed Daniel in overnight, but that didn't mean that he had to keep him there longer than necessary.  Verse twenty states, And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?  When the king put Daniel in the lions den, he said that Daniel's God would deliver him, but he didn't truly believe this.  If he had, he would not have had a sleepless night and have now been questioning if God had delivered Daniel.  The king was more concerned with Daniel than he was with God, which is why it said he spoke in a lamentable voice.  He feared that Daniel was dead.  Acknowledging that God exists is not the same as putting one's faith in His ability to deliver us.  In verse twenty-one Daniel replies, Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.  Daniel did not speak angrily to the king.  I believe his greeting was more sincere than that of the other wise men who had failed to to interpret the writing, because they feared the king, and Daniel did not.  In verse twenty-two Daniel continues, My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  Daniel said that God had shut the mouths of the lions, because Daniel was innocent before God and the king.  This did not mean that Daniel had never committed a sin, but instead that he remained true to God even when faced with the very real threat of death.  We need to pray that God will find us innocent in our actions in the world through the sacrifice of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.  We must remain faithful to our death, no matter how imminent it may seem if we do so.  God has already delivered us from the power of death.  Verse twenty-three says, Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.  The king was exceedingly glad that Daniel was unharmed.  Daniel was brought out of the lions den unharmed because he believed in his God.  We must have that same faith in God, Who was Daniel's God.

Daniel 6:10 says, Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.  Daniel was aware of the decree, but he did not allow it to alter his worship of God.  The decree was not that anyone had to worship Darius, but was that no other god could be worshipped for thirty days.  Daniel could have just gone along with the decree and not worship God for thirty days, or he could have done so quietly in his own home, but he did not alter his worship at all.   Daniel knelt before his open windows three times a day and prayed.  If confronted with a situation where acknowledging God might be dangerous, we cannot allow ourselves to just go along and not acknowledge Him, even for a short period of time.  We must remain as faithful as Daniel was.  We cannot alter our worship of and obedience to God to conform to the dictates of the world.  Verse eleven states, Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.  These presidents and princes did not just happen to notice Daniel praying to God.  They assembled to watch him, knowing he would not obey the decree.  There are people today who want nothing more than to discredit Christians, and the more faithful we are, the more they desire this.  We need to pray that the only way they hope to discredit us is due to our faithfulness to God.  Verse twelve declares, Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.  They had what they wanted, and that was a way to get rid of Daniel.  I believe this would have been the first day of the decree.  They went to Darius, supposedly out of concern for his decree being violated, but they were never concerned about him anyway.  People still use flattery today to get what they want from those in power.  Verse thirteen states, Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.  The other presidents and princes had what they wanted, which was some way to discredit or destroy Daniel.  They could not find a way to discredit Daniel through his work for Darius, so they attempted to get rid of Daniel through his devotion to God.  That is a good place to be.  It is always good that no one can discredit us because of our having done something wrong in the eyes of the world and can only attack us due to our devotion to God. They told the king that three times a day Daniel was praying to his God and not the king.   Verse fourteen declares, Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.  The king was not upset with Daniel, but was upset with himself for issuing the decree.  He spent the day trying to figure out a way to deliver Daniel, but the law prevented him from doing so.  Verse fifteen states, Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.  The king had to follow his decree.  There may be some in power today who feel that certain laws are wrong, but unless they are changed they must be enforced.  If a law comes between God and us, we must remain true to God, no matter what happens.

Daniel 6:1 says, It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;  Darius set up the government the way he wanted it.  When governments are overthrown today, those coming to power establish their own system of government.  Verse two states, And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.  Over the hundred and twenty princes, Darius placed three presidents, and Daniel was first.  This had nothing to do with Belshazzar's promotion of Daniel, because he was no longer in charge.  Verse three says, Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.  Daniel was preferred over the others and was placed over the whole realm.  I believe this was because Daniel was not attempting to gain power for himself, but was honestly doing what was best for Darius under the leadership of God.  If we, as followers of Christ, are placed in a position of power, or authority, we must always do what is best for the ones we serve under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and never for personal glory.  Verse four states, Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. The other presidents and princes did not like Daniel, this Jew who was a Babylonian captive that now ruled over them.  Yet, the could find nothing to accuse him of to cause him to be removed from power.  We need the same testimony today.  We need to be honest in all our dealings with others.  Verse six says, Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.  Those who plotted against Daniel knew the only way to cause Daniel to fail was by utilizing his relationship to God and His law.   We know that Christians today are charged with all sorts of negative things because of their stand for God and His law.  Verse six says, Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. The presidents and princes began to put their plan into action by appealing to Darius' vanity, appearing to have his best interest at heart.  Verse seven states, All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.  They really did make it seem that what they proposed was for the kings glory.  He would be the only one worshipped for thirty days.  They knew this was long enough for their purpose.  They knew Daniel would not go thirty days without worshipping God and he would never worship Darius.  Are people as certain about our faithfulness as followers of Christ today?  Verse eight requests, Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.  For their plan to succeed, they had to convince the king to issue a decree in writing so that it could not be changed.  They wanted no loophole for Daniel.  Verse nine says, Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.  The king, likely due to his vanity, signed the decree.

Daniel 5:24 says, Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.  Daniel told Belshazzar that it was because of his actions in claiming the temple vessels as his own that he saw the part of the hand writing on the wall.  We sometimes hear the expression that we have seen the writing on the wall, but we don't always associate it with God's judgment.  We need to acknowledge, that by whatever method, God will make people aware of their sin.  In verse twenty-five Daniel states, And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.  Since the writing was from God, those who did not know Him could not understand it.  They may have even been able to pronounce the words, but they didn't know what they meant.  The same is true today.  God's judgment is certain, unless we accept Christ as our Savoir and Lord.  Until we do, we cannot begin to understand what God has to say to us.  There is no way that someone who doesn't know God can tell us about God and His will for us.  Verse twenty-six says, This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE: God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.  Daniel begins a word by word interpretation of the message.  The first thing was that God had numbered Belshazzar's kingdom.  We can also be certain that our kingdom, our time on earth, is numbered.  It will end, either in death or at the return of Christ.  Verse twenty-seven then states, TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.  God weighed Belshazzar with God's scale, and no matter how important Belshazzar was in the eyes of the world, by God's scale he was found wanting.  When God weighs our lives, we will always be wanting, or come up short.  It is only through the sacrifice of Christ that we can be restored. Verse twenty-eight says, PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.  Beshazzar's kingdom was going to be divided between the Medes and Persians.  What we amass in this world will not last forever.  When we die, it will be claimed by others, yet we often put more emphasis on the things of the world than we do on the things of God.  Verse twenty-nine states, Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.  There is nothing said about Belshazzar repenting.  He did fulfill his promise of making the one who interpreted the writing, which turned out to be Daniel, a third ruler of the kingdom.  Still, this was an empty promise, because his kingdom was coming to an end.  Any worldly possession or position we are given in this world is likewise an empty promise.  Verse thirty declares, In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.  We might say that God didn't give Belahazzar much time to make things right, but God had given him a lifetime.  Belshazzar knew of the experience of his father, Nebuchadnezzar, but still chose to defy God.  People today choose to ignore the teachings of the Bible and the example of Christians, sometimes even their own parents, and the time will come when God judges them, and they will be found wanting.  Verse thirty-one states, And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.  Not only was there a new king, but there was a new kingdom in power.  Still, God was and is and always will be the ultimate authority.

Daniel 5:17 says, 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.  As with the rich foods of the Nebuchadnezzar earlier, Daniel told Belshazzar that he did not want the money and power that was offered him.  If we start to accept material rewards before we will proclaim God's word, then we have truly lost sight of what we are called to do.  There is a difference in witnessing for reward and relying on God to meet our needs.  Verse eighteen says, O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:  Daniel begins by proclaiming the power of God.  He said that God had given Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's father, his kingdom and glory.  As stated earlier, we can ask if God actually placed Nebuchadnezzar in power, or simply allowed him to rise to power.  In verse nineteen Daniel continues, And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.  God gave or allowed Nebuchadnezzar to have great power over all the nations around him.  There are nations today that have great power and deny God, but the fact that God allows them to maintain this power does not mean that He gives them this power.  I do not believe that God changes nations, but that He changes individuals who change nations.  That is why we need moral leaders, those who are dedicated to following God.  Verse twenty states, But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:  I believe that by now Belshazzar might have been wondering why Daniel was telling him all this.  He had to have known what had happened to his father during Nebuchadnezzar's time of disgrace, as we might say.  Sometimes we may need to remind people of God's work in the past in order to get them to understand that God is still at work today and will never change.  Verse twenty-one says,  And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.   Daniel reminded Belshassar of what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar when he refused to acknowledge God.  God's judgment does not change with time or situations, but is always sure and just.  Verse twenty-two states, And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;  Basically, Daniel told Belshazzar that he was without excuse for his behavior.  He knew what God had done in Nebuchadnezzar's life.  We will never be able to stand before God and justify our rebellion against Him.  In verse twenty-three Daniel declares, 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:  Daniel still had not interpreted the writing, but he was telling Belshazzar the reason for the writing.  Belshazzar not only didn't recognize God, but he went out of his way to defy God by using the temple vessels as his own.  The reason that any person is punished by God is because of their refusal to acknowledge Him.  I also believe that we can never use the things of God for our own purposes without being held accountable for doing so.

Daniel 5:9 says, Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.  Belshazsar was greatly troubled.  His appearance astonished his lords.  Belshazzar had looked to worldly advisors to interpret God's word, and naturally they failed.  Unless a person has a relationship with God, or asks someone who does for help, they can never understand God's word.  Had Belshazzar recognized that God was the author of the writing and had acknowledged Him, I believe that he would have known what the writing meant.  This is what happens when a lost person acknowledges God.  That person begins to understand God's word.  Verse ten states, Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:  The queen heard about what had happened and came to the banquet hall, which would imply that she wasn't there when all this was happening.  Still, she wished for the best for Balshazzar.  She told him to cheer up.  She had good news for him.  When we encounter lost people today, we should tell them to cheer up, because we have good news for them.  Though our good news, the gospel, brings everlasting salvation and not just a temporary solution as the queen's did.  In verse eleven she declares, There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; She said there was a man in the kingdom who could interpret the writing.  At least she remembered the God given ability of Daniel.  Verse twelve states, Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.  Evidently, Daniel did not associate himself with these other wise men, whose purpose was to tell the king his future.  There are those today who want to be around the source of power and will say anything to keep the person in power happy, but they can never change the coming judgment of God.  Verse thirteen states, Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?  Evidently, Belshazzar was familiar with what Daniel had done during Nebuchadnezzar's reign.  He said that Nebuchadnezzar had brought Daniel out of Jewry, which meant that he didn't understand everything about Daniel.  Daniel and his friends were still committed to the Jewish faith and the God of the Jews, the only true God.  Knowing the good works of a follower of Christ is not enough to save a person without knowing Christ Himself.  Verse fourteen says, I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.  Belshazzar still did not acknowledge that Daniel served the only God, but thought that the spirit of the gods lived in Daniel.  Had Belshazzar acknowledged God, he would not have profaned the things of God.  Then he wouldn't have been in this position.  Ultimately we will be held accountable for our actions, and our only hope is through salvation made available by Christ.  Verse fifteen states, And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:  Belshazzar may have been surprised by the failure of the so called wise men, but I doubt that Daniel was.  We should not be surprised that those who are not followers of Christ cannot answer questions related to God.  Verse sixteen says, And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.  Belshazzar thought that he could buy the interpretation.  There are still people today who want to buy themselves into a right relationship with God, but salvation is never about money and power, but only about faith.

Daniel 5:1 says, Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.  Balthazar, Nebuchadnezzar's son was now king of Babylon and had been for about seventeen years, according to Matthew Henry.  Belshazzar had fought Cyrus, the king of Persia and lost and was now under siege in the city.  Instead of turning to God for help, he decided to have a great feast and defy God.  Verse two states, Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his 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.  Maybe Belshazzar felt that by profaning the things of God he would make himself look more powerful.  There are still those in the world today who, when they find themselves in great distress, instead of turning to God attempt to make themselves look more powerful than God.  Verse three states, Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.  Belshazzar and those gathered with him were using the things dedicated to God for their own purposes.  When we fail to acknowledge the authority of God in our lives today, we do the same thing.  What God blesses us with is still His and is to be used for His glory and not for our own pleasure.  Verse four declares, They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.  Not only did Belshazzar and his friends profane the things of God, but they praised their false gods as well.  Anytime we do not give God the credit for all that is happening in our lives, we are guilty of giving credit to some false god, some material thing.  Verse five states, In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.  Belshassar was celebrating, then he saw the part of a hand that wrote writing on the wall.  He might have just thought he was drunk, except for the writing.  It is hard to dismiss the word of God when it is clearly written for us, whether on a wall or in a book, the Bible.  Verse six says, Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.  Belshazsar was terrified by what he saw.  When an unsaved person encounters God in judgment today, they should be just as terrified.  Verse seven says, The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.  Belshazzar had learned nothing from Nebuchadnezzar.  He called on the same group of so called wise men, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers.  He promised them great rewards if they could interpret the hand writing.  When a person is terrified by the judgment of God, the things of this earth become much less important.  Belshazzar was willing to give up a lot to have the handwriting interpreted.  Verse eight declares, Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.  As with Nebuchadnezzar, the wise men failed.  They could not interpret it, since it was God's word and they did not acknowledge Him.  Those who do not know God cannot understand what He has to say to anyone.

Daniel 4:28 says, All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.  Evidently Nebuchadnezzar did not take the council of Daniel, just like many lost people will not accept the gospel today when it is presented to them.  When they don't, they will suffer the judgment of God, just as Nebuchadnezzar did.  Verse twenty-nine states, At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.  It was a year before this dream, or prophecy from God, was fulfilled.  This was time for Nebuchadnezzar to repent.  God will never act in haste to destroy those who will not acknowledge Him.  Nebuchadnezzar may have even begun to feel that Daniel was wrong.  As the return of Christ lingers, there are those who die thinking this is proof that it this is not going to happen, but as followers of Christ we know it will.  Verse thirty states, The king spake, and said, 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?  Nebuchadnezzar was walking in his palace and bragging on his accomplishments.  He did not acknowledge God.  There are people today who like to boast of their accomplishments and attempt to bring credit to themselves and not God.  Verse thirty-one declares, While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.  Even as Nebuchadnezzar was boasting of his greatness, God overruled him.  As Daniel had foretold, God said the kingdom was departed from Nebuchadnezzar.  We may boast of our own accomplishments without acknowledging God, but those things we do without honoring God will certainly pass away.  Verse thirty-two says, And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.  The fulfillment of the prophecy, or the dream, was to come to pass, just as Daniel had interpreted it.  We can likewise be certain that God's prophecy for the end of the world will come to pass, when God deems the time to be right.  Verse thirty-three declares, The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.  God had waited a year from the fulfillment of the dream, but now judgment had come.  No matter how long God waits, His judgment is sure.  We can never afford to delay our acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord, because God may not wait for us forever to make that decision.  In verse thirty-four Nebuchadnezzar declares,  And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:  This was Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony that what God had said would happen did happen.  When Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses, he praised God.  He acknowledged the everlasting nature of God and His kingdom.  No matter where we are at in life, when we return to our senses we will acknowledge God.  The Bible tells us that the fool has said in his heart there is no God, so we must turn to a true knowledge of God to be sensible.  Then, we need to praise God and share that knowledge with the world.  Verse thirty-five says, And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?  Nebuchadnezzar simply stated the superiority of God over all His creation.  God has not changed.  He still sustains the world.  Verse thirty-six says, At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.  Nebuchadnezzar said that he was returned to his former glory as a ruler.  When we acknowledge Christ as our Savior and Lord, things on earth may not become a lot better materially, but we will be restored to a right relationship with God and become a part of His everlasting kingdom.  In verse thirty-seven, Nebuchadnezzar vows, 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 said he would praise and extol God instead of himself.  Like Nebuchadnezzar, we must come humbly before God.

Daniel 4:19 says, Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.  Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.  Daniel was astonished at the interpretation of the dream, which was evidently very clear to him.  Though Nebuchadnezzar was still oppressing the Jews, Daniel did not take delight in telling him of his being overthrown.  Nebuchadnezzar, thinking Daniel might be afraid to tell him because Daniel feared the consequences of doing so, told him not to be troubled.  Daniel then told Nebuchadnezzar that the dream was for those who hated Nebuchadnezzar.  We should never be afraid to speak God's word, even if it pronounces destruction to those we are speaking to.  We cannot alter the gospel to make people feel better about not accepting it.  In verse twenty Daniel declares, The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;  Then continuing in verse twenty-one, Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:  Then concluding in verse twenty-two, It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.  Daniel said that the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar, whose kingdom had grown vast and powerful.  So far, this would seem like a good thing, but even if a king is the most powerful ruler in the world, his kingdom is limited.  All earthly kingdoms, no matter how great, will one day be destroyed and Christ alone will rule.  Verse twenty-three states, And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;  Daniel had said that Nebuchadnezzar was the tree, and now he was saying that Nebuchadnezzar saw a watcher and holy one come down from heaven and order the tree to be cut down.  This was not good news for Nebuchadnezzar, but the truth of the coming destruction of those who do not accept the authority and leadership of God will never be good news.  Verse twenty-four states, This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that this was not only the interpretation but also the decree of the most High.  Though Daniel did not say God, he did convey the idea when he said most High.  Since God had proclaimed it, it would come to pass.  It is possible that this could have changed had Nebuchadnezzar repented and acknowledged God.  We are told in no uncertain terms what the fate of those who deny God is, unless they repent and accept Christ as their savior.  Verse twenty-five says, That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.  Daniel said that Nebuchadnezzar would be overthrown and live like the beast of the field, eating grass and covered by the dew.  This would continue for seven years, until Nebuchadnezzar recognized that God rules the kingdom of men.  God will indeed strike down the kingdoms of the earth at the second coming, not for seven years but forever.  Verse twenty-six states, And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom would be restored to him after he acknowledged God.  In verse twenty-seven Daniel declares, Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.  Daniel asked the king to accept his council and begin living by God's guidance now.  Had Nebuchadnezzar done so, he might have avoided the coming destruction of his kingdom.  God does not wish to destroy but to redeem those who rebel against Him.

Daniel 4:10 says, Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.  We need to remember that Nebuchadnezzar had been at peace in his bed when this dream came, but it made him afraid.  When God is truly speaking to a lost person about what their future holds, they should be afraid.  Nebuchadnezzar said he saw a very tall tree in the midst of the earth.  Verse eleven states, The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:  Nebuchadnezzar was simply telling his dream, and though all those who had said before that they could tell Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation if they knew the dream, they had failed to do so.  Now, Nebuchadnezzar was relying on Daniel, but he still was not relying on God.  We, as followers of Christ, have direct access to God and do not need to go to or through anyone to know His will for our lives.  This tree reached into heaven.  Verse twelve states, The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.  Nebuchadnezzar was still simply telling his dream, but this tree was able to basically meet the needs people, animals and birds.  So far, there would seem to be nothing disturbing about the dream.  Verse thirteen says, I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;  Though the tree grew up into heaven, Nebuchadnezzar said he saw a Holy One come down from heaven.  Without getting into the interpretation too much, we know that we cannot reach God except through the Holy One Who came down from heaven, Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen states, He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:  This is still just Nebuchadnezzar telling his dream to Daniel.  In verse fifteen he continues,  Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: Verse sixteen states, Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.  Then verse seventeen concludes the dream stating, This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.  The purpose of the dream was somewhat explained in this verse, but not the interpretation.  Verse eighteen states, This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.  Nebuchadnezzar told Daniel that this was his dream and that, although all the wise men of his kingdom could not tell him the answer, that he felt Daniel could.  Nebuchadnezzar said he believed this because the spirit of the holy god lived in Daniel.  I still don't believe that Nebuchadnezzar recognized that there was but one God.  People may come to us, who are followers of Christ today for answers, because they see something different in us, and yet still not acknowledge God.  When someone acknowledges God, they can go directly to Him for answers.

Daniel 4:1 says, Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.  Nebuchadnezzar himself was telling this story.  He was speaking, or more likely writing, about what had happened, not what might happen.  He wished peace for all the people who heard his story.  What he was to say did not make Nebuchadnezzar look good, but instead glorified God.  We need to always give God the glory, even if it shows our own weakness and failure.  Verse two states, I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.  Just as Nebuchadnezzar said that he thought it good to relate the signs and wonders done to him by the high God, so must we tell the world about what God has done and is doing in our lives.  We are to witness for Christ, even if God has to rebuke or punish our actions.  Verse three declares, 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.  Nebuchadnezzar was shown the limited duration of his kingdom and came to realize the everlasting nature of God's kingdom.  No matter what nation we live in today, that nation is but temporary.  At the return of Christ, all nations will cease to exist.  Verse four says, I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:  Nebuchadnezzar was at peace and flourishing in his palace.  We might say he didn't have a care in the world.  He was a powerful king.  We may be at peace in our position in the world today and feel that this is all we need, but if we are not living for God, then it is a false peace.  This is what Nebuchadnezzar was to find out.  Verse five states, I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.  Once more, while Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in his house, God gave him a disturbing dream.  I believe that God is always at work attempting to call people to Him.  God had been at work in Nebuchadnezzar's life on more than one occasion, and He was still at work in Nebuchadnezzar's life.  God does not give up easily on people, and neither should we.  Verse six states, Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.  Once more, Nebuchadnezzar called all the wise men to tell him what the dream meant.  Maybe he figured if they knew the dream they could tell him the interpretation.  Verse seven says, Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.  Once more all the magicians, astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, all those who claimed some special ability to tell the future, failed.  There are people today who go to those who are supposedly able to tell the future, and even if they are not correct in what they fortell, people still go back to them.  Nebuchadnezzar should have learned from his earlier experience, and so should people today. In verse eight Nebuchadnezzar declares, But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,  Nebuchadnezzar was still relying on his god, but he recognized that the Spirit of the holy God was in Daniel.  It is sad that many people are still that way today.  They cling to their own god while recognizing the power of the one true God in the lives of those who follow Christ.  Verse nine says, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.  Nebuchadnezzar called Belteshazzar, Daniel's Babylonian name, the master of magicians, but he was not.  Daniel was simply a man relying on the power of God to guide him.  At least Nebuchadnezzar got it partly right when he again said the Spirit of the Holy God lived in Daniel, but he was wrong because he said holy gods.  Nebuchadnezzar still did not acknowledge that there was but one God.  We cannot make God just one of many gods.

Daniel 3:24 says, Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  Evidently Nebuchadnezzar was watching to make sure that Shabrach, Meschach, and Abednego were destroyed, but he was astonished instead.  Those who attempt to destroy God's work, or His messengers will often be astonished at God's deliverance of them.  He asked if they threw three men in the fire, though he had to have known the answer, and those around him told him that was true.  Verse twenty-five says, He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.  Nebuchadnezzar said he saw four men walking loose and unhurt in the midst of the fire, and the fourth was like unto the Son of God.  Their bindings were burned off, but not they clothes.  They were free, but they didn't run out.  More importantly, they were not alone.  There was a fourth man in the fire, like unto the Son of God.  When we are in the midst of the fire, God will protect us.  Our first thought should not be to escape, but to walk freely in God's grace until He calls us out.  Verse twenty-six declares, Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.  Nebuchadnezzar came near the mouth of the furnace and called them out. He also called them the servants of the most high God.  Nebuchadnezzar had placed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace, and they stayed until he called them out.  We need to be willing to stay in the furnace if necessary until God's purpose is fulfilled.  Nebuchadnezzar recognized that these three served a God greater than any image that he could create.  He called Him the most high God, and that is Who we serve.  Not only is He the most high God, but He is the only God.  Verse twenty-seven states, And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.  One of these people would have been the one who told Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had defined his order.  Now, instead of burning up, they had seen them walking unharmed and unbound with a fourth man in the fire and come out without even being singed.  When people attempt to destroy God's people, they are ultimately going to be disappointed, because God will deliver His people from death.  Verse twenty-eight says, Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.  Nebuchadnezzar had already acknowledged the superiority of the one true God when Daniel interpreted his dream, but he still had not accepted God as his God, so he once again acknowledged and blessed God.  Just because someone sees God do miraculous things in the world does not mean that they are going to accept Him as their God.  Verse twenty-nine states, Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.  Now, Nebuchadnezzar was ready to destroy anyone who spoke against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  We, as followers of Christ, cannot want the destruction of those who speak against God, but must pray for their salvation instead.  Nebuchadnezzar still did not say that he believed in and would follow God.  Verse thirty declares, Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.  The king had ordered them thrown into the fiery furnace, and now he promoted them.  When we come through the fire, we may not be materially blessed, but our faith should grow even stronger.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went into the fire to remain faithful to God, not so that they might be rewarded if God delivered them from the fire.  We must remain faithful to God simply because He has delivered us to everlasting life, no matter what happens to us here on earth.

Daniel 3:14 says, Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  Nebuchadnezzar allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego an opportunity to deny the charges against them.  He didn't just take the word of their accusers.  While appearing to be fair, he still expected them to obey his decree.  There are decrees, or laws, today that go against what God teaches, and we as followers of Christ are expected to follow them with no consideration of our beliefs.  Verse fifteen states, Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?  Nebuchadnezzar gave them a chance to change their minds and obey his decree, which meant worshipping the image that he had made.  If not, they were to be immediately thrown into the fiery furnace.  If given the chance to avoid punishment, whatever it might be, if we will follow the law of man instead of the law of God, we must remain faithful to God.  Verse sixteen states, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  They did not have to consider what to say.  They knew that there was only one answer possible.  We need that same type faith today.  Verse seventeen declares, 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.  They did not say that they knew that God would deliver them from this particular situation, but their faith was still in God and not Nebuchadnezzar.  We cannot serve God only when we know for certain that He will deliver us from a bad situation, but must serve Him no matter what.  Verse eighteen states, 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.  I believe that the "but if not" often causes us to fail or waver in our faith.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said whether God delivered them from the fiery furnace or not that they would remain faithful to Him.  We cannot look at a situation where we feel that God has failed us, though He never will, and use that to justify questioning Him.  We must be willing to go into the furnace if necessary, knowing that even if this body is destroyed that our soul is eternally secure with God. Verse nineteen says, Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.  Though earlier, when Daniel had interpreted his dream, Nebuchadnezzar had proclaimed the greatness of God, he was now angry that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were proclaiming their faith to Him.  He ordered the furnace to be heated excessively hot.  When we stand for God in defiance of some ruler, or maybe just a rich and powerful person, we should not be surprised if we anger them and they attempt to destroy us.  Verse twenty says, And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.  Nebuchadnezzar was taking no chances.  He had the strongest men of his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abebnego and throw them into the furnace.  Verse twenty-one states, Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  They were bound with all their garments and thrown in.  Verse twenty- two declares, Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  This says that the fire was so hot that it killed those who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in.  Nebuchadnezzar lost some of his mightiest soldiers.  We might think, if we did not know the outcome, that God had failed Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego.  Well, they did not know the outcome when they went into the fiery furnace, but their faith was still in God delivering them, whether in this life or the one to come.  We cannot always know the outcome of every test of our faith in this world, but we can know that God will deliver us onto everlasting life if we are followers of Christ, no matter what happens in this world.  Verse twenty-three says, And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  I don't believe they regretted their decision to stand for God even as they lay bound in the furnace.  Neither should we ever doubt our faith in and standing for God, no matter what happens.

Daniel 3:7 says, Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  Since Nebuchadnezzar made the decree, we can assume he would want to see if it would be obeyed.  Until the actual playing of the music the people did not have to make a choice.  Today, until we are actually faced with having to worship some idol or false god, we do not really have our faith put to a test.  This verse states that all the people fell down and worshipped, but we know this is not true.  Verse eight states, Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.  Evidently some people were observing who did not worship the image as much as Chaldeans were worshipping the image themselves.  I believe that had they really been devoted to worshipping that they would not have been concerned with what others were doing.  When we are truly worshipping God, our focus should be on God and not those around us.  Yet we often are more focused on those around us than we are on God.  Verse nine says, They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.  Once more they were flattering the king, but they were really there for their own benefit.  They saw an opportunity to get rid of certain Jews who had been placed in power, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  I am not sure why Daniel was not included, but I believe that it is safe to say that he did not worship the image either.  There will always be people who want to destroy those who worship and stand for God for their own benefit in this world.  Verse ten says, Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:  These Chaldeans reminded Nebuchadnezzar of his decree, wanting it to appear that they were concerned about his authority being challenged.  Sometimes today those who want something from a ruler will go out of their way to make it appear that they are concerned simply within the ruler's welfare.  Verse eleven states, And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  Then, they repeated the decree, maybe to show that they had been listening and heeding the king.  Verse twelve declares, There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  This was the true reason for their speaking to Nebuchadnezzar.  They wanted to point out that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had not followed the king's decree.  Again, I am not sure why Daniel was not included, but we can be certain that he did not fall down and worship as well.  When we stand firm in our faith in God, there will always be those who attempt to destroy us in any way they can.  Verse thirteen states, Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.  Nebuchadnezzar had evidently forgotten his declaration to Daniel that Daniel's God was a powerful God, and was now only concerned with his own authority.  There are many people in the world today who are more concerned with their authority than with the power of God, and they will do anything they can to destroy those who are faithful to Him.

Daniel 3:1 says, Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.  Though Nebuchadnezzar had proclaimed Daniel's God to be a god of gods, that did not stop him from creating his own god.  This was a giant golden statue set up so it would be seen from a great distance.  Often people today set up their own golden idols to worship.  This may not be an actual statue, but wealth becomes the most important thing to them.  Verse two states, Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  Nebuchadnezzar invited, or more accurately summoned, all the important people in the kingdom to come to the dedication of the statue.  They may have felt honored to be there, but they were also placed in the position of having to acknowledge this statue as a god.  We can never feel honored to be invited to any great event if we must must acknowledge some other god than the one true God simply by being there. Verse three says, Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  Since all the people involved in the government were there, we have to think that Daniel and his three friends were there.  Seeing this statue would have meant nothing to them.  We may be in the presence of idols today, though hopefully not because we have been forced to be there, but they should mean nothing to us.  Verse four says, Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,  Now came the king's command concerning the statue, which would change the requirement concerning the statue.  Verse five says, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:  They were ordered that anytime they heard music they were to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had made.  This could be at anytime, and they didn't even have to actually be in the presence of the statue.  Some religions are just as fanatical today about their false prophets and the worship of them.  Verse six declares, And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  This made worshipping the image mandatory under the penalty of death.  Daniel and his three friends could no longer just be in the presence of the image, but would be required to actually worship it.  We need to be certain that our faith in God is strong enough to stand the test if we are ever in such a situation.

Daniel 2:44 says, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.  During the Roman empire, God was going to establish an everlasting kingdom.  This would not be based on the power of men, but on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Verse forty-five states, Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Daniel said that the stone cut out of the mountains without hands, or by God Himself, would defeat all the other kingdoms, no matter how powerful they were.  We know this was a reference to Christ, Who set up God's everlasting kingdom.  No matter how powerful nations are today, they will never be able to defeat the kingdom of God.  This is not a military kingdom, but a spiritual one.  Verse forty-six says, Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.  Even though Daniel had given all the credit to God, Nebuchadnezzar chose to worship Daniel instead of God.  Even when we give God the credit for what good we do for others today, they may still only want to give us the credit, even if we make it clear that God is the One Who should be given the praise.  Then in verse forty-seven, Nebuchadnezzar declares, The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Nebuchadnezzar does acknowledge God after worshipping Daniel.  He called God Daniel's God.  For Nebuchadnezzar God was not the only true and living God, but just another of many gods.  There are those today who may be willing to acknowledge God as one of many gods, especially if something good has been done for them in His name, but this is not enough.  Verse forty-eight states, Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.  Though he hadn't asked for it, Nebuchadnezzar did reward Daniel.  Then verse forty-nine says, Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.  Daniel did not forget his three friends.  They had been a part of his being able to tell the king the dream and the interpretation since they had been in prayer with Daniel about it.  We are never truly alone in our witnessing and working for God, so we should never serve God simply for our own benefit.  We should always give God the glory and share the benefits of God's blessings with others.

Daniel 2:37 says, Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.  Daniel began by telling Nebuchadnezzar that he was a very powerful king, and that he was so due to the God in heaven.  We can debate whether God actually placed Nebuchadnezzar in power or just allowed he to rise to such power.  I personally believe that God simply allowed Nebuchadnezzar to rise to power.  If we believe that God places every ruler in power, then all the atrocities committed by those rulers would ultimately be God's responsibility.  It might look as though Daniel was now flattering Nebuchadnezzar, but he was simply interpreting the dream.  Verse thirty-eight says, And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.  Daniel once more proclaimed the power of Nebuchadnezzar.  The debate from above still applies.  When Daniel said God gave everything in the land over to Nebuchadnezzar, did that mean that God placed him in power or simply allowed him to have that power?  Either way, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he was the head of gold.  Daniel said that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of the image and made of the most valuable metal.  Verse thirty-nine says, And after thee shall arose another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.  Matthew Henry says this represented the Medes and Persians, and then the Greeks.  Daniel said that after Nebuchadnezzar there would be a kingdom inferior to his, and after that another that was represented by the brass in the image.  These kingdoms would be less powerful than Nebuchadnezzar was.  I believe that we can say that no matter how powerful we think we are, if we aren't following the will of God our power and influence will never last.  Verse forty says, And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.  There was to be a fourth kingdom that was powerful and brutal.  Matthew Henry says this was the Roman empire.  There will always be some nation that believes that it should be the most powerful, but all will fall when Christ returns.  Verse forty-one says, And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.  Daniel said this last kingdom would be divided, but it would still have the strength of iron.  Verse forty-two says, And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. Then verse forty-three continues with, And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.  Daniel said that though this kingdom would be strong that it would never be truly united.

Daniel 2:31 says, Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.  Daniel begins to relate the king's dream to him.  Daniel said that in his dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image, whose brightness was excellent, but it's form was terrible.  I am not sure, but evidently Nebuchadnezzar remembered the dream as Daniel related it, or otherwise how could he have known that Daniel was telling him the truth.  Until there was someone there who could tell him what the dream meant, then it would have done him no good to remember.  When God reveals His truth today, the lost miss the message of the gospel, and we as followers of Christ are to be there to explain it to them under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirty-two says, This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,  Daniel began to relate the way the statue was constructed, and the farther down he went in the description the cheaper the materials that formed it became.  Verse thirty-three says, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.  The statue went from a head of gold to feet of iron and clay.  No matter how wonderful the statue looked, it was built on a weak foundation.  Though this is not part of Daniel's interpretation, I believe that we can say that this applies to the things of this world.  No matter how wonderful they may look, they are built on a foundation that will crumble when judged by God.  Verse thirty-four states, 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.  Daniel said Nebuchadnezzar saw a stone cut without hands destroy the feet of the image, or statue.  Verse thirty-five declares, 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.  Daniel was still at this point telling Nebuchadnezzar what his dream was, but the image was destroyed and the stone became great and filled the whole earth.  Verse thirty-six says, This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.  Daniel had fulfilled the first part of Nebuchadnezzar's demand, which was likely the hardest part, and now he was ready to fulfill the second demand.  When confronted with a challenge that threatens our faith today, we must look to God for answers.  The first step may be to actually identify the problem, then we will be ready to take action.

Daniel 2:26 says, The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?  Nebuchadnezzar asks Daniel plainly if he was able to make the dream known.  Since Daniel's Babylonian name is pointed out, that is likely how the king addressed him.  We can assume that by this time the king expected the captives to have become assimilated into Babylonian culture.  When people see followers of Christ today, they may assume that we are just like everyone else, but as Nebuchadnezzar was to find out, just like there was with Daniel there is something different about us.  Daniel was an obedient servant of God, just as we should be.  This could have been Daniel's opportunity to really make life easy for his friends and himself, but he chose to keep the emphasis on God.  Anytime we are doing something good in the world, we need to make sure that God receives the glory.  Verse twenty-seven says,  Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;  I believe that Daniel was simply pointing out the inability of any person to answer Nebuchadnezzar's demands by their own ability, and this even included Daniel.  Instead of claiming glory for himself, Daniel was to give the glory to God, as it should have been.  By our own abilities as followers of Christ, we are no better than any other person, but because of our relationship to Him we are.  Still, we are not to use this relationship with Christ for our own benefit, but like Daniel are to give God the glory.  In verse twenty-eight Daniel declares, But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;  Daniel had said that those who claimed a special ability to interpret dreams were helpless, but there is a God in heaven that revealth secrets. This should be our declaration in all things, especially situations in which there seems to be no answer: But there is a God in heaven.  God has not gone away since Daniel's day.  Then, after giving God the glory, Daniel begins to tell Nebuchadnezzar his dream.  Verse twenty-nine says, As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.  Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that when he dreamed was what was to come to pass, and that God was revealing it to him.  We should not be surprised that if God reveals something to those who do not believe in Him that they would fail to understand it.  Verse thirty states, But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.  Once more, Daniel did not take credit for interpreting the dream, but said it was revealed to him by God for the sake of those who were to be destroyed and that the king might know what was in his heart. This is what the gospel does.  The gospel is given for our sakes, not through any ability that we have, but by the power of God.  It reveals to us what is in our heart.