Day 187: The Book of Daniel; Lion Tamer.
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar who besieged Judah wanted unblemished children, well favored, skilled in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge and science, to teach. They were ones that came from noble families and, therefore, were educated well.
Daniel and three others were brought to him. They were given a portion of the king’s meat and wine, daily, but Daniel refused this because they couldn’t be sure it was clean food, meaning kosher. Instead, they asked if they could eat pulse, and drink only water. Pulse are vegetables, beans, legumes, lentils, and the like. This appeared to be a healthier way of eating, and it was noticed. After ten days of this diet, the king noticed that they were smarter than the magicians, and astrologers.
Daniel was blessed by God to have understanding in all visions and dreams. His wisdom impressed the leaders, and he was eventually appointed as one of the advisers interpreting dreams and prophecies. Dreams were very important to several groups of people of those times, believing that they foretold the future. Unfortunately, this creates jealousy with the other advisers. They plot against him.
The king had a very disturbing dream (two, actually) and he sought out counsel from his advisers, and said that if they couldn’t tell him about his dream (because he wouldn’t reveal it) then they would all be slain, and their houses destroyed. Of course, they couldn’t because the king would not reveal the dream, only that it disturbed him, greatly. He orders the death of all advisers, including Daniel and his friends.
But, Daniel had a night vision. He was able to interpret the king’s dream because he said that only God can know of it, and no human could, which is why the astrologers, etc., couldn’t interpret for the king.
The king made Daniel a great man, giving him many gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and the chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. He set his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. He was able to interpret both dreams.
Now, an image was created in the likeness of king Nebuchadnezzar and all were called to worship it. Those who did not, were cast into a burning fiery furnace. It was told to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego would not fall down and worship the false gods. Even more, they claimed that their God would deliver them from the furnace, unharmed. That infuriated the king. They were bound and thrown into the furnace. Because it was so hot, the men who threw them in were consumed.
The king asked, weren’t there three men we threw in? Yes, but they saw four men walking around in the furnace — they three were no longer bound, nor was anything about them, singed. The king was so impressed by their God, that he decreed no one could ever speak against the God of these three men.
A new king, or maybe a governor of king Cyrus of Persia, named Darius, (because Babylon falls to Persia), now, favors Daniel. Again, this promotes jealousy from the other advisors, and they plot against him. They know he prays several times a day to God, so they convince Darius to make it unlawful to pray. This sounds familiar over times, doesn’t it? Someone is always making it illegal to pray…
This new law means that all are to pray to Darius for 30 days, and of course, Daniel doesn’t. He is caught praying and now Darius is bummed and looking for a loophole to get Daniel out of this. He can’t find one and must throw Daniel into the lion’s den. Darius can’t sleep. He is worried about Daniel. In the morning he goes to the pit and finds Daniel alive. He is ecstatic, but also angered that he was put in this position. So, instead he throws the officials who started this, and their families, into the pit, which of course the lions devour. It is common practice to kill the whole family so that there is no retaliation by family members.
Daniel has other visions that seem to point to The Second Coming of Christ in the Last Days, and I must wonder if we are not heading into them, right now. His words sound similar to the ones in the Book of Revelations.
Daniel 7:13–14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of the Heavens, and came to the Ancient days, and they brought him near before Him.” “And there was given Him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, and 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.”
Remember, this is Old Testament and Jesus has not yet come to earth, yet His Second Coming is foretold here. Daniel also sees cosmic battles between the Angels of Heaven and the demons of Hell. It will be decided, permanently, who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell.
Unless you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over all, you will not enter Heaven. Jesus will and has put an end to the sacrifices and offerings, as He became the Sacrificial Lamb; thus, no other is ever needed, again. Any human sacrifices, like the ones held in slavery, holocausts, and any other reasons, including pleasures of torture, are done for Satan, not God. Those who partake in those sacrifices, will join the Satan they worship, forever. I hope it’s not you.
