Daniel in Babylon

The Book of daniel is really a book of greater depth and significance than we may suspect. In the very first chapter we are confronted with the upbringing of Daniel from his youth based on the principles he upheld, for these are the determining factors on how he decided three possible conflicting events.

1. why he and his friends did not complain about their education,
   
2. why they accepted a different name, and
   
3. why they complained about their diet.

The answer to the first two items can be found in the words where it says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Prov. 22:6. And, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Eccl. 12:1. On the matter of education and name, the Hebrew youth had no problem, because their character was set from an early age on to trust in the Lord only. We see that the name did not affect Daniel because we read several times during his courier, "I Daniel" (Dan. 7:15; 8:2,15; 9:2). But on the matter of diet, that would affect their bodily, as well as their spiritual health, and they sought a change in that (Ex. 16:32-34; 5:1,2), so they could maintain these according to divine principles on health which the Egyptians understood not - how the mind can be influenced by how we eat, "Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full (over eat), and deny thee (overeating leads to this), and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." Prov. 30:7-9. To `be full', have a `growling' body, means to overeat.

The studied the effects of overeating confirm that they influence changes in the brain,

1. in neurological functions,
   
2. attention spans
   
3. memory
   
4. problem solving.

A healthy body knows, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Lev. 17:11.

We know that some don't head such health talk. Some believe there is ..., "A time to be born, and a time to die." Eccl. 3:2a. But when we would continue reading, we would find these words, "Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" Eccl. 7:17, which ought to lead us to not stop and base all our conclusions on Eccl. 3:2.

"As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them." {GC 608.2}

Daniel and the Dream

What was the matter with the dream King Nebuchadnezzar had? Should we regard dreams as of any importance? Probably only such dreams are noteworthy through which God is trying to reach us and/or impress us with a message from Him. And so it was that the king had a dream one night when he lay awake in bed, contemplating the future; however, when he woke up he could not remember the dream. All he knew was, he had a very impressive dream, but try as he might, he could not recall it.

So, he called upon his wise men, priests and soothsayers to tell him the dream. Their reaction was to call a conclave for all of the members of their rank, to discover who among them might be able to have the answer, but no one came forward.

Up until this time the king had no reason to doubt the claims of his advisers, fortunetellers and magicians. Little did he realize that he was surrounded by state compensated, government sanctioned con-men.

2:3 "And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
2:6 But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
2:8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.
2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain." Daniel 2:3-13.

Why did Babylon's wise men fail?

Because man is only man. We have no knowledge what the person next to us may think. All we can do is make a guess. So, Satan, too, cannot read our mind. He can only plant a thought and then from his long store house of experience make educated guesses what we think and how we probably react.

33:14 "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
33:15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
33:17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." Job 33:14-17.

In the Book of Job we certainly read that people believed dreams could reveal things to man. But for Nebuchadnezzar the matter was serious, for these wise men had claimed all along that they could do such a thing as to reveal the meaning of dreams.

For Daniel and his three friends things were serious, for they were counted among those, who the king now threatened with death.

2:17 "Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast [now] made known unto us the king's matter." Daniel 2:17-23.

The Lord was working in the Babylonian kingdom, communicating light to the four Hebrew captives, that He might represent His work before the people through them. He would reveal that He had power over the kingdoms of the world, to set up kings and to throw down kings. The King over all kings was communicating great truths to the king of Babylon, awakening in his mind a sense of his responsibility to God. Nebuchadnezzar was to see the contrast between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the most learned men in his kingdom. [FE 411.2]

"Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation." Daniel 2:24,25.

The issues were stated clearly by the king. `Tell me the dream or else.'

But Daniel had implicit faith in God, that he and his friends would pray, and God would reveal to them the dream He gave the highest ruler of the then known world.

Daniel sought the Lord when the decree went forth to slay all the wise men of the kingdom of Babylon, because they could not relate or interpret the dream, which had gone from the king's mind. Nebuchadnezzar demanded not only the interpretation of the dream, but the relation of the dream itself. . . . They declared that the request of the king was. . . beyond that which had ever been required of any man. The king became furious, and acted like all men who have great power and uncontrollable passions. He decided that every one of them should be put to death, and as Daniel and his fellows were numbered with the wise men, they also were to share this fate.

Daniel was imbued with the spirit of Jesus Christ, and he pleaded in prayer, that the wise men of Babylon should not be destroyed. For you see, the followers of Christ do not possess the attributes of Satan, which make it a pleasure to grieve and afflict the creatures of God. They have the spirit of their Master who said, "I am come to seek and to save that which was lost. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Had Daniel possessed the same quality of religious zeal, which is so quickly inflamed today in the churches, and men are led astray by it to afflict and oppress and destroy those, who do not serve God after His prescribed plan, he would have said to Arioch, "These men who claim to be wise men, are deceiving the king. They have not the knowledge they claim to have, and should be destroyed. They dishonor the God of heaven, they serve idols; and their lives do in no way honor to God; let them die; but bring me in before the king and I will show unto the king the interpretation." {CC 251.2,3}

Daniel was just a man like you and I, but his relationship to God made him great because of his faith in God, which was revealed as he pleaded for the wise men.

What was the price?

We ought to know that the wicked owe their present existence to God's faithful people, that is the meaning of what we just read. [See also Dan. 2:26-30]

This young Judean lad, refused to take honor and glory which belongs to God alone, and we wished, that today more people would realize that truth.

"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Eccl. 8:11.

"Consider the experience of Daniel. When called to stand before King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel did not hesitate to acknowledge the source of his wisdom. Did that faithful recognition of God detract from Daniel's influence in the king's court? By no means; it was the secret of his power; it secured for him favor in the eyes of the ruler of Babylon. In God's name Daniel made known to the king the heaven-sent messages of instruction, warning, and rebuke, and he was not repulsed. Let God's workers of today read the firm, bold testimony of Daniel and follow his example." [7T 151.3]

What was Nebuchadnezzar's reaction?

He became excited in anticipation, to finally find out what he had dreamt that night quite a while ago, and which dream so impressed him so much, that he left no way untried, to find out what it was.

What again was Nebuchadnezzar's dream? See Daniel 2:31-35.

Why did God show the king an image?

Because Babylonian idolatry dealt much with pagan images instead of seeking a religion for the heart. Their culture and cities were geared to worship man made gods.

The Babylon of the days of Daniel did certainly fall. Those days, too, were the days of Babylon's highest splendor and greatest glory. Yet that was the time she fell.

This fall was foretold over and over in the word of the Lord by his prophets; it was proclaimed in Babylon by the public reading there of the word of the Lord concerning Babylon; all who were the Lord's people, or who would be the Lord's people, were called to leave Babylon, that they might not be taken in her fall; signs were given by which all might certainly know when to forsake her, and how she would be overthrown. All this was made plain to all by the word of the Lord.

The same prophet also wrote to her of her pride and her wickedness, saying: "Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee: thou shall not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee, which thou shalt not know." Isa. 47:11. This more general message of the future of Babylon, was more closely identified by the words, "Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut." Isa. 45:1. Thus Isaiah wrote plainly the name of the man—Cyrus—(some hundred and sixty years before Jeremiah), who would lead the forces in the overthrow of the city. Isa. 45:1-7. He also wrote, "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed the servant Jacob." Isa. 48:20.

In Jeremiah 50 and 51 is written "the word that the Lord spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet." Jer. 50:1. In these two chapters there is given an account, even to [its] particulars, of the fall of Babylon written more than half a century before the time. This account was sent to Babylon by a prince of Judah, who, when he arrived there, was to stand in the broad street of Babylon by the river Euphrates, and "read all these words." And when he had read the words, he was to have exclaimed, "O Lord, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever."

And when he had spoken these words, he was to bind a stone to the manuscript, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates, and say, "Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her." Jer. 51:64.

And all that the Lord had spoken, and that the prophets had written, came upon Babylon. Babylon did fall. In her iniquity she fell, and because of her iniquity she fell. And this, not because it could not have been otherwise, but because she would not have it otherwise. For the Lord would have healed Babylon; but she would not be healed. His people were there for that very purpose; but when she would not be healed, they were obliged to forsake her, and go everyone to his own country; for her judgment reached unto heaven, and was lifted up even to the skies, "Foreigners (the Jews) living there said, We tried to help Babylonia, but it was too late. Lets leave now and go back home. God has punished Babylonia with all his might and has destroyed it completely.", Jer. 51:9 GNB. So Babylon was left to her fate, and sank to rise no more at all.

So much for the Babylon of the book of Daniel and of the days of Daniel.

But now there is a Babylon of the book of Revelation, and of our days—the last days.

What means the Bible word [to say] concerning a Babylon of the last book of the Bible and of the last days? What does it mean unless it be that the world of the last times is to become like the Babylon of those other days, and is to come to the same end as did the Babylon of those other days? If that is not the lesson in it, then there is no lesson in it. The term "Babylon," written so often in the book of Revelation, and of the last times, is meaningless if it does not mean that the last days, and the world of the last days, will be such as was Babylon in her last days.

Why was the fall [of] Babylon proclaimed in old time? and why is the fall Babylon proclaimed in the last times? [300] Why, unless there is to be a Babylon to fall in the last times as certainly as there was a Babylon in old time to fall?

Why was the judgment of God to be visited upon Babylon in old time? and why is the judgment of God to be visited upon a Babylon of the last times? [320] Why, unless there is to be a Babylon in the last times as certainly as there was a Babylon in old time?

Why were the Lord's people called out of the Babylon of old time? and why are the Lord's people called out of the Babylon of the last times? Jer. 51:6, 45; Rev. 18:4. Why, unless the Babylon of the last times terms herself in iniquity as did the Babylon of old time?

Why was it that the messenger in Babylon of old time ended his message by casting a stone into the midst of Euphrates, and exclaiming, "Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her," Jer. 51:61-64? And why is it that, at the close of the message concerning the Babylon of the last times, a mighty angel takes up "a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall the great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." Rev. 18:21. Why, unless there is to be a Babylon in the last times to sink, and that [it] will sink, as certainly as there was a Babylon of old time to sink, and that [city] did sink?

Why was it that, at the noise of the fall of the Babylon of old time, the earth was moved, and the cry was heard among the nations? And why is it that, at the fall of the Babylon of the last times, "the kings of the earth. . . bewail her, and lament for her," and that their cry is heard among the nations? Jer. 50:46; Rev. 18:9, 10, 15-19. Why [is that recorded], unless the judgment upon the Babylon of the last times is just as real and as terrible as was that upon the Babylon of old time?

Why was it that when the Babylon of old time fell, so at [Revelation's] Babylon there fall also the slain of all the earth? And why is it that when the Babylon of the last times falls, there is found in her "the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth?" Jer. 51:49; Rev. 18:24. Why, unless the Babylon of the last times is just as wicked, just as cruel, and just as impressive, as was the Babylon of old time?

Why was it that when Babylon of old time fell, the heaven and earth, and all that was therein, were called to "sing for Babylon?" And why is it that when the Babylon of the last times shall fall, the word will be, "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets?" Jer. 51:48; Rev. 18:20. Why, unless it is a thing to rejoice [for] heaven and earth to be freed from the curse of the Babylon of the last times as readily as it was of the Babylon of old time?

But why call attention to any more parallels? Is it not perfectly plain that there is a Babylon of the last times that is a complete repetition of the Babylon of old time? Is there not a real Babylon in the book of Revelation just as there is a Babylon in the book of Daniel? Is there not a Babylon of our days as real as there was in the days of Daniel? And is not this Babylon of the last days to sink under the judgments of the Lord as really as did the Babylon of old? When that judgment was written for the Babylon of old, was it not at the same time written: "This is the purpose that is purposed upon the earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed and to shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and to shall turn it back?" Isa. 14:26, 27.

Why talk then about a millennium—unless, indeed, it [shall] be a millennium of ruin and waste in this [time] and desolation? Did Babylon of old have a millennium of any other kind than of ruin, waste and desolation, swept "with the bosom of destruction," "a possession for the bittern (a type of wetland bird) and pools of water," "as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah?" Isa. 13:19; 14:22, 23; Jer. 50:40.

Why talk then about the conversion of the world? Was the Babylonian world of old time converted? Did she sink because she was converted?—She would not be converted. She sank because she was overwhelmingly wicked. And the Babylon of the last times is just like her. And thus with violence shall Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached and the heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." {A.T. Jones (1850-1923), Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, June 14, 1898, p. 381.1-8} [400]

[CIAS: We adjusted some grammar in [] to make it easier to read.]

[300] The Fall of Babylon in Today's Iraq by the Medo-Persians in 538 BC: "And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground." Isa. 21:9;

Jeremiah 51:8 "Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. . . .
51:47 Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. . . .
51:49 As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. . . .
51:58 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary." Jer. 51:8, 47, 49, 58;

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Rev. 14:8;
"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Rev.18:2.

[320] "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah."Isa. 13:1, 19;
"For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord." Isa. 14:22;

Isaiah 47:5 "Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms. . . .
47:7 And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
47:8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
47:9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
47:10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know." Isaiah 47:5, 7-11;

Jeremiah 50:9 "For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
50:10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the Lord.
50:11 Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;
50:12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
50:13 Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
50:14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the Lord.
50:15 Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the Lord: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
50:16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
50:28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his temple.
50:29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel." Jer. 50:9-16, 28, 29;

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. . . .
And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." Rev. 17:1, 16, 17;

Revelation 18:6 "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come."

[400] Last remarks. A simple, yet effective view. In comparison I read some detailed theological presentations on Daniel chapter eight, dealing with gender, pronouns, verbs and nouns in quite some detail. What was the outcome? The one who thought who did the most detailed analysis, came out to give pagan Rome more verses in chapter eight (vs. 9 and onward), then the papacy. Pagan Rome which ruled between 168 BC to 478 AD, some 656 years compared to papal Rome, ruling from 538 to 1798 and then again from 1798 till the very end, got most of the credit. That seems upside down. So, these prophetic books confound the theologians while the simple can read it and understand.