Daniel 5-8
Amazing Accuracy
In Daniel 5 we read of the fall of Babylon. Although the nation fell to the Medes and the Persians we see that God protected Daniel through the invasion. In Chapter 6 Daniel is one of three commissioners appointed over the local leaders of the nation. Of course there is always the enemy trying to disrupt the work of God through His people and Daniel has to spend a night with the roaring lions because the enemy used a political maneuver to box the king in a corner. Both Peter and John speak to similar situations we might face as Christians in 1 Peter 5:1-11 and 1 John 5,
In Chapter 7 Daniel is given a vision of 4 beasts that represent the same kingdoms that the statue in Chapter 2 represented. The difference is that Nebuchadnezzar saw the statue from the world’s point of view. The statue represented the things the world values like gold and silver. The vision Daniel saw was from heaven’s point of view. God sees these world rulers as beasts that kill and devour for power.
Both visions represent world history from Babylon’s rule through the antichrist rise to power. Since the Medes and the Persians have taken Babylon and are now ruling, Daniel is given a vision that shows what is next. The Persians will become the dominate power but they will be overrun by Alexander the Great. He will die at a young age and his kingdom will be divided into four areas which were ruled by four generals. Much more detail will be given in Chapter 10 but we will have to wait for that.
In Isaiah God challenged the people who were worshiping idols to ask the idol to tell them what was coming in the future. Of course the idols couldn’t speak. Babylon with all their enchantments and sorceries couldn’t predict the future, but God has done it over and over through his prophets with amazing accuracy. What we have read thus far in Daniel is just a taste of what is to come. God has more to reveal as we will see as we continue our study in the book of Daniel.
Trust What God has to say.
Pastor Dave