Daniel, page 4

                         CHAPTER FOUR

     Nebuchadnezzar's second dream and Daniel's interpretation
thereof. The Lord is declaring His rule over the kings and kingdoms
of men (verses 17, 25, 32). It is the Most High who set up and
deposes the powers and Nebuchadnezzar had not learned this lesson.
Nebuchadnezzar is to be cut down (14, 25), but the stump is to be
left (15, 26) showing he would return to his kingdom. The purpose is
to show that Jehovah is the ruler of all.
     Nebuchadnezzar seemingly forgot the prophecy (28, 30), boasting
of what he had done, and of his greatness, but it comes to pass (33),
resulting in the fact that he realized God does exist (34, 35).
     "Seven times" (verses 16, 23, 32) refers properly to time
considered as appointed or designated; then it may mean any stated or
designated period, as a year, day, etc. What measurement or portion
is intended in any particular case must be determined from the
connection in which the word is found. "Seven times" includes the
"whole" of the time so determined. Actually, we are not able to
determine the exact length of the time.


                             CHAPTER FIVE

     The seventy years of Babylonian captivity as foretold by
Jeremiah (Jer. 25:11-12) is now drawing to a close. Belshazzar is now
king over Babylon. This chapter reveals the events on the night of
the fall of Babylon. Belshazzar made a great feast, showed his
contempt for Jehovah by using the golden cups brought from the temple
in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnazzar some 70 years prior to this event. God
numbers the days of the kingdom through the vision of the hand
writing on the wall. Daniel is called in to give the interpretation
depicting the end of the Babylonian Empire and its fall into the
hands of the Medes and Persians.
     The chapter closes with the death of Belshazzar and the fall of
Babylon.

                             CHAPTER SIX

     Among the many incidents in the life of Daniel, the event in
chapter six is perhaps the best known. Jealousy and envy led the
other officers to plot against Daniel. A royal edict was given from
Darius that all who offered a prayer to any other than the king would
be thrown into the den of lions. Daniel was not swayed from his
prayers unto Jehovah three times a day. Daniel's enemies brought him
unto the king, the king's decree was carried out, but Daniel was
delivered from the den of lions. The faith of Daniel was well known
by his enemies (verse 5). Daniel had made a tremendous impression
upon Dairus (verse 16). Daniel's enemies are destroyed by the same
fate they had wished upon Daniel (verse 24).

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