THE REVELATION OF DANIEL
The Revelation of Daniel Chapter 2
NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM OF THE METALLIC IMAGE
[Read Daniel 2:36-49]
Our purpose again is to rightly comprehend the prophetic Words of Jesus Christ both in the Gospels and the Book of Revelation in the light of the Book of Daniel. Let us lay down more specifics about the similarities and overlays of the two prophecy filled books; Daniel and Revelation. That is to say, examine what they have in common.
There are many things which specifically tie them together. Which by the help of the Spirit of God, we will explore as we move through the Books. Such as here in Chapter 2 where Daniel affirms the loss of the position/authority shift or transition of God from Israel to the King of Babylonia and the future Gentile Empires. The Book of Revelation is the reverse. It is the prophetic Word of transition back to Israel, and the termination of that King of Babylonia and the times of the Gentiles in the end times. [Read Revelation 16:19 with Jeremiah 25:15-26 & Revelation 19:19,20]
Another thing the books have in common is that we see prophetic Scripture has a way of giving the beginning and then passing over the intermediate with little detail, and then proceeding to the end of a thing. For example, see Genesis 3:15.
Besides the predominant subject matter that both books have in common, God reveals the future here in Daniel by beginning at certain points and carrying it to the end, and then He shows us something new. (As it would be too difficult to follow all the complicated parts in one vision.) He begins at the beginning point or at some point along the way, and then adds to the first vision, and carries it again to the end of the thing. This is Cyclical Revelation.
So we see here in the Book of Daniel, the dream and interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s Colossal Image, from start to finish. Then in the 5th chapter, it picks up again with more detail on that Colossal Image, by going to the point of Nebuchadnezzar’s successor; Belshazzar as ruler of Babylon, to his specific acts of wickedness of pride and presumption. Which ended in the foreboding writing upon the wall, that foretells that very night’s termination of the “Golden Head” Kingdom of Babylon, as the “silver breast” of the Medes and Persians take over as the ruling World empire. This fulfills the first prophetic portion of Nebuchadnezzar’s Colossal Image dream of Chapter 2.
Then 4 visions follow which continue to augment that Colossal Image dream, each bringing out specific new things about the original vision.
The Dream runs across time from Nebuchadnezzar, past the Age of the Mosaic Law, to the end of this present Age of Mercy and Grace. It names four successive Empires, until the 5th Empire that will never end. This is the prophetic basis for all the remaining visions. The vision of chapter 7 enlarges on that Dream of Nebuchadnezzar’s metallic image, with the showing of something new, using different symbols, that of 4 beasts, and adding specifics on their development and character. Chapter 8’s vision expounds and adds to the previous Dream and vision, beginning with the 2nd Empire with new details of the Medes and Persians’ reign, and then the 3rd ; the Greek Empire. Chapter 9’s vision returns to the fall of Babylon and then proceeds again to the terminus of the Colossal Image as in Chapters 2 & 7 and what Chapter 8 had in view. Chapters 10-12 return to the 2nd Empire and proceeds again to the same end.
This method of revealing prophecy is the same as that used in the Book of Revelation. Daniel’s prophetic interpretation of the “times of the Gentiles” begins with the Dream of the metallic image and terminates with the Judgment Stone crushing the World Empire Gentile power & the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Correspondingly, in the Book of Revelation, John’s prophetic representation of that final “history of the earth” begins with Jesus Christ’s taking of the seven-sealed book, and then moves to the same conclusion.
In Daniel, the Word of the Spirit was “…there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king…what shall be in the latter days.” So in the full context of the Book, what is revealed is the appointment of World power and the end of the successive Empires of the Gentile’s granted dominion in the earth. That termination which corresponds with the completing of the indignation judgment in end time Israel and then their restoration in the Kingdom set up by God.
In Revelation the introduction was “to show unto His servants what must come to pass shortly.” With the additional words to John: “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” Thus, in the Book of Revelation, as in the Book of Daniel, the Angels begin showing the future in a series of interwoven visions emblematically. In Daniel, a colossal image of a metallic man=4 future Gentile empires. Additionally, Beasts= the same, Horns=kings or leaders, etc. As in the Book of Revelation we have: Lampstands= Churches, Stars =Angels, Torches=Spirits of God, Golden Vials=prayers of the saints, Dragon=satan, Frogs=deceiving spirits, Wild Beast=a king, Horns=subordinate kings, Heads =mountains, Waters=peoples.
John was given the introductory Vision in Revelation chapter one, the starting point being the revelation of the Resurrected and Gloriously Victorious Jesus. He was the Administrator of the “Church” in the earth in this determined Age of Mercy and Grace. His prophetic Words, exhortations and promises to the Church are specific in the first 3 chapters. His Words define the entire 2000 year plus period of the history of the Church up to the Coming of the Stone. So then after carrying it to its prophetic end in Revelation 3:22, the opening words of the 2nd or 2nd part of John’s vision is the showing of things “hereafter”. This is a reference to the period and events after the Church has run its course, in that the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 as opposed to the times of the Gentiles seen in Luke 21:24) It corresponds with the exposure of the Church, being fully leavened in the end time Laodicean spirit of lukewarmness. And it’s commensurate with the Nations’ full course, that of the rejection of Jesus Christ as their ruler.
Then starting with Revelation Chapter 4, we have this vision returning to a certain point. That point being towards the very end of that Church period, predicted and described in those first three chapters. And then the moving forward again to the end of the Age, the end of the times of the Gentiles. This prophetically enlarging vision of chapters 4 & 5 includes the beasts around a Throne, a Throne from where the 7 sealed book is extended, the Lamb alone worthy to unseal the book, who then takes the book. This then begins in Chapter 6 the 3 sets of 7s’ judgments to finish the 70th week of Daniel. Each set beginning at a point related to that final 7 year period before the grinding Stone falls from the heavens. Each set of seals, and trumpets and vials, is intended to add something new to the revelation that God wanted to be known and each continuing to the END.
Here then we should see this law of revealing End Time prophecy. It begins and advances to the terminus, then returns to a certain point, then picks up again and advances again as many times as necessary to fully present the many details to be revealed. All representing additional information given in a cyclical manner as opposed to a linear sequential narrative. An important key to unraveling the prophetic Scriptures.
Writing to the “servants” of God, by John, in the Book of Revelation, includes both seeds of Abraham, and explains to the Jew where the Son of Man is now, and what He is doing until the Kingdom in the Restoration of Israel when their promised new covenant comes. [Jeremiah 31:31-33, Hebrews 8:8-13]
Daniel tells of the Coming and the being cut off of the Messiah in the 69 weeks to come, but gives no information in the way of detail in the“cutting off”. That detail being the Church Gospel; of His victorious taking the Lordship over Hades, His Glorious Resurrection, and His now presence in Heaven at the right Hand of the Father, and administrating in the dynamic Mysterious kingdom of heavens. Keeping in mind that the “mystery” of the kingdom is both the earthly, (for which Daniel is primarily personally in anticipation of for Israel) AND the heavenly portion of that Kingdom in the Age of mercy and grace. For the calling out of a people, that other nation, the nation of the new man, to be the heavenly part of the Messiah’s Kingdom Consort. Daniel briefly alludes to these things, but either under directive or the lack of knowledge he passes over, as again, his visions are more Israel specific.
So it is that the Apostles of Jesus Christ later wrote in inspired detail concerning His being cut off. And John is chosen to give the fuller detail, of Daniel’s 70th week. Both Daniel and John together see and describe in their respective visions what is clearly the same Age ending and new Age beginning event: The Second Coming of the “Son of man…with the clouds of heaven…”
TYPICALLY (in type) and cyclically, what the Book of Daniel describes as the King’s requirements for riches and glory, is that the interpreter must “…..shew the dream and the interpretation thereof.” That which none of the “wisest” were able to do, save one, Daniel. And as soon as the prophet revealed the whole, “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.” Immediately Daniel is made “ruler over all the province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.”
All of which Revelation Chapter 5 answers to beautifully. (Read) Like in the Book of Daniel, two things also were required for the reward of Glory: To take the book and to open the seals thereof. But none of all the wisest elders or heavenly hosts were able to even see the book. How were they to take, much less open, if they could not even see the book. Thus was Jesus, the slain Lamb, exalted over all the Angel governors of the Kingdom of God. “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb….” and worshipped Him as alone worthy. It is the time of His complete investiture as the King of kings over the 5th and last Empire. And even though, like Daniel who was no Babylonian, He is a “foreigner”. That is to say He is “Man”. The Son of Man, born of a race “…lower than the angels.” He is now being raised above all them to rule over all God’s Kingdom. [Hebrews 1:1 – 3:1]
And as “Daniel requested the King”, so Jesus Christ asks the Father that his faithful fellows be raised up with him. (In that they also did not eat of the king’s table, and as they also prayed earnestly in that they “…would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret.” And likewise Daniel descended into typical “death” in the lions’ den and the other 3 in the fiery furnace.) So like the ancient king, in the type, with all the authority in the earth, the 4 beasts and 24 elder Angels now subordinately fall down and sing joyously unto the Redeemer. Having the golden vials full of the redeemed (“foreign”) saints’ prayers in hand, sincerely proclaiming the warrant: “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and hast redeemed them to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made them unto our God kings and priest: and they shall reign over the earth.” (True and accurate translation of the 9th and 10th verses).
And thus the Stone falls from the heavens above the Earth and crushes His enemies, the Earth’s destroyers. King Jesus, as the Lamb & coming Lion of the Tribe of Judah, promised, “them” (both groups of His “servants”, that is to say those identified with the Lion) redemption and restored priestly preeminence in the earth by His Blood. But His personal consort companions are “them”, those that “suffered with Him.” [Romans 8:17] He hast made “them” unto God “kings and priests” like unto Himself, with power to rule now with a rod of iron over the nations. [Revelation 2:26-27 with 12:5 & Hebrews 3:1]
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