Daniel Unlocked #34. Where Daniel 2 Left Us. (Part A)
My Fiend and colleague PR John Gates has written the following reflection on our study of the first 6 chapters of Daniel:
The Jewish people in Babylonian captivity must have had great encouragement having one of their own as second to the king (for the whole of the captivity. God still cared for His people.) They would have been very familiar with what transpired in Babylon under Daniel’s watch (i.e. Daniel 1-6). God gave specific instructions to Jews in Babylonian captivity to settle in and make themselves comfortable and work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. (Jer 29:28). It is of interest that during the 70 years of captivity there is no record of a Jewish uprising. That’s unusual in the light of Jewish history up to and after that time. No doubt Daniel encouraged the Jews to respect God’s counsel through Jeremiah. Daniel most probably met with local faithful Jews each Sabbath to worship.
Similarly, while we believers today live in this world of spiritual Babylon, we are to work for the peace and prosperity of our country and government – unless it conflicts with a conscience and conviction shaped by God’s word ( see Acts 5:29, Titus 3:1 and Romans 13:1) while we wait for our deliverance. (Revelation 19 11-16).
Shadowed behind the events recorded in Daniel are other providential movements that mesh with Daniel. Before the captivity, God decreed through the prophet Isaiah (Isa 44:28 and 45:1,) that after 70 years a Persian King by the name of Cyrus would release them from Babylonian captivity and send them home to Jerusalem to rebuild. Thus, Daniel’s experience of deliverance from the literal lion’s den was a reminder to the Jews that they were now freed from captivity of the Lion of Babylon and could return home to Jerusalem. No doubt God’s providence was not lost on the likes of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
As pictured in the map at the header of this devotional, the breakup of the Roman Empire eventually became a contest between the divided countries of Europe (Western Christianity) and the emergence of the Islamic Empire which occupied the remnants of Southern and Eastern Rome. The part of the map that is modern day Turkey was contested during the conflict with the Ottoman Empire and eventually fell to Islam. Daniel 11 will give us great insight into this.
Daniel seven will concentrate on the ecclesiastical empire that emerged in Europe after the collapse of Rome. History clearly shows that the church stepped into the power vacuum created by Rome’s demise and eventually, through a prophesied period of 1260 years, ruled over the divided nations. During this time, it subjugated the Bible, manipulated the masses through fear, and destroys, by various tortures, her detractors.
Daniel 11 will follow the conflict between both divisions of the Roman Empire, that will be labeled the King of The North, and the King of The South.
The breakup of the Roman Empire eventually became a contest between the divided countries of Europe (Western Christianity) and the emergence of the Islamic Empire which occupied the remnants of Southern and Eastern Rome. The part of the map that is modern day Turkey was contested during the conflict with the Ottoman Empire and eventually fell to Islam. Daniel 11 will give us great insight into this.
