#2#2The Parallel WORLDSThe Parallel WORLDS

The The HUMBLEDHUMBLED Humanity Humanity(Daniel 4; 1-4)(Daniel 4; 1-4)

• Babylon is a Babylon is a proud cityproud city……• Babylonia: primal & eschatological Babylonia: primal & eschatological

significance of man’s civilizationsignificance of man’s civilization• CradleCradle of civilization of civilization• BabelBabel• Hammurabi empireHammurabi empire• Revived kingdom after 1000 yearsRevived kingdom after 1000 years• First largest city >200,000First largest city >200,000• End timesEnd times

• Nebuchadnezzar is a Nebuchadnezzar is a proud kingproud king……• Defeated the powerful Assyria and Egypt Defeated the powerful Assyria and Egypt

while he was a while he was a princeprince• Looted Temple >Looted Temple >5400 items5400 items (Ezr 1:9-11)(Ezr 1:9-11)• Captured 70 Captured 70 crème de la crèmecrème de la crème JewsJews

from Jerusalem!from Jerusalem!• Hanging Hanging GardensGardens of Babylon of Babylon• ImpregnableImpregnable city of Babylon city of Babylon• Reigned Babylon for Reigned Babylon for 43 years43 years• ““King King of the kingsof the kings……head of gold” head of gold” (1:37-38)(1:37-38)

• How can we How can we witness witness to and impact to and impact powerful and arrogantpowerful and arrogant people like King people like King Nebuchadnezzar?Nebuchadnezzar?

• Daniel and his friends, while serving in Daniel and his friends, while serving in the palace, the palace, impressedimpressed the king by their the king by their……

• Exceptional Exceptional ProfessionalismProfessionalism (1:19-20)(1:19-20)• Supernatural “Supernatural “connectionconnection” (2:27-30)” (2:27-30)• Selfless Selfless comraderycomradery (2:48-49) (2:48-49)• Fearless Fearless devotiondevotion (3:18) (3:18)

• When we faithfully do When we faithfully do ourour part, God part, God will do will do hishis……

• From chapters 1-4, let’s scan Daniel’s From chapters 1-4, let’s scan Daniel’s impact impact on King Nebuchadnezzar for on King Nebuchadnezzar for over ~ 20 years!over ~ 20 years!

• Chpt. 1Chpt. 1• Chpt. 2Chpt. 2

• Chpt. 3Chpt. 3

• Chpt. 4 Chpt. 4

No CommentNo CommentImmediate, inaccurate, grateful, Immediate, inaccurate, grateful, intellectualintellectual confession (46-49) confession (46-49)

““ObjectiveObjective sympathizersympathizer”! ”! (28-30)(28-30)

Témoignage personnel et Témoignage personnel et nationalnational: “L’arrogant a été : “L’arrogant a été humilié”!!humilié”!!

• Daniel’s witnessing took ~ Daniel’s witnessing took ~ 20 years20 years to to reap results…reap results…

• More than erecting a building! More than erecting a building! Witnessing is the Witnessing is the toughesttoughest, often the , often the most frustrating task on earth – it most frustrating task on earth – it involves more than changing a person’s involves more than changing a person’s mindmind, but , but changing a man’s heartchanging a man’s heart!!

• Daniel Daniel 44

• Important interlocking Important interlocking keyskeys to to understand King Nebuchadnezzar’s understand King Nebuchadnezzar’s ““Pilgrim’s ProgressPilgrim’s Progress”…”…• ““You… are the You… are the TreeTree…”(22)…”(22)• ““You will You will eat grasseat grass like cattle” (25) like cattle” (25)• “…“…until you acknowledge that the until you acknowledge that the

Most High is Most High is sovereignsovereign…” (…” (25, 25, 26)26)• ““Accept my Accept my adviceadvice…” (27)…” (27)• ““12 months12 months later…” (29) later…” (29)

• Regardless of status and achievements, Regardless of status and achievements, failure to recognize God’s sovereign failure to recognize God’s sovereign purpose in the world and in one’s life purpose in the world and in one’s life makes him/her a “makes him/her a “beastbeast” (lycanthropy)!” (lycanthropy)!

• Failure to recognize God will lead to Failure to recognize God will lead to arrogance, insensitivity and injusticearrogance, insensitivity and injustice

• Temporary reprieve awaits Temporary reprieve awaits successful successful permanentpermanent awakening and humbling awakening and humbling

• ““Kingdom concept” – Kingdom concept” – Realign Realign with with God’s “God’s “long-term plan” long-term plan” (cf. influence (cf. influence on Darius and Cyrus…, return of Jews)on Darius and Cyrus…, return of Jews)

• Witnessing requires Witnessing requires hope & persistencehope & persistence!!• The key to effective witnessing is to help The key to effective witnessing is to help

people recognize God’s sovereignty in people recognize God’s sovereignty in the world and the world and in their lifein their life!!

• Intellectual recognition must be Intellectual recognition must be translated to “translated to “Lordship in lifeLordship in life”!”!

• Successful witnessing must be evidenced Successful witnessing must be evidenced with genuine with genuine submissionsubmission and and spontaneous spontaneous worship worship (34-37)(34-37)

Babylon’s legendary Babylon’s legendary Hanging GardensHanging Gardens