the wise shall the study of daniel … a testimony dan 4:1 nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people,...

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THE STUDY OF DANIELTHE WISE SHALL

UNDERSTAND

THE STUDY OF DANIEL

ROBERT W. TOZIER

WWW.CREATIONREVELATION.ORG

Creation Revelation

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Robert & Mary Tozier


[email protected]

At Sunrise Southern Baptist Church

Las Vegas, NV

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The Wise Shall Understand

Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made

white, and tried; but the wicked shall do

wickedly: and none of the wicked shall

understand; but the wise shall understand.

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The Wise Shall

Understand

The Study of Daniel

Lesson 10

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Opening Prayer

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PRIDE

Daniel 4:1-17

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PRIDE BRINGS A

FALL

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PRIDE BRINGS A FALL Chapter 4 of Daniel is a lesson of how God

can bring a proud man low.

Nebuchadnezzar has witnessed firsthand

the power of Daniel’s God.

This chapter may be viewed as an

illustration of God’s dealings with all

people.

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PRIDE BRINGS A FALL It is made abundantly clear that God is

sovereign, and puny individuals and

nations will eventually be brought low

before the sovereign God.

All will one day bow their knees to the

Almighty.

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A TESTIMONY

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A TESTIMONYDAN 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all

people, nations, and languages, that dwell in

all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

2 I thought it good to shew the signs and

wonders that the high God hath wrought

toward me.

3 How great are his signs! and how mighty

are his wonders! his kingdom is an

everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is

from generation to generation.

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A TESTIMONY Nebuchadnezzar is now speaking.

This is his testimony in his own words.

The style is such that it may have been

copied by Daniel from state papers.

The literary style resembles the style of

Nebuchadnezzar’s ancient inscriptions.

The character of Nebuchadnezzar

presented in this chapter corresponds

with ancient descriptions of him.

According to Adam Clarke:

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A TESTIMONY“[Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people]

This is a regular decree, and is one of the

most ancient on record; and no doubt was

copied from the state papers of Babylon.

Daniel has preserved it in the original

language.”

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A TESTIMONY Something has happened to him – We see

a change in attitude.

Now he wishes peace on Earth.

This testimony was probably issued about

the year 570BC; Nebuchadnezzar died in

562BC.

He acknowledges the God of Daniel.

Has he turned from idols to serving God?

He gives praise to God.

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A TESTIMONY He addressed all peoples with the

intention of making known the supremacy

of God.

John Walvoord writes that his praises to

the God of Daniel is no definite indication

that he has forsaken his other Babylonian

gods.

Other commentators, such as John

Phillips and H. A. Ironside, believe that he

has converted to the true God of Daniel.

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A DREAM

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A DREAM Nebuchadnezzar is now going to describe

a dream he had.

DAN 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in

mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and

the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of

my head troubled me.

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A DREAM Nebuchadnezzar now begins to give

testimony of a dream that he had

experienced.

The first person account beginning in

verse 1 is a success story.

It reads like a witness of salvation, like a

Bible "tract.“

However, notice the wording of verses 4,

he “was at rest” and he was “flourishing in

my palace”.

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A DREAM He had conquered the surrounding world,

now he was at rest with great riches in his

palace.

He was also occupied with making

Babylon one of the world’s most fabulous

cities.

All was right with his world, then, he had a

dream.

The words translated “made me afraid”

are much stronger than that.

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A DREAM The words convey great terror or fright.

He was indeed “troubled,” “really

troubled.”

Many times when things are going well

and our bank account is full we begin to

congratulate ourselves, then disaster

strikes.

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A DREAMDAN 4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring

in all the wise men of Babylon before me,

that they might make known unto me the

interpretation of the dream.

7 Then came in the magicians, the

astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the

soothsayers: and I told the dream before

them; but they did not make known unto me

the interpretation thereof.

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A DREAM Nebuchadnezzar knew there was a God

because he had witnessed His mighty

works.

But Nebuchadnezzar lacked a personal

acceptance and relationship.

He therefore relied on the same magicians

who had failed him before, and they failed

him again.

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A DREAMDAN 4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before

me, whose name was Belteshazzar,

according to the name of my god, and in

whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and

before him I told the dream, saying,

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,

because I know that the spirit of the holy

gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee,

tell me the visions of my dream that I have

seen, and the interpretation thereof.

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A DREAM The guilty never want to hear the truth,

they want their prophets to convince them

of "smooth things."

ISA 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a

table, and note it in a book, that it may be for

the time to come for ever and ever:

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying

children, children that will not hear the law of

the LORD:

(Continued)

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A DREAM10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to

the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right

things, speak unto us smooth things,

prophesy deceits:

11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of

the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to

cease from before us.

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A DREAM Paul is saying the same:

2TI 4:3 For the time will come when they will

not endure sound doctrine; but after their

own lusts shall they heap to themselves

teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from

the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

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A DREAM Finally, reluctantly Nebuchadnezzar turned

to Daniel for the truth as revealed by

Daniel's God.

Daniel is addressed as “master of the

magicians” honoring Daniel’s high rank

and wisdom.

It may be that the intent is that Daniel was

a master of scholars.

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A DREAMDAN 4:10 Thus were the visions of mine

head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in

the midst of the earth, and the height thereof

was great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the

height thereof reached unto heaven, and the

sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit

thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the

beasts of the field had shadow under it, and

the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs

thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. (Continued)

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A DREAM13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my

bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one

came down from heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down

the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off

his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the

beasts get away from under it, and the fowls

from his branches:

(Continued)

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A DREAM15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots

in the earth, even with a band of iron and

brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let

it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his

portion be with the beasts in the grass of the

earth:

16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and

let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let

seven times pass over him.

(Continued)

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A DREAM17 This matter is by the decree of the

watchers, and the demand by the word of the

holy ones: to the intent that the living may

know that the most High ruleth in the

kingdom of men, and giveth it to

whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it

the basest of men.

In verses 13 and 17, the word "watcher" is

translated from a Chaldean word meaning

"angels".

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A DREAM "A watcher and an holy one" does not

necessarily indicate two beings, but rather

may refer to the character of the watcher

as being holy.

Other Bible scholars believe that "an holy

one" is a separate being from the

"watcher".

We will take a special look at the being

called "a watcher."

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THE COURT OF

THE WATCHERS

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THE COURT OF THE WATCHERSNotice now in verse 17:

DAN 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the

watchers, and the demand by the word of the

holy ones: to the intent that the living may

know that the most High ruleth in the

kingdom of men, and giveth it to

whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it

the basest of men.

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THE COURT OF THE WATCHERS You should be aware that the watchers are

mentioned in the Noncanonical Book of

Enoch as being the class of angel that

were the 200 fallen Angels mentioned in

Genesis 6:2 and Jude verses 14 and 15.

Also according to the Book of Enoch

these angels descended upon Mt Hermon

(Enoch 6:5-6.

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THE COURT OF THE WATCHERSEnoch 7:10 Then they took wives, each

choosing for himself, whom they began to

approach, and with whom they cohabited;

teaching them sorcery, incantation, and the

dividing of roots and trees.

11 And they conceiving brought forth giants.

The “dividing of roots and trees” speaks

of genetic manipulation, and may include

something akin to GMOs (Genetically

Modified Organisms) & possibly a hint of

transhumanism.

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THE COURT OF THE WATCHERS

Certainly the Book of Enoch suggests the

teaching of all kinds of abominable things.

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Daniel 4:17 indicates that there is a

council of watchers (angels) in heaven

over which God presides supreme.

The decrees of this heavenly court are

executed on the earth.

The decrees of God are said to be that of

this council.

In Daniel 4:24, in reference to Daniel 4:17,

the decree of the most high is said to be

that of the watchers – notice Daniel 4:24:

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DAN 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king,

and this is the decree of the most High,

which is come upon my lord the king:

Watchers execute God’s decrees.

They are His ministers or agents.

Psalm 89 refers to a council of angels.

Most scholars believe that the word

translated “saints” (lit. holy ones) in

Psalm 89 refers to angels.

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Notice the literal translation given by

Young’s Literal Translation (YLT):

Psa 89:5 and the heavens confess Thy

wonders, O Jehovah, Thy faithfulness also

[is] in an assembly of holy ones.

6 For who in the sky, Compareth himself to

Jehovah? Is like to Jehovah among sons of

the mighty?

7 God is very terrible, In the secret counsel

of His holy ones, And fearful over all

surrounding Him. YLT

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Revelation 4:2-8 gives us a picture of the

throne room of God.

REV 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit:

and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and

one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a

jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a

rainbow round about the throne, in sight like

unto an emerald.

(Continued)

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4 And round about the throne were four and

twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four

and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white

raiment; and they had on their heads crowns

of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings

and thunderings and voices: and there were

seven lamps of fire burning before the

throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

(Continued)

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6 And before the throne there was a sea of

glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of

the throne, and round about the throne, were

four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the

second beast like a calf, and the third beast

had a face as a man, and the fourth beast

was like a flying eagle.

(Continued)

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8 And the four beasts had each of them six

wings about him; and they were full of eyes

within: and they rest not day and night,

saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,

which was, and is, and is to come.

These verses describe creatures that

were "full of eyes", had six wings each,

and cried "holy, holy, holy, Lord God

Almighty" day and night.

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Isaiah 6:1-3 also describes the creatures

around God's throne as Seraphim, each

having six wings and crying "holy, holy,

holy is the Lord of Hosts":

ISA 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I

saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high

and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

(Continued)

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2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one

had six wings; with twain he covered his

face, and with twain he covered his feet, and

with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy,

holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole

earth is full of his glory.

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Ezekiel 1:5-10 describes four similar

creatures, but probably not the same, as

these creatures had four wings each:

EZE 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came

the likeness of four living creatures. And this

was their appearance; they had the likeness

of a man.

6 And every one had four faces, and every

one had four wings.

(Continued)

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7 And their feet were straight feet; and the

sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's

foot: and they sparkled like the colour of

burnished brass.

8 And they had the hands of a man under

their wings on their four sides; and they four

had their faces and their wings.

9 Their wings were joined one to another;

they turned not when they went; they went

every one straight forward.

(Continued)

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THE COURT OF THE WATCHERS10 As for the likeness of their faces, they

four had the face of a man, and the face of a

lion, on the right side: and they four had the

face of an ox on the left side; they four also

had the face of an eagle.

At best we can only speculate as to the

meaning of the four beasts with 6 wings

and full of eyes around the throne (Rev 4).

Symbolically the beasts around the

throne represent the fourfold nature of

Jesus Christ.

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The lion signifies His kingship, the calf

speaks of His humble servitude to

mankind, the creature like a man recalls

His humanity, and the flying eagle speaks

of His divinity.

These creatures parallel the theme of the

gospels:

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THE FOUR

CREATURES

AND THE

GOSPELS

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THE 4 CREATURES & THE GOSPELS

The four creatures around God's throne

parallel the Gospels:

The Kingship of Christ The Lion Matthew

Christ as the Servant The Ox Mark

The Humanity of Christ The Man Luke

Christ as the Divine Word The Eagle John

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Jewish tradition says that Israel camped

under four standards:

East Judah Lion

North Dan Eagle

West Ephraim Ox

South Reuben Man

In the center was the tabernacle, which

contained the Shekinah, or the symbol of

Divine presence.

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Christ will rule with:

Kingly righteousness with hatred of evil,

answering to the lion springing terribly

on the victim.

Laborious diligence in duty, the ox

bound to the soil.

Human sympathy, the man.

Contemplation of heavenly truth, the

eagle.

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The Four Creatures, or Beasts, around

God's throne, which we saw described in

Revelation 4:2-8 and Isaiah 6:1-3, are the

"watchers", they are full of eyes.

They make this declaration in Revelation

4:11:

REV 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive

glory and honour and power: for thou hast

created all things, and for thy pleasure they

are and were created.

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The watchers speak of God's creation

over which Jesus Christ will exercise

authority to subdue it and redeem it from

the curse (Gen 3).

The watchers are a particular class of

angels with “some involvement with

executing the judgmental decrees of

God, including their official

pronouncement to mankind.”

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They watch day and night “over the

affairs of God, making sure His

commands are put into effect.”

In the next lesson we will return to

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

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End of The Study of Daniel

Lesson 10

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Closing Prayer

Creation Revelation

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Robert & Mary Tozier


[email protected]

At Sunrise Southern Baptist Church

Las Vegas, NV

the wise shall the study of daniel … a testimony dan 4:1 nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people,...

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