We are now about to begin a new section in our study. If you have been following the Old Teacher from the start you know that we have been studying history as the Word of God recorded it. We have been all the way back to Creation where we witnessed the creation of Adam and Eve as perfect individuals without sin. When given free choice, they chose to go against the Word of God, bringing Sin in to the world and thereby creating the necessity for God to provide a way of escape. God provided that escape through Christ’s sacrifice on The Cross. We have seen the history of mankind and have observed his complete inability to measure up to God's standard of Holiness.

We now come to what amounts to the final major division of The Bible, the subject of prophecy. This portion of our study will disturb many individuals, particularly if they have not received Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you have followed along with us from the start of the study and not made a decision, we would like to suggest that you consider going back to the start and reviewing your relationship with Christ. The Gospel of John tells of God's great love, and his provision through Christ's death on The Cross for our forgiveness and a new relationship with Him.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 001)  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 002)  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 003)  And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 004)  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 005)  And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 006)  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 007)  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 008)  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 009)  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 010)  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 011)  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 012)  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 013)  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 014)  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 015)  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 016)  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 017)  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 018)  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 019)  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 020)  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 

In this chapter we meet Nebuchadnezzar who actually is one of the first great rulers of the world. When we say rulers of the world we mean the known world at that time. It's interesting to watch his developing relationship with the God of Israel. He is not too nice of an individual when we first meet him. He has had a dream and desires to know the meaning of it. Eventually after prayer by Daniel and his friends, Daniel describes the dream to Nebuchadnezzar and gives the interpretation as God has revealed it to him.

The large image that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream represented four world kingdoms. They are Babylon, Media -Persia, Greco- Macedonian, and Roman. You do not have to be a historian to know that these kingdoms came in order as given and at the time as given. The first three are past history. The last, (Roman), also seems to be past, but the framework still exists today and will be revived at God’s appointed time.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 021)  And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 001)  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 002)  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 003)  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 004)  Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 005)  The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 006)  But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 007)  They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 008)  The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 009)  But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 010)  The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 011)  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 012)  For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 013)  And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 014)  Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 015)  He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 016)  Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 017)  Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 018)  That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 019)  Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 020)  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 021)  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 022)  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 023)  I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 024)  Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 025)  Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 026)  The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 027)  Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 028)  But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 029)  As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 

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