Tag: NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Categories
Devotionals

NEBUCHADNEZZAR LEARNED HIS LESSON BUT NOT THE BABYLONIAN KINGS AFTER HIM

November, 5 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

NEBUCHADNEZZAR LEARNED HIS LESSON BUT NOT THE BABYLONIAN KINGS AFTER HiM

“The lessons Nebuchadnezzar personally learned over a period of MANY YEARS largely failed to benefit those who succeeded him upon the throne of Babylon. The last ruler of Babylon, Belshazzar, openly defied the God of heaven (ch. 5:23) inspire of the fact that he was ACQUAINTED  with the experience of Nebuchadnezzar (v. 22). Instead of working in harmony with the divine plan, ‘Babylon became a proud and cruel oppressor’ (Ed 176), and in the rejection of the principles of heaven, wrought it’s own ruin (Ed 177). The nation was weighed [in the heavenly balances] and found wanting (ch. 5:25-28).

“In delivering Daniel from the lions’ den, God demonstrated His power and authority before the rulers of the PERSIAN Empire (see ch. 6:29-23; PK 557) as He has previously before those of Babylon. An edict of Darius the Mede acknowledged the ‘living God’ and admitted that He is ‘steadfast forever’ (v. 26)

“Even the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not [cannot be changed] (v. 8), was obliged to yield to the decrees of the ‘Most High’ who ‘rules in the kingdom of men’ (ch. 4:32).

“Cyrus was favorably impressed by the miraculous evidence of divine power exhibited in the deliverance of Daniel from the lions den (PK 557). The prophecies outlining his [Cyrus’] role in the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple (Isa. 44: 26 to 43:13) also made a deep impression upon him. ‘His heart was profoundly moved, and he determined to fulfill his divinely appointed mission.’ (PK 557).” -Ibid, p. 751.

The prophecy pointing to the rebuilding of the desolated Jerusalem and the Temple were fulfilled in the 70-week prophecy of Dan.9: 24-27. Evangelicals harboring a Zionist view still look the future from these prophecies! They have been literally “left behind.”  Not only that: because of adopting Futurism, many believe and urge that Donald Trump is the modern-day “Cyrus” that will restore the Jerusalem and Israel—the nation-state created only in 1948 by the United Nations based on Zionism, not the Bible. God bless all, NMF 

Categories
Devotionals

NEBUCHADNEZZAR MADE READY TO MEET DANIEL’S GOD

November, 4 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

NEBUCHADNEZZAR MADE READY TO MEET DANIEL’S GOD

Having met Daniel who excelled socially, physically and intellectually by his own determination, Nebuchadnezzar was now ready to realize Daniel’s spiritual superiority by being introduced to Daniel’s God!

“These events prepared Nebuchadnezzar to meet Daniel’s God. [Here’s how]. A series of dramatic experiences—the dream of chapter 2, the striking deliverance from the fiery furnace (ch. 3), and the dream of chapter 4—demonstrated to the king’s satisfaction the knowledge, power, and authority of Daniel’s God.

“The INFERIORITY of human knowledge, exhibited in the experience of ch. 2, led Nebuchadnezzar to admit to Daniel, ‘Of a TRUTH it is, that your God is a God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a Revealer of secrets’ (ch. 2:47).

“He freely acknowledged that the wisdom of God was superior, not only to human wisdom, but even to the SUPPOSED wisdom of his own gods. The incident of the Golden Image and fiery furnace led Nebuchadnezzar to admit that the God of heaven ‘delivered His servants’ (ch.3:28). His conclusion was that no one in all his realm ‘should speak anything amiss against the God’ of the Hebrews in view of the fact that ‘no other God’ can ‘deliver after this sort’ (v. 29).

“Nebuchadnezzar now realized that the God of heaven was not only wise but powerful, that He was not only omniscient but omnipotent. The third experience—the SEVEN YEARS during which his own vaunted wisdom and power were temporarily removed—taught the king that only that the ‘Most High’ is wise and powerful but that He exercises that THAT wisdom and power to rule in HUMAN affairs. (ch. 4:32). He has wisdom, power and authority.

“It is significant that the FIRST ACT Nebuchadnezzar performed AFTER his reason returned to him was to ‘praise and extol and honor the King of heaven’ and to acknowledge that ‘those that walk in pride’ as he had done for so many years, God ‘is able to abase’ (v. 37).”- Ibid, pp. 751, 752.
(More follows tomorrow). Bless all, NMF.