Sermon Outline:
Daniel 1:8 “Daniel purposed in his heart…do the right thing.
PK 479 “Among the children of Israel who were carried captive to Babylon at the beginning of the 70 years captivity were Christian patriots, men who were true as steel to principle, who would not be corrupted by selfishness, but who would honor God at the loss of all things. In the land of their captivity these men were to carry out God’s purpose by giving to heathen nations the blessings that come through a knowledge of Jehovah. They were to be His representatives. Never were they to compromise with idolaters; their faith and their name as worshipers of the living God they were to bear as a high honor. And this they did. In prosperity and adversity they honored God, and God honored them.”
Gen Norman Schwarzkopf Rule 16 & 17.
As Daniel,clung to God with unwavering trust, the spirit of prophetic power came upon him, through figures and symbols-future all the way to the end: The world empires, The Real Passover, and Real Day of Atonement. Dark side, Think to change times and laws, 4th - time.
Whole world will be involved, including US, Rev 13 outstanding signs, ultimate union of church and state. Impossible to change God’s law, good understanding law, Dan warned ultimate blasphemy
So, how did Daniel get to Babylon?
World-false worship, Except Israel, true worship Problem was Israel fell into false worship. Golden calve, It’s like a ship. Israel refused to be corrected. Jeremiah, Isaiah had warned them. God -Judah would serve Babylon 70 years, Jeremiah 25:8-11.
Nebuchadnezzar- had a good side, Dan 7:4 says “a man’s heart was given to it.” He brought the best and the brightest to condition them in the Babylonian culture. But God was sending the best and the brightest (Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Aariah, we know them as Belteshazzar,
Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego) to fulfill His purposes to tell Babylon about the true God and true worship. (If Israel would not bring the truth to the world, God would take them to the world, Himself.) God was sending the purposed ones, true as steel. (who would not deny
their faith by eating food they knew was offered to idols).
Daniel was purposed in his prayers, Jesus was purposed in His prayers. In the judgement, God is on our side, 1 John 2:1. John 5:22
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream:
Babylon 605-539BC
Media Persia 539- 331BC
Greece 331-168 BC
Rome 168- 476 AD
Stone cut out without hands crushed.
Nebuchadnezzar accepted Dan 2:47 “Your God is the God of god’s" promoted Daniel to Prime Minister but then his narcissistic behavior- Dan 4:30. So what did he do? all gold forgot the stone, everybody bow down to it, and that’s how Shadrack… And when they..looked- One like the Son of God, how did N.. know. Daniel told them about the true God. Nebuchadnezzer will be in the kingdom of God. And that’s what God wants for us, to be Christian patriots for Him.