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Daniel ch 2
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Ron Corson
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Oct 02, 2004 19:08 PDT
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“Years ago, a psychic named Cheiro warned editor W. T Stead not to
travel by water during April 1912. Stead lost his life, in April 1912,
on the Titanic. In the summer of 1961, psychic Jeane Dixon foretold that
United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld would be killed in a
"plane crash in mid-September." On September 18, 1961, the
secretary-general was killed in a plane crash.
What does this prove? Only that Satan certainly can make predictions and
then bring about their fulfillment, nothing more (if even that).”
A better answer is that it proves nothing. Random predictions that
happen to come true indicate nothing at all. There needs to at least be
a statistical verifiable number of correct to incorrect predictions to
be anything of significance. If you use the answer the lesson gave then
any critiques of the bible can attribute any accurate predictions to the
working of the devil.
The Kings dream:
“Having forgotten part of the dream, the king used this fact to test the
wise men. If he had forgotten the dream completely, he would not have
been troubled by it.”
Actually it is probably not because the king forgot the dream. The NIV
uses the phrase twice this I have firmly decided, you see it in verse 5
as well as verse 8.
(Dan 2:2 NIV) So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers
and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and
stood before the king,(Dan 2:3 NIV) he said to them, "I have had a
dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."(Dan 2:4 NIV)
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live
forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."(Dan
2:5 NIV) The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have
firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret
it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of
rubble.(Dan 2:6 NIV) But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you
will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the
dream and interpret it for me."(Dan 2:7 NIV) Once more they replied,
"Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret
it."(Dan 2:8 NIV) Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are
trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly
decided:
Tuesday
“Notice that Daniel's first concern was for the wise men of Babylon.
Although they had done nothing to earn this stay of execution, they were
saved because of the presence of a righteous man in their midst.
Throughout history such cases have been reported.”
As cruel as much of the Old Testament seems this is a good indication of
the difference in the value of life between the good man Daniel and that
of the king. An execution for unjust reason is simply unjust life should
not be subject to the whims of the ones with the sword. As we see today
in sections of Islam where they kill innocent. We will see later that
when these same people plot to kill Daniel that their execution is no
longer denied. Then it becomes a justifiable sentence.
“These are the nations that make up modem Europe, nations that, to this
day, exist as separate national and political entities.”
Why do you think that it is only the area of Europe that the toes
represent? Or is this just the old ten kingdom view which we now know is
historically inaccurate? It would seem more likely that the toes
represent separation of nations no longer a world power.
My final discussion question:
Considering the trouble this vision later caused why do you think it was
revealed in the way it was. Daniel could have just as easily given the
prophecy to the king. Was it just to give Daniel a promotion. Could it
be that it also has application to us today. That what we do with the
messages of God can be put to good use or evil use. Is that possible?
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