**The Prophecies of Daniel - Part 1 **
Daniel received some of the most profound revelations that anyone has ever received from the Lord. These revelations spanned the future timeline of mankind on earth from the time of the Babylonian empire of Nebuchadnezzar until the establishment of the Kingdom of God and the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Many of the revelations that Daniel received are more relevant now, in our time, than they were at the time he received them.
The prophecies of Daniel really begin in Daniel chapter 2 with the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed a dream and was determined to understand its meaning, but there was a problem. He could not remember his dream.
When the king demanded that the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers reveal to the king the dream that he had dreamed, along with its interpretation, they could not do it.
This made the king furious.
He gave the command that all of these “wise men” of Babylon should be killed.
Daniel and his friends also became targeted for execution because of this command.
How Revelation Came to Daniel
When Daniel became aware of the king’s command to execute them, he appealed to the king for more time.
Then, in Daniel 2:17-18, we are given a real key to receiving revelation from the Lord.
“So Daniel went to his house. He explained the whole story to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel asked his friends to pray to the God of heaven. Daniel asked them to pray that God would show them mercy and help them understand this secret. Then Daniel and his friends would not be put to death with the other wise men of Babylon.”—Daniel 2:17-18 (ICB)
James tells us that if we lack wisdom, all we need to do is to ask God for it sincerely. God is always willing to give us more wisdom and revelation. It is up to us to seek Him for it.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”—James 1:5 (NIV)
James also tells us that the fervent, earnest prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much. I’m sure in this circumstance, when their lives were at stake, Daniel and his three friends were praying earnestly!
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”—James 5:16 (NLT)
After earnestly seeking God, the secret was revealed to Daniel.
“During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven”—Daniel 2:19 (NIV)
It’s worth pointing out that the revelation did not come while they were praying, but it came to Daniel later, after they had prayed. Sometimes, while praying we may feel that nothing is happening. Maybe we even feel like our prayers are having no effect, but it is very common for God to respond to our prayers later, *after *the praying is done. So, we should not be discouraged if we don’t feel like anything is happening when we pray, but instead, we should always have faith in God’s promises that He will hear and answer every prayer that is in agreement with His will.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”—1 John 5:14-15 (ESV)
After receiving the revelation of this mystery, Daniel gave thanks and praise to God.
“Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding! He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him! I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers, Who has given me wisdom and might and has made known to me now what we desired of You, for You have made known to us the solution to the king’s problem.” —Daniel 2:20-23 (AMPC)
The Value of Wisdom and Revelation
Armed with this wisdom and revelation from God, Daniel requested an audience with the king.
“So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said this to him: ‘Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will reveal to the king the interpretation [of his dream].’”—Daniel 2:24 (AMP)
With this wisdom and revelation from the Lord, Daniel was able to calm the anger of the king and to save many lives. This is exactly what the Bible tells us that any of us can do when we have the wisdom of God.
“… people who are wise are able to calm those who are angry.”—Proverbs 29:8 (ERV)
“There was a small town with only a few residents. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and waged a terrible war against it. Now there lived in that town a poor but wise man who saved everyone by his wisdom.”—Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 (CEB)
The Bible tells us that wisdom is the most valuable thing that we can seek.
“Wisdom is the most important thing. So get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.”—Proverbs 4:7 (ICB)
“For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.”—Proverbs 8:11 (NLT)
With wisdom and revelation Daniel was able to unlock and explain the mystery of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
Later, Daniel was given more detailed revelations about the future of mankind, even seeing the end of the the age of man and the end-time judgment of God.
Revelation of the secrets of God is also promised to any of us who also have ears to hear and hearts to understand.
“And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
“For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”—Matthew 13:11-12 (AMPC)
