The Kingdoms of Men as seen by Joel

The Kingdoms of Men as seen by Joel, Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel all together after Armageddon HISTORY from the Numerical perspective of Israel V Value Israel subject to Babylon from Nebuchadnezzar to Cyrus 589 -539 B. C. = 50 yrs. 50 Persia ruled from B. C. 538330 B. C. , until Alexander. 208 The Greeks ruled Israel from 330 -190 B. C. = 140 yrs. when the Jews rebelled under the Maccabees. Rome ruled from 39 B. C. to A. D. 70 when Israel ceased. 140 108 PALMERWORM LOCUST d d CANKERWORM CATERPILLER • Daniel 2: 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, … What is thought to cause this image to stand ALL together?

2 Thes. 2: 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie (NIV) • “The lie” is the root belief in the immortality of the soul. This will trouble these kings (both Moslem and Christian) causing them to “set themselves” against God and Jesus, (Psa. 2: 2) even though they come to Jerusalem and see Ezekiel’s temple built! Psalm 48: 2 -11 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. [4] For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. [5] They saw it, together and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and marvelled hasted away. [6] Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail

Evidence that this IMAGE stand up “all together” against Christ after Armageddon? • After Armageddon, Gog’s army buried in Israel Ezekiel 39: 11 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place … in Israel …there shall they bury Gog …”. • “Supper of Great God” (Eze. 39: 17) follows Gog’s burial (Eze. 39: 11) • Eze. 39: 17 … Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you … that ye might eat flesh. • Rev. 19: 15 … and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 17 …saying to all the fowls … gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of God kings, … and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

The Kingdom of men versus the Kingdom of God Daniel 2: 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, kingdom and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all Thou art this head of gold. • Kingdom singular supports this contrast to the Kingdom of God. It is theme that Nebuchadnezzar was to learn the hard way! – Daniel 4: 17 … to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Daniel 3: 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. u u Context of Daniel 3 is: “Who rules in the Kingdom of Men”, but first -No, for the height of 60 cubits the breadth needs to be 2. 5 to 3 cubits. It is thought that this image was 40 cubits high and the pedestal 20 cubits by six cubits square. Diodorus (90 -30 BC) in his account of Xerses mentions an image of gold that high, taken from the temple of Belus.

Dan. 3: 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. – Six is the number of man i. e. • Man was created on the 6 th day. • The height of Goliath was six cubits, six pieces of armour, his spear six shekel. • The man of sin in Rev. 13: 18 is 666. – So interpreting this image both literally and spiritually is determined by the number six but than what about this question: – How many books are in the Bible?

► Daniel 3: 4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: § Six musical instruments but there is more here for this not only signals man’s worship but it helps negate what happened at Babel for music is a universal language.

Three is the number of earthly perfection ¡ It was the 3 rd day earth came up out of the water. ¡ Sheet let down three times to Peter ¡ Three days Jonah was in the whale and three days Jesus was in the heart of the earth. ¡ Six repeated thrice cries out this was man’s music and it was earthy! ¡ Why is it important to show “ 3” is earthly perfection? l Trinitarians say three is the number of spiritual perfection.

Daniel 3: 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. • He makes the whole image of gold. • From history, dedicated to Belus his god. • He commands that all bow down to it.

What is meant, “we are not careful to answer? n Daniel 3: 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. n NRSV – “we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. ” n They were saying a 2 nd chance wouldn’t cause them to bow down to this image. That their minds were made up which inflamed Nebuchadnezzar.

Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Daniel 3: 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. – This infuriated Nebuchadnezzar but it also elevated the contest to God’s honour. – Isaiah 37: 17 Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. (NIV) Are we able to elevate our trials to God’s honour?

Daniel 3: 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. • Seven, the number of spiritual perfection. Here was tried faith! • Question -- Just before Jesus’ return, will the furnace of life be heated seven times and our faith severely tried? • What about Luke 21: 36 ? - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. • Genesis 19: 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, • 1 Thessalonians 1: 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. • John 6: 21 disciples delivered from the storm. • Isa. 57: 1 “… taken away from the evil to come. ”

Daniel 3: 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. • It is felt Daniel was on a mission outside the kingdom but how can we support this? (hint – from a spiritual perspective) • Daniel types Jesus who now is not physically with his brethren as they face the burning fiery furnace of life.

Daniel 3: 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. – The fourth, v. 28 is an angel but the phrase “like the Son of God” contains a future echo to Jesus Christ who is there to help us when we are in the iron furace of life. • Isaiah 43: 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. – What is required to become the “thou” and “thee” as seen in Luke 13: 1 -5? • (Hint) “Except ye repent”

Luke 13: 1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish. • Required is being baptized --- for it will distance one from the law of time and chance because God’s has purpose with this group to produce a godly seed that will glorify Him. God therefore will intervene when necessary to accomplish this goal.

Daniel 3: 29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. – When the Christ’s mountain fills the whole earth there will be no blasphemy and all nations will be commanded to bow to Christ the king. (cp Zech. 14: 16 -20)

Daniel 3: 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. ► The redeemed (saints) will become the rulers in the kingdom age to come. § Revelation 5: 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Daniel 4: 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. u u Pride as seen in v. 30. Daniel 4: 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

THE DREAM OF THE TREE Daniel 4: 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: ► This tree has several fulfillments. ► First Nebuchadnezzar v. 22, who God smote with madness (Lycanthropy). ► This tree also types the “Kingdom of Men” v. 17 smitten with madness until they know God rules in the kingdom of men.

Daniel 4: 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. The tree represents the Babylonian Empire and the beast and birds (nations) came to depend on it. This tree has also a future fulfillment as “Babylon the Great”. ► How do we know this tree doesn’t also represent the coming kingdom of God under Christ. ► Verses 25 & 32 describe this kingdom (“tree”) as the “kingdom of men and the time period (2520 years) is given when this tree is restored. ►

How long is seven times? Daniel 4: 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. n A time =360 day/years (Rev. 11: 2, 3; 12: 14, Num. 14: 34; Eze. 4: 6; Luke 13: 32). 7 X 360 = 2520 years. n The Babylonian empire was cut down in 539 B. C. but its roots were left in the earth being preserved by iron (Roman) and brass (Greek) rings. This tree began growing back after seven times. (7 X 360 = 2520 years = 539 B. C. + 2520 -1 = 1980 A. D).

Poland had massive strikes known as the solidarity movement. l Ronald Reagan elected president of the United States and was one of four who brought the curtain down on the Soviet Union. l This Unholy alliance caused this tree to grow again. l Who were the four key people who brought the curtain down? l

Lech Walesa Hint – who was this man? “Sacked from his job, he nonetheless climbed over the perimeter wall of the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk in August 1980, at age 37, to join the occupation strike. With his electrifying personality, quick wit and gift of the gab, he was soon leading it. He moved his fellow workers away from mere wage claims and toward a central, daringly political demand: …”

Ø Mikhail Gorbachev ØRonald Reagan Ø John Paul II ØLech Walesa

Why Iron and Brass band? • Daniel 4: 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: – Iron and Brass in Daniel 2 stood for Roman Church and Greek Church. What this is saying is that they will be involved in preserving and resurrecting the image (Babylon the Great)

Daniel 4: 17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest <8215> of men. ► 8215 sh@phal (Aramaic) {shef-al'}; adj AV - basest 1; 1 (1) low, lowliest (of station) § Yes, Ezekiel 21: 26 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low <8217>, and abase <8213> him that is high. ► Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: … § This describes Jesus as “lowest” in his first advent but whom God will ultimately set over the “kingdom of God”. ► BUT -- since Dan. 4: 17 speaks of the “kingdom of men”, the basest of men applies to men like this man.

Daniel 4: 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility. l He had established a close preacher relationship -otherwise, advising him to break off sin by righteousness, would never have been said.

Daniel 4: 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? n This would have been especially hard for Nebuchadnezzar for he was a great builder and had absolute power.

Daniel 4: 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: • Daniel spent around forty years (605 – 562) as Nebuchadnezzar’s right hand -- having been made ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon, therefore • There is little doubt Daniel preached to Nebuchadnezzar, i. e. • Jeremiah 39: 11 Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.

Dan 4: 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. – In Nebuchadnezzar’s favour is that God went out of His way to work with this king and at this point Nebuchadnezzar does show change. He also shows faith and honour to God plus he is the writer of this whole chapter in our Bible.

Dan. 3: 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Dan 3: 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. • No, a type isn’t the real thing. Jesus here pre-existed only in the mind of God having yet to be born. – Revelation 13: 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Two angels or one angel? Daniel 4: 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher <5894> and an holy <6922 one> came down from heaven; 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: § 5894 `iyr (Aramaic) {eer}; n m AV - watcher 3; 3 (1) waking, watchful, wakeful one, watcher, angel. § 6922 qaddiysh (Aramaic) {kad-deesh'}; adj. AV saint 6, holy 4, holy one 3; 13 (1) holy, separate (2) (TWOT) angels, saints ► LXX & KJV show “watcher” and “holy one” are not the same. What Nebuchadnezzar maybe saw was the watcher angel being here commanded by an angel in God’s presence to destroy Babylon and its empire. (Isa. 14: 12 -16)