THE CASE AGAINST DANIEL THE PROPHET VS THE STATE OF MEDO-PERSIA
Amendment 1 - US Constitution
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
An ancient King is deceived into abolishing the right to freedom of worship. In Daniel chapter 3 false worship was enforced. In Daniel chapter 6 true worship is forbidden. The events in this chapter typify end-time events when the faithful will be forced to worship the image of the beast and forced to stop worshipping (obeying) the Creator God. See Rev 13:12
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find [it] against him concerning the law of his God.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the kingʼs decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into
the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concern- ing Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king
Daniel the prophet is a representation of true religious worship. The Presidents and the Princes, a representation of false religion. False religion manipulates the State (King Darius) to pass a law prohibiting the free exercise of religious worship in order to destroy Daniel whom the religious bigots hated.
spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lionsʼ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, na- tions, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel chapter 6, like Daniel 3 is a type or illustration of what will happen in the future as religious elements in society beginning in the Western world move upon the state to enforce WORSHIP. Revelation 13 is a more detailed enunciation of the prophetic events about to transpire on this earth as the second beast of Revelation 13 moves to enforce the mark of the beast and the worship of the first beast.
Moves have been afoot for quite some time to promote Sunday worship as sacred and it will not take much for governments to enforce a Sunday law.
OVERVIEW
verses 1-5 A Faultless life
Danielʼs enemies made a law forbidding his religion in order to make him a criminal.
verses 6-9 True Worship Made Illegal
As Danielʼs enemies had to persuade the State (the king) to pass a religious law to make him a criminal, so it will be in the end. The wicked will make obedience to all of Godʼs commandments illegal. All will be forced to receive the mark of the beast in place of keeping the commandments of God. Revelation 14:9-12 contrasts those who take the mark of the beast with those who keep Godʼs commandments.
verse 10 Daniel prayed in the open
Why didnʼt Daniel pray in hiding? Daniel had determined that he would be true to God. He would let the world know that no king, prince, or power, has a right to come between his soul and God.
verses 11-24 Wicked perish in their own trap
Eventually those who had conspired to condemn Daniel were themselves destroyed by that which they had hoped to destroy Daniel. So the corrupt end-time church (described as a whore), who intends to destroy the saints using the nations of the world, will herself be destroyed by the nations. (See Rev 17).
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
We have most to fear from the Church
Darius (the State) was not Danielʼs enemy. Pilate (the State) tried to save Christ. The ʻChurchʼ wanted Christ dead.
The ʻChurchʼ wanted the Reformers dead.
The ʻChurchʼ will want the end-time faithful dead.
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” John 16:2
How should we Pray?
“...he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed.” Dan 6:10 Christ knelt (Luke 22:41). Peter kneeled (Acts 9:40).
Paul kneeled (Acts 20:36). They knelt on the shore. (Acts 21:5). We are to kneel before God. (Ps 95:6).
We are to bow our knees. (Eph 3:14).
We are to pray without ceasing (1Thess 5:17) In both public and private WORSHIP we are to pray on our knees.
Bowing before God is an act of worship.
We are not to bow to false God but to the Lord: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God...” Exo 20:5.
Commentary
This chapter reveals the christian's relationship to the State. It demonstrates that in God’s eyes no State ruler or government has any authority to pass laws of a religious nature. This chapter is also a type of end-time events when the saints will be commanded to worship contrary to the law of God
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage [It testifies to Daniel’s excellent character that the conquering kingdom set him up in charge!].
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him [Daniel was a law abiding citizen].
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find [it] against him concerning the law of his God [So true was Daniel to his faith that they knew he would never forsake it].
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king [a unity in evil], and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions [This was not true, Daniel being a president or governor had not agreed. The conspirators appealed to the kings pride].
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not [See on verse 12 and 16. They sought to make this binding lest the king later wish to repeal the law].
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed [this was done knowingly], he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime [Why didn’t Daniel pray in secret? “Daniel had determined that he would be true to God. He would let the world know that no king, prince, or power, had a right to come between his soul and God.” ST, Dec 4 1889 He made a statement to all and was willing to sign it with his own blood].
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God [they knew he would. This was why they had such a decree passed].
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day [“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Ps 55:17].
14 Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself [not with Daniel. The king realized that he had been set up], and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Daniel was a law abiding citizen. The presidents and princes, false religionists, could find nothing to accuse Daniel of in the secular system of law. They had to desperately resort to something about Daniel's religion in order to crucify him. They craftily drew up a decree for the King to endorse in order to seal Daniel's fate. The law of the Medes and Persians was irrevocable and not even a king could change it. Hence Daniel found himself in the Lions den.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed [Pap[al Rome's doctrine of papal infallibility is an outgrowth of this Medo Persian principle and is seen in the beast of Revelation 13 which had the paws of a bear].
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee [What a statement from a pagan king, Oh that we could have such faith].
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords [Evidence that they were party to this]; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel [The seal was to ensure that no one interfered with Daniel and that Daniel’s God had only to deal with the lions].
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him [his regret was real and strong].
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever [a lovely greeting].
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt [Daniel ascribed the glory to God. The miracle confirmed the truthfulness of Daniel’s words].
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den [probably a hole in the floor to an underground chamber], and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel [they had lied to the king when they said ALL the govenors wanted the anti-prayer decree. They had used the king in an effort to destroy Daniel. They had sealed Daniel in the den], and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives [Any surviving children, angry that the king destroyed their fathers, might attempt to influence others to overthrow him. The wives of the executed might work to overthrow the throne. Furthermore the influence of the wicked men may have badly influenced the characters of their wives and children]; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den [This shows that Daniel’s preservation was not due to satiated or sick lions.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you [what publicity].
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed [cf. Dan 2], and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions [As the news of Daniel’s deliverance was proclaimed in every dominion so the deliverance of Christ from the tomb went to the world].
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian
[“For He [God] stirred up the spirit of Cyrus and caused him to write throughout all Asia, ‘Thus says king Cyrus. Since the Most High God has appointed me king of the habitableworld, I am persuaded that He is the god whom the Israelite nation worships, for He foretold my name through the prophets and that I should build His temple in Jerusalem in the land of Judaea.’ These things Cyrus knew from reading the book of prophecy which Isaiah had left behind two hundred years earlier.”
Josephus, Antiquities, book 11, chap. 1, sec. 1, 2, in Loeb Classical Library, Josephus, Vol. 6, p315
AN END-TIME TYPE (ILLUSTRATION)
Sunday worship laws will be passed throughout the world beginning in the Western nations. The end result of this is the persecution of Bible believing Christians who maintain their loyalty to the law of God. As with Daniel, deliverance will happen for them and those who desired their death will themselves perish.
This event is also typified in the Book of Esther. Mordecai, a faithful Jew, would not bow to the wicked Haman who had ten sons. Haman managed to get a law passed condemning to death all the Jews. Esther, the nephew of Mordecai, pled for her people before the king. The Jews were delivered and the gallows upon which Haman had planned to hang Mordecai were used to hang Haman. Haman’s ten sons also perished.
The end-time faithful will not worship the first beast of Revelation 13, Papal Rome, or the image of the beast. Papal Rome’s daughters, the apostate protestant churches, will manage to get a law passed condemning to death all who do not abide by it including Sabbath keepers. The faithful will plead before Christ and they will be delivered. The powers with which Papal Rome wished to execute the saints will instead execute her . The Papacy’s "10 daughters" will perish with her.