DANIEL 1:1-8 It’s almost Midnight.
In the year 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, conquered the Southern Kingdom, Judah and with the conquest took into captivity a group of bright young future leaders of Judah. Among these captives were four young men, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah and Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar had some great plans for these young men. His intent was to literally brainwash and reeducate these young men thereby transforming them into agents of the Babylonian Empire. He then could send them back to their homeland of Judah to govern Judah as loyal subjects of Babylon.
What Nebuchadnezzar sought to do is what is taking place by Satan through our world today. They seek to captivate the Christians, especially our children and youth in order to brainwash and corrupt them. He sought to change their language, their literature, their lifestyle, and their loyalty.
Nebuchadnezzar knew that long before he can make them to behave like Babylonians, he must make them think like Babylonians.
1.The first step in making them think like Babylonians was to make them learn the Chaldean language.
Today we see a shifting in language - a redefining of terms, a political correctness to the world’s way of thinking.
Homosexuality = alternative lifestyle (those opposing are called homophobes)
Abortion = pro-choice
Drunkenness and drugs = chemical dependency or substance abuse
The mention of "God" = removed from every reference in our education and political arenas. Xmas not Christmas, bless you, not God Bless you, Center, not Church etc..
In order to learn the Christian language, you must think and speak like a Christian:
2 Corinthians 6:17 says Therefore Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Psalms 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
God bless you, I’ll be praying for you, Halleluiah, praise God. Jesus is Lord.
Whatever you are going through learn to fight with the word.
Speak:
If you’re sick: By Jesus stripes, I am healed.
Have Finance troubles: I serve a God that supply all my needs.
People who are using you or doing you wrong; Pray for those who despitefully use you. Etc…
2.Nebuchadnezzar sought to change what they read to fill their minds with Babylonian philosophy, Babylonian science, Babylonian astrology, and Babylonian religion. He would seek to reeducate them and replace the things of Zion and God with the value system of Babylon.
Today Humanism teaches the universe as self-existing and not created, man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process. It asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values.
A number of years ago, One woman name Gloria Steinem said she hoped by the year 2000’s we will,raise our children to believe in human potential, not God
Some people actually believe that; Man came from monkey?
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; My God is not a monkey.
3. Nebuchadnezzar sought to change what they did - their Lifestyle.
He appointed them to be given a portion of the royal delicacies of Babylon that he indulged in along with the wine, which he drank - wine that had been offered as an oblation to idols.
He sought to pamper them with the royal dainties of a pagan culture to entice and develop their appetite for these things and thus change their entire lifestyle.
Today Pleasure is the greatest incentive man has.
Happiness and the human, individually and in shared enjoyment, are the continuous themes of today’s society.
Romans 1:25 says; who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worship and served the creature rather than the Creator, WHO IS BLESSES FOREVER, Amen.
Today society says; It’s alright to tell a lie, just call it a white lie.
Its ok to fornicate and commit adultery. The men in the Bible had more than one woman at a time. My favorite: It’s ok to drink, Jesus was a drunk, But no where have you ever read Jesus was drunk.
Its ok not to go to church, I can stay and pray at home. I don’t like being around Christians ALL the time. Hebrews 10:25 says not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
It’s almost Midnight:Here’s where you fit in time!
If you are:
Tender teens, Dawn of the day 6:00am
Teachable Twenties Morning 9:00am
Tireless Thirties Afternoon 12:00pm
Forcible Forties Midday 3:00pm
Fearsome Fifties Evening 6:00pm
Seasonal sixties Nighttime 9:00
Sagging seventies Countdown to Midnight
Aching Eighties
Nebula Nineties
Pejoration Hundreds
1John 2:15 says Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
The world says its ok not to obey God. Do what you want and there are no consequences.
4. Nebuchadnezzar sought to change what they stood for - their Loyalty to God.
The four young men had names which reflected their Hebraic heritage and ties to God.
1. Daniel = God is Judge Belteshazzar - Bel will protect
2. Hananiah = God is Gracious Inspired of Aku (the moon- deity)
3. Azariah = God is my Help Servant of Nebo (Venus)
4. Mishael = Who is like God? Who is like Aku.
Your time is approaching. Everyone has a set time to die. Hebrews 9:27 says, And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. You better get it together today. Not tomorrow. The time is near. The sun is about to set. It’s almost Midnight
