False Religion

King Nebuchadnezzar just had a “religious experience”

False Religion Worships People

King Nebuchadnezzar’s response is an immediate sign that he did not understand Daniel’s role in interpreting the dream

He believed that Daniel was responsible for revealing and interpreting the dream

Multiple times Daniel points to the God in heaven that revealed this mystery

Daniel 2:28 “28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:”

Daniel 2:30 “30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.”

This is similar to Joseph’s events

Genesis 40:8 “8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.””

Genesis 41:16 “16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.””

Genesis 41:25 “25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.”

In both cases God was the one who acted, Joseph and Daniel

Unfortunately though, the king praised Daniel.

Falling upon his face is indicative of worship

the Hebrew phrase “bow down” appears 76 times and is translated worship

This passage is written in Aramaic and carries the same connotation of worship.

Nebuchadnezzar’s promotion of Daniel, and the three, is not in the same

It would not be uncommon to reward Daniel, in the same way Joseph was rewarded, with a promotion

Even if Daniel isn’t the one responsible for the interpretation, it’s obvious God has given Daniel wisdom and to want that around is as to be expected

It would not be as bad had the “praise” of Daniel stopped there, but unfortunately it began in a sinful place

Today we see the same thing happening all around

Churches worship pastors

Pastors worship authors and conference speakers

People worship false prophets

We worship politicians

False Religion Can Acknowledge God

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Nebuchadnezzar was not afraid to also acknowledge the power and knowledge of God

He recognized that Daniel’s wisdom was not of this world

He referred to God as the God of Gods and Lord of Kings, referencing His place not just alongside but above the other Gods’

Those God’s who had failed to deliver an interpretation

He also called God the “revealer of mysteries”, acknowledging that God has the ability to know all things

But even though He admit’s God’s existence and power, he was not converted

He was only willing to acknowledge God, not to submit to Him.

We see this in other places throughout Scripture

Paul in Acts 17 experiences people’s willingness to both believe and not submit

In Acts 17 Paul visit’s Athens, a city known for it’s wisdom and having a pantheon of God

Here they were willing to listen to Paul

James 2:19 “19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

False Religion Is Exposed By Sinful Actions

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There are many people in the same situation as King Nebuchadnezzar

Saying the right things, looking to be a believer, but not being converted

In the end though, these people will always be exposed

Many will be exposed in this world, but those that make it to the end, will be exposed before God

For Nebuchadnezzar, his false religion was exposed by his actions

Following Daniel’s interpretation of the dream, Nebuchadnezzar had a giant statue built

This statue was 9 feet wide and 90 feet tall and plated in gold

It likely the golden statue was inspired by the dream

Making a golden statue may be a reference to the golden head of the statue in the kings dream

The statue was bad enough, but to make things worst, he then commanded all people to worship him through worshiping this statue

But the truth is still the same

The Lord is still in control

The truth of salvation is still the same: one must be Born Again

Believing in God is not enough, we must submit to Him

We must recognize there is 1 God