Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride (Before His Humbling)
Category: Failure of humility
Could endure: Recognize God’s sovereignty over kingdoms.
“The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” (Daniel 4:17)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 21:1; Romans 13:1.
Chose wrongly: Boasted in his own power.
“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 10:12–13; Acts 12:22–23.
Endured (negatively): Drove into madness, lived like an animal.
“He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox.” (Daniel 4:33)
Cross-Refs: Job 20:6–7; Proverbs 16:18.
Why (wrong motive): Arrogance, self-exaltation.
“Your heart became arrogant and you forgot the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:14 — parallel principle)
Cross-Refs: Ezekiel 28:17; 1 Timothy 3:6.
Result: Humbled until he acknowledged God.
“Then I praised the Most High… those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:34, 37)
Cross-Refs: James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5–6.
Belshazzar’s Blasphemy
Category: Failure of reverence
Could endure: Honor the God who held his life in His hand.
“You did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.” (Daniel 5:23)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 42:8; Acts 17:28.
Chose wrongly: Used temple vessels in drunken idolatry.
“They drank wine, and they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.” (Daniel 5:4)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 20:3–5; Revelation 9:20.
Endured (negatively): Handwriting on the wall, judgment declared.
“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.” (Daniel 5:25)
Cross-Refs: Job 31:6; Revelation 18:5–6.
Why (wrong motive): Arrogance, indulgence, irreverence.
“You have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.” (Daniel 5:22)
Cross-Refs: Romans 1:21–23; Galatians 6:7.
Result: Killed that very night, kingdom lost to Medes and Persians.
“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain.” (Daniel 5:30)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 21:9; Revelation 18:2.
Enemies Plotting Against Daniel
Category: Failure of integrity & justice
Could endure: Accept Daniel’s integrity and serve faithfully.
“They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” (Daniel 6:4)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 29:2; Romans 13:3.
Chose wrongly: Conspired to destroy Daniel using the king’s decree.
“So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: ‘May King Darius live forever!’” (Daniel 6:6)
Cross-Refs: Esther 3:8–9; Psalm 37:12.
Endured (negatively): Trapped in their own scheme.
“At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and they were thrown into the lions’ den.” (Daniel 6:24)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 11:8; Psalm 7:15–16.
Why (wrong motive): Envy, hatred of righteousness.
“They could find no corruption in him… so they said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’” (Daniel 6:4–5)
Cross-Refs: Genesis 37:11; John 15:25.
Result: Destroyed by lions, while Daniel was delivered.
“…before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.” (Daniel 6:24)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 34:21; Galatians 6:7.
The Little Horn (Prophetic Vision)
Category: Failure of reverence & rebellion
Could endure: Submit to God’s everlasting dominion.
“His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” (Daniel 7:27)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 2:8–9; Revelation 11:15.
Chose wrongly: Opposed God, persecuted His saints.
“This horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them.” (Daniel 7:21)
Cross-Refs: Daniel 8:11–12; Revelation 13:7.
Endured (negatively): Allowed to oppress for a time.
“He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people.” (Daniel 7:25)
Cross-Refs: 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4; Revelation 12:17.
Why (wrong motive): Pride, blasphemy, hatred of God.
“It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the LORD.” (Daniel 8:11)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 14:13–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
Result: Destroyed by God’s judgment.
“But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.” (Daniel 7:26)
Cross-Refs: Revelation 19:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:8.