Prophets and Babylonians

Daniel was a prophet. In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Daniel’s coworkers, the Chaldeans (implying Magi or powerful wise men), magicians, astrologers and mediums (who consulted the dead and exorcised demons), were all called together by Nebuchadnezzar. The king had an assignment for them. After they told him what he had dreamed during some troubling dreams he had recently experienced, they were to interpret those dreams as well.

The Babylonians knew that the demand was greater than their skills or their gods. They complained that “No one on earth can make known what the king requests. Consequently, no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any diviner-priest, medium, or Chaldean. What the king is asking is so difficult that no one can make it known to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.” (Daniel 2:10-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®)

Daniel asked his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to pray for him to get the revelation from Yahweh regarding the dreams and their meanings. He received both, and he delivered them to Nebuchadnezzar. He also informed the king regarding the reason his “wise men” could not discern the answer – because their gods were not with them, just as they had stated. Yahweh was with Daniel.

Yahweh is with us, also. He has multiplied the gift of prophet among us, also. When you hear church leaders declaring that we no longer need prophets, that we no longer have prophets, or that Yahweh no longer gives revelation such as dreams or visions to interpret to us events and offer direction, those leaders have the same poor theology the Babylonians did.