Daniel: Part 6 – The Progressive Maturation of a Believer in the End Times from Immaturity to Full Stature and a Redeemed Body

Daniel 1:6,7 – Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

As we shall see in our exciting interpretation given below, Jesus is the one who changes our name; and a change of name will reveal a change in our nature.

Review of Previous Verse:

Dan 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

In Part 5 (verse 5) of my interpretation of Daniel we learned the following:

The natural mind, (King Nebuchadnezzar), thinks it will come into maturity by dividing out certain parts of Scripture in daily portions (daily provision – nourishing them three years). On the surface the word “meat” would cause one to think this would imply seeking deep spiritual insights into the Word. However, in the Hebrew/Chaldea, the word “meat” means “delicate food, pleasing and light, mild.” We can see that the natural mind is willing to daily go to the Word, but it picks and chooses what it likes…that which is mild and pleasant. No deep convicting scriptures requiring death to self will be sought by the natural mind!

The natural mind also (figuratively) drinks wine. The Hebrew tells us this is “wine as fermented.” Fermented, according to Webster, means to boil and be agitated. When a mind takes in “wine” that is boiling and agitating, it is taking in thoughts that cause it to worry. The natural mind’s diet of mild, delicate and light scriptures, is not sufficient to bring it into a faith in Christ where it does not worry.

However, here in verses 6 and 7 of Daniel 1, we will see that Jesus is at work in the lives of these young people and he will see to it that the natural mind will not be able to put limits on God’s plans for their lives. Remember, all the characters we see in this spiritual interpretation are actually representative of the inner being of a Christian in the end times who is in the process of coming into full maturity with all that entails. God uses outward stories (things that actually happened) to reveal to us what is within us (a realm which we are not able to see in a natural sense but can only be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit).

 Daniel is our spiritual mind. With men (in type) representing certain minds or the understanding (as taught by the early church Fathers), Daniel is the spiritual mind. He has a relationship with God. He always makes right decisions based on that relationship. Daniel never compromises. His name means “judgment of God.” God works first in our spirit to bring that into perfection…the natural mind and the body come later as will be seen as our study unfolds.

 The three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, are three understandings possessed by the spiritual mind.

 The meanings of their names are from Strong’s Concordance and will reveal just what these understandings are:

Hananiah – God has favored

Mishael – Who (is) what God (is)

Azariah – God has helped

 The three friends are three understandings of the spiritual mind. Daniel’s name (judgment of God) shows us his spirit has been judged and purified by God. In that process he learned important things about God as revealed in the names of his three friends.

Hananiah, “God has favored,” reveals that he knows God loves him.

Mishael, “Who (is) what God (is),” shows that he is secure in his relationship with God by knowing the character of God. He knows who God is and what God is like.

Azariah, “God has helped,” reveals that he knows God will protect and provide for him.

 The prince of eunuchs is Jesus. He is the one who gives us a new name as seen in the following scriptures:

Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. (Isa. 62)

 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Rev. 2:17)

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God.” (Rev. 3:12)

Eunuchs – Eunuchs were known to be most trustworthy, faithful, and, of course, they were free from sexual lust.

 Their names are changed to the following as found in the Interpreting Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

 Daniel’s new name is Belteshazzar – who lays up treasures in secret

Hananiah’s new name is Shadrach – tender, nipple – being secure in God’s love so he can tenderly nourish those around him.

Mishael’s new name is Meshach – that draws with force – One who knows who God is can draw great strength and power from God and minister this out to others.

Azariah’s new name is Abednigo – servant of light, shining – The security of knowing he has God’s help and protection enables him to freely release Jesus to shine out of his life in service to others.

 The three friends are all relational aspects of knowing God. These qualities increase in the spiritual mind enabling it to minister the life of Christ to others.

 Interpretation

Jesus is the one who will change our name as the Scriptures say. Daniel, is representative of the spiritual mind of a mature Christian living in the end times who has been under God’s judgment for many years. (Anyone who has been through this knows what it must have been like for Daniel. Others could get by with things, but he couldn’t. God would reprimand him for the slightest infraction or bad attitude. As a result of this judgment, his character has changed. He has become pliable and yielding in the Lord’s hands. His will has now acquiesced to God’s will.)

Daniel’s name change from Daniel meaning “judgment of God” to Belteshazzar meaning “who lays up treasures in secret” shows that God is revealing marvelous things to him in his Word…things reserved for the church of the end times. However, the church has not been ready to receive this word until they go through the same intense judgment experienced by Daniel, so Daniel has treasured these things in his heart (laying up treasures in secret). He has kept them safely stored away in journals and notebooks filled with his meticulous studies ready to bring them forth when God reveals the time is right.