Daniel: Part 9 – The Progressive Maturation of a Believer in the End Times from Immaturity to Full Stature and a Redeemed Body
In the book of Daniel, four kings are spoken of as ruling over the realm of Babylon, the Medes and Persians. The four kings are Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Cyrus and Belshazzar. Three of these kings, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus are types of the natural mind. Belshazzar is a type of the sin nature.
Nebuchadnezzar is the natural mind of a Christian who is immature and subject to dissociation and bondage. Darius represents our natural mind in a more mature state. Cyrus is a type of our natural mind that has come to completion in Christ. Our mind matures in stages, and each of these kings represents a different stage of the natural mind’s development. These stages of development are fully displayed before us in the ensuing chapters of the book of Daniel.
Belshazzar, on the other hand, is a type of our sin nature. There are two parts to our sin nature in that one part is attached to our mind and the other part to our physical body. Hence, Belshazzar has two appearances in Daniel. In chapter five, the part of the sin nature attached to the mind is removed and destroyed. In chapter seven, the part in the physical body is removed and destroyed.
Let’s look now at the last two verses of Daniel 1:
Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
The natural mind has learned that he can find direction and understanding for his life by consulting his spiritual mind that is joined with Christ in a deep, abiding relationship.
He found his spiritual mind to be ten times better than any other wisdom he had sought from worldly sources. In fact, according to the spiritual meaning of the number “ten” the spiritual mind was in “the perfection of divine order where nothing was wanting” and there was “completeness of order.”(E.W. Bullinger, Number in Scripture)
Dan 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
This verse in Daniel is telling us that Daniel, the spiritual mind in us, will remain and help us until we come into the fullness of Christ with a fully redeemed and perfected soul and body. The spiritual mind is the part of us that is joined with Christ beyond the veil. The spiritual mind works in conjunction with Christ to bring us to completion and will be with us throughout all eternity.
Cyrus can be viewed as our natural mind in its highest state because of what we know about Cyrus historically.
- He ruled over the entire world. Our natural mind rules over all in us that is natural and relates to the world.
- He is best remembered for his policies of peace. The mature mind is at peace.
- He, along with Darius, conquered Babylon. Babylon, the walled city, represents, in my interpretation as seen inwardly, the brokenness of dissociation wherein part of the mind splits away from the mainstream of consciousness and creates a wall of “amnesia.” The more mature minds no longer allow parts of their mind to split off when facing trials. The mature mind faces difficulties head-on and triumphs with the help and strength of Almighty God.
- He is referred to as Yahweh’s shepherd and anointed (Isa. 44:28-45:6) because of his kindness to the Jews and worship of Yahweh. This mature natural mind no longer hinders the spiritual mind in any way. He is in favor of worship and all activities that draw us closer to God. The natural mind will never be in the same position as the spiritual mind because it relates to things of this earth, but it can work in harmony in all things with the spiritual mind.
