black heritage bible lesson # 2 - babylon the gate of god

Black Heritage Bible LessonsBlack Heritage Bible Lessons

Lesson 2Lesson 2BabylonBabylon

The Gate of The Gate of GodGod

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Two Powerful Books Teaching Black History from the BibleTwo Powerful Books Teaching Black History from the Bible

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BABYLONBABYLON

THE GATE OF GODTHE GATE OF GOD

Question 1.Question 1.

Who is responsible for the Who is responsible for the beginning of the Kingdom of beginning of the Kingdom of Babel, later called Babylonia?Babel, later called Babylonia?

Genesis 10:8-10.Genesis 10:8-10.

1. 1. Genesis 10:8-10Genesis 10:8-10

   8 And Cush begat Nimrod: …    8 And Cush begat Nimrod: …    9 He was a mighty hunter…   9 He was a mighty hunter…   10 And the beginning of his    10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.Shinar.

1. Nimrod1. Nimrod

Question 2.Question 2.

Whose Grandson Whose Grandson was Nimrod?was Nimrod?

Genesis 10:6 & 8.Genesis 10:6 & 8.

2. 2. Genesis 10:6, 8Genesis 10:6, 8

   6 And the sons of Ham; Cush,    6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. Canaan.    8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he    8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the began to be a mighty one in the earth.earth.

Grandson of HamGrandson of Ham“Father of the African People”“Father of the African People”

Son of Cush - EthiopiaSon of Cush - Ethiopia

Question 3.Question 3.

What impossible task did What impossible task did Nimrod and his people Nimrod and his people undertake?undertake?

Genesis 11:4Genesis 11:4

Genesis 11:4Genesis 11:4

   4 And they said, Go to, let us build    4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole abroad upon the face of the whole earth.earth.

Build a tower that would reach into Build a tower that would reach into heavenheaven

Question 4.Question 4.

What was the result of What was the result of Nimrod’s action?Nimrod’s action?

Genesis 11:5-8Genesis 11:5-8

Genesis 11:5-8Genesis 11:5-8

   5 And the LORD came down to see    5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower… the city and the tower…    6 And the LORD said, Behold, the    6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined from them, which they have imagined to do. to do.       

7 Go to, let us go down, and there 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they confound their language, that they may not understand one another's may not understand one another's speech. speech.    8 So the LORD scattered them    8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build all the earth: and they left off to build the city.the city.

God came down and confused their God came down and confused their

language.language.

Divided by languages.Divided by languages.

Question 5.Question 5.

What other Babylonian King What other Babylonian King does the Bible speak about does the Bible speak about extensively?extensively?

Daniel 1:1Daniel 1:1

Daniel 1:1Daniel 1:1

   1 In the third year of the    1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.and besieged it.

NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar

Question 6.Question 6.

Of what did this black king Of what did this black king dream? dream?

Daniel 2:1, 31-35Daniel 2:1, 31-35

Daniel 2:1, 31-53Daniel 2:1, 31-53

   1 And in the second year of    1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.brake from him.

Daniel 2:31-35Daniel 2:31-35

   31 Thou, O king, sawest, and    31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image…behold a great image…   32 This image's head was of fine    32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, brass,    33His legs of iron, his feet part of    33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. iron and part of clay.     

      34 Thou sawest till that a stone 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. brake them to pieces.     

  35 Then was the iron, the clay, the 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; threshingfloors;

and the wind carried them away, that and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole great mountain, and filled the whole earth.earth.

  A image of various metals.A image of various metals.1. Gold- head -Babylon1. Gold- head -Babylon2. Silver- hands, chest -Medes and Persians2. Silver- hands, chest -Medes and Persians3. Brass- belly and thigh-Greeks3. Brass- belly and thigh-Greeks4. Iron- legs - Romans4. Iron- legs - Romans5. Iron and Clay- feet - Europe5. Iron and Clay- feet - EuropeA stone which crushed the imageA stone which crushed the image “God’s Kingdom” “God’s Kingdom”

Question 7.Question 7.

What was the meaning of What was the meaning of his dream? his dream?

Daniel 2:37-44Daniel 2:37-44

Daniel 2:37-44Daniel 2:37-44

   37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings:    37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. and glory.       

Daniel 2:37-44Daniel 2:37-44       38 And wheresoever the children of    38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. of gold.

39 And after thee shall arise another 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. bear rule over all the earth.     

      40 And the fourth kingdom shall be 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. bruise.

41 And whereas thou sawest the feet 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. clay.       

      42 And as the toes of the feet were 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. partly broken.

43 And whereas thou sawest iron 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. with clay.       

44 And in the days of these kings 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.ever.      

4 World empire beginning 4 World empire beginning with Babylon, then God’s with Babylon, then God’s Kingdom destroys all and is Kingdom destroys all and is established.established.

Question 8.Question 8.

Of what did this great black Of what did this great black king dream a second time? king dream a second time?

Daniel 4:10-16Daniel 4:10-16

Daniel 4:10-16Daniel 4:10-16

   10 Thus were the visions of mine    10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. height thereof was great.       

Daniel 4:10-16Daniel 4:10-16

         11 The tree grew, and was strong,    11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earthof all the earth

12 The leaves thereof were fair, and 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.       

      13 I saw in the visions of my head 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from and an holy one came down from heaven; heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: from his branches:       

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: grass of the earth:       

      16 Let his heart be changed from 16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.pass over him.      

A great tree which filled the earth A great tree which filled the earth

but was later cut down and its but was later cut down and its stump chained.  stump chained.  

Question 9.Question 9.

Who does the tree Who does the tree represent?represent?

Daniel 4:20-22Daniel 4:20-22

Daniel 4:20-22Daniel 4:20-22

   20 The tree that thou    20 The tree that thou sawest,…sawest,…   22 It is thou, O king,…   22 It is thou, O king,… Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar

Question 10.Question 10.

What was to happen to the What was to happen to the tree?tree?

Daniel 4:23Daniel 4:23

Daniel 4:23Daniel 4:23

   23 And whereas the king saw a    23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy Hew the tree down, and destroy

it; …it; …

Would be chopped downWould be chopped down

Question 11.Question 11.

What does this mean?What does this mean?Daniel 4:24-25Daniel 4:24-25

      24 This is the interpretation,…24 This is the interpretation,…

25 That they shall drive thee from 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with men, and thy dwelling shall be with

the beasts of the field, and they shall the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, make thee to eat grass as oxen,

and they shall wet thee with the dew and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall of heaven, and seven times shall

pass over thee, till thou know that the pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of most High ruleth in the kingdom of

men, and giveth it to whomsoever he men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.will.

33 The same hour was the thing 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs with the dew of heaven, till his hairs

were grown like eagles' feathers, and were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.his nails like birds' claws.

Nebuchadnezzar would loose his Nebuchadnezzar would loose his thronethrone

Question 12.Question 12.

What happened to What happened to Nebuchadnezzar?Nebuchadnezzar?

Daniel 4:29-33.Daniel 4:29-33.

  29 At the end of twelve months he 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom walked in the palace of the kingdom

of Babylon. of Babylon.       

        30The king spake, and said, Is not 30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the for the house of the kingdom by the

might of my power, and for the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? honour of my majesty?

  31 While the word was in the king's 31 While the word was in the king's mouth…, there fell a voice from mouth…, there fell a voice from

heaven, saying, O king heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. The kingdom is departed from thee.

He became insaneHe became insane

Question 13.Question 13.

What was the end result of What was the end result of his insanity? his insanity?

Daniel 4:34-36.Daniel 4:34-36.

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

He lifted up his eyes to He lifted up his eyes to heaven.heaven.

He acknowledged God as He acknowledged God as King and was convertedKing and was converted

Question 14.Question 14.

What was the end result of What was the end result of Nebuchadnezzar’s Nebuchadnezzar’s

conversion? conversion?

Daniel 4:36.Daniel 4:36.

Daniel 4:36Daniel 4:36

   36 At the same time my reason    36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of returned unto me; and for the glory of

my kingdom, mine honour and my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto counsellors and my lords sought unto

me; and I was established in my me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was kingdom, and excellent majesty was

added unto me.added unto me.

His reason and his kingdom His reason and his kingdom was restored.was restored.

Is it your desire to accept Is it your desire to accept God as Lord of your life as God as Lord of your life as

Nebuchadnezzar did?Nebuchadnezzar did?