Speaker 1: On the horizon. An unstoppable force was advancing. The most
Speaker 1: powerful and feared empire of its time came to demand submission.
Speaker 1: The walls of Jerusalem fell, the gates were destroyed, the
Speaker 1: temple was desecrated. Princes were chained and taken to distant lands,
Speaker 1: far from everything they knew. Among them walked a young
Speaker 1: man with no army, no throne, unaware that his name
Speaker 1: would cross centuries, Daniel. The sky over Jerusalem was heavy,
Speaker 1: Smoke rose among broken columns, and the distant sound of
Speaker 1: metal against stone echoed through the devastated streets. Gates had
Speaker 1: been breached, walls torn down, and the people walked in silence,
Speaker 1: surrounded by foreign soldiers. The temple, which had once been
Speaker 1: a symbol of the presence of the Most High, was
Speaker 1: now being looted. Sacred objects were being taken away like
Speaker 1: mere trophies of war, while the name of God seemed
Speaker 1: to fade away amidst the cries of the defeated. Among
Speaker 1: the young captives, there was a different kind of silence.
Speaker 1: Daniel walked with a firm gaze, even with his hands
Speaker 1: tied beside him. Hannonaias missile and Desarius tried to understand
Speaker 1: what their eyes were seeing. It wasn't just the loss
Speaker 1: of land, but the feeling that the known world had collapsed. Still,
Speaker 1: something remained intact within them. Did you abandon us now?
Speaker 2: If we are still breathing, he is still in charge.
Speaker 1: The march continued for days, crossing deserts and strange cities,
Speaker 1: until the gates of the Great Babylon rose before them.
Speaker 1: Huge towers, white walls, gods carved in stone and gold
Speaker 1: watched everything. Human power there did not hide, it showed itself.
Speaker 1: The young people would make into the palace, where officials
Speaker 1: evaluated faces, bodies, and minds, like choosing instruments. Asperina's chief
Speaker 1: of the officers, said, these will serve They are strong, intelligent.
Speaker 1: The king wants them to learn our language, our customs,
Speaker 1: and to become like ours. New names were given, a
Speaker 1: new identity was imposed. What came from Judah was to
Speaker 1: be erased. Daniel heard his new name, but something inside
Speaker 1: him remained unchanged. That same night, trays with the king's
Speaker 1: food were placed before them, Meets sacrificed to idols, wine
Speaker 1: consecrated to false gods. The luxury carried contamination. Daniel looked
Speaker 1: at his friends and spoke in a low, determined voice.
Speaker 2: I can't accept this.
Speaker 1: If we refuse, we will die.
Speaker 2: If we accept it, we will die inside.
Speaker 1: They requested a meeting with the officer in charge. The
Speaker 1: man watched them impatiently. Are you trying to challenge the
Speaker 1: king's order?
Speaker 2: We are not asking for privilege, just that we'd be
Speaker 2: allowed not to infect ourselves. Try it ten days, give
Speaker 2: us vegetables and water, then judge for yourself.
Speaker 1: The officer hesitated. The risk was considerable, but something about
Speaker 1: the determination of that young man made him agree. The
Speaker 1: days passed. While others indulged in the excesses of the palace,
Speaker 1: Daniel and his friends remained simple, silent, faithful. On the
Speaker 1: tenth day, their faces were stronger, their eyes were more alive,
Speaker 1: their postures were firmer than the others. How is this possible,
Speaker 1: murmured the officer, astonished. It wasn't possible for human eyes.
Speaker 1: But it wasn't man who ruled that story. Time moved forward.
Speaker 1: Babylon continued its routine of power and splendor. Daniel drew
Speaker 1: in wisdom, discernment, and grace before everyone. Something invisible accompanied
Speaker 1: him while the palace corridors echoed conversations about gods and empires.
Speaker 1: The God of Israel remained silent but watchful. And then,
Speaker 1: on a restless night, the King of Babylon woke up,
Speaker 1: gripped by fear. A dream had crossed his mind like
Speaker 1: a blade, a dream that no god seemed to explain.
Speaker 1: While nebucud Neza sought answers, an invisible tension began to build,
Speaker 1: the future of the kingdoms was about to be unveiled,
Speaker 1: and Daniel did not yet know that he would be
Speaker 1: called to decipher what would shake empires. The pallace awoke
Speaker 1: intention servants walked briskly, guards murmured amongst themselves, and doors
Speaker 1: were opened abruptly. Nebucud Nezza had not slept. The dream
Speaker 1: still burned in his mind like an omen, impossible to ignore.
Speaker 1: Something colossal had been revealed and then removed from his memory.
Speaker 1: Only the terror remained.
Speaker 3: Bring them all, majores, enchanters, wise men, I want answers.
Speaker 1: The hall filled up quickly. Proud men dressed with symbols
Speaker 1: of the gods waited confidently. The king walked slowly in
Speaker 1: front of them.
Speaker 3: I had a dream, and I demand that you tell
Speaker 3: me what I dreamed.
Speaker 1: And what it means. Silence fell like a stone. O King,
Speaker 1: tell us the dream, then we will give you the interpretation.
Speaker 1: Nepuchit Netta's gaze hardened.
Speaker 3: If they were truly wise, they would know. If they
Speaker 3: do not tell me the dream, they will die. If
Speaker 3: they do, they will receive honor and wealth.
Speaker 1: Fear took over the hall, whispers, restless footsteps, pale faces.
Speaker 1: One of them dared to speak again. No man can
Speaker 1: do this, only the gods. Before it was over, the
Speaker 1: king exploded, Then they will all die. The news spread quickly.
Speaker 1: Soldiers set out to execute the wise men of Babylon.
Speaker 1: The order made no exceptions. Daniel and his friends were
Speaker 1: included too. When Ariok, the chief of the guard, arrived
Speaker 1: at Daniel's place, he found something unexpected, calmness. Why such
Speaker 1: a hurry to kill the king's order? He lost his
Speaker 1: patience and trust. Daniel asked for time, a bold request,
Speaker 1: but something in his demeanor convinced the commander to take
Speaker 1: him to the king before Nebuchadnezza, Daniel spoke with respect,
Speaker 1: but without fear.
Speaker 2: Give me a little time. The answer will.
Speaker 1: The king watched him for a long time.
Speaker 3: If it fails, you will die with the others.
Speaker 1: That night, Daniel hurried back home, got the friends together.
Speaker 1: The danger now was real and immediate.
Speaker 2: We need to cry out. If God doesn't speak, we
Speaker 2: will all die.
Speaker 1: They knelt down. There were no long speeches, just pleading.
Speaker 1: The silence seemed overwhelming. But while Babylon was asleep, something
Speaker 1: was moving beyond what could be seen. During the night,
Speaker 1: the answer came. The dream was revealed, every detail, every meaning.
Speaker 1: Daniel woke up before dawn with tearful eyes.
Speaker 2: Blessed be the name of the Lord. He is the
Speaker 2: one who changes times and seasons. He is the one
Speaker 2: who removes kings and establishes kings.
Speaker 1: Brought back to the palace, Daniel asked for the executions
Speaker 1: to be suspended. The whole was tense. When he entered,
Speaker 1: the King looked at him suspiciously.
Speaker 3: Can you tell me the dream?
Speaker 2: No wise man can, But there is a God in
Speaker 2: heaven who reveals mysteries.
Speaker 1: Then Daniel described the vision, the large statue, the head
Speaker 1: of gold, the chest of silver, the belly of bronze,
Speaker 1: the legs of iron, the feet mixed with clay. The
Speaker 1: king turned pale. Each word was precise.
Speaker 4: You are the head of gold, after you, other kingdoms
Speaker 4: will rise, but one day a stone not cut by
Speaker 4: human hands will destroy them all and establish an e
Speaker 4: turn kingdom.
Speaker 1: The hall was still. The king's pride was broken by
Speaker 1: something greater than himself. Nebuchadnezza stepped down from the throne
Speaker 1: and bowed before Daniel.
Speaker 3: Truly, your God is the God of gods.
Speaker 1: Daniel was praised, his friends got authority. But while Babylon celebrated,
Speaker 1: something greater was unfolding on the horizon. The dream did
Speaker 1: not speak only of that time. It spoke of the end,
Speaker 1: and silently the stage began to be set for an
Speaker 1: even more severe test, where loyalty would be tested by fire.
Speaker 1: Time passed and Babylon started to breathe pride again. The
Speaker 1: impact of the dream had been real, but not lasting.
Speaker 1: The king raised a colossal golden statue, shining under the sun,
Speaker 1: visible from miles away. It was more than just a
Speaker 1: monumental work. It was a statement human power would not
Speaker 1: be replaced. The empire would not fall. The king had
Speaker 1: decided to turn the prophecy into a challenge. Heralds traveled
Speaker 1: the provinces, announcing the decree.
Speaker 5: At the sound of the trumpet, flute and all the music.
Speaker 5: Everyone must bow before the king's image. Those who do
Speaker 5: not bow will be thrown into the blazing furnace.
Speaker 1: Authorities, governors, and people gathered. The field was filled with voices, colours,
Speaker 1: and tension. When the music echoed, a human wave bowed
Speaker 1: before the gold, but in the middle of the kneeling crowd,
Speaker 1: three figures remained standing. Some noticed, others pretended not to see.
Speaker 1: But the report did not take long. O King, there
Speaker 1: are men who do not obey you.
Speaker 6: They do not bow down before the image.
Speaker 1: An Alias, miss Ale and Azarreeus were brought before Nebucudnezzar.
Speaker 1: The king looked at them, trying to contain his fury.
Speaker 3: It is true, if you do not bow down, you
Speaker 3: will die. Which god can deliver you.
Speaker 1: From my hands. The three exchanged a quick glance. There
Speaker 1: was no hesitation. We do not need to defend ourselves.
Speaker 1: Our god can deliver us.
Speaker 7: But even if he does not, we will not serve
Speaker 7: your gods.
Speaker 1: The king's face changed. The order was immediate.
Speaker 3: Heat the furnace. Seven times more.
Speaker 1: Strong soldiers tied them up and led them to the fire.
Speaker 1: The heat was so intense that even the guards fell dead.
Speaker 1: As they approached, the bodies of the young men vanished
Speaker 1: in the flames. The king watched, satisfied until something changed.
Speaker 3: Didn't we send three men?
Speaker 1: Yes, O King?
Speaker 3: So why do I see four? And the fourth looks
Speaker 3: like a son of the gods.
Speaker 1: The music stopped, the laughter died. The fire that consumed
Speaker 1: everything did not touch them. The ropes had fallen apart,
Speaker 1: but they remained unharmed. Walking among the flames, the king
Speaker 1: stood up, filled with fear. Come out, servants of the
Speaker 1: most High God. They left no smell of smoke, no
Speaker 1: burnt hairs. The silence that followed was complete.
Speaker 3: Blessed be their God. There is no one else who
Speaker 3: can deliver like this. A new decree was announced. Honor
Speaker 3: was given, but while the people celebrated, something still needed
Speaker 3: to be addressed. The king's heart had been shaken, but
Speaker 3: not broken. The pride remained alive, hidden under words of reverence,
Speaker 3: and God patient prepared a final warning, a dream not
Speaker 3: to reveal kingdoms, but to reveal the king himself. The
Speaker 3: apparent peace returned to cover Babylon. The days were prosperous,
Speaker 3: and the king walked confidently between the columns and hanging gardens.
Speaker 3: Contemplating the greatness of everything he had built. The flames
Speaker 3: of the furnace were now a distant memory, and the
Speaker 3: fear that had once visited him had given way to
Speaker 3: admiration for himself.
Speaker 1: At that time, nebucad Neza had another dream, unlike the
Speaker 1: first one. This did not disturb him immediately, but left
Speaker 1: a strange burden on your soul. He called the wise
Speaker 1: men again, but no one could explain what he had seen. Finally,
Speaker 1: Daniel was summoned. The king described the vision with restrained pride.
Speaker 1: A gigantic tree in the middle of the earth, tall, strong,
Speaker 1: visible to everyone. Its fruits fed people, Its shades sheltered
Speaker 1: animals and birds nested in its branches. But suddenly a
Speaker 1: messenger came down from the sky and ordered cut down
Speaker 1: the tree, scatter its branches, leave only the stump, bound
Speaker 1: with iron and bronze. Let the heart of the man
Speaker 1: be changed into the heart of an animal. Until seven
Speaker 1: times pass over him. Did Daniel remain silent?
Speaker 3: The King noticed, don't hide anything, even if it's against me.
Speaker 1: Daniel took a deep breath. His voice was steady, but
Speaker 1: filled with sorrow.
Speaker 2: My Lord, hopefully this dream was for your enemies the tree.
Speaker 2: As you you have grown, you became powerful. Your authority
Speaker 2: reached the ends of the earth. But the decree is this.
Speaker 2: You will be separated from men. You will live like
Speaker 2: an animal. You will eat grass until you recognize that
Speaker 2: the most High rules over the kingdoms.
Speaker 1: The king listened, serious.
Speaker 2: Is there hope, Yes, if you humble yourself, if you
Speaker 2: practice justice, if you recognize that power does not come
Speaker 2: from you.
Speaker 1: The warning was given. The grace period started, but the
Speaker 1: months passed and nothing changed. One day, walking on the
Speaker 1: palace terrace, the king looked at the city below. The
Speaker 1: sun reflected on the gold, the wolves, the temples.
Speaker 3: Isn't this the great Babylon that I built with my
Speaker 3: power for the glory of my majesty.
Speaker 1: The sentence had barely finished when the sky responded, the
Speaker 1: kingdom has been taken from you, echoed an unseen voice.
Speaker 1: At that moment, the king's mind snapped. The power that
Speaker 1: ruled nations couldn't sustain his own ego. He was removed,
Speaker 1: lost his mind and lived among the animals. His hair
Speaker 1: grew like feathers, his nails like claws. The king had
Speaker 1: become a shadow of what he once was. Days turned
Speaker 1: into seasons. Pride dissolved into the ground, until at the
Speaker 1: appointed time something changed. Nebuchad Netta looked up to the sky.
Speaker 1: There were no speeches, just acknowledgment.
Speaker 3: Now I know he lives forever. His rule never ends.
Speaker 1: Reason returned, the throne was restored, but the man was
Speaker 1: no longer the same. Before the assembled court, the king
Speaker 1: spoke with a different voice, without arrogance.
Speaker 3: I exalt and glorify the King of the heavens. All
Speaker 3: his ways are just. He can humble those who walk
Speaker 3: in pride.
Speaker 1: Babylon stood, but something had been broken. The pride of
Speaker 1: the greatest king on earth was humbled by the invisible
Speaker 1: hand that governs all. And as one rain slowly came
Speaker 1: to an end, another marked by disdain and desecration, approached.
Speaker 1: Without realizing its final night was about to arrive, the
Speaker 1: city was celebrating. The walls remained intact, the gates were closed,
Speaker 1: and the enemy army seemed too far away to threaten.
Speaker 1: The night. Inside the palace, the sound of clinking glasses
Speaker 1: mixed with loud laughter and blaring music. Shall Now King
Speaker 1: had ordered a grand banquet. One thousand nobles were gathered, intoxicated,
Speaker 1: not just by wine, but by a feeling of invulnerability.
Speaker 1: Nothing can reach us. Babylon is eternal. Sazarre smiled, taken
Speaker 1: by audacity, His eyes wandered around the room until an
Speaker 1: idea occurred to him, provocative, blasphemous.
Speaker 6: Bring the gold and silver utensils, those that my father
Speaker 6: took from the Jerusalem temple.
Speaker 1: There was a brief silence, quickly broken by excitement. The
Speaker 1: sacred objects were brought and distributed. The wine was served
Speaker 1: in them. The sacred was reduced to an object of mockery.
Speaker 8: Rank to the gods of gold, silver, bronze and stone.
Speaker 1: That's when the music stopped. Suddenly a hand emerged ethereal,
Speaker 1: standing out against the illuminated wall. There was no body,
Speaker 1: only fingers that wrote slowly with terrifying precision. The sound
Speaker 1: of nails scraping on the stone echoed in the hall.
Speaker 1: The laughter died. Belsissar's face turned pale, his knees began
Speaker 1: to tremble. Who who can explain this? Wise people were
Speaker 1: urgently summoned. None understood, None dared to pretend they understood.
Speaker 1: Panic spread. Then the Queen Mother entered the hall, confidently.
Speaker 9: Oh, King, there is a man in your kingdom. In
Speaker 9: him is the spirit of the gods. In the days
Speaker 9: of your father. He revealed mysteries that no one else could.
Speaker 1: Daniel was called already elderly. He entered without hurry. His
Speaker 1: eyes scanned the whole, the desecrated utensils, the drunken faces.
Speaker 1: There was no reverence in his gaze. I heard that
Speaker 1: you can interpret.
Speaker 6: If you do it, you will be honored.
Speaker 10: Daniel answered, without bowing. Keep your talents, but I will
Speaker 10: read the writing. You knew what happened to your predecessor.
Speaker 10: You knew how the Almighty humbled him, Yet you exalted
Speaker 10: yourself against him.
Speaker 1: The silence was complete.
Speaker 7: You used the sacred vessels to mark, and you did
Speaker 7: not glorify the God who supports your life. The writing
Speaker 7: is the counted, weighed and divided. Your kingdom has been quanted.
Speaker 7: You have been fared and found wanting. Your kingdom will
Speaker 7: be given away.
Speaker 1: The sentence was immediate. Honors were given for formality, but
Speaker 1: the knight was already sealed. As the banquet was still echoing,
Speaker 1: the city gates were opened by unseen paths. The enemy
Speaker 1: entered without resistance. The king was killed. That same night,
Speaker 1: Babylon fell without battle, without glory, without any further warning.
Speaker 1: The next day, a new government was established. Once again,
Speaker 1: Daniel remained silent loyal amidst the changing thrones. He continued
Speaker 1: to serve a kingdom that could not be overtaken. But
Speaker 1: his loyalty would be tested one last time, and this
Speaker 1: time not before drunken kings, but before hungry lions. The
Speaker 1: new government was established quickly. Dario took the throne amidst
Speaker 1: agreements and vigilance, reorganizing provinces and appointing administrators. Daniel, now elderly,
Speaker 1: was placed above the others. His integrity was known, his
Speaker 1: mind remained clear, and his loyalty was never tarnished. This
Speaker 1: aroused envy. Men gathered in secret, watching his steps, looking
Speaker 1: for faults that didn't exist. We won't catch him in corruption.
Speaker 1: He is blameless, so let's use his god. A decree
Speaker 1: was drafted with an appearance of honoring the king.
Speaker 6: For thirty days, nobody will make a petition to any
Speaker 6: god or any man except to you. Whoever disobeys will
Speaker 6: be thrown into the lion's den.
Speaker 1: The king flattered signed without suspecting anything. The news spread
Speaker 1: Daniel heard about the decree. He didn't argue. He didn't object.
Speaker 1: A dusk he went up to the room, opened the
Speaker 1: windows facing Jerusalem, and knelt down, as he did every day. Lord,
Speaker 1: in your hands, I place my path. It was seen,
Speaker 1: It was reported. Dario realized the trap too late. He
Speaker 1: tried to revoke the decree, but the law was irrevocable.
Speaker 1: The king summoned, Daniel, can your God save you? He
Speaker 1: is loyal. Daniel was thrown into the pit. A stone
Speaker 1: was placed over the entrance. The king sealed it with
Speaker 1: his ring. That night was long, Dario did not eat
Speaker 1: or sleep. At dawn, he ran to the grave.
Speaker 3: Daniel, was your God able to save you.
Speaker 1: From the depths of darkness? The voice replied, firm.
Speaker 7: O, King live forever. My God sent his angel and
Speaker 7: shut the lion's mouths. Nothing happened to me.
Speaker 1: The king ordered his immediate removal. Daniel came out unscathed,
Speaker 1: no mark, no injury. The accusers were thrown into the
Speaker 1: pit and did not touch the ground before being consumed.
Speaker 1: Dario issued a new decree, not out of fear, but
Speaker 1: out of recognition.
Speaker 3: Throughout my kingdom tremble before the God of Daniel. He
Speaker 3: lives and his kingdom will not be destroyed.
Speaker 1: The years went by, Kings came and went. Daniel stayed,
Speaker 1: but now no longer in high positions, spent long nights
Speaker 1: in prayer. It was then that the visions came. Beasts
Speaker 1: rising from the sea, kingdoms rising and falling horns, wars, oppression,
Speaker 1: a son of man coming on the clouds, receiving eternal dominion.
Speaker 1: The weight was heavy until when the response wasn't immediate.
Speaker 1: There was silence, There was waiting. Then came the voice,
Speaker 1: seal these words, many will run back and forth, and
Speaker 1: knowledge will increase. Daniel cried, not out of fear, but
Speaker 1: because of what he saw. The future was set. The
Speaker 1: suffering would come, but the end was also sealed. You
Speaker 1: will rest, said the voice, and you will rise to
Speaker 1: your inheritance at the end of days. Daniel remained silent.
Speaker 1: The world would keep spinning, empires would still arise, but
Speaker 1: he knew the eternal kingdom would not be shaken, and
Speaker 1: when the kingdoms of men ended, the God who governs
Speaker 1: history would be fully revealed.