Daniel 2

To continue our study of the book of Daniel, let’s move on to chapter 2. This will be a long study, so I plan to break it into 2 parts.

This chapter begins by detailing a dream that was given to Nebuchadnezzar, after he was thinking about the future of his kingdom/lands (vs 29). This is often overlooked, but is an important thing to take note of as we examine the statue in his dream. Most of the Bible centers on Israel, and is told from an Israel-centric view since they are God’s chosen people. This dream, however, centers on the gentile nations, and the future of these lands.

If you haven’t read the entire chapter of Daniel 2, you can find it here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=dan%202;&version=31;

Before we start, I want to point out that this will be another specific prophecy that we can prove to have come true! This dream will show us 4 kingdoms and specifically names 3 of them. The 4th is left for our discernment, prayer, and research - because it will ultimately deal with the antichrist.

I will tell you my opinion of who the 4th empire is, and I will give you the popular alternative views. It will be up to you to decide which view you agree with, however, I would ask that you leave an open mind until we are finished with the book of Daniel (you wouldn’t believe how aggressive some people become when there views are questioned). It is different for each person, but at some point it will all “click” and come together.


(Scripture in RED)

Daniel 2 (Part 1)
1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.
4 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
5 The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."

This is amazing because the wise men were given the task of not only interpreting the king’s dream, but also telling him what the dream was! How do you interpret a dream without even knowing what it is??? Obviously, they couldn’t do it, so the king ordered that all the wise men in the land be killed (wow!).

Then they came to arrest Daniel since he was a wise man:
14 When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven…

Another important lesson for all of us! Daniel spoke “with wisdom and tact”. He was faced with death by no fault of his own, and reacted with wisdom and tact. I imagine the story would've been different if it said "So Daniel screamed like a girl and blamed everyone else around him." Did you notice that he didn’t buy time to make an escape plan and run away? Daniel went to the other men of God (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) and pleaded with God. After God revealed the truth to Daniel, he praised God.
The “pleading” comes naturally for most of us, it’s the “praising” that takes discipline.

26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"
27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…”

Daniel was sure to take NO credit for the interpretation of the king’s dream, although he could have gained “gifts and rewards and great honor.” Daniel gave all the credit and glory to God alone.

THE DREAM
29 "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.
31 "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.”


End of Part 1