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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
August 14, 2011
Revised July 16, 2023
The Great Kingdoms
Daniel 2:31-49
Introduction & Review
It is good to be back this morning. I am grateful to Tom Stiles, Phil Jordan, Jonathan Harris and Jim Zieger for preaching the last four Sundays while Diane & I have been away. It was good be able to attend the IFCA annual conference again after so many years of not being able to do so due to family or medical priorities. It was good to reconnect with old friends in our church association and make some new ones while being encouraged from the word of God and picking up some ideas for ministry. Since the conference was in Covington, KY, we were able to see both the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter which are in that area. We then went down to Tennessee to see David & Natasha and Jackie Lee and the other families there that make up the GBC Exiles. We spent 4th of July evening with all of them except Elena Boesch who happened to be up here in NY. We also appreciate the Whitneys’ allowing us to use their place in PA for a few days of quiet before arriving back yesterday.
Though I was very busy during the conference, the less hectic schedule the rest of the time allowed me to complete a 40 page paper that gives more specific directions and suggested answers for those who use the One-to-One Discipling material to mentor others in the basics of walking with Christ. I was asked to do this a couple of years ago, but my busy schedule usually makes it hard to work on such projects. I was also able to complete a tentative preaching schedule that will go through 2024. After I finish the series on Daniel this Fall, I will be preaching through the major prophetic passages in the Old Testament and then through Revelation. I read six books of which three were history books which were recreational for me. I was not able to work on my book project on Proverbs. That will have to wait. I will be leaving at the end of the week with the missions team going to the Dominican Republic, so you will have guest preachers for the last two Sundays of July.
This morning we will continue our study of Daniel 2. The theme of the book is that the God of Israel is the Most High God, the sovereign One. In our last sermon in our study of the first part of Daniel 2 we saw this demonstrated as the God of Israel proved His superiority over the entire Babylonian pantheon of gods by revealing through Daniel what none of those false gods could do through their wise men and priests. (See: The God Who Reveals Mysteries)
The Wise Men’s Dilemma – Daniel 2:1-13
By way of a quick review, remember that the wise men of Babylon found themselves in a terrible dilemma. King Nebuchadnezzar had multiple dreams that greatly troubled him and he wanted to know the meaning. However, he did not trust his wise men and so he demanded that they tell him both the dream and its interpretation otherwise they would be killed in a horrible manner and their memory dishonored. On the other hand, if they could fulfill his demand, they would be made rich and greatly honored. But how can any human know what another human has dreamed unless they are told? They tried several times to get the king to tell them the dream so that they could interpret it and even complained that no great king had ever demanded such a thing of them before. Note verse 11 in which they finally admitted to the king that “no one else could declare it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.” Even this did not sway the king. He remained firm in his resolve and issued a decree that all of them were to be executed.
The wise men were made up of four groups listed as magicians, conjurers, sorcerers and Chaldeans. All of them together covered a wide range of occultic practices and demonic powers such as necromancy, casting spells and soothsaying within a matrix of a false religious system that emphasized astrology. They believed destiny was determined by the stars and they also placed great importance on dreams and their interpretation. All these things heightened the king’s anxiety to know the meaning of his dreams, but for unstated reasons he did not trust them and in fact accused them of conspiring to lie and speak corrupt words to him. That was the reason for his test that they must tell him the dream first and then interpret it. But they and their gods were impotent in the matter and they admitted it. The king’s demand could only be met by supernatural means that were beyond them. And let me remind you that if demons could read people’s minds, they would have known Nebuchadnezzer’s dreams and revealed it to their followers. Demons are very intelligent, but they cannot read people minds. They, like humans, can only make educated guesses on what others are thinking based on observation and history.
God’s Answer to Daniel – Daniel 2:14-24
Daniel and his friends had not been among the wise men when the king had made his demand, but nevertheless they were under the king’s edict to be executed. Daniel answered calmly and wisely when Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, informed Daniel of the king’s decree. The result was that Daniel was able to speak to the king and gain a little more time. That was all that Daniel needed to call his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah together to pray and request God to be compassionate toward them that they might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men.
God answered their prayers and in a night vision revealed to Daniel both the dream and its interpretation. Daniel responded with praise to God for His wisdom and power. Power in God’s sovereign hand upon time and what occurs in it including the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms. Wisdom in knowing what is hidden and in the darkness and revealing some of that to men. Daniel gave specific thanks and praise that God had answered their prayers and made known to him the king’s matter.
The God Who Reveals Mysteries – Daniel 2:25-30
Daniel went to Arioch first and told him to not destroy the wise men for he knew the dream and its interpretation. Arioch then brought Daniel before the king claiming credit for finding him. Daniel then made it very clear that there was a difference between the God he served and the gods of the wise men.
Daniel 2:27–30 (LSB) – 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king is asking, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 “However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the last days. This was your dream and the visions of your head while on your bed. 29 “As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would happen in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will happen. 30 “But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me by any wisdom which is in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.”
Daniel was a humble man and gave all glory to the true God that had revealed not only the dream and its interpretation to him but also what Nebuchadnezzar was thinking about prior to his dreams. God had given the king dreams concerning what would take place in the future. Daniel was a great contrast to the other wise men. They and their gods could not even reveal the dream and its interpretation. The God that Daniel served could not only do that, but was also in control of time and the future so as to be able to reveal what is to come. The ability to control the future, both near and far, belongs only to a being that has absolute sovereignty. The revelation given to Daniel is proof that the God that he serves, the God of Israel, is the Most High, the sovereign One.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – Daniel 2:31-35
Daniel specifically states that God had given to Nebuchadnezzar a revelation of what would take place in the future. Verses 31-35 is the description of what Nebuchadnezzar dreamed.
Daniel 2:31–35 (LSB) – 31 “You, O king, were looking, and behold, there was a single great image; that image, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was rising up in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. 32 “The head of that image was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 “You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35 “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”
The image of this statue is described as great in the sense that it is very large. It is also described as having a splendor that was “extraordinary” or “excellent” (NASB). This is a reference to it being very bright or shiny. From that we would take it to mean that the various metals that made up the statue were polished to be radiant. The total description seems to be from the perspective of seeing this up close. Remember that Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by this vision.
The metals that made up the statue – gold, silver, bronze and iron – descend in order of value and specific gravity while ascending in order of strength. The head of the statues was gold which is very valuable and dense weighing about 19 times as much as an equal volume of water. It is very soft being the most malleable of all metals. It can be beaten into sheets that are so thin they are transparent, and one troy ounce can be drawn into a thin wire that is 50 miles long. That is why for most uses gold is usually mixed with other metals to give it some additional strength. It is a stable metal that does not corrode which is why it retains its shine.
The breast and arms were made of silver which is a metal that is also valuable, though not nearly as much as gold. (Gold has been trading for around $ 1,900 per ounce while silver has been trading in the $22-23 per ounce range). Silver is used a lot for decorative purposes because it can reflect 95% of the light that strikes it, but it does tarnish and lose its luster so it has to be polished. It is a little over 10 times denser than water, but only a little more than half that of gold. It is the second most malleable metal and so is usually mixed with another metal to produce an alloy with enough strength for practical use (Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper).
The belly and thighs were made of bronze, not brass as translated in some Bible versions. Bronze is a mixture of copper and tin and is one of the oldest alloys known to man. It is resistant to corrosion though it will develop a green patina characteristic of copper. Compared to silver, it is inexpensive and much stronger though less dense. It can be easily cast or hammered into the shapes desired and so is a very useful metal alloy.
The legs of the statues are made of iron which is the strongest metal mentioned though it is also the lightest per volume (density of 7.9). It can also be cast or hammered into shape. Because it is relatively inexpensive it has a lot of uses. Its greatest weakness is that it oxidizes easily turning to rust.
The feet are a mixture of iron and clay. Don’t think of this as pieces of iron mixed with soft clay, but rather as iron interspersed with baked clay or tile for the word used here is for a potsherd. This mixture would be stronger than just baked clay, but much weaker than the iron.
The end of the dream is the most intriguing for a stone uncut by hands strikes the statue in its feet and then crushes the whole thing so finely that the wind blows it away. The stone then becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth. There is a lot of symbolism in this that would have significant meaning for Nebuchadnezzar and which would be a cause for his anxiety. I will point those things out when we get to verse 45.
The king’s silence is the evidence that Daniel had accurately told him in a very straight forward manner what he had dreamed. The king continues to listen as Daniel begins the dream’s interpretation.
The Interpretation of the Dream – Daniel 2:36-44
As we examine the interpretation of the dream, please keep in mind that while the prophecy within it concerns what were at that time the present and future great Gentile nations, these particular empires were only mentioned because of their relationship to the nation of Israel and not because of their relative importance in the history of mankind around the world. Biblical prophecies are given from the viewpoint of the priority of the people and nation of Israel as God’s chosen people. Without that understanding it is easy to misinterpret the dream’s interpretation. There have been many great nations and powerful empires throughout human history, but unless they have some bearing upon Israel, they are of little or no importance in God’s prophetic history. The empires that are part of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream are those that have direct bearing in the Gentile domination of Israel following the fall of Jerusalem and extending to the coming of Messiah to reign.
The First Kingdom – Daniel 2:36-38
Daniel 2:36–38 (LSB) – 36 “This was the dream; now we will say its interpretation before the king. 37 “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory; 38 and wherever the sons of men inhabit, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has made you rule with power over them all. You are the head of gold.”
The interpretation begins with an explanation of the head which is Nebuchadnezzar as the representative of his own kingdom. Daniel is pointed that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, power, strength and glory all came to him as a gift from the God of the heavens. Daniel uses the same title for the Lord here as in verse 28. The king did not gain these things on his own or through the gods he worshiped which came from the earth and were controlled by the heavens. The king got them because the sovereign One who is over the heavens granted them to him. Daniel is not hesitant to point out the superiority of the true God even though he is a captured Jew speaking to the conquering king.
Some liberal commentators have questioned Daniel calling Nebuchadnezzar “king of kings,” yet that is what he was having conquered other kingdoms and installing his own puppet kings over them. In addition, Ezekiel 26:7 uses the same title for him and archeologists have found the title used for the Persian King Ariyaramna (610-580 B.C.).
Such commentators also speak against the breadth of his power described in verse 38. Nebuchadnezzar did not rule over the whole earth and neither could he control all the bird and beasts. While it could just be hyperbole exaggerating the king’s power to make the point of his kingdom’s superiority, if it is kept in mind that the prophecies are related to kingdoms that have power over Israel, then “wherever” is limited in scope. In regards to the birds and beasts, God gave the king rule over them, not control. This parallels the dominion mandate God gave man in Genesis 1:28. These statements may also be related to the ceremonies that took place in the Babylonian New Year’s festival in which the Epic of Creation was recited in which their god, Marduk, gives these powers to the king who is his representative. By using the same terminology Daniel counters their religious fables with the truth that God is the source of his authority.
A head of gold was a fitting analogy for Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian empire. He ruled autocratically according to his own whims. Even the laws were according to whatever he decreed without recourse even if he changed his mind. The kingdoms that would follow would not have such singular authority.
Gold was also the appropriate representative metal. Babylon was filled with gold. Herodotus visiting the city some 90 years later was astonished at the amount of gold there with even walls and buildings overlaid with it. Because he already had so much of it, perhaps that is why Nebuchadnezzar did not carry off all the gold when he first captured Jerusalem in 605 B.C. He does not do that until 586 B.C. in response to Jehoiachin’s rebellion (2 Kings 24:10-13). In addition, gold was important in their religious system with their chief god, Marduk, being called the god of gold.
The Second & Third Kingdoms – Daniel 2:39
The second and third kingdoms that would follow Babylon are only briefly mentioned in verse 39. “But after you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule with power over all the earth.” More will be said about these two kingdoms in future visions that Daniel will have, and we will cover those when we get to Daniel 7 & 8.
This description is brief, but Daniel is specific that the second kingdom will be inferior to Babylon. This is the kingdom represented by the silver chest and arms which is the Medo-Persian empire that conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. This empire controlled more territory but was inferior in quality being a partnership empire of two distinct people groups lacking the central authority and organization that existed in Babylon. The Medo-Persian empire was also characterized by silver for its economic system was based on silver. It was the standard of value and medium of exchange.
Daniel is specific that the third empire was characterized by bronze and would rule over all the earth. Again, it must be kept in mind that the prophetic view was focused on who controlled the territory of Israel. No kingdom yet has ruled over the entire earth though there is a kingdom coming that will do so.
This third kingdom is Greece which was characterized by Bronze which they used extensively for all sorts of things and especially military equipment. Alexander the Great defeated Persia in 331 B.C. and went on to conquer a much larger territory than either Babylon or Persia. However, he died at a young age with his four generals splitting his empire, but two dynasties became dominant, the Ptolemys and the Selucids (Egypt and Syria), and they battled for centuries over the territories that include the land of Israel.
The Fourth Kingdom – Daniel 2:40-43
The fourth kingdom is given much more attention. Daniel 2:40–43 (LSB) – 40 “Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. 41 “Now in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron; it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. 42 “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. 43 “And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay; they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not cling to one another, even as iron does not combine with clay.”
This kingdom is Rome which was characterized by its extensive use of iron which is a far superior material for military usage because of its higher strength and lighter weight. Roman history is a succession of conquering other kingdoms both east and west of it. In the east, Greece is defeated in 149 B.C. Macedonia is annexed in 146 B.C. Syria became a Roman province in 64 B.C. and Jerusalem is captured and Palestine annexed in 63 B.C. Egypt is annexed in 30 B.C. While Rome did not expand as far east as Alexander had gone, it did control the Mediterranean areas, thus Rome controlled both east and west.
The Roman Empire had consolidated a large territory into one empire, but it was also plagued with revolts and civil wars. Many of these were simple attempts by those not in power to gain it for themselves, but some of it was also fueled by the fact that the empire joined together many ethnic groups that desired to retain their identity or even gain their independence even by those of mixed ancestry. There was the iron strength of the empire itself, but it was made up of many parts which did not stick together well.
The Roman empire split into two major parts, a western and Eastern Empire, in A.D. 395 after the death of Theodosius I. Ancient Rome is not so much conquered as it falls apart piece by piece. Yet those pieces still try to form some unity with one another. This is something that will continue even to the time of the final kingdom which is described in verses 44-45.
In the past, from our perspective, this was done in the Roman Empire itself, then with the rise of the Roman Catholic church which became a political force, and then in the Holy Roman Empire which was greatly controlled by the Roman Catholic church. In more modern times, the individual nations that had been part of the Roman Empire in ancient times have made all sorts of treaties with one another for both trade and mutual protection. In the present this is being done by the European Common Market also known as the EU – European Union. In the future the EU or some other entity will try to accomplish the same basic goals. Whatever form it takes, it will have influence over the land of Israel until the start of the final kingdom.
The Final Kingdom – Daniel 2:44-45
Daniel 2:44–45 (LSB) – 44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will cause a kingdom to rise up which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself stand forever. 45 “Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will happen in the future; so the dream is certain, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
This future kingdom will arise while this final form of the Roman Empire is active and its source will be the God of the heavens. This is the third time Daniel has used the title God of the heavens to distinguish the Lord God of Israel from the Babylonian pantheon that Nebuchadnezzar had worshiped. This future kingdom is further distinguished from all previous ones in that 1) It will never be destroyed. 2) It will not be succeeded by another people. 3) It will crush permanently the previous kingdoms. 4) It will endure forever.
The description of the dream would have made these points even more clear to Nebuchadnezzar and that this was all being done by a God far superior to any god he had even heard about before. Daniel reinforces that in verse 45.
The chief god of the Babylonians was named Marduk and they believed he had come from a sacred mountain they referred to as “the Mountain of the Lands.” Their temples were built to resemble mountains. They also believed that Marduk was in control of the wind even calling him “lord of the wind.” Finally, the Babylonians thought of the earth as a great mountain calling it “mountain house.” With these things in mind it becomes clear that Nebuchadnezzar understood the divine nature of what was being portrayed.
A stone cut out without hands is a divine stone. This stone smashes into the feet of the statue causing it to collapse and then it crushes the pieces so that they are so fine that the wind carries it away. This is divine judgment that is complete and final erasing even the traces of what had been destroyed. Gentile dominance will end. This same stone becomes a mountain that fills the whole earth. This is a divine kingdom that is physically set up on earth. Daniel again makes it clear that all of this is by a different God than those worshiped by Nebuchadnezzar. This is the “great God” who has made known to him what would take place in the future. Daniel concludes saying the dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy. Nebuchadnezzar accepted it as such because he knew that only a God with power beyond any of those of his own religious system could make known both the dream and interpretation, and Daniel’s God had done just that.
Daniel’s Promotion – Daniel 2:46-49
King Nebuchadnezzar did keep his promise and went beyond it as we are told in Daniel 2:46–49 (LSB) – 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel and said for them to present to him an offering and fragrant incense. 47 The king answered Daniel and said, “Truly your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him rule with power over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel sought of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king’s court.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s homage to or “worship of ” Daniel was not treating Daniel as a god, but rather acknowledging his own humility before the God that Daniel represented. This is made clear by his statement in verse 47 that is Daniel’s God and not Daniel himself that is “God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries,” and it was that God that was able to reveal the mystery to Daniel.
This worship and acknowledgment of the true God does not mean that Nebuchadnezzar became a follower of God, as the next chapter will demonstrate, but it did bring him to a place of recognition that there was a God much greater than he had considered before. He would remain blinded by his own religious system and pride until a future time when God would deal with him personally.
Nebuchadnezzar kept his word and rewarded Daniel with riches, honor and a key position in his government. The kingdom of Babylon was divided into various provinces and Daniel was made the ruler over the province of Babylon proper. He was also made the chief prefect over all the wise men. Though he was only a young man he was elevated to positions that were accountable only directly to the king himself. Daniel in turn was quick to request that his friends, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego (the Babylonian names of Hananiah, Meshael and Azariah) who had labored in prayer with him were also given important positions. The king granted the request appointing them to the administration of the province of Babylon over which Daniel was ruler.
Conclusions
There are two important lessons for us in the recounting of these historical events. First, is a repeat of the lesson seen in chapter 1. Those who follow God must put Him first in everything and leave the results in His hands. Daniel and his friends had done that in chapter 1 in regards to striving to avoid defilement by their diet. They had done it here by placing their lives in the Lord’s hands and praying. In both of these cases the Lord graciously granted their requests and then also elevated them to important positions. Those who are faithful in little things will prove to be faithful in important things.
Second, and more importantly, the God of the Bible is the Most High, the Great God, the sovereign One. We can trust him for our future even when it may look bleak. This is true on the personal level as seen in God’s care for Daniel. It is also true in the national level as we see that it is God that holds the nations in His hands and He has a definite plan for them. It was true then. It is still true today.
We live in a time of turmoil. You do not even have to be a student of American history to know that we are a rapidly declining nation. Those who do know our history and God’s mercy and grace upon us are even more aware of how much has already been lost. It is easy to fall into despair when we see the continual and escalating failure of national, state and local leaders of all types – political, governmental, educational, societal, media and religious – in seeking the Lord and doing what is right before him. The most tragic are the religious leaders who have rejected sound doctrine from God’s word to become ear ticklers for the sake of popularity and finances.
Daniel was in a worse position but he did not despair and neither do we. Our God is still in charge and He knows what He is doing regardless of either our personal circumstances or those of our nation. It is not about either our personal kingdom – house, personal wealth, ease of life – nor is it about America. It is about the Almighty God, creator of the heavens and earth and who will judge all people with equity and righteousness. It is about you walking in righteous integrity to bring glory to God in all circumstances.
On the personal front, we need to learn to be content in all circumstances even as Paul did and describes in Philippians 4:11-13. We need to be people of prayer who seek God out in order to deal with unreasonable demands placed upon us as did Daniel and his friends. We need to be those who will stand up and do what is right even if it does place us at risk as we will see in the weeks ahead in our study of Daniel 3 and 6. We need to recognize and live according to the reality that the purpose of our existence is to glorify God by becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not belong to ourselves, we are God’s slaves. Leave the future and the consequences in the Lord’s hands.
Regarding our nation, we ought to work hard to uphold and establish righteousness in our land. However, the reality is that for many decades righteousness has been declining in America to the point we are a nation described by the end of Romans 1 for a large portion of our societal leaders – government, educational, media and business – are those with perverted minds that call what is evil, good, and what is good, evil. While no soldier likes to be either the rear guard or fight for what seems to be a futile effort, if such is what the commander desires, then our glory is in doing what He asks. The immediate future may seem futile, yet the fight for righteousness is still worth it for it honors our God. We know that the distant future will be bad for the prophetic future is clear that at some point this nation will be like all others in its rejection of God and He will destroy it. That is disturbing to us, yet we are not disheartened for we know that the kingdom of Christ will eventually follow.
Paul said in Philippians 4:20, “for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” If you will live in the reality of that truth, you will be able to be like Daniel and his friends in glorifying the Lord by doing what is right in the present with His peace in knowing that He holds everything in the future in His hands, including what will come about in your own life.
Sermon Notes – 7/16/2023
The Great Kingdoms – Daniel 2:31-49
Introduction & Review
The God of Israel is the Most High God, the _____________ One
The Wise Men’s Dilemma – Daniel 2:1-13
The king demanded that the wise men reveal both his ___________ and its interpretation or be killed
The wise men finally admitted that only a _________ could do what the king demanded
The wise men claimed _______________ abilities through their occultic / demonic / religious practices
If demons could read minds, they would have known the __________ and revealed it to their followers
God’s Answer to Daniel – Daniel 2:14-24
Daniel and his friends had not been present, but were included in the king’s __________ warrant
Daniel requested time and then he and his friends _____________ for God’s compassion
God revealed the dream and its interpretation and Daniel ____________ God for His wisdom & power
The God Who Reveals Mysteries – Daniel 2:25-30
The wise men & their gods were impotent, but the God of the Heavens can reveal mysteries & the _____
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – Daniel 2:31-35
The image is _________ (large), of excellent splendor (bright / shiny), and troubling to Nebuchadnezzar
It is made up of gold, silver, bronze and iron – the order descends in __________ and ascends in strength
The head is gold, ______ valuable, dense (sg 19), and the most malleable of all metals, non-corrosive
The chest & arms are silver, ______, less dense (sg 10), and second most malleable metal, non-corrosive
The belly and thighs are bronze, an alloy of copper & tin. Lighter, but much __________. It can be cast or hammered into shape. It is relatively inexpensive and corrosion resistant.
The legs are iron, the lightest (sg 7.9) and ___________metal listed. It can be cast or hammered. It rusts.
The feet are iron mixed with clay – baked clay as in ____________ or tile.
A stone uncut by human hands strikes and demolishes the statues, the _________blows it away, the stone becomes a mountain – each has significant religious meaning to Nebuchadnezzar
The Interpretation of the Dream – Daniel 2:36-44
Biblical prophecies are from the viewpoint of the priority of the people and nation of ____________
The First Kingdom – Daniel 2:36-38 – Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar’s received his kingdom, power, strength & glory as a _____from the God of the heavens
A single golden head – Babylonian kings were a _____________ authority. Babylon was filled with gold
The Second & Third Kingdoms – Daniel 2:39
Medo-Persia which was characterized by silver. Larger territory, but inferior _________ as a partnership
Greece conquered a vast territory & was characterized by bronze weapons. Its kingdom was __________
The Fourth Kingdom – Daniel 2:40-43
Rome was characterized by its iron weapons and ________armies conquering vast territories east & west
Rome consolidated multiple nations which contributed to its numerous factions and _______________
Rome fell apart piece by piece, but the core pieces continue to try and forge a _____yet remain factioned
Rome’s final form will be a 10 nation confederacy that has strong influence over the land of __________
The Final Kingdom – Daniel 2:44-45
The source of the final kingdom is the God of the _______- a title distinct from the Babylonian pantheon
It will 1) never be destroyed. 2) not be succeeded. 3) ________the previous kingdoms. 4) endure forever
Babylonians thought Marduk came from a mountain & controlled the _______- and earth was a mountain
The imagery is of a ____________ judgment by the great God and establishing His kingdom on earth
Daniel’s Promotion – Daniel 2:46-49
The king’s homage (worship) is to Daniel as the ____________________ of the God of the Heavens
Nebuchadnezzar _________his word rewarding Daniel with riches, honor and key government positions
At Daniel’s request, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego serve under Daniel in the province of _________
Conclusions
Those who follow God must put Him ________ in everything and leave the results & future in His hands
The God of the ____________ is the Most High, the Great God, the sovereign One
Life is not about you or any nation, it is about the glory of our _______and walking in integrity with Him
Learn to be ________(Phil. 4:11-13), be prayerful, do what is right, glorify God, leave the results to Him
Work to uphold righteousness, but remember the USA will be replaced ultimately by ________ kingdom
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – List the names of kingdoms mentioned. Discuss with your parents how to live in righteousness for the Lord even when those around you do not.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What did Nebuchadnezzar demand of his wise men in Daniel 2? Why couldn’t they fulfill the king’s request? What did Daniel do when told he was to be killed along with the rest of the wise men? How did God answer their prayers? How did Daniel make sure the king knew the difference between the true God and the false gods of the Babylonian pantheon? What are the characteristics of the different parts of the statue (gold head, silver chest & arms, bronze belly and thighs, iron legs, iron and clay feet & toes) and how do they relate to the kingdoms they represent? What was significance of the imagery of the stone, smashed statue, pieces driven off by the wind and mountain Daniel 2:34-45) to a Babylonian? What is the significance of this imagery in Daniel’s interpretation – vs. 44-45)? What is the significance of Nebuchadnezzar’s homage to Daniel (vs. 46)? What is the significance of each of the positions given to Daniel and to his friends? What lessons from this chapter can you apply in your life personally? What lessons can be applied nationally? What effect do the truths of this chapter have on your view of the future – personally? – nationally? In view of the future, what manner of life should you live in the present? Should we work hard to uphold righteousness in our nation? If not, why not? If so, why and what are practical ways in which that can be done?
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