The King's dream
Dan 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
The second year, in which Nebuchadnezzar reigned apart from his father, who reigned with him for two years. It was the forth year of Daniel's captivity, He had completed is training in three years. Nebuchmadnezzar dreamed dreams that troubled him, but he could not remember them.
Dan 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
magicians: those who claim to understand magic, demonic hocus pocus or illusions.
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
astrologers: using divination by consulting the planets and stars
sorcerers: one who practices magic by using spoken formulas, incantations and mystic mutterings. Witches practice sorcery too, casting spells and putting demonic thoughts in peoples minds. Familiar spirits are those evil spirits that have been with the deceased family, and know things about them.
1 Sam 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
Chaldeans: skilled in the science of astronomy. They were the first to calculate that a year was 365 days; they also practiced astrology.
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
We are not to mess with the occult, but Babylon did and so did Adolf Hitler. They had no regard for human life.
Dan 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Dan 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
An official greeting to a king was to say "live forever." Often the kings were considered as gods. The Egypotian kings were worshipped as gods by their people. In Israel, Herod was struck down by an angel because he allowed others to worship him as a god.
Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Dan 2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
The king forgot the dream, now he wants to be told the dream and it's meaning. He must have felt it was of great importance, for his wrath would go out upon his wise men if the secret was not revealed. He would cut them to pieces, showing his heart was that of a tyrant. How should we respond to threats? I think we should consider them as to Biblical truth. If the person is dangerous try to make peace and withdraw from them. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. A modern example of a tyrant was Adolf Hitler. The Jews had no recourse but to trust God and to flee.
Dan 2:6 But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
The king would give gifts and rewards to the one who would reveal his secret dream and it's meaning. Who wants gifts from such an irrational person. Do we seek gifts and promises from the ungodly of the world?
Prov 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Only the LORD knows all things and to whom the LORD reveals his secrets by revelation knowledge. The Apostle Paul heard from Jesus in secret.
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
God is able to reveal secret things to his dedicated servants.
Dan 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
Dan 2:8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Dan 2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.
The king wanted them to repeat his dream, before they interrpret it. Otherwise, they could make up some meaning; probably an illusion of truth. For those who follow the dark things cannot speak the truth but in part, for satan is a liar.
Dan 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Dan 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The Chaldeans were considered the wisest men of the region. They spoke with some truth when they said only the gods could know the king's secret. In truth, only the God of Abraham would know.
Dan 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Daniel and his fellows were also in the decree to be slain. Those who are in darkness cannot come to the truth, but by revelation of God. Millions follow false gods in ignorance. Some make up their own spiritual reality and some trust in made up science. The word of God is truth, in the Bible or from prophesy.
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Glory to God
Dan 2:14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
Dan 2:15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
The captain was truthful to Daniel, allowing him to know why he was being condemned without a hearing. The king was upset with all of his worldly advisors, they had no truth beyond what they could see and touch, or imagine. The king punished for lack of knowing secrets. Our heavenly Father, the King, gives us what we need and expects us to obey. All wisdom is from him.
Israel had been punished by God for not seeking Him. The song of Moses speaks of God's nation and their need of the Lord's counsel:
Deu 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
They followed false gods.
Deu 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Deu 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
The Rock of their salvation, Jesus is that rock. Daniel was of the remnant that obeyed God and God was his counselor.
Dan 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
Daniel was already under a death sentence, so he approached the king and asked for time so that he may give the interpretation.
Dan 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
Dan 2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel shares with his friends so that they would pray to God for his mercy. We need to share our concerns with faithful friends, so that they can fill in the gap through intercessory prayer. They were to fill-in the gaps of the hedge.
Ezek 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Ezek 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel gave glory to God, speaking of his great virtues.
Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Dan 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Dan 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
Our God was faithful to Daniel, making known the secrets. Shall he not be praised? Praise our LORD God, your savior and king for the great things he has one in our lives. God expects to be praised for his glory, as the one leper who returned to Jesus after his healing.
Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luke 17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
May we never forget to give God glory and praise.
Vision Revealed
Dan 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation.
Daniel intercedes for the wise men and his brethren with a promise to reveal the dream. His spirit was good, a life giving spirit, not a killing spirit.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Dan 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
Arioch was confident in Daniel before the king. If Daniel failed, he too would be killed. Daniel knew that he was not to seek glory, but that all good comes from above, the King in heaven.
Dan 2:26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
Dan 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king;
Dan 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Daniel reveals the source as from the most high God in heaven. He gave all glory to God. If you are complemented about the things of God, He is to be glorified. For he works in you and through you.The contents were to show the latter days, the things to come before the end of the world.
Dan 2:29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. The king in quiet upon his bed received the vision, but soon forgot it.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Daniel in a night vision, perhaps a dream, we do not know receives the revelation from God.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth0 forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Dan 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
Daniel will not receive glory, he points to God as the source. From this we know that the great servants of God were great, because God trusted them to be messengers, not putting flesh in the way and not seeking self glory, but being reliable channels for God to flow through to others. The true servants of God do not have their names up in lights, as the world's favorites. Jesus gave us a word on this;
Mat 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Head of Gold
Dan 2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
Dan 2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Dan 2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
A mighty statue; each part representing kingdoms to arise in the future, the head of gold, a glorious and precious metal. The breast and arms of silver, a precious metal of lesser value. The belly and thighs of brass, a strong but lesser value metal. Legs of iron, a strong metal of warfare and the feet of iron and clay, which are not united in strength. The image is destroyed by a stone made without hands, that became a great mountain, majestic and filling the earth.
Dan 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Dan 2:37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Dan 2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
A king of earthly kings, with God given authority. Although he was not serving God, he had a kingdom as no other with absolute authority, with power strength and glory. He was used to chasten the rebellious children of God, the Hebrew nation. He had rule over the earth and it's creatures, as a man of supreme authority. He was the head of gold. This was the nation of Babylon.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
God had allowed this great nation to rise in the site where the tower of Babel was built and the languages of men confused.
Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
The king would lift himself up and God would deal with him. God will not allow any man to glory for long in his presence. There would be lesser nations arising throughout history until the Lord Jesus himself comes to earth. He would be the greatest King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is that rock that shall destroy the ungodly nations and establish his everlasting kingdom.
Lesser Kingdoms
Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee. Babylon was totally ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar. Babylon is where the nation of Iraq is today. Sadaam Hussein, fashioned himself as another Nebuchadnezzar. The kingdom of silver; the Medo-Persian empire occurred as Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian would conquer Babylon. The system would not have absolute power in one man as with Babylon. A group of nobles would rule.
and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. Alexander the great and the Grecian empire would rule the known world.
And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. Caesar Augustus and the Roman empire ruled by might, breaking to pieces the weaker nations. The Roman rule would last for five hundred years.
Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
At the breakup of the Roman empire, there were 10 nations, that were not united. Some were weak and some were strong. This sounds to me like the U.S. with it's diversity, no longer do they attempt to be one culture under God, but many cultures with no common belief or strength of purpose. Both Rome and the U.S. were weakened by fornication. The family was weakened first and then the nation.
Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
The Eternal Kingdom
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The kingdom is the kingdom of God, it is everlasting, with Jesus the rock as the everlasting king. The kingdom was preached first by John the Baptist and then Jesus, at the time of the Roman empire.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
The kingdom of God is within the believers; but, Jesus shall return to Jerusalem to set up his kingdom on earth. A revived Roman empire, the toes of clay and iron, will be set up by the Antichrist just before Jesus returns to earth.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Jerusalem is the mountain of God.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 30:29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.
Isa 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
The stone from the mountain is Jesus.
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Psa 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure.
There is one correct interpretation. Whenever possible, scripture interprets scripture. If scripture sheds no light on a passage of the Bible, then we seek wisdom from God through His Spirit. Man's thoughts are not God's thoughts.
Exalted
Dan 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
Nothing is said of Daniel's response, but we are not to worship a man. Perhaps his silence here led to a bigger problem when the King set himself up to be worshipped? An oblation, a meal offering or gift to a god was offered and sweet odors as unto a god. We are not to give worship to a man, but the pagan king did what was right in his own eyes.
Dan 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Now credit and honor and glory is given where it belongs, to the God of Daniel, the Lord of Hosts, the God of gods, Lord of kings, and revealer of secrets. God was being glorified for his greatness.
Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Dan 2:48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
The faithful servant of the Lord and the king, is exalted to the highest position under the king. Ruler of the affairs of Babylon and the governor over all the wise men. They who lived because of his grace and the revelation of God. If we remain faithful, we also shall be promoted to higher things of service.
Dan 2:49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Daniel shared the rule of the affairs of state with his three friends. As Moses was advised to share his duties with other faithful men. They were moved from a death sentence to the highest positions in the kingdom, because they had faith in God. Daniel set in the gate of the king, probably as judge, for this is the place of judgment. I wish that our judges were also judging after the wisdom of God, and not as unrighteous men. Those coming to Daniel would have a judge who listened to the God of Gods, and who would judge with discernment from the Lord.
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