Daniel, Chapter Two

[Pastor Dave Honey]

Daniel 2:1-3
1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. 2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream."

According to Babylonian dating, the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign would not have included the first year of his accession to King of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar reigned from 605 B.C. to 562 B.C. He besieged Jerusalem in 605 B.C., or the first year as king of Babylon, his year of accession. This timeline would then agree with the three years of training Daniel and his three friends received and Daniel's subsequent promotion into palace life.

The significance of verse one is incredible! Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, but not your run of the mill dreams. Unbeknownst to Nebuchadnezzar, his dream would unlock Bible prophecy as it relates to God's plan for the end times! Twenty six hundred plus years are zipped up in his dream, and is just waiting to be let out and understood! You could only imagine how a dream like this would trouble his spirit to the point of being unable to sleep any longer.

I don't personally believe that Nebuchadnezzar actually forgot his dream, but rather he is testing his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans, most likely to keep them honest.

Daniel 2:4
Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation."

"That's what I thought you'd say!" The king must have thought. "If I tell you the dream, you'll say anything you want, and then you will all claim that you have supernatural abilities to interpret dreams!" "Not a chance!" He must have thought.

Note that in verse 4b the language switches to Aramaic. Daniel 1:1-2:4a and 8:1-12:13 are written in Hebrew. Aramaic was a popular language of Babylon. The Hebrew language is most likely connected with Jewish subject-matter.

Daniel 2:5-6
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation."

The king sticks to his guns! I like that he does this. However, his threat to cut them to pieces is a little over the top! He is obviously anxious for an interpretation free of the usual deceit.

My guess is that he knows who he's working with and is becoming more and more angry by the moment!

Daniel 2:7
They answered again and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation."

Oh, come on boys! This is not funny anymore!

Daniel 2:8-9
8 The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation."

Nebuchadnezzar was known to be a bit of a hot head, but look who he has working for him! This group of guys couldn't interpret a dream if they had dreamt it themselves! The king is demonstrating amazing patience at this point, evidenced by the fact that he gives them one more opportunity to give him the information that he is looking for, but alas, no good answer is forthcoming!

Daniel 2:10-11
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

At last! They finally come clean! They must be sick with fear as they appeal to the king's good reason! "What you ask is impossible!" I think that they are all too aware of their fate at this point. Their situation reminds me of a particular method of justice practiced during the witch hunts of the Inquisition. A woman was accused of being a witch; she is tied to the end of a long pole and dunked into the water until she confesses. If she confesses, she is burned at the stake, and if she drowns, she is found to be innocent! Either way, she's a goner!

Daniel 2:12-13
12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

Did I mention that Nebuchadnezzar was known to be a bit of a hot head? Not a good time to be a magician, astrologer, or a sorcerer! What of Daniel and his three friends? Are they to be killed? Not if God is with them, which of course He is!

Daniel 2:14-16
14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.

You may recall from chapter one, verse seventeen that God had blessed these four young men with knowledge, skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. So Daniel, employing a wise strategy, stalls for time, time that will save not only his life, but all who have been condemned by the king!

Daniel 2:17-18
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniels whole strategy was a simple and basic one. For all of us it should always be our first course of action, but is most often our last resort! His strategy was simply to pray!

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This is Daniel's way! We will discover that even in the face of death, his answer is always to pray!

Daniel 2:19-23
19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said:

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

23 "I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we asked of You,

For You have made known to us the king's demand."

Daniel's prayer reminds me of the Psalms! He praises Him in absolute adoration for answering his prayer. 

Perhaps God might enjoy that sort of gratefulness from any of us when He answers our prayers. In this fast paced world where (many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase, 12:4) situations overtake us at light speed, when we seek God but scarcely pause to hear an answer, has prayer become second rate? Is it possible that we have become so self-absorbed that God is viewed only as the genie in a bottle that we only call upon when trouble knocks at our door? Do we really know or understand how precious it really is to receive an answer from the God who created the universe and everything in it? Daniel understood!

Daniel 2:24
Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation."

One question that I have is this; did Daniel's interpretation come in time to save all of the wise men of Babylon? Did the word of the Lord come to Daniel in time? I think the answer is found, of all places, in the book of Romans!

Romans 1:18-23
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

It is never a question whether or not God's solution comes in time or not, because His solution, His word has always been in place and in time! Unfortunately, the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans have all made their choice as to who they will serve. Whether or not Daniel brings the interpretation of the king's dream in time to save their lives or not, certainly does not address the more important question of their eternal lives!

Regarding the king's dream; Daniel has been given the dream, as well as the interpretation by God, and he is ready to take it to Nebuchadnezzar!

Daniel 2:25-26
25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, "I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation." 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?"

Here is Daniels opportunity to tell of his God's great mercies when Nebuchadnezzar asks; "Are YOU able...?"

Daniel 2:27-30
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: 29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. 30 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.

Daniel takes full advantage to glorify his God! He gives God full credit for revealing, not only Nebuchadnezzar's dream, but the interpretation as well! Daniel exhibits great wisdom by his action of disqualifying himself as a potential recipient of this prophecy at this time for two reasons: 1) To lift up Nebuchadnezzar as king. 2) To save the lives of all of the wise men of Babylon, including himself and his three friends.

Daniel 2:31-35
31 "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 This image's head was of fine 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 clay.   34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Daniel must surly have Nebuchadnezzar's attention with the mention of this great image because he is absolutely on track! I picture Nebuchadnezzar wide eyed and sitting forward with great interest!

My thought is that God caused Nebuchadnezzar to dream of a great image of man partly to appeal to his ego. Although scripture does not give actual measurements of this statue, one would think that it is huge, give the following description and meaning of the particular elements and composition of this great image. We shall see in chapter three that Nebuchadnezzar commands that a great image of himself be constructed from pure gold. This statue will stand 60 cubits, or 90 feet tall! For this reason I suggested that God appealed to the king's ego when putting the dream in his head.

Daniel has completed the first of two very difficult tasks, he has revealed to Nebuchadnezzar his dream, which God has revealed to him! Not only has he revealed the imagery of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, but I might add that he did so in incredible detail!

Now, task number two!

Daniel 2:36-38
36 "This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all — you are this head of gold.

Who is the "we" in verse 36? Is it Daniel and his three friends? Or is Daniel exhibiting a bit of humility and including God as the teller of the dream? I absolutely believe the latter!

Nebuchadnezzar is called a king of kings which title belongs to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! However, Daniel goes on to say that his kingdom is a gift from the God of heaven, who again is lifting him up in strength and glory, most certainly appealing to this king's ego!

Daniel 2:39-45
39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold — the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."

The statue represented four world governments. Each will come to great power, but will then fall from power. However, the fourth kingdom will be divided and will rise again to great power, but only for a short time. At the end of the vision, Daniel described a great stone cut out of a mountain without hands which was hurled at the feet of the image, completely destroying the statue. This stone represents Jesus Christ and His Millennial kingdom and Eternal Realm, which shall never be destroyed!

a)  The head of gold: Babylon: 626-539 BC

• Nabopolassar
• Nebuchadnezzar II
• Nabonidus
• Belshazzar

b)  The chest and arms of silver: Medo-Persia: 539-332 BC

• King Cyrus (allows Jews to return to Jerusalem, 538 BC)
• Darius the Mede (Jewish Temple rebuilt 536-515 BC)
• Xerxes (makes Esther queen in 478 BC)
• Artaxerxes (sent Ezra to Judah for religious reform and spiritual guidance, 457 BC. Also released Nehemiah from service to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and the city, 445 BC.)
• Darius II
• Artaxerxes II
• Artaxerxes III
• Arses
• Darius III

c)  The belly and thighs of bronze: Greece: 332-63 BC

• Alexander the Great (conquers Egypt and Palestine, Hellenization begins, 332 BC)
• Ptolemies of Egypt (Alexander’s Empire divided into four regions: Ptolmy rules Egypt, Seceulus rules Persia and Syria, Antigonus rules Macedonia and Greece 332 BC. The Attalids rule Pergamum. Scriptures translated into Greek in Alexandria, 255 BC, Septuagint.)
• Seleucids of Syria (Judas Maccabeus leads Jewish revolt against Seleucids 167 BC, see Apocrypha. Jewish Temple defiled, 167 BC by Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of foreshadow of the future Antichrist.
• Hasmonean Dynasty: Temple is rededicated, 164 BC.)

d)  Legs of Iron: The Roman Empire: 63 BC–AD 476

• Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey (Pompey conquers Jerusalem for Rome, 63 BC. Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey form the first Triumvirate, ruling body of three persons, 60 BC.
• Caesar Augustus (Octavian) (Jesus Christ is born, 6-4 BC.
• Tiberius (Jesus is baptized, AD 26. Jesus is crucified and resurrected, AD 30. Saul/Paul’s conversion, AD 44.
• Caligula
• Claudius
• Nero
• Galba, Otho and Vitellius
• Vespasian (Jewish Temple is destroyed, 70 AD Matthew 24:2 prophecy. Jews dispersed to the four corners of the earth.)
• Titus
• Domitian (severe persecution of Christians.)
• Domitian’s empire ended in AD 96 and there were many more who ruled until Rome fell in AD 476.

e)  Feet, partly of iron and partly of clay: The revised Roman Empire: Future (Seventieth Week)

• This kingdom will be a divided kingdom, both strong as iron and weak or brittle as clay. This future kingdom will have a mixture of people who will not be united. 

f)  The stone that crushed the statue is Jesus Christ at His second coming: The Millennial Kingdom and the Eternal Realm.

• God’s kingdom will never be destroyed and will endure forever.

In Daniel chapter seven, God gives Daniel a vision which, in different imagery restates the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The imagery is as follows:

a)  A Lion with the wings of an eagle: Same as the Head of Gold, it represents Babylon. The wings allude to the swiftness of conquering Babylon, but also pictures winged lions guarding the gates of the royal palace.

b)  A Bear raised on one side and three ribs in its mouth: Same as the Chest and Arms of Silver, it represents Medo Persia. The ribs represent the flesh of defeated nations.

c)  A Leopard with four wings and four heads: Same as the Belly and Thighs of Bronze, it represents Greece. The four wings represent the swiftness in which Alexander the Great conquered the known world. The four heads represent the four generals who divided the kingdom after Alexander’s death.

d)  A dreadful Beast with iron teeth, ten horns; small horn with eyes and a mouth: Same as the Legs of Iron and the Feet of Iron and Clay, it represents a divided kingdom; the Roman Empire and the revised Roman Empire. This is seen by some scholars to be the kingdom of Rome from 63 BC to the time of Jesus. The teeth of iron depict Rome devouring and devastating its enemies. The ten horns represent the ten kings of a future one-world government divided into ten world regions. The small horn is the Antichrist. Eyes and mouth of a man illustrates that the Antichrist will indeed be a man, arrogant and proud.

e)  The vision of the Ancient of Days: Same as the Stone cut out of a mountain, not by hands: Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Kingdom of God!

Daniel 2:46-49
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret." 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Astonished! Amazed! Delighted! Nebuchadnezzar got much more than he bargained for! True to his word, Nebuchadnezzar showered Daniel and his friends with great gifts, rewards, and great honor as he promoted Daniel as ruler over all of Babylon! At Daniels request, his friends were also given great honor and promotions!

As we shall see, although Daniel and his three friends live wonderful lives in the king's palace (not so much like captives), they remain true to their God! However, that will not be the case for many of the captives over the next sixty seven years.