His Servants' Ministry

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HIS SERVANTS' MINISTRY

www.godcannotlie.org

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We here at His Servants' Ministry, teach the whole Truth of God's Holy Word. We teach God's goodness and mercy and Heaven; but we also teach God's righteous wrath and judgment to come and an eternal Hell, a Lake of Fire.

It deeply saddens me the way that the world is turning away from the goodness of Almighty God. The vast majoriy of people in the world today never, ever, think of eternity. They just keep on keeping on in their sin, and they really must think they will go to Heaven. My dear friend, there really IS a Hell, and there really IS a Judgment Day when ALL people will be held accountable for their sins. BEWARE!!!

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Book of Daniel
Chapter 2

THEME: The dream of Nebuchadnezzar about a multi-metallic image; the interpretation of Daniel concerning the four kingdoms of "the times of the Gentiles."
This is a great part of God’s Word concerning prophecy. The multi-metallic image (ch.2), the four beasts (ch.7), and the seventy weeks of Daniel (ch.9) are the backbone of Biblical prophecy. Everything that the Lord Jesus said in the Olivet Discourse was based on the Book of Daniel. This chapter, then, is a very important chapter in the Word of God.
http://www.godcannotlie.org/booklet_olivet_discourse.htm
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (KJV)
Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (KJV)

This prophetic chapter is really needed if we are going to understand prophecy. The subject matter of chapter 2 is a dream which Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed, but had forgotten, so he calls all his magicians and astrologers together, to tell him what it was, and the interpretation of it. He threatens them with death if they did not tell him what the dream was, and promises them great rewards and honor if they did (Dan.2:1-6). They say it is unreasonable to make such a demand, and the impossibility of such a thing. This infuriated the king, and he ordered their immediate destruction (Dan.2:7-13).
Daniel and his companions being in danger, goes in to the king, and asks for time, and he would show him what he had dreamed. The time was granted, and Daniel spent it in prayer to God (Dan.2:14-18), and Daniel then revealed the dream to him, for which he gave thanks to God (Dan.2:19-23). Daniel then told the kind both his dream, and the interpretation of it; which concerned the four monarchies of the world, and the everlasting kingdom of the Messiah (Dan.2:24-45). Daniel was highly honored and greatly promoted by the king (Dan.2:46-49).
In this chapter are four major parts:
(1.) The king’s, dream (Dan.2:1).
(2.) The wise men’s ignorance and danger (Dan.2:2-13).
(3.) The revelation and interpretation of the dream by Daniel (Dan.2:14-15).
(4.) Daniel’s advancement to great honor by that means (Dan.2:46-49).

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and His Demands
Upon the Wise Men of Babylon (2:1-9)

Daniel 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. (KJV)
This was in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign that Daniel was carried captive (Jer.25:1). For the next three years Daniel had been under tutors, and at the end of the three years, he was presented to the king, as is shown in chapter 1. The following dream was evidently in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign . . . so this creates a difficulty, which is supposedly solved by some as: in the second year after the destruction of the Temple, after he had subdued all the nations round about. Josephus says it was in the second year after the destruction of the Egyptians. Possibly "in the second year" . . . meaning after Daniel and his companions had been presented to the king, and promoted . . . in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, as opposed to the reign of Darius or Cyrus, in which Daniel also flourished . . . or possibly this was the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reigning alone . . . for he had been taken into partnership in the throne with his father before his death. This was most likely the fifth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign and of Daniel’s captivity, and the ninth year of Jehoiakim; and in the second year after Daniel’s three years’ preparation been brought before the king and approved.
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams . . . it really was just one dream, but had many parts, so is called dreams; mainly because his spirit was troubled because it was so strange. He was terrified and could not sleep.

Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. (KJV)
Nebuchadnezzar ordered his servants to send immediately for the wise men, the philosophers of that age and the astrologers, who pretended by the position and influence of the stars to know what would happen: and the sorcerers that made use of familiar spirits with the help of the devil; necromancers that consulted the dead, in order to get knowledge of future things (Det.18:10-12). Forbidden by God!
Nebuchadnezzar called all his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers, demanding that they tell him what he had dreamed and tell him what it meant. These were men who had been trained as Daniel and his friends had been trained. These supposed wise men were men of great intelligence and learning, but they had so many superstitions and ideas of a heathen religion. These men were the brains of Babylon, and they were brought before the king to hear his nutty command.
I think there are some Ph.D.'s today who totally eject the Bible . . . I think they are heathen and that they are superstitious. The Bible has been ruled out of our schools today, but schools teach astrology and superstitions which have been rejected by civilized people in the past. BEWARE!

Daniel 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. (KJV)
Nebuchadnezzar told them he had dreamed a dream but could not remember it . . . but what he dreamed had left a great impression on him. His spirit was truly troubled by the dream, and he wanted to know what it meant. The king felt that the unusual dream must have some important, in depth significance. God was making it very clear to the king that He had something to say, but Nebuchadnezzar, in his darkness, only knew that it was something important.

Daniel 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. (KJV)
O king, live for ever: was a greeting used by princes of old (Dan.2:4; 3:9; 5:10; 6:6), and the meaning was, let him live a long happy life (1 Sam.10:24; 1 Ki.1:25), for the word live is often used this way (Ps.34:12), and this agrees to the desires of all worldly men in their prosperity.
The Chaldeans spoke in Syriack (the Chaldee tongue), for Syria or Aram consists of Assyria, Babylon, Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Palestine (2 Ki.18:26), and from here to the 8th chapter all is written in the Chaldee language, and not Hebrew, because it mostly concerned that people, and from the 8th chapter, in Hebrew again. It is important to note that at this point in the Book of Daniel there is a change from the Hebrew to the Aramaic or Syriac language. The importance of this change is quite remarkable: God is now speaking to the world, not just to His nation. Israel has gone into Babylonian captivity. God has taken the scepter OUT of the line of David, and He has put it in Gentile hands. It will stay there until the day He takes the scepter back. When He does, nail-pierced hands will take the scepter, because it is God's intention for Jesus to reign.
The subject here is a worldwide kingdom. The idea that the Word of God is confined to some local deity and that the Bible has quite a limited view is entirely wrong. If we examine it carefully, we find that God has in mind a worldwide kingdom. Psalm 89:34-37 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. 36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. 37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. (KJV) . . . What God is saying is, "As long as you see the sun and moon, you will know that I am going to put My king over this Earth."

Daniel 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. (KJV)
The king said told the wise men they must tell him what he had dreamed, and what it meant or he would cut hem in pieces and make their houses a pile of ruins. This was a usual punishment in those parts of the world; for Samuel cut Agag in pieces (1 Sam.15:33), and thus did David deal with the Ammonites (1 Chron.20:3). And too, was in making houses a dunghill (Dan.3:29); and thus they did to the house of Baal, made it a draught-house to this day, by Jehu’s command (2 Ki.10:27). And like did Darius threaten to them that would alter his decree for building the house of God (Ezra 6:11). The king’s wrath would be excessive and furious, in punishment for not obeying his command.
This would have been an extreme judgment, but it gives you an idea how upset Nebuchadnezzar was. Some say this is a faulty translation of this verse because it gives the impression that the king had forgotten his dream. They say that he had not forgotten his dream. He knows the dream, senses its importance, but refuses to reveal it to the wise men. WHY? He wants a correct interpretation of it. Nebuchadnezzar is saying to these men, you must come up with the dream if I am to listen to your interpretation of it. He wants them to come up with the interpretation of the dream, but they first of all have to give what the dream was.

Daniel 2:6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. (KJV)
Just as the king had threatened them with death for not giving the right answer, he promised them rewards and honor if they came through with the dream and its interpretation.
Nebuchadnezzar could be generous and charitable. This man was really governed by his emotions, as we shall see.

Daniel 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. (KJV)
Please, tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.

Daniel 2:8The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. (KJV)
The king says, "I mean business, so quit stalling." They naturally were trying to gain time, because capital punishment awaited them.

Daniel 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 shew me the interpretation thereof. (KJV)
I will not retract my sentence, you shall surely die: you are upon tricks, you have prepared corrupt and lying words, for he that can interpret a dream can tell the dream, both come from a Divine inspiration, which ye pretend to; but I say ye have it not. Nebuchadnezzar really reveals here his lack of confidence in the wise men of Babylon. I think they probably had failed him on more than one previous assignment, just as the prophets of Baal failed Ahab . . . but since Ahab died in battle, he did not have a chance to retaliate (1 Ki.22:37).
Nebuchadnezzar feels these men have been leading him on, and he is now putting them to a real test. His reasoning at this point is very logical: If they can tell him his dream, then it is reasonable to conclude that their interpretation is genuine. If they cannot tell him his dream, then any interpretation they would offer would be very uncertain. IF they were able to tell a dream that was past, it might be concluded they were able to tell what was to come, shown by that dream; but if they could not state what was past, HOW could they possibly foretell things to come?

Decree to Destroy the Wise Men
For Their Failure (2:10-13)

Daniel 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. (KJV)
This is the first true statement the wise men have made . . . there was no man on Earth who could tell the king what he had dreamed . . . only Almighty God could. In desperation they plead for their lives, trying to show how unreasonable the king's demand was. Of course his demands were unreasonable . . . but, they have claimed to be superior, and he is asking them to prove it. Pharaoh asked his wise men to tell him the interpretation of his dream, but not the dream itself (Gen. 41:7-8).

Daniel 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. (KJV)
The Chaldeans bring three arguments to convince the king.
(1.) There is not a man upon earth can show the king’s matter.
(2.) There is no king requires such a thing of any magician.
(3.) None but the gods can do this. The Chaldeans, along with other Gentiles believed in more gods than one and the supreme deity or deities did not meddle with the affairs of men, but had the knowledge by inferior or intermediate demons.
What the wise men are saying is that they have no communication with Heaven. They also confessed that their gods were not giving them very much information. They end their argument by saying that no human being could meet the king's demands. This paves the way for Daniel to come onto the scene

Daniel 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. (KJV)
The king displays his violent temper for which he was well known. It is a symptom of the mental illness he is suffering, which we will see later on. The king orders the wise men to be destroyed immediately. Oppressors are inevitable, and they rule according to their will, and when they are crossed, they are furious, and the wrath of these is like a roaring lion.

Daniel 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain, (KJV)
The king's decree includes Daniel and his friends. Even though they are just being trained, they are being taught by the same wise men in which the king has now lost confidence. The sudden order to destroy the wise men of Babylon is going to take in many men who were really innocent and could not be held responsible. The dictatorship of Nebuchadnezzar could be carried to the nth degree . . . he could do whatever he wanted to do.
It was not right that Daniel and his friends must share in the punishment, and yet be excluded from the other part which was the reward. The reason they were not called was because of their young age, which the Chaldeans despised, and where we see three things:
(1.) The magicians confessed that knowledge and revelation must come from God, and therefore what Daniel did was not by any human strength, but Divine only.
(2.) That the Lord held the governor's hands, so that he did not slay Daniel with the first.
(3.) That Daniel, by his cautious decision and piety, saved all the magicians' lives.

Daniel's Desire to Tell the Dream (2:14-18)

Daniel 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: (KJV)
In a mild manner, using soft words and gentle language, Daniel humbly and modestly inquires what was the meaning of all this. Arioch was the prince of the king's chief officer: which was sent to slay the wise men of Babylon. Daniel is puzzled at the hasty and unjust decree of the king, but he uses tact as he approaches Arioch. Arioch is the captain of the king's guard and was often in the presence of the king.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Daniel asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened. I wonder if Arioch talked to Daniel about the king’s character, if he told Daniel that the king was a little goofy at times. It is not recorded here if he did or not, but I wonder if he said anything because of such a horrible command from the king . . . so hasty; so impulsive, to slay the innocent who were never called, who knew nothing of it.
Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel which was that the king had dreamed a strange dream that troubled him, that he had forgotten it, that he called all his wise men to show both the dream and interpretation, but they could not . . . so the king commanded the death of all the wise men in Babylon, with Daniel with his friends too, without saving the life of one of them, and that Arioch had been commanded to perform it presently. So, there was but a step between Daniel and death.

Daniel 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. (KJV)
Daniel went up to the king's palace, which possibly was built on high ground; or he went into his chamber, where he probably was; or in some upper room, very likely presented to him by Arioch; and which was a bold and daring action in them both . . . in Arioch, to not fulfill his orders, and to enter into the king's presence before he had . . . and in Daniel, to appear before him, being considered a wise man . . . when the king was in such a fury.
All which was owing solely to the providence of God that firmly set upon the heart of Arioch, to listen to what Daniel said, and inspired them both with courage to go in to the king. Daniel desired that the king would give him time . . . not two or three days, but just that night, until morning. Daniel wanted only to pray to God . . . that He would show him the king’s dream and the interpretation of the dream.
The king granted Daniel his request, even though he rebuked the wise men when they asked for time. Maybe Nebuchadnezzar remembered Daniel, and how superior in wisdom he was to all his magicians and wise men; and maybe Daniel gave him hope and assurance, of revealing his dream and the interpretation of it. Daniel got an audience with the king . . . he is already in favor, following events will reveal that it was the confidence of a man with firm faith in God.

Daniel 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: (KJV)
Daniel then went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah what had happened. The gracious Hand of God was upon Daniel, showing him gracious favor. Prayer reinforced his strength, calling his friends to help him, for prayer in times of danger is the best thing we ca do.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Daniel told them of the whole frightening affair, for he wanted them to also go to God in prayer to God with him. Daniel asked his friends to pray to the God of Heaven to show them His mercy by revealing to them the secret of the king’s dream, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. "That they would desire mercies" reveals the reason for their prayers.
That Daniel and his fellows should not perish: the Lord has a special care and love for His people (2 Thes.1:6; 2 Pet.2:9), especially in common calamities (Ex.14:19; Rev.18:4).
God does not answer prayer because of our worth or the effort or the character or the works of the one who is praying. All prayer must rest totally on His mercy. Today to pray in Jesus' Name (John 14:13-14), simply means that we come to God, not on our merit, but on the merit of Jesus, and look to Him alone for mercy.
"That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven" Expressions such as this are found only in the books of the captivity: Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel. It was only AFTER the departure of the glory of God from Jerusalem, from the Holy of Holies in the Temple, that God was addressed as "the God of heaven." These young Hebrew men knew that God did not dwell in the Temple in Jerusalem. The One and Only Almighty God is "the God of Heaven."
The God of Heaven: (Ezra 1:2; 5:11-12; 6:9-10; 7:21, 23; Neh.1:4-5; 2:4, 20; Ps.136:26; Dan. 2:18-19, 37). This expression was used only AFTER the glory of God was removed from the Temple (Eze.9:3; 10:4, 18; 11:22-23). God’s glory would then be gone from the Earth until Christ Jesus came (Lk.1:9; 2:1-30)

Daniel Describes the Dream as
A Multi-metallic Image (2:19-35)

Daniel 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. (KJV)

It is not assumed that Daniel spent the night in watching and prayer, for night vision is different than dreams (Num.12:6), whether sleeping or awake. It is only common sense to believe that Daniel had the same thing revealed to him that king Nebuchadnezzar had, with one huge difference . . . the king did not remember his dream, nor did he know what it meant, while Daniel was able to tell his dream and also give the meaning of it.
Daniel blessed the God of heaven . . . Daniel gratefully gave thanks and praise to the Father of lights (Jam.1:17), from whom all wisdom comes, for He had heard his prayer, and revealed this secret to him. This was revealed only to Daniel, not to his companions, for he was chief, and by this is indicated by what steps he then rose up to the degree of a famous prophet. Again, Daniel calls the true God the God of heaven, because He made Heaven, His Throne is there. The heathens and magicians' gods did NOT come from Heaven . . . but were evil devils of Hell.

Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: (KJV)
Daniel began his prayer and his thanksgiving, and expressed it in the following manner: blessed be the name of God for ever and ever . . . which is a form of exalting God, or a request that he may be blessed by men for evermore. Far too many do not revere and fear Almighty God. They do not praise His Name, His nature, His perfections nor His works. The God of Heaven requires that praise be given Him now, and through all eternity; because wisdom and might are His alone! Wisdom is forming the arrangement of things, and might or power is in the execution of His plans. Daniel here and afterwards has a very special regard in his heart for God, which was filled with gratitude and thankfulness. May we all have this kind of heart!

Daniel 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: (KJV)
Almighty God is awesome! He made time, He made the sun, the moon and the stars. He made the day and the night, the seasons of the year, the change of times. He can make bad times better, and turn night into day if He chooses to do so! He can make the sun go backward or stand still, as in Ahaz's and Joshua's time (Josh.10:12-13; Isa.38:8). Also see: (Deut.4:19; 17:3; Job 9:7; 31:26-27; Ps.19:4; 74:16; 148:3; Isa.28:21; 60:20, Am.8:9; Hab.3:11).

Daniel 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (KJV)
The deep and secret things . . . both of nature, where there are inestimable depths and secrets and of men's hearts. He can see us! And only He knows the deep and secret things of grace, and the mysteries of Christ's Kingdom. All this is restful to the saints, comforting them.
He knoweth what is in the darkness . . . even the darkest night is bright day to God! Nothing can be hidden from Him! He can see and foresee the most hidden things, because He is all knowing.
http://www.hisservants.org/is_jesus_god_h_s.htm
Daniel speaks of the king's dream in the night, which God alone gave to the king, and then took it from him, and then gave it Daniel for him again. God is indeed awesome!

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Here Daniel gives his God another distinguishing title . . . unique from all the gods of the heathen . . . he calls him the God of his fathers. Daniel’s distant ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and some closer ancestors, to whom God had made Promises, and revealed His secrets in time past, still continued His favors to Daniel; for which he was abundantly thankful, and owned and confessed the goodness of God to Him, praising Him because of it: who had given Daniel wisdom and might, and had made known only to Daniel the mysterious dream.
I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God my fathers . . . Daniel 2:20-23 is just one of several recorded prayers of Daniel. Daniel was a man of purpose, a man of prayer and a man of prophecy. God alone has revealed this secret to Daniel, and this is his incredible prayer of thanksgiving. Daniel is now ready to go in and ask again for an audience with the king, for God has given him the answers the king wants.

Daniel 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 shew unto the king the interpretation. (KJV)
Now that God had prepared Daniel, he goes to Arioch to go in with him to the king, and ask him not to destroy the wise men of Babylon. Daniel tells Arioch that he will show the king the interpretation of his dream. By this it seems that Daniel, as yet, was not well known at court, nor of much appreciation and authority there, as to go in to the king by himself, but needed one to introduce him.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Arioch rushes Daniel into the presence of the king with the good news that the dream will be revealed. Knowing how impatient the king was to know his dream, and the interpretation of it, Arioch told him that he had found a man in the captives of Judah that was able to answer the king's demands.
It seems that Arioch was boasting of what he had found; as if Daniel had been some obscure, unknown person, when Daniel had just asked for time from the king, before he killed all the magicians. It was the manner of the king’s courtiers to be very bossy, and to brag of their deeds.

Daniel 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? (KJV)
The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, the name given to him by the prince of the eunuchs (Dan.1:7), and by which he was known to Nebuchadnezzar; and very likely Daniel called himself now by this name, which is probably the reason of its being mentioned. The king asked Daniel: “Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”

Daniel 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, shew unto the king; (KJV)
Daniel answered the king boldly and without fear. The secret which the king has demanded, was to show that it was something which came from God, and could only be revealed by Him, and could not be found out by any knowledge of man. And because of this, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians nor the soothsayers could show the king the dream or the meaning.
Daniel names all sorts of divination, to show that divine things, and the secrets of God, cannot be comprehended by man without special revelation; and that those who believe they can do it, claim far too much to themselves, because they cannot do it.

Daniel 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; (KJV)
Daniel rightly makes a distinction between the wisdom of Babylon and the wisdom of God. The apostle Paul wrote:
1 Cor. 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (KJV)
1 Cor. 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (KJV)
Daniel now has the exclusive privilege of introducing to the dark mind of this pagan king the living and true God. He says, There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.
This is very important because it will be the emphasis in the Book of Daniel; this dream refers to the end of the times of the Gentiles.
The end of "the times of the Gentiles" runs right alongside with "the latter days" (Jer.30:24) of the nation Israel. Both shall come to their fulfillment during the Great Tribulation period. The day in which we live today is "man's day." We are living in the day of man.
It is also well to consider that "the times of the Gentiles," is not the same as "the fulness of the Gentiles" (Rom.11:25). The fulness of the Gentiles ends with the Rapture of the church. The terms, "the latter days" and "the times of the Gentiles" (Lk.21:24), are not the same as "the last days" (2 Pet.3:3) of the church which come to a fulfillment at the Rapture which happen before the Great Tribulation. "The times of the Gentiles" will continue right on into the Great Tribulation, and at that time God will again turn His attention back to the nation Israel.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Nebuchadnezzar had been bothered as he lay in bed at night, wondering what the future held. Although he started out as a petty king, he now finds himself a world ruler. As he lay on his bed, either sleeping or waking, his thoughts were busy thinking about this great monarchy he had created, and what would happen to it. He wanted to know what successors he should have, and how long it would continue, and what would be the fate of it. Daniel tells the king that He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Daniel told the king that the mystery was revealed to him, not because he was wiser than anyone else, but so that the king might learn the meaning of his dream and to understand the thoughts that had come to him.
The dream had to do with the future of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom and the outcome of his great world empire. Nebuchadnezzar was troubled about the future of this great empire which he now found himself the ruler. The dream he had was God's answer to his problem.
Daniel makes it clear that he himself deserves no credit, that only God in Heaven could have revealed the dream, that God revealed the dream to spare the lives of the wise men as well as to satisfy the curiosity of this man Nebuchadnezzar.
God is going to speak to Nebuchadnezzar in a language that he will understand, the language of the outward splendor and glory of his kingdom. This dream was also the dream about a Gentile, and in it God spoke to the king by using an image. The image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream was not an image to be worshiped; but, because Nebuchadnezzar did fall down before images in the city of Babylon, God used an image in his dream. Babylon was a city of idolatry, and such a vision was the only language Nebuchadnezzar could really understand. Babylon was known as the fountainhead of pagan religion, the hub of heathen idols.
We will see in this section the history of the rule of this world by the Gentiles. Because of the failure of the house of David (Jer.21:12), God is now taking the scepter of this universe OUT from the hands of the line of David (Israel, the Jews), and He is putting it into the hands of the Gentiles, where it shall remain until Christ Jesus comes again to this Earth. Then Christ will take the scepter and rule on this Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). "The times of the Gentiles" (Lk.21:24), is from the day of Nebuchadnezzar, right on down through our day until the Lord comes to reign.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
A great image (figure, statue), not a painted, artificial image, but a massive one, a statue in the shape of a man . . . it was huge, splendid and majestic. This image excited terror in the king. It was overwhelming. I wonder what the king thought when Daniel began to describe the dream. I imagine that the expression on Nebuchadnezzar's face changed from suspicion to amazement. He probably thought: “Yes, yes, yes! That is my dream.”

Daniel 2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, (KJV)
This is sad, because by this we see the world is worsening day by day, declining in every age, there is continual degeneration from what it was at Daniel’s time.
The head of the image was of fine gold . . . Daniel starts at the top of the image and descends to the bottom, because of the order and condition of the monarchies (kingdoms) it represents. This indicates the Babylonian monarchy, as afterwards explained; called the "head", being the first and chief of the monarchies; and was compared to "fine gold", because of the glory, excellency, and duration of it.
His breast and his arms of silver . . . the image’s two arms, including its hands and its breast, to which they were joined, were of silver, a metal of lesser value than gold; indicating the monarchy of the Medes and Persians . . . which are the two arms, and which centered in Cyrus, who was by his father a Persian, by his mother a Mede; and upon whom, after his uncle's death, the whole monarchy devolved (transferred power).
His belly and his thighs of brass . . . brass is yet a lesser valued metal still. This points to the Macedonian or Grecian monarchy, set up by Alexander, indicated by the "belly" for great overindulgence and luxury.
The two thighs denote his principal successors, the Selucidae and Lagidae, the Syrian and Egyptian kings; and these of brass, because of the sounding fame of them, as Jerom.

Daniel 2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. (KJV)
His belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron . . . these symbols indicated the strength of the third and fourth monarchies, and the irresistible force with which they should subdue their adversaries. Iron and brass are the emblems of strength in the prophetical writings; and they were in other respects symbolic of these empires, as we shall see.
His feet part of iron and part of clay . . . by this was meant the Roman empire in its declining state, as will soon be shown. The fourth kingdom clearly belongs to the Romans, as the iron that breaks and subdues all things; but his feet and toes are part iron and part clay, which is most clearly confirmed at this time . . . for in the beginning nothing was stronger and harder than the Roman empire, but in the end of things, nothing weaker when both in civil wars and against various nations.
The king’s dream describes the ages of the world government from metals: the first was golden, then silver, then brass, then iron and finally clay (dirt)!

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Daniel went on . . . and then you saw a massive stone (rock) that was cut without human hands, and it crashed into the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits; all vanished, and the huge rock became a great mountain which filled the whole Earth.
As the king continued looking at the image, he then saw a "stone": a symbol of the Messiah, as it often is in Scripture (Deut.32:4; Ps.118:22; Isa.8:14; 28:16; Zec.3:9). This looks to what is yet to be done in the latter day, when Christ will take to Himself His great power and reign and subdue and destroy the ten kings or kingdoms that are given to Antichrist, and destroy the beast himself (Rev.19:20), and the remainder of the several monarchies, and in which they will all end under the iron rod of Christ (Ps.2:9).

Daniel 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. (KJV)
The thing to consider here is that, while Nebuchadnezzar looked at the image in astonishment, the stone, coming from beyond the vicinity of the image and without human motivation, struck the image on the feet of iron and clay with such force that all the metals were totally crushed. Then a wind blew the dust of the image away, so that it completely disappeared. Then the stone began to grow, like a living stone, and it filled the whole world, taking the place of this image.

In all of this, we see Daniel's piety and modesty, for he states that he had pleaded for revelation from God, so he did not and would not claim it to himself.

Definition of Four World Empires
And Their Destinies (2:36-43)

Daniel 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. (KJV)
Daniel has told the king his dream, and now he will tell the interpretation to the king. For though both the dream and the interpretation of it, were revealed only to Daniel; yet he brings his friends with him, partly because they were now present, and mainly because they were his assistants in prayer for the revelation of it.
Daniel 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. (KJV)
A king of kings . . . Daniel means Nebuchadnezzar in person, along with his successors,
Evilmerodach (2 Ki.25:27) and Belshazzar (Dan.5:1). The prophet did not mean the king of anything past, nor of any other governments but those to be concerned for the future, until the Coming of the Messiah, by whose Coming they should support and comfort themselves against all their sufferings by oppressors; and also God would have Daniel remind Nebuchadnezzar of the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, growing and breaking in pieces all earthly power.
Nebuchadnezzar was the first great world ruler. I think that he was God's model for Adam . . . he was given great power, but he lost it. The world has known four great world rulers; there have been four great nations who have tried to rule the world. They all just butchered the job. NONE of them made a real success of it . . . but the first one, Nebuchadnezzar, did the best job.

Daniel then began to interpret the dream. The different metals represent world empires. Nebuchadnezzar is recognized as the head of gold. He ruled over the then known world. NO one questioned his authority. His was an outright kingdom, and there have been very few since. For more about this Babylonian empire, see Dan.5:17-19 and Jer.27:5-11.
Through Daniel God said: Daniel 5:18-19 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. (KJV)
And through Jeremiah God said: Jer. 27:5-7 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. 6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. 7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. (KJV)
God made Nebuchadnezzar the one at the top; He made him the first great world ruler, and there has been none like him since.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Daniel began to interpret the king’s dream. The different metals are symbols for different world empires. Nebuchadnezzar is identified as the head of gold. He exercised total power over the world at that time. He had absolute power of all creatures, men and beasts, within the bounds of his massive kingdom. He could do as he so pleased with anyone at any time. God as the Almighty Lord allowed this. This was not universal over all the world, but only within his large territories, which were bounded.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Another kingdom inferior to thee . . . this was that of the Medes and Persians. The kingdom that came after Nebuchadnezzar was inferior to his, and the third one will be inferior to the second, and the fourth will be inferior to the third. That means the fourth kingdom is the worst form of all. That is where we are today.
There are two kingdoms mentioned in this verse. The arms of silver represent Media and Persia. We are told the future of the Babylonian kingdom: Daniel 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (KJV)
We do not need to guess who the second kingdom is . . . the Bible makes it clear. We must remember that Daniel lived in both the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of Media-Persia.
The third kingdom would be a kingdom of brass and would "bear rule over all the earth." This is the Graeco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great.
This brings us to the fourth kingdom. It is important to see that there are only four . . . there is no fifth kingdom. The period of the fourth kingdom is where we are today.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
The fourth kingdom is the kingdom of the Romans; and was to last not only to Christ's First Coming, but would continue on under the Antichrist to His Second Coming. The fourth kingdom would be as strong as iron that would smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes. This kingdom goes down as to pagan worship, and to antichristian and papal power.
Daniel tells the king that God made it known to him what would happen in the latter days (Hos.3:5); so he gives a general history to the end of the world (Dan.2:44; 7:1-28; 11:1-45; 12:1:13).
This fourth empire, as strong as iron, shatters and breaks everything. Just as iron shatters everything, it will shatter and crush all the earlier empires.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
The feet and toes were partly clay and partly iron, revealing a divided kingdom. It will have some strength (iron), because there was iron mixed with the clay.
a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron.
Part of potter' clay, and part of iron . . . refers to the weakness of this future kingdom, even with its evident strength. Clay and iron do not bind together, and clay is brittle and easily crushed. This shows the internal weakness of this kingdom, and its failure to bind into a united unit. Rome suffered great internal weakness, even with its international authority.

The feet and toes will be the last form of the Roman Empire in the days of the Second Coming of the Messiah. The feet represent the same as the two legs, the Eastern and Western divisions of the Roman Empire, the fourth kingdom of Daniel and the sixth kingdom of Rev.17:9-11. The toes represent the final division of the Roman Empire into ten kingdoms, ruled by ten kings from ten separate capitals. The last form of this empire was to be "partly strong, and partly broken," that is, partly weak (vs.42). The weakness is indicated by the clay which is easily broken, the strength by iron which breaks all other materials to pieces (vs.40).
Clay is not very strong, and represents the forms of government by popular majority (sound familiar?) which are weak in many respects compared to the rule of absolute dominion, as symbolized by iron (Rev.2:27; 12:5; 19:15).

Daniel 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. (KJV)
A part (portion, or some of them), indicates that some of the ten kingdoms would be strong as iron (the kings being absolute in power), while part of them would be weak (the kings being swayed by the popular will of their subjects). This condition of strength and weakness will not last even as clay cannot mix with iron (vs.42-43).
This was quite clear in the civil wars of the Romans, and the falling away of some countries, especially in and towards the end of it.

Daniel 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (KJV)
With the seed of men . . . by marriage; but they shall never bond well together, because ambition is a much stronger force than kindness and compassion in rulers. Many nations that shall come in among them, and unite by intermarriage with each other, in order to strengthen their treaties, and support their interests, yet these ties of marriage and of blood shall not cause them to cleave to one another. Those who are more powerful, like the iron, will trample the weaker like miry clay under their feet.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
In the days of the ten kings, yet to come, symbolized by the ten toes on the image (vs.2:41-45),) and the ten horns on the beasts of (Dan.7:7-8, 23-24; Rev.ch.13; Rev.17:3, 7, 12; 16), the God of Heaven (Ezra ch.7), will set up a Kingdom on Earth that shall never be destroyed. It will break into pieces and take over all the ten kingdoms and shall stand forever (Dan.2:44; Zec. ch.14; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-10). These ten kings are yet future and were not ten barbarous tribes which overran the old Roman Empire in the fourth and fifth centuries after Christ.

There is NO eighth kingdom mentioned in Daniel 2, but there is in Daniel 7:23-24; Rev.17:11).
Daniel 7:7-8 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (KJV)
Daniel 7:19-24 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (KJV)

Daniel does not see a little toe coming out of the ten toes, plucking out three of the others by the roots . . . but in the above Scriptures, there is a little horn coming out of the ten horns. He gets power over them by conquering three of them and by the others of the ten kings then submitting to him without further war. This is the same as Rev.17:9-17. The ten kings give their power to the beast whose kingdom becomes the eighth kingdom. The seventh kingdom is that of the ten kingdoms being independent as separate kingdoms; the eighth is made up of the same ten kingdoms, only they are no longer independent. They continue under the beast for 42 months as submissive kingdoms (Rev.13:1-8; 17:9-17).
Almighty God has shown through Daniel things to come, and he has confirmed them by His only begotten Son (John 3:16); and Christ Jesus is the Stone which is cut out without hands, who shall destroy temporal kingdoms, and bring in an everlasting one.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
The stone is a symbol of the Kingdom of the God of Heaven headed by Christ Jesus Himself at His Second Coming (Dan.7:9-14, 18, 27; Isa.9:6-7; Zec.ch.14; Lk.1:31-33; Rev.11:15; 19:11-21; 20:1-10).
These are the events that shall come to pass from Nebuchadnezzar's day on into the future when the God of Heaven reigns on Earth (Dan.2:38-45; Isa. 66:22-24; 1 Cor.15:24, 28; Rev.ch.21 & 22).
The dream is certain . . . the king’s dream is no ordinary dream, but a prophecy of God. It was sent from Heaven, and gives a perfect plan and prophetical history of things to come, about the special providence of God in changing rulers and governments, with specific regard to the Kingdom of Christ, and the growth of it, along with all the readiness of pagan and antichristian Rome.
And the interpretation thereof sure . . . it is not a quick guess of the magicians and wise men of Babylon, who use lying words, because they have no knowledge of the true God, and because of this, they are totally ignorant of the TRUE God of Heaven and His secrets, which He revealed to His prophets by the Spirit of prophecy . . . and the dream and the interpretation had graciously made known to Daniel.
The dream is certain . . . it contains an impartial representation of things as they would be, and the interpretation is also certain . . . for all the parts of the dream are rightly explained.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
This was strange, that so great a king should worship his servant, although it was at times done to men, such as to Elijah the prophet (2 Ki.1:13). This was done in alarm, admiration and respect, because he saw so much of God in Daniel, and in the revelation of the dream . . . but I do not believe that Daniel allowed it. Although Daniel could not stop the king when he fell upon his face, I feel sure that Daniel revealed his unwillingness to accept this worship, as the apostles did (Acts 14:13-15), because it was disrespect, irreverence and idolatry.
It is not said they offered sacrifice to Daniel, only that he king commanded it, which I am sure that Daniel refused. Daniel was ever so careful not to defile himself with the king's dainties (Dan.1:8); and too when he would not stop his worship of the TRUE God of Heaven, even though there was danger to his life (Dan. 6:10). There is no indication that Daniel accepted this worship (Rev.19:10; 22:8-9). I believe that the king, being instructed of Daniel, gives God all the glory . . . as the following states.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
A God of gods . . . the greatest and supreme TRUE God of all the world, above Baal, above Bel, and above all other heathen gods.
A Lord of kings . . . which in the Syriac means Lord, or high Lord, for He is the greatest and highest King of all the Earth. Almighty God makes, overrules and pulls down those whom He will (1 Tim.6:15; Rev.17:14; 19:16), for He is omnipotent, and that God is a revealer of secrets (Isa.48:3, 5-8). God is omnipotent: http://www.hisservants.org/is_jesus_god_h_s.htm
God alone is a Revealer of secrets and is indeed the supreme God, because He alone knows and foreknows, and decrees all things future.
Seeing thou couldest reveal this secret . . . Daniel had received the secret from God, who revealed it to him, which is what here the king confesses here.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
One reason that Nebuchadnezzar was given such a dream is made clear here, mainly that Daniel might be promoted, and that the captive people of God be comforted. The king made Daniel a great man, advancing him to positions of great honor and dignity. He had been a great man before, in spiritual things, but now he was made great by the Lord; and now he was made a great man in worldly things, through the providence of God. All those that honor God, He will honor, and give many great spiritual gifts.
It seems that Daniel received many worldly gifts, great in value, and great in number: rich garments, gold, silver, precious stones and large estates to support his honor and stateliness; which Daniel accepted, not just for his own use, but to do good with to his poor brethren the Jews in captivity. Daniel was made ruler over the whole province of Babylon. The whole kingdom was divided into several provinces, over each of which was a deputy governor. The province of Babylon was the main one, Babylon being the capital of the empire; the whole government and all belonging to it, was given to Daniel. This was proof of the king's high regard for him. Daniel was chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Due to Daniel's greatness the captives became more independent and less oppressed during their exile.

Daniel 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. (KJV)
Daniel requested of the king . . . even though elevated in the eyes of the world, Daniel humbly remembered his friends. Daniel’s attitude stands in sharp contrast to the attitude of the world's people, just as the king's chief butler forgot his benefactor, Joseph (Gen.40:23; Amos 6:6).
Daniel used did not forget his friends, but obtained places in the government for them, that they might assist him in his office, and be sharers in his honor, for it was by their intercessions, united with his own, that such an important secret had been revealed to him. This preferring of them would not only be a great help to Daniel in his place and business, but would afford them many and great opportunities of being useful to their brethren in captivity. But Daniel sat in the gate of the king . . . Daniel was a constant attendant at the king’s court, and as this probably signifies, he was a kind of chief justice, hearing and determining such causes as were brought before the king, and administering justice to the people.

Sevenfold Result of the Revelation
1. It had an overwhelming effect upon the king (Dan.2:46).
2. It brought glory to God (Dan.2:47).
3. It made Daniel a great man (Dan.2:48).
4. It brought him many gifts (Dan.2:48).
5. It made him ruler over all the province of Babylon (Dan2:48).
6. It made him chief of the wise men (Dan.2:48).
7. It exalted Daniel's three friends (Dan.2:49).

Special Comments for Daniel Chapter 2

The God of Heaven

That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven . . . expressions such as this are found only in the books of the captivity: Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel. It was only AFTER the departure of the glory of God from Jerusalem, from the Holy of Holies in the Temple, that God was addressed as the God of heaven. These young Hebrew men knew that God did not dwell in the Temple in Jerusalem. The One and Only Almighty God is the God of Heaven.
The God of Heaven: (Ezra 1:2; 5:11-12; 6:9-10; 7:21, 23; Neh.1:4-5; 2:4, 20; Ps.136:26; Dan. 2:18-19, 37). This expression was used only AFTER the glory of God was removed from the Temple (Eze.9:3; 10:4, 18; 11:22-23). God’s glory would then be gone from the Earth until Christ Jesus came (Lk.1:9; 2:1-30)
Daniel calls the true God the God of heaven, because He made Heaven and His Throne is there. The heathens and magicians' gods did NOT come from Heaven . . . but were evil demons of Hell. The God of Heaven (Ezra ch.7), will set up a Kingdom on Earth that shall never be destroyed.

Tremendous reasons for praising God:
1. Wisdom belongs to Him (Dan.2:20).
2. Power belongs to Him (Dan.2:20).
3. He changes the times (Dan.2:21).
4. He changes the seasons (Dan.2:21).
5. He removes kings (Dan.2:21).
6. He sets up kings (Dan.2:21).
7. He gives wisdom to the wise (Dan.2:21).
8. He gives knowledge to men who have understanding (Dan.2:21).
9. He reveals deep things (Dan.2:21).
10. He reveals secret things (Dan.2:21).
11. He knows what is in darkness (Dan.2:22).
12. He dwells in light (Dan.2:22; 1 Tim.6:16).
13. He has given me wisdom (Dan.2:23).
14. He has given me power (Dan.2:23).
15. He has answered prayer by revealing to us the king's matter (Dan.2:23).

Reasons why an answer was given to Daniel:
1. To save the lives of Daniel and his companions (Dan.2:18, 30).
2. To magnify God as greater than all the wise men of Babylon (Dan.2:27-28).
3. To show us that God answers prayer for those who depend upon Him (Dan.2:18-23).
4. To reveal that He is sovereign over all nations (Dan.2:19-23, 39;45).
5. To show the fact that God is still guiding human affairs (Dan.2:19-23).
6. To prove that God is infinite in knowledge and wisdom (Dan.2:21’23; Rom.11:33).
7. To prove that God is the Author of all prophecies (Dan.2:23-45).
8. To prove that God is the only TRUE God (Dan.2:20-30).
9. To give evidence that the TRUE God is the God of Israel (Dan.2:23).
10. To prove that someone receiving a revelation (dream, vision) may or may NOT be a true child of God (Dan.2:29-30, 45).
11. To make known the thoughts of the heart (Dan.2:30).
12. To make known the plan of God from Daniel's day into all eternity (Dan.2:29-45).

The Image of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream:
1. The image was great.
2. Its brightness was excellent.
3. It stood before the king.
4. The form was awesome (Dan.2:31).
5. The head of the image was of fine gold.
6. Its breast and arms were of silver.
7. Its belly and thighs were of brass (Dan.2:32).
8. Its legs were of iron.
9. Its feet were of iron and clay (Dan.2:33).
10. A stone cut out without hands smote the image on the feet, breaking them to pieces (Dan.2:34).
11. The iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold were broken to pieces together, becoming like chaff of a threshing floor; and the wind carried them away and they were found no more (Dan.2:35). Together shows all of them being were united under the beast of Revelation 13 & 17 in the last days.
12. The stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (Dan.2:35)

The Times of the Gentiles

The times of the Gentiles is the administration of the Gentiles, as the chastening rod upon Israel, to further God's purpose concerning them. It began with Israel's first oppression by the Gentiles in Egypt, and will continue with the history of Israel, on through this dispensation of Grace in which we now live (Rom.6:15). It will end at the Return of the Messiah in glory when he will deliver Israel from the Gentiles and exalt them as the head of all nations in the Millennium and forever (Zec.14:1-5; Lk.21:24; Rom.11:25; Rev.19:11-21; 20:10).

The Door of Mercy Open to Gentiles:

This time of the Gentiles is mentioned only in Luke 21:24, and is referred to in Romans 11:25 as the fulness of the Gentiles. This term in Romans is taken by some to mean that a time will come when God will no longer save Gentiles, but will give salvation only to the Jews. I disagree. Jesus came to save ALL sinners, Jews and gentiles alike! There is NO such doctrine ever mentioned in the Word of God! During the future tribulation both Jews and Gentiles can and will be saved (Acts 2:16-21; Rom.1:16; 10:11-13; Rev,7:9-17).

The term the fulness of the Gentiles absolutely does NOT mean that God will someday cut off Gentiles from salvation. NO way my friend! Jesus died for us all . . . Jews and Gentiles! The fulness of the Gentiles means the same as the times of the Gentiles and has absolutely NOTHING to do with the salvation of the Gentiles. It refers to political domination over the Jews by the Gentiles, off and on, from the Egyptian bondage to the second coming of Christ.

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (KJV) . . . The fulness of the Gentiles began many years ago; when God called out the church. Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (KJV) . . . It will conclude with the Rapture of the church (1 Thes.4:13-18).
Mystery needs to be explained. In Paul’s day there were mystery religions. Today, a mystery is an unrevealed plot or person. In the Bible it is neither of these. In Scripture, mystery refers to something that was concealed in the Old Testament, but revealed in the New Testament. The mystery here is the identification of the fulness of the Gentiles which was NOT revealed in the Old Testament.
Many Jews have hard, unbelieving hearts; but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ. After that, after the Rapture, God will start dealing with Israel in the Great Tribulation period. Millions of Jews will hear the Gospel brought to them by the 144,000 (Rev.7), and will finally believe it!

Book of Daniel

Ch.1 . Ch.2 . Ch.3. Ch.4. Ch.5 . Ch.6 . Ch.7 . Ch.8 . Ch.9 . Ch.10 . Ch. 11. Ch.12 . Special Comments

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