2:1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar
had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep
left him.
Wait. How could it only be the second year of king Nebs, when Daniel and friends just finished Magna Cum Laude after three years of training at Babylon U? (Daniel 1:5).
They counted weird. The first year was year zero. Then
they started counting. So, what we'd call the 3rd year, they called the 2nd.
Ever wake up in the middle of the night from a bad
dream? That's what happened to the king. It was so bad he couldn't get back to
sleep.
So, he woke up the wisemen. If he couldn't sleep, nobody could. After all, he's the king.
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.”
Maybe the king was sleepy, because it sounded like he
said he was anxious to know the dream.
He must've meant he wanted to know the
interpretation of the dream.
The wise guys try to hold their eyes open, and their
mouths shut from yawning, and wish they could've at least grabbed a coffee.
But it’s just a dream, no problem. It won’t take long, we'll give the king a song and dance and long live the king interpretation
and be back to bed in an hour.
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic...
Timeout: Don’t miss the profound statement that they spoke in
Aramaic.
From this verse all the way through chapter seven the original text
switches from Hebrew, the Jewish language, to the language of the world, the
gentile language of Aramaic.
This is the start of the times of the gentiles.
God took the scepter from His nation, Israel, and handed it to the gentiles where it remains to this day and will stay until the nail scarred hand of Jesus takes it back, at His second coming, at the end of the tribulation, at the end of the times of the gentiles, at the battle of Armageddon, at the start of His Millennial Reign.
This reflects the dream given to the king.
Okay, back to our story:
4... “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream,
and we will give the interpretation.”
That's how it
works O King. That's proper protocol. You tell us the dream, we'll make up some,
I mean, we'll give you the interpretation.
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.
Wisemen are saying: Ruh-roh, he's serious. But, he
can't be serious. Nobody can do that. It's impossible.
The king is saying: You heard me right the first time.
Dream AND interpretation. Or else... chop chop.
However, since I'm such a nice guy...
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.”
Nebuchadnezzar knew more about the ways of God than
the so called wisemen who claimed to hear and speak for the so-called gods.
Nebuchadnezzar saw through the foolishness of the
so-called wisemen. Perhaps because Daniel and crew, the new wise guys in town,
exhibited True wisdom.
So, the status quo wasn't going to cut it anymore.
King Nebby was upping the game.
7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his
servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”
Sounds like they're freaking out, panicking, talking
back to the king, is a dangerous thing.
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.”
Literally saying: I know you're stalling for time,
because you're scared. You should be. Tell me the dream, to prove you can
interpret it.
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.”
They were right. It was impossible.
Except for the One and Only God who knows and shows and tells the end from the beginning.
With Him, all things are possible.
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.
By the way: That is how a king operates. He said it and it was done, immediately. No approval needed from congress. No anti-king judges trying to trump the king's command.
Now, Daniel and friends are on wanted posters:
WANTED, DEAD OR... DEAD
But what the devil means for harm, God uses for good.
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.
Daniel didn't run and hide, but faced the danger.
God gave Daniel, counsel and wisdom and boldness to go
to the guy who was hired to kill him.
God gave Daniel favor, so the hitman didn't kill him
on the spot.
16 so Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time,
that he might tell the king the interpretation.
Daniel was not being presumptuous, Daniel 1:17, tells us "Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."
Walking with God by faith, results in God giving the
Gift of faith; one of the gifts of His Spirit.
So, Daniel knew what he needed to do.
1. Stop the killing.
2. Do the impossible.
No pressure. No problem.
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.
So, obviously the king agreed to give Daniel some
time.
Amazing. These teenage boys remembered to do what most adults
forget.
Pray First.
Daniel didn't try to solve the secret by talking it out with the king. He immediately called a prayer meeting with the King of kings.
Don't forget, these teenage boys came from a nation that started out as one nation under God but drifted so far from God that He allowed the nation to be invaded and taken over by foreigners.
Yet, regardless of their circumstances they remained
faithful, Godly.
Notice they sought the mercies of God. They did not claim entitlement, or make demand.
Mercy triumphs over judgement. James 2:13.
19 then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night
vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
God was faithful. He always is. Probably gave Dan the
same dream as king Neb.
Then, the teenage boys remembered to do what most
adults forget.
Thank Him.
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, a man of purpose, prayer, and
prophecy.
Next, Daniel will purposefully go to the king
and share the powerfully prophetic dream and the interpretation.
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.”
Remember the plan:
1) Stop the killing
2) Do the impossible
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.”
Does your Bible say in the small print:
Then Arioch said to the king, "So, can I get half the reward? Or, at least a finder’s fee?"
Neither does mine. But perhaps it's what Arioch was thinking.
26 The king answered and
said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, (that's' the Babylonian name they gave Daniel meaning: may
bel protect my life) “Are you able to
make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
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 tells the king:
They can’t.
I can’t.
GOD CAN!
Notice the words: latter days... what would come to
pass after this... what will be.
The Lord through Daniel will show Nebuchadnezzar the
major kingdoms of the world from his day past our day to the day when the
Kingdom will be upon His shoulder who is called Wonderful,
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the
increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Isaiah
9:6-7.
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.
After that, Nebuchadnezzar would’ve believed anything
Danny had to say.
Notice how God spoke in a way to grab Nebs attention,
the image was great, with splendor, excellent and awesome.
Babylon was like that. It got Nebs attention.
If you’re praying for someone, you can trust that God knows
how to get their attention.
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.
Starting at the top with the finest and most precious
of metals then descending in quality down the image.
Spoiler alert: this reflects world empires from King
Nebuchadnezzar to the second coming of Christ.
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.
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all
other ground is sinking sand...
Jesus says of this Stone: And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Matt. 21:44.
Psalm
118:22-23
The Stone the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone. This is from the
LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Matt. 21:42.
Isaiah
28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a Stone in Zion, a tested Stone,
a precious Cornerstone, a sure Foundation; the one who believes will never be
shaken.
Just to be clear the Stone is a picture of
Jesus’ second coming.
For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14.
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.
Gold. Babylonian Empire 612 to 539 B.C.
39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to
yours...
Silver. Medo-Persian Empire 539 to 331 B.C,
Cyrus
King Cyrus II, captured Babylon in June of 539
B.C.
Daniel became an adviser to Cyrus.
Later ruled by Artaxerxes II, or Ahasuerus, who married Esther.
People die but spirits don’t. Do you remember Haman’s hatred
toward the Jews and his plot to slaughter them (Esther 3:9-12)?
That same evil remains to this day. Persia is modern day Iran and its leaders have the same Jew hating spirit.
39 ...then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule
over all the earth.
Bronze, Greek Empire 331 to 168 B.C.
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.
Iron. Roman Empire 168 B.C. to 476 A.D.
Up until now, the Roman Empire was the last world
dominating empire, even though men like Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Joseph Stalin,
and Hitler have tried.
However, they won’t be the last—we’re not quite done
with the statue.
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.
Notice, more attention is given to the latter days kingdom
than all the others combined.
Rome was never really destroyed by an outside enemy,
they collapsed from within. One day the antichrist, will revive a form of Roman
empire, a world dominating ten nation confederation, represented by the ten toes.
It’s spoken of in Revelation 17:12-14.
“The
ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no
kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as
kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give
their power and authority to the beast [anti-Christ].
These
will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is
Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called,
chosen, and faithful.”
Ten nations will rule the earth, "for an
hour" a short time, during the seven year Tribulation. Those nations will
submit to the antichrist.
They will mingle with the seed of men... Some
say this refers to how the Romans intermarried with other kingdoms in a (futile)
attempt to strengthen their kingdom.
However, since the prophecy has extended into our future, could it be that we are seeing the mingling with seed of men today, by the transgender agenda? Or men thinking they can get pregnant, or, hormones, puberty blockers, computer chip implants, DNA altering shots...? The god-complex insanity goes on and on.
Some fallen angels mingled before the flood,
and God put a stop to that.
Whatever it is we’re told they will not adhere to
one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. Like the Roman empire,
they too will fail.
If Jesus is Lord of your life, you won’t be here for that mingling mess.
You’ll be in heaven with Jesus. But then at the end of
the Tribulation, we’ll come back with Him.
Which brings us to our next verse...
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 Stone is Jesus.
Nebuchadnezzar's dream is a prophecy that foretells of the major world leaders and the ones to come
(antichrist), and ultimately Jesus at His second coming.
46 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.
Daniel chapter 2 ends with Nebuchadnezzar, being
humbled and Daniel and friends being promoted.
Which is how it all ends. The world and those of the world, will be humbled and those of the Kingdom of God will be rewarded.
Notice how the most powerful man on the planet fell on his face before Daniel, who represented the King of kings. One day, willingly or not, all will bow before the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
It’s best to willingly do it now.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, King of kings, Lord of lords,
we bow before You now. We humble ourselves and invite You to be Lord of our
lives, today and forever. Thank You for revealing to us things to come, so we
can be prepared and help others prepare for what is soon to come. Come quickly
Lord Jesus.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer Requests:
Call or text: 612-554-2522
Email: pray4measap@aol.com
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Daniel 2
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Daniel 2
This was feed for you to read. Now it’s
Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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