A. The changing of the landscape. One dream is about to set the course of all

history. A Jewish slave is about to find his way to the top of the Babylonian court

and become ruler over the whole province of Babylon and the Administrator over

all the wise men.

B. A divine dream is going to humble a newly established king. His spirit is troubled

and sleep leaves him. World rulers are always vulnerable when they close their

eyes at night. No amount of armies can defend the emperor when his eyes are

closed and his head hits the pillow. God rattles this young ruler. In Dan. 4

Nebuchadnezzar is well established; thus, the dream does not rattle him like in

chapter two. In chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar is a young king with enemies still

among his court looking for ways to exploit his weakness. This dream could be a

bad omen pertaining to his rule and the likely ending of it. He does not want this

dream used against him, so he demands that the wise men tell him the dream as

well as the interpretation.

C. The inadequacies of the other magicians, wise men, and their gods are displayed.

Nebuchadnezzar calls in all four classifications of wise men (magicians,

astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans), yet none can make known the dream.

Thus, the ineffectiveness of the wise men set up the problem and the testimony in

v. 10-11. No man can tell such mysteries, only the gods. The stage is set for

Daniel to display the wonders of Yahweh just as Moses displayed the wonders of

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.’"

D. The threat of death. And the cry for revelation. Daniel enters the court of the

king and asks for time to seek the living God that he may give him the

interpretation.

The answer comes forth with two key revelations of God and the first key principal for

those who have understanding. God is the revealer of mysteries and He moves the kings

of the earth at will through these mysteries.

Dan. 2:20-23 "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are

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." NKJV

A. Kings can do many things but they cannot tell what is in the darkness. They

cannot see into the future. God reduces kings to nothing through the use of

mysteries. He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him. Kings

are always wondering about how they will keep their throne, how they will hold

onto their power. God alone knows what is in store for them.

1. Prov. 1 & 2 A heart set towards pursuing and receiving wisdom will pay

off in the day of calamity. Those who disdain the counsel of the Lord will

have no safety in the day of terror.

2. Matthew 13:10-13 Jesus states the core of this principle. God gives more

to the hungry. To those who scorn His wisdom, His Word even what they

have will be taken away from them. Wisdom is given to the wise, not the

of God’s Word, the infinite value of the revelation of God. It is to be

cherished, to be pursued, to be sought after like hidden treasure. Those

who attain through hunger will always receive more and those who do not

treasure what they have received, even that will be taken away.

3. Numbers 12:6, Psalm 78:2, Proverbs 25:2, Psalm 19:7-10, Psalm 119:127,

162

A. This principle will be the divine divider for leadership at the end of the age. Have

we set our hearts on pilgrimage? Do we seek the Living God? Have we oil on

wisdom of the Lord, his cultivation of a life in God pays off in the hour of crisis

where the voice of God must be heard. It is folly to imagine that in the hour of

crisis one can then get ready. Abraham Lincoln once said that those who fail to

prepare, prepare to fail.

B. Notice the Progression at the end of Mt. 24 and the beginning of Mt. 25 in regards

to preparing for the Second Coming.

a. Parable of the Fig Tree

b. Days of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorrah

c. Wise Servant who gives the household food in due season

d. The Wise and Foolish Virgins

e. My Airplane Story

C. Paul continues in 1 Thess. 5 with this same line of thought.

1 Thess 5:1-11 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no

need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day

of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and

safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant

woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so

that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons

of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as

others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and

those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober,

putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord

Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live

together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as

you also are doing. NKJV

D. Peter gives the same counsel in 1 Peter 4:7-11.

1 Peter 4:7-8 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and

watchful in your prayers. NKJV

E. Jesus through the Apostle John warns the Church at Sardis of the same reality.

Rev 3:1-6 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He

who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that

you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and

strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found

your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received

and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon

you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You

have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they

shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be

clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;

but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 "He who

has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' NKJV

A. The boldness of Daniel in 2:27 is displayed in the aftermath of revelation. Daniel

finds out just how small the largest empire on the planet is compared to the

Sovereign throne room of the living God. He has no need to be intimidated.

B. Before interpreting the dream, Daniel states in v. 28 that God is the revealer of

secrets.

Dan. 2:27-28 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. NKJV

C. The humility of Daniel is displayed in Dan. 2:30.

A. Golden Head

2. Nebuchadnezzar is a King of kings. In fact, the second empire is stated to

be inferior to Nebuchadnezzar’s. How is this so? Persia had a larger

kingdom and greater duration. In two specific regards. One, as the

kingdoms progress less valuable metals are used to represent them. The

morality of the kingdoms decline up until the most heinous fourth empire.

Second, Nebuchadnezzar is a picture of a charismatic ruler who brings

military might and human culture to its zenith. Nebuchadnezzar is the

picture of a world-wide ruler with charisma, military prowess, political

genius, spiritual sensitivity, and cultural and artistic savvy.

D. Iron Legs with Feet of Iron and Clay

2. The Empire Continued in 2 Separate Kingdoms as Displayed in the 2 Legs

3. This empire is pointed out as especially powerful and merciless.

A. Two Varying Opinions

1. Further Allusion to Ancient Rome

2. Symbolic of an Future Empire in the Last Days

B. This difference of opinion rests upon how one interprets the stone in the dream.

All interpret the stone as Christ, but scholars differ on as if the stone represents

His first or second coming. I agree with the second position as I will display later.

1. Some see the stone crushing the kingdoms as the first coming of Christ

which then expands a spiritual kingdom that then fills the whole earth.

immediately following His second coming.

C. Characteristics of the Feet and Toes

just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet

does not mix with clay.

political, religious, national, ethnic, religious, etc.

of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix

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

which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it

NKJV

mountain without hands. Its origin is not from man. This kingdom has a divine

origin.

during a time when a ten king confederation exists on the earth.

C. This is a physical overcoming of these kings and initiates a transition in human

history and in salvation history. At this time the stone crushes and removes all

trace of the other kingdoms. The stone crushes the empire and then grows into a

great mountain. This is a powerful image of the millennial rule of Christ. Miller

D. The coming Kingdom of God is an eternal kingdom. This event will inaugurate

the beginning of eternal righteousness.

E. Verse 45 declares that this will surely happen. The coming of the Kingdom of

God ruled by Christ Jesus, is certain and true. He will come and crush every

opposing power.

Dan 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

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. NKJV

A. King Nebuchadnezzar falls prostrate before Daniel and declares the key revelation

of God which sustains the heart in the hour of oppression. Daniel 2:47

B. The Jewish slave boy is exalted as the ruler over the whole province of Babylon

and as the chief administrator over all the wise men. Daniel remembers what got