52. THE POSSIBILITY OF KNOWING THE FUTUREGod alone knows the future. Go to Him and see what he can tell you about your fate and future.
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What do you think the future will be like? If it can be known, where do you think you could find the answer? How different the world would be if stockbrokers, businessmen, politicians and scientists could clearly see the future. Knowledge of what the future holds is probably the most sought after information. Perhaps second only to the solution for death. And yet after thousands of years, humans have never been able to convincingly predict the future. Of course they have tried and will continue to try, but the closest they will ever get is still just a guess. In this lesson, through the dream of a king and the interpretation of a prophet, we discover God has given us a clear glimpse into the future, even the end of the world.
Cem always had a fascination with knowing the future; some might even call it an obsession. It probably started as a game or pastime. But as he grew older not a day went by that Cem didn’t try in some way to discern what would happen next. The only problem was that instead of providing security, his quest for knowledge only caused more confusion and frustration.
You could perhaps say that Cem first became curious when he was a child. He remembered when his mother’s friends would get together, talk, and drink coffee. When the coffee was finished, they would put the saucer over the cup, swirl it around a few times, let it settle, and then ip it upside down. He specifically remembered the older woman who would look at the coffee grinds and “interpret what they said”. There was talk of angels, triangles, clouds, squirrels, beans, cats, eagles, and eyes. For the women, it may have just been a game, but for Cem it was a mysterious door into the unknown. A door he would try to walk through many times.
As an adult, Cem attempted to learn the future through the constellations. On his way to work, he would get the paper and rush to the office. With a cup of tea in one hand and the paper spread out on his desk, he would read his horoscope and contemplate what life would be like if it came true. But after those events didn’t happen and he realized that the predictions for most “signs” were diluted versions of the same thing, he gave up.
“There must be another way!” he thought to himself. “I know, I will go to an astrologer and have them read my star chart.”
So Cem looked in the newspaper, found an advertisement, called the number and set up an appointment. When he showed up, the woman asked a bunch of questions about his birthday, place of birth, parents, and siblings. As she was drawing up Cem’s chart and “reading” the stars, she paused and said,
“If you want me to be more specific or to have a chance at changing your fate, I could always read the tarot cards for you. Of course there is an additional fee.”
At this point, Cem wasn’t too concerned about the price. He reasoned to himself,
“Well, I don’t really want to spend the money. But then again, can you put a price on knowing the future? After all, knowing the future might help me avoid a disaster, meet a woman, or even become rich. Besides, you only make money to spend it!”
“Sounds good to me,” he replied.
After a couple of hours, Cem walked out of the store with a chart, a prediction, and a sense of accomplishment. He felt like he possessed a knowledge that very few would ever obtain. As he walked home, he began to make a plan with the information he had just sequestered. It wouldn’t be long before all his dreams and desires would be fulfilled.
Then, about two weeks after his visit to the astrologer, Cem’s world came crashing down. He had an experience that not only wasn’t predicted, but was completely contrary to what the woman had told him. Cem was a mess of mixed up feelings; anger, worry, doubt, shame, and confusion were just a few that he was experiencing. But perhaps the worst feeling was uncertainty, specifically about the future. An uncertainty that became so unbearable that he was depressed for years. Unfortunately, Cem never looked in the right place.
One of the most wonderful things about the Bible is that it provides the answers to many of life’s questions – answers that can bring real peace into a person’s life, not only for the present, but also for the future. Up to this point, we have been reading about historical events with the occasional reference to the future. But in the book of Daniel, the message of the Bible makes a dramatic shift. Starting in the 6th century BC, God provides a glimpse, sometimes broad and sometimes detailed, of the earth’s future. A future filled with justice and injustice, happiness and despair.
When most people read the book of Daniel and compare the scriptures with history, they are amazed. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that most skeptics of the Bible have a very hard time understanding how a man could write such vivid details of future events hundreds of years before they happened. Although they have tried in vain, they can’t dispute the facts. God foretold the future, and it happened just as He said it would.
In this second lesson from the book of Daniel, we will get a very broad glimpse into the future from Daniel’s perspective. In other
words, most of the events he saw happened at the end of his life or later in history. Not only do these visions show God's intimate knowledge of future events, they form the backdrop of Daniel’s later visions which depict events that will take place at the earth's end.
Let’s start this fascinating lesson by reading from the book of Daniel chapter 2 verses 1-6:
1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.
2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.
If you remember from the last lesson, King Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of the Babylonian Empire. Like many of the kings that would reign throughout history, he too thought of himself as the ruler of the world. Whatever he wanted he got. His kingdom stretched from the Mediterranean Sea’s eastern shores to the Persian Gulf and up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers into modern day Turkey.
But after several successful military campaigns, Nebuchadnezzar learned that some things were not obtainable through human means. After a nearly sleepless night of tossing and turning, he woke up frightened and confused. He knew that he had a dream, but he couldn’t remember what happened. Well his dream obviously wasn’t ordinary because he proceeded to call all of his magicians, sorcerers, and astrologers into his chambers. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t waste any time, he immediately ordered them to not only interpret his dream, but to tell him what it was. What would you do in that situation? If you could do the same thing they did, ask for him to explain the dream.
But Nebuchadnezzar saw right through their deceit. He knew the task was impossible and probably knew that their rituals and en- chantments were nothing more than a show. After all, these men were doing the same thing that the Pharaoh of Egypt’s sorcerers did. But the enchanters of Babylon weren’t as stubborn as the ones in Egypt. They knew their limitations. Let’s read their response in Daniel chapter 2 verses 10-12:
10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and
powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is dif cult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with esh. 12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
Nebuchadnezzar’s men admitted that they were incapable of fulfilling his desire. It was a task that could only be done by the gods and it was believed that the gods had little concern for man. In fact, they said that they dwell “not with flesh.” They obviously didn’t know much about the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Daniel – the Creator who not only dwells with man but also makes agreements.
Regardless of their excuses, King Nebuchadnezzar was serious and if the dream wasn’t revealed and interpreted by these men, they would all die. Moreover, their names would be wiped from the history books, their property destroyed, and their very existence for- gotten forever. And that is what was about to happen. Let’s continue with verses 13-16:
13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, Why is the decree of the king so urgent? Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
In our last lesson we learned a lot about Daniel. He was a man of integrity, strong faith, and completely dedicated to living a holy life. Unfortunate for him, his education and position as a counselor in Babylon caused him to be included with the astrologers, sorcerers, and magicians. But as we read in the last lesson, he had proven himself to be wiser and more reliable than his years. Thus it is no
surprise that he was granted additional time to interpret the dream. But how could he do it? Daniel was after all just a human and humans are not able to read minds.
Daniel went to his friends and told them to pray. He never intended to interpret the dream himself and he knew the God of Abraham would protect him and his friends just as He had before. So they prayed and while asleep, God showed Daniel the dream and
explained what it meant. Before we read about the dream, let’s read Daniel’s response to God in verses 20-23:
20 Daniel answered and said: Blessed be the name of God for- ever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for 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 matter.
In short, Daniel gave God all the credit for revealing the dream and he pointed out many key aspects of God’s character. He pointed
out that God is wise and mighty. He has the ability to change times and seasons, He is in control of worldly governments, and He is the source of all wisdom and understanding. As we continue to read through the Bible, we will see of all of these on display. But in the context of this lesson, the most important aspect of God’s character is that He reveals deep and hidden things and knows what is in the darkness. Is there anything more hidden than the future?
With determination and confidence, Daniel requested an audience with King Nebuchadnezzar and made his way to the palace. Now Daniel could have entered that palace with show and arrogance. He could have explained the dream and interpreted it for the king. He could have gotten all the glory while becoming famous and rich. But he didn’t. He gave credit to the only One who can reveal what is hidden. Let’s read Daniel 2 verses 26-30:
26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation? 27 Daniel answered the king and said, No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
Oh that we could all be as humble as Daniel. How much better would our world be if everyone acknowledged God as the source of wisdom, goodness, and success? Not only did he condemn the use of magic, enchantments and astrology to discern the future, he made known to King Nebuchadnezzar that there was a God who cared enough to reveal events before they happened. Why do you think God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to know the future? Would it help him govern his empire? Would it make him a better ruler? Or was it for some other reason? Let’s read about the dream in verses 31-35:
31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its ap- pearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of ne gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it 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, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing oors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Have you ever had a dream, forgotten what it was about, and then remembered it at some point during the next day? Maybe someone said something that reminded you or a smell, taste, or sound triggered your memory. Well, what would you do if someone came to you and said,
“I know you had a dream last night and this is what it was about”?
To say you would be shocked is probably an understatement. And yet this is exactly what Daniel just did!
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, we have all the elements of a good story: a king, a prophet, a vision involving precious metals, and ultimate destruction. What could it all mean? Why is the image made of different kinds of metals? What do you think it looked like? And how could a rock destroy iron, silver, and gold? Let’s find some answers to these questions in chapter 2 verses 36-43:
36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the eld, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the rmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
The image was in the shape of a man, much like the statues in many of our museums. It had a head, shoulders, arms, body and legs. Based on the description that Daniel gave Nebuchadnezzar, the image or statue was broken up into ve sections with each section made of a different metal (see picture). Starting at the head and moving to the feet, each section represented an empire – an empire that would not only conquer the previous one but also incorporate all of it’s cultural re nements (e.g., military tactics, art, beliefs, laws, and architectural designs). Perhaps the most important characteristic was that all of these empires would control Israel, the land promised to the descendants of Abraham. And on a much deeper level, they would control the fate of God’s covenant people. In some cases they would help them and in others they would persecute them.
Let us not forget that this prophecy doesn't attempt to describe every king and empire that ever existed. It is rather a very broad view of history and one upon which later prophecies will be built. Just in case you have any doubts, we will be studying this subject much deeper in Daniel chapters 7-9.
At that time, King Nebuchadnezzar’s empire was one of the strongest in the world. It just so happened that he was also in control of Jerusalem, the holy city and capital of Israel. So it makes sense that the Babylonian Empire was the head of gold. Interestingly, gold was very important to King Nebuchadnezzar. It is well known that Nebuchadnezzar had a human gure and two lions made of gold (all three were about 6 meters tall). And let's not forget the Golden Table and Golden image of Baal, both of which were made with solid gold and weighed approximately 25,000 kilos.
But Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t going to live forever and his kingdom would eventually collapse. From 605-539 BC, the Babylonian em- pire reigned supreme. But in the east, another empire was on the rise: an empire consisting of two separate kingdoms united for the purpose of world domina- tion, a unity represented in the image by the chest and two arms of silver. This empire was not as wealthy as Babylon, just as silver is not as valuable as gold. However, it was stronger. The kingdom that Daniel foretold was the Medo- Persian Empire which ruled the eastern Mediterranean from 539-331 BC.
PICTURE OF STATUE NEEDED HERE
The next kingdom that arose was led by Alexander the Great who created a larger empire than the previous two and in a record amount of time. Alexander’s armies moved swiftly east until they reached the modern country of Afghanistan. The Greek empire that Alexander started would rule from 331-168 BC and represented the thighs of bronze. But it was the next kingdom that would be the strongest and rule the longest.
Iron is not a very valuable metal, but it is very strong and durable. The fourth kingdom of the image would be the strongest and also last longer than the previous three. Any student of history would tell you that the next great empire was the Roman Empire. From the year 168 BC until 476 AD, the Roman Empire ruled Europe and the Mediterranean with an “iron fist”. The glories of their architecture, culture, and government are still evident today. Yes, Rome was the iron legs. But what about the feet made of an iron and clay mixture? What do they represent?
Because the feet have iron in them, we know that the fifth kingdom will be a continuation of the Roman Empire or at least have char- acteristics derived from its Roman predecessor. Let’s review what Daniel said about the statues feet in verses 41-43:
41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
No one would be willing to argue that the destiny of Europe wasn’t shaped by the Roman Empire. Nearly everything about those countries is rooted in Roman culture, ideology, and government. It is also interesting to note, that Europeans have been trying for years to unite but have never succeeded. The French and English royal families arranged marriages, but remained enemies for hundreds of years. Charlemagne, Napoleon, and even Hitler tried to unite Europe but eventually failed. What do you think will happen to the European Union? Is it destined to last forever? This brings us to the final kingdom, one not made with “human hands.” How long will it last? We can find out in Daniel 2 verses 44 and 45:
44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.
What makes this kingdom different than the previous ve? First, God, and not man, will set up the kingdom. Second, it will never be destroyed nor taken by another people. Third, it will destroy every earthly kingdom and last forever. Fourth, this is the only part of the dream that has not happened. So how do we know that what we just read is true? We have the proof of history and the promise of God!
Now some people may be thinking,
“I knew it! The scientists have been warning us that a meteor will destroy the earth. And the Bible is saying the exact same thing.”
Is that really what the Bible is saying? This dream is filled with symbolism and the rock is also a symbol. We know that it symbolizes God’s kingdom, but will that kingdom be physical or spiritual? Will it be on earth or in heaven? Is it somehow connected to the eternal kingdom that God's “suffering king” will establish? Right now we don’t have enough information to answer these questions. But as we continue to study, not only will we find answers to those questions, we will see that God's kingdom is the only thing that will last
forever and we will want to be a part of it.
So how do you think King Nebuchadnezzar reacted to Daniel’s interpretation? Let’s find out in Daniel 2 verses 46-49:
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery. 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God as the revealer of mysteries and made Daniel a governor. There was no doubt in his mind that what God just showed him would come to pass. Do you have any doubts? Does the uncertainty of the future cause you stress? If it does, don’t seek help from the stars, divination, or sorcery.
Cem didn’t realize that looking to created objects for answers to the future is like asking a shoe shiner to build your house. The shoe shiners function is to clean and polish your shoes. He has been trained for that purpose. He has no knowledge of architecture, load bearing points, zoning restrictions, or concrete reinforcement. If you want to build a house you go to an engineer or architect. It is the same with stars; God created stars to bring light to a dark night, guide sailors on the ocean, and to record time. No matter how many times you look at them or chart them, they will never tell you the future! If you want to know the future you have to go to the engineer and architect of time itself, the True Revealer of Mysteries, the God of the Universe, the Creator!
Discussion Questions
1. How much time do you spend thinking about the future?
2. Does the uncertainty of future events scare you or cause stress?
3. Can you think of some things that the rock might represent? (Hint: Think about all the stories we have read that involved rocks.)
4. Everyone in the world is a citizen of a country, city, or town. How can we be a citizen of God’s kingdom?
5. Are you starting to see a bigger picture emerge about God's plan for this world and your life? Is it changing your ideas about fate,
life, and death?
605-539 BC
539-331 BC
331-168 BC
168 BC- 476 AD
Cem always had a fascination with knowing the future; some might even call it an obsession. It probably started as a game or pastime. But as he grew older not a day went by that Cem didn’t try in some way to discern what would happen next. The only problem was that instead of providing security, his quest for knowledge only caused more confusion and frustration.
You could perhaps say that Cem first became curious when he was a child. He remembered when his mother’s friends would get together, talk, and drink coffee. When the coffee was finished, they would put the saucer over the cup, swirl it around a few times, let it settle, and then ip it upside down. He specifically remembered the older woman who would look at the coffee grinds and “interpret what they said”. There was talk of angels, triangles, clouds, squirrels, beans, cats, eagles, and eyes. For the women, it may have just been a game, but for Cem it was a mysterious door into the unknown. A door he would try to walk through many times.
As an adult, Cem attempted to learn the future through the constellations. On his way to work, he would get the paper and rush to the office. With a cup of tea in one hand and the paper spread out on his desk, he would read his horoscope and contemplate what life would be like if it came true. But after those events didn’t happen and he realized that the predictions for most “signs” were diluted versions of the same thing, he gave up.
“There must be another way!” he thought to himself. “I know, I will go to an astrologer and have them read my star chart.”
So Cem looked in the newspaper, found an advertisement, called the number and set up an appointment. When he showed up, the woman asked a bunch of questions about his birthday, place of birth, parents, and siblings. As she was drawing up Cem’s chart and “reading” the stars, she paused and said,
“If you want me to be more specific or to have a chance at changing your fate, I could always read the tarot cards for you. Of course there is an additional fee.”
At this point, Cem wasn’t too concerned about the price. He reasoned to himself,
“Well, I don’t really want to spend the money. But then again, can you put a price on knowing the future? After all, knowing the future might help me avoid a disaster, meet a woman, or even become rich. Besides, you only make money to spend it!”
“Sounds good to me,” he replied.
After a couple of hours, Cem walked out of the store with a chart, a prediction, and a sense of accomplishment. He felt like he possessed a knowledge that very few would ever obtain. As he walked home, he began to make a plan with the information he had just sequestered. It wouldn’t be long before all his dreams and desires would be fulfilled.
Then, about two weeks after his visit to the astrologer, Cem’s world came crashing down. He had an experience that not only wasn’t predicted, but was completely contrary to what the woman had told him. Cem was a mess of mixed up feelings; anger, worry, doubt, shame, and confusion were just a few that he was experiencing. But perhaps the worst feeling was uncertainty, specifically about the future. An uncertainty that became so unbearable that he was depressed for years. Unfortunately, Cem never looked in the right place.
One of the most wonderful things about the Bible is that it provides the answers to many of life’s questions – answers that can bring real peace into a person’s life, not only for the present, but also for the future. Up to this point, we have been reading about historical events with the occasional reference to the future. But in the book of Daniel, the message of the Bible makes a dramatic shift. Starting in the 6th century BC, God provides a glimpse, sometimes broad and sometimes detailed, of the earth’s future. A future filled with justice and injustice, happiness and despair.
When most people read the book of Daniel and compare the scriptures with history, they are amazed. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that most skeptics of the Bible have a very hard time understanding how a man could write such vivid details of future events hundreds of years before they happened. Although they have tried in vain, they can’t dispute the facts. God foretold the future, and it happened just as He said it would.
In this second lesson from the book of Daniel, we will get a very broad glimpse into the future from Daniel’s perspective. In other
words, most of the events he saw happened at the end of his life or later in history. Not only do these visions show God's intimate knowledge of future events, they form the backdrop of Daniel’s later visions which depict events that will take place at the earth's end.
Let’s start this fascinating lesson by reading from the book of Daniel chapter 2 verses 1-6:
1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.
2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.
If you remember from the last lesson, King Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of the Babylonian Empire. Like many of the kings that would reign throughout history, he too thought of himself as the ruler of the world. Whatever he wanted he got. His kingdom stretched from the Mediterranean Sea’s eastern shores to the Persian Gulf and up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers into modern day Turkey.
But after several successful military campaigns, Nebuchadnezzar learned that some things were not obtainable through human means. After a nearly sleepless night of tossing and turning, he woke up frightened and confused. He knew that he had a dream, but he couldn’t remember what happened. Well his dream obviously wasn’t ordinary because he proceeded to call all of his magicians, sorcerers, and astrologers into his chambers. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t waste any time, he immediately ordered them to not only interpret his dream, but to tell him what it was. What would you do in that situation? If you could do the same thing they did, ask for him to explain the dream.
But Nebuchadnezzar saw right through their deceit. He knew the task was impossible and probably knew that their rituals and en- chantments were nothing more than a show. After all, these men were doing the same thing that the Pharaoh of Egypt’s sorcerers did. But the enchanters of Babylon weren’t as stubborn as the ones in Egypt. They knew their limitations. Let’s read their response in Daniel chapter 2 verses 10-12:
10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and
powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is dif cult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with esh. 12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
Nebuchadnezzar’s men admitted that they were incapable of fulfilling his desire. It was a task that could only be done by the gods and it was believed that the gods had little concern for man. In fact, they said that they dwell “not with flesh.” They obviously didn’t know much about the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Daniel – the Creator who not only dwells with man but also makes agreements.
Regardless of their excuses, King Nebuchadnezzar was serious and if the dream wasn’t revealed and interpreted by these men, they would all die. Moreover, their names would be wiped from the history books, their property destroyed, and their very existence for- gotten forever. And that is what was about to happen. Let’s continue with verses 13-16:
13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, Why is the decree of the king so urgent? Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
In our last lesson we learned a lot about Daniel. He was a man of integrity, strong faith, and completely dedicated to living a holy life. Unfortunate for him, his education and position as a counselor in Babylon caused him to be included with the astrologers, sorcerers, and magicians. But as we read in the last lesson, he had proven himself to be wiser and more reliable than his years. Thus it is no
surprise that he was granted additional time to interpret the dream. But how could he do it? Daniel was after all just a human and humans are not able to read minds.
Daniel went to his friends and told them to pray. He never intended to interpret the dream himself and he knew the God of Abraham would protect him and his friends just as He had before. So they prayed and while asleep, God showed Daniel the dream and
explained what it meant. Before we read about the dream, let’s read Daniel’s response to God in verses 20-23:
20 Daniel answered and said: Blessed be the name of God for- ever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for 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 matter.
In short, Daniel gave God all the credit for revealing the dream and he pointed out many key aspects of God’s character. He pointed
out that God is wise and mighty. He has the ability to change times and seasons, He is in control of worldly governments, and He is the source of all wisdom and understanding. As we continue to read through the Bible, we will see of all of these on display. But in the context of this lesson, the most important aspect of God’s character is that He reveals deep and hidden things and knows what is in the darkness. Is there anything more hidden than the future?
With determination and confidence, Daniel requested an audience with King Nebuchadnezzar and made his way to the palace. Now Daniel could have entered that palace with show and arrogance. He could have explained the dream and interpreted it for the king. He could have gotten all the glory while becoming famous and rich. But he didn’t. He gave credit to the only One who can reveal what is hidden. Let’s read Daniel 2 verses 26-30:
26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation? 27 Daniel answered the king and said, No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
Oh that we could all be as humble as Daniel. How much better would our world be if everyone acknowledged God as the source of wisdom, goodness, and success? Not only did he condemn the use of magic, enchantments and astrology to discern the future, he made known to King Nebuchadnezzar that there was a God who cared enough to reveal events before they happened. Why do you think God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to know the future? Would it help him govern his empire? Would it make him a better ruler? Or was it for some other reason? Let’s read about the dream in verses 31-35:
31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its ap- pearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of ne gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it 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, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing oors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Have you ever had a dream, forgotten what it was about, and then remembered it at some point during the next day? Maybe someone said something that reminded you or a smell, taste, or sound triggered your memory. Well, what would you do if someone came to you and said,
“I know you had a dream last night and this is what it was about”?
To say you would be shocked is probably an understatement. And yet this is exactly what Daniel just did!
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, we have all the elements of a good story: a king, a prophet, a vision involving precious metals, and ultimate destruction. What could it all mean? Why is the image made of different kinds of metals? What do you think it looked like? And how could a rock destroy iron, silver, and gold? Let’s find some answers to these questions in chapter 2 verses 36-43:
36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the eld, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the rmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
The image was in the shape of a man, much like the statues in many of our museums. It had a head, shoulders, arms, body and legs. Based on the description that Daniel gave Nebuchadnezzar, the image or statue was broken up into ve sections with each section made of a different metal (see picture). Starting at the head and moving to the feet, each section represented an empire – an empire that would not only conquer the previous one but also incorporate all of it’s cultural re nements (e.g., military tactics, art, beliefs, laws, and architectural designs). Perhaps the most important characteristic was that all of these empires would control Israel, the land promised to the descendants of Abraham. And on a much deeper level, they would control the fate of God’s covenant people. In some cases they would help them and in others they would persecute them.
Let us not forget that this prophecy doesn't attempt to describe every king and empire that ever existed. It is rather a very broad view of history and one upon which later prophecies will be built. Just in case you have any doubts, we will be studying this subject much deeper in Daniel chapters 7-9.
At that time, King Nebuchadnezzar’s empire was one of the strongest in the world. It just so happened that he was also in control of Jerusalem, the holy city and capital of Israel. So it makes sense that the Babylonian Empire was the head of gold. Interestingly, gold was very important to King Nebuchadnezzar. It is well known that Nebuchadnezzar had a human gure and two lions made of gold (all three were about 6 meters tall). And let's not forget the Golden Table and Golden image of Baal, both of which were made with solid gold and weighed approximately 25,000 kilos.
But Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t going to live forever and his kingdom would eventually collapse. From 605-539 BC, the Babylonian em- pire reigned supreme. But in the east, another empire was on the rise: an empire consisting of two separate kingdoms united for the purpose of world domina- tion, a unity represented in the image by the chest and two arms of silver. This empire was not as wealthy as Babylon, just as silver is not as valuable as gold. However, it was stronger. The kingdom that Daniel foretold was the Medo- Persian Empire which ruled the eastern Mediterranean from 539-331 BC.
PICTURE OF STATUE NEEDED HERE
The next kingdom that arose was led by Alexander the Great who created a larger empire than the previous two and in a record amount of time. Alexander’s armies moved swiftly east until they reached the modern country of Afghanistan. The Greek empire that Alexander started would rule from 331-168 BC and represented the thighs of bronze. But it was the next kingdom that would be the strongest and rule the longest.
Iron is not a very valuable metal, but it is very strong and durable. The fourth kingdom of the image would be the strongest and also last longer than the previous three. Any student of history would tell you that the next great empire was the Roman Empire. From the year 168 BC until 476 AD, the Roman Empire ruled Europe and the Mediterranean with an “iron fist”. The glories of their architecture, culture, and government are still evident today. Yes, Rome was the iron legs. But what about the feet made of an iron and clay mixture? What do they represent?
Because the feet have iron in them, we know that the fifth kingdom will be a continuation of the Roman Empire or at least have char- acteristics derived from its Roman predecessor. Let’s review what Daniel said about the statues feet in verses 41-43:
41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
No one would be willing to argue that the destiny of Europe wasn’t shaped by the Roman Empire. Nearly everything about those countries is rooted in Roman culture, ideology, and government. It is also interesting to note, that Europeans have been trying for years to unite but have never succeeded. The French and English royal families arranged marriages, but remained enemies for hundreds of years. Charlemagne, Napoleon, and even Hitler tried to unite Europe but eventually failed. What do you think will happen to the European Union? Is it destined to last forever? This brings us to the final kingdom, one not made with “human hands.” How long will it last? We can find out in Daniel 2 verses 44 and 45:
44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.
What makes this kingdom different than the previous ve? First, God, and not man, will set up the kingdom. Second, it will never be destroyed nor taken by another people. Third, it will destroy every earthly kingdom and last forever. Fourth, this is the only part of the dream that has not happened. So how do we know that what we just read is true? We have the proof of history and the promise of God!
Now some people may be thinking,
“I knew it! The scientists have been warning us that a meteor will destroy the earth. And the Bible is saying the exact same thing.”
Is that really what the Bible is saying? This dream is filled with symbolism and the rock is also a symbol. We know that it symbolizes God’s kingdom, but will that kingdom be physical or spiritual? Will it be on earth or in heaven? Is it somehow connected to the eternal kingdom that God's “suffering king” will establish? Right now we don’t have enough information to answer these questions. But as we continue to study, not only will we find answers to those questions, we will see that God's kingdom is the only thing that will last
forever and we will want to be a part of it.
So how do you think King Nebuchadnezzar reacted to Daniel’s interpretation? Let’s find out in Daniel 2 verses 46-49:
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery. 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God as the revealer of mysteries and made Daniel a governor. There was no doubt in his mind that what God just showed him would come to pass. Do you have any doubts? Does the uncertainty of the future cause you stress? If it does, don’t seek help from the stars, divination, or sorcery.
Cem didn’t realize that looking to created objects for answers to the future is like asking a shoe shiner to build your house. The shoe shiners function is to clean and polish your shoes. He has been trained for that purpose. He has no knowledge of architecture, load bearing points, zoning restrictions, or concrete reinforcement. If you want to build a house you go to an engineer or architect. It is the same with stars; God created stars to bring light to a dark night, guide sailors on the ocean, and to record time. No matter how many times you look at them or chart them, they will never tell you the future! If you want to know the future you have to go to the engineer and architect of time itself, the True Revealer of Mysteries, the God of the Universe, the Creator!
Discussion Questions
1. How much time do you spend thinking about the future?
2. Does the uncertainty of future events scare you or cause stress?
3. Can you think of some things that the rock might represent? (Hint: Think about all the stories we have read that involved rocks.)
4. Everyone in the world is a citizen of a country, city, or town. How can we be a citizen of God’s kingdom?
5. Are you starting to see a bigger picture emerge about God's plan for this world and your life? Is it changing your ideas about fate,
life, and death?
605-539 BC
539-331 BC
331-168 BC
168 BC- 476 AD