Daniel 2
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Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:1-16)
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon , begins to have dreams that cause him to lose sleep. So he calls for all of his magicians and sorcerers to come before him to interpret the dream. All of the magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers tell the king to tell them the dream and they will reveal the interpretation. However, the king wants these Chaldeans to not only interpret the dream, but also tell Nebuchadnezzar what the dream was. If these enchanters had true powers, they should not only be able to interpret the dream but also tell what the dream was. The king seems to know that these enchanters are going to simply make up an interpretation, (vs. 9) and that is not what the king wants. The enchanters respond that the king must tell them the dream and then they can give the interpretation. They tell the king that no one can do what he is asking them to do. King Nebuchadnezzar is so outraged (vs. 12) by their response that he orders all the wise men of Babylon to be destroyed. This order would include Daniel and his three friends. Daniel finds out about the decree, and all that had happened, through Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard. Daniel then makes an appointment to show the interpretation to the king (vs. 16).
Prayer for mercy ( 2:17 -24)
Daniel returns to his home and tells Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what is going on, and to seek the mercy of God. They pray that the mystery of the dream and its interpretation be revealed so they will not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men. In verse 19 we find that the Lord reveals the mystery to Daniel in a vision at night. Daniel turns and answers the Lord with prayer in verses 20-23. It is a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for giving him the wisdom and knowledge to make this matter known to the king. We see great faith in Daniel in his request, for he had already made the appointment to see the king before he knew the interpretation of the dream. He had faith that God would deliver them by revealing the dream and its interpretation.
Before King Nebuchadnezzar ( 2:25 -30)
Daniel now goes before the king and tells him that he can show the king the interpretation of the dream. Nebuchadnezzar asks Daniel in verse 26 if he can not only reveal the interpretation, but also the dream. Daniel responds by saying that no one can do what the king has requested. But God in heaven reveals mysteries and it is only by His power that Daniel knows the dream of Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel reveals the dream ( 2:31 -35)
Daniel now reveals the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had. In the dream was a mighty and bright image whose appearance was frightening. The image had a head of fine gold, a chest and arms of silver, a middle and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of partly iron and clay. Then a stone, cut out by no human hand, struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. The pieces became like chaff on a threshing floor and was carried away by the wind so that not a trace of them could be found. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. This is certainly a terrifying dream and we now understand why Nebuchadnezzar wanted a true interpretation of the dream. This dream has important meaning and Daniel is going to reveal its meaning to Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel interprets the dream ( 2:36 -45)
– Babylon. In verses 37-38 Daniel reveals that the head of gold in the image represents the world kingdom of Babylon at that time. Daniel says, “you are the head of gold.” This was not an image of future Babylon , but the world kingdom of Babylon during the days of Daniel.
–Medo-Persia. In verse 39 Daniel says “another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you….” Stephen R. Miller in the New American Commentary says, “History is plain that the next great power to appear on the world scene was the Medo-Persian Empire led by the dynamic Cyrus the Great.” The Medo-Persian empire conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. This empire reigned for about 208 years.
– Greece. Verse 39 also tells us that there would be a “third kingdom of bronze which shall rule over all the earth.” The next world empire that appeared after the Medo-Persian empire was the Grecian empire. In 332 B.C. the armies of Alexander the Great marched against the Medo-Persian empire and defeated it in a series of battles. The Grecian empire dominated the world from 331-146 B.C.
– Rome. Verse 40 begins the description of the fourth kingdom. It is to this kingdom that Daniel draws more attention. This fourth kingdom would be “as strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things.” This is an important description given to this kingdom. It is going to be given the power to shatter all things. Five times this characteristic is emphasized just in verse 40: breaks, shatters, crushes, break, crush. The Roman Empire was the kingdom to rise to world power after the Grecian empire. The Roman empire began to dominate from 146 B.C. and continued for about 500 years. After depicting the great strength of this kingdom, we also see the great weakness in this kingdom. Verses 41-43 tell us that it would be a divided kingdom, thus making the Roman empire partly strong and partly weak. Just as iron and clay cannot be fused together, neither could Rome fuse together its conquered nations and peoples. The division of this empire is found in its social and cultural problems. This is more clearly identified in verse 43, “they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another….” The ESV and NIV help us understand the statement further. The ESV reads, “so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together….” The NIV reads, “so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united….” Though all peoples were under one empire, nationalities were not able to combine to form a cohesive people.
The rest of the interpretation is devoted to the stone that smashes the image. Daniel says that God is going to set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed in the days of these kings (vs. 44). Daniel gives us a clear time marker: in the days of these kings (the kings of the Roman empire ), God would establish a kingdom. Notice the characteristics of this kingdom: it will never be destroyed, it will not be left to another people, it will break into pieces the other kingdoms, it will stand forever, and it is a kingdom not cut out by human hands. We know that this is God’s kingdom because of these descriptions. Daniel prophesies that in the days of the Roman empire , God’s kingdom would be set up and it would stand forever.
This is why John the Baptist preached in the first century, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus also was preaching the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17 , 23 ). Notice what Jesus said in Mark 9:1, “And He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.’” Jesus said the kingdom of God would come with power. Jesus further explained how the kingdom would come with power. The disciples ask in Acts 1:6 if the Lord would restore the kingdom to Israel at that time. Jesus responded in Acts 1:8″But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the end of the earth.” In Acts 2:1-4 we see the Holy Spirit coming upon the apostles, thus showing the setting up of God’s kingdom. Premillennialists take the prophecy of Daniel 2 and say that the kingdom of God has not been set up yet. But Daniel said the kingdom of God would be established in the days of the kings of the fourth kingdom. Was Daniel wrong? Did God give Daniel an incorrect interpretation? Were John the Baptist and Jesus wrong for teaching the coming of the kingdom in the generation of those they were speaking to? Of course not. Premillennialists misinterpret Daniel 2. Daniel clearly notes the order of events leading up to the coming of the kingdom of God . Daniel, through the power of God, said it would be in the days of the Roman Empire . John the Baptist and Jesus said it would be in the days of the Roman Empire . The scriptures teach that the kingdom did come in the first century in the days of the Roman Empire .
This is how John could say that he was a “brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance of Jesus Christ” in Revelation 1:9. This is why the Hebrew writer tells us that we receive the kingdom that cannot be shaken in Hebrews 12:28. This is the very point of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2. The people are questioning what has happened to the apostles. Remember, we just noted that the apostles have received power from the Holy Spirit, showing that the kingdom of God had been set up. Peter preaches this very point in Acts 2:30-36. Peter says that God raised up Christ to sit on His throne (vs 30). To have a throne requires a kingdom. What throne can Jesus sit on if He has no kingdom? If His kingdom was not set up, then He sits on a powerless throne. It is no throne at all if there is no kingdom. The point Peter was making is that God raised Jesus from the dead and made Him Lord and Christ and is now reigning over His kingdom.
Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction ( 2:46 -49)
When Nebuchadnezzar hears these words, he falls on his face and pays homage to Daniel. Because Daniel, by the power of God, has revealed the dream and its interpretation, Daniel is made ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and Daniel appoints Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the kingdom of Babylon. Daniel begins his prophetic work of teaching the people of Babylon about the coming of the great kingdom of God.
