Daniel One Summary
The primary piece of information to take over into Chapter Two is |
- Daniel and his friends did not defile themselves
- They have completed their training and education for the service of Nebuchadnezzar. (More than likely they were young men around the age of eighteen.)
- Nebuchadnezzar is the most powerful monarch in the known world of that day. (Nebuchadnezzar will be referred to as Nebby from here on out…it’s just too long of a name fraught with opportunities for misspelling.)
- Daniel has been enabled by God to interpret dreams and visions.
Chapter Two:
The time period for the second chapter of Daniel could very well be 602BC (give or take). We are told that this is his 2nd year (v1) but in oriental kingdoms, and in the Old Testament, the year of ascension is normally not counted. We do know from history, that Nebby succeeded his dead father on August 6th. In this chapter, Nebby’s dreams are troubled, causing him not to sleep very well. As a result, he calls in his presence the magicians, astrologers and Chaldeans (a priestly group of advisers to the king who had particular gifts). Now, unlike Joseph’s Pharaoh…Nebby doesn’t simply ask for his royal advisers to interpret the dream. You see, Nebby himself doesn’t recall the dream (v3)…the catch is…he’ll know it if he hears it. He tells them to tell him what the dream is and the interpretation. If the advisers are correct in their telling, in other words, it will be a catalyst for Nebby to remember the dream…thus assuring him that the interpretation they give can be trusted. No small thing.
The advisers are no fools…they press for the King to first provide the dream’s details. Nebby responds with the truth…he can’t remember though he has tried. Then Nebby not only informs them of what is in store for failure, but scripture also provides us with a bird’s eye view of what kind of life Daniel and his friends find themselves. If the advisers refuse (or can’t) tell him what the dream is – and the interpretation – they die. Painfully. And their houses will be made dunghill (refers to death of their families). On the other hand, if they enlighten the king as to the content of the dream, and can interpret the dream, great honor and gifts will follow. To be fair to Nebby, these advisers were supposed to possess gifts that could easily be faked. Such stringent parameters for the interpretation would ensure the King of the trust that they were telling him the truth rather than their providing him with a false, prepared story. Once again, the advisers ask for cooperation from the king (v8), which basically tries the patience of Nebby. He stresses that he’s already told them that he cannot remember the dream, but that if they won’t help that there is only one fate in store for them. They plead for the king to be reasonable, as there is no man who could possibly fulfill these restrictions, no one but the gods themselves could do what the king asks (v11). Understandably, Nebby is infuriated and commands (decrees) the destruction of all the wise men in the land of Babylon (v11-13: which would include Daniel and his three friends since they had been promoted in the court of the king’s service under this category…although scripture doesn’t say they were among those specifically present during this specific engagement…most likely due to their level of inexperience). Daniel talks to the captain of the king’s guard, Arioch, asking why the decree is so hasty. Now, the fact that Daniel asks this, and that Arioch explains the story behind the decree (v15), shows that Daniel wasn’t present with the other wise men of the court. Daniel asks for the opportunity to interpret the dream (v16). Remember, of the four Hebrew youths with whom we concern ourselves with, Daniel has been given special gifts of God to interpret dreams and visions…but how many of us still hesitate, or are afraid to use the gifts He has given us…out of fear? Daniel proceeds home (v17-18) to share the news with Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, his fellow Hebrew companions, so that they could pray to God for mercy and wisdom. In a night vision, God reveals the dream to Daniel who then immediately praises and worships God (v20-23). Daniel – who was removed from all that was familiar to live as a captive in a foreign land, whose name was exchanged to fit the culture - remembers the God of his fathers. Daniel returns to Arioch, who in turn hurries Daniel before the king, more or less taking credit (v25) for Daniel (who is still called a foreigner).
Now, before we go on I want you to see how Daniel does not just make this attempt to save his own life, or even the lives of his companions…but he asks for all the wicked, the godless wise men of Babylon to likewise be spared with the true telling of the dream (v24).
Daniel is offered the same deal as the Chaldeans (death or prizes). Daniel first takes the opportunity to lay it all out there…God is the One (v28) who makes known secrets and reveals what will be for the later days in the Times of the Nations. Having explained this, Daniel gives complete credit to the LORD, and begins to tell Nebby the dream. (Note: From here, I’m combining much of Daniel’s interpretation while we go through the dream itself.) The dream is of the Times of the Nations apart from David, the Tribe of Judah and the kingdom they will one day rein. Nebby’s dream, he is told (v29) pertains to the Gentiles, and what would come to pass. A commanding dreadful (v31) figure is described, whose head is of fine gold (v32). Daniel explains to the king that Nebby and the Chaldean Empire is the head of Gold…and that God gave Nebby’s kingdom to him (v37-38), Daniel continues; the Breast, Chest and Arms (v31) of the figure are of silver. The two entities (chest and arms) represent an empire made up of two nations (the Medes and the Persians). This Medo-Persian Empire would follow Babylon. Though it would be inferior (v39), it would become larger later. (In chapter seven we will discuss the Medes as dominate, but the Persians are the ones who take over as the more powerful force.)
The Belly and Thighs are made of Bronze/Brass (v32), representing the third kingdom to rule the earth. The Grecian Empire emerges under Alexander the Great, who would dictate much of history between the Old and New Testament times. His kingdom would be divided into four parts: Macedonia (modern day Greece) Northern Turkey, Syria and another in Egypt.
The Legs are of Iron (v33). Solid iron is extremely powerful and matches perfectly with the fourth Gentile Kingdom…the Roman Empire, which was tremendously aggressive and powerful, breaking into pieces and subduing all things (v40).
The Feet (v33) are a mixture of both Iron and Clay (associates weakness). This kingdom shall be divided and yet some of the iron/strength shall remain/be in it (v41). Strength and weakness intermingle but do not cleave to one another (v43 says it is impossible). Yet, Daniel says there is a stone cut without hands (v34), which smote the image upon its feet, breaking it to pieces…remember…the total image is talking about a number of different empires. The stone is cut out of the mountains without hands…. Stones would be cut out from mountains specifically for the purpose of being carved into an image of a deity. Some people interpret this part of the vision to speak to the virgin birth of the Son of God. However, this stone smites the entire image on its feet, causing the image to tumble down. Jesus is sometimes referred to as the Stumbling Stone, the Chief Corner Stone, the Smitten Stone (smitten for us on the cross of Calvary) and the Smiting Stone. In this case (the meaning of the vision) He is the Smiting Stone. He will then establish a fifth kingdom…notice that there are not four kingdoms in Chapter Two, but Five…the fifth being established by the son of God (v43), portraying the conclusion of the time of the Gentiles when Messiah returns as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. When he does this, and you get to the book of Revelation, he will judge the nations. The blowing of the trumpets and pouring of the bowls…this is the judgment of nations for what they did to Israel when there was no sitting king of Judah of the line of David.
Fifth Kingdom As I write, there has been no divinely ordained king on the throne of Israel for 2500 years. I don’t believe that many of the activities on the world scene, especially Israeli conflict (not of her own choosing) with the nations, are flukes, intriguing events or accidental. I don’t believe them merely to be the manipulations and political posturing of man. I am not alone in believing much is a part of a sovereign plan, minutely orchestrated movements by God for His return. Some believers suggest that there will no earthly tangible and visible kingdom as God’s kingdom merely consists of His ruling in the hearts of man today. This is called amillennialism, or “realized eschatology” and has been taught since the fourth century and continues in Catholicism and with Reformers and in most mainline churches today. Famous church fathers with this eschatological belief were Clement, St. Augustine, Origen, Calvin, Luther and Cox. Not far from this view is one that optimistically teaches that the Truth of the gospel having been spread through the ages will eventually saturate the earth, which in turn will become a better and better place, aggressively bringing in the Golden Age, and thus, when the world is seen as “good enough,” the millennium will close at the second coming. This postmillennial view is a dominion theology which believes that the Church has replaced Israel as the chosen people of God. This view became the prevalent eschatological view in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Famous church leaders holding this view were A. A. Hodge and Charles Hodge. Of course, because there are similar views with amillennialism, you’ll often find men such as St. Augustine and Calvin claimed by this group as well. The Old and New Testament of our bible is firm when it says that at the end of the Time of the Gentiles, He will return as a lion of the tribe of Judah in fulfillment of the covenant with David, to judge the nations and bring through the kingdom, a golden age, millenniums (a literal thousand year when the law shall go forth from Zion). Daniel Chapter 2 is merely illustrates the time when no divinely appointed king rules. Soon, he’ll go beyond that to the end of their age. At that time God will establish His kingdom, a political, visible and indestructible kingdom where at last (v45), the lion lies down with the lamb. This is known as premillennialism. Now…back to the dream and it’s interpretation When the image is broken, it becomes like chaff and the wind carries it away (v35). The smiting stone becomes a great mountain (a great kingdom…Revelations 17 does not refer to the seven hills of Rome, rather it is the Kingdom) and filled the whole earth. Daniel says that this is the end of the dream. While he interprets the dream for the king, Daniel reminds Nebby that everything…the great might, the authority and the glory has been given to the king by God. God has allowed Nebby to know what was to come after, and the stone cut without hands will break everything of the image. Nebby can be certain of this interpretation and falls to his face (v45-46). Daniel had correctly recalled the awesome dream and Nebby says that Daniel’s god is the God of gods, and Lord of kings (v47) …now, Nebby confesses this, remember, as the man who strode into the House of God, robbing the implements of worship where (at this point in our story) they were now set at the foot of Nebby’s own god. See, this doesn’t mean that Nebby is confessing a saving belief in God, but simply that he acknowledges God’s influence among other gods. Each successive portion of the figure showed its comparative reduction in value and diminishment of purity (unqualified power). However, until we arrive at the feet, the authority, or strength, of each successive empire actually increases. Nebby/Babylon as the head of gold were seen as an absolute ruler. He took what he wanted, and he killed whom it suited. He was answerable to no one. He is so powerful, in fact, that later, even after seven years of insanity…of living like a wild animal…he awakes to find his kingdom still his own. That absoluteness is diminished in the Medo Persian Empire. As an example, the book of Esther is set entirely during the time of the Medo Persian Empire. Esther’s story showed us that, under the laws of the Medes and Persians, when a decree was sent out not even a king could rescind the law. This was a weakness for the rulers. The best that one could do was to create another law that would neutralize the first. The following empire, the Grecian Empire is divided into four parts among Alexander the Great’s four generals. The division allows for even less sovereignty. Afterwards we are shown the Roman Empire, or the Revived Roman Empire specifically in the feet of iron and clay. There is a suggestion of a time called the church of grace (space between the legs) as existed in Rome at the time of Christ, and the revised empire between the feet and the toes (Revelation 13 and 14 will correlate to the beast empire). King Nebby certain of the interpretation rewards this foreigner, this Judean, Daniel through many wonderful gifts – among which was being placed as chief of governors over a providence of Babylon (v45-46, 48). Nebby also honors Daniel by likewise placing his three friends in honored political positions (v49). So, as we leave this chapter, Daniel sat in the gate of the king (statement depicting a political station within the “inner sanctum” which will significantly direct the following chapter) and the three friends were ruling over a major Babylonian providence.
(More Daniel coming your way when you least expect it)
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