Bible Study Materials

A KINGDOM THAT WILL ENDURE FOREVER

Daniel 2: 1 - 49

14 Jan 2024

Questionnaire

A KINGDOM THAT WILL ENDURE FOREVER

Daniel 2:1-49

Key Verse: 2:44

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”

1. Read verses 1-12. How did King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams affect him? (1) What did he do about it? In what respect was the king's demand of his wise men unreasonable and what did their spokesman say? What was the king's response? (12)

2. Read verses 13-18. How did the king's angry decree affect Daniel and his friends? (13) What did Daniel do in this troubled time and about the impossible task he faced? (14-18) What can we learn from him? (Matthew 7:7-8; Mark 11:22-24)

3. Read verses 19-23. How did God answer Daniel and his friends’ prayer? What was the first thing Daniel did? (19b) What can we learn about God from Daniel's praise and thanksgiving? (20-23)

4. Read verses 24-30. How did Daniel proclaim God to the king? (28,29,37,44) Why did this need courage? What can we learn from Daniel about how to honor God?

5. Read verses 31-43. Describe the king's dream as Daniel told him about it? (31-35) How did Daniel interpret each part of the large statue? (36-43) How did God establish each kingdom? What do you think each kingdom represents?

6. Read verses 44-49. What did the rock cut out of the mountain represent? (34-35, 44-45; 1 Peter 2:4-6) Describe the characteristics of the everlasting kingdom? How did the king respond to Daniel's interpretation? (46-49) How does God honor those who honor him?

Attachment:

Daniel 02(1-49).que.docx

Message

A KINGDOM THAT WILL ENDURE FOREVER

(Daniel 2:1-49)

In the previous passage, Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. Although the decision seemed insignificant, God was pleased with the decision of Daniel and his friends to keep purity of their heart before God. He blessed them by giving them knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

Today’s passage is the story of the fruit of the decision. Daniel encounters a seemingly impossible task to know king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream itself and interpret it. How can we know the content of a dream that someone dreamed and interpret it? It is only possible by the wisdom and power of God’s Spirit. Through today’s passage, I pray that God may bless us to learn from Daniel’s faith and understand the spiritual meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. May God also bless us to have spiritual wisdom and insight to discern God’s will and plan for people, nations, and the world!

Look at verse 1. “In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.” Chronologically, it was the second year of king Nebuchadnezzar. In chapter 1, during the first year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem (Jeremiah 25:1) and carried off some articles from the temple of God and some Israelites from the royal family and nobility to Babylon. He ordered to choose some young Israel elites and train them for three years to enter the king’s service. There is some difficulty in understanding the time gap between chapter 1 and 2. Some scholars think that Daniel and his three friends were so outstanding that they were already taken into the king's service piro to the three years. Some think that the 2^nd year in the verse one means in the second year after Daniel and his friends had been brought before the king. There are also some other interpretations.

King Nebuchadnezzar was troubled because of very uncommon and extraordinary dreams that he had. The dreams were only a single dream, but it is recorded as plural, probably because it was a recurrence of the same dream. The dream had seized his mind with anxiety and terror, and his sleep was interrupted. He really wanted to know the meaning of the dream, so he summoned his wisemen including the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers and ordered that they let him know the meaning of the dream. (2-3)

At first, the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” (4) The wise men were very confident to interpret the king's dream. However, the king demanded them to let him know the dream and its interpretation. He must have thought that the only way he could trust the interpretation of the wise men was by having them first recall his dream. In case they failed to meet his demand, he would have them cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble. (5) He threatened them with very severe punishment. At the same time, he promised great rewards and honor if they tell him the dream and explain it. (6) The king’s attitude reveals that he was greatly troubled and harassed with his dream, and he desperately needed to know the meaning of his dream.

The wisemen petitioned the king to tell them the dream and they would interpret it. However, their request made the king more firmly determined to destroy them if they failed to tell his dream. Finally, the wisemen answered in verses 10-11, “...There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” The Babylonian wise men revealed their limitation and deceitfulness. They confessed that the king's demand was beyond the comprehension of human intellect. It is said that the Babylonians were the people who had developed the most advanced ancient art and science in human history. But their human wisdom and understanding could not reach the revelation from God’s Spirit.

What was the king’s response? Look at verses 12-13. “This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.” The king was furious at their confession and ordered execution. However, whatever the reason for the harsh command of the king, God was in control of all things to reveal His name and to bring forward his servant Daniel before the king and all the Gentiles.

In the midst of a dreadful situation, Daniel was not paralyzed by fear. By faith, he believed that God was in control. When he met the commander of the king’s guard, who came to execute the king's order, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. God protected Daniel, so that the commander might explain to him everything. Then he met the king and asked for time. Daniel believed in God's help and asked time for prayer. It was an adventure to go to the king that might cost his life on the spot, for the king was already determined to destroy all the wise men. When the Babylonian wise men despaired and sorrowed over their destination, Daniel sought to reveal God’s name. In times of crisis, true wisdom and courage are manifested through a man of faith.

Next, what did Danile do? Look at verses 17-18. “Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel humbly asked his friends for prayer support. He called God, the God of heaven, who made the stars and rules the universe. He believed in God’s Almighty power, and his life was in God’s hands. At the same time, he knew the importance of asking God’s mercy in the united prayer. By faith, they asked God’s mercy with a humble attitude for their lives as well as those of all the wise men. 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” We have the confidence that God is Almighty, and he is the Sovereign. He hears our prayers if we ask anything according to his will.

What happened when they prayed in one heart and spirit? Look at verse 19. “During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven…” When Daniel was praying, God revealed the secrets of the king’s dream in a vision. God really hears our prayers. Being filled with joy that comes from above, Daniel praised God. Daniel praised God for his wisdom and power, for his sovereignty over history and kings and nations, and for bestowing wisdom and power to the discerning, even to him. (20-23)

Then Daniel went to Arioch and asked him to take him to the king to interpret his dream. (24) As Daniel stood before the king, he testified to God. He testified that God revealed the mystery to the king concerning the future. (27-30) Daniel respected the king, but he knew that the king was a sinner who needed God’s saving mercy and tried best to lead the king’s soul to God. Danile then described and interpreted the king’s dream. Look at verses 31-33. “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.” King Nebuchadnezzar saw a large statue in his dream which was so enormous and dazzling and awesome in appearance that he was troubled. What does the statue symbolize?

Firstly, the statue had a head made of pure gold. The head of gold stands for King Nebuchadnezzar and his empire, Babylon. Daniel proclaims that the God of heaven had given the king dominion and power and might and glory. Nebuchadnezzar thought that he had made his empire and the glorious civilization of Babylon with his own hands. But Daniel proclaims that God is the Sovereign Ruler, and king Nebuchadnezzar is his servant, although he was the most eminent king in human history as the head of gold.

Secondly, it has a chest and arms of silver. The chest and arms made of silver refer to the two nations of Media and Persia (5:31, 8:20). In the time of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, The Medo-Persians conquered the Babylonian empire and ruled it. The Medo-Persians Empire was inferior to the Babylonian Empire, as silver compared with gold.

Thirdly, it has a belly and thighs of bronze. The belly and thighs of bronze represent the third kingdom to arise. This was the Grecian Empire (8:20-21). Alexander the Great conquered Macedonia, Egypt, Media, and Persia, and established the kingdom of Greece. In its dominion and wealth, however, the Grecian Empire was inferior to the Medo-Persian Empire.

Fourthly, it has legs of iron. The legs of iron represent the Roman Empire. The iron signified its military strength and cruelty. The empire extended like two legs to the nations of both west and east. The feet and toes were partly of iron and partly of baked clay, representing that the Roman Empire would be divided and progressively weakened. The people were The people were mixed, and they were not united. What did God intend to teach through the dream?

First, the characteristics of the kingdoms of the world. The statue refers to the kingdoms of the world and explains their characteristics. Kings and kingdoms of the world rise and wane. Kings and kingdoms are made from the dust of the ground and go back to the dust of the ground. The splendor of the world is dazzling, but it is the splendor of the earth, and it returns to the earth. Furthermore, the quality of the kingdoms of the world degenerated as time went by. Jesus predicted a terrible time at the end of the last days. (Matthew 24:9-12; 2 Timothy 3:1) Contrary to the humanists’ optimism, human culture and morality degenerate because of human beings’ wickedness and corruption. The Roman Empire crushed all the empires that had preceded it. Rome in its cruel conquest swallowed up the lands and peoples that had been parts of the three previous empires. The mixture of iron and clay speaks of progressive weakness and deterioration. Rome could never unite the peoples to form a united empire. True unification and union are possible only in Christ.

Second, God is the Sovereign Ruler. God wanted to reveal that he is the God of heaven and Sovereign Ruler over the kings and the kingdoms of the world. God, for his will and purpose, controls the rise and fall of the kingdoms of the world. God does as he pleases with the powers of heaven. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’" This revelation then leads to another question: what is his end purpose? With his sovereign power, what is he trying to achieve? We can know the answer in the third part.

Third, an eternal kingdom. Look at verse 34-35. “While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.” The rock, cut out not by human hands, refers to Jesus Christ. His origin is from God. He is the Cornerstone chosen by God to build his church. (Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22, 1 Peter 2:4-6) Jesus is the Rock of salvation for those who trust in him.

Daniel explains further in verse 44. “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” It means that Jesus came to this world as King of kings and Lord of lords to establish his kingdom. Jesus’ kingdom is eternal and unchanging. God’s kingdom came on earth with the first Advent of Jesus Christ and has expanded toward its final victory. Today, Jesus rules his people with peace, love, and justice. At his return, he will subjugate all kingdoms to Himself, thus bringing them to an end. (Revelation 11:15; 19:11-20) Then he will rule forever in the eternal state.

This is a great message of comfort, assurance, and hope for God’s people. The message through the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar was God’s promise of great hope and victory for the people of Israel in exile. Not only for them, but also, it gives great hope for all those who are in suffering, persecution, troubles in this fallen world. This is true hope for God’s holy people, and we must live for this glorious hope. God, with his sovereign power, is achieving his redemptive purpose, for his eternal kingdom.

King Nebuchadnezzar was so moved by the interpretation of Daniel, and he paid homage to Daniel, recognizing God’s presence with Daniel. He confessed, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” (47) Then he honored Daniel by making him a ruler over the entire province of Babylon and head of all its wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Daniel’s three friends administrators over the province of Babylon. (48-49)

In a remarkable way, God elevated Daniel to a position in the royal court so that he could serve as a mediator between the king and the exiles from Judah. Furthermore, he had been used as God’s ambassador for the kings and the Gentile world. Danile’s rise testifies that faith is the victory. Through faith, Daniel rendered glory to God and revealed his name among the Gentile worlds. God honors those who honor him.

Most of all, this victory is the fruit of his small decision to keep his spirit pure from ungodly culture and idolatry. God gave him knowledge and understanding and discernment for visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel’s life reminds us of Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” When we keep our soul pure, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. As a result, we can have a deeper fellowship with God, and understand God’s will and vision. As a shepherd and Bible teacher, I learn that what I must first do is to keep my heart pure and be filled with the Spirit. God wants me to understand God’s will, plan and vision over my children, Bible students, NCSU campus, this nation, and the world. I must pray that God’s kingdom may come to each individual’s life and on earth through the Rock of salvation Jesus Christ, while putting my hope in the eternal kingdom. Let’s pray that God may use us as his holy instruments to glorify God’s name and invite people to Jesus’ eternal kingdom!