Daniel | Session 4 | 2:44-3:13

In today's study, we wrap up chapter 2 where Daniel interprets the king's dream, and he and his companions are rewarded. Then we see in chapter 3, that the king's memory of the God of Daniel was relatively short-lived in that he decided to make an image that everyone was to worship on pain of death. 

The Ten Kings

VERSE 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. These kings refer to the ten kings in the previous verses (v.41). The Bible teaches that in the Tribulation days the Roman Empire will rise up out of the dust under the leadership of the Antichrist in Rev 13:1. Many believe that the European Community is the beginning of the fulfillment of this. It may or may not be. But the important thing to take away here is that at the end of this final world empire, God will set up His kingdom!

The Second Coming

VERSE 45: Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. The second coming of Christ is in Rev 19:11-16. Many believe that chapter 2 gives us the human viewpoint on the Gentile powers - they are a great image (statue) and chapter 7 gives us the divine viewpoint - they are wild beasts. And by putting the two chapters together we get a complete picture of the "times of the Gentiles."

Quality of Metals

I want you to notice something that I noticed. Notice that the quality of the metals decreases but the strength of the metals increases. I believe that the symbolism indicates that the autocratic control of the kingdoms will decrease, while the military strength of each kingdom will increase. 

1. Head of Gold = Babylon 

2. Arms of Silver= Media-Persia 

3. Belly of Brass= Greece 

4. Legs of Iron= Rome

5. Feet of Iron & Clay= Future Kingdom of Antichrist 

Cf. Rev. 17:9-11

Nebuchadnezzar's Response

VERSES 46-49: Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed with Daniel's interpretation that he decided to make him "ruler over the province of Babylon...and "over all the wise men of Babylon". Notice the results of Daniel's courage: 1. King honored Daniel. 2. He honored Daniel's God. 3. He rewarded Daniel. 4. He promoted Daniel. 5. He rewarded Daniel's friends. 

The phrase "Daniel sat in the gate of the King" (v. 49) means that he served as a ruler in the King's cabinet or government. To "sit in the gate" back then meant to be in the most prominent place of authority in the city (Gen_19:1).

Conclusion

God used Daniel to change the King's heart, mind, and will. Daniel prayed to God and then told the King the truth. That's what we need today- people who will pray for our leaders and tell them the truth. God will take care of the rest.

Chapter 3

This chapter is full of what we call foreshadowing or typology. A type in Scripture is a person or thing in the Old Testament that foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament. For example, the flood of Noah’s day (Genesis 6-7) is used as a type of baptism in 1Pe 3:20-21. The word for “type” that Peter uses is figure. In other words, just like the flood cleansed the world of sin, so baptism represents a spiritual cleansing of sin. The types in this chapter foreshadow the resistance of the Jews to the worship of the Antichrist during the time of Daniel's 70th Week (Tribulation).

1. King Nebuchadnezzar is a type of the Antichrist.

2. The three Hebrew children represent the 144,000 Jews God will seal and protect during the Tribulation.

3. The golden image represents the image of the Antichrist that will be set up in the rebuilt Jewish temple.

4. The fiery furnace represents the Great Tribulation.

5. Daniel represents the Church, which will not be around during the Great Tribulation.

Image of Gold Made 

vv.1-7 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (2)  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (3)  Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (4)  Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, (5)  That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: (6)  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (7)  Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. In response to the dream, Nebuchadnezzar made the image of gold. Whether this was a representation of his dream or of himself, we do not know. It's amazing to me, how soon old Neb forgot the God of Daniel (Dan 2:46-47).  

Civil Disobedience

vv.8-13 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. (9)  They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. (10)  Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: (11)  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (12)  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (13)  Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. To my knowledge, this is the first time that we see civil disobedience in the Bible. Were they justified in their refusal to bow? After all, the Bible does speak in strong language in regards to being obedient to those who are over us in Col 3:22; Heb 13:17. But then we also see Peter and the other apostles said in Acts 5:29, We ought to obey God rather than men. Obviously, by their example, there are times when God has to be placed first.