Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
INTRODUCTION: The dream of Nebuchadnezzar’s image reveals a great deal of prophecy about the history of the Gentiles. However, the emphasis of this lesson will be on the revealing of the forgotten dream by the God of Daniel, the God who knows all secrets. This is an important lesson for all ages.
- THE DREAMS OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR (Daniel 2:1-3 [1] And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
[2] Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
[3] And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
See All...) - His Circumstances (Daniel 2:1And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
See All...) - Occurring in the 2nd year of his reign
- He dreamed multiple dreams.
- His Concern (Daniel 2:1And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
See All...) - His spirit was troubled.
- His sleep brake from him.
- His Call (Daniel 2:2Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
See All...) - Magicians
- Astrologers
- Sorcerers
- Chaldeans
- His Correspondence (Daniel 2:3And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
See All...) - I have dreamed a dream. Note: Though Nebuchadnezzar dreamed multiple dreams, it appears one was the source of his troubles.
- My spirit was troubled to know the dream.
- THE DOOM OF THE WISE MEN (Daniel 2:4-13 [4] Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
[5] The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
[6] But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
[7] They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
[8] The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
[9] But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
[10] The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
[11] And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
[12] For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
[13] And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
See All...) - Round One (Daniel 2:4-6 [4] Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
[5] The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
[6] But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
See All...) - The wise men required the dream (Daniel 2:4Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
See All...). - Tell thy servants the dream.
- We will shew the interpretation.
- Nebuchadnezzar could not tell (Daniel 2:5-6 [5] The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
[6] But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
See All...). - The dream had gone from him (Daniel 2:5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
See All...). - The promise of judgment (Daniel 2:5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
See All...) - If ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof - Ye shall be cut in pieces.
- Your houses shall be made a dunghill.
- The offer or reward (Daniel 2:6But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
See All...) - If ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof - Ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards.
- Ye shall receive great honour.
- Round Two (Daniel 2:7-9 [7] They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
[8] The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
[9] But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
See All...) - The wise men required the dream (Daniel 2:7They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
See All...). - Let the king tell his servants the dream.
- We will shew the interpretation of it.
- Nebuchadnezzar could not tell (Daniel 2:8-9 [8] The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
[9] But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
See All...). - He accused them of trickery (Daniel 2:8-9 [8] The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
[9] But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
See All...a). - They were attempting to buy themselves time (Daniel 2:8The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
See All...). - They had prepared lying words to give him (Daniel 2:9But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
See All...a). - He required proof of their wisdom (Daniel 2:9But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
See All...b); If they could tell him the dream, then he could be confident of their interpretation. - Round Three (Daniel 2:10-13 [10] The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
[11] And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
[12] For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
[13] And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
See All...) - The wise men required the dream (Daniel 2:10-11 [10] The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
[11] And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
See All...). - What the king asked was impossible (Daniel 2:10-11 [10] The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
[11] And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
See All...). - “There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter” (Daniel 2:10The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
See All...). - None “can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” (Daniel 2:11And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
See All...). - What the king asked was unheard of (Daniel 2:10-11 [10] The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
[11] And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
See All...). - “There is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean” (Daniel 2:10The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
See All...). - “It is a rare thing that the king requireth” (Daniel 2:11And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
See All...). - Nebuchadnezzar decreed their destruction (Daniel 2:12-13 [12] For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
[13] And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
See All...). - He was angry and very furious (Daniel 2:12For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
See All...). - He decreed the death of all the wise men in the kingdom (Daniel 2:12For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
See All...). - Daniel and his fellows would be included (Daniel 2:13And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
See All...). - THE DESIRE OF DANIEL (Daniel 2:14-23 [14] Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
[15] He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
[16] Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
[17] Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
[18] That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
[19] Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
[20] Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
[21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
[22] He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
[23] I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
See All...) - His Desire of the King (Daniel 2:14-16 [14] Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
[15] He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
[16] Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
See All...) - Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom (Daniel 2:14Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
See All...). - Daniel asked of the haste of the decree (Daniel 2:15He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
See All...); Note: It seems as though Daniel was more concerned about the haste of the decree rather than the contents of the decree. Daniel knew that the decree would have required much thought and wisdom; therefore, the haste caused great concern. Obviously, this decree could not have been orchestrated with wisdom. - Daniel requested time so that he might show the dream (Daniel 2:15-16 [15] He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
[16] Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
See All...). - Daniel was told of the dream and the wise men’s failure (Daniel 2:15He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
See All...). - Daniel went to the king and requested some time (Daniel 2:16Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
See All...). - Daniel promised the king an interpretation (Daniel 2:16Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
See All...). - His Desire of the Lord (Daniel 2:17-23 [17] Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
[18] That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
[19] Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
[20] Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
[21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
[22] He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
[23] I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
See All...) - His prayer (Daniel 2:17-19 [17] Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
[18] That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
[19] Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
See All...) - His partners (Daniel 2:17Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
See All...) - Hananiah
- Mishael
- Azariah
- His petition (Daniel 2:18That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
See All...a) – “That they would desire the mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret” - His purpose (Daniel 2:18That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
See All...b) – “that Daniel and his fellows would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon” - His provision (Daniel 2:19Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
See All...) – “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision.” - His praise (Daniel 2:19-23 [19] Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
[20] Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
[21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
[22] He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
[23] I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
See All...) - For the answer to prayer (Daniel 2:19Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
See All...) - For the name of God (Daniel 2:20Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
See All...) - For the wisdom and might of God (Daniel 2:20-22 [20] Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
[21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
[22] He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
See All...) - Changing times and seasons (Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
See All...) - Removing and setting up kings (Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
See All...) - Giving wisdom to the wise (Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
See All...) - Giving knowledge to them that know understanding (Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
See All...) - Revealing deep and secret things (Daniel 2:22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
See All...) - Knowing what is in the darkness (Daniel 2:22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
See All...) - Light dwelling with Him (Daniel 2:22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
See All...) - For the revelation of God (Daniel 2:23I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
See All...) - Giving Daniel wisdom and might
- Making known unto Daniel what was desired of Him, the king’s matter
- THE DISCLOSURE OF THE LORD (Daniel 2:24-30 [24] Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
[25] Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
[26] The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
[27] Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
[28] But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
[29] As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
[30] But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
See All...) - Daniel Came to the King (Daniel 2:24-26 [24] Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
[25] Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
[26] The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
See All...). - Daniel requested to see the king, promising the interpretation (Daniel 2:24Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
See All...). - Arioch presented Daniel as a captive of Judah that would make known the interpretation (Daniel 2:25Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
See All...). - The king asked Daniel for the dream and interpretation (Daniel 2:26The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
See All...). - Daniel Contrasted the Two Sources of Wisdom (Daniel 2:27-28 [27] Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
[28] But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
See All...). - The wisdom of the wise (Daniel 2:27Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
See All...) – cannot shew it unto the king - The wisdom of the Lord (Daniel 2:28But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
See All...) - A God who reveals secrets
- A God who will reveal the events of the latter days
- Daniel Called Attention to Several Points (Daniel 2:29-30 [29] As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
[30] But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
See All...). - The prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:29As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
See All...) - The powerlessness of Daniel’s wisdom (Daniel 2:30But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
See All...) - The purposes of the interpretation (Daniel 2:30But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
See All...) - To save those condemned to death
- To show the king the thoughts of his own heart (Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
See All...) - THE DETAILS OF THE DREAM (Daniel 2:31-36 [31] Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
[32] This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
[33] His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
[34] Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
[35] Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
[36] This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
See All...) - The Glory of the Image (Daniel 2:31Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
See All...) - It was a great image.
- Its brightness was excellent.
- The form thereof was terrible.
- The Breakdown of the Image (Daniel 2:32-33 [32] This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
[33] His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
See All...) - The head (Daniel 2:32This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
See All...) - Made of fine gold
- Identified as Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom (Daniel 2:37-38 [37] Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
[38] And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
See All...) - The breast and arms (Daniel 2:32This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
See All...) - Made of silver
- Identified as another kingdom (Daniel 2:39And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
See All...) – the Persian Empire - Arising after Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom
- Inferior to Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom
- The belly and thighs (Daniel 2:32This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
See All...) - Made of brass
- Identified as another kingdom (Daniel 2:39And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
See All...) – the Grecian Empire - A third kingdom – arising after the previous two
- Bearing rule over all the earth
- The legs (Daniel 2:33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
See All...) - Made of iron
- Identified as another kingdom (Daniel 2:40And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
See All...) – the Roman Empire - A fourth kingdom – arising after the previous three
- It shall be as strong as iron.
- It shall break in pieces and bruise.
- The feet (Daniel 2:33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
See All...) – a later Roman Empire - Made of iron and part of clay
- Identified in a unique fashion (Daniel 2:41-43 [41] And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
[42] And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
[43] And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
See All...) - Not identified as a fifth or separate kingdom from the fourth (Daniel 2:41And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
See All...) - Identified as a divided kingdom (Daniel 2:41-43 [41] And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
[42] And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
[43] And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
See All...) - Partly strong and partly broken (Daniel 2:42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
See All...) - Unable to unify (Daniel 2:43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
See All...) - Mingling with the seed of men (Daniel 2:43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
See All...) - The Destruction of the Image (Daniel 2:34-36 [34] Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
[35] Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
[36] This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
See All...) - The destruction of the image (Daniel 2:34Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
See All...) - The destroyer
- A stone cut without hands
- Identified as a kingdom established by the God of heaven (Daniel 2:44-45 [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.
[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.
See All...) - The means of destruction
- It smote the image upon his feet.
- It broke them in pieces.
- The outcome of the destruction (Daniel 2:35Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
See All...) - For the kingdoms of men
- The kingdoms effected
- The legs of iron
- The feet of iron and clay
- The belly and thighs of brass
- The breast and arms of silver
- The head of gold
- The result of the blast (Daniel 2:44-45 [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.
[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.
See All...) - The kingdoms were broken to pieces together.
- They became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors.
- The wind carried them away.
- There was no place found for them.
- For the kingdom established by God (Daniel 2:44-45 [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.
[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.
See All...) - It became a great mountain.
- It filled the whole earth.
- It shall stand for ever (Daniel 2:44And 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.
See All...). - The certainty of the dream and interpretation (Daniel 2:36This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
See All...; Daniel 2:45Forasmuch 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.
See All...)
CONCLUSION: Through the revealing of his forgotten dream, Nebuchadnezzar learned that the true God knows all secrets. He said to Daniel, “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” (Daniel 2:47The 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.
See All...). That means that God knows everything about us too. We cannot keep any secrets from Him. We just need to make things right with Him when we are wrong and trust Him for His love to us.