DANIEL CHPT 2 STUDY GUIDE

​DANIEL CHAPTER 2 STUDY GUIDE NOTES

AND IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE REIGN OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR, NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMED DREAMS, WHERE HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED, AND HIS SLEEP BREAK FROM HIM.
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.
AND THE KING SAID UNTO THEM, I HAVE DREAMED A DREAM, AND MY SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED TO KNOW THE DREAM.
THEN SPAKE THE CHALDEANS TO THE KING IN SYRIAC, O KING, LIVE FOR EVER: TELL THY SERVANTS THE DREAM, AND WE WILL SHEW THE INTERPRETATION.
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 INTEREPRETATION THEREOF, YE SHALL BE CUT IN PIECES, AND YOUR HOUSES SHALL BE MADE A DUNGHILL.

The king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was the king that the Lord raised up to fulfill the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Jeremiah. He, with the Chaldeans besieged Jerusalem and took the children of Israel into captivity. This was the judgment of the Lord. Though the children were scattered and there were many deaths and destruction, the Lord spoke through his prophet that he would recompense his enemy and he proclaimed judgment upon King Nebuchadnezzar and that he would deliver his children. 

In chapter 2 of Daniel the Lord begins to reveal his will for His children with dreams and visions to the King. The Lord shares in previous chapters as well as as in the book of the prophet Jeremiah that no matter the circumstance or situation that there will be a remnant and that even in the midst of adversity He will be with his children. He will speak with them and he will lead and guide them according to his will. So, the Lord put his people in strategic places in the midst o fthe enemy  to be prepared for an appointed time to perform his word.

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 The Lord has placed sound counselors in the midst of his children even though they had been taken into captivity. He will still have them utilize their gifts and talents given to edify and build up the kingdom of the living God.
After King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream in the night, he needed an interpretation. The King of Babylon and the inhabitants were heavily involved into idolatry and falsehood. While the Lord god was I the process of judging sin, he at the same time was utilizing the opportunity to glorify himself as the true and living God.
Though the King had trained Daniel and the tree Hebrew boys and had found them better and wiser than all of his advisors, magicians, and strologers; they weren’t his first choice when he needed any interpretation of his dream.
Instead of calling upon the children of God that the Lord gave as counsel to get the answer or to inquire of the dream, the king called upon the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers. 
While promising gifts and rewards for making known the dream, he also threatened to kill those who could not.

Daniel 2:13

AND THE DECREE WENTFORTH THAT THE WISE MEN SHOULD BE SLAIN; AND THEY SOUGHT DANIEL AND HIS FELLOWS TO BE SLAIN.
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:

Though the Lord revealed himself to the king through the four Hebrew boys, the king’s heart was hardened toward the children so that the lord could show himself a strong tower on behalf of his children and to judge his enemies.

The King Nebuchadnezzar had already been taken in pride and arrogance. Though his throne had been appointed by the Most High, he was saturated in self-righteousness. The pride strengthened when the Lord allowed him to carry Jehoikim and much of Judah into captivity.
 
ROMANS 9:14-18
WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN? IS THERE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS WITH GOD? GOD FORBID.
FOR HE SAITH TO MOSES, I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I WILLHAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I WILL HAVE COMPASSION.
SO THEN IT IS NOT HIM THA TWILLETH, NOR OF HIM THA TRUNNETH, BUT OF GOD THAT SHEWETH MERCY.
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH UNTO PHAROAH, EVEN FOR THIS PURPOSE HAVE I RAISED THEE UP, THATI MIGHT SHEW MY POWER IN THEE, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE DECLARED THROUGHOUT ALL THE EARTH.

THEREFORE HATH HE MERCY ON WHOM HE WILL HAVE MERCY, AND WHOM HE WILL HE HARDENETH.

Let’s look at King Nebuchadnezzar for a moment. He is a gentile with no knowledge of the true  and living God. His surrounding of ungodly counsel, magicians, and strologers states that he is used to hearing the voice of the adversary. Nonetheless, the Lord God is the originator of all power and he wants to make it known unto the king.

Dreams are a form of communication. This dream originated from the Most High, whom the King Nebuchadnezzar had no relationship. Therefore, his spirit is troubled. The prophetic message that the Lord gives in the form of a dream frustrates the king to where he is willing  to kill/ slay all of the wise men within the provinces of Babylon.

Without a vision the people perish. In order to fulfill his will for his people, effective communication is necessary for all parties who have any authority over the children of God. He chastens his children but he had a plan of redemption and restoration.

JEREMIAH 29:10-17
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, THAT AFTER SEVENTY YEARS BE ACCOMPLISHED AT BABYLON I WILL VISIT YOU, AND PERFORM MY GOOD WORD TOWARD YOU, IN CAUSING YOU TO RETURN TO THIS PLACE.

THEN SHALL YE CALL UPON ME, AND YE SHALL GO AND PRAY UNTO ME, AND I WILL HEARKEN UNTO YOU.
AND YE SHALL SEEK ME, AND FIND ME, WHEN YE SHALL SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
AND I WILL BE FOUND OF YOU , SAITH THE LORD: AND I WILL TURN AWAY YOUR CAPTIVITY, AND I WILL GATHER YOU FROM ALL NATIONS, AND FROM ALL PLACES WHITHER I HAVE DRIVEN YOU, SAITH THE LORD; AND I WILLL BRING YOU AGAIN INTO THE PLACE WHNCE I CAUSED YOU TO BE CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE.
BECAUSE YE HAVE SAID, THE LORD HAVE RAISED US UP PROPHETS IN BABYLON;
KNOW THAT THUS SAITH THE LORD OF THE KING THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID, AND OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DWELLETH IN THIS CITY, AND OFYOUR BRETHREN THAT ARE NOT GONE FORTH WITH YOU INTO CAPTIVITY;
THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; BEHOLD, I WILL SEND UPON THEM THE SWORD, THE FAMINE, AND THE PESTILENCE, AND I WILL MAKE THEM VILE FIGS THAT CANNOT BE EATEN, THEY SO EVIL.
The Lord has stated that he will never leave nor forsake his people. He has a plan to bring them to their expected end. Daniel approaches Arioch and asks him for time to seek the Lord concerning the matter. Daniel also approaches the other three Hebrew boys, his companions so that they also would seek the Lord and petition for the mercy of God concerning the matter.
The answered Daniel and gave him the dream and the interpretation on behalf of the king. Daniel then praised the Lord for having made know the secret to him.

DANIEL 2:28

BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN THAT REVEALETH SECRETS AND MAKETH KOWN TO THE KING NEBUCHADNEZZZAR WHAT SHALL BE IN THE LATTER DAYS. THY DREAM, AND THE VISIONS OF THY HEAD UPON THY BED, ARE THESE;
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.

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.

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.

THIS IMAGE’S HEAD WAS OF FINE GOLD. HIS BREAST AND HIS ARMS OF SILVER, HIS BELLY AND HIS THIGHS OF BRASS, 

HIS LEGS OF IRON, HIS FEET PART OF IRON, AND PART OF CLAY.

THOU SAWEST TILL THAT A STONE WAS CUT OUT WITHOUT HANDS, WHICH SMOTE THE IMAGE UPON THE FEET THAT WERE OF IRON AND CLAY, AND BRAKE THEM TO PIECES.

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 THA TSMOTE THE IMAGE BECAME A GREAT MOUNTAIN, AND FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH.
THIS IS THE DREAM; AND WE WILL TELL THEE THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF BEFORE THE KING.

The prophet Daniel states to the king that the Lord who revealed secrets shall make him to know the things that shall come to pass. He goes on to say that the interpretation is made known so that it is revealed to the king the thoughts of his own heart.

LUKE 6:43-45
FOR A GOOD TREE BRINGETH NOT FORTH CORRUPT FRUIT; NEITHER DOTH A CORRUPT TREE BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT.
FOR EVERY TREE IS KNOWN BY HIS OWN FRUIT. FOR OF THORNS MEN DO NOT GATHER FIGS, NOR OF A BRAMBLE BUSH GATHER THEY GRAPES.
A GOOD MAN OUT OF THE GODD TREASURE OF HIS HEART BRINGETH FORTH THAT WHICH IS GOOD; AND AN EVIL MAN OUT OF THE EVIL TREASURE OF HIS HEART BRINGETH FORTH THAT WHICH IS EVIL: FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKETH.

So we see that the Lord is attempting to reveal himself to the king because of his heart (the thoughts within) and because he wants to reveal the end result for the chosen ones of Israel as well as the Kingdoms of the world, who continue to be adversaries to the children of God.

The great picture that the king beholds within his dream and considers to be terrible and excellent is a body. This “terrible” body that the king sees contains all of the kingdoms of the world in the last days. This body is the body of the enemy. It is the revelation of hell.

Just as the Lord Jesus Christ has a body, the body of Christ that he has prepared a place for in Heaven; the enemy also has a body in the midst of the earth. The Lord’s body originates from Heaven. The enemy’s body has been cast down to the lowest part; hell.

What is seen in the dream is “bright and excellent.” The head was of fine gold. It was beautiful to behold!

EZEKIEL 28:12-13

SON OF MAN, TAKE UP A LAMENTATION UPON THE KING TYRUS, AND SAY UNTO HIM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; THOU SEALEST UP THE SUM,FULL OF WISDOM, AND PERFECT IN BEAUTY.

The Lord shares that the enemy is cunning, crafty, and is beautiful to behold. This is how he is able to come in the last days to annihilate and weary the saints of the Most High. He is called the tempter for a reason. How can one be tempted without first appealing to their sense of beauty? This is how the enemy comes with seducing spirits and doctrines of devils to deceive the saints of God because it is wrapped in beauty.

The first king of gold is also connected with the second dream that the king has. The Lord, in the second revelation, uses the symbolism of a tree that has reached to the heavens. The Lords says that the has given him that kingdom, power, strength, and glory. He says that Nebuchadnezzar is ruler because the Lord have given the kingdom into his hand.

ROMANS 13:1

LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS. FOR THERE IS NO POWER BUT OF GOD: THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD.

His breast and the arms of the body are silver, his belly and his thighs are brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay are significant of other kingdoms that shall be that are inferior and not as strong as the first.
Remember, these things have come forth from the thoughts of the heart of the King Nebuchadnezzar.

It is mentioned in other commentaries that Daniel prophesied of the end time kingdoms, but it wasn’t given him to prophesy of the church. However, it may not have been given in much detail in such a way as his fellow soldier and Holy prophet Isaiah. Nonetheless, the church is there for a portion of time and it is seemingly revealed in the following text.

DANIEL 2:34
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 IN PIECES.

The Lord makes it clear that no matter what kingdoms are established in the latter days, His kingdom is the everlasting kingdom. It is not established by the hands of man, and it will brake into pieces any other kingdom of the world.

PSALM 118:22

 THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REFUSED IS BECOME THE HEAD STONE OF THE CORNER.

COLOSIANS 2:9-12

FOR IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY.
AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, WHICH IS THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER.
IN WHOM ALSO YE ARE CIRCUMSIZED WITH THE CIRCUMSION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST:

Jesus Christ is that stone which the builders rejected and has become the chief cornerstone. He is the head of  the church. The Word states to, “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all of his righteousness, and everything else shall be added (Matt6:33).”

So, though the Lord has allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to become a flourishing tree, appointed for a time, the Lord is acknowledging the pride and vanity of this kingdom and tells him that the kingdom along with all other kingdoms will not stand but shall be brought low.

EZEKIEL 28:2-8

SON OF MAN, SAY UNTO THE PRINCE OF TYRUS, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD: BECAUSE THINE HEART IS LIFTED UP, AND THOU HAST SAID, I AM A GOD, I SIT IN THE SEAT OF GOD, IN THE MIDST OF THE SEAS; YET THOU ART A MAN, AND NOT GOD, THOUGH THOU SET THINE HEART AS THE HEART OF GOD: 
BEHOLD, THOU ART WISER THAN DANIEL; THERE IS NO SECRET THAT THEY CAN HIDE FROM THEE; 
WITH THY WISDOM AND WITH THINE UNDERSTANDING THOU HAST GOTTEN THEE RICHES, AND HAST GOTTEN GOLD AND SILVER INTO THY TREASURES. 
BY THY GREAT WISDOM AND BY THY TRAFFIC HAST THOU INCREASED THY RICHES, AND THINE HEART IS LIFTED UP BECAUSE OF THY RICHES: THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THOU HAST SEET THINE HEART AS THE HEART OF GOD; 
BEHOLD, THEREFORE I WILL BRING STRANGERS UPON THEE, THE TERRIBLE OF THE NATIONS: AND THEY SHALL DRAW THEIR SWORDS AGAINST THE BEAUTY OF THY WISDOM, AND THEY SHALL DEFILE THY BRIGHTNESS. THEY SHALL BRING THEE DOWN TO THE PIT, AND THOU SHALT DIE THE DEATHS OF THEM THAT ARE SLAIN IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA.

His legs of iron, feet part of iron and part of clay is symbolic of the framing of the fourth kingdom. The legs and feet are the means of mobility of a being. The feet are also symbolic of the preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

ISAIAH 52:7

HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTIANS ARE THE FEET OF THEM THAT BRINGETH GOOD TIDINGS, THAT PUBLISHETH PEACE; THAT BRINGETH GOOD TIDINGS OF GOOD, THAT PUBLISHETH SALVATION; THAT SAITH UNTO ZION, THY GOD REIGNETH!

DANIEL 2:40-44

AND 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. AND WHEREAS THOU  SAWEST THE FEET AND TOES, PART OR POTTER’S CLAY, AND PART OF IRON, THE KINDGOM SHALL BE DIVIDED, BUT THTERE SHALL BE IN IT OF THE STRENGTH OF THE IRON, FORASMUCH AS THOU SAWEST THE IRON MIXED WITH MIRY CLAY. AND AS THE TOES OF THE FEET WERE PART OF IRON, A ND PART OF  CLAY, SO THE KINGDOM SHALL BE PARTLY STRONG, AND PARTLY BROKEN. AND WHEREAS THOU SAWEST IRON MIXED WITH MIRY CLAY, THEY SHALL MINGLE THEMSELVES WITH THE SEED OF MEN: BUT THEY SHALL NOT CLEAVE ON TO ANOTHER, EVEN AS IRON IS NOT MIXED WITH CLAY. 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.

The Lord speaks that within the fourth kingdom is considered to have the strength of iron. However, within it also are feet of clay from the potter. The Lord Jesus often refers to himself as the potter and his children as the clay. So, in the midst of this last kingdom the children of God and His church are planted where the Gospel shall be preached to all nations and kindred, and shall emerge as the “great mountain” that filled the whole Earth. The Lord gives significance to the fact that though the kingdom is divided it simply means that the children are planted as wheat amongst the tares. We are in the world, but not of the world.

REVELATION 2:25-29

BUT THAT WHICH YE HAVE ALREADY HOLD FAST TILL I COME. AND HE THAT OVERCOMETH, AND KEEPETH MY WORKS UNTO THE END, TO HIM WILL I GIVE POWER OVER THE NATIONS: AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; AS THE VESSELS OF A POTTER SHALL THEY BE BROKEN TO SHIVERS: EVEN AS I RECEIVED OF MY FATHER. AND I WILL GIVE HIM THE MORNING STAR. HE THAT HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES. 

The Lord consistently promises His children that no matter the circumstances, even captivity, He will recompense His enemies. He said that those who trust and overcome shall reign with him. He has prophesied the kingdoms that have been established as well as His plan for restoration. 

DANIEL 2:47-48

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 DANEIL 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.

For a moment the king gave glory to God for revealing His will unto Him through the Prophet Daniel. The king elevated Daniel to sit in the gate amongst the wise men of the provinces though the Lord answered the petition through  Daniel, the Prophet, He requested that the three Hebrew boys seek God in unity concerning the matter. The Word says where there is unity, there is strength, and where two or three are gathered together He is in the midst. Because of this unity and humility, the Lord saw to it that Daniel requested elevation on behalf of His companions just as well.