Awesome Truths and Amazing Facts
Richard Vaughn

Today: “Prophecy – The future told in advance – Daniel 2 - Part 1”
Today we are beginning an exciting adventure into prophecy. For the next few months or so we are going to discover many wonderful truths regarding the fantastic books of prophecy and its relevance to us today, as we are living right now at a time when many of these prophecies are being fulfilled. In particular we will study the books of Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament. In Revelation 14:9 & 10, we read the most fearful warning ever given in the Bible. That is the warning against receiving the Mark of the Beast. You do not want to get the mark of the beast, as those who do will suffer God’s wrath in the 7 last plagues and be lost. And let me add, you don’t have to receive the mark as long as you know who the beast is and what the mark is. Everything we study from here on out will lay the foundation for this revelation. So do follow along on this journey into prophecy and don’t miss a single week. I strongly suggest that you keep a file of all the prophecy articles, as you will want to go back and reread from time to time. The first study will be Daniel Chapter 2 where we will discover the whole sweep of history from the time of Daniel until our day. Space will not allow me to give the 49 verses, so please read the entire 2nd chapter of Daniel before proceeding, if possible, use the King James Version.
In verses 1-13, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and it had a profound affect on him. God gave him the dream and then made him temporarily forget it. But he had to know what the dream was about. So he called in the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans, all the supposedly wisest men on his payroll. He tells them he had a dream and he wants them to tell him what he dreamed and to give him the interpretation. They butter him up with kind words and then tell the king that he must tell them what he dreamt and they will interpret. He refuses and tells them what punishment is in store if they don't tell him the dream and its interpretation and what rewards are in store for the one who does reveal it. They again ask for the dream. He again tells them they must tell him the dream and the interpretation. A Chaldean states THERE IS NOT A MAN ON EARTH who can do what the king requests, only the gods who do not dwell with men. The king gave the decree to destroy all the wise men in Babylon.
In verses 14-18, Daniel and his three friends that were captured with him from Judah, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, lived together and were considered very wise. They were in advanced schooling in Babylon. Daniel's Babylonian name was Belteshazzar and his three friend's Babylonian names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. When the captain of the guard, Arioch came to Daniel and told him the decree he must execute, Daniel was able to tell Arioch that he would let the king know his dream and the interpretation, just give him a little time. Arioch and Daniel became friends on the over 1,000 mile journey from Judah to Babylon. Daniel got the needed time. He then went to his home and consulted with the three friends and they, being strong in faith, sought God for the dream and it's interpretation.
In verses 19-23, God gives Daniel the dream and it's interpretation. Daniels gives God the glory and the praise.
In verses 24-30, Daniel appeals to Arioch to stop the killing of the wise men as he will tell the king what he wants to know. Arioch ushers Daniel into the king and announces he has found a captive from Judah who can reveal the dream and it's meaning. Verse 27, Daniel can't resist rubbing it in about how all his high paid staff couldn't answer his demand. Then in verse 28 he gives tribute to his God in heaven as the source of the revelation.
In verses 31-35, Daniel describes this great image that Nebuchadnezzar saw having a gold head, chest and arms of silver, thighs of brass, legs of iron and feet part of iron and part clay. Then a rock strikes the image on the feet and destroys it.
In verses 36-45, Daniel begins the interpretation. Vss. 36-38, Daniel identifies the Babylonian empire and Nebuchadnezzar as the head of gold, the first of four empires to rule the world. Verse 39 describes the next kingdom to arise (chest and arms of silver) and just as silver is inferior to gold, so this kingdom would be inferior to Babylon. Then a third kingdom would arise, the brass or bronze kingdom, then a fourth kingdom would arise, an iron kingdom. Ruthless in it's description in verse 40. Next in verses 41-43, he explains how the kingdom falls and becomes a mixture of strong and weak nations. Verses 44-45, while in the time of the feet, a great stone would strike it and break it in pieces consuming them, and God would set up a kingdom that would not be destroyed.
Next Week: “Prophecy – The future told in advance – Daniel 2 - Part 2”