INTRODUCTION
In Daniel 2, God reveals Himself as the only one who really knows the future. In this chapter, God clearly outlines 2,500 years of history in advance, previewing exactly the rise and fall of empires. It is impressive to observe God's ability to guide the nations' destiny.
If He is wise enough to predict the future and powerful enough to orchestrate the rise and fall of nations, He can certainly guide our own personal lives. We can all trust in God.
I. THE DREAM OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR
A. Read Dan. 2:1-15. That night, an uncommon dream disturbed Nebuchadnezzar. The following morning, he summoned the magicians and enchanters to tell him the dream and its interpretation.
1. The wise men of Babylon completely failed. God, miraculously, hid the dream from Nebuchadnezzar's mind, and he could not remember what he had dreamed about. If the king had told the dream, the magicians and enchanters would have been able to invent an interpretation that would convince Nebuchadnezzar.
2. They all failed to tell him the dream and its interpretation. The king, furious, condemned to death all wise men of Babylon.
II. GOD REVEALS THE FUTURE
A. Read Dan. 2:16-30. Daniel was the first one they sought to slay, because he was part of the group of wise men who stood before the king. But Daniel didn't even know what was happening and, at that moment, Daniel only asked for some time and left to consult with God (Dan. 2:16-18).
1. Here we start to understand one of the keys which opens the doors to the solution to our problems: prayer. It is in praying that you may find answers about the future, about your life.
B. God has wisdom and power.
God revealed in Nebuchadnezzar's dream the history of the empires of this world and what shall come to pass in the last days of Earth's history. Nebuchadnezzar's dream focuses on the end time. He predicts events that occur during the closing of Earth's history.
III. THE DREAM AND THE INTERPRETATION (DANIEL 2:31-35)
A. Babylon
1. Gold is an appropriate symbol for Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar ruled the world since 605 B.C. until 539 B.C. Located in Iraq in modern days, about 62 miles south of Baghdad, the city which was the capital of Babylon became the center of the most powerful nation in the Middle East at the time. Its most important god, Bel-Marduk, was made of solid gold. His golden image depicted him sitting on a golden throne beside a golden lampstand, in front of a golden table in a temple with a golden dome. The prophet Isaiah also calls Babylon "the city of gold" (Isaiah. 14:4).
2. However, Babylon would not last forever. It would be defeated by another power.
B. Mede and Persia.The Medes and Persians defeated the Babylonians in 539 B.C. Cyrus, the general who commanded the Mede and Persian army, was foretold by name 150 years before, in Isaiah 44:28 and Isaiah 45:1. The Mede and Persian Empire ruled the world from 539 B.C. until 331 B.C.
C. Greece. The Creek nation defeated the Medes and Persians. Greece ruled the world from 331 B.C. until 168 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered the world at 33 years of age.
D. Rome. The Romans conquered the Greeks in 168 B.C. The Roman Empire ruled the world during the time of Christ. Cesar Augustus, Roman emperor, decreed that everyone should pay taxes. A Roman tribunal judged Jesus, and Roman soldiers nailed Him to the cross.
2. The prophet Daniel foretold that the Roman Empire would be divided. The division of the Roman Empire occurred from 351 until 476 A.D. No fifth empire defeated the Romans. Rome was divided exactly the way the prophet had foretold. The barbarian tribes form the north invaded the Roman Empire, and it was divided in separate, distinct states. The European nations of today—France, Germany, England, Italy—were foretold in this frightful dream.
CONCLUSION
A. Prophecy fulfilled. In Daniel 2:43, the Word of Cod is clear. Those thirteen words "They (the divided nations of Rome) will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay" have stopped each pretender from conquering as the centuries pass by. The Biblical prophecies are exact: the future is with God.
B. Hope in sight. Read Dan. 2:44. 1.The return of Christ is the hope that is before our eyes. Christ is the Stone (I Cor. 10:4). Soon, the evil forces will be crushed, broken in pieces and destroyed.
2. Soon, the heavens will open and we will see Jesus coming to establish His kingdom forever.
C. Pray today: Lord Jesus, I choose to follow you in all things and be one of your children. I want to be remembered when you come in Your Kingdom. Lord, I give You my life today, together with those habits that are not pleasing to Your will.
Contributed by the South American Division Ministerial Association
