Series: Faith Under Fire (Daniel)[#2]
ON OR UNDER?
Daniel 2:1-49
Introduction:
Daniel and his friends had been moved from all they knew and loved. They were faced with test of isolation, indoctrination, compromise, and confusion; but through all of this they were victorious. How was this possible? Because they relied on God through all of the test. So now that they had passed those test, they lived the rest of their life happily ever after, right? Of course not! The more victorious we are, the harder Satan fights.
A little time went by and then a new and bigger problem arose. Nebuchadnezzar had some dreams that really troubled him so he called in the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. Notice what verse 10-11 says: "The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men." They were half right. They were correct in saying only God could do this; but they did not understand that Jehovah God is with His children all of the time.
Because of this information, the king became so angry that he decided to have all of the wise men killed; which included Daniel and his friends. The commander of the guard went to get Daniel to take him to his execution.
When Trouble Comes
Look with me at a modern day example of when trouble comes.
[Video: "When The Going Gets Tough"]
Daniel shows us how to handle a problem in a godly manner.
1. Daniel did not panic when he heard that he was going to be executed. Instead of "jumping to conclusions", running, fighting the guard, etc...; he simply asked why and then listened.
2. Daniel then went to the king and asked for some time to interpret this dream.
3. He then went to his friends, explained the situation, and urged them to pray about this situation.
4. After God answered their prayers, Daniel stopped and thanked God for the answer; and then put the answered prayer into action.
When The Time Comes
Daniel shows us how to handle our assignment in a godly manner.
1. The first thing out of Daniel’s mouth to the king was that there was no man that could do what he was asking; but that there was a God who could.
2. After Daniel told the king who could take care of his problem, he then told him why God could do that.
3. Daniel lifted the God of love before this pagan king and then allowed God to work.
4. Daniel then began to tell the king the dream just as God had told him to.
Daniel 2:31-35
When The Truth Is Told
Daniel then tells the king that God has also given him the interpretation of the dream.
Daniel 2:36-45
Daniel shows us how to share God’s message the right way.
1. Daniel explained to the king things that could have really made him mad, which could have ended up in his death; but he did not "water down" God’s message.
2. The interpretation shows us many truths, some that have occured and some that have not occured yet.
The key to understanding the four parts of the statue is in the last phrase of verse 38 and the following few verses. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar, "You are the head of gold." That explains the top of the statue. But what about the other three metals?
After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron-for iron breaks and smashes everything-and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others (Daniel 2:39-40).
This means the statue is a symbolic representation of four successive world kingdoms. Only the first one is identified: Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian empire. We learn from Daniel 8 that the next two are the Medo-Persian empire and the Greek empire (ruled by Alexander the Great). The fourth kingdom-the mightiest of them all-is never identified in Daniel. It is simply described as possessing the strength of iron and having the ability to crush its enemies. Historically, the legs of iron must refer to the Roman empire.
The historical outline looks like this:
Head Gold Babylon (612-539 BC)
Chest Silver Medo-Persia (539-331 BC)
Belly/Thighs Bronze Greece (331-63 BC)
Legs Iron Rome (63 BC-476 AD)
Verses 41-43 explain the feet and toes made partly of iron and partly of clay. I believe this refers to the breakup of the Roman Empire into the countries that now make up Europe and the Mediterranean basin-some strong and some weak.
It is highly significant that no world empire ever arose after the Roman Empire broke up. It is out of the old Roman Empire that what we call "Western Civilization" arose. In a sense though the Roman Empire no longer exists, its influence is still felt through all the nations that came out of the territory it once ruled. And "Western Civilization" itself (which includes the United States in a broad sense) traces its history in large part back to ancient Rome and Greece.
Again, note that when the stone hits the statue, it doesn’t hit the head, the chest, the thighs, or the legs, but strikes the feet and toes of iron mixed with clay. I believe this means that the stone (which represents Christ coming back to the earth to establish his kingdom) will smash the governments of mankind as they are allied together in the Last Days under the leadership of the person the Bible calls the Antichrist.
You may ask, How did you get the Antichrist out of Daniel 2? Fair question. The answer is, I got it out of Daniel 7 (which we will discuss in more detail later in this series), which itself contains a depiction of these four great world kingdoms in the form of four animals. So in a sense I’m reading ahead in Daniel but I think it is justified since Daniel 2 gives us the introduction to these four empires and Daniel 7 gives us the rest of the story. (And for that matter, Daniel 8 and Daniel 11 give us additional details.)
The key thing to note at this point is that when Christ returns all earthly empires will be totally destroyed. Remember, in the dream not only did the stone smash the statue, it causes the pieces to be blown away like chaff in the wind. Christ’s coming will bring an end to everything built by the hand of man. If man built it, it’s coming down in the Last Days. Everything built by human hands will become dust in the wind. Then Jesus will establish his kingdom on the earth.
3. Note what Daniel says about that final kingdom.
1) It is not made by human hands. When Christ sets up his kingdom, he won’t need any help from you or me.
2) It will smash all earthly kingdoms. Today is a day of grace when God permits opposition to his program in order that sinners might have more time to consider their ways and turn to the Lord. But a day of judgment is coming when the Lord Jesus will crush all his enemies under his feet.
3) It is universal and eternal.
4) It is immutable. Daniel 2:44 plainly says the final kingdom will not be left to another people. His kingdom is the final kingdom. He will never be replaced by anyone else and no one will ever overthrow him.
When The Truth Is Heard
The king had heard the truths of God. Now he had to make a decision.
Nebuchadnezzar shows us the options he had which are the same ones we have:
Option #1: We can be under the Rock and be crushed in the end. As Jesus said: We are either for God or against Him.
Option #2: We can be on the Rock.
Daniel 2:46-47
Conclusion:
Christians, you are on the Rock. Jesus Christ has won the victory. God is our Heavenly Father. No matter what has happened, God is with us until the end of our earthly lifes and will be with us for all eternity.
Let me show you an example of God’s helping us to the finish line.
[Video: "Finish Line"].
Lost person, your finish line is death. A person that dies physically without Jesus Christ will also die a second death- separation from God for all eternity in the Lake of Fire.
Are you under the Rock or on the Rock?
