Daniel 2The Vision of Kings

Last Week: Empire

“Empires of Death”

Last Week: Empire

“Empire of Eternal Life”

To King David:Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure

forever.’” 2 Samuel 7:16

BABYLON IN DANIEL’S TIME

Baghdad

Ethno-Centric Bible

“MY People Israel”

The center of God’s Plan

“Your throne…forever!”

Irritating Israel

Center of World Conflict

Only 7 Million!

Smaller than Ohio!

Us Gentiles

…TODAY: “Age

of the Gentiles”

JC: “Jerusalem… trampled by Gentiles until

the end…”

9/11 Flights Grounded

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.“Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

Daniel 2: a Kingdom CrisisThe king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.” But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."

Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it." Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."

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."

The “Fraud”: Book of Daniel“The book was probably

composed about 165 BC, shortly before the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in

164.

Opinions continue to differ, however, in light of

apparently early forms of Aramaic language used

in the Aramaic portions.” (Wikipedia,

“Book of Daniel”)

The Fraudulent “Scholarshi

p”The Aramaic in Dan. 2-7 is “Royal Babylonian” (565 bc) (Archer, F.F. Bruce, Walvoord…)

Daniel was in the DSS & LXX

(circa 180, 150 BC)

Widely distributed as “Ancient Scripture” before

164 BC.

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.“Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

Daniel 2: a Kingdom CrisisAcademic Bias:“Daniel is a 165 bc

forgery…”Despite archeology (DSS)

Despite historical

facts (LXX)

“Prophesy just can’t exist”

The Problem of Bible Prophecy:

“No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.“ (Dan. 2:11, 585 BC)

“The book was probably composed about 165 BC…” Wikipedia, 2011 AD

“Who is like Me? Let them declare the things that are coming and the events that are going to take place.”

(God, Isaiah 44:7 690 BC)

Daniel 2: a Kingdom Crisis

Daniel 2: a Kingdom CrisisDaniel 2:12-13 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.Daniel asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.

At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

Daniel 2: a Kingdom CrisisThen Daniel returned to his house and explained the

matter to his friends. He urged them to plea for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery…

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.”

…The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"

Daniel 2: a Kingdom CrisisDaniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter,

magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,

but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:

As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.

"You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue--an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.

The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, [33] its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.

While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms

Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.”

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms“a large statue--an enormous,

dazzling statue, awesome in appearance…”

“You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.”

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms Neo-Babylonian

Empire (605-565 bc)

After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours.

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms Neo-Babylonian

Empire (605-565 bc)

Persian Empire (565-350 bc)

Persians, because…

• Persians did, in fact, conquer the Babylonians: “After you…”

• Affirmed in Dan. 8:20 “The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia…”

Daniel 2:39 “…then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.”

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms Neo-Babylonian

Empire (605-565 bc)

Persian Empire (565-350 bc)

Greeks, because…

• Greeks did, in fact, conquer the Persians• Affirmed in Dan. 8:21 “The shaggy goat

represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king…”

• Alexander wept because there was nothing left for him to conquer…

Greek Empire (350-80 bc)

Daniel 2:40 "Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces.

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms Neo-Babylonian

Empire (605-565 bc)

Persian Empire (565-350 bc)

Rome, because…Rome did, in fact, conquer

GreeceClassic: “Iron Hand of

Rome”Legs: Split East & West

Greek Empire (350-80 bc)

Roman Empire (80-1100 ad)

Daniel 2:41-42 The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron. But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay.

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms

Unknown Empire

(Feet & 10 Toes)

Same:

• Made of Iron

• Very Strong

Different:

• Includes Clay

• Very Divided

Daniel 2:43 "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.

ETHNICALLY DIVIDED

Daniel 2:44 “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.”

Daniel 2: the Crisis of Kingdoms

Eternal Kingdom

Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever… 2 Samuel 7:16

End of HumanSelf-Rule

IS Rome-Like“will have some of the strength of

iron”

Ethnically: “out of this kingdom,

10 kings will arise”

NOT Roman:“Legs” vs.

“feet & toes”

Arises at the End (2:44)

Ten Kings (2:44 & 7:24)

Daniel 2: the Unknown Empire

Daniel 2:44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed…” ”Daniel 7:24 ‘….out of this kingdom, ten kings will arise…”

IS Rome-Like“will have some of the strength of

iron”

Ethnically: “out of this kingdom,

10 kings will arise”

NOT Roman:“Legs” vs.

“feet & toes”

Arises at the End (2:44)

Ten Kings (2:44 & 7:24)

Daniel 2: the Unknown Empire

“New Rome”

Ten-Nation UnionBIG : Dan. 2,7,9; Rev.

13,17World Unification

Ethnic EuropeanDaniel 2:43 “…combine with one another in the seed of men..”

“The union shall set itself the following objectives: to promote economic and social progress through

the creation of an area without internal frontiers through the establishment of economic and monetary union, ultimately including a single currency.

The union will seek to assert its identity in the international scene in particular through the implementation of a common, foreign and security policy, including the eventual framing of a common defense policy which might in time lead to a common defense.

The “Dream” of European Unification1992 Maastricht Treaty on European Union, Title I, Article B:

“European integration began when the founding members . . . set about creating a single market in which goods, services, people and capital would move as freely as within one country. The single market came into being in January 1993.”

“The EU in Brief” EU Profile http://www.eurunion.org/profile/brief.htm (emphasis mine)

The POWER of European Unification

Source: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1290.pdf 2.25.201

The POWER of European Unification

Source: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1290.pdf 2.25.2010

The POWER of European Unification

Source: http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html & http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu

U. S.A. E. U.

The POWER of European Unification

Inve

stm

ent

in U

.S.A

.

Source: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1290.pdf 2.25.2010

The POWER of European Unification

source: http://www.imf.org/ 2.25.2010

U. S.A.E. U.

$33,052

$46,381

The POWER of European Unification

10,000 Pallets of $100 Bills

$380,000 Per Person Debt

The POWER of European Unification

$380,000 Per Person Debt

Cut Costs?

Increase Income?E

xpor

ts

Impo

rts

The Great “American Empire”

2:34 “You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.

Daniel 2: God’s Eternal Kingdom

Daniel 2:35 "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found.

But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever… 2 Samuel 7:16

Kingdoms of

DeathKingdom of Eternal

Life

Daniel 2: God’s Eternal KingdomBut the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Kingdoms of

DeathKingdom of Eternal

Life1 Peter 2:6-8 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”