The editor of The Bible Magazine, John Billington, likes to talk about Bible prophecy so we thought we’d have him join us to talk about where to start. There’s no better place then Daniel 2, where King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a frightening metal image is revealed to be what God is planning to do in the latter days.
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Key Verse:
“…there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.” (Daniel 2:28)
Study Guide:
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Outline:
Introduction
- Where to start when it comes to prophecy? Daniel 2 is foundational.
- Overview of Daniel and his times
The King’s Dream
- King Nebuchadnezzar dreams something troubling and he challenges wise men to reveal the dream and the interpretation under penalty of death
- God reveals the dream and its interpretation to Daniel (v. 19-22)
- The dream is about the latter days (v. 26-28)
- The dream revealed (v. 31-35)
The Interpretation of the Dream
- The head of Gold = Babylon (v. 36-38) – The importance of Babylon in prophecy (Gen. 10:9-10; Rev. 18:21)
- Breast and arms of Silver = Medo Persians (v. 39)
- Belly and thighs of Brass = Greece (v. 39)
- The Legs of Iron = Rome (v. 40)
- The feet mixed with iron and clay (v. 41-43) – Each metal is successively inferior (v. 39) until mixed with clay = democracy
The Kingdom of God
- God’s kingdom to overcome all these kingdoms of men (v. 44, 35)
- What is the stone cut without hands? (v. 45; Matt. 21:42-44)
- Kingdom to fill the earth (v. 35)
Conclusion
- God is at work among the nations
- The fulfilled portion of this prophecy proves what is still to come is trustworthy
- We are living in the latter days
- God’s kingdom will be on the earth