1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. The God Who Reveals Mysteries Daniel 2:1-30
Liberals attack Daniel because they reject God’s ability to reveal and control the future
God exists outside of creation and so is not a prisoner of the time-space continuum

3. The King Dreams Daniel 2:1-3
The 2nd Year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign is the 3rd year of Daniel’s training
June-Aug 605 – Jerusalem Falls, Daniel captured – 1st yr training begins
Sept. 7, 605 – Nebuchadnezzar is king
Nisan : 1st yr reign, 2nd yr training
Nisan : 2nd yr reign, 3rd yr training

4. The King Dreams Daniel 2:1-3
It is unknown whether Daniel’s ability to understand dreams was known before or because of chapter 2
Nebuchadnezzar and dreams - multiple reoccurring or similar dreams which kept him from sleeping

5. The King Dreams Daniel 2:1-3
Babylonian wise men were made up of four groups:
Magicians: scribes / sacred historians
Conjurers: necromancy / astrology
Sorcerers: Occultic incantations, spells
Chaldeans: Priestly cast
Daniel and his friends were not among the wise men that came before the king

6. The King’s Challenge Daniel 2:4-9
They ask the king to tell them the dream - but he demands they tell him the dream & interpret it
A horrible manner if they do not, but rich rewards & honor they do

7. The King’s Challenge Daniel 2:4-9
The king rejects their 2nd request & accuses them of lying & collusion to gain time

8. The Limitations of the Wise Men Daniel 2:10-11
They declare no man could fulfill the king’s demand –
and no great king had ever made such a request
They point out only a god could fulfill the request - and gods do not dwell with mortals

9. The King’s Decree Daniel 2:12-13
Nebuchadnezzar decrees all the wise men are to be destroyed and sends his guards to gather them

10. Daniel’s Request Daniel 2:14-16
Daniel is young (17-21?), but answers calmly with discretion desiring to know the reason for haste
Arioch explains everything.
Daniel is allowed to speak to the king requesting more time
The king grants his request

11. Petitioning God Daniel 2:17-19
Prayer was the only means of finding a solution and Daniel gathers his friends together to petition God
They request God to be compassionate so that they are not destroyed with the other wise men

12. The God Who Reveals Mysteries Daniel 2:19-23
In a night vision, the Lord reveals to Daniel the king’s dream & its interpretation
Daniel’s immediate response is to praise the Lord for His wisdom & power

13. The God Who Reveals Mysteries Daniel 2:19-23
In contrast to pagan fatalistic determinism - God changes the parameters of time & what occurs in it
The long day - Joshua 10:12-13.
The shadow’s retreat - 2 Kings 20:9-11

14. The God Who Reveals Mysteries Daniel 2:19-23
God’s power over earthly authority was seen throughout the history of the kings of Judah and Israel
God’s wisdom is omniscient knowing even the profound, what is hidden and what is in darkness
Daniel is clear that his own wisdom and power were gifts from the Lord in answer to their prayers

15. Daniel Informs the King Daniel 2:24-30
Daniel first tells Arioch in order to preserve the lives of the other wise men
Arioch claims credit for finding Daniel - pointing out Daniel was not among the other wise men

16. Daniel Informs the King Daniel 2:24-30
Verse 27 - Daniel points out and reinforces the fact the previous wise men were impotent in the matter
The king’s test had proven them to be limited despite claims of supernatural power and ability

17. Daniel Informs the King Daniel 2:24-30
Verse 28,29 - Daniel makes it clear that the source of the revelation was the “God of the heavens”
The Babylonian gods were controlled by the heavens, but the true God controls the heavens
Daniel emphasizes God’s power by also revealing what preceded Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams

18. Daniel Informs the King Daniel 2:24-30
Verse 30 - Daniel is humble giving all glory to God as the source of the revelation
This is also a gentle reminder that the king is also just a man being used by God

19. Conclusions
Only the true God can reveal the future before it happens with 100% accuracy
The God who holds the future in His hands can be trusted to keep all of His promises
Only the God of the Bible is omniscient, omnipotent and sovereign over the future

20. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ