Daniel 2

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. (Daniel 2:1 KJV)

Have you ever had a dream which bothered you? Perhaps a nightmare? Everyone dreams, and we’re told we dream every night even if we don’t remember. One night Nebuchadnezzar recognized the extraordinary significance of his dream, which disturbed him greatly.

God commonly used dreams in the Old Testament era to communicate with people. However, it’s not common today as we have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When David prayed “take not thy Holy Spirit from me” he meant it — in the Old Testament the Spirit came and went (recall Samson and others); we easily forget our advantage over Old Testament people.

It’s interesting God chose a Gentile to reveal the future of the world to; Nebuchadnezzar’s dream shows all the world empires until the end of time. Why didn’t God simply reveal it to Daniel (as He did later in Chapter 7)? I don’t know. Once again, God has His own reasons for His methods, and we don’t always see or understand why. But using a Gentile was not without precedent in the Old Testament — recall Balaam (and his donkey) in Numbers 22; God uses anyone or anything he chooses to accomplish His goals.

Then the king commanded to summon the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. (Daniel 2:2–3 KJV)

Before we get into the dream itself, it’s useful to understand Nebuchadnezzar inherited these guys from his father. He hasn’t worked with them much and in the back of his mind must wonder if they can do the job. He’ll need advisors as he governs, but can they perform as they claim? Is their advice useful? The dream provides an opportunity to test them; most commentators believe the king knew the dream but had no idea what it meant — he’s lying to test them. If he didn’t recall the dream at all, how would he know if they got it right?

Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in Aramaic, O king, live for ever; tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. (Daniel 2:4 KJV)

The interpretation can easily be faked given the content of the dream. But if you knew the dream itself, that displayed your skill. The Chaldeans used books to tell what dreams meant — you looked up symbols and the corresponding meanings. But how do you know it’s right? That’s Nebuchadnezzar’s problem; anyone could make up the interpretation, but how do you authenticate it?

Recall a story in Matthew 5 as the people bring a paralytic man to Jesus. Instead of healing him, Jesus says “your sins are forgiven”. Naturally, the scribes protest Jesus blasphemes, as who can forgive sins but God? Jesus responds by healing the man stating to the scribes so they may know He has power to forgive sins, He said rise and walk; the story validates Jesus’ authority to forgive sins.

If someone says your sins are forgiven (and claims to be God), how do you authenticate it? By doing something only God could do. That’s the point — by something miraculous you validate the unconfirmable. That’s what Nebuchadnezzar asks of his guys; validate the truth of your claims by something ordinary people can’t do. If you do that, I’ll know you have the correct interpretation.

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, the thing is gone from me. If ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a refuse heap. (Daniel 2:5 KJV)

Nebuchadnezzar needs to know if these guys possess the abilities they claim, so he provides a little motivation.

But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor; therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. (Daniel 2:6 KJV)

High stakes in this game. It’s feast or famine. Live or die. The carrot and the stick. If these guys possess the ability to perform, they’ve got sufficient motivation to do it — it’s Nebuchadnezzar’s professional development program. He’s got to deal with these guys; he must determine if they’re good or if he should fire them all and get new advisors.

They answered again and said, let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it. (Daniel 2:7 KJV)

Nothing like this was ever asked before; they understood the impossibility of accomplishing what the king asked. In other words, they knew they were frauds.

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed; therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof. (Daniel 2:8–9 KJV)

If they can’t tell the dream, what other advice should the king follow from these guys? They’re inept and not to be trusted; Nebuchadnezzar wants to verify these guys are worth the effort.

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, there is not a man upon the earth that can reveal the king’s matter; therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can reveal it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. (Daniel 2:10–11 KJV)

Truth comes from the impostors. They know they’re frauds, and what the king asks only God can do. A true God can (and does) tell unknown things and future events, which separates the true God from all others. Who can correctly tell future events? It’s no problem for the true God, while a phony simply can’t always be right. In fact, in Isaiah God Himself declares this as the differentiator.

Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought; an abomination is he that chooseth you. (Isaiah 41:21–24 KJV)

So how do you know your god is God? That’s a very important question. Many candidate gods exist, how do you choose one? Apply the test from Isaiah to candidates and see who predicts future events with certainty; God’s Word proclaims future events with 100% accuracy — we’ve already discussed Daniel’s book contains such accurate prophecy critics try to late-date it after the events took place (as critics deny the existence of god).

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. (Daniel 2:12–13 KJV)

That group included Daniel and he would have been executed with the impostors as Nebuchadnezzar displays little tolerance for dissension. Once he makes a decision, that’s it. He’s certainly disgusted with the performance of his advisors so he decides to eliminate them and start with a new group. By his order they begin to round up everyone in that job description, which included Daniel.

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. (Daniel 2:14–15 KJV)

Daniel’s wondering why all the chaos as Arioch informs Daniel of recent events, and instead of panicking Daniel has an idea. Did Daniel pray about this first, or just believe and have confidence God would deliver him? We don’t know, but I lean on the probability Daniel believed God would provide him the necessary knowledge.

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. (Daniel 2:16 KJV)

Daniel gets extra time the others didn’t. Already Nebuchadnezzar sees a difference between Daniel and the others, treating him differently. Maybe Nebuchadnezzar was skeptical, but likely just wanted to know the dream’s meaning, so is willing to give Daniel a try.

God’s people are always a little different. Your life (without telling anyone you’re a Christian) should show to people something different. If you’re the same as everyone else, you’ve failed the course. As Chuck Missler says, if we ever get to the time when Christians are hauled into court, will there be enough evidence to convict you? Or are you an undercover Christian? Stealthy?

Christians running their own business have an even higher fiduciary duty to act and live Godly lives. Sadly, many fail this duty; we wonder how many people reject Christianity due to the actions of Christians. Nobody should judge God by Christians — we’re all imperfect and sinners by nature. A sad situation exists as many reject the salvation of Jesus Christ due to the actions of some misguided people calling themselves Christians.

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions; that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:17–18 KJV)

Quite a prayer meeting. It’s easy to lose focus during prayer, but with these circumstances focus would not be a problem. Daniel enlists his friends as well, he knows more intercession is better, and Daniel never tries to go it alone or grab credit for himself.

Yet Daniel didn’t know what would happen or if God would save them. Daniel trusted God, and knew no matter what happened, leaving the future to God proves the wisest strategy (his friends share the same characteristic as we’ll see in chapter three). Trusting God is easy when events work themselves out, or you see the solution, but what if things don’t go your way? That’s when you find out if you trust the Lord.

Many people ask, why are some healed, and others not? Why do some suffer, and others not? I’ve learned the answer to the question is simply I don’t know. I don’t understand why events unfold as they do, and why some are spared and others not. But instead of trying to understand earthly events, we need the the divine viewpoint.

The classic example comes from Job, after virtually everything he has disappears in the first few chapters. The next 35 chapters his friends bloviate about why God might have done this — does he have sin or something else? And through 35 chapters no answer comes. The book of Job never answers what many consider the primary question — why do the innocent suffer. It’s not until late in the book the real answer comes from God (chapter 38:2–6, 40:8–9 and so on) as God finally intervenes and asks Job, where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? In other words, I’m God, and you’re not; Job finally obtains the divine viewpoint.

We don’t always know why things happen. It might appear to us the course is wrong, but as Bill Ritchie says “If God is God, then God is God”. We need the divine viewpoint, and Job’s conversation with God provides it. Don’t look for understanding as it won’t come; man can’t provide reasons for why bad things happen.

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his, and he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding; He revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee; for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter. (Daniel 2:19–23 KJV)

Daniel prays casually and simply. It’s easy to get caught up in many words, but God doesn’t hear your many words or consider your actions, it’s the attitude of your heart that counts. If you like to pray in thee’s and thou’s, fine. Just don’t think God considers your prayer more because of your Olde English. It’s the heart.

The Bible provides examples of brief prayers obtaining considerable results. Consider 1 Kings 18:21–38 as Elijah battles the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Baal’s prophets number four hundred and fifty, while Elijah stands alone (humanly speaking). The challenge is simple — each side builds an alter, calling on their god to send fire. Whichever god answers by fire, he is the true god.

The prophets of Baal spend most of the day calling on their god to no avail. Nobody listens or responds. When it’s Elijah’s turn, he prays briefly asking God to reveal He is the true God. And the fire of God fell consuming the alter, the sacrifice, and even the stones. But it wasn’t the many words or effort of Elijah prompting God to act, it’s the attitude of the heart. The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus unto him; destroy not the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king, and I will reveal unto the king the interpretation. (Daniel 2:24 KJV)

It turns out Daniel saves the life of all the phony magicians, but they don’t show much gratitude as later in Daniel’s life the people he saves try and get him killed. Politics hasn’t changed much.

Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. (Daniel 2:25 KJV)

I have found? Did Arioch find Daniel? Contrast Arioch’s attitude with Daniel’s. Arioch attempts to take credit before the king for a minor role — finding someone to perform the king’s request. Yet before the king Daniel refuses to take any glory for fulfilling the king’s request.

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? (Daniel 2:26 KJV)

Here’s a chance to build yourself up — are you the guy? It would be easy for Daniel to take credit as the king provides a perfect setup. Yet all through his life Daniel remains humble and gives the glory to God.

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, the secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, reveal unto the king; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (Daniel 2:27–28 KJV)

Daniel doesn’t draw attention to himself — he’s transparent. He doesn’t even say God revealed it as he woke up one morning. He simply states the existence of God, and He reveals secrets, and has spoken to the king about the latter days. Even with a setup from the king, Daniel refuses the opportunity to promote himself, as the disciple John reminds us “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” The lesson is pride; don’t take the glory for yourself. If people notice you, you’ve failed. You should be transparent so people only see God.

As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter; and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. (Daniel 2:29–30 KJV)

Daniel prefaces his comments by stating he’s not special for this knowledge, but God provided it so the king will understand the dream. God could use anyone for this task; Daniel holds no special characteristics requiring God to use him over someone else. We all have talents and gifts from God; the possession of a skill or knowledge does not mean we’re superior than others. Remember, God used Balam’s donkey to proclaim His message.

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form of it was terrible. (Daniel 2:31 KJV)

Most commentators believe the image was mountain-sized and set behind a backdrop of mountains which may give the king the bad idea for the events in chapter three (Nebuchadnezzar frequently changed with whatever seemed good at the time). You need to be anchored or you’re open to deception and impression. Paul reminds us in Hebrews 2 to be firmly anchored or we’re likely to drift away.

The antidote for deception and drifting follows after knowledge of your Bible; when deception comes you’ll identify it. But only by studying the truth will you acquire the ability to detect a lie. Too many Christians lack this basic skill as they neglect the study of God’s Word.

This image’s head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay. (Daniel 2:32–33 KJV)

The order of metals appears in decreasing specific gravity as well as monetary worth, as the following chart displays.

	Specific Gravity	Value
Gold	19.3	$670/oz
Silver	10.5	$14/oz
Bronze	8.0	?
Iron	7.5	?
Iron + Clay	< 5 (clay is about 2)	dig it up outside

Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. (Daniel 2:34 KJV)

Acts 4:11, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:4 and elsewhere shows the stone as Jesus Christ. The first thing you should realize is who wins?

Then was the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:35 KJV)

Not only defeated, but crushed. Isaiah 64:6 compares our righteousness to filthy rags; anything we offer to God is worthless, and that includes our government. We may think we’re good, but in God’s view our works provide no value.

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. (Daniel 2:36 KJV)

Daniel doesn’t pause to ask if he gave the dream correctly — he knew he did as he had confidence in what God says. I wonder how many of us wouldn’t pause a bit to see if we got it right? Daniel had no doubts so moves directly to what the king wanted — the interpretation.

Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (Daniel 2:37–38 KJV)

Jeremiah 27:6 specifically mentions God gave them all to Nebuchadnezzar. He didn’t conquer from military skill, intelligence, or wealth. The base for the king’s success was God and Daniel makes this clear. Since the head of gold represents Nebuchadnezzar, he’s the best — all others following will be inferior. Babylon ruled between 605–562 BC.

And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee … (Daniel 2:39a KJV)

Persia conquerors Babylon and rules from 539–330 BC. In Daniel 5:28–31 as Daniel interprets the handwriting on the wall for Belshazzar, he informs the king the Persians will conquer his kingdom. Of course, the prophecy is completely correct.

Persia was inferior in at least one way; not even the King could change a law once written. It’s how Daniel gets in the Lions den, as in chapter six the King tries to save Daniel but is reminded he can’t change the law. Contrast the Persians with Nebuchadnezzar who had ultimate authority and could do anything he wanted.

… and another third kingdom of bronze, which shall bear rule over all the earth. (Daniel 2:39b KJV)

Bronze represents Greece and Alexander the Great (332 BC). Daniel 11:1–4 predicts those events.

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. (Daniel 2:40 KJV)

Iron represents Rome who conquered in 70 BC. But who conquers Rome? Nobody, it fell apart from corruption. Rome was noted for brutality, yet in spite of that brutality they maintained law and order.

And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. (Daniel 2:41 KJV)

This is not a fifth kingdom, it’s the fourth (Rome) rebuilt in a separate phase which is still yet future. How do we know? Daniel himself doesn’t identify it as a fifth kingdom in chapter two; in Daniel 7 we see the same sequence but as God sees it (nasty beasts compared to shiny valuable metals). Many Bibles will cross-reference the verses in chapter 7 back to chapter 2.

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings; I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:1–8 KJV)

Only four beasts appear in chapter 7; the same events display from two different frames of reference — man’s and God’s. From man’s view it appears five kingdoms exist since thousands of years passed and the rebuilt Roman empire hasn’t yet appeared. But since God exists outside time He doesn’t see the difference between two phases of the Roman empire.

The key is nobody conquered Rome — it disintegrated from within. Since then, many tried for world dominion and failed. Spain, England, Germany (twice), etc. All failed. But a revived Roman empire will reappear.

And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not adhere one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Daniel 2:42–43 KJV)

Clay generally represents people, so the second phase holds together by people, or treaty if you will. It will not be a single entity, but a conglomeration of nations and will not be stable (compare chapter 7 with chapter 2). But one guy comes forward and pulls it together. Known as the Antichrist, but better known as the coming world leader (most scholars believe he’s alive today). What are his characteristics? (From Chuck Missler, “Daniel’s 70 weeks”, page 10)

• Intellectual genius: Daniel 7:20, 8:23, Ezekiel 28:3
• Persuasive orator: Daniel 7:20, Revelation 13:2
• Shrewd political manipulator: Daniel 11:21
• Successful commercial genius: Daniel 8:25, Revelation 13:17, Psalm 52:7, Daniel 11:38, 43, Ezekiel 28:4–5
• Forceful military leader: Daniel 8:24, Revelation 6:2, Revelation 13:4
• Powerful organizer: Revelation 13:1–2, 17:17
• Unifying religious guru: 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13:3,14,15

He’s called many things through the Bible: Antichrist, man of sin, lawless one, prince of darkness, son of perdition, prince that shall come, idol shepherd, and so on. The Antichrist is the popular title, but the Bible generally doesn’t speak of him that way. If you’re focused on the antichrist, you’ll miss many references to him. Consider a few things about this guy the Bible does reveal.

Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come the falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 KJV)

Two of his titles appear in this letter, so we know who Paul speaks of. But Paul includes a note that this guy will appear in the temple and demand to be worshiped as God. This act has a specific title — the abomination of desolation. In Matthew 24 Jesus speaks of the same event, and in a comment in the text you are admonished to understand. Some people fear prophecy and end times, yet you are called to understand. Why? So you won’t be deceived.

Paul says let no one deceive you; a time will come when you will be openly lied to (many would say that time is now, but it will get worse). If you’re young you’ve grown up with deception and corruption — even in our nation’s highest office. It used to be a handshake could seal even large and complex deals without legions of lawyers. But those times are gone.

One example of deception comes from the political world — that of “budget cuts”. When a politician speaks of budget cuts, it doesn’t mean what normal people think of. Most would think if you had $100, and you were cut monetarily, you end up with less than $100. But not in the alternative reality politicians live in. In that fantasy land, if a budget is $100 million, and next year they get $120 million, but wanted $130 million, that’s a “cut” of $10 million (not an increase of $20 million). Absurd, isn’t it? But don’t believe it, just watch the news and you’ll see this slight of hand all the time. The fantasy land of politics provides an example of Orwellian doublethink, defined in the book “1984”.

The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. … To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth. (Orwell, George “Nineteen Eighty-Four” page 35, 176–177)

But deception will get so bad the only thing saving you comes from your knowledge of God’s Word. As a believer in the inerrant Word of God you will be unpopular and non politically-correct. In fact, most of the church will buy into the deception — all those churches not needing new pastors after the rapture.

That’s not being harsh, it’s just a fact. Jesus said not all in the church are true when He gave the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:24–30. Many people misunderstand the parables in Matthew 13; they don’t mean the church will take over the world, but the church will be impure. In this parable, we don’t need to guess the meaning as Jesus Himself gives the interpretation in verses 36–43. The tares (which grow with the wheat) are the workers of satan!

But specific deceptions only come in the tribulation after the rapture (so we won’t see them), but don’t make the mistake life continues on its easy course until then. Not so, deception continues to increase daily. The pre-trib position can cause people to think before it gets tough we’re out of here. Not necessarily so. Persecution followed most of the church for most of history, while the United States has mostly escaped it; no guarantee exists that state will last.

And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:8–9)

Satan himself puts all his effort into this guy, and he doesn’t make it. Another misconception (even among Christians), concerns the awaiting epic battle between satan and God. A final conflict will occur, but it’s not much of a battle. Consider also what John says in Revelation13:1–5.

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. (Revelation 13:1–5 KJV)

Does that sound familiar? Leopard, bear, lion? Daniel 7? Revelation 13 ties in with this vision in chapter two. Notice the consistency of idioms and how all tie together throughout the Bible. Chuck Missler says the Bible is an integrated message system — even though 40 authors wrote over thousands of years.

42 months equals 3 1/2 years, another clue to the length of time of the great tribulation. Bible prophecy uses 360 day years, so a period of 3 1/2 years can be given several ways.

• 42 months — Revelation 11:2,13:5
• 1,260 days — Revelation 11:3,12:6
• Half of one week (literally “sevens”) — Daniel 9:27
• Times, time and half a time — Daniel 12:7

So, with a brief introduction to deception and the antichrist, we’ll get back to Daniel.

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44 KJV)

Revelation 19:11–16 fills in details Daniel doesn’t provide.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11–16 KJV)

Daniel concludes by giving the king notice God gave him knowledge of what will come, and the certainty of the interpretation.

Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter; and the dream is certain, and the interpretation of it sure. (Daniel 2:45 KJV)

And made known to us as well as Daniel ties in with all other prophecy. By studying the Bible as a complete and integrated message, you’ll notice other passages illuminate and expand on others. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in your Bible study is not allowing the Bible to comment on itself. In Daniel chapter two, notice how many details appear elsewhere in the Bible.

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him. (Daniel 2:46 KJV)

Nebuchadnezzar gives glory to Daniel instead of God. As already seen, Nebuchadnezzar can be easily swayed by whatever appears before him; he lacks a foundation in anything.

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, of a truth it is, that your God is the God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. (Daniel 2:47 KJV)

Nebuchadnezzar is a little fickle — he follows anything which seems good at the time. Here he’s right, but in chapter three he gets off track.

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. (Daniel 2:48–49 KJV)

Daniel rises to the top of the government. Not only under Nebuchadnezzar, but later in the Persian empire as well.