4/7/12

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" Chapter Two by Mark Copeland

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL"

                             Chapter Two        

Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, challenging his would-be interpreters to
first tell him the contents of the dream (1-13).  God reveals the dream
to Daniel (14-23) who then interprets it for the king (24-45). 
Impressed, the king promotes Daniel, and in turn, his three friends
(46-49).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The kingdoms represented by the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream

   *  The kingdom which shall never be destroyed:  its identity and
      establishment

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Nebuchadnezzar's dream - Dan 2:1-13
   - God reveals the dream to Daniel - Dan 2:14-23
   - Daniel interprets the dream - Dan 2:24-45
   - Daniel and his friends are promoted - Dan 2:46-49

2) How does Nebuchadnezzar determine who can really interpret his
   dream? (1-13)
   - By requiring that one first be able to tell him what his dream was
     about

3) How was Daniel able to reveal the dream and its interpretation?
   (17-23)
   - In answer to prayer, God revealed the dream and its interpretation
     to him

4) What are the key elements of Nebuchadnezzar's dream?  (31-35)
   - A great image with head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and
     thighs of bronze, legs of iron with feet of iron and clay mixed
   - A small stone made without hands striking the image in its feet,
     destroying it, then becoming a great mountain that filled the earth

5) What was the interpretation of the dream? (36-45)
   - The image represented four successive kingdoms, starting with
     Babylon
   - The fourth kingdom would be strong like iron, but ultimately
     unstable
   - In the days of the fourth kingdom God would establish an
     indestructible kingdom 

6) What do the four kingdoms of this dream likely represent?
   - Head of gold:  Babylon empire (606-539 B.C.)
   - Chest and arms of silver:  Medo-Persian empire (539-331 B.C.)
   - Belly and thighs of bronze:  Greek empire (331-63 B.C.)
   - Legs of iron with feet of iron and clay mixed:  Roman empire (63
     B.C.-397 A.D.)

7) What indestructible kingdom does the stone represent? (44-45)
   - The kingdom of God proclaimed by Christ - Mk 1:15; Mt 28:18
   - Christ's reign begun when He ascended to heaven - Ep 1:19-23; Re
     1:5,9; 2:26-27