"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
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  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