Week 4 - The Statue of History

• Visions - pictures of things that represent real events or principles
• Poetic or metaphoric language that represents real events or principles
• Literal language that more directly represents real events or principles
• Types: Real events or people that represent other real events or principles

The Dream: Daniel 2:26-35

• 2:28 "God in heaven" - a high God, "that reveals mysteries" unlike other high gods. Belteshazar means "Bel keeper of secrets".
• 2:29 Nebuchadnezar is a young man who finds himself with an empire, and wondering what its future will be like.
• 2:31 God sees mankind as a single organism in addition to as individuals.

The nation of Israel

• ~2000 BC: - Terah leaves Ur of the Chaldees, home of the god Sin
• ~1500 BC: - Exodus from Egypt
• ~1000 years in Caanan

The times of the Gentiles

• ~600 BC: Head of Gold: Babylon - Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
• Chest and Arms of Silver: Medo-Persia - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Zechariah
• Belly of Brass: Greece - Maccabees
• 0 BC: Legs of Iron: Rome - New Testament
• Feet of Iron and Clay: Europe?
• Rock cut out without hands: Jesus

"He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare." Isaiah 8:14

"So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic." Isaiah 28:16

As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame." Romans 9:23

The Interpretation: Daniel 2:36-45

1. How many kingdoms does the text refer too? 2:40, 2:45
2. Who's is the first kingdom? 2:38
3. Do the kingdoms get better or worse? 2:39
4. What happens to these four kingdoms? 2:44
5. What destroys them? 2:44
6. When does Gods kingdom destroy these kingdoms? 2:44
7. What happens after the four kingdoms are destroyed? 2:44
8. Does it say how Gods kingdom fills the whole earth?
9. Does it say if Gods kingdom fills the whole earth at once or over a period of time?
10. Does this prophecy give any dates? 2:38
11. How long does it say the Kingdom of God will last? 2:44
12. Does it say precisely what this kingdom of God is?

    Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst." Luke 17:20,21

    for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

    Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:50

13. What Kingdom are we in now?