PROPHETS - Daniel - Part 3

Snipped and Paraphrased 

Part 3 • From 2, 24-49

   So Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed over the executions of the wise men of Babylon and said, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.” …And Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to you, king, by this dream, what will be in later days. (Note: concerning great world empires involved with the history and prophecy concerning the faith.) He who reveals mysteries has made known to you the visions of your head, and what shall be. ..You saw, O king, a great statue. This image, was mighty and of exceeding brightness, and it stood before you, and its appearance was frightening [dechal - fearful, dreadful, intimidating]. The head of this image was of shining gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone that had not been formed by human hands struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, were all broken in pieces, and became like chaff blowing in the wind. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 This was the dream. And now we will tell the king its interpretation.”

     37 “You, O king, as a king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, power, might, and glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold [Babylon]. 39 Another kingdom (Media-Persia, the silver) inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze (Greece) which will rule all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom (Rome) strong as iron, because iron breaks and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all the rest. (The two legs of Rome.) 41 And as you saw the feet and toes (an ignored last days empire) partly of potter's clay and partly of iron (west), it shall become a divided kingdom, but with some of the strength of iron still in it.. 42 And as the (ten) toes (seats, divisions, “‘kings’ of the last hour”-Rev.17:12,16) were of iron and of clay, so the kingdom shall be part strong and part broken (broken by the iron?) 43 As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay. 44 But in those days the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or hurt [chabal - to destroy, hurt]. It shall stand forever ..The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

     47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of all lords, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made request of the king ..and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were appointed to seats overseeing affairs of the province. But Daniel remained at the king's court.