'Book of Daniel'
Dan 2:27-29 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.
Daniel explained to the king that it is beyond the bounds of possibility to reveal another person's dream. The ability is exclusive to God alone. Daniel prohibited the king from worshipping him as God. He made it clear that it was God who gave the king the dream, and it was God who revealed it to Daniel.
Dan 2:31-33 "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay."
When Daniel construed the dream accurately, the king began to grasp of the ability of God. Pagan kings perceived themselves as gods because of the absolute power and authority that they wield over their subjects. The great image in the dream represents the kingdoms before the Messiah establishes His Millennium Rule.
1. Head of gold – Babylonian Empire
2. Chest and 2 Arms of silver – Medi-Persian Empire
3. Belly and Tights of bronze – Grecian Empire
4. Legs of iron – Roman Empire
5. Feet of iron and clay – Islamic Ottoman Empire - metal (military) and clay (religion) giving a weak combination or a politically weak Empire.
Dan 2:41-42 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
Dan 2:46-48 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret."
Can you imagine the great king Nebuchadnezzar bowing down to Daniel, a captive? Well, he was convinced that Yahweh the God of the Israelites is the Almighty God, the Creator of the heaven and the earth.
Similarly because of our sacrifices and love for God, unbelievers and misled Christians will respect us when they see His empowering causing us to do great exploits for Him.
Rev 3:9-10 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
