Daniel Completes His Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.” Daniel 2:44-45

THE TEN TOES

The clay/iron empire of the ten toes is yet to come. The kingdom of the Antichrist will be a “revived Roman Empire.” The Antichrist will lead a coalition of ten nations according to the Revelation 17:12-13. This prophecy corresponds to the statue’s ten toes. Remember that the statue had five toes on each foot and the Roman Empire had two capitals. There will be support for the Antichrist from both groups in Europe as well as in the Middle East and Western Asia.

And we know that Christ will defeat the forces of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:14). After that, Jesus will set up His kingdom—the rock smashes the image—and the kingdoms of this world will “become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

DANIEL MADE THE RULER OVER BABYLON

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.

Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court. Daniel 2:46-49

The king fell before Daniel and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. Nebuchadnezzar was not worshipping Daniel but probably believed that there was a divine presence in him that enabled Daniel to both tell him his dream and interpret it.

Just as Joseph was raised to a royal position of governor over Egypt and given many gifts for interpreting Pharaoh’s two dreams, Daniel was made ruler over the province of Babylon and was placed in charge of all its wise men for interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The LORD exalted two Hebrew captives to positions of influence in world empires because of their devotion to Him. The LORD worked their terrible circumstances for their good and His glory.