One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. ² He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, ³ he said, “I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means.” (Daniel 2:1-3 NLT)

• He has had this recurring disturbing dream for months and he has no idea what it means. But he knows that this dream is significant to his rule, his kingdom!
• The Babylonian culture was deeply engrained in the paranormal, in sorcery, astrology. They relied heavily in those mediums to predict the future for their nation.

In the next few verses King Nebu expresses his frustration towards his astrologers, and sorcerers. He wants them not only to tell him the meaning of his dreams but he also wants them to tell him its contents. If they could not do it, the king threatened them: “you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble”

After a series of back and forth the King came to this conclusion: they were all phonies. He sends out a decree for the execution of all wise men of Babylon- including Daniel and his buddies. (verse 14-16)

¹⁴ When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, DANIEL HANDLED THE SITUATION WITH WISDOM AND DISCRETION. ¹⁵ He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. ¹⁶ Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.

• The main thing that catches our attention here: Daniel’s character. He handled this crisis here with WISDOM, DISCRETION, TACT.
• GOD CAN USE A CRISIS TO DEVELOP YOUR CHARACTER
• God is more interested in the development of your character than He is in your promotion

WITHOUT CHARACTER YOU CANNOT SUSTAIN THE CALLING GOD HAS FOR YOU

• Daniel could have cowered down in fear and begged for his life but instead he allowed his faith to answer
• When an impossible situation comes knocking at your door, who do you allow to answer that door? Your faith or your fear.

WHICHEVER YOU’VE BEEN FEEDING THE MOST WILL RESPOND

¹⁷ Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. ¹⁸ HE URGED THEM TO ASK THE GOD OF HEAVEN TO SHOW THEM HIS MERCY BY TELLING THEM THE SECRET, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:17-18 NLT)

• FAITH WILL CAUSE YOU TO RUN TO GOD FOR ANSWERS

²⁹ “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He (God) who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. ³⁰ And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart. (Daniel 2:29-30 NLT)

• Daniel immediately points to the fact that this dream came from God
• The statue represents world governing empires
  • Head of Gold: Babylonian Empire- King Nebu himself (605-539 B.C)
  • Chest and Arms of Silver: Medo-Persian Empire (539-331 B.C)
  • Belly and Thighs of Bronze: Greek Empire (331-168 B.C)
  • Legs of Iron: Roman Empire (168 B.C – 476 A.D)
  • Feet of Iron and Clay: Represents a fragmented Roman Empire (476 A.D – Now)

The Feet of Iron and Clay represents the nations of our current times. Not a new empire, but a divided Roman Empire.

⁴¹ The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron. ⁴² But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay. ⁴³ This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.

• There will be many attempts to revive the Roman Empire, but according to this vision, they will not succeed.
• “But they will not hold together just as iron and clay don’t mix”

NOTE: I want you to observe the decline of each Kingdom based on the value of each metal: gold, silver, bronze, iron. Even the iron mix with clay.

This decline represents the decline in our morals, values, ethics, and beliefs. From the Babylonian Empire to our current times. Both at the opposite sides of the spectrum.

• You might think that it is quite a stretch to even compare the Babylonian culture with us today in our modern state.
• But if we follow that linear logic, this prophetic vision is saying that the Babylonian civilization is morally, ethically, and even spiritually better than ours.
• Let me let you in on a little fact: Astrology, palm reading, horoscope, etc is pretty big business here in America ($2bn a year industry)
• In times of uncertainty, people are turning to astrology instead of the Word of Truth
• The Babylonian culture believed in the sacrifice of their own children
• Let me let you in on another little fact: According to the WHO, every year in the world there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions. That’s 125,000 per day.

⁴⁴ “During the reigns of those kings, THE GOD OF HEAVEN WILL SET UP A KINGDOM THAT WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED OR CONQUERED. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. ⁴⁵ That is the meaning of THE ROCK cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. THE GREAT GOD WAS SHOWING THE KING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. THE DREAM IS TRUE, AND ITS MEANING IS CERTAIN.” (Daniel 2:44-45 NLT)

TRANSITION: Our landing spot this morning is not the Kingdoms: gold, silver, bronze, iron, or even the iron mix with clay. But it’s on THE ROCK. The Sovereign Kingdom of God.

• Our God is in control and sovereign over all.
• Before Daniel stood in front of the king to reveal the mystery of this dream, I want you to  hear Daniel’s prayer in his prayer closet: ²¹ HE CONTROLS THE COURSE OF WORLD EVENTS; he removes kings and sets up other kings. (Daniel 2:21 NLT)
• God controls the course of the world events. God is in control!
• No matter what your struggles are, God’s got it!
• No matter what your fears are, God’s got it!
• No matter how chaotic, confusing it might be, God’s got it!
• GOD’S GOT IT…BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…GOD’S GOT YOU!

CONCLUSION: What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?