Rigged Through Reception vv.1-16

The pagan King Nebuchadnezzar receives a dream and no one can interpret the dream but Daniel.

vv.5-6 King Nebuchadnezzar will kill those who could not interpret the dream and reward the one who could.

v.12 the wise men of the kingdom knew they couldn’t interpret the dream so they came to Daniel.

It’s Rigged Through Revelation vv. 17-30

v.28- “be in the latter days.”  Latter days means the coming of Christ.  Every time this word is used it encompasses the coming of Christ.  

It’s Rigged Through Representation vv. 31- 45

vv.31-45 Daniel Interprets the Dream

vv.32-33- Gold, iron, clay shows the progressive decrease in the value of the materials in the image from the head to the feet.  Here is the sequence of rulers over the world- Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome

Daniel tells the King the dream and interprets it.  God was only going to give Daniel the secret of the dream.

vv.37-38- The Head of Gold, refers to King Nebuchadnezzar- he ruled from Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea

It shows four empires from King Nebuchadnezzar until Christ comes!  God is rigging the stage for His glory.  God rules over kings and nations. 

Gold- Babylon.  It’s fitting for Babylon.  It was reported to have the most gold of any kingdom ever known.  A 70 year reign.

Silver- Medo-Persia empire.  Daniel doesn’t say a lot about this.  Why?  Maybe because he didn’t want to freak Neb out.  This kingdom was all about silver.  A 200 year reign.

Bronze- Greece. Made weapons.  Alexander the Great, King of all the Earth.  A 200 year reign.

Iron- Rome.  Strongest empire.  The legs are the longest part of the imagine and the Roman empire lasted the longest. A 500 year reign.

Clay- It will not last.  It is not strong, it doesn’t hold with the other metals, it is tiny pieces of material worn down from these other materials.  Is clay a representation of American, a mighty Kingdom or nation?  I believe God is setting the last scene on the stage for His return.  I believe destruction in the last days, persecution in the last days will be a tool He uses to call His children to Himself.  Paul shares this about His people of Israel.    

Romans 9:20-23 “20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.”

Are you ready for this?  He will not wait for us!  Today is the day of salvation!

Romans 13:11 “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.”

It’s Rigged For His Recognition vv.46-49

Daniel is promoted here, but look at verse 47!  Who is recognized here?  God, the ruler of everything. 

Philippians 2:10 “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Who are you trying to glorify?  Yourself or God?  Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”