KEYS OF THE KINGDOM STUDY GUIDES

Daniel Two – Part Two • “Preying or Praying?”

 Don Mackintosh 2006

Review & Introduction

Read Daniel 2:29-36
In our first lessons we discovered that giving our hearts to God as Daniel did is the first
key to true success. In our last lesson we saw that the second key for continued spiritual 5. What did God give Daniel in addition to remembrance of the dream?
success is found through maintaining connection with God. We saw that there were two Note: Daniel not only saw the dream, but was given assurance concerning the interpretation. In verse
groups of people that surrounded King Nebuchadnezzar: Those who lied and preyed on 29 he says, “he has made known to you what will be.” In verse 36 he again says, “we will tell the in-
the king and those who told the truth and prayed for the king. terpretation.” With Daniel there was no wavering. As a result of his prayers, God was able to give
the king a message concerning the future. The Bible says, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
In this lesson we will see that the third key in having true success is found by allowing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7
God to increase our faith through the study of Bible prophecy. The prophecy of Daniel
two is the key that helps us understand the rest of the prophecies in the book of Daniel. As
Read Daniel 2:37-38
we study, we will see that what God told Daniel would happen 2,500 years in advance has
happened, just as He said it would. This prophecy comes down to our day and tells how 6. What did the head of gold depict?
the world will end
Note: Babylon was indeed a city of gold. Listen to how Herodotus describes the temple of Marduk,:
“the great figure of Marduk, all of gold on a golden throne, supported on a base of gold, with a
Read Daniel 2:2 golden table standing beside it. I was told by the Chaldeans that to make all this, more than 22 tons
of gold were used...” It is no wonder that Nebuchadnezzar could say that he “covered its wall with
1. What did some teachers use in Daniel’s day to discern the future? sparkling gold, I caused it to shine like the sun.” This is why the Lord used gold to depict Babylon
Note: Consulting with images, the use of divining rods or arrows, and the cutting open of livers which ruled from 606-538 B.C.
to see into the future were seen as very profitable.
Read Daniel 2:39
Read Amos 3:7 7. What is the next kingdom that arose?
2. What did God use to help His people see into the future? Note: The fact that another kingdom would conquer Babylon may have come as a shock to the king.
3. How can we understand what the Bible is saying for ourselves? (1 Corinthians 2:12- But because of what he had just been through with the ‘wise’ men of Babylon, he almost had to lis-
ten. The Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 538 B.C. They ruled until 331 B.C. The dream de-
16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Acts 17:11; Isaiah 28:10; Luke 24:27) picts this world empire as silver. The Medes and Persians were known for silver and had silver cur -
Note: The Bible is full of truth that can only be understood with the Holy Spirit’s help. This is rency.
especially true when the subject is prophecy that is of no ‘private interpretation’. We need to be
like those mentioned by Paul who searched the Scriptures ‘daily’ to see whether or not the Read Isaiah 45:1
things we are told are true. As we compare Scripture with Scripture as did Jesus when studying
with his disciples, we will more clearly understand Bible prophecy and the living Christ to 8. What had God revealed 150 years earlier about the time of Daniel?
whom it points.
Note: The Cyrus Cylinder, which was discovered in the 1800’s tells the story of how the Persian
general Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. as foretold in Isaiah chapter 45! It tells about how the
Read Daniel 2:19-21 river Euphrates was dried up just as Isaiah said would happen. We will study more about this in
chapter five of Daniel.
4. What did Daniel learn as a result of his time of prayer?
Note: God is the one who removes and sets up kings. Through prayer and Bible study God had Read Daniel 2:39
allowed Daniel to be truly wise and knowledgeable. As a result of his devotional life he could
now approach the king. 9. What did the thighs of bronze represent?
Note: The next kingdom to arise, as history books will attest, was Greece. It was in power from 331
B.C. to 168 B.C. It is interesting to note that the metal used in much of Greek armor was brass.
There will be more information about the Grecian empire when we study Daniel chapters seven and
eleven.
 Page 2 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 2

Read Luke 20:17-18

1. How can we be ready like those pictured by the prophet Isaiah?
Read Daniel 2:40 Note: Fall on the Rock and be broken which means we must give our heart to Jesus and surrender
our will to Him.
10. What about the legs of iron?
Note: “...the images of gold, or silver, or brass, that might serve to represent the nations and Let Us Summarize
their kings, were successively broken by the iron monarchy of Rome.” ( Decline and Fall of the
Roman Empire, E. Gibbons, pg. 437,438.) Rome was to rule from 168 B.C. until 476 A.D. In our first lessons we discovered that giving our hearts to God as Daniel did is the first step
to true success. In our last lesson we saw that the second step for continued spiritual success is
Read Daniel 2:41,42 found through maintaining connection with God. We saw that there were two groups of people
that surrounded King Nebuchadnezzar: Those who lied and preyed on the king and those who
11. What was to happen to the powerful empire of Rome? told the truth and prayed for the king.
Note: Leading up to and following the fall of Rome in 476 A.D., barbarian tribes invaded the In this lesson we saw that the third step in having true success is found by allowing God to
land. The ten divisions seen by most historians are as follows: Alamani, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, increase our faith through the study of Bible prophecy. The prophecy of Daniel two is the key
Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Heruli, Anglo-Saxons, and Lombards. Seven of these na- that helps us understand the rest of the prophecies in the book of Daniel. We saw that what
tions still exist today. When we study Daniel seven, you will see what happened to the three na-
tions that don’t exist today.
God told Daniel would happen 2,500 years in advance has happened, just as He said it would.
This prophecy comes down to our day and tells how the world will end
Read Daniel 2:43
Suggested Memory Text
12. Would there be attempts to reunite the Roman empire?
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the
Note: Attempts have been made to unify Europe many times. The Hapsburg dynasty tried to prophets.” Amos 3:7
unify it through marriage. Charlemagne, Charles V, Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm & Hitler, all
tried through war. But none succeeded. Why? Because God’s Word is infallible and we can de-
pend on it. Next Time
Next time we will study a fascinating chapter which shows how God will use His command-
Read Daniel 2:35,44 ment keeping and loyal children to bring others to a knowledge of Him at the end of time. We
will discover amazing connections between Daniel and Revelation. You will see how you can
13. What is the meaning of the Stone Kingdom the king saw in vision?
claim God’s promises and come to a better understanding of Jesus’ presence in your life.
Note: Jesus second coming and setting up His eternal kingdom
Commitment Questions
Read 1 Corinthians 10:4
 Have you taken the first step of giving your heart to Jesus?
14. Who is the Rock?
 Are you taking the second step by daily staying in contact with God through
Note: Jesus prayer?
 Has taking the third step, the study of Bible prophecy, increased your faith in God?
Read Matthew 13:38,39
15. When will Jesus return?
Note: At the end of the age.

Read Revelation 6:14-16, Isaiah 25:9

16. What will people do when Jesus returns?
Note: The wicked will hide in the caves and want the rocks to fall on them, and the righteous
will rejoice when they see Jesus!

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