Daniel 2:25 | Dream Explained: Statue, Stone & God's Eternal Kingdom
Memory Verse
Then Arioch in haste brought Daniel before the king, and thus he said to him, “I have found a man from the sons of the captives of Judah who will make known the interpretation to the king (Daniel 2:25).
After hearing Arioch’s announcement concerning Daniel’s ability to tell the king the dream and its interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar asks Daniel whether this statement is true (Daniel 2:26). Daniel responds by declaring that there is God in heaven who reveals secrets. Although all the wise men, astrologers, magicians, and soothsayers of his kingdom could not declare the dream to the king, the true God of heaven has revealed the dream and its interpretation to him (Daniel 2:27–28).
The thoughts that came to the king while he was upon his bed reveal the secrets of what will come to pass after his kingdom (Daniel 2:29). Daniel then declares to the king that the knowledge and interpretation of the thoughts of his heart are not because he is wiser than anyone who lives. Still, they were revealed to make known the interpretation to the king (Daniel 2:30).
Daniel explains the dream the king had. Revealing a great image of a man. Its head was of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, with legs of iron and feet mixed with iron and common clay (Daniel 2:31–33). As the king watched the image, he saw a stone that was cut out without hands strike the image on the feet, breaking it into pieces. Then the stone turned into a great mountain and filled the entire earth (Daniel 2:34–35).
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream foretold of the four worldwide kingdoms of the Gentiles and their final destruction. Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold. Of all the nations of men, his nation was the greatest, for God of heaven had given him his kingdom, power, strength, and glory (Daniel 2:37–38). After Nebuchadnezzar, an inferior kingdom will rise. Another third kingdom of bronze will rule over the earth (Daniel 2:39). As for the fourth kingdom, it will be as strong as iron (Daniel 2:39). And as for the toes and feet made of iron and common clay, this will be the fourth kingdom in a weakened state because it is mixed with the seed of a common man (Daniel 2:40–43). His dream foretells of the coming ten kings and the man of lawlessness, who will not be from royal lineage (Revelation 17:12). In their days, the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that will not be destroyed, not left to other people (Daniel 2:44).
God has revealed to Nebuchadnezzar what will come to pass concerning the kingdoms of men and the final kingdom which is from God (Daniel 2:44). Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, as the head of gold, will be the greatest of the kingdoms of men. After his kingdom, Medo-Persia will rise, then Greece, followed by the Roman Empire. Nebuchadnezzar is at the beginning; today we are on the other end, waiting for the coming of the ten kings and the man of lawlessness. The Roman Empire, the legs of Iron, has risen, but the ten toes of the Roman Empire will not be manifested until God has finished building His Church. Once the Church is removed from the earth, the ten kings will rise to bring the man of lawlessness on the scene to rule the world (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12).
Because the Church is not appointed unto any wrath from God (1 Thessalonians 5:9), they will not see or know who the man of lawlessness will be. For the Church is appointed to salvation, and the man of lawlessness cannot rise until after the Church is resurrected and abiding in Heaven. Therefore, this dream and its interpretation are not to cause fear to the Christian. God has revealed to us the things that will come to pass, which result in happiness for those who understand them (Revelation 1:3).