Nebuchadnezzar was the King of Babylon during a part of Daniel’s life. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he had a dream that deeply bothered him. The dream bothered him greatly to the point that he demanded someone tell him what it meant.
As king of Babylon at the time, he asked the wise men and astrologers to tell him what his dream meant, yet they were not able to as they said,
“There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans” (Daniel 2:10-11).
Daniel’s Role
While the wise men and astrologers couldn’t answer Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, there was somebody who could. This person was Daniel. Daniel was one of the many Jews who were taken into captivity by Babylon. Daniel was given wisdom and the ability to interpret the dream by God.
After the wise men and astrologers couldn’t interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he sentenced them to be put to death, as well as Daniel and his friends (Daniel 2:12-13). Arioch was the commander of King Nebuchadnezzar’s guard, and he was the one in charge of putting Daniel and his friends to death (Daniel 2:14).
Daniel was wise and intelligent in his interactions with Arioch. He asked Arioch why King Nebuchadnezzar would issue such a harsh decree, Arioch explained, and Daniel asked for some time to interpret the dream for King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:15-16).
After speaking with Arioch, Daniel talked with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and asked them to help him pray to God for help (Daniel 2:17-18).
Through many prayers, God revealed the answer to King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel in a dream (Daniel 2:19). Once God revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel, Daniel praises the Lord and exclaims,
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king” (Daniel 2:20-23).
Daniel praises God for His goodness and saving grace because God revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel, and it saved Daniel's and his friends’ lives.
The Meaning of the Dream
After Daniel had received the meaning of the dream, he told King Nebuchadnezzar. When Daniel comes before King Nebuchadnezzar, he tells the king that he was only able to understand the dream because the true God of Heaven revealed the meaning of the dream to him (Daniel 2:27-28).
King Nebuchadnezzar never told Daniel his dream, yet Daniel was able to interpret the entire dream because of God. Daniel first describes the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar by saying that there was a beautiful statue and that it’s head “was made of pure gold,” the chest and arms were made out of “silver,” the statues’ belly and thighs were made of “bronze,” the legs were made of “iron” and lastly, the feet consisted of “partly of iron and partly of baked clay” (Daniel 2:31-33).
Then in the dream, a rock was cut out and hit the statue and smashed the feet of iron and clay. After this, every part of the statue was broken into pieces, and the wind blew away all the pieces.
However, the rock that had hit the status transformed into a giant mountain and “filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:35). This dream hinted at a prophecy that was going to be fulfilled concerning future empires.
At first glance of this dream, we would not be able to understand the dream any more than King Nebuchadnezzar did. It is only through God revealing this mystery to Daniel that he was able to interpret it for the king.
Once Daniel accurately described the dream to the king, he was able to interpret the dream. Daniel tells the king the description that God has given him dominion over all but that soon three other empires will come and destroy his dominion (Daniel 2:37-45).
Through symbolism and allegory, the dream was pointing to the future empires that would overcome his present kingdom of Babylon.
This symbolism and allegory are described with aspects such as the “head of gold,” the second kingdom that is “inferior” to Babylon, “one of bronze,” and “one as strong as iron.”
Within the dream, the head of gold is overtaken by the empire that is inferior, the third empire will then rule, and finally, the fourth empire will completely destroy and smash all of the previous empires.
Through this interpretation, King Nebuchadnezzar was able to understand what his dream meant. This dream was symbolizing the four different empires that were going to grow into great kingdoms and how they would destroy each other.
This prophecy was already fulfilled in history. Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar that he is the “head of gold” that is presently ruling and that another kingdom would arise, although it would not be as strong as Babylon. The third kingdom is described as “one of bronze,” and the fourth kingdom is one as “strong as iron.”
As stated, the head of gold is King Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom of Babylon, the second kingdom is Persia, the third kingdom is Greece, and the fourth kingdom is Rome.
Ultimately, Rome did destroy each of these four empires, even though King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel were not around to see this prophecy completely play out.
Babylon was taken over by Persia, Persia was taken over by Greece, and Rome took over Greece. There are many theories surrounding the final empire, as many theologians connect it to the future eschatological events of the ruling of the antichrist.
What Does This Mean?
While we cannot be dogmatic on this point, we do know the antichrist will set himself up to rule over all mankind.
Even though for a time the antichrist will rule, Jesus will return for His Second Coming to destroy the antichrist, the false prophet, and all those who follow the ways of evil and reject His Name.
Nevertheless, Daniel was able to interpret the dream for King Nebuchadnezzar because of the wisdom given to him by God. It was only through God that Daniel was able to help King Nebuchadnezzar understand his dream.
Many individuals try to seek out meanings in their dream and use this instance as a means of support, yet this is something that was rare. It is not good to try to seek out meanings of dreams or become involved in the study of interpreting dreams.
Daniel was only able to give the meaning and significance of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream because it was revealed to Him by God.
For further reading:
Why Were Dreams More Prominent in the Bible Than They Are Now?
Why Does Daniel Have the Most Memorable Bible Stories?
Does God Give Prophetic Dreams to Us Today?
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