Scripture Reading : Daniel 2
Theme : God Declares World History
King’s Dream (1-16). God humbles Nebuchadnezzar by troubling him with a dream that declares God’s plan for world empires. Through the dream God shows him that He is in control of world history, not human kings. When Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by the dream, he demanded the wise men of the land to interpret not only the dream, but also to tell him what the dream was. He is shrewd because he understands these fortunate tellers can deceive him with clever interpretations. No one can fulfill Nebuchadnezzar’s request, so in anger, he wants to kill all wise men including Daniel and his friends.
God’s Revelation (17-49) When Daniel found out, he pleads for God’s mercy. God graciously answered so that Daniel can reveal and interpret the dream. The dream was about an image/statue of a man, composed of a golden head, silver of chest and arms, thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of partly iron and partly clay. These represent four kingdoms/empires, but they will all be crushed when the stone, representing the Messianic Kingdom, crushes the fourth kingdom. The Bible reveals the identity of the first three kingdoms. Gold head represents Babylon (Dan. 2:38). Silver of chest and arms represent Persia (Dan. 8:20). Middle section and thighs of bronze represent Greece (Dan. 8:21). The identity of the fourth kingdom is not revealed in the Bible. Most believe it is the Roman Empire, but this is not likely for many reasons. One is that the Roman Empire never conquered all the territories of Babylon, Persia and Greece, especially the capital of Babylon. The vision was given to and regarding Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The fourth kingdom is composed of two distinct phases because it is described by two separate parts “its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay” (v.33); therefore, the feet represent a revival of the fourth empire. This concurs with Revelation 17:8; 13:3. When Christ comes back, He will destroy the revived fourth kingdom and then usher in His Messianic Kingdom.
Praying the Scripture
- There are four general facts about the end times that are crystal clear: the second coming of Jesus, the Day of the Lord/judgment, surrounding nations will attack Israel, and the Messianic Kingdom. When we examine the details of the end times, we must not lose sight of the larger forest. We know the return of Jesus is very NEAR because God has miraculously brought the Jews back to Israel in order to fulfill His end times prophecies. “The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining” 1 Pet. 4:7-9. This is not a time to build bunkers, but a time to strengthen each other in the faith and to snatch some from the fire through the gospel. May God have mercy on unbelievers through the gospel. Pray that God will align your life according to the looming coming of Jesus.
经文：但以理书2
主题：神公开世界历史
王的梦（1-16）。神给予尼布甲尼撒一个令他烦乱的梦，诉说的是神对世界王朝的计划，从而要尼布甲尼撒谦卑。神借着梦告诉他神才是掌管世界历史的主宰，不是人类的君王。当尼布甲尼撒因梦感到烦乱时，他强制巴比伦的哲士不但要为他解梦，还要将梦告诉他。他是精明的，因为他知道这些行术之人能以高明的见解欺骗他。无人能满足尼布甲尼撒的要求，因此他大大愤怒，想要灭绝所有的哲士，包括但以理与他的朋友。
神的启示（17-49）。当但以理晓得其事后，他求神怜悯。神恩待但以理，应允了祷告，叫他能揭示并讲解那个梦。梦与一个由金精制作的头、银制作的胸膛和膀臂、铜制作的肚腹和腰，铁制作的腿和半铁半泥制作的脚的人像有关。这分别代表了四个王朝，但当一块石头打碎第四个王朝时，其余的也都会跟着粉碎；这块石头就是弥赛亚的国度。圣经透露了前三个国度是什么：金头代表巴比伦（但2:38）；银胸膛和膀臂代表波斯（但8:20）；铜肚腹和腰则代表希腊（但8:21）。圣经没有启示第四个国度的身份。多数人相信那是罗马帝国，但基于很多原因，我们认为不是。首先，罗马帝国从没占领巴比伦、波斯和希腊的所有领土，尤其巴比伦的首都。这个异象是给予也关乎巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒的。第四个王朝是由两个独特的阶段组成，因为经文对此的叙述也分了两个部分：腿是铁的，脚是半铁半泥的（33节）；脚代表第四个王朝的复兴。这与启示录17:8；13:3是一致的。当基督再来时，祂会消灭已复兴的第四个王朝，招进弥赛亚的国度。
用经文祷告
- 对于末世时代，我们能清楚晓得四件事：耶稣将再次降临、主将施行审判（耶和华的日子）、列国将攻击以色列，以及弥赛亚的国度将建立。当我们查考末世论的细节时，我们也不能忽视总的视野。我们晓得耶稣再来的日子非常之近，因为神已将犹太人领回以色列，以应验祂对末世的预言。彼得前书4:7-9：“万物的结局近了，所以你们要谨慎自守，警醒祷告。最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。你们要互相款待，不发怨言。”这不是建造堡垒的时候，而是在信心中建立彼此，并借着福音从火中抢救人的时间。愿神借着福音怜悯非信徒。祈求神能按耶稣即将来临的前景调整你当生活的方式。
