Revealer of Mysteries
JASON MARTIN
Daniel / Daniel 2
• In Scripture, we find several examples of things that represent both salvation and judgment
• harvests
• the flood saved Noah but judged the world
• the parting of the waters saved Israel but judged Egypt
• fire can purify or destroy
• Scripture gives us another Image like that: a stone
1. Chaldeans = generic term for the wise men
a. also where Abram was called out of “Ur”
2. Daniel 1:1-2:4a = Hebrew
a. Daniel 2:4b-7:28 = Aramaic
i. Focuses on the Gentile empires and God’s sovereignty over them and the everlasting Kingdom
b. Daniel 8-12 = Hebrew
3. Daniel 2:11 - These wise men claimed to have special powers given to them by their gods. (they were magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, astrologers, etc..)
a. Nebuchadnezzar challenges their false claims by demanding they tell him the dream itself so they can’t just make up a fake interpretation. The wise men knew that humans can’t do these things - only the Divine could do something like that.
4. Dan 2:14 - prudence and discretion - would we approach our executioner with this kind of wisdom?
a. we might try to attack him first
b. we might try to beg
c. we might just let this play out and nature run it’s course
5. Dan 2:16 - Daniel has faith that the LORD can show him the interpretation - which hasn’t happened yet.
6. Dan 2:18 - Daniel and his friends immediately go into prayer to understand this ‘mystery’
7. Dan 2:23 - ‘made known to us’ - this along with Dan 2:36 make it seem like they might all have been given the dreams interpretation
8. Dan 2:25 - ‘I have found’ - Arioch is either very confident in Daniel or very foolish.
a. to claim that he found an interpreter puts his own neck on the line
b. contrast this with Daniel not taking credit “There is a God...”
9. Dan 2:27-28 - Daniel isn’t here for his own glory
10. Dan 2:30 - why is Daniel in Babylon?
a. We are all where we are for a reason
b. maybe not to interpret dreams for a king
c. maybe it’s for a shoulder to lean on - or a prayer partner - or godly wisdom
d. Daniel is growing where he’s planted when most of us would’ve just given up - and the LORD is shining on him
11. Dan 2:45 - This is how a prophet of God speaks. There is no uncertainty and no doubt because it’s not coming from Daniel - it’s coming from God
What was the Rock?
Matthew 21:42–44 ESV
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
• who falls on this stone?
1 Peter 2:6–8 ESV
6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
• This Stone brings both salvation and judgment
• the question is when...
• Daniel 7 explains a very similar vision Daniel has where the ‘Son of Man’ is given the everlasting Kingdom
Mark 1:15 ESV
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Matthew 12:28 ESV
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
• The Kingdom of God is already here - arrived in Jesus - in some meaningful sense.
Luke 17:20–21 ESV
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Colossians 1:13 ESV
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
• The Kingdom is already here - inaugurated - but has not yet reached it’s fullness - consummated
Matthew 6:10 ESV
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
• The question isn’t whether Jesus established the Kingdom of God - He certainly did.
• The question is how this imagery relates to the first and second coming
• I believe that the Kingdom arrived with Jesus because where there is a King, there is a Kingdom.
• At the crucifixion, Jesus was given His royal robes, crown, and sceptre - while He was mocked
• His throne was an execution rack and a Roman sign on the cross announced His Kingship
Colossians 2:13–15 ESV
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Hebrews 2:14 ESV
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
• The resurrection of Jesus was proof of His victory at the cross and the assurance that we also share in His victory and resurrection if we are with Him
• We're going to have to decide what to do with the Stone
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 2:48 PM August 21, 2026.