The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms # 173
173. Internal Meaning of Daniel, Chapter 2
1-2 The future character of Babylon foretold. (2)
3-11 This was not known to those who made common cause with Babylon. (2)
14-30 but it was disclosed by revelation from the Lord to those who were of the church. (2)
31-35 The progress of the Babylonish religion follows: first the rulers would learn and teach the goods and truths of heaven and the church; and afterwards they would backslide, until nothing remained except what was adulterated, thus what was merely false and evil, and then the Lord would come. (2)
36-38 First the Word will be taught there according to truths of doctrine drawn from it. (2)
39 Afterwards the church will prevail, not from spiritual good, but from natural good. (2)
40-43 Finally all good and truth will be changed by adulterations into evil and falsity, prevailing only through civil diabolic power. (3)
44-45 Then the Lord will come, and destroy that religion, and will institute a church that will be in Divine truth from Him. (1, 3)
46-49 This was the beginning of Babylon, when it worshipped the God of heaven, and magnified doctrine from the Word. (2, 11)
Daniel 2:14-30
14
Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon;
15
he answered Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
17
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18
that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19
Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20
Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
21
He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22
he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23
I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king's matter.
24
Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him: Don't destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.
25
Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
26
The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?
27
Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to the king;
28
but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these:
29
as for you, O king, your thoughts came [into your mind] on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what shall happen.
30
But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
