Our Day in Bible Prophecy - Bible Correspondence Coursebiblecorrespondencecourse.com/Study 1 - Our Day in Bible Prophecy.… · Our first lesson is an example of how the Bible inter-prets

WW elcome to Prophecies of Hope, an exciting studyof Daniel and the Revelation. Have you ever felt Bibleprophecy is too difficult and confusing to understand?Have strange looking beasts, angels declaring messages ofdoom, and time prophecies left you wondering when theywill be fulfilled?

Can we really understand Revelation? The Bible givestwo reasons why we are absolutely certain we can under-stand. First, the title of Revelation means it is a “revealing”(Revelation 1:1). God didn’t name the book “TheHiding” or “The Confusing.” He gave the Revelation tounveil His glorious plans for mankind and to unmaskSatan’s evil strategies to frustrate this.

Second, Daniel and the Revelation are two books Godspecifically tells us to read. Jesus said, “Therefore whenyou see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of byDaniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoeverreads, let him understand)” (Matthew 24:15). Jesus delib-erately instructs us to read and understand Daniel. Godalso pronounces a blessing upon those who read, under-stand, and obey the words found in Revelation.(Revelation 1:3).

God’s Word is clear—We can understand prophecy! But to do so we need to learn the very first rule of cor-

rect interpretation—“Knowing this first, no prophecy ofScripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecynever came by the will of man, but holy men of Godspoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter1:20, 21).

We are not to create private interpretations. This iswhy Prophecies of Hope will not tell you what to believe.You will form your own beliefs through personal Biblestudy, prayer, and the Spirit’s leading.

These lessons will provide you with the Bible’s owntools of interpretation so that you can understand whatthe prophetic symbols mean.

Our first lesson is an example of how the Bible inter-prets its own prophecies. Once you know this prophecyyou will have the master key to unlock all the otherprophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. It predicts over2,500 years of history and reveals the near future.

Before you begin, take a moment to pray and ask Godto bless your study. Then read Daniel chapter 2 for thestory. Next, read the questions below with your Bible tofill in the missing words in the texts. These lessons usethe New King James Bible and you will find it conven-ient to have either a New King James or King JamesBible.

1. To whom did God give a troubling dream?Daniel 2:1–3.

“Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’sreign, _____________ had dreams; and hisspirit was so troubled that his sleep lefthim.”

Our Day in Bible Prophecy

Our Day in Bible Prophecy

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In the middle of a dark night in 603 B.C. God givesNebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, a supernatural dreamthat startles him from his sleep. Three years earlier,Nebuchadnezzar had attacked Jerusalem and carried Danieland his friends to Babylon to serve as his counselors. He nowconsults his wise men and Daniel in an effort to find thedream’s mysterious meaning.

2. Who gave Daniel the ability to interpret theking’s dream? Daniel 2:26–28

“But there is a _____________ in heavenwho reveals secrets.”

Daniel tells the king it is useless to depend on astrologers,magicians, channelers, or education to provide real solutions tolife’s dilemmas. This is also true for us. Only God can suc-cessfully lead our lives to find lasting hope and happiness,because He alone understands the secrets of the future.

3. What time of earth’s history does the dreamreveal? Daniel 2:28, 29

“God… has made known to KingNebuchadnezzar what will be in the_____________ days.… As for you, O king,thoughts came to your mind while on your bed,about what would come to pass _____________this [or KJV: hereafter].”

The dream covers the time period “after this” to the “latterdays,” or everything that happens after 603 B.C. down to thelast days. God gave the king a detailed outline of world eventsfrom his own time down to the last days of earth’s history. Thisremarkable prophecy, covering more than 2,500 years, is themaster key to unlock the meaning to all the other propheciesof Daniel and the Revelation. Once you learn it, you willunderstand the mysteries of prophecy, where we live in time,and how to prepare for what is coming.

4. What are three reasons God gives prophecy?Daniel 2:29–30

“As for you, O king, thoughts came to yourmind while on your bed, about what would_____________ to pass after this; and He whoreveals secrets has made known to you what willbe. But as for me, this secret has not beenrevealed to me because I have more wisdomthan anyone living, but for our _____________

who make known the interpretation to the king,and that you may know the thoughts of your_____________.”

God gives prophecy for three reasons. The first is to predictthe future: “what would come to pass.” The second reason isfor the “sakes” of those who understand prophecy—to protectthem from what is coming. Knowledge of this dream savedDaniel’s life. In a similar manner, knowledge of the futureallows us to make decisions that save us from the devil’s decep-tions and prepare us for Jesus’ return. The third reason forprophecy is to convert us by revealing the thoughts of our“hearts.” Prophecy brings to light our hidden motives anddraws us closer to Jesus so He can take us safely into the future.

5. What did the king see in his dream? Daniel2:31–33.

“This image’s head was of fine _____________,its chest and arms of _____________, its belly andthighs of ______________, its legs of_____________, its feet partly of _____________and partly of _____________.”

This is no ordinary statue, but then, God had no ordinarypurpose in mind when He showed it to Nebuchadnezzar.

6. What was to become of this great image? Daniel2:34, 35.

“You watched while a stone was cut outwithout hands, which struck the image on itsfeet of iron and clay, and ______________them in pieces. . . . “And the stone that struckthe image became a great mountain and______________ the whole earth.”

Nebuchadnezzar must be awestruck as he realizes Danielhas just repeated his dream in vivid detail. But what does itmean?

7. Does the Bible interpret the king’s dream?Daniel 2:36.

“This is the dream. Now we will tell the_____________ of it before the king.”

God revealed to Daniel the meaning of this dream. (Daniel2:19) In the next ten verses, Daniel gives God’s inspired inter-pretation. This illustrates an important rule for correct under-standing—always read the immediate context. We don’t need

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to guess at interpretations when the Bible explains itself.

8. What does the head of gold represent? Daniel2:37, 38.

“_____________ are this head of gold.”

No doubt Nebuchadnezzar was pleased to learn “this headof gold” (Daniel 2:38) represented him and his kingdom ofBabylon. He had poured massive amounts of gold into adorn-ing his capital city. Babylon reigned from 605–538 B.C.

9. What do the silver and brass represent? Daniel2:39.

“But after you shall arise another_____________ inferior to yours; then another,a third _____________ of bronze, which shallrule over all the earth.”

Now we see what the image is about. It describes the king-doms that would rule from Babylon’s day down to the latterdays (verse 28). With the Bible’s interpretation that these met-als represent kingdoms, we need to look to history for their ful-fillment. Secular and Bible history tell us that Babylon wasconquered by the Media-Persians (famous for their love of sil-ver) in 538 B.C. (See Daniel 5:26-31) In 331 B.C., the PersianEmpire fell to the Greeks (famous for their advanced weapon-ry—made from bronze).

10. What did the statue’s iron legs represent?Daniel 2:40.

“And the fourth _____________ shall be asstrong as iron.”

The fourth metal symbolizes the fourth kingdom. The“Iron Kingdom” of Rome (the Romans used iron swords andshields, and iron nails to crucify Jesus). Rome came to powerin 168 b.c. and was the unquestioned ruler until a.d. 476.

11. What did God predict would happen toRome? Daniel 2:41–43.

“Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partlyof potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdomshall be _____________.”

God correctly predicted Rome would not be overthrownby another single kingdom like the others, but it would divideinto ten separate nations in Western Europe. Though some ofthese resulting kingdoms would be strong and others weak,they were to remain separate, resisting all efforts to reunite

them. Ancestors to seven of these nations still exist today. In afuture study we will learn how the three extinct nations providean important clue to identify the beast power of Revelation.

12. What attempt to unify the nations of Europeis mentioned? Daniel 2:43.

“As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay,they will mingle with the _____________ ofmen; but they will not adhere to one another.”

The prophecy predicted 2,500 years in advance that thesenations would seek to form a peaceful coexistence by “minglingtheir seed” through royal intermarriage. This was remarkablyfulfilled by the start of World War I when virtually all the roy-alty of Europe were cousins, if not brother and sister. Yet theprophecy also predicted this would not succeed: “but they willnot adhere to one another.” All efforts to bring Europe undera single ruler by Napoleon, Hitler, and others have failedbecause prophecy predicted it!

13. What happens “in the days of these kings”?Daniel 2:44.

“And in the days of these kings the_____________ of heaven will set up a king-dom which shall never be destroyed.”

The Bible symbolizes Jesus as the rock or stone that crush-es the image. (See 1 Corinthians 10:4) Daniel says this will befulfilled when Jesus returns to overthrow the kingdoms of thisworld and take his place as the King of kings. The next king-dom to come is God’s kingdom. We live in the time whenEurope is divided and this prophecy is to be fulfilled.

When nations can’t unify and find lasting peace, God’sWord tells us to take heart. Jesus is soon to return as the Kingof kings! Over 2,500 years in advance, God precisely outlinedthe rise of four kingdoms, Rome’s division, and attempts tounify Western Europe. He was correct on all points and we canbe certain that He is correct about the future. “The dream iscertain, and its interpretation is sure” (verse 45).

14. How can we be ready for God’s coming king-dom? Revelation 3:20, 21.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and_____________ the door, I will come in tohim and dine with him, and he with Me.To him who overcomes I will grant to sitwith Me on My _____________, as I also

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overcame and sat down withMy Father on His throne.”

When we allow Jesus to come into ourheart to be our Savior and Lord we becomeheirs to His throne. Yes, we still live on thisplanet, but our true citizenship is in God’skingdom. When Jesus returns He will take usto heaven where there will be no more sin orsuffering, and where we will enjoy eternal lifeas God originally intended.

15. Do you want to be ready whenJesus returns to enter into Hiskingdom?

Looking AheadHave you ever wondered

what the mark of the beast isabout? In our next study wewill learn what issues areinvolved in the coming markof the beast. You can readDaniel 3 and Revelation 13to prepare for this excitinglesson.

P.O. Box 4000Silver Spring, MD 20914

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Your Answer: _____________

Rome (168 BC-476 AD)

Divided Nations (476 AD to Present)

Return of Jesus

Babylon (605-539 BC)

Media-Persia (539-331 BC)

Greece (331-168 BC)