1.The Times ahead of Time.

DANIEL 2:1

1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his
mind was troubled and he could not sleep.

DANIEL 2:27-29

27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can
explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a
God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King
Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and
the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are
these: 29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to
things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is
going to happen.

DANIEL 2:2-4

2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and
astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and
stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that
troubles me and I want to know what it means.” 4 Then the astrologers
answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the
dream, and we will interpret it.”

DANIEL 2:5-8

5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly
decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I
will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of
rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive
from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and
interpret it for me.” 7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his
servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” 8Then the king answered,
“I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that
this is what I have firmly decided:

DANIEL 2:9-11

9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you.
You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping
the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know
that you can interpret it for me.” 10 The astrologers answered the king,
“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. 11 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 2:12-16

12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the
execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued
to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and
his friends to put them to death. 14 When Arioch, the commander of
the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of
Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the
king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch
then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the
king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

DANIEL 2:17-18

17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his
friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead
for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that
he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men
of Babylon.

DANIEL 2:14-16

14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to
put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with
wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king
issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to
Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so
that he might interpret the dream for him.

DANIEL 2:19

19 During the night the mystery was
revealed to Daniel in a vision.

DANIEL 2:19-23

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: “Praise be to the
name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He
changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in
darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 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.”