A PERIOD of more than twenty years separates Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great image, as recorded in the second chapter, from his setting up of the image, as given in the third chapter. In the dream and the interpretation the God of heaven had revealed to him the truth concerning the history of the world, with special reference to what should be “in the latter days,” and had thus shown him that all earthly kingdoms, including his own, would pass away one after the other, and that the kingdom of God was the only one that should “stand forever.” Nebuchadnezzar seemed to accept the message thus delivered to him, and acknowledged God as “a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets.” But the course of years had added to the glory and the power of the kingdom of Babylon, and the king evidently first doubted, then disbelieved, the predictions of the Hebrew captive, and then determined to express in the most positive and public manner his own ideas concerning the kingdom question.
11“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.”
No dimensions are given of the image that the king saw in his dream. It is simply stated that it was “a great image.” Evidently Nebuchadnezzar desired that the image which he set up should make the same impression upon the minds of the people that the one in the dream had made upon him, and so he made it over one hundred feet in height. The very measurements are suggestive of the interpretation to be given to his act. The image is six cubits broad, ten times six cubits high, and six kinds of instruments are specified (Dan. 3:5) as being used to summon to its worship. The triple six marks the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18), against whose worship there is such a fearful warning proclaimed throughout all the world. Rev. 14:9–11. This is “that man of sin, . . . who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped.”
In setting up this image Nebuchadnezzar was expressing his own idea in direct opposition to what the God of heaven had revealed to him. He was exalting himself above God. In the dream he saw an image whose head only was of gold, while the other parts were of inferior metals, signifying that other kingdoms would succeed Babylon; but now he made an image all of gold to express his confidence that Babylon would endure, and that the history of the world from that time would simply be the history of Babylon. Although Nebuchadnezzar did not so intend it, and did not himself understand the full significance of his act, yet he was teaching a great truth. Kingdoms known in history by different names have succeeded each other just according to Daniel's interpretation of the dream, and Babylon of the Chaldees long ago passed away; but the real Babylon is still here, and will remain until “she shall be utterly burned with fire.” This will appear more clearly in our later studies.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up; and whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.”
A careful reading of the record shows that Nebuchadnezzar purposed that this image and its dedication should be his answer to the dream and its interpretation. Daniel had declared that other kings should follow Nebuchadnezzar, and that “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed.” Nebuchadnezzar now showed his view of the matter. The contrast was between what “the God of heaven” sets up, and what “Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.” The question at issue was, Who is right, God or Nebuchadnezzar? Who is the “everlasting king”? What kingdom shall stand, the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Babylon? The same questions are before the people of the whole world to-day, and the final decision is soon to be made; “for the hour of his judgment is come.”
