2:5Daniel 2:5

Nebuchadnezzar awoke deeply troubled by a dream whose particulars had gone from his mind, yet he demanded that the Chaldeans make known both the dream itself and its interpretation, promising gifts and honor if they succeeded and threatening that they would be cut in pieces and their houses destroyed if they failed.STE 13.2+4 The wise men stood in terror and declared the demand unreasonable and beyond anything ever required, having no light to answer and thus exposing the limits of human wisdom and false claims to reveal mysteries.STE 13.2+4 In providence the details were withheld and taken from them so they could not invent a false interpretation, which represents those in later times who lack wisdom from God and therefore cannot understand prophecy.BS 29.2–3+2 Daniel asked the king for time and turned with his companions to God in prayer, and God by an angel revealed to him both the forgotten dream and its meaning, bringing His servants before the king and sparing their lives.Ms 85, 1910, par. 41–44+4 When remembered and made known, the dream showed the succession of kingdoms in their diminishing value, a prophecy of Daniel 2 fulfilled with remarkable exactness in history as testimony to the inspiration of Scripture and with lessons for the present day.GC88 364.2+3

Nebuchadnezzar had been given a troubling dream whose particulars he could no longer recall after waking, though he remained deeply troubled by it with a lingering impression upon his mind.PK 491.1+3 The forgotten details belonged to the account of his trouble over the dream, which Daniel later made known to him together with its interpretation.BS 29.2–3+2 In providence the crisis brought Daniel and the other servants of God before the king.BS 29.2–3+1

The king demanded that the Chaldeans make known both the dream itself, which had gone from his mind, and its interpretation.STE 13.2+4 He accepted their telling of the dream as proof of their claims as magicians and astrologers.Lt 90, 1894, par. 2–4 If they succeeded he promised them gifts, rewards, and honor.Ms 8, 1896, par. 15–18+1

If they failed, he threatened that they would be cut in pieces and their houses made a dunghill, destroyed or turned to ruins.STE 13.2+4 The threat became a decree to put to death all the wise men of Babylon.Ms 85, 1910, par. 41–44+2 Daniel and his fellows, who were numbered with them, were thereby placed in danger as well.Ms 85, 1910, par. 41–44+3

The wise men stood in terror before him and had no light to answer.STE 13.2 With fear and trembling they declared that the demand was unreasonable and beyond anything ever required of any man.STE 13.2+2 Their answer showed the impossibility of the test.Ms 71, 1910, par. 16–20+1 The king's fury and death sentence show what to expect from men in high authority who have great power and are controlled by unholy passion.Lt 90, 1894, par. 2–4

In providence the particulars of the dream were taken away, withheld and removed from the wise men of Babylon so that they could not use their claimed knowledge of mysteries to put a false interpretation upon it.BS 29.2–3+2 God gave the dream to Nebuchadnezzar yet caused its details to be forgotten while leaving a lingering troubled impression, and in that condition the wise men could not recall it.BS 29.2–3+1 Their inability to recover it by their own wisdom exposed the limits of their claimed ability to reveal mysteries and exposed their false claims.FE 410.1–411.1+2 Their failure likewise exposed the limits of human wisdom and of scientific power.Lt 151, 1904, par. 3–5

Their inability represents people in later times and in the present day who lack knowledge, discernment and wisdom from God and therefore cannot understand prophecy.FE 412.1+1 Mere learning in worldly knowledge does not make one a representative of God.STE 15.2 The demand to tell both the forgotten dream and its interpretation was unreasonable, so Daniel asked the king for time and then turned with his companions to God in prayer, and God took charge of the matter.Ms 71, 1910, par. 16–20+2

God revealed to Daniel both the forgotten dream and its interpretation so that he could make it known to the king and to the people, and by an angel the dream was made known to Daniel for this purpose.RH Nov 10, 1904+2 By providence the crisis brought Daniel and the other servants of God before the king, though Daniel and his fellows were in danger with the other wise men under the sentence of death, and their lives were spared when God gave the interpretation.Ms 85, 1910, par. 41–44+2 Through this God showed that those who worship Him possess wisdom from Him and He revealed the eternal truths of heaven.Lt 151, 1904, par. 3–5

The troubling dream Nebuchadnezzar could not remember was required to be both revealed and explained, and by providence the crisis brought Daniel and the other servants of God before the king, where the dream was remembered and made known.Ms 163, 1898, par. 5–11 Through that recovered dream the king was shown the succession of kingdoms and their diminishing value.Ms 163, 1898, par. 5–11 The verse stands in the second chapter of Daniel, whose prophecy has been fulfilled with remarkable exactness as the record of history confirms.GC88 364.2+1 That exact fulfillment stands as testimony to the inspiration of Scripture.GC 364.2–3 The dream was withheld so the wise men could not use their claimed knowledge of mysteries to put a false interpretation upon it, and their inability to tell it represents those without knowledge and discernment from God who cannot understand prophecy, while the lessons of the dream are for those living in the present day.FE 412.1