NOTE.—The most vital truth of the gospel of the kingdom of God was denied in the religion of Babylon. This made it necessary that this very truth should be preached in Babylon. This mystery of the kingdom of God was the real and essential secret which the wise men of Babylon could not make known to the king, and which could be learned only by revelation. This is the mystery which “from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Eph. 3:9); and the “riches of the glory of this mystery” is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27), or “the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19). 20. How did Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge God as the revealer, and thus Daniel’s intimate fellowship with Him? “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that _your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret_.” Verse 47. 21. When the gospel of the kingdom has been fully preached, and Christ appears as King, what invitation will be extended to those who have learned “the mystery of the kingdom”? “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations.... Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, _Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world_.” Matt. 25:31-34. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Thy kingdom come. Thus day by day We lift our hands to God, and pray; But who has ever duly weighed The meaning of the words He said? Four Great Monarchies [Illustration.] Isaiah’s Vision Of The Ruins Of Babylon. "And the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." Dan. 2:45. 1. At what time was Daniel’s second vision given? “_In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon_ Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.” Dan. 7:1. NOTE.—That is, in the first year of Belshazzar’s office as associate king with his father Nabonadius, or 540 B.C. 2. What effect did this dream have upon Daniel? “I Daniel was _grieved in my spirit_ in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head _troubled me_.” Verse 15. NOTE.—The effect of Daniel’s dream upon him, it will be noticed, was similar to the effect of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams upon him; it troubled him. See Dan. 2:1. 3. What did Daniel ask of one of the heavenly attendants who stood by him in his dream? “I came near unto one of them that stood by, _and asked him the truth of all this_. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.” Verse 16. 4. What did the prophet see in this vision?