LESSON THIRTEEN

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Daniel was written to record events during Daniel's lifetime in exile in Babylon as well as to provide exiled Jews hope regarding God's plan for the future. The last event recorded by Daniel (Daniel 10:1) occurred in about 536 BC. The book of Daniel was likely completed around this time or shortly afterwards. Keep this information in the back of your mind, as we study the prophecies of Daniel.

Scripture to read: Daniel 2

Chapter 1 introduced King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Daniel—a captive youth from Jerusalem—and three other Jewish boys. After three years of education, the four Hebrew captives outperformed all the other trainees, even surpassing the wise men in Babylon. 

“28This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will take place. 30But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living person, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.” 

In Daniel chapter two the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, is disturbed by a dream. Rather than simply asking his court occultists to explain it, he devises a test. It's possible the king inherited these magicians from his father and did not trust them. His claim is simple: if they cannot tell him what the dream was, it means their claims of spiritual insight have been lies. Anyone can invent an interpretation, but only real power can tell someone their own dream. After stalling for time, the conjurers claim the king's request is impossible and unreasonable. So, Nebuchadnezzar orders his wise men—all of them—to be executed. Daniel hears of this and appeals to the king. Though Daniel has no such knowledge yet, he is confident the Lord will provide it. 

“31You, O king, were watching and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary radiance, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. 32The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34You continued watching until a stone was broken off without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed to pieces all at the same time, and they were like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth.” 

In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream he sees a great image made up of several different substances. When God revealed the interpretation, a prophecy unfolded that straightforwardly outlines the powers that would rule over His church from that day until the end of time. The final ruling realm is called an eternal kingdom, never changing hands again. 

Realm #1. Head of Gold = Babylon (605BC to 539BC)

God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar that he (Babylon) was the head of Gold, and the first and most superior of the earthly realms. A Babylon alliance conquered the Assyrian capital of Ninevah in 612 BC and Babylon took Israel captive in 609 BC. The Babylonian Empire, also called the Neo-Babylonian or Chaldean Empire, was a magnificent and mighty empire. Judah was told they and the surrounding nations would serve the king of Babylon for 70 years. This occurred from 609 to 539 BC.

Realm #2. Breast & Arms of Silver = Medo Persia (539BC to 331 BC)

Medo-Persia was the next realm, conquering Babylon in 539 BC when the armies of Cyrus the great, attacked the seemingly impregnable city. Just moments before the attack, the Babylonian king Belshazzar, during a drunken party, saw the unseen hand write those terrifying words "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" on the wall. Shortly after, the armies of Cyrus marched into the heart of the unguarded city, having turned the Euphrates out of its channel. That very night Belshazzar was slain, and the Persians took the city. This second kingdom is described as inferior to the first. This is represented by the substances used in the image. The substances are given in descending order of value (Gold, Silver, Brass, Iron) and ascending order of strength.

Realm #3. Belly and Thighs of Brass = Greece (331BC to 168BC)

The third realm, Greece, conquered the Medes and Persians at the Battle of Arbela in 331 BC. Greece's famous young leader, Alexander the Great began to rule when he was only 20 years old. However, by the time he was 25 he had conquered much of the Eastern world. His amazing feats are exemplified by the battle of Arbela, where he defeated Darius' 600,000 strong army, with a force of less than 50,000 men.

Realm #4 Legs of Iron = Rome (168 BC to 476AD)

The fourth realm, Rome, is the last earthly realm. Roman armies defeated the Macedonian army at Cynoscephalae in 196 BC and crushed the Macedonian forces in the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC. The substances indicate an ascending order of strength (iron is the strongest), with the fourth being described as "strong as iron". Central rule disappeared by 476 AD.

Feet of Iron mixed with Clay = Divided Rome (476 AD to Second Coming)

The legs of iron become a mixture of iron and clay in the image's feet. Many factors contributed to what is called "The Fall of Rome", but ultimately the empire could not absorb the changes and keep direct control over its many territories. There were attempts to reunite the realm through political marriages. This can especially be seen during the era from the 1200s on. The Habsburgs were a famous European family that built their territory through strategic marriages. Though succeeding in ruling approximately half of Europe, they never were able to reunite the Roman Empire under one emperor. They were Holy Roman Emperors and one of the most powerful families in Europe.

This divided realm would still be strong (iron) and though central rule ended, there would still be certain unifying or central influences for the tribes and nations. Political powers that reached across borders, such as the papacy and house of Habsburg, would link countries together. Many determined and famous historical figures unsuccessfully attempted to reunite the realm as one political unit under one leader again. These included Justinian, Charlemagne, Charles V, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Hitler and Stalin. The iron reaches down to the end of time. There is only one power, Rome, that not only conquered Greece, but changes its form of government to a divided realm AND extends to the second coming.

Ten Toes = Modern Nations of Europe

The ten toes symbolize a division. The iron of the Roman Empire did not entirely fade, but it divided into decentralized kingdoms (toes) that were still somewhat linked together. This process occurred gradually during the 2nd through 5th centuries AD, when Germanic tribes migrated into the empire on mass scales. The divided kingdoms would eventually become the nations of Europe that we see today, along with their territorial expansions. The realm, though divided politically, is still treated as a single realm in subsequent prophecies in Daniel and Revelation. The prophecies are clear that this 4th realm continues until the second coming of Christ. 

Clay = Church

The substances (gold, silver, brass and iron) have provided insight into the value, strength and character of the kingdoms. A new substance, clay, now provides additional information about the nature of the fourth kingdom after it divides. The clay appears during the time of Divided Rome (toes) and mixes with the nations. We know from other prophecies that the 4th realm is different from the others because it becomes a religious-political power. In other words, the church mixes with politics.

In the Bible, God's people are likened to clay, which emphasizes that He formed them and continues to form them. God's people are represented by the clay. That was Israel in these verses, and today it is the church. The church (clay) and state (iron of Rome) would become intertwined. The church would become politically involved. The clay is also described as miry (Hebrew 'tin' - sticky dirt to be swept away), indicating that the church is not pure.

We know from other prophecies that the Middle Ages and the time of the end are fraught with religious-political partnerships that persecute and obscure truth. When imperial Rome collapsed and the realm morphed into a divided realm, the church in Rome became powerful ecclesiastically and politically. It became very mixed with politics for hundreds of years. The book of Revelation also reveals that Protestantism loses its purity and becomes mixed with politics during the time of the end. The realm of iron (Rome-state) and clay (Babylon-church) will once again be revived in end times with the antichrist and false prophet as their kings.

Realm #5. The Stone = Christ's Kingdom (Second Coming to Eternity)

The next realm is the fifth and final realm. This realm is different from the others. It is made without hands.

"We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands and within three days I will build another made without hands" Mark 14:58

This final kingdom is set up "in the days of these kings" (divided Rome). This is a time future to the apostles. It is the very time in which we are currently living. The kingdom wouldn't appear, or be set up, until Jesus receives it and returns. Notice that Jesus must receive this kingdom. Jesus is given the kingdom by God the Father.

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" Luke 1:32-33

The "great mountain" that fills the whole earth represents Christ's kingdom with His people that fill the entire planet, emphasizing the demise of ALL earthly powers and their associated corruption, unfair practices, greed and suppression. This is when the stone strikes the image, and it crumbles. The material is consumed at the end of 1000 years, when the dust is blown away as if it never was. Then the earth is recreated, and the saints fill it.

“48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” 

Daniel describes and interprets Nebuchadnezzar's disturbing dream, though the court magicians could not. As a result, the king promotes Daniel and his three friends to high positions over the provinces of Babylon.