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| 1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. |
Dreamed dreams – God gave the dream and sent its interpretation through Daniel, the prophet. SM417:1
Portraying the Gentile rule of earth during the interregnum of God's Kingdom. R5526:2
Simultaneous with Zedekiah's fall and the taking away of his crown. R5526:2
A dream of much more interest to all Christians than it could possibly have been to Nebuchadnezzar himself. CR41:6
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| 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. |
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| 3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. |
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| 4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. |
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| 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye make not known unto me the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. |
Cut in pieces – Put to death as imposters, letting on that they had a connection with the gods that they did not have. Q95:T
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| 6 But if ye show the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and the interpretation thereof. |
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| 7 They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. |
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| 8 The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. |
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| 9 But if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof. |
Tell me the dream – Arguing that if they had supernatural power by which they could explain a dream, the same power could rehearse it. CR41:6
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| 10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king’s matter, forasmuch as no king, lord, or ruler, hath asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. |
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| 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. |
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| 12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. |
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| 13 So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain. |
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| 14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; |
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| 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Wherefore is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. |
Made the thing known – Evidently Daniel was not with the magicians before the king. Q95:T
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| 16 And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation. |
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| 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: |
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| 18 that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. |
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| 19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. |
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| 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. |
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| 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding; |
Removeth kings – God had to do with the setting up and pulling down of the universal governments. R5305:2
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| 22 he revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. |
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| 23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast now made known unto me what we desired of thee; for thou hast made known unto us the king’s matter. |
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| 24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus unto him: Destroy not the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation. |
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| 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. |
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| 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Bel-teshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? |
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| 27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show unto the king; |
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| 28 but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and he hath made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these: |
Maketh known to the king – And indirectly, more particularly, to the watchers. R2976:6
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| 29 as for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter; and he that revealeth secrets hath made known to thee what shall come to pass. |
Known to thee – Picture of Gentile rule of earth from the human standpoint. OV82:2
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Thee, O king – Nebuchadnezzar, picturing (as the 'head of gold') not only the Gentile kings, governments, but especially the Babylon. |
| 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that thou mayest know the thoughts of thy heart. |
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Not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have – Notice how this attitude is shared by Pastor Russell in the following quote: "Though in this work we shall endeavor, and we trust with success, to set before the interested and unbiased reader the plan of God as it relates to and explains the past, the present and the future of his dealings, in a way more harmonious, beautiful and reasonable than is generally understood, yet that this is the result of extraordinary wisdom or ability on the part of the writer is positively disclaimed. It is the light from the Sun of Righteousness in this dawning of the Millennial Day that reveals these things as "present truth," now due to be appreciated by the sincere, the pure in heart." A10 |
| 31 Thou, O king, sawest, and, behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the aspect thereof was fearful. |
A great image – Representing the four great Gentile universal empires. A253; R419:6, R5564:3, R5854:1; Q82:1
Symbolizing not the people, but the governments. A255
Showing the earthly governments that would rule over the earth during the interim between the overthrow of the typical kingdom of God and the installation of the true King in his Millennial Kingdom glory. R2976:4
The period of time during which these universal empires will have controlled the world must be the Times of the Gentiles. R5564:3
Symbol of the world power in its whole development and final destruction. R3359:4*
Was excellent – From Nebuchadnezzar's, the world's, standpoint. A256; CR42:2
As thus glorious the earthly kingdoms are regarded by the world; but God portrayed the same four earthly governments to Daniel, in chapter 7, as beastly. R166:2, R419:6, R815:2
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| 32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of copper, |
Head was of fine gold – Representing the Babylonian empire. R166:2, R419:6, R2976:4, R815:2, R5526:2, R5564:2; SM417:1, SM478:1; PD49/61; A253; OV82:2, OV340:5; CR42:1
Breast and his arms of silver – Representing the Medo-Persian empire. See references to Head was of fine gold.
Belly and his thighs of brass – Representing the Grecian empire. See references to Head was of fine gold.
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| 33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay. |
His legs of iron – Representing the Roman empire. See references to Head was of fine gold. Two legs represent the strong Roman empire, East and West, Rome and Constantinople; each, in turn, was the Roman capital. OV341:3, OV192:1; R3359:4; SM478:1
That Rome held universal sway in the time of our Lord's birth is shown in Luke 2:1, "There went out a decree f." A253; CR42:1
If Israel had accepted Jesus as King, the Messianic Kingdom would have been established at this point. Foreseeing their failure, God pictured the extension of Gentile supremacy in the feet of the image. OV82:2
His feet – The toes are kingdoms, corresponding to the ten horns of the beast of Dan. 7:7. R3359:4*
Being represented in the present divisions of the Roman empire in Europe. R5854:1; SM478:1
The kingdoms now in existence, represented in the feet, received their power and authority originally from the Papacy or some of her protesting daughters who crowned them to reign "by the grace of God." R815:2
It is upon the feet of this image that the Armageddon crash of God's Kingdom is pictured as falling--grinding the entire image to powder. R5854:1
Part of iron – Represents civil governments. SM478:1; PD49/61; A254; R3359:5*, R2976:5
Some places the iron is more prominent and some places the clay. The iron, which has the strength, is usually the most prominent. Q96:T
Part of clay – Imitation stone; stone being the symbol of the true Kingdom of God. A254; Q:81:1, Q96:T; SM417:3; R5564:5
Represented ecclesiasticism as it is now mixed up with the politics of the ten kingdoms of Europe. SM478:1, SM417:2; PD49/61; A254; R5526:2, R3359:5*, R2976:5; Q81:1
The commingling of the iron and clay represented that blending of church and state known as the Holy Roman empire. OV82:2
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Feet – The last part of the body. In this case it is the 'body' of the Roman Empire.
Iron – The strength of the civil power of Rome.
Clay – The ecclestiacal power of the 'Holy Roman Empire.' |
| 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of the iron and clay, and brake them in pieces. |
Till that a stone – The true Kingdom of God, Christ and the Church. A254; CR42:3; SM417:2, SM479:2; OV82:3; R2976:5, R3293:2
The fifth universal empire, Messiah's Kingdom. There have been two unsuccessful attempts to establish this fifth empire-- one by Papacy and the other by Napoleon. OV340:5
A small stone, a Little Flock. R2375:1
Messiah, Head and Body. R3293:2
The holy mountain referred to in Isa. 11:9. R5575:4
During its preparation, while being cut out, it might be called an embryo mountain, in view of its future destiny; as the Church is sometimes called the Kingdom of God. A255
The New Jerusalem "coming down from God out of heaven." (Rev. 21:10) R654:5, R2606:3
When he gives the saints with Christ their Lord the heathen for an inheritance; when he gives the Kingdom under the whole heavens to the people of the saints. R658:5
The Gentiles, not fully out of power; but, their lease expiring, their eviction begins.
The Times of the Gentiles is the period between the time that the image was set up or came into power and the time that the stone is to smite the image upon the feet and crush its power. Q82:1; SM478:1; OV82:3
Was cut out – During the Gospel age this "stone" kingdom, the true Church, is being formed, "cut out." A255; OV82:3
Without hands – Without human aid. SM479:1
But by the power of God. R2606:3, R3359:4*, R654:5; OV191:5, OV429:3
Smote the image – The preparatory step to the establishment of Messiah's Kingdom. R5526:2; OV341:1; B99
The impact is prominently noted throughout the Scriptures as a "time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation." (Dan. 12:1) OV83:T
The little period of 40 years between 1874 and 1914 is, in the Scriptures, called the "Day of Vengeance," the smiting time preparatory to the inauguration of the Kingdom of righteousness. R1874:5
We expect this smiting in 1915, not 1914. Q96:4
If Zedekiah's dethronement should be dated BC 588, it would make the date 1932. My conviction, however, favors 1914. SM480:T
This smiting, we believe, is near at hand (1915 comment), the present war in Europe being intended of the Lord to weaken the nations and prepare them for the next stage of trouble. R5673:5
It is the smiting by this Kingdom that is preparing for the wreck of all the kingdoms of earth. R1692:6, R5916:6
The dominion of earth. R2375:1, R5575:3; A262
The Kingdom of God, when first set up at the introduction of the Millennial age, will be small; but, as soon as set up in power, it will smite the "great image" of earthly rulership. R5575:2
The present smiting of the nations is under Kingdom control. The fact that some of the members of the Kingdom class are still in the flesh does not mitigate at all against this thought. R5632:1
We see all about us evidence of the beginning of the smiting, shaking and overturning of the present powers preparatory to the establishment of the Kingdom. B170
The smiting will not come from the Church in the flesh, with carnal weapons, but from the Church in Kingdom glory, backed by divine power. R5716:4
Not until the Church is complete, and Christ takes to himself his great power to reign, and the Gentile times end, will this heavenly power be hurled against the image. OV82:3; A255
It is the Heavenly Father that will do the smiting. You and I have nothing to do with that. Q82:2; CR42:4
The impact will be so sharp and so thorough as to leave nothing of Gentile supremacy. R5527:4, R5854:1; SM479:1
Upon his feet – The very last part of the image. CR42:4
Present earthly governments. R668:5
The Roman empire still exists, not in the form in which it was first recognized, but in the fact that it was a combination of church and state and the two, uniting, sought to rule all Europe and the world. Q96:T
It is upon the feet of this image that the Armageddon crash of God's Kingdom is pictured as falling. R5854:1
Of iron and clay – Civil and ecclesiastical powers. B78
The decaying power of the Roman dominion. R815:2
Brake them to pieces – Not gradually, but suddenly. R3359:5*
The crushing comes at the end of the age, preparatory to the establishment of Messiah's Kingdom. OV341:1; R654:5
The present step (1915) is the war of the nations. The next will be Socialism--attempted Socialism--and the third step, anarchy. R5632:2
Not until Immanuel shall take his great power and reign and bind Satan will there be permanent peace. R2361:1
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A stone – The true Kingdom of God.
Without hands – i.e., this is not the work of man.
His feet that were of iron and clay – This is the union of church (clay) and iron (state, civil power) of Europe. The United States is not part of this picture for here we have no king and the union of church and state is against the law - (consider the first ammendment to the Constitution.) – see R5854:1. |
| 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the copper, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. |
Then – When the time came for the setting up of the Fifth Universal empire. A260
The iron – The Roman empire; civil power. A254; B78
The clay – Ecclesiastical power. A254; B78
The brass – The Grecian empire, which still has a measure of life. A253, A260
The silver – The Persian empire, which still has a measure of life. A253, A260
The gold – The Babylonian empire. A253
Together, all the evil kingdoms of the prince of darkness. R2606:3
Broken to pieces – Their utter destruction. R2338:5
Together – Struck once--shattered all together. R3359:5*
Sir Isaac Newton observed: "All the four beasts are still alive, though the dominion of the first three be taken away." HG74:2
Like the chaff – Ground to powder in the great time of trouble. R5575:3, R2314:1, R5632:1
The Armageddon crash of God's Kingdom is pictured as falling--grinding the entire image to powder. R5854:1
The impact will be so sharp and so thorough as to leave nothing of them--they will cease to be. R5527:4
And the wind – A great war. R3414:3
No place was found – Graphic description of the end of Gentile governments. OV83:1; R5527:4, R668:5
So long as these governments would be here, they and Messiah's Kingdom could not cooperate. R5526:2
And the stone – See comments on Dan. 2:34. After it had done the smi R3359:5*
Became – Spreading, in its various parts, as do earthly governments. D642
Gradually expanding. R2375:1; SM479:2
Its own power and dominion will be established as fast as by its varied influences and agencies it crushes and scatters the powers that be. B78
A great mountain – Kingdom. D642; R654:5, R409:6, R2606:3, R2976:6, R5181:2, R5182:2
Many years will doubtless pass before this prophecy will be fulfilled. R5182:2
Not by poor human efforts will God's Kingdom come. R658:5, R414:5
Filled the whole earth – Having broken to pieces the evil kingdoms of the prince of darkness. R2606:3, R654:5
And not only the place where the image stood. SM479:2
A worldwide Kingdom. R5181:2
As a spiritual unseen power, but with human representatives who can be seen. R219:4
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Summer – Summer here is Strong's 7007 which only appears here. According to professor Strong this means 'Harvest.'
Threshingfloors – Most translations render this in the singular - Threshingfloor.
Thus this should read 'became like the chaff of the Harvest threshingfloor'. |
| 36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. |
This is the dream – Containing a great political chart of the world's history for the last twenty-five centuries. R662:1*
Tell the interpretation – Daniel is the introduction to John; the book of John is the completion of Daniel. Daniel is first John; John is second Daniel. They are two parts of the same book, using the same symbols and hieroglyphics and treating the same course of events. R662:1*
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| 37 Thou, O king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory; |
A king of kings – A king over kings; the first one represented in the image. Q95:2
Nebuchadnezzar was made the representative ruling head of human dominion--Lord of earth. B96
The greatness of Babylonia dates especially from the time of the overthrow of Israel. At that time God recognized it and it became the universal empire. Q80:1
The God of heaven – Man's present efforts to rule are not in defiance of Jehovah, but by his permission, for a limited time. A251
Hath given thee – There the Gentile kingdoms, or "Powers that be, were ordained of God." (Rom. 13:1) A253
Saying to the Gentiles, I will not be ready to set up my Kingdom for some time. In the interim you may have opportunity to demonstrate what you can do for the world. Institute the best government that you can. R5564:4
They are all Gentile governments and not representatives of God. All these kingdoms are demonstrating various principles of government. HG569:6
We are interested in these kingdoms because we are interested in mankind in general, and we may pray for them such wisdom as God sees best. R5205:1
A kingdom – For the opportunity to see what he could do with it. R5204:4
The first kingdom in the image. Previously God had his own kingdom of Israel in the world, during which time there could be no other universal empire. Q81:1; R2497:2; HG48:2
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| 38 and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: thou art the head of gold. |
And the fowls – Almost the same language addressed to Adam. B96; HG49:1
Into thine hand – And not into the hand of his dead father, Nabopolassar, as some suppose. R1978:5
Each of the five universal monarchies existed a long time before universal dominion was given into its hand. B100
Thou – Babylon, represented by Nebuchadnezzar. A253; OV340:4; SM417:1
It was under Nebuchadnezzar's administration that the Babylonian empire reached its zenith. R2497:2
Art this head – The representative head of earth. B96; R2497:2
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| 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of copper, which shall bear rule over all the earth. |
Another kingdom – The succeeding Medo-Persian empire. A253; PD49/61; OV340:4
These are all Gentile kingdoms and not representatives of God. All these various kingdoms demonstrate various principles of government. R5204:5
Had only one nation been permitted to experiment with the race, we would not have known whether other nations might have been successful if given the opportunity. R5204:5
Third kingdom – Grecia. A253; OV340:4
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| 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces and crush. |
Fourth kingdom – Rome. A253; OV340:4
The present governments of Europe are the Roman empire under a new gloss, or pretense. Their laws, methods and ambitions are those of the Romans exactly; but, deceiving and being deceived, they call themselves Christian kingdoms. R5673:4
The Roman empire still exists as a combination of church and state although there has been a disintegration between the iron (civil) and the clay (ecclesiastical) powers. A254; Q96:T
Strong as iron – The iron empire, Rome, was by far the strongest and endured longer than its predecessors--in fact, it still continues in the nations of Europe. A253
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Break in pieces – This phrase, describing the crushing power of the Gentile governments, is used by the Lord to describe His work of crushing these very Gentile powers. Note this in vs. 34, 44 and 45 (especially note additional comments on vs 44). |
| 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. |
Feet and toes – The present divisions of the Roman empire. A254; OV340:5; R5854:1; SM405:4
Today we have the division of the nations known as Christendom--Protestant and Catholic--as represented by the toes of the image. OV82:2, OV83:7
The ten toes are also pictured in the ten horns of the terrible beast of Dan. 7. OV83:7
America is not included directly, only indirectly. R5854:1
Part of potters' clay – Ecclesiastical powers. Q96:T, A254
Part of iron – The civil power. A254; Q96:T
The kingdom – The Holy Roman empire. A253; Q81:1
Shall be divided – The Roman empire passed through the course foretold--first united, then divided. R662:3*
Strength of the iron – The iron, or civil power, is usually the most prominent. Q96:T
Iron mixed with miry clay – Religious and civil power mixed--an imitation of stone which is the symbol of the true Kingdom of God. A254; Q81:1; R5673:5
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The feet and toes – "The ten toes of the image represent the ten divisions of the Roman Empire, though they have varied over the centuries. France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Spain, Portugal, Lombardy, Romania, and Ravenna."
Part of potter's clay – See Psa. 2:6-9 |
| 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly brittle. |
As the toes – These ten divisions of the Roman empire now exist as France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Spain, Portugal, Lombardy, Romania and Ravenna. HG12:6
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| 43 And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay. |
Thou sawest iron – Civil power. A254
Mixed with miry clay – Ecclesiastical power. Q96:T, A254
The gloss of nominal Christianity covering the civil power, outwardly resembling Christ's Kingdom. R5564:5; Q81:1
Mingle themselves – Blend together in confusion, Babylon. A254
Shall not cleave – Not thoroughly amalgamate. A254
When the miry clay becomes dry and "brittle" it loses its adhesive power. The iron and clay now shows signs of dissolution and will quickly crumble when smitten by the "stone," the true Kingdom. A254
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Iron mixed with clay – Civil power (kings) intertwined with the churches (clay), i.e., church-state union.
They – The clay, the (supposed) church.
Shall mingle themselves – Nominal church.
With the seed of men – With the civil power. They were supposed to remain seperate from the seed of men because they were supposed to be Abraham's seed (as the body of Christ) - Gal. 3:29.
So then, we see that the correct understanding of this mixture of iron and clay is the union of church and state. This is what is smitten.
We should remember that there was another time when those who were spiritual (as was claimed by the Nominal Church) mingled themselves with the seed of mankind, i.e., before the flood. See Gen. 6:2,4,13. We remember that God destroyed that arrangement too. |
| 44 And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. |
In the days – From 1874 to 1914 AD. C128
While they still have power. A262[A261:3]; B99[B99:2], B170; R5631:5
Now the Day of the Lord has come. Earth's rightful King takes his great power and begins his reign while yet the powers of darkness hold their places. R1161:3
Of these kings – The last of the Gentile powers, the so-called Christian kingdoms of Christendom, represented in the toes of the image. A262[A261:3], A254[A253:3]; D623[D623:4]; OV340:6
"Kingdoms of this world," (Matt. 4:8) Gentile kingdoms, permitted to hold sway until the time of Messiah's Kingdom – and no longer. R4799:3[R4799:3]
So also Babylon existed before it conquered Jerusalem and Medo-Persia before it conquered Babylon. All kingdoms must first exist and receive superior power before they could conquer others. B99; HG75:3
The ten powers, representative of the Roman empire, before they are destroyed in the "Day of the Lord." R112:6, R798:4, R82:2
Whether the strife will extend beyond the boundaries of Roman rule we do not know. CR494:6
Shall the God of heaven – Not by poor human efforts. R658:5, R414:5
It is Jehovah's work to set up Christ's dominion. "I will give thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psa. 2:8) A309
Set up – To exalt his Church. C115
Gradually establish in power and authority. A262; R2375:1, R5181:2
The first step in the setting up of this Kingdom was the raising of the sleeping saints in 1878. R5631:5
The Church is the Kingdom now only in the prospective sense that a babe is a man. When we are glorified with our Head, that will be our exaltation, the heavenly Kingdom "set up." R397:4
In the full sense when The Christ is complete, every member glorified. R5193:1; B77
The inauguration of Messiah's Kingdom in the world. R5328:2, R5181:2
It is set up before the kingdoms of earth fall. R60:5*
Earth's rightful King begins his reign while yet the powers of darkness hold their places. R1161:3
The setting up of this Kingdom will mean, of course, the overthrow of all the kingdoms of this earth. R307:5
The two cannot long stand together. R1161:3
Our setting up must be before the plaques which are represented as destroying earthly kingdoms. R112:6
A kingdom – Present representatively throughout the Gospel age, unrecognized by the world. D623; R397:4
This is a prophecy of restitution, because any prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ and his saints is a prophecy of restitution. HG336:3
It shall have no successors, for the others will all be destroyed. R2976:6
The Kingdom for which our redeemer himself taught us to pray. R1776:5, R2724:4, R2976:5; D429
Established on the principles of justice and equity, based upon the golden law of love to God and men. R420:5, R166:6
When the Day of the Lord is fully under way, all the tribes of earth shall mourn because of him (Matt. 24:30) who is now assuming contr R748:4
Never be destroyed – Unlike the changing Gentile kingdoms represented in the image. D623
The righteous King shall take possession of earth's governments. R2724:4
Not be left to other people – As the power of the image shifted from one people to another. D623
It shall have no successors, for the others will all be destroyed. R2976:6
But it – The Lord's Kingdom, which is even now engaged in the shaking and overturning work. B170
Our Lord assured his faithful that, at the time of the establishment of his Kingdom and the overthrow of Gentile power, the overcoming Church would be with him and have a share in that work. D624; CR493:5
Break in pieces – "As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers." (Rev. 2:27) A256; D429; R507:3, R2691:6
When the Kingdoms would be given to "the people of the saints of the Most High," they were to "smite them in pieces as a potter's vessel" This intimates that in some sense the Lord will take possession before they have been completely overthrown. R5631:5, R3293:4
Utter destruction in a great time of trouble. R2375:1, R2338:5, R5328:2; A255
Not by bloodless revolution of the ballot box, but by a "time of trouble." (Dan. 12:1) R1563:6
The intimation is that the catastrophe coming upon our civilization will be a sudden one. The Scriptures do not say that the trouble will come in an hour, or in one day, or in one year. R5328:2
The great ones of earth will not voluntarily resign their power and offices but will have to be driven off their thrones. The saints, however, fight not with carnal weapons and will have nothing to do with this driving. R1156:1
Thus by "breaking in pieces" --throwing down--"the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ," and "he shall reign forever." (Rev. 11:15) R409:3
The "kingdoms of this world," even while being crushed by the Kingdom of God, will be quite ignorant of the real cause of their downfall. C129
At the time of the establishment of the Kingdom and the overthrow of Gentile power, the overcoming Church would be with him and have a share in that work. D623
The grand blessings of restitution are already begun in this trouble, which is a blessing in disguise, breaking in pieces and removing the present governments and systems represented in Nebuchadnezzar's image. R852:1
And consume – Jezebel shall be "eaten by dogs" --the nominal church will be cast down and consumed. R235:5
All these kingdoms – Not people. R419:6
The nations of Europe and America. R2691:5
Surely every one which formed part of the old Roman empire. Whether the strife will extend beyond the boundaries of the Roman rule, whether it will involve America, we do not know. CR494:6; R5854, 1
No nation on earth can now be said to have God's special fatherly providence over it. R1561:6
Present governments are pictured as beastly, and God's saints should rejoice in the promise of their overthrow. R1563:6
Therefore we can neither labor nor pray for the perpetuation of the governments of this world. R798:4
Shall stand for ever – The next, fifth, universal empire, under Messiah. R2976:6, R2145:1; A260
The world needs a "strong government" to hold it in check and bring blessings and happiness to every creature. R2145:1
The kingdoms of this world, being all overthrown, will be re-established on principles of justice and equity, based upon the golden law of love to God and man. R420:5
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In the days of these kings – Not just any kings will do, no, it must be in the days of these kings, i.e., in the days of the nations of Christendom.
This cannot refer to the 4 universal empires as being the kings because ancient Babylon had long since ceased to be. So much so that for a long period of time, scoffers of the Bible suggested that it had never even existed. These scoffings only stopped when the ancient city had been discovered by archeologists.
It shall break in pieces – The kingdom of God does the breaking in pieces of Christendom. Yet, even now in its embryo state, their is a breaking in pieces going on. See comments on Eze. 9:2 'slaughter weapon.'
Here we see God's Justice in operation. He does to the Gentile governments what they did to the people they had rule over. (See vs. 40)
The Kingdom of God strikes the toes of the kings of Christendom (most appropriately symbolized by the city of Rome). Remembering that Rome is the capital of Italy, notice how God has portrayed this in the geography of the land. In this picture, the island of Sicily is the stone which smites the Roman Empire (Italy) on its toes.
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| 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the copper, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. |
That the stone – Representing the true Church, the Kingdom of God. A255; R2375:1, R5564:5, R1408:2; OV82:3; PD49/61
At first, insignificant in size and seeming powerless to the world. R5575:3
God's Kingdom will not remain small, but will gradually expand until it shall fill the whole earth. R2375:1, R5575:2; SM417:2
Was cut out – Carved and shaped for its future position and greatness. A255
Of the mountain – Mountains, kingdoms of the earth. R654:5
Without hands – Not by human hands, but by the power of the truth. A255; R5673:5
Supernaturally; quarried out of the "earth" by the Lord. OV341:T, R5575:3
And that it – When complete, when entirely cut out, it will smite and destroy the kingdoms of this world. A255
Brake in pieces – Smite the image and grind it to powder. This smiting is near at hand. R5673:5
The smiting will come from the Church in Kingdom glory, backed by divine power. R5716:4
Messiah, Head and Body, shall overrule so that the nations of earth shall be broken to shivers. R3293:5, R5631:5
The present terrible war (1914) is not the great time of trouble in the fullest sense of the word, but merely the forerunner. The great time of trouble will be brought on by anarchy. R5526:3
The dream is certain – The stone is rolling; the hill is steepening; the impetus becomes terrible very soon, and 20 years will amply suffice to destroy old things and fit the earth for the new. R1705:3*
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| 46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should pour out an oblation and sweet odors unto him. |
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| 47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou hast been able to reveal this secret. |
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| 48 Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. |
Over all the wise men – The expectations of the Magi (Matt. 2:1-12) may have arisen from Dto the time of Messiah's advent. R1674:6
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| 49 And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the gate of the king. |
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