DANIEL 2: A PANORAMA OF THE WORLD’S DESTINY

Daniel 2:1

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

And the fourth kingdom [Rome] shall be strong as iron, since iron breaks to pieces and subdues all things; and like iron which crushes, it shall break and crush all these. (Daniel 2:40 AMP)

Daniel 2:41

And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

The metals in Daniel’s vision represent kingdoms, political powers, or the power of the state. What does the clay represent? 

“Part of potters’ clay”

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:6)

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he [God] put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? (Job 4:17–19)

In Scripture, clay represents frailty, liability to decay, and destruction. It also represents Israel, who in humility and weakness recognized God as the potter and in that weakness became strong. Israel, when separated from God, was as weak as common clay vessels. Clay also represents the weakness of man when following his own way and religion.

“Shall be in it of the strength of the iron”

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. (Daniel 2:40)

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. (Daniel 7:7)

They [My people] are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. (Jeremiah 6:28)

Because I knew that thou [Israel] art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass. (Isaiah 48:4)

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also. (Jeremiah 28:14)

Iron was considered the hardest of metals. It is used in Scripture to symbolize strength and power and that which is severe or harsh. It also represents the hardhearted, rebellious nature of man apart from God. In Daniel iron represents the iron-like kingdom of the pagan Roman Empire.

Israel was at times represented as clay, and was a theocracy or a nation-church under God. But apart from God it was always weak.

Iron is the state, and the clay is the church. In Daniel 2:34, 41 we see depicted church and state united, but it is a church system separated from God and thus weak and needing the iron nature of political force to hold it together. This uniting of iron and clay was to a greater and lesser degree, the state of affairs in Europe for more than a thousand years, after the pagan Roman Empire fell. The two substances, iron and clay, church and state under the dominion of Satan, will unite again in the future for a short time.

Daniel 2:42–43

And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest 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 is not mixed with clay.

“They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men”

You also saw that the iron was mixed with the clay. This means that the rulers of that empire will try to unite their families by intermarriage, but they will not be able to, any more than iron can mix with clay. (Daniel 2:43 TEV)

This mixture of iron with clay shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage of their rulers; but this will not succeed, for iron and clay don’t mix. (Daniel 2:43 TLB)

The iron empire of Rome fell, giving way to the various nation states that we know today as Europe. Through intermarriage, war, and intrigue, attempts have been made to unite the parts into one strong, unified whole. Yet every attempt has ultimately failed. Even the modern counterpart, the European Union, is but partially strong, like iron, and partially weak, like clay. Despite the EU’s talk of cooperation in Brussels, each nation is still independent and often strives to maintain its own ways and sovereignty.

Does the Bible tell of a future political-church/economic union, which is in rebellion against God, having the strength of the state (iron) and the weakness of man-made religion (clay)?

And in the latter time of their kingdom [the four kingdoms of Grecia], when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace [prosperity] shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:23–25. These verses foretell the rise of the Roman Empire. This history will be repeated with the rise of another Roman power, religious and political in nature.)

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:17)

So he [the angel] carried me [John] away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. (Revelation 17:12–13)

One of the key features of the kingdoms of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire was the slow but steady rise of influence and power of the Church of Rome over the nations of Western Europe. That influence of church and state, though greatly weakened, is far from dead and will be restored on a global scale at the end of time. As clay and iron, church and state will come together just before Jesus returns.

Daniel 2:44

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

“And in the days of these kings”

Some have seen in the ten toes of this image a parallel to the ten horns of Daniel 7, representing the ten kingdoms that arose out of Rome, which is today the modern nations of Western Europe. However, no explanation is given as to the identity of the feet and toes other than that they are an attempt to unite iron and clay, and that they are in existence at the end of time, for it is this portion of the image that is smitten and ultimately destroyed by the coming of Christ.

There is a relationship between the power at the end, represented by the ten toes, and the ten kings of Revelation 17 who receive power with the beast for “one hour,” or a short period just before the coming of Christ. The kings referred to in the text “in the days of these kings” are the kings or kingdoms reigning with the beast just before Christ returns. The kings and toes of Daniel 2 are at least related to the ten kings who shall receive “power one hour with the beast.” Neither the toes nor the kings have yet appeared as to be clearly identified, though some commentators have identified these kings as ten administrative regions of the world in a global system of government.

What we do know is that the iron-and-clay kingdom of church and state existed after the break-up of the Roman Empire, in the area of what is now modern Europe. The iron-and-clay kingdom—i.e., church and state united—will spread throughout the world, while the ten toes are Daniel’s description of what John sees in Revelation 17:12 as ten kings. When these kings come into their power, we can know that time is almost over. In the days of these kings, Christ will come as a stone to smite the image of rebellion.

The iron monarchy of Rome was to have two stages: one a pagan/political power, and the other a professedly Christian political/religious power. Both Daniel 11 and Revelation 13 state that this second phase of Rome is to be active in the last days just before Jesus comes. Therefore, the feet and toes, while having some relationship to Western Europe from the break-up of ancient Rome to our own day, represent a future power that will be a human confederacy of church and state that apparently prospers for a moment but shall be as clay and iron, which cannot cleave to one another. (See Revelation 17:16–17; 18:1–9.) These concepts will be explained further as we continue through this study of Daniel and Revelation.

Daniel 2:45

Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, 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.

“The dream is certain”

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? (Proverbs 22:17–21)

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Mark 13:31)

This communication of coming events was made known by God and thus it is reliable and true, for God is trustworthy. Our faith is strengthened as we see how perfectly the prophecy predicted the events of history. Its divine Author can be believed and trusted, not only for a knowledge of coming events but also for our eternal salvation.

King Nebuchadnezzar was brought to the realization that Jehovah is the true and living God even before the events came to pass. We can read prophecy fulfilled in history and see with certainty the faithfulness of God’s Word. Will you acknowledge the truthfulness of God’s word, and entrust your life to Him today?

Daniel 2:46

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him.

“The king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel”

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein. (Acts 14:9–15)

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. (Revelation 22:8–9)

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. (Acts 10:25–26)

The king, in his enthusiasm and ignorance, treated Daniel with far more honor than any man should receive. Believing that his wise men and the Chaldeans were the sole channels to reach the gods, not unlike some religions today view their religious guides, the king looked upon Daniel as also being a medium to communicate with the gods.

Wherever and however men place other men above themselves as the only or main means for God to speak to them, they cause themselves serious trouble. God overruled this ignorant enthusiasm by using this event to place His children in the corridors of power so that His truth and character would be made known to the leaders and people of Babylon and beyond, even to future generations.

Daniel 2:47

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 couldst reveal this secret.

“God is a … revealer of secrets”

I [the Lord of hosts] have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them. (Isaiah 48:3, 5–7)

Daniel 2:48–49

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then 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’s explanation of this dream resulted in Nebuchadnezzar conferring honor and dignity upon him and his companions. “Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” The gate of the king was where justice was dispensed. Daniel’s three companions were made counselors, judges, and rulers in the land. These men were not puffed up with vanity, but they rejoiced that God was recognized above all earthly potentates and that His kingdom was extolled above all earthly kingdoms.

Daniel and his friends were exalted to this position not by their power but by God’s; they were able to be His channels because they had proven themselves faithful in the little things (as described in Daniel chapter 1). They knew by experience that “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

The Lord was working in the Babylonian kingdom by communicating light to the four Hebrew youth so that they might represent His work before the idolatrous nation. The events of the future, reaching down to the end of time, were opened before the king of Babylon. The prophetic pen traced the record of the dream and its interpretation so the rulers and people of the world could know and believe in the true and living God.

Daniel chapters 7, 8, and 11 are related to and build on the kingdoms introduced in chapter 2. Each chapter provides more details about the kingdoms represented by the great image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. But before we get to chapter 7, there are other important lessons we need to learn. The lessons in the next several chapters will help you understand the prophetic portions of Daniel yet to come.

To give you a quick idea of what is ahead, note these highlights.

Chapter 7 describes the four world empires, represented by four beasts, with the additional mention of a little horn power, that will rule until the time of the end.

Chapter 8 describes the silver and brass kingdoms in more detail, under the symbols of a ram and a he goat, and clearly identify them as Medo-Persia and Greece. The iron kingdom of chapter 2 and the great and terrible beast of chapter 7 are introduced in chapter 8 as the little horn. This power was to come out from the former Grecian kingdom. The little horn in chapter 8 has a second phase, which parallels that of the little horn in chapter 7.
 
Chapter 11 describes the king of the north and south, which represents the various powers that were introduced in chapters 2, 7, and 8. These powers were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, Rome, and Rome’s religious or second phase of existence. Each chapter deals with the ancient powers of the day and carries us to the end of time, when the last power shall be destroyed. God’s people are delivered and at last triumphant through God’s power and mercy.


Endnotes

1.  James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1987).

2.  Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius’ Hebrew Aramaic English Lexicon, in The Online Bible CD-ROM, Macintosh Version 2.5.3 (Niagara Falls, NY: Cross Country Software, www.online-bible.com, 1996)

3.  James Strong, op. cit.

4.  Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius’ Hebrew Aramaic English Lexicon, op. cit.

5.  James Strong, op. cit.