Daniel Unlocked #18

Daniel Unlocked #18. Does God Pass the Test?

In my summary of the dream given to Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation I am assuming you have read Daniel 2:1-45. Nebuchadnezzar had received a vision that outlined the major powers that would arise and affect God’s people. Was this historically fulfilled? Can the facts be verified?

Each of the metal sections on the statue of a man, the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the iron mixed with clay, and the stone cut out without hands, refer to kingdoms. These kingdoms began in Daniel’s day and end at the second advent of Jesus. Note how the metals decrease in value but increase in strength as you go from the top to the bottom of the statue.

Daniel informed the king; he was the head of Gold, but that Babylon would be conquered by an inferior kingdom. Take a probability check on this. What would be the probability of a foreign resident of a conquered kingdom informing the conquering king that his kingdom would come to an end? I would say that is remote. Just as silver is inferior to Gold, the conquering Medo-Persian empire was inferior to Babylon.

Next, Daniel said that a kingdom of bronze would conquer the silver kingdom. History tells us that Medo-Persia did fall, and Greece rose to power to take its place. In an extremely unlikely turn of events, a young man from Macedonia left Greece to conquer the known world. The dream continued with the bronze of Greece giving way to a kingdom of Iron. Rome!

In another interesting twist, this kingdom of Iron is not defeated or taken over. Rather, as the dream revealed, it was divided and became a mixture of iron and clay. This happened in the 5th century AD. Daniel was clear that there would be no 5th world empire in the place of Rome.

There were many attempts over the centuries to re-create the Roman Empire in Europe and North Africa: Charlemagne, Louis XIV, Napoleon, and Hitler.

All these attempts to unit Europe were prevented by 7 prophetic words: “they will not adhere to one another”. Even today Europe seeks to unite with a common market and currency. However even the Euro will not unite the Roman Empire. God gave a message, and it stands true. The methods of military, political and economic unity have all failed, just as the Bible predicted. The next thing that is to happen is God’s kingdom that will reign forever – the stone that smashes all worldly empires to dust.

How probable is it that, by chance, Daniel was able to outline the history of Europe, Asia minor and North Africa and its exact sequence and the exact number of kingdoms in succession. This is not a chance. It points to the God of eternity as the Divine Source of the information. From this we can deduce that, based on the evidence of probability, the stone cut without hands, which represents the second coming of Jesus Christ, is just as certain to happen as the rise and fall of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and the divided Rome.

How did Nebuchadnezzar react to this divine revelation? “Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him.

The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” Vs 46-47.

If you want the dates for the rise and fall of these empires here they are. Babylon, the head of Gold ruled from 606 – 539 BC, Medo-Persia, the breast and arms of silver ruled from 539 – 331BC, The fragmented Greek empire lasted from 331 to 167 BC. Rome ruled from 167 BC until 476 AD. It became the fragmented nations of Europe which by 538 was being controlled by the church. One hundred years later saw the emergence of Islam which eventually controlled North Africa and the Middle East. These two major divisions of fallen Rome were in conflict with one another throughout the Middle Ages and into our day. Daniel 11 will chronical this history in great detail.

Notice how the Metals of the statue increase in strength as they decrease in value. Gold was the medium of exchange for Babylon. Historians say the city of Babylon was full of Gold. Silver was the medium of exchange for Persia, and the Greeks were known for their bronze swords and shields. Rome was the Iron kingdom, using steel swords and shields. Aptly described as an empire that “crushes and breaks” (v40) it was the steam roller empire that lasted for over 600 years, though weakened towards the end. TBC