World Empires Past and Future
Empires that Rule Over the Nation of Israel
The Statue of Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron and Clay
Dan 2:28-45 28- 30 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh 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; 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 maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
God gave king Nebuchadnezzar a dream concerning what was going to take place in the future. A dream about the world empires that were to rule over the nation of Israel. Nebuchadnezzar did not understand the meaning of the dream, but God gave the understanding to His prophet Daniel who in turn made it known to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel did not understand because he was better educated or because he was wiser than others, but he understood because God gave him understanding. Understanding is never given to the wise men of this world; it is given to whomever God chooses, regardless of education. God not only knows the future, but He controls the future; therefore, He is able to give us understanding of future events. There is never any guesswork with God; He has a plan, for all of history, a plan that will be completed right down to the most minute detail.
31-36 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was of a great statue that had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet a mixture of iron and clay. Each of the elements of the statue represented a great empire of the world. History tells us that they all had one thing in common, that each of these empires was to rule over the nation of Israel. In the end, all world empires will be utterly destroyed by Jesus Christ when He returns to establish His kingdom upon earth. Men strive to leave their mark in the world; but in the end, there will be no trace or remembrance of any world leader or tyrant. The day is fast approaching when all of the world’s empires will be gone, without a trace. The Lord God Almighty will not give His glory to any man. Only Jesus Christ will be glorified in His kingdom and there will be no remembrance of any of the world’s great empires or rulers. Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. This world’s great nations and all of its great men will be forgotten forever.
37-38 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
The first kingdom was represented by the head of gold, which represented Nebuchadnezzar and his empire, the kingdom of Babylon, which was the first of these empires to rule over the nation of Israel from 605 B.C. to 539 B.C.. Notice that the kingdom, power, strength, and glory that Nebuchadnezzar received was given to him by the God of heaven. The Lord always rules supreme in the affairs of men throughout history. No one ever made himself great, greatness is given to whomever God wills to give it. The mentally of the world today is I can, I will, I shall because I have the power, I am in control of my own destiny. This prideful attitude is nothing less than rebellion against God.
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
The second kingdom was represented by the breast and arms of silver which represented the kingdom of Medo-Persia which ruled over the nation of Israel from 539 B.C. to 331 B.C. The third kingdom was represented by the belly and thighs of brass, which represented the kingdom of Greece, which ruled over the nation of Israel from 331 B.C. to 63 B.C.
40-43 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. 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. 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.
The fourth kingdom was represented by the two legs of iron which represented the ancient Roman Empire which was eventually divided into the Byzantine Empire and the Western Roman Empire. The Roman Empire ruled over the nation of Israel from 63 B.C. to 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and Israel ceased to exist as a nation. This fourth empire is also represented by feet that are part iron and part clay. The feet with ten toes represent the revived Roman Empire which will yet rule over the nation of Israel during the seven year tribulation period. The ten toes represent ten nations, some of which will be stronger then others. As the ten toes are attached to the feet and thereby connected to one another, these ten nations will be connected to one another by the dictatorial leadership of the antichrist. United they will attempt to conquer the world as Rome attempted to conquer the world. The Roman Empire of the future will be a government that will function, much in the same way, as did the ancient Roman Empire. It will be united under the tyrannical control of the antichrist who will rule as a result of a mandate of the people of his nation, as Caesar also ruled over Rome as a result of a mandate of the people of Rome.
44-45 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. 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 final kingdom will be that of Jesus Christ. The stone that is cut out of the mountain without hands represents the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Men have no part in establishing the eternal kingdom of Christ, as represented by the fact that the stone is cut out of the mountain without hands. Jesus Christ will destroy all of the earth’s kingdoms when He returns to this earth at the end of the great tribulation. He will establish His kingdom, a kingdom which will last forever; man will never again rule the earth and will never again rule over the nation of Israel. Jesus Christ will rule over the entire earth and the nation of Israel from the throne of David, in the land of Israel, for one thousand years. He will then create a new heavens and a new earth, with a new Jerusalem, which will last forever. Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: The kingdom of God and of the Lamb will be the final kingdom, a kingdom that will endure forever.
The Four Beast of Daniel Chapter Seven
Dan 7:1-8
1-3 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. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
These four great beasts that Daniel saw in his dream represented the same world empires that were represented by the gold, silver, brass, iron and clay of the great statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream as recorded in Daniel chapter two. The sea represents humanity; therefore, we can say that these beasts are humanly established world empires. God is always sovereign and in His sovereignty He allows man to accomplish many great things, but man does not give the glory to God; therefore, nothing that man accomplishes will endure.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
The lion represented Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom of Babylon; the same as the head of gold of the statue in chapter two. His kingdom was represented as being as strong as a lion, the king of beast, and great as an eagle, the king of birds. In Daniel 4:28-37 we see how Nebuchadnezzar was disciplined by God for his pride. During that time of discipline he behaved like an animal, but when the discipline ended, he was restored to normalcy and again stood on his feet like a man.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
The bear represents Medo-Persia; the same as the breast and arms of silver of the statue in chapter two. Daniel saw that it was raised up on one side because the Persians were stronger than the Medes. The three ribs in its mouth may represent Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt which are three kingdoms conquered by Medo-Persia.
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
The leopard with four wings represents Alexander the Great and the empire of Greece; the same as the belly and thighs of brass of the statue in chapter two. He conquered the known world in a very short period of time; therefore, he is represented as being a leopard with four wings, fast and powerful. When Alexander died his kingdom was divided by his four generals; therefore, the leopard is pictured as having four heads.
7 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.
The fourth beast with teeth of iron represented the Roman Empire; the same as the legs of iron of the statue in chapter two. The ten horns represents ten kingdoms or nations; the same as the ten toes of the statue in chapter two. The ten horns are the nations that will be under the control of the antichrist who will be the last Caesar to rule over the Roman Empire. This beast is not pictured as an animal of flesh, but as a beast with iron teeth which best represents a modern world empire with its mechanized army.
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
In verse seven we see that this fourth kingdom has ten horns and in verse eight we see that another little horn will come up among the first ten; therefore, we know that this fourth beast represents ten nations under the leadership of an eleventh nation. The little horn represents the antichrist, the ruler of the revived Roman Empire. He is referred to as the little horn because the nation from which he will rule is a new nation, a nation that has its roots in the first ten nations. The nation from which the antichrist will rule is made up mostly of people who can trace their ancestry to the ten nations; therefore, they are the same people. The revived Roman Empire will be made up of ten nations plus the nation of the antichrist. The antichrist with the power of his nation will defeat three of the ten nations and force them to submit to him, and then the other seven will submit in fear. The revived Roman Empire will be a Roman-type of government and the antichrist will be as Caesar; furthermore, he will eventually demand to be worshiped as Caesar demanded worship.
The End of All Worldly Kingdoms
Dan 7:17-27
17-18These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel is told that there would be four kingdoms that would rule over the nation of Israel until a fifth and final kingdom would arise and rule forever. The final kingdom will rule forever and all those who have been persecuted by the world's kingdoms will enjoy the eternal kingdom of God and of our Savior Jesus Christ forever. Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
The fourth beast represents the revived Roman Empire, and it is different from all the others because it has a modern mechanized army as compared to the ancient armies of all the other empires that preceded it. Furthermore, because of its modern weapons of war, weapons that are technologically superior to all other military powers, it will have power to utterly destroy all armies that would oppose it’s rule.
20-21 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
The antichrist and his nation will rule over the earth by force with the help of ten other nations. He will conquer three of the ten nations and force them to submit to his rule and the other seven nations will submit to him in fear. Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? The antichrist will be the leader of the most powerful nation on earth and he will force ten European nations to submit to his rule just as the ancient Roman Empire forced other nations to submit to the rule of the emperor of Rome. He will hate God and will try to destroy all those who worship God because they will refuse to worship him. Caesar tried to destroy the early Christians because they refuse to say that Caesar is lord; likewise, the antichrist will try to destroy everyone who refuses to say that he is lord. Nevertheless, he and his empire will eventually be destroyed and those whom he hated will rule with Christ forever.
23-25Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The antichrist, who is the ruler of the greatest and mightiest nation in the world, will rule over a kingdom comprised of ten other nations. He will rule by force. He will put fear into seven of the ten nations by defeating three of the ten. He will begin to take control of the ten nations at the beginning of the seven year tribulation, but he will not have total control until the last three and one half years when all his subjects will, by that time, have the mark of the beast. Even though he will call himself a man of peace, in the name of peace He and his kingdom will attempt to force all the rest of the world to submit to him; as a result, there will be war throughout the world, greater than all the wars the world has ever known. Furthermore, he will seek to destroy the Jews who refuse to worship him, and all those who refuse to take the mark of his name, the mark of the beast. Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Eventually all those who do worship the antichrist and take the mark of his name will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire, where they will be tormented forever.
26-27But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
In the end, the antichrist and his kingdom will be destroyed, and he will be thrown alive into the lake of fire. Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Then Jesus Christ will establish His kingdom, a kingdom that will last forever.
All Scripture taken from King James Bible
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24