Mr Vic Hewitt Posted on : 17/01/2008 00:05:16

Daniel two

Daniel interpreted this dream in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled over the kingdom of Babylon from approximately 607 B.C. to 562 B.C. If this is the only prophecy in the book of Daniel, it would still be one of the greatest proofs of God known to man. It lays out the history of the world from 600 B.C. to the present time and beyond, a period of almost 2600 years. Some consider Daniel's dream interpretation as history, not the prophetic word, which means that some see it from a retrospective viewpoint. It is deemed hard to believe that such an accurate account could be prophesied so far in advance but this author will show that Daniel's ability to foretell the future was a wondrous gift from God.

Now that Daniel's account has been read and the symbols have been seen, the meaning of them will be shown and the role each plays in this unfolding drama. This plan of God shows the statue as a flowchart of power with the "head of gold" representing the Babylonian Empire, ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar. This flowchart of power is prophesizing the world empires that will play a part in the prophecies of the latter days. Daniel 2:38 sets the scene whereby this Kingdom was given by God to King Nebuchadnezzar who was told: "Thou art this head of gold."

Another kingdom shall rise and overthrow the Babylonian Empire, this kingdom is symbolized as the breast and arms of silver. This empire is a two part empire the right and left side, one symbolizes the Medes and the other the Persians, that jointly for the Media Persia Empire. The Empire that overthrows the Media Persia Empire, symbolized on the statue as the belly and thighs of brass, is the Greek Empire, under Alexander the Great. The next Empire of the statue is the legs of iron which is a symbol of the Roman Empire, the first leg symbolizes the Western Roman Empire and the second leg symbolizing the Eastern Roman Empire. The empire that overthrows the Eastern Roman Empire, which was also known as the Byzantium Empire, symbolized on the statue of the feet of iron and clay, was the Islamic Ottoman Turk Empire. This empire will be divided as symbolized by the two feet. The first foot, the Ottoman Turk Empire would end and at a later time a new empire, which has yet to be established will rise out of the old Eastern Roman Empire symbolized by the iron and the Islamic Empire symbolized by the clay. The statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream represents five empires:

1- gold

2- silver

3- brass

4- iron

5- clay

We also see a sixth empire, symbolized by the Stone Empire, that represents the second coming of Jesus.

The Babylonian Empire was created as a result of a revolution between the Assyrian Empire and the Chaldeans, with the help of the Medes in 627 B.C. when King Nabopolassar destroyed the Assyrian Empire. Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar reunited the old empire of Sargon from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf. This revolution established four kingdoms, the Babylonian Empire, the Egyptian Empire, the Lydian Kingdom and the Persian Kingdom. In 586 B.C. Nebuchadnezza conquered the kingdom of Judah and deported the Jews from Jerusalem to Babylon.

In Daniel 8:20 we find the next part of this image, the "breast and arms of silver"; which represents the kings of Media and Persia. Each half, one breast and arm, represents those kingdoms whilst the historical record also confirms this account of Daniel. The following passages are excerpts from Daniel 5:23-31 showing this was ordained by God. Dan 5:23-31“But hast lifted up thyself against the LORD of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand

sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

The King of the Medes, Astyges 585 –550 B.C. was overthrown by Cyrus of Persia also know as Cyrus the Great to form the Media Persia Empire in 559 B.C. In 550 B.C. Cyrus is hailed as the King of the Medes, unifying Iran, creating the great Media Persia Empire. In 546 B.C. Cyrus defeated King Croesus of Lydia. Cyrus the Great overthrew the Babylonian Empire in 539 B.C. by putting the city of Babylon under siege and capturing it. In 530 B.C. Cyrus’s son King Cambyses of Persia fell heir to Cyrus’s project, of conquering Egypt after Cyrus died fighting the Scythians along his Northeastern frontier. Cambyses died in Egypt under mysterious circumstances in 522 B.C. His death sparked a rebellion across the Persian Empire. King Darius 1 took the throne in 521 B.C. and he reorganized the Persian Empire into a great and powerful nation.

The "belly and thighs of brass" symbolizes the next empire that comes on the world’s stage, fulfilling God’s plan. The empire that overthrew the Media Persia Empire was the Greek Empire under the king of Greece Alexander the Great. The two halves of the belly and the two thighs represented the four generals of Greece who succeeded Alexander the Great after his death. In 359 B.C. Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, ascended to the Macedonian throne. In 356 B.C. Alexander was born. At the age of 16 Alexander and his father Philip defeated the Greeks at Chaeroneia establishing their power over them. Two years later, in 336B.C, Philip was assassinated and Alexander ascended to the Macedonian throne. At Philips death Alexander took over Philips plans for the inversion of Persia. Alexander led an army made up of Greeks and Macedonians in a quest to avenge the Persians sacking of Greece 150 years earlier. Alexander crossed into Asia Minor in 334 B.C.. At the battle of Granicus River in Northwestern Asia Minor, Alexander defeated the Persian Army. Alexander used his cavalry as some ancient sources say, in reckless courage, crossing the river, forcing his infantry to follow them. This represented an innovation of Greek warfare. The Greeks before this had fought with either massive hoplite engagements or relied on skirmishing troops with light arms, the cavalry had been a neglected tactical weapon, primarily used to mop up after the hoplite army had broken the opponents line. The victory at Granicus put Alexander in control of vast areas of Asia Minor. The next battle in the year 333 B.C. was a victory for Alexander at Issus, where Alexander defeated the great king himself, Darius III. After the battle of Issus, Alexander went south securing the costal cities of Tyre and Sidon. He then went to Egypt, not wanting to leave a large Persian presence in his rear. Alexander left Egypt installing a Macedonian garrison and governor and marched North following the caravan trails north into Syria and Mesopotamia. He left the Mediterranean region and marched toward the heartland of Persia. Alexander was approaching the headwaters of the Tigris River. At Gaugamela, in 331 B.C. he defeated the army of Darius III. Darius fled north and east. The Achamenid king retreated to the wild northern regions of Hyrcania and Media in northern Iran, near the region bordering modern Turkmenistan. Alexander closed in on Darius but the Persian king’s own men turned on him, Darius was assassinated by a Persian nobleman named Bessos. Babylon and the royal capital of Susa, surrendered to Alexander. Alexander’s campaigns continued into the mountain passes of the Hindu Kush, into Pakistan, and towards India. Alexander wanted to supersede the mythical exploits of Heracles. By the Indus River his army had enough they mutinied, refusing to follow Alexander any further.

As Alexander laid on his deathbed he was asked who would succeed him, and he answered, the strongest. After Alexander’s death his generals treated Persia not as a noble adversary, to be treated equal, but a conquered empire to be divided up like the carcass of a beast they had hunted and slaughtered. These generals fought among themselves in order to achieve positions of power. The problem they faced was that their succession to power was complicated by two factors: the first being Alexander left a wife, Roxanne, who was pregnant. In a manner of months she had a son, Alexander’s heir who had claim to the throne. The child was in no position to assert himself as the legitimate Macedonian king for at least 16 years. The second factor was the Macedonian infantry in Babylon wanted a king of the blood of Alexander. As these generals were negotiating the infantry went into revolt and placed on the throne Alexander’s half brother Arrhidaeus. These officers had no choice but to accept that, Alexander was succeeded by a half-witted brother and unborn child. This battle for power went on for thirteen years after Alexander’s death. His brother Arrhidaeus was assassinated six years after the death of Alexander. Alexander’s wife Roxeanne and his son, Alexander IV were assassinated twelve years after his death. Four rulers emerged from this power struggle. The Ptolemies controlled Egypt; the Seleucids held Syria and Babylon; Macedon remained a separate region, now ruled by Cassander; and the Antigonids controlled most of Asia Minor. These kings are represented on the statue as the left and right side of the belly and the two thighs of brass.

History leads us to the Roman Empire that overthrew Greece to become the "fourth kingdom", the "two legs of iron". The Roman Empire was made up of two different successive segments, the Western Roman Empire with its capital in Rome; the other being the Eastern Roman Empire ruled from Constantinople.

In the period of the Roman republic a few different dates were given for the beginning of the city. These dates range from 758 B.C. to 728 B.C. The date set by Marcus Terentius Varro 753 B.C. was agreed upon as the time of the beginning of Rome. The year of the foundation of Rome varies but, all agree, the city was founded on April 21 a feast day sacred to Pales, goddess of shepherds; in her honor. According to other legends, the beginning of Rome happened 437 years after the capture of Troy 1182 B.C. According to Velleius Paterculus it took place shortly before the eclipse of the sun. Some have identified this eclipse as happening in Rome on 745 B.C.

Rome was ruled by kings until 509 B.C., when the Roman Republic was declared. The Roman Republic lasted until 27 B.C. when Emperor Augustus was given the power of Imperium proconsulare maius and tribunicia potestas for life. This turned over the complete control of the state and ended the Roman Republic. The Western Roman Empire survived until the year 476 AD. Phantom empires reigned under German kings from 455 to 476 AD at the court of Ravenna. These emperors controlled little beyond Italy. The last emperor was Romulus Augustus in 476AD. The German king Odoacer went to the emperor and told him to go home, ending the puppet empire in the west. Odoacer ruled Italy with the blessings of the eastern Emperor Zeno. Emperor Zeno was declared emperor of the Roman Empire, establishing in the east, a united empire once again.

Daniel’s statue has two legs of iron. The Western Roman Empire was the first leg. The second leg represents the Eastern Roman Empire, or as it’s better known the Byzantium Empire.

In 306 AD the western army declared Constantine the emperor on the death of his father Constantius I. Constantine was the victor of civil wars in 306 – 324 AD. In 312 AD Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge and became master of the Roman West. Constantine, after having a vision or dream of the Christogram, on the eve of the battle at the Milvian Bridge, converted to Christianity. Constantine’s conversion was likely out of the belief that God had granted him victory. He issued an “Edict of Milan” ending the persecutions and upholding Christianity. He reunited the Roman Empire. In 324 Constantine defeated Licinius. He legislated in favor of Christians and took action against pagan cults. He also created an imperial church headed by a bishop and it was funded out of the imperial treasury. Constantine could not afford to alienate the pagans as they were the majority of the empire, and if he took strong measures against them it would have thrown the empire in to revolt. So what Constantine did in 324-330 AD was to rebuild the Greek city of Byzantium into a Christian capital. This capital city was known as Constantinople, which would turn out to be the queen of cities in Christendom. Constantinople was dedicated as a Christian city in 330 becoming the ceremonial and administrative center of the empire, growing from 35,000 to 350,000 residents from 330-400 AD. Constantinople would become the economical and financial centers of the Mediterranean world. It also was a bastion of the Roman East, against the northern barbarians, entering the Balkans. Constantinople marked the emergence of the Eastern Roman Empire on the Bosporus. With the downfall of the emperor Romulus Agustus in 476 AD, the emperor in Constantinople was the sole emperor of the Roman Empire. This is the second leg of iron of Daniel’s statue. Constantinople survived thru the crusades that were brought about when the Byzantium Empire was attacked by the Seljuk Turks, and defeated at the battle of Manzikert in 1071. After this battle a new emperor Alexius I appealed to Western Europe and to the pope for military aid. In 1095, Pope Urban II preached the crusades at the Council of Clermont, which brought the Christian European armies into the Middle East to capture Jerusalem. In 1453 AD Mehmet II, the Sultan of Turkey, siege the city of Constantinople and after a great two month battle took the city, ending the Roman Empire and setting the stage for the two feet of iron and clay of Daniel’s statue.

In the context of the verses on Daniel’s statue, one Empire comes up and overthrows the previous Empire. In 1453AD, the Islamic Empire ruled by Mehmet II the Ottoman Sultan, attacked Byzantium with a mass force of one hundred thousand men and a vast fleet. This force was needed to insure a quick victory because he feared Western intervention. Mehmet II had to worry about Venice and Genoa’s great naval power. By courting these powers, he isolated Constantinople, because Venice and Genoa claimed neutrality. Mehmet II preached Jihad, with the intent to fulfill the goal of Muhammad to capture New Rome. The emperor of Constantinople, Constantine XI prolonged the siege hoping for the arrival of aid from the west. He embraced Catholicism in return for aid. Pope Eugenius IV was not able to mobilize European monarchs and Venice responded to late. If the Venetian or Genoese fleet had arrived in time it would have tipped the balance in favor of Constantinople. The great siege March 31- May 29, 1453 saw innovations in artillery and naval warfare. Even with these great innovations the small imperial army that manned the ruin Theodosian walls almost drove off the Ottoman army. The sultan’s artillery notably a huge cannon called Urban’s Bombard attacked the four miles of land walls, preparing for a general assault. Byzantine and western defenders that numbered a mere seven thousand repaired the walls and repelled successive Turkish assault and stopped mining operations for two months. Four galleys managed to run the Turkish blockade arrived from Italy with reinforcements. They helped the defenders to fight the Ottomans to a stalemate. On May 29, 1453 Mehmet II launched a final assault and found an open gate that allowed them entrance into the city. This battle ended the second iron leg of Daniel’s statue. The defeat of Constantinople by Mehmet II the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, symbolizes the first foot of iron and clay of Daniel’s statue.

Now we come to the two feet of iron and clay. 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.

This kingdom will be divided. It will not be two kingdoms like the Roman Empire. The Ottoman Empire will overthrow the Roman Empire. This kingdom will end and there will be a gap of time between the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the establishment of the second empire which will be made up of ten toes, which symbolize ten nations. The siege of Constantinople by Mehmet II in 1453, which ended the Roman Empire in Constantinople, was the beginning of the first foot of Daniel’s statue. This first foot empire ended in 1923. The Ottoman Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries was among the worlds’ most powerful political entities. Following years of decline the Ottoman Empire entered World War I with and alliance with Germany and was ultimately defeated by the ally powers. The allied powers sought to dismember the Ottoman state through the Treaty of Sevres. Ahmed Izzet Pasha, one of the last grand viziers of the Ottoman Empire, under the reign of Mehmed VI Vahdeddin, between October 14, 1918 and November 8, 1918 was the signator of the Armistice of Mudros, putting and end to the first world was for Turkey. In signing the armistice the Ottomans surrendered the remaining garrisons outside Anatolia, granted the Allies the right to occupy forts controlling the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosporus. In 1923, the treaty of Lausanne led to the international recognition of the sovereignty of the newly formed Republic of Turkey as the successor state of the Ottoman Empire.

In the end days, ten nations will arise in the geographical area of the Middle East, which heralds in the Empire symbolizing the second foot of Daniel. The Islamic fundamentalists major goal is the establishment of a Caliphate in the Middle East. A letter from Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Al Qaeda’s number two man, to the Al Qaeda fighters in Iraq states, that it is Al Qaeda’s intended goal is to establish a caliphate in the manner of the Prophet, then their efforts and sacrifices-God permitting-are a large step directly towards that goal. The first stage of this plan is to expel the Americans from Iraq. The second stage is to establish an Islamic authority or amirate, and then develop and support it until it achieves the level of a caliphate over as much territory as possible to spread its power in Iraq, in the Sunni areas. The third stage is to extend the jihad wave to the secular countries neighboring Iraq. The fourth stage is a clash with Israel, because Israel was established, as Al Qaeda believes, only to challenge any new Islamic entity. The mujahedeen must not have their mission end with the expulsion of Americans from Iraq, and lay down their weapons and silence the fighting zeal. Instead their ongoing mission is to establish and Islamic state and to defend it until the Hour of Resurrection. The caliphate is like a bird whose wings are Egypt and Syria and whose heart is Palestine. In the Gulf region today, there is a joining together of nations, which is like a mini European Union, made up of wealthy and powerful oil states, called the Gulf Cooperation Council. These nations are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. If we place Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Palestine into this group, it would give us ten nations. The wars going on today are setting the stage for these ten nations to join together for mutual defense and economic growth. The book of Revelation in chapter 17 verses 12 and 13 prophesied this political entity and election of the Anti-Christ. Revelation 17:12 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 Revelation 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

This will come to be known as the Kingdom of the Anti-Christ. The reign of darkness will be succeeded by the Stone Kingdom, which represents the kingdom of God. Daniel 2:44 describes the establishment of the Stone Kingdom which will take place at the second coming of Jesus, and at that time He will break all earthly kingdoms and set up His rule which will abide forever and ever.

With this information we can now do what we have been instructed to do, by Jesus, over and over in the New Testament and that is to watch and to understand the signs of the times. Luke 12:54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. Luke 12:55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Luke 12:57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Luke 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. In order to do as Jesus commands, to watch, we must know what to watch for and that’s what prophecy does, it gives step by step directions of what will happen in the end days so we know what to watch for so we will not be deceived.

The prophecy in this book will lay a foundation that will be built on throughout the rest of the book. Gradually more detail will be added which will be a surprise to many who read it.

God wrote the future in the book of Daniel, foretelling that kingdoms would rise and fall, and prophesying other major events hundreds of years in advance. Some great Bible scholars have misinterpreted these prophecies, one of them being St. Jerome. St. Jerome wrote the famous Commentaries, which form the basis for much of today's Catholic theology. In modern Catholic teaching, all these prophecies are taught from a historical viewpoint, as if they had already been fulfilled. St. Jerome, in his biblical commentary, misinterpreted the reference to the "two breasts of silver". Instead of dividing the breasts in half, he concluded that both sides represented the Median Empire. He identified the belly and thighs as the Persians. Then, he identified the feet of the image as being the Roman Empire, with the ten toes standing for ten emperors, all of whom had long since lived and died.

For centuries, many people have accepted St. Jerome's analysis of Nebuchadnezzar's dream image as correct. This has lead to teachings that can be dangerous, particularly in connection with chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation. This chapter will tell of taking the mark of the beast, and unless it is fully understand that the ten toes represent a future event that has not been fulfilled by past Roman Emperors, we might be deceived into taking the mark of the beast thereby losing salvation.

In 539 B.C. King Cyrus of Persia united with the Medes to form one great empire. This empire lasted until the Persian Darius III was overthrown by the Greek ruler Alexander the Great, who ruled from 33l B.C to 323 B.C. After Alexander's death, his empire was taken over by four of his generals, who in turn were replaced by the Roman Empire. Daniel's interpretation coincides exactly with historical reality. The "head of gold" is made of the most precious metal, but it is also the weakest metal. Each succeeding part of this image-- as with each succeeding kingdom-- is less valuable in God's eyes, but increases in strength.

There are two feet and ten toes, which are part iron and part potter's clay. The ten toes symbolize the ten nations that will arise prior to the coming of the Antichrist. These nations shall be loosely connected: partly strong, like iron, and part of the weaker substance, clay. The strong nations will be oil producing, rich nations; the weaker ones, more desert like lands having an agricultural society. In order to understand that this kingdom is for the last days, Daniel 2:28 reads “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;” also Daniel 2:44 also reveals this futuristic event: “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.” For many years these scriptures were not understood, so certain ideas and theories were used to come up with an answer as to how to fill the time between the Roman Empire and the future Kingdom of the Antichrist. This was commonly referred to as the ‘Gap Theory’ and the words of Jesus were used to give authority to it. Luke 4:l8 shows that Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day and stood up to read these words from the book of Isaiah:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." In Luke 4:21 Jesus states: "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears".

Jesus was reading from the book of Isaiah 61:l & 2, which states: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn". Luke reports that Jesus Christ placed a period after "acceptable year of the Lord", indicating that His first coming was to be as the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. But the book of Isaiah shows something quite different, after the phrase, "the acceptable year of the Lord", there is no period but an "and" to signify there would be two comings of Jesus Christ. This is what is commonly known as the gap theory. If Daniel’s account is to be understood, it will be realized that the gap theory is superfluous because history shows that the first foot of Daniel’s prophecy has occurred with the overthrow of the Roman Empire by the Ottoman Empire.

In the Apocrypha, Second Book of Esdras 12:11, the angel is telling Esdras he is going to expand on the meaning of a vision given to Daniel. This vision was given to Esdras of a three-headed eagle. The body of the eagle is a representation of the Eastern Roman Empire while the three heads are reserved for the end times. The three heads symbolize the three nations that are going to play a major role in end time prophecy. Standing in Jerusalem looking north the head on the left is Germany. The head in the center is the second Islamic Empire and the head on the right is Russia. When the Empire of Rome fell, the power of the statue continued in this three-headed eagle. This vision states that these Empires will not rule at the same time, as one will rule while the other two sleeps.

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