Message Seven—Daniel (2)

THE FIRST PART: A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

From the Captivity to the Return
Message Seven—Daniel (2)

Scripture Reading: Dan. 2

I. The vision of the great image and its destiny in Daniel 2 is a vision of “what will happen in the last days”—v. 28.

II. The vision of the great image in Daniel 2 is the controlling vision in the book of Daniel:

A. This great image signifies the aggregate of human government throughout human history, from the beginning of human government at Babel (Babylon) in the land of Shinar (Gen. 10:8-10; 11:1-9), as signified by the head of the image, to the termination of human government in human history in the Roman Empire with the ten kings, as signified by the ten toes (Dan. 2:40-44a; 7:24; Rev. 13:1; 17:12):

1. The head of gold (Dan. 2:36-38), corresponding to the first beast in 7:3-4, signifies Nebuchadnezzar, the founder and the king of Babylon.

2. The breast and the arms of silver (2:39a), corresponding to the second beast in 7:5, signify Medo-Persia.

3. The abdomen and thighs of bronze (2:39b), corresponding to the third beast in 7:6, signify Greece, including Macedonia.

4. The legs of iron and the feet partly of iron and partly of clay (2:33), corresponding to the fourth beast in 7:7-8, signify the Roman Empire with its last ten kings (2:40-44a; 7:7-11, 19-26; Rev. 17:7-13).

B. From its beginning to its termination, human government has always done three things: rebel against God, exalt man, and worship idols—Gen. 11:4, footnote 2, Recovery Version.

III. According to the human image in Daniel 2, in the sight of God all human government is composed of four empires: the Babylonian Empire, the Medo-Persian Empire, the Macedonian-Grecian Empire, and the Roman Empire:

A. The beginning of human government was at Babel (Babylon), which was built by Nimrod (Gen. 10:8-10), and the ending of human government will be the revived Roman Empire under Antichrist.

B. At the beginning of the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21) the form and appearance of the Roman Empire will be restored under Antichrist.

C. According to the books of Daniel and Revelation, the last Caesar of the Roman Empire will be Antichrist, who will be supported by ten kings—Rev. 17:10-12.

D. If the head of the great human image is Babylon, the entire image must also be Babylon; in the eyes of God, the entire human government from Nimrod to Antichrist is Babylon:

1. Under Antichrist, the last Caesar, the Roman Empire will be both political and religious Babylon—chs. 17—18.

2. The empire of Antichrist will be the political and physical Babylon, that is, “Babylon the Great” (18:2), whereas the Roman Catholic Church, called “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT” (17:5), will be the religious Babylon—Jer. 50:1, footnote 1, Recovery Version.

E. The two legs of iron signify the eastern Roman Empire and the western Roman Empire, and the feet and the toes, partly of iron and partly of clay (Dan. 2:41-43), signify the nations in the period after the fall of Rome and before Christ’s second coming:

1. These nations are partly autocratic and partly democratic; the ten toes of the image signify the ten kings of the revived and restored Roman Empire under Antichrist—v. 44a; 7:7, 24; Rev. 17:12.

2. The periods of history signified by the first three parts of the great human image and the two legs have been fulfilled, but the period signified by the ten toes has not yet been fulfilled; it will be fulfilled at the end of the present age.

IV. The destiny of the great human image is to be crushed by a stone cut out without hands—Dan. 2:34-35a, 44b-45:

A. This stone is Christ; through His crucifixion Christ was cut by God by being put to death (Zech. 3:9; Acts 2:23), and in His resurrection (v. 24) He was cut out to be a stone in three aspects: the foundation stone and the cornerstone for the building up of the church (Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42), the stumbling stone to the unbelieving Jews (Isa. 8:14; Matt. 21:44a; Rom. 9:33), and the crushing stone to destroy the totality of human government (Matt. 21:44b).

B. When Christ comes as the crushing stone, He will not come alone; rather, He will come with His overcomers, His bride, His increase, as His army—John 3:29-30; Rev. 17:14; 19:7-8, 11, 14.

C. During the church age, the age of mystery, Christ is building up the church to be His bride (Eph. 5:25-29); before He descends to earth, Christ will have a wedding, in which He will marry the overcomers (Rev. 19:7-9), those who have been fighting the battle against God’s enemy for years and who have already overcome the evil one (cf. 12:11).

D. After His wedding, Christ as the Husband will come with His newlywed bride to destroy Antichrist, who with his army will fight against God directly—17:14; 19:19.

E. At His appearing as the God-cut stone, Christ with His overcomers—the corporate Christ— will strike the ten kings with Antichrist (vv. 11-21), thereby crushing the great image from the toes to the head (Dan. 2:35).

F. This will be Christ’s universal judgment on the aggregate of human government from Antichrist back to Nimrod, thus ending the age of man’s government on earth in the old creation and initiating the age of God’s dominion over the entire earth in the millennium and in the new heaven and new earth for eternity.

V. “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at once, and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth”—v. 35:

A. After coming to crush the aggregate of human government, the corporate Christ—Christ with His overcoming bride—will become a great mountain to fill the whole earth, making the whole earth God’s kingdom; thus the great human image will be replaced with the eternal kingdom of God on earth—Rev. 11:15-17.

B. The increase of the stone into a great mountain signifies the increase of Christ (cf. John 3:29-30); the church is Christ’s increase in life, but the eternal kingdom of God is Christ’s increase in administration (Mark 4:26-29); hence, Christ is not only the church but also the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 12:12; Luke 17:21).

VI. We need to see what our attitude should be in the light of the vision of Christ and His overcoming bride coming as a corporate smiting stone to smash the totality of human government and becoming a great mountain, the kingdom of God, to fill the whole earth—v. 35:

A. Since we know that the Lord’s coming is so precious, we should have a living that loves the Lord’s appearing; this will cause us not to be discouraged, not to backslide, not to become weak, but to remain faithful to the end—2 Tim. 4:8; cf. John 14:21.

B. The last prayer in the Bible is “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20); we should all pray such a prayer and have such a desire; the entire Bible concludes with the desire for the Lord’s coming expressed as a prayer.

C. Every “today” that we have is truly the Lord’s grace; therefore, as long as we have today, as long as we still have breath, we should love the Lord and His appearing, await the Lord’s coming, and always take His coming as an encouragement—Phil. 3:20.

D. When the Lord comes, He will come secretly as a thief to those who love Him and will steal them away as His treasures and bring them into His presence in the heavens (Matt. 24:42-43); hence, we need to watch and be ready that we may be mature to be raptured and receive the reward—25:13; 24:44; Heb. 6:1a; Luke 21:34-36; cf. Rev. 12:5-6, 14..

Ministry Excerpts:

The head of gold (vv. 36-38), corresponding to the first beast in 7:3-4, signifies Nebuchadnezzar, the founder and the king of Babylon. The breast and the arms of silver (v. 39a), corresponding to the second beast in 7:5, signify Medo-Persia, and the abdomen and thighs of bronze (v. 39b), corresponding to the third beast in 7:6, signify Greece, including Macedonia. The legs of iron and the feet partly of iron and partly of clay (v. 33), corresponding to the fourth beast in 7:7-8, signify the Roman Empire with its last ten kings (vv. 40-44a; 7:7-11, 19-26; Rev. 17:7-13).

FROM NIMROD TO ANTICHRIST,
ALL HUMAN GOVERNMENT BEING BABYLON

According to the human image in this chapter, in the sight of God all human government throughout history is composed of four empires: the Babylonian Empire, the Medo-Persian Empire, the Macedonian-Grecian Empire, and the Roman Empire. The beginning of human government was at Babel (Babylon), which was built by Nimrod (Gen. 10:8-10), and the ending of human government will be the revived Roman Empire under Antichrist. Although the form and appearance of the Roman Empire have vanished, the culture, spirit, and essence of the Roman Empire continue to exist today (see note 121 in ch. 7). At the beginning of the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21) the form and appearance of the Roman Empire will be restored under Antichrist. According to the books of Daniel and Revelation, the last Caesar of the Roman Empire will be Antichrist, who will be supported by ten kings (Rev. 17:10-12 and notes). Thus, the aggregate of human empires that began with Nimrod at Babel will consummate with Antichrist and his ten kings.

If the head of the great human image is Babylon, the entire image must also be Babylon. In the eyes of God, the entire human government from Nimrod to Antichrist is Babylon. Under Antichrist, the last Caesar, the Roman Empire will be both political and religious Babylon (Rev. 17—18). The empire of Antichrist will be the political and physical Babylon, i.e., “Babylon the Great” (Rev. 18:2), whereas the Roman Catholic Church, called “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT” (Rev. 17:5), will be the religious Babylon. See note 11, par. 1, in Jer. 50. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Dan. 2:32, footnote 1).

The destiny of the great human image is to be crushed by a stone cut out without hands (vv. 34-35a, 44b-45). This stone is Christ. Through His crucifixion Christ was cut by God by being put to death (Zech. 3:9; Acts 2:23), and in His resurrection (Acts 2:24) He was cut out to be a stone in three aspects: the foundation stone and the cornerstone for the building up of the church (Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42), the stumbling stone to the unbelieving Jews (Isa. 8:14; Matt. 21:44a; Rom. 9:33), and the crushing stone to destroy the totality of human government (Matt. 21:44b).

HE WILL COME WITH HIS OVERCOMERS AS HIS ARMY

When Christ comes as the crushing stone, He will not come alone; rather, He will come with His overcomers, His bride, His increase, as His army (John 3:29-30; Rev. 17:14; 19:7-8, 11, 14). During the church age, the age of mystery, Christ is building up the church to be His bride (Eph. 5:25-29). Before He descends to earth, Christ will have a wedding, in which He will marry the overcomers (Rev. 19:7-9), those who have been fighting the battle against God’s enemy for years and who have already overcome the evil one (cf. Rev. 12:11). After His wedding, He as the Husband will come with His newlywed bride to destroy Antichrist, who with his army will fight against God directly (Rev. 17:14; 19:19). (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Dan. 2:34, footnote 1)

At His appearing as the God-cut stone, Christ with His overcomers—the corporate Christ—will strike the ten kings with Antichrist (Rev. 19:11-21), thereby crushing the great image from the toes to the head (v. 35). This will be Christ’s universal judgment on the aggregate of human government from Antichrist back to Nimrod, thus ending the age of man’s government on earth in the old creation and initiating the age of God’s dominion over the entire earth in the millennium and in the new heaven and new earth for eternity. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Dan. 2:34, footnote 2).

THE ENTIRE IMAGE BEING BABYLON

In the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter two, only the head of the great human image was called Babylon. However, if the head is Babylon, the entire image must also be Babylon.

The Bible reveals that the human image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 actually did not begin with Nebuchadnezzar but with Nimrod, who founded the city of Babel (Gen. 10:9-10). The building of Babel by Nimrod was the beginning of Babylon. Babylon has since continued through the Medo-Persian Empire, the Grecian Empire, and the Roman Empire. It will eventually include the last Caesar of the Roman Empire, Antichrist, with his ten kings, signified by the toes of the great image (Dan. 2:41-44). The book of Revelation tells us that under Antichrist, the last Caesar, the Roman Empire will be both political and religious Babylon. Revelation 18 refers to the empire of Antichrist as the political and physical Babylon, that is, “Babylon the Great” (v. 2). Furthermore, through Constantine the Great, who accepted Christianity as the state religion, the nature of Christianity was changed to become the Catholic Church, which in Revelation 17 is called “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT” (v. 5). This is the religious Babylon. Therefore, from the Bible we see that not only Babylon itself is Babylon, but even the Roman Empire is Babylon.

BABYLON REBELLING AGAINST GOD,
EXALTING MAN, AND WORSHIPPING IDOLS

According to our point of view, there are many different countries, nations, and empires. But in the eyes of God, the entire human government from Nimrod to Antichrist is Babylon. This human government—Babylon—has always done three things: rebel against God, exalt man, and worship idols (Gen. 11:4, 9). To worship idols is actually to worship the devil who is behind the idols. Wherever we may go, we will see that human government rebels against God, exalts man, and worships idols.

THE STONE CUT OUT WITHOUT HANDS APPEARING TO
CRUSH THE GREAT HUMAN IMAGE

When Babylon reaches its consummation, the stone cut out without hands will appear to crush the great image, beginning with the toes and the feet (Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45; 7:13-14). In His word to the Pharisees in Matthew 21, the Lord Jesus indicated to them that He is a stone. First, in verse 42 He asked them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner. This was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” Then in verse 44 He went on to say, “He who falls on this stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it shall crush him to powder and scatter him like chaff.” Here we see that Christ is the smiting stone. What will be smitten by Him and scattered as chaff? According to Daniel 2, it is the aggregate of human government, whose name is Babylon, which will be smashed and crushed into pieces by Christ as the stone cut out without hands.

TODAY’S WORLD SITUATION

As far as human government is concerned, we need to consider what part of the great human image we are in today. As the result of studying the Bible and the world situation for over sixty years, I believe that today we are at the feet of the image, very close to the ten toes. The world situation, especially the situation in Europe, has been remodeled to fit in with the prophecies in the Bible. If we are clear about this, we will know where we are and what we should do.

The culture, spirit, and essence of the Roman Empire continue to exist, but the form and appearance of this empire have vanished. However, the form and appearance of the Roman Empire will be restored under Antichrist. The whole earth is now ready for the restoration of the Roman Empire and the appearing of the ten toes, which will bring in Christ as the stone to crush the aggregate of human government and usher in the eternal kingdom of God upon the earth.

THE CONTROLLING VISION IN CHAPTER TWO

The vision in chapter two is the controlling vision of the entire book of Daniel. Chapter one is simply an introduction, whereas chapter two shows us a controlling vision, a vision that is the key to understanding Daniel’s visions in chapters seven through twelve.

The four empires in Daniel 2 correspond to the four beasts in Daniel 7. In chapter two Nebuchadnezzar saw a great human image, but in chapter seven Daniel saw four beasts. The four main parts of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision correspond to the four beasts in Daniel’s vision. The head of gold (2:37-38), signifying Nebuchadnezzar, corresponds to the first beast, which “was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle” (7:3-4). The breast and arms of silver (2:32, 39a), signifying Medo-Persia, correspond to the second beast, which resembled a bear (7:5). The abdomen and thighs of bronze (2:32, 39b), signifying Greece, correspond to the third beast, which was like a leopard (7:6). The legs of iron and the feet partly of iron and partly of clay (2:40-43), signifying the Roman Empire and its last ten kings, correspond to the fourth beast, which, being different from the other beasts, had large iron teeth and ten horns (7:7-8).

Further details concerning these empires are found in chapters eight and eleven. In chapter eight we see that the second part of the great human image—Medo-Persia—signified by a ram (8:3-4) was defeated by the third part—Greece—signified by a goat with a conspicuous horn (vv. 5-8). Verse 8 says, “The male goat became very great. But once he became strong, the great horn was broken, and in its place four conspicuous ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.” These four horns signify the successors of Alexander the Great. For details concerning these four horns, we need to read chapter eleven, which has much to say about the king of the south (Egypt) and the king of the north (Syria). In particular this chapter speaks about Antiochus Epiphanes, a notorious descendant of Alexander’s successor in Syria.

THREE TYPES OF ANTICHRIST

Antiochus Epiphanes was a type of Antichrist. The first type of Antichrist was Nimrod in Genesis; the second was Antiochus Epiphanes in Daniel; and the third was Titus, the prince of Rome who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Thus, if we want a full picture of Antichrist, we need to study not only the book of Revelation but also these three types of Antichrist. With Nimrod, Antiochus Epiphanes, and Titus we have the picture, and in the book of Revelation we have the definition. When we put together the picture and the definition, we have a full view concerning Antichrist.

THE CONTROLLING VISION KEEPING GOD’S PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD

I hope that we will all see the controlling vision in the second chapter of Daniel and that, in light of this vision, we will have a clear view regarding human government. In the eyes of human beings, there are different kinds of governments, some good and others bad. But in the eyes of God, every human government is a beast. Babylon, Persia, Greece, the Roman Empire—all are beasts. I can testify that this view has preserved me from the world for more than sixty years. We all need such a view, such a vision. If, as God’s people, we see this controlling vision, we will be kept from the world and prepared for Christ’s coming as the smiting stone which will crush the aggregate of human government and become a great mountain—the eternal kingdom of God—filling the whole earth. (Life-Study of Daniels, msg. 4)