World Empires In Prophecy - Daniel Chapter 2 | Full Documentary

in the heart of ancient Babylon where the Grandeur of human achievement reached its Zenith a young Hebrew captive named Daniel found himself in mesed in the enigmatic minations of royal power torn from his homeland chosen for his intellect and forced to serve a king known for both his wisdom and his cruelty Daniel was a stranger in a Land of Splendor and mystery King Nebuchadnezzar the ruler of the known world was tormented by dreams these were not mere illusions of sleep but profound visions that shattered his peace defying the interpretation of his wisest Scholars magicians and soothsayers in this epic Saga the King's dream and Daniel's Divine gift of interpretation Collide in an event that would forever shift the course of human history from the opulent courts of Babylon to the humble quarters of the Hebrew captives we explore the stark contrast between human power and divine wisdom we witness the courage of a young man standing firm in his faith his story intertwined with prophetic visions that span the epics of Empires reaching even into our own time as our story unfolds we are reminded of the unfathomable depths of divine wisdom as Daniel Guided by a power beyond human comprehension unravels the dream of a mighty king this is not just an exploration of History it's a journey into prophecy a testament to Faith and a compelling reminder that no matter the circumstances the ultimate sovereignty belongs to God so prepare to embark on this journey back to babylon's towering ziggurats and hanging gardens where a young Prophet named Daniel dared to speak truth to power Illuminating the unfolding of God's Grand Design This is the tale of Daniel The Interpreter of mysteries and in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams wherewith his Spirit was troubled and his sleep break from him with an unerring Precision that transcends the limits of human understanding the prophetic pen delineates the intricate tapestry of History down to our present era in the annals of time Daniel's tale unfolds as he is carried away into captivity during the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign as fate would have it shortly after Daniel completed his preparations to engage in the caldian Empire's Affairs Divine Providence catapulted him into a position of unprecedented prominence throughout the realm verse 2 then the king commanded to call The Magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers and the calans for to show the king his dreams so they came and stood before the king in the face of the king's profound consternation the reputed wisdom of his Royal advisers faltered The Magicians steeped in the nefarious artarts of sorcery and Superstition had long practiced their Arcane rituals and ceremonies to foretell future events the astrologers a cardr of men who claimed to predict the unfolding of Destiny through the study of celestial bodies were equally esteemed among the ancient Eastern Nations Sorcerers individuals who purported to commune with the deceased were also highly regarded as were the caldan a sect of philosophers akin to magicians and astrologers who devoted their lives to the study of Natural Science and divination each of these illust ious groups sought to unravel the enigmas of existence and prognosticate future occurrences their primary distinction being the methods employed in pursuit of their objectives the king's disquietude weighed heavily upon his heart and in his desperation he summoned the entire assembly of his wise men verse three and the King said unto them I have dreamed a dream and my spirit was troubled to know the dream then spoke the calans to the king in syak oh King live forever tell thy servants the dream and we will show the interpretation their cunning stratagems and evasive responses ultimately failed to satisfy the king's demands for they sought to extract sufficient information from him to enable their shrewd calculations or to frame their responses with such ambiguity as to appear applicable regardless of the outcome verse 5 the king answered and said to the calans the thing is gone from me if you will not make known unto me the dream with the interpretation thereof you shall be cut in pieces and your houses shall be made a dungill but if you show the dream and the interpretation thereof you shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor therefore show me the dream and the interpretation thereof seven they answered again and said let the king tell his servants the dream and we will show the interpretation of it the king answered and said I know of certainty that you would gain the time because you see the thing is gone from me nine but if you will not make known unto me the dream there is but one decree for you for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me till the time be changed therefore tell me the dream and I shall know that you can show me the interpretation thereof the calans answered before the king and said there is not a man upon the Earth that can show the king's matter therefore there is no King Lord nor ruler that asks such things at any magician or astrologer or caldian and it is a rare thing that the king requireth and there is none other that can show it before the king except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh for this cause the King was angry and very Furious and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon and the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain in this epic battle of wits the king proved unyielding in his determination that his advice visors reveal the contents of his dream a reasonable expectation given their professions when the wise men finally conceded that only the gods whose dwelling was beyond the realm of Flesh could disclose the king's matter they unwittingly acknowledged their lack of communion with the Divine and admitted that their knowledge extended no further than the boundaries of human insight and perception thus Nebuchadnezzar's anger swelled to a furious Crescendo for he saw through the veil of deception that had been cast over him and his subjects although one cannot condone the Extreme Measures he undertook sentencing the imposters to death and condemning their dwellings to ruin it is difficult not to empathize with his disdain for their duplicity the king driven by a Relentless Pursuit Of Truth and an unyielding disdain for dishonesty sought to unmask the charlatans who had long masqueraded as the bearers of divine wisdom and unearth the answers that had eluded him in his time of need verse 14 then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to arok the captain of the King's Guard which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon and he answered and said to arok the king's Captain why is the decree so Hasty from the King then arok made the thing known to Daniel then Daniel went in and desired of the king that he would give him time and that he would show the king the interpretation then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to hananiah Michel and Azariah his companions and that they would desire mercies of the god of Heaven concerning this secret that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon in the annals of time the intricate workings of Divine Providence become apparent through a series of extraordinary events The Narrative of Daniel unveils such Divine orchestration as the King's dream leaves AEP deeply indelible impression upon his psyche causing profound anxiety whilst the details of the dream elude his memory this Confluence of events exposes the fallacious nature of The Magicians and Pagan instructors who despite their claims of possessing the power to unveil Hidden Mysteries falter when tested to reveal the King's dream it is noteworthy that Daniel and his companions who had been declared Superior to all the king's magicians and astrologers were not consulted in this matter the Divine hand is evident in this Omission as the king inexplicably refrains from seeking Daniel's Council to unravel the Enigma had Daniel been summoned initially The Magicians would not have been put to the test however the almighty intended to give the Heathen caldan systems the first opportunity to try and fail before manifesting his power through his captive servants for his name's honor the perilous situation first comes to Daniel's attention with the arrival of the executioners to arrest him with his life hanging in the balance Daniel is compelled to beeech the Lord fervently for the Deliverance of his servants the king grants Daniel time to contemplate the matter a privilege that The Magicians already accused of devising falsehoods and seeking to buy time likely could not have obtained Daniel enlists the support of his three companions asking them to join him in imploring the god of Heaven for Mercy concerning the secret though he could have prayed alone and been heard Daniel understood the formidable power of United prayer verse 19 then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision then Daniel blessed the god of Heaven Daniel answered and said blessed be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and might are his and he changes the times and the seasons he removes Kings and sets up Kings he gives wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding he reveals the deep and secret things he knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with him I thank thee and praise thee Oh thou God of my fathers who has given me wisdom and might and has made known unto me now what we desired of thee for thou has now made known unto us the king's matter the precise moment at which the answer was revealed remains undisclosed but it was through a night vision that the Almighty intervened on their behalf in gratitude Daniel offers praise to God for his benevolent acts with his prayer of Thanksgiving meticulously documented it is essential to honor the Divine through both our supplications for help and our expressions of gratitude for the blessings received Daniel serves as a shining example in this regard imploring that no mercy from God's hand goes without a heartfelt response of Thanksgiving and praise in times of Crisis and Tranquility alike Daniel turned to the Lord in prayer and his faith was consistently rewarded he harbored unwavering confidence in the Revelation granted to him forgoing the need to verify the details of the King's dream before expressing his gratitude Daniel did not claim sole credit for the answered prayer but immediately included his companions acknowledging the Revelation as a response to their Collective supplications verse 24 therefore Daniel went in unto aroch whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon he went and said thus unto him destroy not the wise men of Babylon bring me in before the King and I will show unto the king the interpretation with great compassion Daniel intercedes on behalf of babylon's wise men beseeching that their lives be spared for the king's secret had been unveiled although their Heathen systems of divination had no merit and their incompetence remained undeniable Daniel desired that the Revelation granted to him would extend at the very least to the preservation of their lives their salvation was a testament to the presence of a man of God in their midst time and again the wicked have reaped the benefits of the righteous from the prisoners released alongside Paul and Silas to those who sailed with Paul and survived the storm it is through the grace of the few righteous Souls that the world today is preserved were these virtuous individuals to be removed the wicked would undoubtedly face Swift retro retribution akin to the fate of the anti- delians after Noah entered the Ark or the destruction of Sodom following lot's departure if only 10 righteous persons had been discovered in Sodom the city's inhabitants would have been spared yet the wicked continue to scorn Mock and oppress the very individuals upon whose virtue they unknowingly rely for the preservation of their own lives and the continued enjoyment of life's many blessings then Aros brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus unto him I have found a man of the captives of Judah that will make known unto the king the interpretation flattery and sycophancy are traits commonly exhibited by those in positions of authority such as ministers and courtiers who seek to Curry favor with their Sovereign hence arok in his capacity as Chief executioner presented himself as the one who had discovered a person capable of unraveling the king's enigmatic dream implying his unwavering loyalty to the kingk interests however such duplicity was readily discernible to the king who likely remembered his previous encounter with Daniel and his promise to elucidate the dream if granted sufficient time the king answered and said to Daniel whose name was belazza Art Thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen and the interpretation thereof Daniel answered in the presence of the king and said the secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men the astrologers The Magicians the soothsayers show unto the king but there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets and makes 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 art thou able to make known unto me the dream inquired the king as Daniel entered the Royal presence despite his prior acquaintance with with the young Hebrew the Monarch appeared to doubt the capacity of one so youthful and unseasoned to unveil a matter in which the venerable and sagacious magicians and soothsayers had utterly faltered Daniel candidly proclaimed that the wise men astrologers soothsayers and magicians were incapable of disclosing this Enigma as it lay beyond their Ken consequently the king should neither haror resentment towards them nor place faith in their vacuous superstitions the prophet revealed the true true God who holds Dominion in the heavens and is the sole unveil of mysteries Daniel asserted that it is the creator who makes known to the King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days as for thee O King thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed what should come to pass Hereafter and he that reveals Secrets makes 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 might know the thoughts of thy heart here another praiseworthy aspect of Nebuchadnezzar's character is unveiled unlike some rulers who indulge in frivolity and debauchery heedless of the future the king contemplated the days ahead yearning to discern the events they would hold this dream partially granted due to this foresight can be viewed as a symbol of divine favor towards the king nevertheless God chose not to operate independently of his people for the Monarch although he gifted the dream to the king he delivered the interpretation through one of his recognized servants Daniel initially renounced all credit for the interpretation before attempting to temper the king's innate pride in being acknowledged by the god of Heaven he clarified that while the dream had been granted to the king the interpretation was not solely for his benefit but also for those through whom it would be conveyed indeed God had Faithful Servants present and he was working on their behalf these servants were held in higher esteem in his eyes than the most formidable Kings and potentates on Earth in this instance the scope of God's work was vast through the single act of divulging the King's dream to Daniel he not only revealed the king's desired knowledge but also safeguarded his trusting servants moreover he prominently introduced the caldan nation to the knowledge of the one who knows the end from the beginning discredited the fraudulent systems of soothsayers and magicians and ultimately honored his own name while elevating his servants in their regard Daniel reveals the dream after clarifying to the king that the intention of the God in heaven in bestowing the dream was to disclose what shall be in the latter days Daniel proceeded to recount the dream itself thou O King saw 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 saw till that a stone was cut out without hands which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay and break them to Pieces then was the iron the clay the brass the sil silver and the gold broken into pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing flaws 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 Nebuchadnezzar an adherent to the caldan religion was an idolator an image would immediately capture his attention and reverence furthermore as we shall see later the Earthly kingdoms symbolized by this image were esteemed and valued in his eyes yet how masterfully designed was this representation to impart a profound and essential truth to Nebuchadnezzar's mind in addition to outlining the progression of events throughout time for the benefit of his people God aimed to reveal to Nebuchadnezzar the sheer vacuity and worthlessness of Earthly Splendor and Majesty what better way to convey this than through an image with a golden head beneath this head lay a body composed of lesser Metals diminishing in value until they reached their basest form in the feet and Toes of iron mixed with myy Clay the entirety was subsequently shattered and rendered akin to empty chaff it was ultimately dispersed to a place where it could no longer be found replaced by something enduring and of celestial value in this manner God would demonstrate to humankind that Earthly kingdoms are transient and Earthly Grandeur and Glory akin to a gudy bubble will burst and vanish in the space long occupied by these the kingdom of God will be established never to end while all who hold a stake in that Kingdom shall find Solace beneath the shelter of its tranquil wings for all eternity however this is a glimpse into the future this is the dream and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king thou O King art a king of kings for the god of Heaven hath given thee a kingdom power and strength and glory and where where soever the children of men dwell the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into your hand and hath made thee ruler over them all thou art this head of gold Daniel interprets the dream now commences one of the most expansive accounts of world Empires a mere eight verses of sacred scripture encapsulate the entire narrative yet this tale encompasses the history of our world's Grandeur and might it takes merely a few moments to commit to memory yet the epoch expans initiated over 25 centuries ago stretches beyond the rise and fall of Kingdoms Beyond The Establishment and collapse of Empires Beyond cycles and ages beyond our own era and into the Eternal state it is so far reaching that it envelops all of this and yet so precise that it delineates the broad Contours of terrestrial kingdoms from that time to the present neither human wisdom nor human language has ever conceived such a concise record record that contains so much or expressed such an abundant volume of historical truth in so few words the hand of God is unmistakably present here let us carefully consider the lesson with what Fascination and amazement must the king have listened as the prophet informed him that his kingdom constituted the golden head of the resplendent image Daniel enlightened the king that the god of the heavens had bestowed upon him his kingdom and appointed him ruler over all this Revelation would restrain the king from indulging in Pride believing he had attained his position through his own prowess and sagacity and would instead awaken his gratitude towards the one true God with unwavering courage Daniel disclosed to Nebuchadnezzar that the head of gold symbolized the Magnificent Babylon the kingdom of Babylon which ultimately evolved into the nation represented by the golden head of the grand historical image was established by Nimrod know great-grandson over 2,000 years before Christ Kush begat Nimrod he began to be a mighty one in the earth he was a mighty Hunter before the Lord wherefore it is said even as Nimrod the mighty Hunter before the Lord and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel Babylon and Eric and akad and kalner in the land of shinna Genesis 10 it appears that Nimrod also founded the city of Nineveh which later became the capital of Assyria the babon Ian Empire ascended to power under the general who also became King naop palasa when he passed away in 604 BC his son Nebuchadnezzar ascended to the throne as R Campbell Thompson asserts events had already shown that Nebuchadnezzar was a vigorous and Brilliant commander and physically as well as mentally a strong man fully worthy of succeeding his father he was to become the greatest man of his time in the near East as a soldier a Statesman and an architect had his successors been of such a stamp instead of callow boys or diletante without redeeming Vigor the Persians would have found Babylonia a harder problem all the nations says Jeremiah Shall Serve him and his son and his son's son until the time of his own land come Jerusalem was seized by Nebuchadnezzar in the first year of his Reign and the third year of Judah 606 BC Nebuchadnezzar ruled for 2 years in conjunction with his father nabopolassar from this juncture the Jews computed his Reign but the calans from the date of his sole Reign 604 BC concerning the successes of Nebuchadnezzar the authority just mentioned adds Nebuchadnezzar died about August September 562 BC and was succeeded by his son AML Marduk 562 560 BC whom Jeremiah calls evil merodac he was given little time to prove his worth the 2 years years of his brief Reign are merely enough to show that political conditions were again hostile to the Royal House the later Babylonian rulers feeble in power could not equal the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus King of Persia besieged Babylon and captured it through cunning the head of gold denotes the character of the Babylonian Empire it was the golden realm of a golden age Babylon its Metropolis soared to Heights unparalleled by any of its successors nestled in the heart of the East it boasted an Immaculate Square layout of 60 mi in circumference 15 M on each side and enclosed by a wall estimated to be 200 to 300 ft high and 87 ft thick a moat or ditch of equal cubic capacity surrounded it the city was divided into squares by its many streets each 150 ft wide intersecting at right angles each one straight and level the 225 square mil of enclosed surface were adorned with Lush pleasure grounds and Gardens interspersed with magnificent dwellings this city with its 60 Mi of moat 60 Mi of outer wall 30 Mi of river wall through its Center solid brass Gates Terrace Hanging Gardens that Rose to the height of the walls themselves its Temple of Bello spanning three miles in circumference its two Royal palaces one 3 and A2 and the other 8 mil in circumference and a subterran tunnel beneath the river Euphrates connecting these two palaces showcased impeccable arrangements for convenience ornament and defense as well as boundless resources this city housing within itself numerous Wonders of the World stood as yet another mightier Marvel there as the unrivaled queen with the entire world prostrate at her feet and bearing the illustrious title The Glory of Kingdoms the beauty of the caldes Excellency penned by inspir operation itself stood this city A fitting capital for the kingdom represented by the golden head of this great historical image such was Babylon with Nebuchadnezzar in the prime of Life bold vigorous and accomplished enthroned within its walls when Daniel arrived to serve as a captive in its opulent palaces for 70 years there the children of the Lord burdened rather than heartened by the glory and prosperity of their Cap's land hung their harps on the Willows by the frates and wept as they remembered Zion there commenced the Captivity of the church in a broader sense for since that time God's people have been subjected to Earthly Powers experiencing varying degrees of Oppression this will persist until all Earthly dominions finally submit to the one who rightfully Reigns behold the day of Deliverance swiftly approaches into another city not only Daniel but all of God's children from the least to the greatest from the low lowest to the highest shall soon enter it is a city not a mere 60 mi in circumference but an astounding 1500 miles a city whose walls are composed not of brick and biman but of precious stones and Jasper whose streets are not the smoothly paved stone of Babylon but transparent gold whose river is not the Euphrates but the River of Life whose music is not the size and Lamentations of disheartened captives but the resounding peels of triumph over death and the grave sung by redeemed multitudes whose light is not the fluctuating light of Earth but the ceaseless and incomparable Splender of God and the lamb to this city they shall arrive not as captives in a foreign land but as Exiles returning to their ancestral home not to a place where disheartening words such as bondage servitude and oppression weigh upon their spirits but to one where the soothing words home Freedom peace purity inexpressible joy and everlasting life en Rapture their souls for eternity indeed our mouths shall be filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of praise when the Lord restores The Fortunes of Zion and after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee and another third Kingdom of brass which shall bear rule over all the Earth Nebuchadnezzar's Reign spanned 43 years and was succeeded by the following rulers his son evil merid AK for 2 years his son-in-law nissar for 4 years nigar's son laboras wakad for 9 months which being less than a year is not counted in tm's Cannon and finally nabonidus whose son belazza grandson of Nebuchadnezzar was associated with him on the throne the evidence of this Association is found in the cylinders of nabonidus discovered at muga where the God's protection is sought for Nabu nadid and his son belsha Uzu who are linked together in a manner suggesting the latter's co- sovereignty the association's date was no later than 540 BC nabonidus his 15th year as belshazzar's thirdd year is mentioned in Daniel 8 1 if belshazzar was as I have assumed a son of Nebuchadnezzar's daughter married to nabonidus after he became king he could not be older than 14 in his father's 15th year the fall of Babylon occurred during the first year of nigar's Reign only two years after Nebuchadnezzar's death when a disastrous war between the Babylonians and mes led to the Babylonian Kingdom's demise kakaris the mes King referred to as Darius in Daniel 531 Enlisted the help of his nephew Cyrus of Persian lineage the mes and Persians waged a Relentless and successful War until Cyrus besieged Babylon in the 18th year of nabonidus belshazzar's thirdd year the last eastern city to resist him the Babylonians confident in their seemingly impregnable walls and stocked with Provisions for 20 years mocked Cyrus from their towering walls scoffing at his seemingly futile attempts to subdue them by all Earthly calculations they had every reason to feel secure never in the balance of human probability could that City be conquered with the known methods of Warfare at the time consequently they breathed easily and slept soundly even as their enemies besieged them however God had decreed that this arrogant and wicked City would fall from its lofty position and when he speaks What Mortal force can thwart his word their sense of security concealed the seeds of their downfall Cyrus determined to achieve through cunning what could not be accomplished by force discovered an upcoming Annual Festival during which the entire city would indulge in mert and rry he chose this day to execute his plan there was no entrance for him into the city unless he could find it where the river Euphrates entered and emerged as it passed under the walls he decided to make the river's Channel his pathway Into the Heart of his fo's stronghold to do this the water had to be diverted from its course through the city to this end on the evening of the aforementioned feast day he dispatched a group of soldiers to redirect the river into a large artificial Lake nearby and two other groups to take their positions Where the River entered and exited the city the latter groups were instructed to enter the channel as soon as the river became fordable and under the cover of night navigate their way beneath the walls advancing toward the king's Palace where they were to surprise and eliminate the guards and capture or kill the king when the water was diverted into the the lake the river's depth soon became shallow enough to Ford allowing Cyrus's soldiers to follow its course into the very heart of Babylon Cyrus the Persian and his army entered the resplendant city through unsecured Gates however this would have been fruitless if not for the city's inhabitants indulging in Reckless abandon and complacency on that fateful night a state of affairs upon which Cyrus relied heavily for the execution of his plan along the river's entire length within the city there were towering walls of equal thickness to the outer walls in these walls were Massive Brass Gates which when shut and guarded prevented any entrance from the riverbed to the streets that crossed the river had the gates been closed at this time Cyrus's soldiers might have marched into the city along the riverbed and then marched out again unable to conquer the city yet on that fateful night as the Babylonians reveled in their festivities the gates remained open and the forces of Cyrus seized the opportunity infiltrating the city and sealing its Doom in the intoxicated rry of that ill-fated night the river Gates were left unsecured as foretold years prior by the prophet Isaiah thus said the Lord to his anointed to Cyrus whose right hand I have held to subdue Nations before him and I will loose the loins of Kings to open before him the two Leed Gates and the gates shall not be shut Isaiah 451 the entrance of the Persian soldiers went unnoticed countless faces would have turned pale with Terror had the sudden receding of the river's Waters been observed and its ominous implications understood numerous voices would have spread panic throughout the city had the dark silhouettes of armed adversaries been seen stealthily approaching the very heart of their presumed Sanctuary yet no one noticed the sudden decrease in the river's depth no one witnessed the entrance of the Persian Warriors and no one cared for anything other than immersing themselves in Reckless abandon that night's debauchery cost the Babylonians their Kingdom and their freedom they entered the night as subjects of the king of Babylon and awoke as slaves to the King of Persia Cyrus's soldiers first announced their presence within the city by ambushing the royal guards in the entrance hall of the king's Palace belshazzar swiftly became aware of the disturbance and met his demise while fighting for his life this Feast of belshazzar is described in the fifth chapter of Daniel and the scene concludes with the succinct record in that night was Bazar the king of the caldan slain and Darius the median took the kingdom being about three score and 2 years old historian prau States Darius the Meade that is kayaker the uncle of Cyrus took the kingdom for Cyrus allowed him the title of all his conquests as long as he lived thus the first Empire symbolized by the head of gold in the great image met a disgraceful end it would be natural to assume that the Conqueror now possessing such a magnificent city as Babylon far surpassing anything else in the world would have established it as the capital of his Empire and maintained its Splendor however God had decreed that the city should become a desolate Heap inhabited by the beasts of the desert that its houses would be filled with mournful creatures that the Beasts of the islands would cry in its desolate dwellings and Dragons would reside in its once elegant palaces Isaiah 1319 22 the city had to be abandoned first Cyrus founded a second capital at Souza a renowned City in the province of Elam east of Babylon on the banks of the river Co aspis a tributary of the Tigris this likely occurred in the first year of his sole Reign One of the most renowned confrontations between the Greeks and Persians trans expired at salamis in 480 BC the meadow Persian Kingdom succeeded corresponding to the breast and arms of silver in the great image it was deemed inferior to the preceding Empire in what Manner was it inferior certainly not in power for it vanquished Babylon neither in expanse for Cyrus subdued the entire East from the aian sea to the river Indus thereby establishing a more extensive Empire it was however inferior in we wealth luxury and Splendor from a scriptural perspective the Babylonian Empire's principal event was the Captivity of the Israelites while the meadow Persian Kingdom witnessed their restoration to their Homeland upon capturing Babylon Cyrus courteously granted the Kingdom's primary position to his uncle Darius in 538 BC 2 years later Darius passed away leaving Cyrus the sole ruler of the empire in this year which concluded Israel's 70 years of captivity Cyrus proclaimed his renowned decree for the return of the Jews and the Reconstruction of their Temple this marked the first portion of the grand decree for the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem Ezra 614 which reached completion in the 7th year of ARX Xerxes his Reign 457 BC a date of considerable significance as will be demonstrated later after after a reign of 7 years Cyrus bequeathed the kingdom to his son cambes who ruled for 7 years and 5 months until 522 BC eight monarchs reigned between this time and 336 BC Darius codom Manus the last in the line of ancient Persian kings ascended the throne in 335 BC according to prido Darius was of noble stature an admirable figure possessed of the utmost personal Valor and of a mild and generous nature regrettably he faced a rival who acted as an instrument in fulfilling prophecy rendering any natural or acquired attributes futile in the unequal struggle scarcely had Darius Consolidated his power when he discovered his formidable adversary Alexander leading Greek soldiers and preparing to Dethrone him we leave the cause and specifics of the conflict between the Greeks and Persians to histories dedicated to such matters suffice it to say the decisive moment was reached on the field of arala in 331 BC where the Greeks outnumbered 1 to 20 by the Persians secured a resounding Victory Alexander assumed absolute control of the Persian Empire to a degree never achieved by any of its previous Kings The Grecian Empire was prophesied as the third Kingdom of brass shall bear rule over all the Earth the inspired words were few and fleeting but entailed a succession in World rulership in their full fulfillment in the ever shifting political landscape Greece emerged claiming attention as the third of the so-called Universal Empires after the battle that determined the Empire's Destiny Darius endeavored to Rally his battered Army and defend his kingdom and rights however he could not muster a force from his once vast and well equipped army with which he deemed it prudent to risk another engagement with the triumphant Greeks Alexander pursued him relentlessly repeatedly coming close to capturing the baguer king eventually three traitors bessus naban and bentes seized the hapless ruler confined him in a cart and fled with him toward bactria if Alexander pursued them they intended to secure their own safety by surrendering their King Alexander upon learning of darius's perilous situation hastened his Pursuit with a select portion of his army after several days of arduous marching ing he finally caught up with the traitors they implored Darius to mount a horse for a swifter Escape when he refused they inflicted several mortal wounds upon him leaving him to die in the cart and rode away on their steeds the course of history demonstrates the accuracy of Prophecy as Greece emerged to claim the attention of the world as the third Universal Empire this tumultuous period of conflict and shifting power dynamics offers a fascinating study of the Relentless for forces that have shaped our world the Babylonian Pride was deeply injured by this turn of events and in the fifth year of Darius hispes 517 BC they rebelled thereby inviting the formidable power of the Persian Empire to descend upon them once again through subterfuge the city was recaptured Darius dismantled the brass Gates and lowered the walls from 200 cubits to a mere 50 this act signaled the commencement of babylon's destruction leaving it defenseless against the incursions of any hostile Force Upon returning from Greece Xerxes plundered the Temple of Belo seizing its immense wealth and reducing the once Majestic structure to ruins Alexander the Great endeavored to rebuild it but after enlisting 10,000 men to clear the debris for two months his own excesses in drunkenness and debauchery led to his demise and the restoration efforts were subsequently abandoned in 294 BC ccas Nicor founded the city of New Babylon near the old one repurposing much of its materials and inhabitants to construct and populate the burgeoning settlement depleted of its remaining residents the ancient Metropolis secum to neglect and Decay the ruthlessness of parthan princes hastened its Demise by the end of the 4th Century Persian kings repurposed the city as an enclosure for wild beasts a renowned traveler noted that by the end of the 12th century the scarce remnants of Nebuchadnezzar's Palace teamed with serpents and venomous creatures rendering close examination a perilous Endeavor today hardly any ruins remain to identify the location of what was once the most opulent resplendent and eminent city of the ancient world the fall of great Babylon attests to the exactitude with which God's word is fulfilled making the doubts of skepticism appear as deliberate blindness after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee the employment of the word Kingdom in this context indicates that it is kingdoms rather than individual kings that are symbolized by the disperate segments of this image thus when Nebuchadnezzar was informed thou art this head of gold the reference though utilizing a personal pronoun pertained to the kingdom rather than the king himself and the fourth Kingdom shall be strong as iron for as much much as iron breth in pieces and subdueth all things and as iron that breakthe shall it break in pieces and Bruise up to this point in the interpretation of this prophecy there exists a general consensus among Scholars the representation of Babylon Mido Persia and Greece by the head of gold the breast and arms of silver and the sides of brass respectively is universally acknowledged curiously however there is a Divergence of opinions concerning theing kingom symbolized by the fourth division of the great image the legs of iron which kingdom succeeded Greece in the Dominion of the world for the legs of iron signify the fourth Kingdom in this sequence historical evidence is unequivocal on this matter one Kingdom and only one accomplished this feat Rome it conquered Greece subdued all in its path and Akin to iron shattered and crushed its adversaries as Bishop Newton asserts the four different Metals must signify four different nations and as the gold signified the Babylonians and the silver the Persians and the brass the macedonians so the iron cannot signify the macedonians again but must necessarily denote some other nation and we will venture to say that there is not a nation upon Earth to which this description is applicable but the Romans Gibbon drawing upon the symbolic imagery of Daniel offers this portrayal of the Empire the arms of the Republic sometimes vanquished in battle always victorious in war Advanced with rapid steps to the Euphrates the danu the Rind and the ocean and the images of gold or silver or brass that might serve to represent the Nations and their kings were successively broken by the iron monarchy of Rome at the dawn of the Christian era the Empire encompassed the entirety of southern Europe France England much of the Netherlands Switzerland Southern Germany Hungary turkey and Greece not to mention its Holdings in Asia and Africa Gibbon aptly observes the Empire of the Romans filled the world and when that empire fell into the hands of a single person the world became a safe and dreary prison for his enemies to resist was fatal and it was impossible to fly it is noteworthy that the kingdom is initially depicted as possessing unmitigated strength akin to iron this period of power has been compared to a colossal figure striding across Nations conquering all and imposing its laws upon the world however this state of affairs was not destined to endure and whereas thou saw the feet and Toes part of Potter's clay and part of iron the kingdom shall be divided but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron for as much as thou saw the iron mixed with mey 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 br broken the aspect of fragility symbolized by the clay applied to both the feet and the toes Rome prior to its fragmentation into 10 kingdoms lost the iron Vigor that it had exhibited to an exceptional degree during the initial centuries of its existence luxury along with the ensuing effeminacy and decadence the bane of both Nations and individuals gradually corroded and weakened its iron Senus thereby Paving the way for its disintegration into 10 kingdoms the iron legs of the image culminate in feet and Toes our attention is drawn to the toes 10 in number by their explicit mention in the prophecy the kingdom represented by the part of the image to which the toes belonged ultimately divided into 10 sections naturally one might inquire whether the 10 toes of the image symbolize the 10 final subdivisions of the Roman Empire to this we affirmatively respond the formidable iron Empire of Rome event eventually disintegrated under the Relentless onslaught of invading forces from the north the image in Daniel 2 runs precisely parallel to the four beasts in the vision of Daniel 7 the fourth Beast represents the same Kingdom as the iron legs of the image the 10 horns of the Beast naturally correspond to the 10 toes of the image these horns are explicitly stated to be 10 kings that would arise they are as distinct as kingdoms as the beasts themselves for the beasts are referred to in precisely the same manner as Four Kings which shall arise Daniel 7:17 they do not represent a sequence of Kings but rather contemporaneous Kings or kingdoms as three of them were uprooted by the little horn the 10 horns indisputably symbolize the 10 kingdoms into which Rome fragmented we have observed that in Daniel's interpretation of the image he employs the terms King and Kingdom interchangeably with the former signifying the same as the latter in verse 44 he states that in the days of these Kings shall the god of Heaven set up a kingdom this implies that at the time the kingdom of God is established multiple Kings will coexist it cannot refer to the four preceding kingdoms for such language would be nonsensical in relation to a succession of Kings as the kingdom of God would only be established during the reign of the last king not in the days of any predecessors here a division is presented and what symbolic representation do we have to indicate it only the toes of the image if they do not serve this purpose we remain entirely in the dark regarding the nature and extent of the division that the prophecy indicates existed assuming this would cast doubt upon the prophecy itself consequently we are compelled to conclude that the 10 toes of the image signify the 10 parts into which the Roman Empire divided this partition transpired between ad. 351 and 476 the era of this dissolution spanned 125 years from approximately the middle of the 4th Century to the final quarter of the fth to our knowledge no historians place the commencement of the disintegration of the Roman Empire earlier than ad. 351 and there is a consensus that it concluded in ad 476 as for the specific dates in between that is the precise time when each of the 10 kingdoms that arose from the remnants of the Roman Empire is to be dated there is some disagreement among historians this is not surprising given the era of immense chaos the rapid and violent changes that the map of the Roman Empire underwent and the complex interplay of hostile Nations surging across its territory however all historians concur the 10 separate kingdoms ultimately emerged from the lands of Western Rome which can be confidently ascribed to the period between the aformentioned dates namely ad. 351 and 476 the 10 Nations most instrumental in dismantling the Roman Empire and which at various points in their history governed portions of Roman territory as independent kingdoms can be listed regardless of the order of their establishment as follows hanss ostrogoths visigoth Franks vandals suevi burgundians herui Anglo-Saxons and Lombards the link between these and some of the Contemporary nations of Europe is still discernible in the names such as England burgundy Lombardy France and so forth one might inquire why not presume that the two legs signify division as well as the toes would it not be equally inconsistent to claim that the toes represent division while the legs do not as to assert that the legs denote Division and the toes do not we contend that the prophecy itself must guide our deductions in this matter although it does not mention division in association with the legs it does introduce the subject of division when discussing the feet and Toes the text States whereas thou saw the feet and Toes part of Potter's clay and partt of iron the kingdom shall be divided no division could transpire or at least none is reported until the debilitative element of clay appears this element is not present until we reach the feet and Toes nonetheless we should not interpret the clay as symbolizing One Division and the iron another once the enduring Unity of the kingdom was fractured none of the fragments retained the original iron strength but all exhibited a weakened State signified by the amalgamation of iron and Clay thus the inevitable conclusion is that the prophet has expressed the cause for the effect the introduction of the frail clay element in the feet led to the Kingdom's fragmentation into 10 parts as depicted by the 10 toes this outcome or division is strongly suggested by the sudden reference to multiple contemporaneous Kings consequently while we discover no evidence that the legs represent division and indeed encounter substantial objections against such a notion we do find compelling reasons to believe that the toes signify Vision as asserted moreover each of the four monarchies possessed its distinct territory which constituted the kingdom proper and where we should seek the primary events in its history as foreshadowed by the symbol hence we should not search for the divisions of the Roman Empire in the territories previously occupied by Babylon Persia or Greece but rather in the true domain of the Roman Kingdom eventually known as the Western Empire Rome conquered the world but the kingdom of Rome proper was situated west of Greece this is what the legs of iron represent accordingly we look for the 10 Kingdoms in that region and there we find them we need not disfigure or distort the symbol to render it an apt and precise portrayal of historical events and whereas thou saw iron mixed with myy 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 fall of r marked the end of the world's Universal Empires until then it was possible for one nation excelling in prowess bravery and the science of War to amalgamate its neighbors into an immense Empire however with Rome's collapse such possibilities vanished forever the iron mixed with Clay losing its power to cohere neither individuals nor coalitions can reunite the fragments this notion is so eloquently articulated by another that we shall quote their words from this its divided State the first strength of the Empire departed but not as that of the others had done no other kingdom was to succeed it as it had the three which went before it it was to continue in this ten-fold division until the kingdom of the stone smote it upon its feet broke them in pieces and Scattered them as the wind does the cha of the summer threshing floor yet through all this time a portion of its strength was to remain and so the prophet says 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 verse 42 time and again many have dreamt of erecting a Mighty Kingdom upon these dominions Charlamagne Charles I Louis I 14th and Napoleon all attempted it but none succeeded a single verse of Prophecy proved stronger than all their forces partly strong and partly broken was the prophetic description and such too has been the historic fact concerning them 10 kingdoms were formed out of it and broken as then it was it still continues that is partly broken it is partly strong that is it retains even in its broken State enough of its iron strength to resist all attempts to mold its parts together this shall not be says the word of God this has not been replies the book of History yet some may argue another plan remains if Force cannot Prevail diplomacy and reasons of state may we will try them and so the prophecy foreshadows this stating they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men that is marriages shall be arranged in hopes of consolidating power and ultimately uniting these divided kingdoms as one will this scheme succeed no the prophet answers they shall not cleave one to another even as iron is not mixed with Clay European history serves as a continuous commentary on the precise fulfillment of these words but Napoleon was not the last to attempt such a feat numerous European Wars ensued the Endeavors of the little Corporal to prevent further conflicts benevolent rulers turned to intermarriage as a means to ensure Peace by the dawn of the 20th century it was claimed that every reigning hereditary ruler of Europe was related to the British royal family World War I demonstrated the futility of these efforts emerging from the horrors of that colossal struggle was an ideal articulated by President woodro Wilson who proclaimed the world has been made safe for democracy believing that a war had been fought to end all wars the inherent rights of minorities and the principles of self-determination were announced backed by a world League of Nations to restrain dictators and punish aggressors however under the very shadow of the League of Nations Palace leaders arose who sought to dismantle World Peace and shatter the dream of global Union while advocating a new social Revolution they futilely promised the Triumph of culture and a union born of racial superiority ensuring the partly strong and partly broken nations of Europe a thousand years of Tranquility thus the prophetic word foretold the disintegration of the mighty Roman Empire amidst the chaos of shattered Nations demolished institutions and squandered resources resultant from centuries of frugality the world gazes with anxious eyes clouded by grief from the loss of its finest youth the violation of its Womanhood and the massacre of both the young and old through the haze of Bloodshed Humanity searches fervently for any indication of reprieve will the elusory hope of world peace founded on faith in European Unity born of wishful thinking once again lead people to disregard the counsel of God's word stating they shall not cleave one to another another alliances may form creating the illusion that the iron and Miry clay of the feet and Toes of the great image have finally merged however God declared they shall not cleave one to another it may appear that age-old animosities have vanished and that the 10 Kings have met their demise but the scripture cannot be broken we conclude with an eloquent Reflection by William Newton and yet if the outcome of these alliances or other causes momentarily disrup ups that number we should not be surprised the iron was mixed with clay for a season in the image the distinction between them might blur but they would not remain so they shall not cleave one to another the nature of the substances precludes their Union in one case the prophetic word in the other nevertheless there would be an attempt to mingle name more an approach to mingling in both instances but it was destined to fail and how strikingly does history confirm this declaration of the word of God 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 forever for as much as thou saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it break 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 herein lies the Apex of this a inspiring prophecy As Time continues its ceaseless March bringing us ever closer to the Magnificent scene foretold we approach the culmination of human history the kingdom of God a splendid provision for a new and glorious era in which his people shall find solace in the end of this world's Melancholy degenerate and and everchanging journey an exhilarating transformation for the righteous from Darkness to Radiance from Discord to Tranquility from a sinful world to one of sanctity from mortality to eternal life and from oppression to the joyous Liberty and divine privileges of a Celestial Kingdom a wondrous metamorphosis from Frailty to fortitude and from the fleeting and perishable to the Everlasting and unchanging but when will this Kingdom be established lished is it possible to know the answer to such a momentous inquiry that affects the destiny of humanity the word of God does not leave us in ignorance regarding these vital questions thus revealing the extraordinary worth of this Divine gift the Bible explicitly states that the kingdom of God was yet to come at the time of our Lord's final Passover Matthew 2629 Christ did not establish the kingdom before his Ascension acts 1:6 furthermore it clarifies that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Corinthians 15:50 the kingdom is promised to the apostles and to all those who love God James 2:5 to be granted in the future to the little flock Luke 12:32 through Great Tribulation the Saints shall enter the forthcoming Kingdom acts 14:22 the kingdom will be established when Christ judges the living and the Dead 2 Timothy 4 1 which will occur when he arrives in his glory with all his holy angels angs Matthew 2531 34 we do not claim that the exact time of the Kingdom's establishment is revealed indeed we emphasize that it is not in this prophecy of Daniel 2 or any other prophecy however such a close approximation is provided that the generation destined to witness the establishment of this Kingdom May discern its approach with certainty and make the necessary preparations to partake in all its splendors time has fully manifested the great image in its entirety it aptly represents the significant political events it was intended to symbolize the image has stood complete for more than 14 centuries awaiting the moment when it will be struck upon its feet by the stone cut out of the mountain without hands this event will transpire when the Lord is revealed in a blaze of fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ two Thessalonians 1 18 see also Psalm 289 in the days of these Kings the god of Heaven is to establish his kingdom we have dwelt in the days of these Kings for many centuries and their days continue as far as this prophecy is concerned the very next event is the establishment of God's Eternal Kingdom other prophecies and countless signs indicate that the coming of Christ is imminent the early Christian Church interpreted the Prophecies of Daniel 27 and 8 as we do now hippitus who lived between AD 160 236 and is believed to have been a disciple of irenaeus one of the four greatest theologians of his time States in his exposition of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 the golden head of the image and lioness denoted the Babylonians the shoulders and arms of silver and the bear represented the Persians and mes the belly and thighs of brass and the leopard signified the Greeks who held the sovereignty from Alexander's time the legs of iron and the Beast Dreadful and terrible conade the Romans who possess the sovereignty even now the toes of the feet composed of part clay and part iron and the 10 horns symbolize the kingdoms that are yet to emerge the small horn that Sprouts among them represented the Antichrist within their midst the stone that strikes the Earth and brings judgment upon the world personified Christ the Final Act in the Magnificent play of world events shall be the establishment of Christ's Kingdom on Earth speak with me oh blessed Daniel grant me full Assurance I implore thee thou prophesied concerning the Lioness in Babylon for thou were captive there thou unveiled the future regarding the bear for thou were still in the world and witnessed these events come to pass then thou spoke of the leopard and how couldst thou know this for thou had already gone to thy rest who guided thee to Proclaim these things but he who formed thee in from thy mother's womb that is God thou said thou Hast spoken indeed and not falsely the leopard has arisen the heot has come he hath shattered his horns to Pieces he hath trampled upon him with his feet he has been exalted by his downfall the four horns have emerged from beneath that one Rejoice blessed Daniel thou Hast not heard all these things have come to pass following this thou Hast informed me of of the Dreadful and fearsome Beast it possessed iron teeth and Claws of brass it devoured and shattered and trampled the remnants with its feet the iron Reigns now it already subdues and breaks all to pieces it forces all the unwilling into submission we now witness these events ourselves now we glorify God being enlightened by Thee the portion of the prophecy fulfilled by that time was evident to the early Christians they discerned that 10 kingdoms would emerge from the Roman Empire and that the Antichrist would manifest among them they eagerly anticipated the grand finale when the second coming of Christ would put an end to all Earthly Realms and inaugurate the kingdom of righteousness the forthcoming Kingdom this subject should utterly Captivate the present generation are you prepared for the outcome the one who enters this Kingdom shall dwell within it not merely for the duration of a mortal lifetime as experienced in the current state they shall not not witness its decline or its overthrow by a subsequent more potent Dominion no they shall enter to partake in all its Privileges and blessings and to Revel in its splendors For Eternity for this Kingdom shall not be left to other people once more we inquire are you ready the conditions of inheritance are most generous if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham's seed and HS according to the promise Galatians 3:29 are you in harmony with with Christ the imminent King do you cherish his character do you Endeavor To Tread humbly in his path and adhere to his teachings if not discern your destiny in the instances of those in the parable of whom it was declared but those mine enemies who would not have me Reign Over them bring them here and slay them before me Luke 1927 no Sanctuary can be found in a rival Kingdom if you remain hostile to this one for God's Kingdom is to Encompass all the territories ever held by any and all of the world's past or present kingdoms it shall Encompass the entire Earth fortunate are those to whom the rightful Sovereign the all Victorious King can ultimately say come you blessed of my father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Matthew 25:34 then the King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and worshiped Daniel and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him 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 could reveal this secret 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 mhach and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon but Daniel sat in the gate of the king we must now return to the Regal Abode of Nebuchadnezzar and to Daniel as he stands before The Sovereign he has revealed to the Monarch both the dream and its interpretation while the courtiers and the confounded soothsayers and astrologers remain in hushed awe and wonder Nebuchadnezzar elevates Daniel in accordance with his promise of rewards the king rendered Daniel a distinguished man there exist two aspects in this life that are believed to render a man eminent and both of these were conferred upon Daniel by the king a man is deemed distinguished if he possesses wealth and we learn that the king presented him with numerous and substantial gifts if alongside affluence a man has Authority he is undoubtedly esteemed a great man in the eyes of society and power was granted to Daniel in ample measure he was appointed as the ruler over the province of Babylon and the chief of of the governor's presiding over all the wise men of Babylon thus swiftly and generously was Daniel rewarded for his loyalty to his conscience and the mandates of God Daniel did not become disoriented or overwhelmed by his remarkable Triumph and extraordinary elevation he initially remembered the three individuals who shared his concerns regarding the king's matter as they had supported him with their prayers he resolved that they should partake in his honors at his behest they were assigned positions of authority over the Affairs of Babylon while Daniel himself occupied a seat at the king's gate the gate was the site where councils convened and where matters of utmost importance were deliberated this account is a modest Proclamation that Daniel became the principal advisor to the king as we conclude our exploration of the remarkable prophecies in Daniel chapter 2 we are left with a sense of awe and wonder at the accuracy and foresight of these ancient Revelations through the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream we have been provided with a sweeping overview of world history and an unshakable assurance in the divine plan in our next episode we will dive into the fascinating and symbolic world of Daniel chapter 7 if this film has blessed you and you wish to see many more consider donating to our ministry you'll find the link in the description below thank you

Channel: Whitespike

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Id: RodizND4j6Y

Length: 70min 19sec (4219 seconds)

Published: Wed May 10 2023