Tag: Legs of iron

Summary

Introduction

The beast in the book of Revelation and the God-opposing power in the book of Daniel describes the same Antichrist (See here). However, this beast cannot be identified from the book of Revelation alone. It must be identified from the book of Daniel. The purpose of the current series of articles is to do just that.

The current article discusses the vision in Daniel 2, which is the first of a series of visions in Daniel. Daniel 2 does not mention the Antichrist specifically but provides a broad outline of the history from the time of Daniel until God’s eternal kingdom. This outline serves as the framework for the interpretation of Daniel’s other prophecies.

In Daniel 2, God gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream of a statue of a man consisting of various metals (Dan 2:32-33). Daniel interpreted the vision. It divides history into six great ages:

Apart from saying that the first kingdom is the Babylonian Empire (Dan 2:37-38), not much is said of the first four empires. A bit more information is provided about the divided kingdom (Dan 2:41-43) and the eternal kingdom (Dan 2:44-45).

First Four Kingdoms

What are these kingdoms?

While Daniel 2 explicitly identifies the first kingdom as the Babylonian Empire (Dan 2:37-38), Daniel 8 symbolizes only two empires but names them explicitly as “Media and Persia” and “Greece” (Dan 8:20-21). The article on Daniel 7 shows that the four beast kingdoms in Daniel 7 are equivalent to the four metal kingdoms in Daniel 2. On this basis, still another article, by comparing the features of these animals with one another, identifies the kingdoms in these chapters as follows:

1. 1. 1. Babylonian Empire,
      2. Medo-Persia,
      3. Greece, and the
      4. Roman Empire

Miracles

This confronts us with clear miracles; evidence that God knows the future. This prophecy was given 600 years B.C. but it predicts:

• • The Roman Empire, which arose about 500 years later,
  • That, while each of the first three empires will be replaced by one single other empire, the fourth (the Roman Empire) will subdivide into many kingdoms. This happened around 600 AD; about 1100 years after the prophecy was received.
  • That the kingdoms of the divided kingdom “will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another” (Dan 2:43). This came true over the millennium after the Roman Empire fell. Today, the monarchs of the European nations all have family relations but, despite the efforts of people such as Napoleon and Hitler, Europe was never again united into a single kingdom. 

Successive

The kingdoms in Daniel 2’s vision follow one after the other (e.g., Dan 2:39-40). Since the other visions in Daniel all build on and provide further information about the six ages in Daniel 2, we must assume that the kingdoms in the other visions are also successive.

The Divided Kingdom

During the first four kingdoms, there will be one supreme ruler over all nations of the known world but, during the “divided kingdom” (Dan 2:33, 41) different kings will rule different parts of the known world.

The Clay

The divided kingdom consists “partly of iron and partly of clay” (Dan 2:33, 41, 42). Daniel explained the meaning of the clay:

“Some (the iron part) of the (divided) kingdom
will be strong and
part of it (the clay part)
will be brittle” (Dan 2:42).

Therefore, while the iron symbolizes “toughness” (Dan 2:41), the clay symbolizes fragility or weakness.

We must distinguish between the parts of the statue and what those parts consist of. The parts, such as the head, shoulders, legs, etc., symbolize empires but the gold, silver, clay, etc., symbolize the qualities of those empires. For example, the head of the statue symbolizes the Babylonian Empire but the gold symbolizes the quality of that empire, namely, something like the quality of rulership or human rights.

The Toes

Daniel’s recounting of the dream does not mention the toes; only “its feet partly of iron and partly of clay” (Dan 2:33). Daniel’s explanation of the dream adds the toes (Dan 2:41-42). Since the toes are specifically mentioned, it is assumed that they have a specific meaning.

Since the statue symbolizes a series of kingdoms over time, the emphasis on the toes seems to point to the very last part of the time represented by the statue; immediately preceding God’s eternal kingdom.

Given the lack of further information in Daniel 2, the only way to interpret the toes is to compare this vision with the parallel vision in Danial 7, where we find a similar series of kingdoms. As shown in the article on Daniel 7, the divided kingdom (the feet of the statue in Daniel 2) is parallel to the ten horns that grow out of the fourth beast in Daniel 7. A further article identifies the fourth beast as the Roman Empire. It follows that the ten horns or ten toes symbolize the kingdoms that ruled the territory of the ancient Roman Empire after that empire divided into a multitude of kingdoms in the fifth century AD and later.

The Eternal Kingdom

The eternal kingdom was established when “a stone was cut out without hands.” “Without hands” (Dan 2:34; cf. Dan 2:45) means supernaturally (cf. Dan 8:25).

The stone “struck the statue on its feet” (Dan 2:34). The feet represent the last part of the time or series of kingdoms symbolized by the statue.

The stone crushed “the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold … all at the same time” (Dan 2:35), meaning, all at once. This is not a picture of a gradual conquest.

Afterward, “not a trace of them was found” (Dan 2:35). In other words, nothing remains of the culture of those kingdoms. As God promised: “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev 21:5).

It is often said that the stone symbolizes Jesus Christ, but Daniel, in his interpretation of the vision, identified the stone, which will crush the statue to smithereens, as an eternal kingdom that God will set up (Dan 2:44).

“The stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan 2:35). The “kingdom … will never be destroyed” (Dan 2:44; cf. Dan 7:18, 27). Revelation 11:15 describes this same event:

“The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;
and He will reign forever and ever.”

How wonderful it is to look forward to being part of God’s kingdom on earth. On earth today, the strong dominate the weak. On earth in the future, the strong will serve the weak.

When is the eternal kingdom set up?

Some argue that the “kingdom” which God will set up (Dan 2:44) does not refer to a physical kingdom but to “thekingdom of God” that Jesus mentioned and that refers to a spiritual reality that always exists. For example:

Jesus said: “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt 12:18; cf. Matt 6:10; 25:34; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:18-21; 17:20-21; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 28:30-31; 1 Cor 4:20).

It is then argued that this stone, which becomes a great mountain, describes the kingdom of God that Jesus brought in the first century.

However, for the following reasons, it is proposed here that the stone that crushes the statue symbolizes Christ’s return:

1. The text reads, “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom” (Dan 2:44), meaning, one specific kingdom; not the general “kingdom of God.”

2. Once the stone has crushed the statue, “not a trace … was found” of the iron, bronze, silver and gold kingdoms (Dan 2:35, 44). Since remnants of those kingdoms, including their cultures, still remain today, the stone has not yet crushed the statue.

3. Since the four metal kingdoms in Daniel 2 are parallel to the four beast kingdoms in Daniel 7 (the lion, bear, leopard, and dragon – See here), Revelation’s beast contain remnants of the four kingdoms in Daniel 2 (see Rev 13:2). Since Revelation’s beast will only be finally destroyed at Christ’s return (Rev 19:20), remnants of the four kingdoms will continue until then.

4. Daniel 7 symbolizes the divided kingdom of Daniel 2 as a multiple of horns growing from the fourth beast. Since these include the evil 11th horn, the stone will also crush that evil horn. And since that evil horn still exists today (see – The beast), the “stone” has not yet crushed the statue.

5. Since the different descriptions of “the end” in the parallel visions of Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 12 (cf. Dan 12:4, 13) describe the same event, and since Daniel 12 states that the dead will be resurrected at “the end” (Dan 12:2, 13), the dead will be raised when the stone strikes the statue. But the dead will be resurrected when Christ returns (e.g., John 5:25).

6. Once the stone kingdom has crushed the previous kingdoms, all people will serve Jesus (Dan 7:14, 27). Since the stone kingdom will fill the whole earth (Dan 2:35), and since people still reject and insult Jesus today, the “stone” has not yet crushed the statue.

The Two Mountains

“A stone was cut out of” a mountain without hands (Dan 2:45), crushed the statue, but the stone itself “became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan 2:35). There are, therefore, two mountains in Daniel 2.

Since the stone is a kingdom (compare Dan 2:34, 44), and since the stone becomes a great mountain (Dan 2:35), mountains symbolize kingdoms. It follows that both mountains in these verses are kingdoms:

The stone that became a great mountain and “filled the whole earth” (Dan 2:35) is the eternal kingdom that God will establish on earth (Rev 11:15; Dan 7:13-14).

Then the mountain from which the stone was cut off is the always-existing “kingdom of God;” a phrase that Jesus used, as discussed above. See – The kingdom of God.

Conclusion

The vision in Daniel 2 provided an astounding preview of history. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream occurred and was interpreted by Daniel about 600 B.C. The image represented, in symbolic form, the sequence of great empires that would dominate until the return of Christ.

Purpose

Purpose of this Series

The book of Revelation symbolizes the Antichrist as a beast coming out from the sea (Rev 13:1-2). One of the articles on this website shows that the beast in Revelation and the 11th horn in Daniel 7 symbolize the same Antichrist. Furthermore, it is generally accepted that the God-opposing power in Daniel 8 and 11 also describes the same Antichrist as in Daniel 7. However, Revelation’s beast cannot be identified from Revelation alone: It must be identified from the book of Daniel. To do that is the purpose of the current series of articles.

Purpose of this Article

The current article discusses the vision in Daniel 2, which is the first of a series of visions in Daniel. Daniel 2 does not refer to the Antichrist specifically but uses the statue of a man to provide a broad outline of the history of mankind from the time of Daniel until God’s eternal kingdom.

Daniel’s other prophecies focus more specifically on the Antichrist but, even though the vision of Daniel 2 does not mention the Antichrist, the broad sweep of history in Daniel 2 provides the framework for the interpretation of those other prophecies.

The vision in Daniel 9 is an exception, for that prophecy deals exclusively with the nation of Israel (See – Does Daniel 9 describe the same crisis?) and its timeline cannot be aligned with that of the other prophecies in Daniel.

The Six Ages

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2:32-33) and Daniel’s interpretation of it divide history into six great ages:

First Four Kingdoms

1. Head of Gold

This symbolizes king Nebuchadnezzar but also the entire Babylonian Empire, for it will be followed by “another kingdom” (Dan 2:38-39). The Neo-Babylonian empire was founded by Nabopolassar in 626 BC, inherited by Nebuchadnezzar the Great in 605 BC, but ended with the capture of Babylon by the Persians in 539 BC.

2. Breast and Arms of Silver

After the Babylonian Empire will follow another but inferior kingdom (Dan 2:39).

3. Belly and Thighs of Bronze

“Another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth” (Dan 2:32, 39).

4. Legs of Iron

“A fourth kingdom as strong as iron … will crush and break all these in pieces” (Dan 2:40).

What are these kingdoms?

Daniel 2 explicitly identifies the first kingdom as the Babylonian Empire (Dan 2:37-38). It is, perhaps, possible to identify the other kingdoms by comparing them to known history. An alternative approach is to compare the different visions or prophecies with one another:

As another article shows, the four beasts, followed by 10 horns, in the vision in Daniel 7 closely resemble the four metals in Daniel 2, followed by the divided kingdom. However, Daniel 7 does not mention any of the kingdoms by name.

Daniel 8, on the other hand, symbolizes only two empires but names them explicitly:

“The ram which you saw with the two horns
represents the kings of Media and Persia.
The shaggy goat represents
the kingdom of Greece” (Dan 8:20-21).

For this reason, still another article identifies the beasts in Daniel 7 by comparing them with the ram and goat.

5 Divided Kingdom

The statue’s legs are followed by its feet, partly of iron and partly of clay, symbolizing “a divided kingdom” (Dan 2:33, 41). In other words, while, during the first four kingdoms, there will be one supreme ruler over all nations of the known world, during the “divided kingdom,” different kings will rule different parts of the known world. Daniel 2:43 confirms this by saying that these kings will attempt to “combine with one another” through intermarriage, but they will fail in their attempts for unification.

The Clay

As shown above, the fifth phase in the statue of Daniel 2 is represented by its feet and toes, consisting “partly of iron and partly of clay” (Dan 2:33, 41, 42). The question arises, what is signified by the iron and the clay? Daniel explained:

“The feet and toes … will be a divided kingdom” (Dan 2:41).

“Some (the iron part) of the (divided) kingdom will be strong and part of it (the clay part) will be brittle” (Dan 2:42).

Therefore, while the iron symbolizes “toughness” (Dan 2:41), the clay symbolizes fragility or weakness. In other words, the “brittle” parts of the divided kingdom will break easily. But other parts will be as strong as iron.

We need to distinguish between a part of the statue and what that part consists of. For example, the head of the statue symbolizes the Babylonian Empire. That head consists of gold but the gold does not symbolize the Babylonian Empire. The gold symbolizes the quality of that empire, namely, something like the quality of rulership or human rights.

In the same way, the clay does not symbolize a thing; it symbolizes a quality of a thing. The feet and toes symbolize a thing, namely the “divided kingdom” that will follow after the two legs of the image. The clay symbolizes a quality of that thing, namely that the clay parts are brittle and will break easily.

The Toes

What do the toes of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represent?

Daniel’s recounting of the dream does not mention the toes; only “its feet partly of iron and partly of clay” (Dan 2:33).

Daniel’s explanation of the dream adds the toes (Dan 2:41-42). It does not say how many toes there are, but the only logical conclusion is that the statue has one head, two arms, two legs, and ten toes.

There is nothing specific in the text that explains what the toes are but, if they have no specific meaning, why does the prophecy mention the toes at all? The recounting of the vision mentions the head, breast, arms, belly, thighs, legs of iron, and feet. That seems to cover the entire statue adequately. It does not mention the fingers. Why was it necessary to also mention the toes in the explanation?

Furthermore, in the explanation, Daniel stated that “the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery” (Dan 2:42). This seems to make the toes the primary image of the time represented by the feet. For these reasons, I assume that the toes have a specific meaning.

Since the statue symbolizes a series of kingdoms over time, the emphasis on the toes seems to point to the very last part of the time represented by the statue; immediately preceding God’s eternal kingdom.

Given the lack of further information in Daniel 2, the only way to give further meaning to the toes is to compare this vision with the parallel visions in Daniel – particularly Danial 7, where we find a similar series of kingdoms. As shown in another article, the divided kingdom that is symbolized by the feet of the statue in Daniel 2 is parallel to the ten horns that grow out of the fourth beast in Daniel 7. That article also argues that the ten horns or ten toes are a continuation of the fourth beast. Therefore, to understand what the ten horns or ten toes are, we first need to understand what that fourth beast is. That is explained in a further article.

6. The Eternal Kingdom

Without hands

But “a stone was cut out without hands.” The phrase “without hands” (Dan 2:34; cf. Dan 2:45) identifies this stone as a supernatural intervention. Similarly, in Daniel 8, we read that the evil horn “will be broken without human agency” (Dan 8:25).

Make all things new

The stone “struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them” (Dan 2:34). “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found” (Dan 2:35). In Revelation, we similarly read that He who sits on the throne said:

“Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev 21:5).

The entire statue was crushed all at once. This is not a picture of a gradual conquest.

The Feet

The stone struck the statue on its feet (Dan 2:34). The feet represent the last part of the time or series of kingdoms symbolized by the statue.

The Stone

It is often thought that this stone is Jesus Christ, but Daniel, in his interpretation of the vision, identified the stone as an eternal kingdom that God will set up:

“The God of heaven will set up a kingdom …
it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms” (Dan 2:44).

The stone is not Christ. The stone is Christ only indirectly in the sense that Daniel frequently uses the terms “king” and “kingdom” interchangeably. For example:

1. The head of gold is identified as Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:37) but “after” Nebuchadnezzar “there will arise another kingdom” (Dan 2:39). So, Nebuchadnezzar represents the Babylonian empire.

2. The four beasts in Daniel 7 are explained as four “kings” (Dan 7:17) but the fourth is explained as “a fourth kingdom on the earth” (Dan 7:23).

The Great Mountain

“But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan 2:35). Daniel explained this as a “kingdom which will never be destroyed” (Dan 2:44). The parallel vision in Daniel 7 refers to it as the “everlasting kingdom” (Dan 7:27): “The saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever” (Dan 7:18). Revelation 11:15 seems to describe this event:

“The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;
and He will reign forever and ever.”

The Two Mountains

“A stone was cut out of” a mountain without hands (Dan 2:45), crushed the statue but the stone itself “became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan 2:35). There are, therefore, two mountains in Daniel 2.

Since the stone becomes a great mountain, a stone is a small mountain. Since they are able to grow, both a stone and a mountain are living organisms.

Since the stone is a kingdom (compare Dan 2:34, 44), and since the stone becomes a great mountain (Dan 2:35), mountains symbolize kingdoms. It follows that both mountains in these verses are kingdoms:

The stone that became a great mountain and “filled the whole earth” (Dan 2:35) is the eternal kingdom that God will establish on earth, and which He will rule through “His Christ:”

“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ;
and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15)

“The Ancient of Days” gave to “One like a Son of Man” “dominion, glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him” (Dan 7:13-14).

The mountain from which the stone was cut off then seems to refer to “the kingdom of God;” a phrase that Jesus used. As shown above, this kingdom always exists but is invisible to human eyes.

In Summary