“As for thee, O King, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and He that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.” Daniel 2:29
A DREAM WORLD
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon meditated over our question: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? And the result was that he had a dream about it! “As for thee, O King, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and He that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.” Daniel 2:29
Sad, however, the dream was forgotten through the forceful impression it made upon him. “Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” Daniel 2:2–3. This passage of Scripture is—a history—but it is a history of a prophecy, by a dream and the interpretation of it! God sometimes serves His own purposes by putting things out of men’s minds as well as by putting things into their minds.
The wise men of the royal Court of Babylon were neither able to meet the King’s request, nor help, nor interpret the dream. They were weak, feeble, debilitated human beings, as most of all the learned and wise men of today are with their shallow wisdom, in contrast to the coming world events. “The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.” Daniel 2:10. They acknowledge that the gods may indeed declare unto man what is his thought (Amos 4:13), for God understands our thoughts afar off (Psalm 139:2); what they will be before we think them, what they are when we do not regard them, what they have been when we have forgotten them.
We, as men who know not that which will take place tomorrow, it has been acknowledged by all sincere wise men that our knowledge is imperfect. That next to a finite wisdom there is also a higher one which we as human beings can acquire, that may be seen from the report of Daniel, a faithful man, who was, along with many others, placed under a death penalty in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, since he himself declared that he could interpret the lost dream of the King (Daniel 2:13–16).
BEST FRIEND!
Now, Daniel knew his God, like we do our Best Friend, and in the hour of distress, he turned confidently to Him in prayer (Daniel 2:17–19).
Ah! In this lies the key to true knowledge. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 111: 10 (Ecclesiastes 12:13). God, you see, uses true, humble, faithful men, in order to reveal Himself; and through this He brings to naught the wisdom of men. A knowledge of God is not received in universities. If such be the case, only the trained and learned (theologians) would be able to know our Father. How is it said? “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. . . . And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” Matthew 11:25–27
GRIM SECRET EXPOSED
Daniel did not glory in his success, but, acknowledged openly that the honour belongs to God alone. “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” (Daniel 2:25–28). Humble men will be always ready to think that what God does for them and by them is more for the sake of others than for their own. Prophets receive that they may give, that the discoveries made to them may not be lodged with themselves, but communicated to the persons that are concerned—Nebuchadnezzar was agonizingly concerned!
As a true servant, Daniel fearlessly declared to his earthly lord the message of the heavenly King. “Thou, O King, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible” (Daniel 2: 31–35); that which was most remarkable in this image was the different metals of which it was composed—
“This image’s:
Head was of fine gold, his
Breast and his arms of silver, his
Belly and thighs of brass, his
Legs of iron, his
Feet part of iron and part of clay.
“Thou sawest until that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces, . . . and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Daniel 2:34–35
Head of Gold—BABYLON (Babylonian-Babili, “gate of God”)
(605 BC—538 BC)
“Thou, O King, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. . . . Thou (Nebuchadnezzar) art this head of gold.” Daniel 2:36–38
We find also in the image of man—as it stood before the king—as a living man, but the form of this image is said to be “terrible!” Both the features of the face and the postures of the body made it so—the world’s history is symbolically represented; and especially so, beginning with Babylon, at that time a universal kingdom. God did choose man as a symbol. “What is man?” The Psalmist asked. A vapor—grass—weak—vanishable! This, in fact, is a correct characteristic of man’s history in this world.
Powerfully and gloriously did Babylon commence; the first world-kingdom. Jehovah, the Almighty, King of kings, revealed himself to Nebuchadnezzar, who finally came to the acknowledgment of God, declaring: “All whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37. (Psalm 119:67). But Belshazzar, who mocked God, contrary to his better knowledge, and abused the power entrusted to him, had to give heed to the judgment pronounced upon him: “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” (Daniel 5: 22–30)
The gold soon came to an end. According to human judgment, Babylon the proud seemed invincible; nevertheless, Medo-Persia arose, in the appointed hour of God, upon the stage of action in this world’s history, and Babylon—the fine gold, vanished!
Breast and Arms of silver—MEDO-PERSIA
(538 BC—331 BC)
“And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.” Daniel 2:39
This chosen governing nation, according to the symbol, was declared by God, inferior in value. God marked definitely the Breast and Arms, the double kingdom: (the duality of the kingdom is obviously represented by the duality of the breasts and arms) Medo-Persia that should follow Babylon. Though Cores (Cyrus) permitted himself to be controlled by the Spirit of God, he gave certain privileges to the Jews since they were the chosen people. Nevertheless, it also finally came to an end, through a reign of tyranny and slavery, as a second universal kingdom.
Thighs of Brass—GREECE
(331 BC—168 BC)
“And another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.” Daniel 2:39
More inferior than Medo-Persia was sighted the following historical universal kingdom of Greece (Macedonian empire of Alexander). Even Alexander the Great, tutored by Aristotle the Greek philosopher up to the age of 16, grew rapidly through his swiftness and subtility to a world monarch, only to sink again as a powerful ruler at the age of 33, into the grave, as a poor slave of his passions, and with him his great kingdom. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Proverbs 16:32. Some say he died of alcohol poisoning; others, a relapse of malaria—a mysterious illness—or was poisoned by the sons of Antipater or disaffected senior officers; or by natural causes. What is certain is that he died of a high fever—but the mystery of half truths and controversy still persists. Moreover, Alexander boasted that he had conquered the world, and then sat down and wept because he had not another world to conquer.
Legs of Iron—ROME
(168 BC – 476 AD) (Western)
(330 AD – 1453 AD) (Eastern)
“And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” Daniel 2:40
Still more inferior in value, follows the fourth: The “iron” Rome (Luke 2:1). Of all the four metals this is the strongest. Rome, although divided into two legs of iron, it was still one kingdom. In the two legs, prophecy denotes the division of the empire into two separate kingdoms, with capitals in Rome (Western) and Constantinople (Eastern). Eastern Rome eventually became known as the Byzantine Empire (Orthodox Church). As a whole, the image gives the imposing outward greatness and splendour of the Gentile world power. In a most ruthless political way, however, Rome demolished her enemies and predecessors in such manner that from a human standpoint, the future of Rome as a world-power must have been more deeply rooted than any one of the preceding kingdoms. Towards the latter end of the Roman kingdom, however, it grew very weak (Western empire), and branched into ten kingdoms, which are signified by the toes of the statue (v. 42). At that point, also, Eastern Rome no longer played a part in prophecy in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of Daniel 2.
The “seed of man” (common humanity) shall intrude into government—en masse! The Roman government became a rule of the mob! Rome fragmented and reassembled—socially, culturally, and politically—all the peoples, institutions, etc. it took over—like a plague. The only notable exception was Christianity itself as a spiritual movement (albeit truly Romanized in the perversion of the Roman church). And “subdueth all!” “The empire of the Romans filled the world, and when the 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!” If modern history is forecast here, the suggestion of the dictatorship of the common man, in socialism, is almost irresistible. Among her inner social uprisings between Plebeians (common people) and Patricians (landlords), revolutions and lastly indiscriminate immigration, ruined also this powerful kingdom; and only to be divided by the low-cultured race of Germanic origin, into many states of Germanic tribes; Visigoths, Vandals, Anglos, Saxons, Franks, Ostrogoths, and Lombards, from which we have left the remains of the European Kingdoms.
Feet and toes, part iron, and part clay—THE EUROPEAN STATES
(November 1, 1993—Maastricht Treaty–creation of the European Union and the single European currency, the Euro)
THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES!
There has never been such a wonderful fulfillment of the symbolic “Image of Man,” as was fulfilled in Rome, also a world Empire. Just as the human body terminates in ten toes, so were formed ten European States, from the Roman Kingdom. We discern among them—basically: Germany, England, France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Portugal and Spain; some of Roman and some of Germanic origin. As iron does not mix with clay, but always each keeps its original form, thus we have lived to learn, that national alliances of many years, and intermarriages among royal households were not able to preserve the world’s peace. The Roman iron, through its standing drafted army, resulted in heated friction among the nations. All inventions of science have been brought to the service of destruction. In a most fearful barbarian way, the “Christian nations” had made war, were making war or always preparing to make war upon each other with the most horrible weapons. All the previous war events of past universal kingdoms are placed in a shadow as compared with those of our day. Higher than ever, therefore, arose our world’s distress and our world’s calling for a final reckoning with God.
Which connecting link is missing which would insure a permanent, endurable, and yet preservative unity among nations? For those who have been sold under the bondage of sin, there is no human tie or object for a harmonious unity! No! Not one! This human tie exists for those alone, who have been liberated from the curse of sin: “The True Christianity.”
Christ with His pure teaching of brotherly unity, and not only for this, but also of the future eternal life, has become a stumbling block to the so-called Christian states; also, in a similar manner, the chosen Cornerstone of God has been cast away (Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:44). In like manner true Christianity—as proved in recent years—has also been cast aside—the Law of God—trampled upon! Everything is incoherently and perilously breaking down!
DEPENDABLE!
But the Smiting Stone, the Messianic Kingdom of the Stone (Daniel 2:34–35), destroys the Gentile world system (in its final form) by a sudden, violent, catastrophic, and irremediable blow, not by the gradual processes of conversion and assimilation; and then and not before, does the Stone become a mountain (a mountain is one of the Biblical symbols of a kingdom—Isaiah 2:2) which fills the whole earth (Daniel 7: 26–27). Such a destruction of the Gentile monarchy system did not occur at the first advent of Christ. On the contrary, He was put to death by the sentence of an officer of the fourth empire which was then at the zenith of its power!
But, from the head of gold to the iron of the fourth kingdom (Rome) there is deterioration in fineness, but increase of strength (Daniel 2:40).
(1) Deterioration by division: the kingdom is divided into two; the legs (eastern and western empires) and these are again divided into ten kingdoms, the number of which, when the Stone smites the image, will be ten (toes, Daniel 2:42), and;
(2) Deterioration by admixture; the iron mixed with the clay; some of these kingdoms were weak as clay, others strong as iron! This empire divided the government for a long time between the senate and the people, the nobles and the commons, but they did not entirely coalesce. There were civil wars, irruptions of the barbarous nations, the branches of the royal family intermarried; but the politics had not the desired effect, when the day of the fall of that empire came.
“God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Daniel 2:45. God declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Whatever God has made known we may depend upon—for certain!
ANOTHER DREAM!
Ah! Mankind, however, had another dream—that of a united Europe (EU) (European Union)—that would indissolubly unite man into a viable force—both politically and spiritually—a harmonious and brilliant bond. Man has from the onset clamoured—even demanded such a unity of the European nations—yes, even jeopardizing their own freedoms from such a binding pact.
That dream was “EUROPE.” It has, however, become:
- A Europe of accountants—not the Europe of values.
- A Europe of bureaucrats—not the Europe in spirit.
- A Europe that is tired of itself; doubts its mission, and meaning—not an ardent, fervent, heroic Europe.
- A Europe that is beset by doubt—not the Europe that knows what it is or where it is going.
This is a Europe in which the inextinguishable flame could have been rediscovered—but has faltered—and flickers—as prophesied!
HOW MUCH?
But, therefore, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. This true old gospel has lost more and more of its redeeming power for our so-called Christian generation of today, and daily we behold among us the ever-growing contrast. Sooner is accepted man’s fanciful theory in place of the true teaching of Christ; yes, even accepted by force instead of by work with the pure gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).
How much more reason have we to test sincerely, the face value of our demolishing, and all-crushing social and political conditions with this proven Cornerstone, in order to drop all personal opinions; “And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:44
The stone cut down without hands falls without any assistance of men upon this earth and closes this world’s history, filling this whole earth, and remaining eternal (Daniel 2:34–35).
How much—is the question—are we, as Christians prepared to meet this coming event?
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom.” Daniel 2:44
“Thy kingdom come.” Matthew 6:10
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33), and pray with a sincere heart as all those have who were upright since the onset of mankind and enlightened by the Truth.
Look for the waymarks as you journey on,
Look for the waymarks, passing one by one; down thro’ the ages, past the kingdoms four,
Where are we standing? Look the waymarks o’er.
First, the Assyrian kingdom ruled the world,
Then Medo-Persia’s banners were unfurled;
And after Greece held universal sway,
Rome seized the scepter—where are we today?
Down in the feet of iron and of clay,
Weak and divided, soon to pass away;
What will the next great, glorious drama be?—
Christ and His coming, and eternity.
Look for the waymarks, the great prophetic waymarks,
Down thro’ the ages, past the kingdoms four.
Look for the waymarks, the great prophetic waymarks;
The journey’s almost o’er.
(Prof. Franklin Edison Belden (1858-1945); musician, gospel song writer,
“Christ in Song”, Adventist College teacher)
The fulfilled signs in nature, complete to the letter, has universally founded the faith of many of the believers in the soon coming of Christ!
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? For you today??
Amen <>< <>< <><
John Theodorou
U.S.A.