In the second year of his kingship (probably dating from Jerusalems destruction in 607B.C.E. 2 In the previous article, we learned about Johns vision of the wild beast of Revelation chapter13. How does Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream picture the violent end of the system of things that has featured world powers, and how do we know that the end of the system is near? Amid a multitude of contending opinions and interests, minority governments often result, stalemated governments long on talk but short on action. (See the box at top.). For example, many of the beasts had a specific number of horns. How does Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream picture the violent end of the system of things that has featured world powers, and how do we know that the end of the system is near? Unable to reach into heaven, the kings of the earth will vent their rage on those on earth who support Gods Kingdom. is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. Moreover, this power is the only one mentioned in the Bible purely as prophecy, for the previous six were woven into the Bibles historical record. What did this empire prove to be? The Bible foretold that they would do so. The ten horns of the beast that Daniel saw mean the kingdoms that came from the Roman Empire. 1:10) It was not until World WarI that the seventh head began operating as a united world power. 6 Shortly after the start of the Lords day, the seventh head launched an attack on Gods peoplethe remaining ones of Christs brothers on earth. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 34 Thou sawest till 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. John is again seeing the Anglo-American World Power but in a special role.Read Revelation 13:11-15. In other visions, Daniel mentions specific numbers. 16:14; 19:19-21) Hence, not only the kingdoms of the image but also all other human governments will be destroyed at Armageddon. Indeed, the title of their primary journal is The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs KingdomJehovah being Gods personal name. 37-63 - World Government (go), w69 5/15 pp. According to Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security adviser to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, the situation will not soon change. you yourself are the head of gold. From what he says, we understand that the Anglo-American World Power will be the world power when the stone, which means Gods Kingdom, hits the feet of the image.Daniel 2:45. Finally, the feet are partly iron and clay representing a future global alliance or empire where clay may represent our human flesh as God formed us from clay (see Job 33:6). 13:3,7) During World WarI, it oppressed Gods people, banned some of their publications, and threw representatives of the faithful slave class into prison. Three are plucked out by another horn, a small one. This was fulfilled when Britain, a former outpost of the Roman Empire, grew to prominence. The prophecies of Daniel and John have been fulfilled to the smallest detail. 17 False religion, however, will not just fade away. (b)What do we understand about the toes? A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place.REV. There will be genuine peace, not just the absence of war. The globe was rapidly slipping into political fragmentation. But does anyone have the answers? During the time of this final world empire, the "rock" will smash them all to bits, a prediction that "God . Consider the facts. I've never understood why the different empire's depicted in the prophesy (Babylonian, Persian, Anglo-American etc) were agreed upon as those specific empires. The belly and thighs of copper pointed to ancient Greece. This is the final article in a series of seven in consecutive issues of Awake! Copyright 2023 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. This description coincides with the time when the seventh head the Anglo-American World Power would come to prominence. Instead of uniting, it tended to disunite. 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. The divisions of the Roman Empire (ten in number as seen in Daniel 7) are, according to chapter 2, to be looked for mixed with or among the "iron" of the Roman Empire. A little over 1,900 years ago, when those words were written, five of the seven kings, or political empires, had fallen. They were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. And because the United States came from Britain, we can say that, indirectly, the United States too came from Rome. (Matt. Until the 17thcentury, Britain was a relatively insignificant power. 47:1-3; Jer. Only his feet must be washed. Britain continued to grow in wealth and power, and in the 19thcentury, it was the richest and most powerful nation on earth. (Egypt and Assyria had already come and gone.) Jehovah will cause the governments of Satans system, as represented by the United Nations, to attack false religion. 2:43) In the Anglo-American World Power, people have risen up to claim their rights through civil rights campaigns, labor unions, and independence movements. d See RevelationIts Grand Climax at Hand! Daniel 2:44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. . 17. THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST DEVOURS THE HARLOT. 17. Twenty or thirty years ago, most people thought religion would always be respected and powerful. That image, which was large and the brightness of which was extraordinary, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was dreadful. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating.Isaiah 65:21,22. There will be no more world powers after this. 13 A prophecy in the book of Daniel enables us to establish where we are in the stream of time. How? Gods prophet Daniel explained to Nebuchadnezzar the significance of the image, telling him: You, Oking, . (Revelation 17:11) But would it succeed? 18 In that chapter 2 of Daniel interprets the prophetic dream that the God of the heavens sent to Nebuchadnezzar, emperor of the Babylonian World Power, in the second year after he had destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple built by Davids son, King Solomon. Such an event may have seemed unlikely just decades ago. Jehovah Reveals What Must Shortly Take Place. (a)What will the wild beast do, and with what outcome? . Her tumble will be sudden and violent.Rev. 7. Learn how God used Medo-Persia to fulfill Bible prophecy. Unlike transitory human governments, including the seven world powers, Gods Kingdom will never be brought to ruin. Also, it will rule over the entire earth.Daniel 2:35,44. 3-8 - The Watchtower (Simplified)2012, lfb lesson 60 pp. 3 pp. What is happening to religion today? However, when describing the image, Daniel does not mention the number of toes. 6 Shortly after the beginning of the Lords day, the seventh head began to attack Gods people, that is, those of Christs brothers who were still on earth. So we can understand that the clay means that something in the Anglo-American World Power makes it weaker than the Roman Empire, which was described as legs made of solid iron. It is only an image of that beast. We used to be taught that the clay and iron was anglo-america because they never . The Bible promises that genuine peace will prevail under the rule of Gods Kingdom. How did this head treat the seed of the woman? #bible prophecy expo #prophecy prophecy #bible prophecy #revelation 6 #revelation 6:1-2 #revelation 6:3-4 #revelation 6:5-6 #revelation 6:7-8 #Daniel's vision #Nebuchadnezzar's dreams Time Will come that this following event Will happen in the near future: 1. Note also that during the rule of the ten toes, the common people, the offspring of mankind, would become increasingly involved in government. 8,9. 8 At times, the seventh head of the beast has displayed ironlike characteristics. Jehovah Reveals What Must Shortly Take Place. Yes, you may say, pointing to the end of the Cold War, to the greater cooperation between East and West, and to the substantial progress being made in world disarmament. We feel that we are in the final days of the kingdom symbolized by the mixture of clay and iron. a certain immense image. As the number of people involved in the political process increases, however, so also does the difficulty in achieving a political consensus. 23 Since Jerusalem is here symbolicof the heavenly Jerusalemso also must the mountain of the olive trees be. 1,2. Daniel 2:41 shows that the feet made of iron mixed with clay are one "kingdom," not many. a certain immense image. The sign of the end includes global war, great earthquakes, pestilences, and major food shortages. (Luke 21:10, 11; Matthew 24:7,8; Mark 13:8) Also marking the last days would be a serious moral and spiritual breakdown in society. The prophecy at Daniel 2:44 states that Gods Kingdom will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms. That prophecy refers only to the kingdoms that are part of the image. Daniel 2:44 does not mention what will happen to all other kingdoms. Which parts of the immense image symbolize the Anglo-American World Power? . In particular, they believe that the feet of iron and clay symbolize the Anglo-American World Power (Britain and the United States). (a)How did the seventh world power show that it was strong like iron? Understandably, they have been unable to stick together in a world unity. THE ANGLO-AMERICAN WORLD POWER AND THE FEET OF IRON AND CLAY. Like iron and moist clay, the entire global political mixture since 1914 has been fragile. Or, according to the vision of Daniel 7:13, 14, the glorified Son of man in heaven was brought before the Ancient of Days and was given the everlasting kingdom to which he was the rightful, sworn Heir. Consider: In other visions, Daniel mentions specific numbersfor example, the number of horns on the heads of various beasts. The harlot will no longer be able to control these governments, and she will lose all her riches. How would you describe the prophetic dream that God sent Nebuchadnezzar in the second year of his reign as world ruler? 2:32,33). Why was Gods prophecy about Babylons destruction outstanding? Would you like to read this article in %%? Yes! But Daniel does not mention how many toes the image has. In the Bible the number ten is used to indicate earthly completeness. The change of financial system Rev. Britain did not stop the United States from becoming a powerful country and even protected it with the British navy. However, from early on, that iron has been mixed with clay. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10, King James Version) Have you wondered what life on earth will be like when all humans love and obey God? The iron legs represent the Imperialistic-Democratic Alliance of the Roman Empire. . No longer are Gods servants limited to one nation or one locality, so that they can be oppressed by a single world power. Because it has two horns, it means two governments that are partners. (2Pet. We cherish common values. 31. In one very important respect, however, those prognostications are wronghumanity itself will not end. 4 In Daniels prophecy of the beast with ten horns, another horn, a small one, comes up and replaces three of the ten horns. They are described as an amalgam of iron and clay. By the mid-18thcentury, Britain was on its way to become the dominant power on the world scene. (a)What is the future of the feet? Three other regions of the old Roman EmpireSpain, the Netherlands, and Francewere far more influential. In the prophecy about the giant image, the feet are the last part of the image. So if, in fulfillment of the prophecy, the ten toes were to take on real significance, the political situation existing in 1914 would have to change. Gone, for example, are the days when people appealed to divine guidance in matters of government. The result is inevitable. 9 For a long time, Jehovahs servants have wanted to understand what the feet of the image mean. Almost ten years ago, The World Book Encyclopedia optimistically noted: We probably have a greater chance of solving the problems of our times than any previous generation. But now, a decade later, at the beginning of the 1990s, is there still room for optimism? THE prophecies of Daniel and John correspond in ways that allow us to understand the meaning of many present and future world events. 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