A KINGDOM THAT CRUSHES AND SHATTERS

Daniel continued his explanation o the dream image: "As for the fourth kingdom [after Babylon, Medo-Persian, and Greece], it will  prove to be strong like iron. Forasmuch as iron is crushing and grinding everything else, so, like iron that shatters, it will crush and shatter even all these." (Daniel 2:40) In its strength and ability to crush, this world power would be like iron-stronger than the empires represented by gold, silver or copper. The Roman Empire was such a power. 

Rome crushed and shattered the Grecian Empire and swallowed up remnants of the Medo-Persian and Babylonian world powers.  Showing no respect  for God's Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus Christ, it put him to death on a torture stake in 33 C.E. in an effort to shatter true Christianity, Rome persecuted Jesus' disciples. Moreover, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 70 C.E. 

The iron legs of Nebuchadnezzar's dream image pictured not only the Roman Empire but also its political outgrowth.  Consider these words recorded at Revelation 17:10: "There are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not arrive, but when he does arrive he must remain a short while."  When the apostle John penned these words, he was being held exiled by the Romans, on the isle of Patmos.  The five fallen kings, or world powers were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece.  The sixth-the Roman Empire-was till in power.  But it also was to fall, an the seventh king would arise from one of Rome's captured territories.  What world power would that be? 

Britain was once a  northwestern part of the Roman Empire.  But by the year 1763, it had become the British Empire-the Britannia that rule the seven seas. By 1776 its 13 American colonies had declared their independence in order to set up the United States of America.  In later years, however, Britain and the United Sates became partners  in both war and peace.  Thus, the Anglo-American combination came into existence as the seventh world power of Bible prophecy.  Like the Roman Empire, it has proved to be  "strong like iron" exercising ironlike authority. The iron legs of the dream image thus include both the Roman Empire and the Anglo-American dual world power. 

Next time: A FRAGILE AMALGAM

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999