PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY

Continue with  Picking Up Prophetic Strands

In early May of 334 B.C.E., Alexander embarked upon a campaign of conquest. He had a small but efficient army of 30,000 foot soldiers and 5,000 cavalrymen. At the Granicus River in northwestern Asia Minor (now Turkey), Alexander won his first battle against the Persians in 334 B.C.E. By 326 B.C.E., this relentless conqueror had subdued them and had gone as far as to the east as the Indus River, located in modern-day Pakistan.  But Alexander lost his final battle while in Babylon. On June 13, 323 B.C.E., after living a mere 32 years and 8 months, he surrendered  to the most formidable enemy, death.  (1 Corinthians 15:55) Through his conquests, however, Greece had become a world power, as foretold by Daniel's prophecy.

What is represented by the iron legs of the immense image? Well, it was iron-like Rome that crushed and shattered the Grecian Empire. Showing no respect for God's Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus Christ, the Romans put him to death on a torture stake in 33 C.E.  In an effort to shatter true Christianity, Rome persecuted Jesus' disciples. However, the iron legs of Nebuchadnezzar's dream image pictured not only the Roman Empire but also its political outgrowth-the Anglo-American World Power.

Careful study proves that we are deep in the time of the end, for we have reached the dream image's fee of iron and clay.  Some present-day governments are iron-like or authoritarian, whereas others are clay-like. Despite the fragile nature of clay, of which "the offspring of mankind" are made, iron-like rulerships have been obliged to let the common people have some say in governments ruling over them.  (Daniel 2:43; Job 10:9) Of course, authoritarian rule and the common people stick together no better than do iron  and clay. But God's Kingdom will soon bring an end to this politically fragmented world. -Daniel 2:44. 

Next time: PAY ATTENTION TO GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD FOR OUR DAY-Conclusion of Picking Up Prophetic Strands

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000