Daniel chapter 2 contains a remarkable story of a dream of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar interpreted by the prophet Daniel. Only the young Jewish prophet could tell the king the dream and interpret it as revealed by God. The dream and its interpretation are remarkable because it represents a timeline with its beginning and ending easily recognizable events that biblical scholars generally agree upon. As we will clearly see, the beginning is at the time of the vision, and the ending is the triumphant return of Jesus to this earth. If we can understand the scriptures describing conditions leading up to the ending, we will have important clues defining our near future. Before reading further, I strongly suggest you open your bible and read all of Daniel chapter 2.
Daniel’s interpretation depicts a statue with a head of gold, arms and breast of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay. Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold, beginning the timeline. Moving downward, advancing in time, are 4 subsequent historical kingdoms that establish control over the expanse of the Babylonian empire. The precise identity of these empires is often debated amongst biblical scholars. They are popularly identified as Medo-Persia, followed by Greek (Alexander), then either the Roman empire or the Islamic Caliphate, and finally the feet, either a revived Roman Empire or a revived Islamic Caliphate-the kingdom of the antichrist. I personally ascribe to the Islamic identity of the legs and feet for many reasons. See these previous blog posts: Islam is the Antichrist’s Religion – Jim’s Eschatological Info, Origin of the Antichrist – Jim’s Eschatological Info, Identifying the Ten Kings Allied with the Antichrist – Jim’s Eschatological Info. If the Islamic identity is correct, then Nebuchadnezzar’s statue starts with Babylon, followed by Medo-Persia, Greek empire, the Islamic Caliphate (Ottoman Empire), and finally, a revived Ottoman empire controlled by the antichrist and his ten-nation alliance. These ten nations are likely depicted as the ten toes on the statue. We read further that the statue is completely destroyed at Jesus coming when He strikes the feet that make up the antichrist’s kingdom, a clear reference to Armageddon. (verses 34-35, 44).
Daniel ends his description to the king: “the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” (Daniel 2:45). This prophecy is certain and sure.
In my next post, I’ll lay out the Islamic scenario that is unfolding before our eyes in fulfillment of Daniel’s description of the kingdom that makes up the feet and toes of the great statue. Watch for it as it is a critical part of our near future and we are in the middle of its development.
Maranatha, Jim