kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth."-Daniel ii. 39. The second "kingdom" inferior to that of Nebuchadnezzar, which should "arise after" him, history proves to be the empire of the Medes and Persians; whose union is well denoted by the breast and arms of silver. The "third kingdom" which should "bear rule over all the earth," is certainly that of the Macedonians, or "brazencoated Greeks," aptly figured by the middle and sides of brass. Daniel's interpretation in Josephus is, that another king coming from the west, completely armed in brass, shall destroy the empire of the Medes and Persians. "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 ii. 40. The fourth, it is equally clear, must be the Roman empire-finely described by the breaking and bruising iron power. It was so understood by the Jews, both before and in the Saviour's time, by the disciples of the Apostles, and by the whole Christian Church for the first three centuries, without any known contradiction. This interpretation, indeed, is now universally agreed to by both Protestants and Papists. "And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay."-Daniel ii. 41-43. The feet and toes, partly strong and partly brittle, are emblematic of a number of kingdoms, into which the Roman empire became divided after the irruptions of barbarians in the fourth and fifth centuries of the Christian era. Jerome, living at the time, says, "The fourth kingdom plainly belongs to the Romans; but his feet and toes are part of iron and part of clay, which is most manifestly proved at this time; for, as in the beginning, nothing was stronger and harder than the Roman empire, so in the end of things, nothing is weaker." He was, indeed, blamed for thus reflecting on his own government, and apologised for it, as not his imputation, but that of the prophet. And Sulpicius Severus, a writer of the 5th century, gives the same interpretation; and that Christ shall establish afterwards an everlasting kingdom. And while some one or more of these kingdoms have always possessed "the strength of the iron," the "kingdom partly strong and partly broken" has remained "divided" to the present day, the various states and nationalities having never coalesced so as to form one sole or principal incorporated polity, even as iron is not mixed with clay.' We cannot push the significance of the emblems employed so far as to affirm that the number of kingdoms must be precisely ten, because of the supposed number of toes; or that the right and left foot stand respectively for the eastern and western divisions of the Roman empire, each of which should therefore consist of five states. For we might equally seek for minute resemblances in the other limbs, parts, and features of the statue, without being able to match them with attributes and circumstances of the empires severally represented. Daniel himself simply takes as a symbol the general or most notable quality, not the infinitesimal minutiæ, of those portions of the image he is interpreting. In other prophecies we have a reference to ten kingdoms; but even there we shall find 66 THE LAST KINGDOM UPON EARTH. that they are not necessarily to be understood as jointly co-extensive with the entire surface of the original Roman empire. This condition of permanent submission of the fundamental territory of Rome (which embraced that of the three preceding empires), so carefully described by Daniel in such forcible terms, continues to exist; and the world sees, as it has done for many centuries, the fidelity of this prophecy to actual history as pre-arranged by Providence. Pagan Rome, then, was the last great monarchy which will ever hold the territory whereon it flourished'; and we have here the assurance of God himself that neither Russia, France, nor any other greedy and grasping power, will ever make a conquest of Europe, or absorb it by little and little into a universal empire. Buonaparte was raised up as a scourger of nations, but fell in his ambition to violate the will of the Supreme Ruler, as revealed to us in this prophecy. At the date of the vision all its story lay in the future; now, however, all has come to pass in regular order, excepting the announcement comprised in the latter part, for the fulfilment of which we still wait, knowing that "the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter : and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."-Daniel ii. 44, 45. From this we learn that the present is the last phase of mere human political rule 47 of wicked men over wicked subjects, which will exist within the limits of that empire whose fortunes constitute the image history. The present order of governments and kingdoms, whatever may be their vicissitudes of change, increase or decay, will be ultimately subverted altogether, giving place not to another grouping or amalgamation of similar kingdoms, but to a governing power or system of polities apparently different in nature and origin from any yet seen upon the earth. For instead of forming a member of the molten or carved image, like the rest of the empires, this future kingdom is represented as a stone cut out of a mountain without hands; instead of being a political sway fashioned by the ambition of a military conqueror, or aggregated by the diplomatic world-gambling of human governments, it is to be a dominion established by the direct agency of God himself. This new kingdom will "not be left to other people," but it will entirely destroy all the governments previously existing. The whole image-representing the political career of the chief part of Europe and of some adjacent continents-will be completely destroyed by the stone, or new kingdom, which will then increase till it acquires the whole earth, or the same extensive empire, and last "for ever." What is this dominion of supernatural origin so glorious in its career? Daniel says that it shall be set up "in the days of these kings" (by which he means "kingdoms," as shown by the repetition in the same verse); that is, after the Roman empire has been divided, and while these minor states (as at present) are yet in being. Were we Papists, we might apply the prediction to the holy Catholic Church, and hope for a future universal supremacy far surpassing that assumed and wielded by the Pope in the 11th and 12th centuries. But the liberal politician, equally with the Bible Christian, must repudiate such an interpretation, and finds no other kingdom. but that everlasting dominion of the Redeemer himself, compatible with the emblem described, or commensurate with the statements and language of Daniel's explanation. Christ declared that His kingdom was "not of this world," "not from hence." Are we therefore to understand by the kingdom of Christ, described by Daniel, merely this invisible spiritual power and authority; and by the overturning of worldly empires, merely the unseen providential ordering of the nations in relation to the Church of God's elect? No; the vision taught Nebuchadnezzar something further than the superiority of Christ's dominion to the mightiest earthly powers. For Daniel distinctly says, that this heavenly-created kingdom is to be set up during the (present) period of a divided Roman empire; and its operative effect upon those minor states and its subsequent career in the world after they are destroyed, are as much a part of the series of real events described, as the existence of the earlier monarchies. The destruction of the present order of governments is announced as an occurrence to be transacted at a certain period in history, and (20) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.-Isaiah ix. 6, 7. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.-His name shall endure for ever; his name shall be continued as long as the sun; and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed.-Psalm lxxii. 10, 11, 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.-And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spcars into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.-Isaiah ii. 2, 4. cannot be applied to the general providence of God, which has raised and ruined kingdoms on behalf of His Church and chosen people since the world began. Does the prophecy point to the catastrophe of the last day, and the re-creation of the superficies of this planet as "a new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," the opening of an eternal resurrection state to be the habitation of redeemed men? Certainly not. For a growth of the holy kingdom in the present world is clearly described; the stone, set up "in the days of these kings," gradually increases till it becomes a mountain filling the whole earth. The vision does not foreshadow a succession of empires, in which the last era of divided rule closes the history of our world altogether. The present face of nature is not spoken of as swept away in the catastrophe which destroys the ancient political organizations; but as remaining and forming the scene and theatre of the extensive and abiding glory of the stone kingdom. And when we know that distinct declarations, as well as poetical portrayals of the final reign of Christ over every land, and the general conversion of all nations of mankind to His gospel, abound in the Bible, (") there is no For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.- Isaiah lxvi. 22, 23. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.-Habbakuk ii 14. Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.-Psalm lxxxii. 8. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.Psaba lxxxvi. 9. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's and he is the governor among the nations.- Psalm xxii. 27, 28. The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. -Zephaniah ii. 11. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the AGENCIES IN THE GREAT REVOLUTION. difficulty in understanding this imagedream of Nebuchadnezzar as nothing else than a revelation of the course of history, ending with the latter-day glory commonly spoken of as "the Millennium.' This era of universal righteousness being the last age of the world, is said " never to be destroyed," and to "stand for ever." Observe here that this reign of rectitude and liberty, of peace and happiness, is not, like the dreams of many benevolent patriots, to prove a Utopian failure; but shall really grow and spread, and last long, permanently replacing the powers of darkness and evil in every haunt of our mighty globe. For the promise is of God, who planned and is able to execute this glorious crowning of the scheme of Providence. But an interval of consuming vengeance will precede. By the assertion that His kingdom was "not of this world," Christ may have assured the Roman procurator that He was no rebel against the temporal sovereignty of Cæsar,—that His dominion was of a spiritual nature, operating in the hearts of men; but, nevertheless, this prophecy of Daniel clearly describes the Saviour's kingdom as emphatically consisting "of this world,"—as hereafter to be established over all nations. It is exhibited as actually overthrowing all existing organizations of peoples and governments; not by some gradually undermining operation of its principles, but with summary violence and complete annihilation. We are not told here whether the vast revolution will be achieved by the Son of God in person, appearing in His second advent with all His saints and holy angels; or whether it Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall 49 will be effected by the instrumentality of the states and peoples themselves, perhaps aided by supernatural judgments from heaven. Other portions of prophetic Scripture shed much light on the character and agency of the coming tribulation and the succeeding glory; though there is much difficulty in distinguishing the literal statements from the figurative and poetic. We may remind the reader in this place, that the history of Christendom comprises many illustrations of the fact of Christ's coming "not to send peace on earth, but a sword." And as Protestant Christians have fought in time past, so they may again combat the material forces of despotic and priestly tyranny; the thirst for freedom, always following the progress of Gospel truth, may once more arouse popular movements against the exacting rule of cruelty and craft; and evil autocrats, daring to embody in their own person and will the heart and conscience of whole nations, may aid by murderous wars the mutual destruction of each other. The era of the complete demolition of existing governments may be simply a continuation and sudden expansion of what has been already accomplished in part, or is fulfilling before our eyes. The wars and gathering armaments of regular governments, the upheavings and outbursts of national and democratic revolution, indicate the possible instruments of the universal overturning; while the startling revivals of pure religion, and the effusion of the Holy Spirit in gregarious and wholesale conversions, intimate the approach, as well as manifest the nature, of Christ's victory over all the earth. be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.Malachi i. 11. E SECTION V. PAPAL ROME: IS THE "TEMPORAL" OR THE "SPIRITUAL" POWER TO LAST 1260 YEARS? AND WHEN DID THE CYCLE BEGIN? DANIEL was advanced in age when favoured with the "visions" of futurity which are recorded in his book. The earliest related to the same four empires of the image-dream which he had interpreted nearly fifty years before; but contained fuller information respecting the various epochs more particularly the period of divided kingdoms occupying the interval between the fall of pagan Rome, and the era of Christ's universal reign. And the prophet appears to have communicated the mysterious marvels vocally to his companions or Hebrew disciples, beside inscribing them in rolls for preservation. "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another."-Daniel vii. 1-3. The "great sea," with the Jewish writers, always meaning the Mediterranean, this (x) Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: and he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.-Isaiah viii. 7, 8. may be probably pointed to in the second verse as the centre, territorially, of the scene of the vision. But, at any rate, the four beasts-emblematic, as we are afterwards told, of so many different monarchies-are represented as successively emerging from the wars and commotions of nations; this similitude of raging waves of the ocean being so employed by other prophets. (*) We are at liberty to regard the "winds of the heaven" as typifying the invisible yet puissant influence of God's providence in effecting the rise and cessation of kingdoms; or to suppose that "the four winds" are meant to intimate the universality of the tumults and changes from which the great empires should spring. From the 17th verse we learn that these beasts are the symbols of kingdoms; the 23rd verse explaining that the word "king" is put for "kingdom" or monarchy, just as in the 44th verse of the second chapter, already considered. And in the Latin, Greek, and Arabic versions, the word "kings" of the 17th verse is given as "kingdoms." Now there are no succes How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! The sea is come up upon Babylon she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.-Jeremiah li. 41-43. |