Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 3
April 17, 1952
NUMBER 49, PAGE 11

Only Four Worldly Kingdoms

James D. Bales, Searcy, Arkansas

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. He forgot it, but it strangely troubled him. His wise men could not tell him what it was, but God enabled Daniel to set forth the dream and its interpretation. Turn and read Daniel 2:31-45. It sets forth the dream and the interpretation.

Four knightly kingdoms and four worldly kingdoms only are embraced in the interpretation of the dream. This is not to say that there would not be any worldly governments after the time of the establishment of the kingdom of heaven, since the interpretation is not concerned with the total number of human governments but with those which existed in Daniel's day and would intervene between them and the time of the establishment of the kingdom of heaven. The dream thus deals with four kingdoms of the world and no more than four. It does not deal with something which would rise long after the four were gone.

Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was the first (Dan. 2:37, 38); one was to come after him (2:39); a third after that (2:39); and then a fourth kingdom. There are some who assume that after the fourth kingdom was destroyed that there would be other kingdoms to arise and which would be represented by the toes of the feet of the image. Such, however, is not the case for the toes are simply a part of the fourth kingdom and not kingdoms which arise after the fourth kingdom has fallen. They are a part of the fourth kingdom and not fragments which are left after the fourth kingdom is destroyed. They are an integral part of the fourth empire itself while it had existence. This is shown by an examination of the passages which speak of the fourth kingdom.

"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. 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 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. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom..." (2:40-44)

The feet and toes were a part of the fourth kingdom. The kingdom was divided, but the reference to division did not mean that it became several kingdoms for Daniel immediately referred to the divided kingdom as "it," and continued in the next verse to call it "the kingdom." By division, then, he did not mean that it was not still one kingdom, but that the kingdom was not welded together into such unity that it would hold together of itself. The feet and the toes were part of clay and part of iron. These feet and toes were held together in some manner but not because they became so mixed together that they were such a unity that they held together of themselves. Their nature was such that although they were evidently held together within the image yet they were not welded together by unity of nature. Just so the kingdom would he held together but it would not be held together because of an internal unity which was based on a similarity of nature and purpose of all those who were in the Empire. They were held together by an external force, just as the clay and iron would not of themselves hold together but had to be held together by something external to them and their nature. The kingdom, then, did not have an internal unity which was based on a unity of nature of the elements which composed it. "They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another." Therefore it was partly weak in spite of its strength. But it was still one kingdom, the fourth kingdom, although "the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken."

It was in the days of the fourth kingdom that God would establish a kingdom which would not be destroyed. The little stone hit the image on the feet and the feet were a part of the fourth kingdom (2:33, 34, 40, 41). So evidently the kingdom represented by the little stone came into existence while the fourth kingdom was in existence for it smote the image on the feet. And in the interpretation of the dream Daniel said that it was during the days of the fourth kingdom that God would establish a kingdom (2:40-44).

It is admitted by all, that the Roman Empire is the fourth kingdom (R. H. Boll, The Kingdom of God, p. 22).

Regardless of what may be meant by Daniel 2:44 all agree that God did set up a kingdom during the days of the Roman Empire. Notice the following characteristics, and ask for yourself: Do they fit Daniel's description of the heavenly kingdom?

(1) It was the right time for the kingdom to be established. The Roman Empire was in existence, and Boll agrees that the kingdom at hand (Mark 1:14-15) was the one promised by the prophets (The Kingdom of God, pp. 60-66). And Jesus said that the time was fulfilled (Mark 1:14-15). So the church was established at the right time.

(2) It is a kingdom (Eph. 5:5; Col. 1:13).

(3) It was of heaven and established by God through His agents and instruments.

(4) It was established after three of the kingdoms (Babylonian, Medes and Persians, and the Grecian) had fallen.

(5) It was established during the days of the fourth empire, the Roman.

(6) It was small at first.

(7) It was not founded by human will, wisdom or power.

(8) It was worldwide in its scope of operation (Matt. 28:19-20).

(9) Rome, the fourth empire, fell after, not before, the establishment of the kingdom.

(10) It is not to be destroyed (Heb. 12:28; Dan. 2:44).

Is this the kingdom of Daniel 2:44? Did Daniel skip over the Roman Empire of the first century, and the Kingdom of God's dear Son, and see some future Roman Empire which did not exist in the first century, but which is to exist in the future? To this last question let us turn our attention, in the next article, and give it a thorough examination.