Bible Student’s Assistant

DANIEL, CHAPTER 2:31-44

Verses 31-35. “Thou, O King, sawest and behold a great image.” “This image’s head was of fine gold his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out, without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron, and clay, and brake them to pieces: then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors, and the wind carried them away, and no place was found for them and the stone that smote the image, became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” BSA 1.3

The head of gold represents Babylon; the breast and arms of silver, Persia; the belly and thighs, Greece; and the legs of iron represent Rome. The western empire of Rome, between the years A.D. 856, and 488, was divided into ten divisions, or kingdoms, represented by the ten toes of the image. BSA 2.1

Essentially the same field of vision is opened before us in Daniel 7 & 8. Of the four beasts presented before us, in chapter 7, the Lion represents the Kingdom of Babylon, corresponding with the image’s head of gold; the Bear represents Media and Persia (see breast and arms of image; the Leopard, Grecia (belly and sides of image); and the Fourth Beast dreadful and terrible, Rome (legs of image); the ten horns, same as toes of the image. The little Horn coming up among the others, denoting the Papacy, whose period of supremacy is stated to be 1260 years [Daniel 7:24, 25; Revelation 12:6, 14; 13:5], commencing A.D. 538, and ending in 1798. See Pamphlet, Prophecy of Daniel, published at Review office. BSA 2.2

In chapter 8, are three symbols brought to view, denoting the three last of the universal earthly governments of chaps. 2 & 8. The two first of these are plainly declared to symbolize the kingdoms of Medo-Persia and Grecia. Verses 20, 21. The horn of this chapter symbolizes, Rome. It is to be broken without hand. How clear a reference to the stone cut out without hand which is to smite the image upon the feet. BSA 2.3

“Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” BSA 3.1

“Thou art this head of gold. - B.C. 677 BSA 3.2

“And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.” - B.C. 538 BSA 3.3

“And another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over the earth.” - B.C. 331 BSA 3.4

“And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron.” - B.C. 161 BSA 3.5

“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.” BSA 3.6

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.” BSA 3.7