"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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(36) That was the dream, and now I'll tell you what it means. (37) Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings, and God has highly honored you with power (38) over all humans, animals, and birds. You are the head of gold. (39) After you are gone, another kingdom will rule, but it won't be as strong. Then it will be followed by a kingdom of bronze that will rule the whole world. (40) Next, a kingdom of iron will come to power, crushing and shattering everything. (41) This fourth kingdom will be divided--it will be both strong and brittle, just as you saw that the feet and toes were a mixture of iron and clay. (42) (SEE 2:41) (43) This kingdom will be the result of a marriage between kingdoms, but it will crumble, just as iron and clay don't stick together. (44) During the time of those kings, the God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal kingdom that will never fall. It will be like the stone that was cut from the mountain, but not by human hands--the stone that crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. Your Majesty, in your dream the great God has told you what is going to happen, and you can trust this interpretation. (45) (SEE 2:44)

Contemporary English Version copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.

Daniel 2:36-43 describes four major kingdoms, empires, or governmental systems that have ruled over the greater part of the civilized world:

1. The Chaldean-Babylonian Empire (625 to 538 BC)

2. The Medo-Persian Empire (538 to 330 BC)

3. The Greco-Macedonian Empire (333 to 31 BC)

4. The Roman Empire (Established 31 BC. The imagery suggests that it will exist in some form until the end of the age.)

Clearly, these physical empires existed on earth. Verses 44-45 then say that God's Kingdom will encompass all of these previous kingdoms—on earth! Daniel 7:17-18 says much the same.

— Staff

To learn more, see:
Is Heaven the Reward of the Saved?



 

Topics:

Chaldean Empire

Greco-Macedonian Empire

Kingdom of God

Kingdom of God, Established on Earth

Medo-Persia

Medo-Persian Empire

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar's Vision

Roman Empire

Roman Empire, Revival of




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