Would someone please do me a favor and give me a quick rundown on some of these changes since '92?*** dp chap. 4 pp. 55-59 The Rise and Fall of an Immense Image ***
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KINGDOM THAT CRUSHES AND SHATTERS21
Daniel continued his explanation of the dream image: "As for the fourth kingdom [after Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece], it will prove to be strong like iron. Forasmuch as iron is crushing and grinding everything else, so, like iron that shatters, it will crush and shatter even all these." (Daniel 2:40) In its strength and ability to crush, this world power would be like iron?stronger than the empires represented by gold, silver, or copper. The Roman Empire was such a power.
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Rome crushed and shattered the Grecian Empire and swallowed up remnants of the Medo-Persian and Babylonian world powers. Showing no respect for God?s Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus Christ, it put him to death on a torture stake in 33 C.E. In an effort to shatter true Christianity, Rome persecuted Jesus? disciples. Moreover, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 70 C.E.
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The iron legs of Nebuchadnezzar?s dream image pictured not only the Roman Empire but also its political outgrowth. Consider these words recorded at Revelation 17:10: "There are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived, but when he does arrive he must remain a short while." When the apostle John penned these words, he was being held in exile by the Romans, on the isle of Patmos. The five fallen kings, or world powers, were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The sixth?the Roman Empire?was still in power. But it also was to fall, and the seventh king would arise from one of Rome?s captured territories. What world power would that be?
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Britain was once a northwestern part of the Roman Empire. But by the year 1763, it had become the British Empire?the Britannia that ruled the seven seas. By 1776 its 13 American colonies had declared their independence in order to set up the United States of America. In later years, however, Britain and the United States became partners in both war and peace. Thus, the Anglo-American combination came into existence as the seventh world power of Bible prophecy. Like the Roman Empire, it has proved to be "strong like iron," exercising ironlike authority. The iron legs of the dream image thus include both the Roman Empire and the Anglo-American dual world power.
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FRAGILE AMALGAM25
Daniel next told Nebuchadnezzar: "Whereas you beheld the feet and the toes to be partly of molded clay of a potter and partly of iron, the kingdom itself will prove to be divided, but somewhat of the hardness of iron will prove to be in it, forasmuch as you beheld the iron mixed with moist clay. And as for the toes of the feet being partly of iron and partly of molded clay, the kingdom will partly prove to be strong and will partly prove to be fragile. Whereas you beheld iron mixed with moist clay, they will come to be mixed with the offspring of mankind; but they will not prove to be sticking together, this one to that one, just as iron is not mixing with molded clay."?Daniel 2:41-43.
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The succession of world powers represented by the various parts of the image in Nebuchadnezzar?s dream began with the head and extended down to the feet. Logically, the feet and toes of "iron mixed with moist clay" would symbolize the final manifestation of human rule that would exist during "the time of the end."?Daniel 12:4.
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At the dawn of the 20th century, the British Empire ruled over every fourth person on earth. Other European empires controlled millions more. But World War I resulted in the emergence of groups of nations in place of empires. After World War II, this trend accelerated. As nationalism developed further, the number of nations in the world grew dramatically. The ten toes of the image represent all such coexisting powers and governments, for in the Bible the number ten at times signifies earthly completeness.?Compare Exodus 34:28; Matthew 25:1; Revelation 2:10.
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Now that we are in "the time of the end," we have reached the feet of the image. Some of the governments pictured by the image?s feet and toes of iron mixed with clay are ironlike?authoritarian or tyrannical. Others are claylike. In what way? Daniel associated the clay with "the offspring of mankind." (Daniel 2:43) Despite the fragile nature of clay, of which the offspring of mankind are made, traditional ironlike rulerships have been obliged to listen more and more to the common people, who want their say in the governments ruling over them. (Job 10:9) But there is no sticking together of authoritarian rule and the common people?no more than there could be a uniting of iron with clay. At the time of the image?s demise, the world will indeed be politically fragmented!
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w00 1/15 pp. 12-13 "Keep on the Watch" ***15
Third, we are living in the time of the eighth and final "king" mentioned in the prophecy recorded at Revelation 17:9-11. Here the apostle John mentions seven kings, representing seven world powers?Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the Anglo-American dual world power. He also sees "an eighth king" that "springs from the seven." This eighth king?the last one that John envisions?now represents the United Nations. John says that this eighth king "goes off into destruction," after which no further earthly kings are mentioned.