2:39-43
A series of kingdoms would come after the Babylonian one, each one being inferior to the one before it. However, despite their inferiority it seems that their scope of influence increases. The bronze one will “rule over the whole earth”. This could just mean that its domain of influence will be greater than that of the Babylonian kingdom. The fourth one will be more violent than the others, crushing and breaking others. Yet it will also be a divided kingdom. Disunity will be an inherent feature of this kingdom. These kingdoms are often identified as Babylon; Medo-Persia; the Greek Empire; and the Roman Empire. Though these could just be “types” of a more general pattern occurring in history.
2:44,45
But while these kingdoms are doing what earthly kingdoms do, the Lord will be setting up another kingdom. This kingdom will never be destroyed or left to another people. It will be an everlasting kingdom and is the kingdom of God. Moreover, it will crush the earthly kingdoms. Daniel identifies this with the “rock cut out of a mountain”, breaking the iron, bronze, clay, silver and gold into pieces. Daniel then commends the dream and its interpretation to the king.
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