Daniel 2.41-The Fourth Kingdom Will Have A Stage Characterized By Division But It Will Possess Some Of Iron's Strength
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday April 26, 2012
Daniel: Daniel 2:41-The Fourth Kingdom Will Have A Stage Characterized By Division As Signified By The Feet And Toes Composed Of A Mixture Of Iron And Clay Yet It Will Possess Some Of Iron’s Strength
Lesson # 66
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 2:31.
This evening we will continue with our study of Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream by noting Daniel 2:41.
Daniel 2:31 “You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. 32 The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 This was the dream; now we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37 “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory. 38 And wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold. 39 After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth. 40 Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. 41 In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay.” (NASB95)
“In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron” is composed of the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), which is not translated and followed by the relative particle dî (דִּי) (dee), “in that” and then we have the masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb ḥǎzā(h) (חֲזָה) (khaz-aw´), “you saw” which is followed by the masculine plural form of the noun reḡǎl (רְגַל) (reg-al´), “the feet” and then we have the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and,” which is followed by the feminine plural form of the noun ʾěṣ∙bǎʿ (אֶצְבַּע) (ets-bah´), “toes” and then we have the preposition min (מִן) (min), “partly” which is followed by the third person feminine singular pronominal suffix -henā(h) (־הְנָה) (hane-naw), which is not translated and then we have the masculine singular noun ḥǎsǎp̄ (חֲסַף) (khas-af´), “clay” which is followed by the particle dî (דִּי) (dee), which is not translated and followed by the masculine singular noun pě∙ḥār (פֶּחָר) (peh-khawr´), “potters” and then we have the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and,” which is followed by the preposition min (מִן) (min), “partly” which is followed by the third person feminine singular pronominal suffix -henā(h) (־הְנָה) (hane-naw), which is not translated and followed by the masculine singular noun pǎr∙zěl (פַּרְזֶל) (par-zel´), “iron.”
The conjunction wa is a marker of a sequence of closely related events meaning that it is introducing a statement that marks the next major world empire that will be derived from the fourth kingdom which will appear in the future and specifically during the Seventieth Week of Daniel.
The particle dî means “as, just as” since it functions as a comparative particle indicating that Daniel is telling Nebuchadnezzar that “just as” he saw the feet and toes composed of a mixture of clay and iron, so it (the kingdom represented by the feet and toes) will be a divided kingdom.
The verb ḥǎzā(h) means “to see” in the sense of receiving a prophetic revelation in a dream and is used with Nebuchadnezzar as its subject as indicated by the second person masculine singular form of the verb.
The noun reḡǎl means “feet” and indicates that the statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream was human in form.
The noun ʾěṣ∙bǎʿ means “toes” which is a digit of the human foot.
The third person feminine singular pronominal suffix -henā(h) means “them” referring to the feet and toes of the statue and it is the object of preposition min, which means “part” since it functions as a marker of the relation of a part to the whole indicating that part of the feet and toes were composed of clay.
The noun ḥǎsǎp̄ means “clay” and is used to describe the yet future Revived Form of the Roman Empire, which is represented by the feet and toes of the statue.
The fact that the feet and toes are composed of a mixture of iron and clay indicates that this divided kingdom originates from the fourth kingdom, which history records as the Roman Empire.
The noun pě∙ḥār means “potter” referring to a person who makes vessels from the clay of the earth and thus indicates that the clay which helped to compose the feet and toes of the statue belonged to the potter or was the clay used by potters to makes vessels.
The third person feminine singular pronominal suffix -henā(h) means “them” referring to the feet and toes of the statue and it is the object of preposition min, which functions as a marker of the relation of a part to the whole indicating that part of the feet and toes were in addition to clay, composed of iron.
The noun pǎr∙zěl means “iron” and is used with the noun ḥǎsǎp̄, “clay” to describe the yet future Revived Form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist, which is represented by the feet and toes of the statue.
“It will be a divided kingdom” is composed of the feminine singular form of the noun mǎl∙ḵûṯ (מַלְכוּת) (mal-kooth), “a kingdom” which is followed by the feminine singular peʿil (Hebrew: qal passive) passive participle form of the verb pelǎḡ (פְּלַג) (pel-ag´), “divided” and then we have the third person feminine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active imperfect form of the verb ḥǎwā(h) (חֲוָה) (khav-aw´), “it will be.”
The verb hǎwā(h) means, “to possess a certain characteristic” indicating that this kingdom represented by the feet and toes of the statue “will possesses the characteristic of being” divided.
The noun mǎl∙ḵûṯ means “kingdom” and is used to designate the territorial sphere of the divided stage of the fourth empire and refers to the political boundaries of this empire, which were determined by the extent to which this empire exercised its authority.
The verb pelǎḡ means “divided” and is describing a future stage of the fourth kingdom.
“But it will have in it the toughness of iron” is composed of the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “but,” which is followed by the preposition min (מִן) (min), which is not translated and its object is the feminine singular noun niṣ∙bā(h) (נִצְבָּה) (nits-baw´), “the toughness” which is modified by the particle dî (דִּי) (dee), “of” which is followed by the masculine singular noun pǎr∙zěl (פַּרְזֶל) (par-zel´), “iron” and then we have the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active imperfect form of the verb ḥǎwā(h) (חֲוָה) (khav-aw´), “it will have” which is followed by the preposition bĕ (בְּ) (beth), “in” and its object is the third person feminine singular pronominal suffix hî(ʾ) (הִיא) (hee), “it.”
This time the conjunction wa is used in an adversative sense indicating that it is marking the contrast between the weakness of this yet future stage of the fourth kingdom depicted by the iron and clay feet and the strength and power of this kingdom which is portrayed by the iron.
The verb hǎwā(h) means, “to possess a certain characteristic” indicating that this yet future stage of the fourth kingdom represented by the feet and toes of the statue “will possesses the characteristic of being” strong like iron.
The noun niṣ∙bā(h) means “firmness, hardness, strong” and is used to describe the yet future stage of the fourth kingdom and denotes that it will possess some of the “strength” or “firmness” of iron even though it will be characterized as being a divided kingdom.
The word is the object of the preposition min, which means “some” since it functions as a marker of the relation of a part to the whole indicating that this yet future stage of the fourth kingdom depicted by the toes and feet of the statue will possess “some” of the strength of iron.
The pronominal suffix hî(ʾ) means “it” referring to the content of the yet future stage of the fourth kingdom and is the object of the preposition bĕ, which functions as a marker of a state or condition.
Here it denotes that there will be a future stage of the fourth kingdom which will exist in the state or condition of possessing some of iron’s strength.
“Inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay” is composed of the preposition k- (כְּ־) (kee) which is followed by the preposition lĕ (לְ) (lamed) and then we have the preposition qǒḇēl (קֳבֵל) (kob-ale´) and this is followed by the relative particle dî (דִּי) (dee), and then we have the second person singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb ḥǎzā(h) (חֲזָה) (khaz-aw´), “you saw” and then we have the masculine singular noun pǎr∙zěl (פַּרְזֶל) (par-zel´), “the iron” which is followed by the masculine singular puʿʿal (Hebrew: pual) passive participle form of the verb ʿǎrǎḇ (עֲרַב) (ar-ab´), “mixed” and then we have the preposition bĕ (בְּ) (beth), “in” and its followed by the masculine singular construct form of the noun ḥǎsǎp̄ (חֲסַף) (khas-af´), “common” which is modifying the masculine singular noun ṭîn (טִין) (teen), “clay.”
The preposition k- is employed with the prepositions lĕ and qǒḇēl to form a conjunctive clause which means “because” since they are introducing a statement that presents the reason why the yet future stage of the fourth kingdom will possess some of iron’s strength in it.
These four words indicate that there will be a yet future stage of the fourth kingdom, i.e. Rome which will possess some of iron’s strength “because” as Nebuchadnezzar saw in the vision in his dream, the feet and toes of the statue were composed of a mixture of iron and clay.
Once again, as was the case earlier in the verse when the word was used, the particle dî means “as” since it functions as a comparative particle.
The verb ḥǎzā(h) means “to see” in the sense of receiving a prophetic revelation in a dream and here it means “to see” in the sense of the king “receiving a prophetic revelation” in a vision in a recurring dream.
The verb ʿǎrǎḇ means “to be mixed” and denotes that Nebuchadnezzar saw that the feet and toes of the statue were composed of iron “mixed” with clay.
As was the case in earlier in Daniel 2:41, the noun ḥǎsǎp̄ here in the causal clause at the end of the verse means “clay” and is the object of the preposition bĕ, which is a marker to show a combinative relation.
This prepositional phrase shows the combinative relation between the iron and clay that helped to compose the feet and toes of the statue, which appeared to Nebuchadnezzar in a vision in a dream.
The noun ṭîn means “wet clay” which was employed by potters when forming vessels and denotes that in the vision in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the king saw that the feet and toes of the image were composed of iron mixed with wet clay, which of course would make it soft.
In Daniel 2:41, Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that as the feet and the toes were composed of potter’s clay and iron so there will be a stage in the future in which the fourth kingdom will be characterized as being divided.
The iron denotes the strength of this stage of the fourth kingdom and the clay denotes its fragility.
The mixing of iron with clay represents the attempt to join the two distinct and separate materials into one combined whole as in vain.
The adversative clause in Daniel 2:41 which follows the declarative statement presents a contrast between the weakness of this yet future stage of the fourth kingdom depicted by the iron and clay feet and the strength and power of this kingdom which is portrayed by the iron.
It teaches that there will be a stage of the fourth kingdom, which will possess some of the strength of iron in it.
The iron describes this yet future empire as possessing some of the character of authority in rulership of the Roman Empire, depicted by the lower legs on the statue.
Also, the iron describes this yet future stage of the fourth kingdom as possessing some of the power or strength of the fourth kingdom, which history records as being the Roman Empire.
The feet of the statue represent an empire, which has not yet appeared on the pages of history.
The Scriptures indicate that it will be an empire, which is connected to the Roman Empire but inferior in character of authority in rulership as well as power or strength.
In fact, the Scriptures teach that it will be a Revived Form of the Roman Empire, which will be composed of a ten-nation confederacy which can be described as a United States of Europe, which is indicated by several factors.
First of all, the feet of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw were composed of a mixture of iron and clay.
The iron in the feet indicates that the empire represented by the feet is related to the lower legs of the statue, which we noted were composed of iron, which represented the Roman Empire.
Also, Daniel does not say that the feet represent a fifth empire, which further indicates that the feet represent an empire which is connected to the Roman Empire.
The ten horns mentioned in Daniel 7:24 correspond to the toes in Daniel 2:42 and were ten kingdoms, out of which one horn will arise who will destroy three of the other kingdoms and lead the other seven and persecute believers in Jesus Christ.
Daniel 7:26 says that this one horn called the “little horn” will be destroyed by God.
Daniel 2:44-45 teaches that this ten nation confederation depicted as ten toes of the feet of the statue will be destroyed by the Second Advent of Christ, which is depicted as a stone cut of the mountain without hands.
Daniel 9:26 indicates that this little horn will be a Roman dictator as indicated by the phrase “the people of the prince who is to come.”
“The people” were the Romans who destroyed the temple forty years after the death of Christ.
“The prince” refers to the little horn, i.e. the Antichrist indicating that the Antichrist will be a Roman.
This verse teaches that he will come to power after 483 prophetic years, which ended with the death of Christ on the cross.
Daniel 9:27 says that he will make a seven-year treaty with the leaders of Israel, which will begin the final seven prophetic years called the seventieth week.
During the middle of this seventieth week after three and a half years, he will break the treaty and stop the sacrifices in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and declare himself God.
Nothing in history corresponds to the events described during this seventieth week.
The Second Advent of Christ has yet to take place.
Therefore, a comparison of Daniel 2:44-45 with Daniel 7:24 and 26 as well as Daniel 9:26-27 and Revelation 13 indicates that in the future, the little horn, i.e. the Antichrist will be the head of a ten-nation confederacy since he will be a Roman ruling over other nations which are close in proximity to him.
Just as toes on a person’s feet are right beside each other so this ten-nation confederacy will be geographically beside each other.
Some commentators have attempted to find a ten-toe state of the statue in the fifth and sixth centuries A.D.
However, the facts of history do not fulfill the ten toes of the statue.
The fact that the feet of this statue are composed of a mixture of iron and clay indicates that the character of the authority in rulership of this yet future Revived Form of the Roman Empire is inferior to Babylon, Media-Persia, Alexander’s Greek Empire and Rome since the metals of the statue decrease in value.
However, the power of this yet future Revived Form of the Roman Empire under Antichrist will possess some of the strength and power of the Roman Empire but will be very fragile since the metal increase in strength and the feet are connected to the iron legs, which represent Rome.
But, the strong yet fragile composition of the feet of the statue indicates that the power and strength of the Revived Form of the Roman Empire is inferior to Rome.
Different groups of people will unite to form the final stage of the Roman Empire but they will not adhere completely to one another just as iron and clay cannot adhere completely with each other.
Therefore, the final stage of the Roman Empire will consist of a federation of several divisions, which will unite for the sake of military strength but they will not integrate to the extent of losing their ethnic and cultural identities.