And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall
not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and
consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.--Daniel
ii. 44.
The book of Daniel contains some very striking prophecies. The
chapter from which this is selected, is not amongst the least
interesting. The interpretation given by him to the king of
Babylon's dream, demands our particular attention. He speaks of
four kingdoms, as represented by the image.[31] The first, or
head of gold, is the Chaldean monarchy; which gives way to that
figured by the arms of silver, the kingdoms of Media and Persia.
This is succeeded by the Grecian, represented by the brass. Then
follows the fourth or iron, which is the Roman power, "in the days
of whose kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed," &c. &c. We will search for proofs of its
accomplishment. Daniel was an Israelitish captive at Babylon, and
when he wrote the first part of his prophetical book, the kingdom
of Chaldea was first in the scale of nations. In earthly pomp and
grandeur it surpassed all other states. The land of Judea was then
in its possession, and her people, its captives. Its capital, the
mighty Babylon, was, from the solidity of its walls, the strength of
its fortifications, and its gates of brass, considered impregnable;
but, agreeably to scripture prophecy,[32] the city was taken by
Cyrus: he entered it by the channel of the river Euphrates, whose
waters he had directed into another course; and during a night of
riotous festivity, in which the Babylonians had forgotten to shut
their brasen gates, the city was taken by Cyrus, whom the Lord, at
least one hundred and seventy years before, named as his servant
to destroy the kingdom of Chaldea for their cruel treatment of
his captive Israel. Cyrus, the conqueror of Babylon (who issued
a proclamation for the Jews to return to their beloved Jerusalem
after seventy years captivity) was heir to the throne of Persia;
and succeeded to that of Media, by virtue of his marriage with the
daughter of Cyaxares (otherwise Darius) his uncle. The kingdoms of
Media and Persia thus united under Cyrus (after the overthrow of
Babylon) obtained the supremacy of the world, and preserved that
pre-eminence two hundred and six years, when it was subdued by
Alexander, styled the great, whose dissatisfaction amidst the shouts
of victory, and the dazzling accompaniments of power, strikingly
show the fallacy of seeking true happiness from sublunary objects.
Alexander founded the Grecian empire, which continued one hundred
and seventy seven years, when it was compelled to submit to Rome's
conquering legions, to whom all nations bowed, and, by tribute,
acknowledged as their superior. In the days of these kings, did the
God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: yes,
in the reign of Augustus, did the mighty King Jesus first openly
declare and set up his great spiritual kingdom. Its beginning,
to human appearance, was small and unpromising. Yet, this stone
which was cut out without hands, (i. e.) without human power or
worldly policy, shall become a great mountain, and fill the whole
earth. It is true, the Jewish nation expected the Messiah to come,
surrounded by all the splendours of eastern magnificence; that he
would deliver them from the Roman power, and, after a reign more
glorious than Solomon's, establish a kingdom which should remain
unshaken till time shall be no more. But, shall the unchangeable
Jehovah alter his purposes or mould his plans, to meet the idle
fancies or short-sighted schemes of the children of men? No, the
Messiah has appeared, not in the style they had anticipated, but
in the manner most agreeable to the mind of infinite Wisdom. Yet,
because he did not assume the gaudy trappings of earthly state,
the Jews reject him, and vainly look for another, although he
appeared at the time predicted. The Roman power is now laid low,
and according to all their prophecies, the period is passed when
he, of whom Moses and the prophets did write, should appear. Jesus
far exceeds in real excellence, even their own highly coloured
portrait, for the blessings of his reign extend to ages yet unborn.
They expected a temporal king, but no; the land of Canaan, although
the glory of all lands, was far too insignificant for him to accept
as the sphere of his government. He shall sway his kingly sceptre,
not only over Judea's fruitful land; but his dominions extend from
sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. The
mightiest monarchies are often swept away, as by the besom of
destruction, and all are compelled to submit to the iron hand of
time; yet his, is an everlasting kingdom, which cannot be moved by
the revolutions of nations, but shall continue firm and unshaken
even amidst the crash of worlds. It was expected the Messiah would
deliver them from the Roman power; but mark, it was said, his name
_shall_ be called Jesus, for he shall _save_ his people (not from
their temporal oppressor but) from their sins.[33] Surely it must
be confessed, that earth's greatest conqueror, is far below him who
delivers from the bondage of sin and satan, which is the worst of
slavery. Yes, Jesus saves his people, the true Israel of God, from
the consequences and power of sin; from the former, by bearing the
punishment himself, and from the latter, by his Spirit implanted in
their hearts. The kingdom shall not be left to other people, but he
will constantly direct and order all its affairs, and he shall reign
and rule for ever.
[31] Dan. ii. 31-45., vii. 1-27.
[32] Isaiah xlv. 1-4.
[33] Matt. i. 21.