Why the Medes and Persians are considered a single kingdom in the Book of Daniel

The Book of Daniel

Interpreting the Book of Daniel through the lens of history has given rise to some different theories. As we know, each metal in the vision of the statue that both King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel saw represents kingdoms.

Matching the metals to their respective kingdoms

One theory places the kingdoms in the following order

  1. Babylon
  2. Media
  3. Persia
  4. Greece.

Here is why this theory is wrong. Let’s start with what we all agree on. The King of Babylon was the head of gold. It is the first kingdom and plainly written. Remember that this revelation was given to the King of Babylon himself.

Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

But the next kingdom was not Media or the Medes. It was both Media and Persia together. Proof is found in the Book of Daniel itself.

This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. 

TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.

The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

= Medes and Persians as one kingdom

The four kingdoms

Clearly then, the 4 kingdoms are:

  1. Babylon
  2. Media and Persia
  3. Greece
  4. Rome

Rome is the fourth kingdom

So the Roman Empire is the fourth kingdom if we look at history. But there is more to this statue than four metals representing four historical Gentile kingdoms.

Iron and clay

There is also two feet made of iron mixed with clay. So what in history could this refer too? Well we only need to look at what the next empire in succession was. Many say there wasn’t a kingdom after Rome because Rome simply fell and that was the end of that kingdom. This is not true. History shows us two significant things happened that fit with the description given by the statue. They are as follows:

  1. The Roman Empire had two legs in both the statue and in history. These were the East and the West. Yes the West fell eventually, but the East did not.
  2. The Roman Empire continued for a further 1000 years in the eastern leg. For some reason, this fact seems forgotten by some who try to interpret these verses.

The rise of a new empire

So who then conquered the Roman Empire? The answer is the Ottomans. The Ottoman Empire lasted for centuries and ruled the east first but eventually expanded to the west. At its height, it controlled much of south-eastern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.

An important thing to note was the capital of the Roman Empire before being conquered. It was not Rome, but Constantinople located in the country that today we call Turkey. When the Ottomans conquered the Roman Empire it took over its capital city and renamed it to Istanbul.

The ten toes

So what happened to the West then? Well the Ottomans ruled parts of the west too, but the region broke up into 10 states or countries. These are the countries of Western Europe we see today. This matches the description of the statue’s 10 toes.

As the ten toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so some of the kingdom will be strong, and another part of it will be brittle

Let’s recap:

  1. The Ottoman Empire conquered the eastern leg of the Roman Empire and even into much of the western leg during the empire’s greatest extent.
  2. As for the western leg, 10 kings / states / countries eventually formed which is how Western Europe is today. Although there are varying interpretations, Western Europe is commonly understood to comprise of 10 countries.

The Book of Revelation in the New Testament mirrors the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament except it goes further into the future. Around two thousand years of history has since passed. This is what we read.

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.

This could be a future event where Europe aligns with the beast. But going back to the Book of Daniel, it talks about the mix of iron and clay. This simply means that the iron (Roman Empire) was mixed with Clay, (the Ottoman Empire). An interesting fact to note here is the Arabic word for ‘mix’ is actually the word ‘arab‘ which is the term we associate with the Ottomans. The Ottoman Empire was made up of Arabs. Further, we read how both the iron and clay do not stick together. That could well be a reference to the fact that the Arabs and Roman citizens didn’t merge or blend together as one people. They remained distinct and today we still have Europeans and Arabs as distinct peoples. You can read more about the Ottoman Empire here.

The Mountain

But there is one more part of this statue that needs to be addressed. Not the statue itself, but what destroys the statue. It is a rock that strikes at the feet of the statue leading to it crumbling into dust. The word rock is also the word for mountain and the word mountain in the Bible is often used to refer to a kingdom. Here are some examples:

In Ezekiel 35:2, we read:

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it,  and say to it, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, land I will make you a desolation and a waste. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 

In Jeremiah. 51:25 we see that Babylon is called a mountain.

“I am against you, you destroying mountain…”

Further, we know that Mount Zion in a wider sense, is used to describe Israel. Remember that mountain and rock are the same word in scripture.

The Kingdom of God

So the rock that struck the statue is the Kingdom of God. It is this kingdom that destroys all the kingdoms of the world. It is an everlasting kingdom and its reign will know no end.

Daniel 2:34-35
While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

Daniel 2: 44 
“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

As we can clearly see, the Book of Daniel aptly describes the kingdoms of the world. The world meaning the land around Israel including The Middle East and Europe.

Viewing 20 posts - 21 through 40 (of 135 total)
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  • #891131
    Berean
    Participant

     

    They are 10 kings that will rule for a short period of time alongside the Beast.

    This could take place at the time of the 8th king, just before the end.

    It seems that these 10 kings are not the beast, but align with the beast at some point. It could be kings of nations that were located in the area that encompasses the empires in the past. It could also be 10 kings from around the world that align with the last empire.

    “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.…

    Hi Proclaimer

    I understand your embarrassment about the Horns of The FOURTH beast OF Daniel 7. However if you stay in Daniel 7, you have answers, even without going immediately to Revelation …

    The ten horns, the text tells us:
    Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, …. And of the ten horns that were in HIS HEAD, …

    …. and of THE OTHER which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

    the TEN HORNS out of this kingdom (the fourth) are ten kings that shall arise:

    and ANOTHER SHALL RISE AFTER THEM;

    and he shall be DIVERSE from the first,
    and he SHALL SUBDUE THREE KINGS.

    [25] And he shall speak great words AGAINST THE MOST HIGH,

    and SHALL WEAR OUT THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH,

    and think TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS:

    and they shall be given into HIS HAND until A TIME AND TIMES AND DIVIDING OF TIME.

    We see that Daniel is spread out on the little horn that comes out of the ten horns, more than the ten horns themselves.

    the little horn:
    1) he shall be DIVERSE from the first,

    2) SUBDUE THREE KINGS …

    3) shall speak great words AGAINST THE MOST HIGH …
    3) SHALL WEAR OUT THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH,

    4) think TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS:

    5) … they (the saints) shall be given into HIS HAND until A TIME AND TIMES AND DIVIDING OF TIME. (1260 years)

    What is the power output after the 10 horns (nations) to which the above five criteria apply?

    God bless

    #891133
    GeneBalthrop
    Participant

    Proclaimer…….First of all, Daniel 2, shows he kingdoms of Babylon are devided into parts of a body,  and a foot and toes are not part of any legs, that I ever heard of .  second all the parts of a body mentioned there are connected. But you idea of the feet and toes being part of the legs in the prophecy falls apart.  Iron describes the power in those nations as meaning strong military strength to engage in war, and there has never existed any nations on earth stronger then the present nations.  Even the smallest of the nations of today could destroy all of the other prophesied nation listed in Daniel alone and  by it self.  So saying theses nations of the foot of mixed with, Iron and Clay,  do have the strength of Iron in them is no exaggeration and to say these present nations  do not agree with each other is also no exaggeration.
    Your thinking of the legs of Iron as also  including the Feet of Iron and Clay , couldn’t be more wrong  even if you tried .  The feet and toes of Iron Represent “today’s present ruling nations” .  and they are not even in part  of the “LEGS OF IRON”  AS YOU AND OTHERS “FALSELY”  PREACH. 

    So who do you think we now days are,  in your in your rendition of Daniel’s prophecy  , do we even fit in there somehow, seeing the Stone cut out without hands, (return of Jesus) hasn’t happened yet?  Or do you just remove us from those string of events?  FACT IS WE ARE THE FIFTH WORLD RULING POWERS MENTIONED BY DANIEL, and the NEXT ,  SIXTH, WORLD RULING POWER TO COME ON THIS EARTH WILL BE JESUS CHRIST AND THE SAINT’S.   simple as that .

    The Rome empire doesn’t even exist , it hasn’t existed since 476 AD.  rather you believe it or not,  Rome has   no say of any kind on any nation on this earth today and hasn’t for over 1500 years .

    peace and love to you and yours……..gene

     

     

     

     

    #891134
    Berean
    Participant
    The Rome empire doesn’t even exist, it hasn’t existed since 476 AD. rather you believe it or not, Rome has no say of any kind on any nation on this earth today and hasn’t for over 1500 years.

    Gene

     

    4) After pagan Rome IRON (fall in 476AD):

    👇

    5) this is the Papal Rome supremacy: (538 AD-1798 AD) IRON AND CLAY / LITLE HORN of Daniel 7)The little horn has dominated over the 10 horns this entire time (1260 years) THE BEAST WAS

    👇

    6) THE BEST IS NOT 

    Now we are STILL in the days of IRON and CLAY of Daniel 2 and the SIXTH Head of the beast of Rev. 17
    This is the time when the 10 horns are without a kingdom, but which will soon receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

    the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. (Rev. 17:12)

    Here 10 is a  symbolic number, and it means that all the kings (heads of state) of the earth will receive the power of kings ONE symbolic HOUR (15 days) with the beast (8th king)

    👇

    7) The 7th Head will be THE UNITED NATIONS (10 CROWNED HORNS)
    THIS IS GETTING READY.

    “but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.”(v.12) 

    👇

     

    8) THE 10 HORNS GIVE THEIR POWER AND THEIR STRENGTH TO THE BEAST (LEADER: THE U.S.A: Rev. 13: 11-18)

    These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. (Rev. 17:13)

    …. (v.11) the beast that was, and is not, even he is the EIGHT (king), and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.  

    These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.(v.14)

     

    Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.(Rev.14:12)

    God bless

    #891169
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    I understand your embarrassment about the Horns of The FOURTH beast OF Daniel 7.

    Embarrassment? This embarrassment is being generated by your own mind. Lol. One should never feel embarrassment for seeking the truth. Wrong choice of words Berean.

    #891170
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Proclaimer…….First of all, Daniel 2, shows he kingdoms of Babylon are devided into parts of a body,  and a foot and toes are not part of any legs, that I ever heard of .

    The iron is the common factor as well as the fact that the feet are joined to the legs and the toes to the feet. I have already explained this. Your comment is meaningless. Try harder next time.

    #891171
    Proclaimer
    Participant

     this is the Papal Rome supremacy: (538 AD-1798 AD) IRON AND CLAY / LITLE HORN of Daniel 7)The little horn has dominated over the 10 horns this entire time (1260 years) THE BEAST WAS

    Could well be and I am familiar with this view. It makes sense to some degree. But remember that there are two feet and each foot is connected to a leg which was the two legs of the Roman Empire. Each hemisphere took a different direction and have their own unique history.

    The west was dominated by the Vatican and the east by the Ottoman Empire. Both are antichrist in the biblical sense. The pope stands in the place of Christ and Islam believes that God does not have a Son and thus Jesus Christ is NOT the Son of God.

    Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father,

    #891190
    Berean
    Participant

    Hi Proclaimer

    the little horn:
    1) he shall be DIVERSE from the first,(10 Horns)

    2) SUBDUE THREE KINGS …

    3) shall speak great words AGAINST THE MOST HIGH …
    4) SHALL WEAR OUT THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH,

    5) think TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS:

    6) … they (the saints) shall be given into HIS HAND until A TIME AND TIMES AND DIVIDING OF TIME. (1260 years)

    What is THIS POWER output after the 10 horns (nations) to which the above five criteria apply? 

     

    Only one POWER ANSWERS EXACTLY …
    AND THIS POWER IS RAISING FROM THE ABYSS …. YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHO IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS AND WITH WHOM …. ETC

    #891193
    GeneBalthrop
    Participant

    Proclaimer…….And the two feet are connected to the thighs , so they must be part of the thighs  In the prophesy , according to your failed reasoning, right? These kingdoms come out of the others , but they are not part of the other proceeding kingdoms.
    Anyone who has a world history book can easily prove The Roman Empire fell in 476AD.  That’s a ” no brainer” .  There is absolutely “NO”  Roman influence in the world today,   

    What you and others are saying is completely false,  Daniel never said the kingdoms of the  legs of Iron was in anyway extended or connected to the  kingdoms of Iron and Clay.

    Daniel 2, gives us the over view of the “Five”  Babylonian  type  world ruling kingdoms that would rise on this earth, one after the there,  until the return of Jesus Christ Who will set up a different kind of world ruling government , which will be the  “SIXTH” world ruling government , on this earth,   at the end of a thousand years ,  the “SEVENTH” a Babylonian type kingdom will rise and up again and after that will come the “EIGTH” .  The seventh and eighth rise after Satan is released from the “bottomless pit”, at the end of the thousand year rein of Jesus and the Saint’s .

    You and others here don’t have “the mind of wisdom”,  to understand the John was transported in time by the Spirit,  to the Day of the coming of the God the Father , which takes place at the end of the Thousand year reign of Jesus and the Saint’s .  By not understanding that  you and most all others thinking,  that these event take place before the return of Jesus, is  where your whole understandings fall apart.

    Rev 17 tells us “HERE IS THE MIND THAT HAS WISDOM”  ,  you and all the others here don’t have it,  or you would understand that John was transported in time to the Return of God the Father back to this earth, not the return of Jesus,    a time period of 3 1/2 years. That takes place at the very end of the Thousand year reign of Jesus and the Saint’s .

    peace and love to you and yours……….gene

     

     

    #891202
    Berean
    Participant

    Gene

    Start a Bible study, verse by verse, explaining your position well.

    OK?

    #891204
    gadam123
    Participant

    Start a Bible study, verse by verse, explaining your position well.

    I think that is the best idea….

    #891205
    gadam123
    Participant

    The four kingdoms

    The Book of Daniel originated from a collection of legends circulating in the Jewish community in Babylon and Mesopotamia in the Persian and early Hellenistic periods (5th to 3rd centuries BC), and was later expanded by the visions of chapters 7–12 in the Maccabean era (mid-2nd century).

    The “four kingdoms” theme appears explicitly in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7, and is implicit in the imagery of Daniel 8. Daniel’s concept of four successive world empires is drawn from Greek theories of mythological history.  The symbolism of four metals in the statue in chapter 2 is drawn from Persian writings, while the four “beasts from the sea” in chapter 7 reflect Hosea 13:7–8, in which God threatens that he will be to Israel like a lion, a leopard, a bear or a wild beast. The consensus among scholars is that the four beasts of chapter 7, like the metals of chapter 2, symbolise Babylon, Media, Persia and the Seleucid Greeks, with Antiochus IV as the “small horn” that uproots three others (Antiochus usurped the rights of several other claimants to become king).

    Daniel 2
    In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a statue made of four different materials, identified as four kingdoms:

    Head of gold. Explicitly identified as King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (v.37–38).
    Chest and arms of silver. Identified as an “inferior” kingdom to follow Nebuchadnezzar (v.39).
    Belly and thighs of bronze. A third kingdom which shall rule over all the earth (v.39).
    Legs of iron with feet of mingled iron and clay. Interpreted as a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, but the feet and toes partly of clay and partly of iron show it shall be a divided kingdom (v. 41).

    Daniel 7
    In chapter 7, Daniel has a vision of four beasts coming up out of the sea, and is told that they represent four kingdoms:

    A beast like a lion with eagle’s wings (v. 4).
    A beast like a bear, raised up on one side, with three ribs between its teeth (v. 5).
    A beast like a leopard with four wings of fowl and four heads (v. 6).
    A fourth beast, with large iron teeth and ten horns (v. 7-8).
    This is explained as a fourth kingdom, different from all the other kingdoms; it “will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it” (v. 23). The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom (v. 24). A further horn (the “little horn”) then appears and uproots three of the previous horns: this is explained as a future king.

    Daniel 8
    In chapter 8 Daniel sees a ram with two horns destroyed by a he-goat with a single horn; the horn breaks and four horns appear, followed once again by the “little horn”.

    The image of Nebuchadnezzar consists of only four metals which signify four kingdoms with variation in their glory which were compared with Gold, Silver,  Bronze and Iron as well as with the parts of body of the image from head to legs and feet.

    The historical and critical interpretations of the book of Daniel specified the four kingdoms as Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece but the traditionalists and fundamentalists interpreted these four kingdoms as Babylon,  Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The book of Daniel clearly mentioned the names of Kingdoms as Babylon,  Media or Medo-Persia,  Persia and Greece but Rome is no where mentioned in this book.

    The question here is whether the writer of Daniel considered  Media as the second kingdom or he had taken Medo-Persia as second Kingdom?

    Dan 2 on the image of Nebuchadnezzar clearly specifies that the second kingdom is inferior to the first and third kingdom is of worldwide existence. This is the reason why historians argued that Persia can not be the second kingdom as it was not inferior to Babylon. The writer of Daniel clearly mentioned the so called (fictitious) king, Darius of Media defeated the kingdom of Chaldeans in Dan 5:30-31

    This is the reason why I differ with most of the traditional interpretations of the book of Daniel. I have already posted on the textual variations in this book which seemed to be the editorial work of some  Jewish scribe(s) in the later period to include Rome as fourth kingdom. But the book is ignorant of such kingdom by name Rome.

    The rest are speculations by the traditional interpreters.

    #891206
    gadam123
    Participant

    The textual variations in the book of Daniel and to show Media as the second Kingdom:

    The following are my observations on the textual variations in the book of Daniel;

    1. Dan 5:28 peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

    Here the first editorial appears which shows that ‘Persians’ seems to be added to Medes.

    Whereas

    Dan 5:30 That very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. 31  And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

    The above clearly shows that the writer’s original narration was about Median king Darius being the successor to Chaldean kingdom and hence the second kingdom is Media not Medo-Persia as alleged by  the later interpreters.

    2. Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom.

    Here no mention of Persia.

    Dan 6: 8 Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.”

    Dan 6: 12….The king answered, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”

    15…“Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

    Here again ‘Persians’ added but the whole narration is about Median kingdom ruled by the king Darius. Please read the following for more clarity on this.

    Dan 6: 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

    Here Persia is separate kingdom ruled by Cyrus apart from Darius the Median.

    3. Dan 8: 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.

    Here ‘Media’ added to Persia which was the original when we read Daniel 11.

    Dan 11:

    1 As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to support and strengthen him.

    2 “Now I will announce the truth to you. Three more kings shall arise in Persia.

    The above verses clearly show us that Darius the Mede no where connected to Persia. Daniel 11 is the detailed interpretation of vision in chapter 8. This is clear for us how the editorial is made in Dan 8:20 which originally meant for kings of Persia only.

    4. Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, by birth a Mede, who became king over the realm of the Chaldeans..

    The above clearly shows us that the second kingdom is of Medes which took over from Chaldean the Babylonian kingdom. Also please read

    Dan 10:1 In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel..

    Here the Persia is independent of Media.

    Dan 10: 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me twenty-one days. So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia,

    No Media is mentioned here in these texts.

    Dan 10: 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come.

    Greece, the fourth kingdom is mentioned here. Rome is no where mentioned in this book.

    Daniel 11 clearly mentioned the second kingdom Media, third kingdom Persia and fourth the kingdom of Greece which was divided into four parts after Alexander the Great but the chapter 11 is much concentrated on Northern and Southern kingdoms of Greece. The Little horn Antiochus IV arose from the Northern Greece empire, Syria who was the reason for the so called abomination of desolation in the Temple of God in Jerusalem in the Second Century BCE.

    Rest are mere speculation by Jews and Christians who want to protect these ancient writings from failure.

    #891208
    Berean
    Participant

    In verse 1, of Daniel 11, Gabriel tells Daniel that he was also supporting Darius the Mede. He confirmed and strengthened him in his first year.

    History tells us that Cyrus (the Perse)is the one that conquered Babylon. Darius the Mede, an older man, was the uncle of Cyrus, and he put Darius in charge of Babylon after he conquered it. Darius the Mede is the one that was tricked into having Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. He was the king of Babylon, but he wasn’t the king of the entire empire of the Medes and Persians, Cyrus was.

    “Darius the Mede, that is, Cyaxares, the uncle of Cyrus, took the kingdom; for Cyrus allowed him the title of all his conquests as long as he lived.” Humphrey Prideaux, The Old and New Testament Connected in the History of the Jews, Vol. I, p. 137.

    Gabriel continues: “And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.”

    These were three kings following Cyrus, the king that conquered Babylon. It’s an amazing fact that Cyrus was specifically called by the Lord to bring down Babylon and begin the work of letting the Jews go back to Jerusalem. The Lord was interacting with these kings as they marched through history in a very special way.

    “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. Isaiah 44:28

    Cyrus, had already been named in the Bible, long before he was born, this truth was part of what gave him the insight and understanding to work in favour of the Jews.

    “Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;” Isaiah 45:1

    Sure enough, when Cyrus attacked Babylon, the special protective gates were open!

    There was going to be three kings that stood up in Persia after him, and then a forth that would be far richer. The son of Cyrus, Cambyses, was the first of these three kings and he started a campaign to conquer Egypt once he was king. He got the throne by assassinating his brother so that there was no question about who was going to follow Cyrus.

    He murdered his brother and became king. Then he made an attack on Egypt, and was successful. He gathered some of the Egyptian idols, wealth, silver and gold and was on his way back from Egypt. He found out that a man, pretending to be his brother, who he had murdered, had taken the throne. This man was called Smerdis which was the brother’s name; but in history he’s called false Smerdis. He wasn’t the real Smerdis, but he took the throne anyway.

    On his way back from Egypt, Cambyses realized that this impostor had taken his throne. Some historians say he committed suicide; some say that he died of an accident.

    This false Smerdis was a Mede and wasn’t sympathetic to the work of the Jews restoring Jerusalem. He actually issued a decree to stop the work. Seven or eight months later he was dead and the third king came up. Darius, not Darius the Mede, but Darius the Persian. He is again, sympathetic to the need of the Jews to return to Jerusalem. He put forth the second of the three decrees that allow the 2300 day prophecy to begin. It allowed the Jews to have full autonomy in their country.

    After him, it says, there would be a fourth king that was far richer. This fourth king, Xerxes, was wealthy. He put together a great army to attack Greece but he failed in his plans.

    The verse says he stirs up the realm of Greece and they begin preparation to come later and sweep away the kingdom of the Medes and Persians. There were nine other kings that followed in the history of the Medes and Persians, but only these are mentioned, because they’re the points of reference that the prophetic record wants to give us.

    The king that followed Xerxes, was the king that gave the third and final decree, Artaxerxes, the son of Xerxes. In the Bible record, these kings have Hebrew names and also Persian names. Cambyses is the Artexerxes of Ezra 4. Darius, the king that was 3rd in line after Cyrus, is Xerxes. The king that was much richer and stirs up the realm of Greece against the Medes and Persians. He is the Ahasuarus of Esther.

    The Bible record shows every one of these kings, except for Smerdis, had a direct connection with the work of bringing the Jews back to Israel. They were being influenced by Gabriel, and other angels, no doubt, to accomplish this work.

    We need to understand, here at the end of the world, that no matter what leader and what kingdom is involved, our Lord is fully in charge of the situation. The time of trouble is just before us; the greatest time of trouble there ever will be, and we need to have the trust and confidence of Daniel. Daniel walked into the crisis situation at Belshazzar’s feast, when the handwriting was on the wall. Daniel knew that, if not then and there, in a very short period of time, Cyrus and the Medes and Persians were going to conquer Babylon.

    He had the faith and character to walk in and tell Belshazzar, ‘No, I don’t want your gifts that you’re giving me, but I’ll read this to you’, and he explained it to him. This is just what God’s people are going to do at the end of the world. In the crisis they are going to understand the truth about the powers that be, and the struggles going on in the world. They will have the same confidence, the same trust that Daniel had, and give the faithful witness and true testimony at that time.
    A great Bible truth, shown in verse 2, is that God is directly involved with the leaders of the world. “

    #891210
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Proclaimer…….And the two feet are connected to the thighs , so they must be part of the thighs In the prophesy , according to your failed reasoning, right?

    I hope your joking. Otherwise you are being very silly.

    The gold and silver are directly connected while the gold and the iron are not. Yes this has a meaning. It is chronological in time. So AFTER the legs are the feet and when focussing on what that means, there are the toes to consider. One would imagine that the toes do not mean much to the head of gold for example.

    It’s simple, but once again, you seem to get the wrong meaning out of it. Unless you were joking of course. But I doubt that.

    #891211
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    History tells us that Cyrus (the Perse)is the one that conquered Babylon. Darius the Mede, an older man, was the uncle of Cyrus, and he put Darius in charge of Babylon after he conquered it. Darius the Mede is the one that was tricked into having Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. He was the king of Babylon, but he wasn’t the king of the entire empire of the Medes and Persians, Cyrus was.

    I guess some people can get confused. Because Babylon was a city and an empire.

    #891212
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Dan 10: 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me twenty-one days. So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia,
    No Media is mentioned here in these texts.

    I’ll explain it for you. The Medes and the Persians appear to be two peoples that probably each had a king. It seems according to the Old Testament that they joined together to conquer Babylon or that one of them did and shared the victory. So no one is denying that Media or Persia were not there own kingdoms or had disputes with each other. But that the kingdoms from a biblical perspective joined together as one kingdom. At least in the eyes of God, the one who gave the vision. Clearly in the Book of Daniel, they are lumped together. So that is how you need to interpret the statue and its meaning. It clearly puts them together, no matter how much history might separate them or not.

    If it was an alliance well that is not unusual. We have seen alliances before. In WWII with Italy and I think Turkey had alliances with Germany. We see that England, the US, Australia, etc are called the allies, a word that derives from alliance. Further, we saw the US fight a war against Japan with Australians and New Zealand forces fighting alongside the US. You could say that the king of Australia and the king of New Zealand fought against the Japanese. But you might argue that it was the US. But the first statement doesn’t have to contradict the second statement. And 3000 years from now, how much evidence would there be for the king of Australia for example.

    I find that most of what you argue gadam relies on the fact that history is incomplete because it was so long ago. But there are plenty of examples of doubters like yourself being proven wrong because of archaeological finds. Until all is revealed, the truth of history will unravel slowly. And we know that historical accounts around this time often differ. But we have the scriptures which you have chosen not to believe and I have chosen to believe. What I am saying is, that which you do not believe is very similar to many other beliefs in the past that sceptics held until proof was unearthed. King David was said to be fictional as Herod and others. You say Darius. So what. It seems normal that there is little proof for many historical persons. As I have said before. They are still finding pharaohs that were never heard of.

    But if you wish to decipher the statue in the Book of Daniel, then you need to listen to what that book is saying. The Medes and the Persians are the next kingdom, metal and beast after Babylon.

    #891213
    gadam123
    Participant

    Berean: History tells us that Cyrus (the Perse)is the one that conquered Babylon. Darius the Mede, an older man, was the uncle of Cyrus, and he put Darius in charge of Babylon after he conquered it. Darius the Mede is the one that was tricked into having Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. He was the king of Babylon, but he wasn’t the king of the entire empire of the Medes and Persians, Cyrus was.
    Proclaimer:guess some people can get confused. Because Babylon was a city and an empire.

    You people are sticking to age old traditional interpretations of Daniel which allegedly claimed Rome as the fourth kingdom by taking Medo-Persia as one kingdom. But the writer himself was clear about what he was narrating in his book on the so called four kingdoms which he could name them clearly (viz Babylon,  Media,  Persia and Greee) in his texts.  Rome and other later kingdoms are beyond his texts. This is what I am arguing here. If you ignore the facts it’s your problem and not mine.

    Please refer my arguments on the textual variations in the book of Daniel for more details  which you seemed to avoid willingly to fulfill your own traditional ideas.

    #891214
    gadam123
    Participant

    I’ll explain it for you. The Medes and the Persians appear to be two peoples that probably each had a king. It seems according to the Old Testament that they joined together to conquer Babylon or that one of them did and shared the victory. So no one is denying that Media or Persia were not there own kingdoms or had disputes with each other..

    So the writer of Daniel had taken them as two kingdoms Media & Persia as second and third. There ends the matter of our dispute….

    #891215
    GeneBalthrop
    Participant

    To all , what you people are doing is getting stuck in the details, not seeking the overview  of Daniel 2 who lists the Six world ruling kingdoms, and where Rev 17 , picks it up and continues it to the Return of God almighty.
    These kingdoms are in order from 1 through 8,   I will list them for you and try to give you some support scriptures,

    1……kingdom of  Babylon…..Nebuchadezzer  head of Gold

    2…..kingdom of Medo/Persian ….Darius/Cyrus chest and arms of Silver.

    3….Kingdom of Greece ……Alexander the Great , belly and thighs of bronze.

    4….The Roman Empire……Julius Caesar and others,  legs of Iron

    5….Modern day Nations…..very powerful nations as iron,  with nuclear capabilities,  but do not operate as a single world ruling government as the above do.

    6…..The kingdom of Jesus Christ and the Saint’s  …..not part of the Babylonian system of rule.  SATAN is cast into the bottomless pit, for a thousand years .

    End of the Daniel 2 prophesy.

    Beginning of Rev 17 prophesy.  Satan is released from the bottomless pit and goes out to deceive the Nations and  causes the deadly wound that was inflicted on the Fifth Babylonian kingdom of nations to be healed  and the Seventh Babylonian kingdom rises on this earth.

    7….. The revived Babylonian Government.

    8……Satan takes ten nations out of the Seventh Babylonian kingdom and turns them on The seventh Babylonian kingdom and destroys it completely, then turns the Ten Nations he controls to attack, Jesus and the Saint’s, at Jerusalem ,  (the battle of Armageddon ) and God bring fire down from heaven  and destroys , Satan and his army, and Satan is cast into the lake of fire and goes into Perdition .  All this takes place in a short time 3 1/2 years.

    Then God the Father , returns to this earth and Jesus turns over his kingdom to him, and become subject to the Kingdom of God,  the same as all of us do.

    There you have it from the The first Five Babylonian type of kingdoms,  to the return of Jesus (the sixth kingdom on this earth)  to the end time 7th and 8th, Kingdoms to rule on this earth to the return of God the Father.

    If you don’t understand that John was transported in time by the Spirit,  to the day of the return of God Almighty at the End of the Sixth world ruling kingdom of Jesus and the Saint’s , you can never in a million years understand the order of events that take place.  What will happen you will always get stuck in the details , the same as everyone else does.

    peace and love to you all………gee

    #891216
    gadam123
    Participant

    There you have it from the The first Five Babylonian type of kingdoms,  to the return of Jesus (the sixth kingdom on this earth)  to the end time 7th and 8th, Kingdoms to rule on this earth to the return of God the Father.

    Hi brother Gene,  I think this is your clear post on Dan and  Rev 17. I appreciate the lengthy post on the subject.

    But I think the above few lines differ from what the texts of Dan 2 and Rev 17 specify us.

    The fifth kingdom of Dan 2 is of God’s saints and the Jesus’s so called sixth kingdom as you repeatedly quote here is no where aligned with the texts of Revelation 17. The Beast who is of the seven kings and himself the Eighth as per Rev 17:8-10 will be defeated and killed by Jesus as per Revelation 17 & 19, followed by a Millennial kingdom. So your placing of eighth Kingdom after 1000 year rule is no where found in Revelation.

    Please re-look into your interpretation of Dan 2 and Rev 17.

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