King of Babylon and the Great Image of Daniel 2

The King of Babylon is featured throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  In Genesis 10-11, the great hunter Nimrod builds the city and tower of Babel (literally, Babylon).  In Revelation 17, the 7th head of the Scarlet Beast carrying Babylon in Revelation 17, this leader of the world’s system of power is seen.  Most notably the King of Babylon is the vessel used to carry away Judah and siege / destroy Jerusalem.  This event is known as the Babylonian Captivity and a significant portion of Old Testament prophecy discusses this event.  In the Olivet Discourse (Mat 24, Mk 13, Lk 21), the siege and destruction of Jerusalem and the fleeing of those in Judea to the mountains are used symbolically to describe the time of the Great Tribulation. When the King of Babylon is studied in the Bible, it can be seen that this entity is a type of the Antichrist. Also, when the character and actions of the Antichrist are considered, they are similar to those of the King of Babylon.  The King of Babylon is also featured in the Great Statue of Daniel 2, which is symbolic of the kingdom of Satan. The feet and 10 toes (a.k.a., 10 horns of the scarlet beast) of the great statue represent the kingdoms of the world that are present during the Great Tribulation and the Last Day.  The character and actions of the King of Babylon include pride, oppression, strength, persecution, deception, lawlessness and worldliness (worship of other gods and idols).

Click on You Tube video link or continue with the study below:

Great Image

Nebuchadnezzar – King of Kings (Imitation of Christ)

Babylonian Captivity

7th King of Scarlet Beast and Queen Babylon

Isaiah 14 – The Antichrist type of Satan

Daniel 2 – The Great Statue of 4 Kingdoms

Summary of Characteristics / Actions

 

Nebuchadnezzar – King of Kings (Imitation of Christ)

 

In the Old Testament, Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) was called the king of kings (Dan 2:37, Eze 26:7) Of course, the real King of kings is Jesus Christ:

  • That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords  (1Ti 6:14-15)
  • And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  (Rev 19:16)

 

The reference to the king of Babylon as the king of kings underscores the king of Babylon as a type of the Antichrist. A title that is to be reserved for Jesus Christ is used as a title for Nebuchadnezzar. It can be understood by this that the king of Babylon was in opposition to the fact that God is the true King. When Israel demanded a king be placed over them (1 Sam 8:5, Acts 13:21), this was considered as wickedness (1 Sam 12:17) and God allowed them to have a king in his anger (Hos 13:10-11).  Rather, their King should have been Yahweh (Deut 17:14-15. 1 Tim 6:14-15).

 

As king of kings, the king of Babylon was exalted over all (similar to the end-time Antichrist):

  • Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.  (Dan 2:37-38)
  • For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.  (Eze 26:7)

 

God has allowed Satan to roam about the earth as a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8) seeking his prey.  But, during the church age (a.k.a., the Millennium), Satan is bound in the Bottomless Pit (Rev 20:1-8, Mat 12:22-29) to limit his deception of the world so that the Gospel would go to all corners of the world. During that ‘little season’ of the Great Tribulation before Judgment Day, Satan is once again allowed to deceive all the nations.  At this time, Satan gives his power and authority to the Leopard Beast (a.k.a., the Antichrist).  This results in a parallel situation as to what happened in the 6th century B.C. (when Babylon became the world empire.  This period of time is known as the Babylonian Captivity which is a type of the Great Tribulation (see below on Babylonian Captivity). During the Babylonian Captivity, all nations were commanded to serve the King of Babylon (which is what will also occur during the Great Tribulation):

  • And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish. But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein. I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste? (Jer 27:6-17)
  • Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.  (Jer 28:13-14)
  • And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. (Jer 40:9)
  • For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. (Jer 30:8-10)

 

The command to serve the King of Babylon during the Babylonian Captivity was to teach the people under oppression to be patient and wait for deliverance by God.  The Babylonian Captivity was a type of the Great Tribulation in that the Antichrist (King of Babylon) would overrun and control the nominal church (and parachurches) – see 2 Th 2:3-4 (Man of Sin).  God’s people are to patiently wait for their deliverance at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  Christians fight a spiritual war, not a physical war (2 Cor 10:3-7, Eph 6:10-18).

 

Babylonian Captivity

 

In Jer 25:1-14, Jeremiah prophesied that there would be a 70-year time period where Judah and Jerusalem would be under the control of the Babylonian Empire. The first king was Nebuchadnezzar and the Bible teaches that Judah would serve Nebuchadnezzar, his son, and his son’s son (Jer 27:7, 2 Chr 36:20-21). Nebuchadnezzar’s son was Evilmerodach (Jer 52:31) and his son’s son was Belshazzar (Dan 5:1, Dan 5:30, Dan 7:1, Dan 8:1).

 

The Babylonian Captivity is a type of the Great Tribulation (Mat 24:15, Lk 21:20-21, etc.) for the following reasons:

  1. Captivity and Siege in the Olivet Discourse (Lk 21, Mat 24, Mk 13)
  2. Babylon takes the church captive – Rev 17-18
  3. King of Babylon – a type of the Antichrist – Isa 14
  4. Abomination of Desolation – mat 24, Mk 13
    1. Desolation corresponds to the desolation of Judah / Jerusalem
  5. Pattern of Prophetic Events in the Old and New Testament:
Old Testament Judah New Testament Apostate Church
Sin (apostasy) False prophecy, other gods and idols (abominations) False prophecy, worship of other gods and idols
Tribulation (punishment) Captivity, scattering, killing by famine, pestilence, sword and wild beasts Abomination of Desolation, loosing of Satan, Antichrist, False prophet, Babylon
Judgment Destruction of Babylon and surrounding nations Destruction of nations,
Salvation Return from captivity, church age (salvation of the spirit) Eternity, salvation of the soul, spiritual body, New Jerusalem (new heavens / new earth)

Please refer to the Babylonian Captivity pages on this website for more information.

 

Part 1 – Introduction and Overview of Babylon Captivity

Part 2 – Babylon Captivity in the Olivet Discourse

Part 3 – The Cause of the Babylonian Captivity

Part 4 – Captivity – Two Symbolic Meanings

Part 5 – Scattering – Symbolic Meaning

Part 6 – Ezekiel 14 – Desolation by famine, evil beasts, sword and pestilence 

Part 7 – Siege of Jerusalem

Part 8 – Destruction of Jerusalem

Part 9 – The Desolate Land Enjoys its Sabbaths

Part 10 – Return from Captivity and Regathering into Eternity

 

During the Babylonian Captivity, the king of Babylon was referred to as a ‘servant’ of God since he did God’s bidding in punishing Judah for their sins (e.g., worshiping other gods and idols):

  • Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. (Jer 25:9)
  • And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. (Jer 27:6)
  • And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. (Jer 43:10)
  • Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD. (Eze 29:18-20)

 

 

7th King of Scarlet Beast and Queen Babylon

 

It is also important to understand that in Rev 17, the Bible teaches that Babylon (a queen) is carried about by the Scarlet Beast:

  • And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Rev 17:1-4)
  • How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (Rev 18:7)

 

The Scarlet Beast is a symbol of Satan and His kingdom.  The 7th head of the Scarlet Beast is a symbol for the Antichrist and Babylon is a symbol for false Christianity (false churches and parachurches).

 

As discussed on the 7th head of the Scarlet beast page on this website, the character and actions of the 7th Head of the Scarlet Beast (Antichrist) include sin and blasphemy. In addition they also include those actions of Babylon since the scarlet beast supports and powers Babylon.  Babylon is false Christianity (which includes false churches and parachurches).  The character and actions of Babylon include:

 

Isaiah 14 – The Antichrist type of Satan

 

Isaiah 14 is a well-known passage that is often used to describe characteristics of Satan.  However, in this passage, it can be seen that the King of Babylon is a symbol of the Antichrist, who is a type of Satan. By comparing the character and actions of the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14 with the character and actions of the Antichrist, it can be seen that the Isa 14 refers to the Antichrist. Since the Antichrist is powered by Satan (see Rev 13:2, Dan 8:24) during the Great Tribulation, the character and actions in Isaiah 14 would also apply to Satan.

 

The following are the key character and actions of the Antichrist that can be discerned from Isa 14:

  • Pride
    • For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high (Isaiah 14:13-14)
      • Similar to 2 Th 2:4, Rev 13:4-8, Dan 8:11, Dan 8:25, Eze 28:2-5, Dan 11:36-37
    • Pompous (Heb: gaon, literally pride) – Isa 14:11
    • Other Antichrist passages on pride:
      • Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  (2Th 2:4)
      • Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host … (Dan 8:11)
      • And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods … Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (Dan 11:36-37)
      • Similar passages – Leopard Beast (Rev 13:4-8), Prince of Tyre (Eze 28:2-5)
  • Persecution
    • Oppression – Isa 14:4
    • Smote people in wrath with a continual stroke (plague, wound, slaughter) – Isa 14:6
    • Ruled the nations in anger – Isa 14:6
    • Feller of trees – Isa 14:8
      • God’s people often symbolized as trees – Ps 1:3, Mat 7:17-19, Mast 12:33, etc.
    • Did weaken the nations – Isa 14:12
    • Made the earth to tremble, did shake the nations – Isa 14:16
    • Made the world a wilderness; destroyed the cities, did not open the house of the prisoners – Isa 14:17
    • Destroyed the land, slain the people, the seed of evildoers – Isa 14:20
    • Other Antichrist passages on oppression:
      • … the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Dan 9:26)
      • … and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion … (Rev 13:2)
      • … it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all tribes, and tongues, and nations. (Rev 13:7)
      • And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. (Dan 8:24)
  • Deception
    • Lucifer, son of the morning (dawn) – Isa 14:12
      • Lucifer – H1966 (1 occurrence) – brightness – Satan and his ministers come as angels of light – 2 Cor 11:3-4, 2 Cor 11:13-15
      • Satan fallen from heaven – Eze 28:13-17; Luk 10:18; 2Pe 2:4; Rev 12:7-10
    • Satan (Lucifer) Indwells Antichrist:
      • And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard … and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. (Rev 13:2)
      • And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully … (Dan 8:24)
      • And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him (Joh 13:2)
      • And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, what you do, do quickly. (Joh 13:27)
  • Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (2Th 2:9)
  • Lucifer as a Deceiver (Satan released from bottomless pit to deceive – Rev 20:3-8)
    • … O Lucifer, son of the morning … (Isa 14:12)
    • Lucifer – H1966 (1 occurrence) – brightness
    • For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Co 11:13-15)
    • But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8)
    • Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast … (Gen 3:1)
    • Noise of viols – Isa 14:11
      • Literally, ‘roar of your psalteries’ – music used to deceive
      • Roar (H1998 derived from H1993, to roar) – used often as roaring waves (judgment – Psa 46:3, Jer 31:35), a harlot with a roaring voice (Pr 7:11, Pr 9:13), Babylon’s voice which roars like great waters (Jer 51:55), multitude of many people (Isa 17:12)
      • Similar to the music of Babylon – Rev 18:22 (deception)
    • Other Antichrist passages on deception:
      • Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  (2Th 2:9)
      • And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  (2Th 2:10-12)
      • And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand … and by peace shall destroy many … (Dan 8:25)
      • 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 … (Dan 7:25)
  • Sin, Lawlessness, Unrighteousness
    • Wicked – Isa 14:5
  • Worship of other gods and idols (luxury / wealth)
    • Golden city – Isa 14:4 – relates to Babylon of Rev 17-18 (see Rev 17:4, Rev 18:12, Rev 18:16)

 

Isaiah 14:3-23:

(3)  And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, (4) That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!  (5)  The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.  (6)  He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.  (7)  The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.  (8)  Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.  (9)  Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.  (10)  All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?  (11)  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.  (12)  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  (13)  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  (14)  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  (15)  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.  (16)  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;  (17)  That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?  (18)  All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.  (19)  But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.  (20)  Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.  (21)  Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.  (22)  For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.  (23)  I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

Daniel 2 – The Great Statue of 4 Kingdoms

 

In Dan 2, the Bible records a prophecy given in a dream to Nebuchadnezzar involving a great statue.

  • Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,   His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.  (Dan 2:31-35)

 

In this dream, there is a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron and feet part of iron and part clay. In Dan 2:34-35, the Bible reveals Judgment Day. The whole statue is broken by the stone cut without hands (Jesus Christ), which smites the feet of the statue.  The whole statue then collapses and is carried away by the wind (Judgment Day). The stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (Dan 2:35), which is a symbol of eternity in God’s kingdom in the New Heavens and New Earth (Isa 2:1-3, Micah 4:1-2).

  • You, O king, saw, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. (Dan 2:31)
    • Terrible – literally, fearful
  • Summary (Dan 2:32-33,41-42):
    • Fine Gold Head – King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar)
    • Silver Breast and Arms – Medes and Persians
    • Brass Belly / Thighs – Grecian Kingdom
    • Iron Legs – Roman Empire (4th kingdom – Dan 2:40)
      • Feet (10 toes) – Iron mixed with clay – End-time World Kingdoms

 

It is important to note that on Judgment Day all four kingdoms collapse together (i.e., gold, silver, brass, iron and clay). This indicates that each successive kingdom subsumes the previous one. In other words, there are elements of each preceding kingdom’s culture, traits, power, politics, laws, etc. that continues to the end of time. The kingdom of Satan is essentially the same, but just takes different forms:

  • Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.  (Dan 2:45)

 

The Stone that destroys the Kingdoms of the World is Jesus Christ:

  • … a Stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together (Dan 2:34-35)
  • Points to the continuum of history from 606 B.C until the Last day
  • Struck upon the feet – points to the Great Tribulation
  • 10 toes of iron / clay – end-time kings of 4th kingdom
    • Statue consists of 4 kingdoms – Dan 2:40

 

  • You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet … and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:34-35)
  • I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psa 118:21-22, quoted in Mat 21:42)
  • As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  (Rom 9:33)
  • Jesus Christ was ‘cut off’:
    • … he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  (Isa 53:8)
  • And after 62 weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself …  (Dan 9:26)
  • Mountain represents God’s eternal kingdom
    • … and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:34-35)
    • 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.  (Dan 2:44)
    • And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains … and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  (Isa 2:2-3, see also Micah 4:1-2)

 

The Head of Fine Gold (Babylon)

 

Daniel, filled with the Spirit, gives the meaning of the interpretation of the dream. It is King Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon) who is the head of gold:

  • This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.  And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.  (Dan 2:36-38)
    • Nebuchadnezzar, his son and grandson – c.606 B.C – c.586 B.C. – Jer 27:7
    • 70 years prophecy – Babylonian Captivity of Judah / Jerusalem – Jer 25:1-14
    • Significant discussion in Isa, Jer, Eze, Daniel and minor prophets

 

Breast and Arms of Silver (Media and Persia), Belly and Thighs of Brass (Greece)

 

The next 2 kingdoms are inferior to Babylon.  We find in other passages in Daniel (e.g., Dan 5, Dan 6, Dan 7, Dan 11) that these 2 kingdoms are the Median-Persian kingdom and the Grecian kingdom.

 

Median / Persian kingdom:

  • And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.  (Dan 2:39)
  • Handwriting on the wall (Belshazzar):
    • This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Dan 5:26-28)
  • In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (Dan 5:30-31)
  • c.536 B.C. – c.334 B.C
  • … there stood before the river a ram which had 2 horns: and the 2 horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. (Dan 8:3-4)
  • The ram which you saw having 2 horns are the kings of Media and Persia. (Dan 8:20)

 

Grecian Kingdom:

  • … and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. (Dan 2:39)
  • And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth … and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. (Dan 8:3-5)
  • The ram which you saw having 2 horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. (Dan 8:20-21)
  • Little horn (Antichrist) comes out of the Grecian kingdom – Dan 8:9, Dan 8:23

 

Legs of Iron (Roman Empire)

 

But, the Bible teaches that there is a 4th kingdom (dreadful and terrible beast of Dan 7:7). It is important to note that this 4th kingdom consists of the legs of iron and the feet of iron and clay.  In Dan 2:34-35 and Dan 2:44-45, this kingdom is destroyed on the Last Day when Jesus Christ comes to reign in eternity.

 

The 4th kingdom features iron, similar to the dreadful and terrible beast of Dan 7. Also, the ten toes relate to the 10 horns of the Dan 7 beasts:

  • And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.   And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.  (Dan 2:40-43)
    • Break in pieces – literally, to crush
    • Subdues – literally, to make as a feeble follower (see also Micah 4:13 relating to iron)
    • Break / bruise – literally, ‘to do evil to’
  • His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. (Dan 2:33)
  • And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things: and as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.  (Dan 2:40)
  • After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. (Dan 7:7)
  • Dan 2:
    • Head – Babylon
    • Breast / arms – Medes / Persians
    • Belly / thighs – Greece
    • Legs / feet (10 toes) – Roman Empire
  • Dan 7:
    • Lion with eagle’s wings – Babylon
    • Bear raised up on one side – Medes / Persians
    • Leopard with 4 heads and 4 wings – Greece
    • Dreadful / terrible beast with 10 horns – Roman Empire

 

Feet / Toes, Part Strong Iron and Part Broken Clay

 

The feet and toes are symbolic for the world’s kingdoms that exist during the Great Tribulation and the Last Day.  It is the feet and toes that are judged at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  The feet and toes have elements of the previous kingdoms (Roman, Grecian, Median/Persian, Babylonian.  This is true because the whole statue collapses into its elemental components when the Stone strikes the feet and toes.  These end-time kingdoms are symbolizes as the 10 toes.  Ten is symbol of ‘fullness’.

 

The feet and toes are mixed with iron and clay. Iron points to the enormous strength of the end-time world kingdoms. The ‘broken’ clay points to the false, nominal Christian churches and para-churches (a.k.a., Babylon) that exists with the antichrist during the Great Tribulation.  The combination of iron and broken clay points to the unholy alliance of the politics of the state with the nominal end-time false church. This is further described in the Bible as Babylon riding the scarlet beast (symbol for Satan’s kingdoms of the world), which features the 7th head of the scarlet beast (as the antichrist).  Also, 2 Thess 2:3-4 describes the man of sin (antichrist) who as a worldly leader also takes his seat in the temple (church / para-churches).

 

Please refer to the following notes for more information and basis:

  • … you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with miry clay. (Dan 2:41)
  • Feet and 10 Toes exist in Great Tribulation:
    • … a Stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces … and the Stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.  (Dan 2:34-35)
    • And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed … it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Dan 2:44)
    • 10 toes represent 10 Kings (10 horns)
  • 10 Kings – represents the fullness of the kingdoms of the world (worldliness) during the Great Tribulation and Last Day
    • … the 10 horns which you saw are 10 kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast … These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them … (Rev 17:12-14)
    • Leopard Beast of Rev 13:
      • … and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having 7 heads and 10 horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy … and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.  (Rev 13:1-2)
  • And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.  (Dan 2:42)
  • Feet symbolizes subjection
    • You know how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD … until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.  (1Ki 5:3)
    • … Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?  (Heb 1:13)

 

  • Iron symbolizes strength (various applications)
    • And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.  (Dan 2:42)
    • Various applications – battle, bondage, judgment
    • Behemoth – His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.  (Job 40:18)
    • Jesus Christ to rule with rod of iron – Rev 19:15, Rev 2:27, Ps 2:9
    • Iron chariots – Josh 17:16-18, Jud 1:19, Jud 4:3,13
  • Clay – symbol of humankind subject to the will of the Creator
    • But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; and we all are the work of your hand.  (Isa 64:8)
    • Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God wanting to show His wrath, and to make his power known endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory (Rom 9:21-23)
  • And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.  (Dan 2:42)
  • Judah / Jerusalem (nominal church of Old Testament):
    • Israel / Judah was the ‘church in the wilderness’ – Acts 7:38
    • Then shall you break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with you … even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, that cannot be made whole again …  (Jer 19:10-11)
    • Potter’s vessel made of clay – Isa 64:8
    • See Jer 18 for similar passage
  • Broken clay – points to a nominal, false church of God
  • … that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed … he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2Th 2:3-4)
  • … I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and 10 horns. And the woman … having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  (Rev 17:3-5)
    • Scarlet beast – kingdom of Satan
    • Babylon – false Christianity (churches and parachurches)
  • And the 10 horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate …  (Rev 17:16-17)

 

It is important to note that the feet and toes are mixed with the seed of men. This points to the fact that the elements of the iron and broken clay will exists and be inter-mingled throughout the seed of men (which points to all the unsaved people of the world). Christians are in Christ, who is the promised Seed of Abraham:

  • And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.  (Dan 2:43)
    • Men – literally – a mortal human (subject to death)
    • Seed of men – points to those who are unsaved
  • Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  (Gal 3:16)
  • And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  (Gal 3:29)

 

A divided kingdom will fall. The entire world’s kingdom is doomed to destruction. There are elements of Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece and the Roman empires that exist in the worlds kingdom of the Last Day.

  • And whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with miry clay.  (Dan 2:41)
    • … Jesus … said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?  (Mat 12:25-26)
  • There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Gal 3:28)

 

Summary

 

Most notably, for this study is that the gold head (King of Babylon) is judged at Judgment Day. That is, the gold head is a type of the Antichrist who is in authority under the power of Satan (Rev 13:2, Dan 8:24) at the Last Day battle. Based on this prophecy, additional characteristics and actions of the Antichrist (king of Babylon) can be discerned:

 

Characteristics:

  • King of kings (King of Babylon) with power, strength and glory – Dan 2:31, 37
  • 4 kingdoms together (Babylon, Medes / Persians, Greece, Roman) – Dan 2:37-40
  • 4th Kingdom as strong as iron – Dan 2:33, 40
  • Feet and toes – clay and iron (divided), stone (Christ) will smite on feet – Dan 2:33-34, 41
  • Toes – clay and iron – part strong / part brittle, mingled with seed of men (diverse, but will not cleave together) – Dan 2:42-43

Actions:

  • 4th kingdom subdues, breaks in pieces – Dan 2:40

 

Summary of Characteristics / Actions

 

Characteristics:

 

  • Pride
    • For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high (Isaiah 14:13-14)
      • Similar to 2 Th 2:4, Rev 13:4-8, Dan 8:11, Dan 8:25, Eze 28:2-5, Dan 11:36-37
    • Pompous (Heb: gaon, literally pride) – Isa 14:5
  • King of kings (King of Babylon) with power, strength and glory – Dan 2:31, 37
  • Persecution
    • Oppression – Isa 14:4
    • Smote people in wrath with a continual stroke (plague, wound, slaughter) – Isa 14:6
    • Ruled the nations in anger – Isa 14:6
    • Feller of trees – Isa 14:8
      • God’s people often likened to trees – Ps 1:3, Mat 7:17-19, Mast 12:33, etc.
    • Did weaken the nations – Isa 14:12
    • Made the earth to tremble, did shake the nations – Isa 14:16
    • Made the world a wilderness; destroyed the cities, did not open the house of the prisoners – Isa 14:17
    • Destroyed the land, slain the people, the seed of evildoers – Isa 14:20
  • 4th Kingdom as strong as iron, breaks other in pieces – Dan 2:33, 40
  • Feet and toes – clay and iron (divided), stone (Christ) will smite on feet – Dan 2:33-34, 41
  • Toes – clay and iron – part strong / part brittle, mingled with seed of men (diverse, but will not cleave together) – Dan 2:42-43
  • Deception
    • Lucifer, son of the morning (dawn) – Isa 14:12
      • Lucifer – H1966 (1 occurrence) – brightness – Satan and his ministers come as angels of light – 2 Cor 11:3-4, 2 Cor 11:13-15
    • Noise of viols – Isa 14:11
      • Literally, ‘roar of your psalteries’ – music used to deceive
      • Roar (H1998 derived from H1993, to roar) – used often as roaring waves (judgment – Ps 46:3, Jer 31:35), a harlot with a roaring voice (Pr 7:11, Pr 9:13), Babylon’s voice which roars like grerat waters (Jer 51:55), multitude of many people (Isa 17:12)
      • Similar to the music of Babylon – Rev 18:22 (deception)
    • Sorcery of deception – Rev 18:22-24
    • Merchandising Christianity – Rev 18:3-21
  • Sin, Lawlessness, Unrighteousness
    • Wicked – Isa 14:5
    • Spiritual fornication (worshiping other gods and idols) – Rev 17:1-4, Rev 18:1-3
  • Worship of other gods and idols (luxury / wealth)
    • Golden city – Isa 14:4 – relates to Babylon of Rev 17-18 (see Rev 17:4, Rev 18:12, Rev 18:16)