The World's Prophetic History

PROPHECY is the foretelling or future events. History is the recording of events that are past. But, although so different in meaning, they can be framed into a compound term and applied to the world today; for the leading events that are now history were once only prophecy, and all that was once only prophecy is now almost entirely wrought out into the fixed records of history.

Man never has had the power of himself to penetrate the future, and tell definitely and certainly what was to be in days to come, and when it was to be, and by what means it was to be accomplished. Hence the apostle says that "the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. 1:21. The mind that can read the future must be above the mind of man. And when such prophecies as are found in the Bible are fulfilled, they give to the world credentials which cannot be questioned, proving that they came from God, and that the Bible is the book of God.

Repeatedly, the leading events of the world's history from given epochs in the past, have been mapped out on the page of prophecy. What is the purpose of this? lt is because this world in its present condition is not always to continue. A period is sometime to be reached. This dispensation, like those in the past, is destined to close, and a new one supervene. A new creation is to take the place of the old, which will introduce men to a new state of being almost as radically different from this as Adam's condition after his creation from the dust of the ground, was different from what it was before. When this state is reached, it will be "the kingdom of God," the "immortal life," the "heaven," so often promised in the Scriptures. And it is a matter of importance as well as of thrilling interest to know when the time of this great transition approaches.

The fact that a revelation has been given in relation to these things, is a solemn announcement to the world that here is something which God wishes the children, of men to understand. And for any one to pass them by as of no consequence, and say that he cares nothing about them, is to charge God with taking pains to give prophecies which are of no importance, and which man may ignore and neglect at his pleasure. But such a course no reverent and devout soul will be inclined to pursue.

With these introductory thoughts we invite the reader to look at the prophetic picture of Daniel 2, —a picture grand in its simplicity, yet a miracle of comprehensiveness. Passing over the interesting narrative, which all should read, we come at once to a wonderful dream given to Nebuchadnezzar the king, and the interpretation thereof by the prophet Daniel.

In his dream the king beheld an image of gigantic proportions standing before him, something, we may imagine, as represented in the accompanying illustration.

Scanning the image closely, he discovered that it was composed of four distinct metals. The head was of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and sides of brass, the legs of iron, the feet and toes part of iron and part of clay. Continuing to behold what was to him such a fascinating object, after a time he saw a stone, not in human hands, descending like a thunderbolt in the direction of the image. It smote the image upon the feet, and immediately every part of it was broken to shivers, and became like chaff. A strong wind then caught up the debris and blew it away, and not a fragment of it was ever seen again. The stone was not in the least injured by the concussion, but the space being thus cleared, the stone became a mighty mountain and filled the whole earth.

Having told the king the dream, the prophet proceeds to give the interpretation. He informs the king that the four different metals of the image represented four great kingdoms which should arise, and fill the history of the world from his day to the end. He said, moreover, to him, "Thou art this head of gold." Verse 38. And here we have at once the key to the interpretation. The old Babylonian kingdom, raised to the hight of its glory under Nebuchadnezzar, who reigned from 606 to 562 B.C., was represented by the head of gold. An inferior kingdom of silver was to succeed Babylon, a third of brass to follow the second, and finally a fourth of iron should arise and bear rule over all the earth.

In fulfillment of this, Medo-Persia overthrew Babylon in the year 538 B.C., and succeeded to its position. Another kingdom, Grecia, under Alexander the Great, conquered Persia, B.C. 331, and became the third kingdom in the prophecy. And finally Rome, the mightiest empire of antiquity, became more absolute mistress of the world than any kingdom preceding it, some years before the Christian era. The fourth empire was to be divided. Rome was so divided in the fourth and fifth centuries after Christ. Between the years 356 and 483 A.D., Rome was rent into ten kingdoms by the northern barbarians. Then the image was complete, ready in due time to be smitten by the stone, and destroyed. This last change will be accomplished, according to verse 44, when the God of heaven, weary with the sin and misrule of earth, shall overthrow all earthly governments, and on their ruins erect that "kingdom of God" which shall fill the whole world and never be destroyed.

Where are we, then, in this line of prophecy? Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, Imperial Rome, have all long ago passed away. Rome has been divided, and in this divided state, "the days of these kings" (verse 44), the world has been for many centuries. What comes next ?—The kingdom of God.

Here this prophecy leaves it. In other prophecies the closing scenes are more minutely described, and abundant evidence presented to show that this kingdom is to be set up in the present generation.