The Rise and Fall of the World, Part 1

As we look at the world today, we see the world as a vast stage.

The play is almost done, there remains, but one more scene and that final scene is the latter days in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and now as we come to Daniel chapter 2 were going to see the unfolding of the last act on the stage of United States powerful nations on earth but despite their strength is it possible that those world powers could crumble and fall like ancient Rome or Babylon. And why should the way God dealt with mighty nations in the past encouraged Christians today consider those questions in light of Scripture as John MacArthur continues his series on Bible prophecy titled the rise and fall of world powers. Our study comes from the book of Daniel.

If you have your Bible turn there now and here's John turn with me to Daniel chapter 2 Daniel chapter 2.

We want to begin to look at the section from verses 31 to 49.

The second half of the second chapter before we get into the portion of Scripture that were going to be specifically concerned with. Let me just say some introductory things. We are all watching rather sadly, we do know Christ. The fall of the United States of America. As sad as it is, it shouldn't really shock us.

The reason is because it is always been and always will be the lot of nations nations of the world, that the kingdoms of men will go the way of all flesh, and ultimately end in collapse and ruin anything based on the might of man anything established on the wisdom of man will suffer the same kind of deterioration that man himself suffers since the fall dissipation is man's history.

It is a devolution area process, not an evolutionary process. Man is not ascending man is descending so that history has studied becomes a succession of defeats an empire begins reaches a peak in fades and dies and another is billed out of its ashes.

We are looking at America America in the past reached its apex, where on the downside, the back slope. We are watching the defeats taking place. We see the dissolution of our country on every hand we are deteriorating just like every other nation ever deteriorated because bill into America is the same basic problem we have feet of clay like the image in Daniel and Clay says Daniel represents the seed of men, and wherever anything is billed on men is built for dissolution. The world today, then, is simply going through the same cycles of dissolution that it has always endured. We can see the seeds of dissolution very very manifest as we look at the world today, we see the world as a vast stage of vast stage with the final curtain still down and we get the feeling that the actors are behind that final curtain preparing for the last scene in the drama of human history. The play is almost done, there remains, but one more scene and that final scene is the latter days in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we step close to the stage behind the curtain we can hear the commotion of the stagehands they set up the machinery and set the stage for that final act and now as we come to Daniel chapter 2. Daniel takes us behind the curtain before it rises we're going to see incredible insights not only in Daniel two, but from Daniel to to the end of the book the unfolding of the last act on the stage of human history as we look at chapter 2 verses 31 and following were going to see the great history of the Gentile world rule.

Jesus said there would be a time titled Luke 2124 the times of the Gentiles and already begun, it would come to an end at the coming of Christ. In fact, that verse says Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. There will be a period of time when Jerusalem is under the control when the nation of Israel is under bondage to some degree or another. The Gentile world power that is known as the times of the Gentile.

Interestingly enough, it began with the Babylonian captivity. It began with Nebuchadnezzar. It ends with the coming of Jesus Christ where living in that time right now Israel does not possess the fullness of its inheritance. Israel does not dwell in its land and peace. Israel does not possess everything from the Mediterranean to the Tigris and Euphrates, as in the original Palestinian covenant. These are the times of the Gentiles. Gentile nations have dominated that part of the world since Nebuchadnezzar and they will to some degree hold power over it until Jesus comes again the listen to the second chapter of Daniel then indicates that God transfers the leadership of this earth from the Jew and Israel to the Gentiles. Israel takes a backseat. Israel goes into captivity and never returns to its former glory ever, not even today. Not until Jesus comes, Israel should have been the center of the world. Israel should have been the pattern, the leader of the world. Israel should have been that very special people.

God originally intended them to be, through whom were given the law on the ordinances and the covenants and the promises Israel should have been the messenger for the world, but Israel tragically failed. Now as we come to Daniel, Israel is in captivity.

Daniel is serving as a captive Jew. However, he because of his capabilities and talents has been elevated to serve in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar to assist him in working with Jewish affairs because of his faithful, uncompromising and amazing character.

He has a very unique place in the land. Now Daniel Van begins with the times of the Gentiles not let me just say this immediately.

In chapter 2 God gives to Daniel the prophecy through the dream of Nebuchadnezzar that describes this period of history. It describes it from the beginning to the end how it ends. That's even described as well and as I studied that I thought to myself why does such a prophecy, the very beginning of the times of the Gentiles was going to last for thousands of years.

It's already lasted over 2000 years.

It was going to last for all this period of time. Why give this prophecy.

At the very beginning why think there's a good reason. I think as soon as Israel wanted to captivity soon as the land of Judah was taken captivity. As soon as God's people knew Gentiles were ruling in their land. God wanted them to know that that was not a permanent thing. Why, because if they felt that it was all over for Israel, permanently they would've begun to question the credibility of God is God and many times said he would never forsake his people. He would ever keep his covenant. He would always fulfill his promise he would never forget Jerusalem and so I believe that no sooner are they in captivity. Then God immediately reveals the fullness of the plan from beginning to end the start of the times of the Gentiles, and the ending of the times of the Gentiles, when Israel returns to its place of glory so that they will know that God has not failed in all his good promise at this time when the prophecy comes in chapter 2. Jerusalem is in ruins. The temple was torn down.

Judah has been destroyed.

The sacred vessels of the temple of been carried off and placed in the temple of an idol glory is departed from between the cherubim and the ark of the covenant. Ichabod is written been written over the people, the children of Israel stand on the banks of the rivers of Babylon, hanging their hearts on the willows because they have no song to sing and the immediate question is, is God forever forsaken his people and the ringing prophecy of Daniel two says no no.

Is this the end.

As God forgotten his covenant are all the promises lost is God's word untrue. No.

And so comes immediately. This fantastic incredible revelation.

Now let's look at it in the first 31 verses of Daniel two. We have the dream received the dream was received one night Nebuchadnezzar this pagan king who didn't believe in the God of Israel was just about to go to sleep and as he was lying on his bed. According to verse 29. He was lying on his bed thinking he began to think about his empire and he ruled out the known world, and he was a most powerful monarch there was any. He began to think about what will happen when I die, what is it going to be like in the future, and as he was musing over these thoughts. He fell asleep, and he dream some dreams. The Bible says one of those dreams was a very special one given to him by God. He knew he would be around forever, you'd see other empires come and go. He became deeply concerned about his own empire, and so he dreamed a dream. One of the dreams, the one that God gave him was a picture now watch this of history from Nebuchadnezzar to the return of Jesus Christ and incredible prophecy in a dream the. That he saw is the times of the Gentiles the world rulers during the setting aside of Israel look not verse 28 and that'll frame it for you of chapter 2, there is a God in heaven says Daniel reveals secrets and makes known to the King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be now watch this. In the latter days. Now there is a key phrase. The latter days. That is not a phrase restricted to Nebuchadnezzar's understanding that is not a phrase restricted in Nebuchadnezzar's lifetime. When it says the latter days. That is what we call an eschatological statement from the Greek word SGOT toes which means last things that is a term that refers all the way to the last days the Messiah's time.

In fact, the latter days is a repeated prophetic statement. You can find it in your Scriptures in Genesis 49 Deuteronomy for Deuteronomy 31 numbers 24 Jeremiah 23 Jeremiah 30 Jeremiah 48 Jeremiah 49 Ezekiel 38 Daniel 10 Hosea 3 Micah 4, and other places and all the time. When you see the latter days, and he encompasses the Messiah, returning or the Messiah's time.

So is a very broad term taking us to the latter days. As far as I can see every Old Testament prophetic writing that refers to the latter days encompasses the consummation of history in the coming of Messiah so that very phrase. There, what shall be in the latter days indicates that Nebuchadnezzar was to see all the way to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. The New Testament uses this term. The very same way the New Testament, for example, is used in next to the latter days if used in second Peter chapter 3 and every time it's used.

It encompasses the consummation of history and the kingdom of Messiah so to Nebuchadnezzar was revealed by God, a prophecy of the latter days, encompassing all of the history of the nations till Christ's return. Look back in verse 28 again. It says what shall be in the latter days died dream and the visions of thy head upon my bed. Are these as for the King thy thoughts came into my mind up on my bed.

What should come to pass hereafter, and he reveals secrets, makes known that the what shall come to pass. There you have the phrase twice what shall come to pass again. Nebuchadnezzar was thinking of a succession in history so Nebuchadnezzar sees what shall come to pass all the way to the latter-day now Nebuchadnezzar received the stream, then what happened. You remember he forgot it didn't.

He forgot the dream. It left his mind. I think I gave him.

I think God let them forget it because God one of the prove a point. I think he remembered some hazy things so that he can recall that when Daniel told it to them, but basically I think he forgot the dream because where it says in the authorized version that he, the dream went from him. Some versions say the thing is gone from me. Others say the command from me is sure or the command from me is firm. The Aramaic basically says a thing is gone from me, but some say it comes from a different Aramaic word meaning the command is firm and is not saying I forgot it at all. He's just trying to test all of his wise men so he pretends to forget a frankly folks as you look at the text. It could go either way. The reason I believe he forgot the dream is because that makes better sense to me. In the context say why. Well why would Nebuchadnezzar have a dream that scared the life out of them that absolutely panicked him. The gave them a good case of apoplexy, a dream that caused them such frenzy that he couldn't sleep that he lost his sleep. Why would he then pretend not to remember that and start to play games with his wise men, it would seem to me that if the panic was as deep as the text indicates it was, he wouldn't be fooling around.

Just try to prove that his wise men couldn't really tell them the answer because as it turned out, he kept saying to them, tell me the dream, and then its interpretation and they would say would you tell us the dream and will tell you the interpretation we can't figure out the dream if you don't tell us, and some say well he was just pretending not to remember to smoke out their phoniness.

But you see, that would've been completely off his point he was trying to get an answer to this tremendously disturbing dream not try to unmask his wise men that could save itself for another day. When things weren't quite as panicky fact that he made the wise men tell the dream and its interpretation, and he was so distressed that they could and he said I want to kill everyone gather every single one of them, and kill every one of them and I'll give you little idea the anxiety was hard by the way, when Daniel finally told in the dream he never killed anybody, which shows you that he wasn't really trying to kill his wise men. He was really trying to get the answer.

The dream that's why believe he forgot it and I think God helped them forget it. Just like I give it to them so that God could smoke out the phonies among the wise men and put Daniel in the place you want to limit is the only one who had the answer was Daniel is the only one. This was no time for playing games. Daniel stepped into be the channel of God's revelation, and when he did the King spared all the wise men showing that that was not his intention, he just wanted to get his dream cleared now. God is called by Daniel the revealer of secrets and that's exactly what happens.

Beginning in verse 31. The dream is recalled.

The dream received in the first 31 verses first 30 verses, then 31 the dream recall Daniel remember is God's chosen man and back in chapter 1 verse 17 it said the Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now Daniel was given this gift by God to be able to deal with dreams to be able to interpret dreams to be able to reveal dreams and now was his moment as he God was pushing Daniel up the ladder and this would be the final straw.

Nebuchadnezzar was already convinced this man was 10 times wiser than all of his wise men put together and now when this happens he makes in prime minister. The whole place but see the dream recall verse 31. Daniel speaks, and this is what he says to Val King. Here's what you saw not get this Daniel doesn't know because the king is a totally there's no way humanly.

The Daniel could get this information. The king says I can't remember my dream. And so first Daniel has to tell him what his dream was and then interpret. First he says that will King sauced, and behold a great image Aramaic word here is statute. It's not an idol that you worship.

It's just a statue.

This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before the in the form of it was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, expressed in its arms of silver, its belly your bowels and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron and its feet part of iron and part of clay that's a strange looking thing the head is gold. The breast and arms are sober, the bowels and upper thighs are bronze in the legs and feet are iron and iron and clay, and it's just this huge brilliant massive statute and then the action takes place in verse 34 thou sauced until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.

Then were the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, the gold broken the pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them in the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

That's a strange dream very strangely and those people in those days believe the dreams had significance and this one did, because it was from God what he see he saw statue in human form.

It was made of shining metal you notice it says this great image twice in verse 31 that word in the Aramaic is immense massive, we have no way to know just how big it was at his thoughts. But it was a massive image massive statute and it says it's brightness was excellent there.

That means it was extraordinarily splendor us the metal in it was shining brilliantly.

This massive immense brilliantly shining thing it says at the end of verse 31 was terrible.

It inspired terror or inspired fear oppression would best say it was awesome, awesome solo immense, so splendor us so awesome that he was literally scared to death, and even know he couldn't remember what he saw in his dream he could remember that scared and all he had left was the fear without the dream, and so now Daniel tells him what it was he saw none of this this thing very interesting.

It is made out of different metals. Basically it starts out in the goes from gold all the way down to iron and clay by the way the clay is a sop in the Aramaic, which is the word meaning baked clay. It probably refers to the China tile used in those times and that would've been what he saw. He saw the feet made out of a combination of iron and clay tiles, ceramic, brittle tile. Another interesting thing about this is it, not only as a decreasing or a deteriorating value, but it's always interested me that there is a corresponding lower specific gravity gold is heavier than silver and silver is heavier than brass and brass is heavier than iron and iron is heavier than iron and clay mixed. The whole thing is top-heavy. It's top-heavy, it's getting more and more brittle as it goes down. If that gold is so flexible and malleable that it can even be shattered. But iron and clay can the whole history of humanity.

The whole history of the Gentile world until the coming of Christ is going to be a very precariously balanced thing that is constantly and incessantly deteriorating until its final dissolution when it is smashed at its feet and it is blown away like dust in the wind pretty vivid from its head of gold of the fragile feet of glaze China mixed with iron.

The image is fragile and prone to fall over. And that is exactly what happens in verse 34. The action begins a stone was cut out without hands. That means it had no human source. No men made that stone. It smote the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.

In fact, so much so that they became like chaff of the summer threshing floor and the wind carried them away, no place was found for them in the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. The stone takes over the whole world and all the rest of that stuff blows away the top-heavy image is toppled by a crushing blow its feet in rapid succession. The entire disintegration of the image follows and all of its dust is blown away. This is a pretty amazing missile.

When you say smashes all of the history of the Genta had and on that note, John MacArthur wraps up today's study from the book of Daniel is part of his series, the rise and fall of world powers your own grace to you John lately on grace to you we been playing a lot of vintage John MacArthur messages and I love hearing that meant and what amazes me is that the message we heard today you preached more than 40 years ago when even then you were talking about cultural decay in the United States, which is even worse now. So with all of the moral collapse and everything that's gone wrong in America. Is it somehow wrong for Christians to celebrate the birth of our nation. Like many of us did recently on Independence Day.

No, but that's a very interesting thing to talk about Phil because I kind of have the feeling that the there isn't the same sense of gratitude for America, you know, America is a common grace Reitman is a gift from God, to a certain population of people for several hundred years. It's a blessing the blessing of freedom, religious freedom, that not all nations have enjoyed it's a it's a nation of of prosperity. There seems to be a grander gift of prosperity to this nation than many many other nations through the same 200 your prayer. Even today, but I don't see in this particular culture gratitude because I was reading today that less than half of Americans now go to church. That's the lowest that statistic is ever been and did not talk about Christians I'm talking about people who acknowledge God and would even say thank you God for what you've provided. I don't know that people are going to be singing God bless America there's this growing hostility toward what this country is in its orchestrated its orchestrated by people who want to do damage and just are iconoclastic and want to destroy everything in sight so I I don't know that people are are thankful and I think that's the issue for me when you can say what you will about America this is this is a wonderful place to have been given common grace and to have been exposed to the gospel but to whom much is given much is required in this nation has gone past. I think the point of gratitude and even past the point of grace where there now under judgment, but for those of us who see the hand of God and the kindness expressed in in our home country were happy to say thank you to the Lord and grateful that he allowed us the freedom to proclaim the gospel and continues to allow it even up to this day for at least a little while. Perhaps that's right. Thank you John and friend to help motivate your evangelism and to equip you with clear teaching on the gospel. Let me encourage you to pick up John's book called nothing but the truth it's affordably priced. Order yours today. Call 855 grace or go to TTY.org to purchase your copy of nothing but the truth there is no need to be intimidated about proclaiming the gospel.

This is a detailed book that can help you present the good news with clarity and boldness again to order nothing but the truth. Visit TTY.org and just a reminder that every day on this broadcast were not just teaching the content of the passage were teaching Christian men and women how to approach the Bible on their own and how to evaluate what others are teaching and it's the support of listeners like you that makes this vital ministry possible to partner with us right to grace to you. Box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412 or call us at 855 grace can make a donation online@tty.org. That's our website TTY.org now on behalf of John MacArthur and the grace to you staff on Phil Johnson. Thanks for tuning in today and be here tomorrow when John continues his look at prophecy from the book of Daniel called the rise and fall of world powers.

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