prophets and kings-第87章
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of gold。
〃And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee； and another third kingdom of brass； which shall bear rule over all the earth。
〃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
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mingle themselves with the seed of men： but they shall not cleave one to another； even as iron is not mixed with clay。〃
〃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 forever。 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。〃
The king was convinced of the truth of the interpretation； and in humility and awe he 〃fell upon his face； and worshiped；〃 saying； 〃Of a truth it is； that your God is a God of gods； and a Lord of kings； and a revealer of secrets； seeing thou couldest reveal this secret。〃
Nebuchadnezzar revoked the decree for the destruction of the wise men。 Their lives were spared because of Daniel's connection with the Revealer of secrets。 And 〃the king made Daniel a great man； and gave him many great gifts； and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon； and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon。 Then Daniel requested of the king； and he set Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego； over the affairs of the province of Babylon： but Daniel sat in the gate of the king。〃
In the annals of human history； the growth of nations； the rise and fall of empires； appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man； the shaping of events seems； to
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a great degree； to be determined by his power； ambition； or caprice。 But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside； and we behold； above； behind； and through all the play and counterplay of human interest and power and passions； the agencies of the All…merciful One； silently； patiently working out the counsels of His own will。
In words of matchless beauty and tenderness； the apostle Paul set before the sages of Athens the divine purpose in the creation and distribution of races and nations。 〃God that made the world and all things therein；〃 declared the apostle； 〃hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth； and hath determined the times before appointed； and the bounds of their habitation； that they should seek the Lord； if haply they might feel after Him； and find Him。〃 Acts 17：24…27。
God has made plain that whosoever will； may come 〃into the bond of the covenant。〃 Ezekiel 20：37。 In the creation it was His purpose that the earth should be inhabited by beings whose existence would be a blessing to themselves and to one another； and an honor to their Creator。 All who will may identify themselves with this purpose。 Of them it is spoken； 〃This people have I formed for Myself； they shall show forth My praise。〃 Isaiah 43：21。
In His law God has made known the principles that underlie all true prosperity； both of nations and of individuals。 To the Israelites Moses declared of this law： 〃This is your wisdom and your understanding。〃 〃It is not a vain thing for you； because it is your life。〃 Deuteronomy 4：6； 32：47。 The blessings thus assured to Israel are； on the same
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conditions and in the same degree； assured to every nation and to every individual under the broad heavens。
Hundreds of years before certain nations came upon the stage of action； the Omniscient One looked down the ages and predicted the rise and fall of the universal kingdoms。 God declared to Nebuchadnezzar that the kingdom of Babylon should fall； and a second kingdom would arise； which also would have its period of trial。 Failing to exalt the true God； its glory would fade； and a third kingdom would occupy its place。 This also would pass away； and a fourth； strong as iron； would subdue the nations of the world。
Had the rulers of Babylonthat richest of all earthly kingdomskept always before them the fear of Jehovah； they would have been given wisdom and power which would have bound them to Him and kept them strong。 But they made God their refuge only when harassed and perplexed。 At such times； failing to find help in their great men； they sought it from men like Danielmen who they knew honored the living God and were honored by Him。 To these men they appealed to unravel the mysteries of Providence； for though the rulers of proud Babylon were men of the highest intellect； they had separated themselves so far from God by transgression that they could not understand the revelations and the warnings given them concerning the future。
In the history of nations the student of God's word may behold the literal fulfillment of divine prophecy。 Babylon； shattered and broken at last； passed away because in prosperity its rulers had regarded themselves as independent of
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God； and had ascribed the glory of their kingdom to human achievement。 The Medo…Persian realm was visited by the wrath of Heaven because in it God's law had been trampled underfoot。 The fear of the Lord had found no place in the hearts of the vast majority of the people。 Wickedness； blasphemy； and corruption prevailed。 The kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt； and these sank lower and still lower in the scale of moral worth。
The power exercised by every ruler on the earth is Heaven…imparted； and upon his use of the power thus bestowed； his success depends。 To each the word of the divine Watcher is； 〃I girded thee； though thou hast not known Me。〃 Isaiah 45：5。 And to each the words spoken to Nebuchadnezzar of old are the lesson of life： 〃Break off thy sins by righteousness； and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor： if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity。〃 Daniel 4：27。
To understand these things；to understand that 〃righteousness exalteth a nation；〃 that 〃the throne is established by righteousness；〃 and 〃upholden by mercy；〃 to recognize the outworking of these principles in the manifestation of His power who 〃removeth kings； and setteth up kings；〃 this is to understand the philosophy of history。 Proverbs 14：34； 16：12； 20：28； Daniel 2：21。
In the word of God only is this clearly set forth。 Here it is shown that the strength of nations； as of individuals； is not found in the opportunities or facilities that appear to make them invincible； it is not found in their boasted greatness。 It is measured by the fidelity with which they fulfill God's purpose。
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Chapter 41
The Fiery Furnace
The dream of the great image； opening before Nebuchadnezzar events reaching to the close of time； had been given that he might understand the part he was to act in the world's history； and the relation that his kingdom should sustain to the kingdom of heaven。 In the interpretation of the dream； he had been plainly instructed regarding the establishment of God's everlasting kingdom。 〃In the days of these kings；〃 Daniel had declared； 〃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 forever。 。 。 。 The dream is certain； and the interpr
