Soldiers.-- Whenever we meet with soldiers in the New Testament

they are Romans.  Roman soldiers not only led away the Saviour to be

crucified, they guarded His tomb; and later Roman soldiers rescued Paul

from the Jewish mob and it was a Roman soldier who occupied Paul's

lodging while he was under custody (Acts 28:16).

Romans.-- Caiaphas expressed his fear that 'the Romans would come

and take away' the place and national position of Israel.  Why the

Romans particularly if they were not the dominant power in the earth?

Roman citizenship was so prized, that to say 'I am a Roman' was

preferred to the native patronymic, so that Phrygians were addressed by

Paul as Galatians.

In addition to these seven items, Roman crucifixion, and the very

attitude of the Roman soldiers to the seamless robe of Christ, form a subject

of prophecy (Psa. 22:16 -18).  We believe that any unbiased reader, facing

these seven features and estimating their combined testimony, would have no

hesitation in believing that Rome is the Iron kingdom that succeeded the

kingdom of Brass in the image of Daniel 2.

A mystery element now comes into play, consequent upon the rejection of

Christ, and a principle of interpretation found in Scripture must be brought

to bear.  Moreover, the false comparison instituted by many between the

fourth kingdom of Daniel 2 and 7 must be exposed and its harmful influence

removed, and the intention in the symbolism of the clay that enters into the

composition of the image at the end must be sought.

We are as aware, as are other expositors of prophecy, that the kingdom

represented by the Stone cut without hands, was not set up during the

sovereignty of Rome, that Rome is not the kingdom represented by the feet of

the image, and that some explanation is demanded in order to make this

apparent confusion understandable.

On pages 233 -235 we have given seven features, any one of which would

justify the owner being called a world power, and enduing the possessor of

the whole seven with world sovereignty.  Until this position can be

controverted, we shall continue to reckon that the iron legs of the image of

Daniel 2, coincide with the unbroken period of time indicated in Daniel 9,

and that both the iron kingdom and the prophetic forecast of Daniel met

together when 'Messiah' was 'cut off' as we know He was under Pontius Pilate.

Had Israel repented when Christ came the first time, then John the Baptist

would have been Elijah which was for to come.  Israel, however, did not

repent, and so John the Baptist was not Elijah, although he went before the

Lord 'in the spirit and power of Elijah'.

With such passages as Matthew 11:14; 17:11,12 and John 1:21,25 we could

easily imagine a division of opinion among the early believers, some

maintaining that Elijah had already come, some maintaining that he is yet to

come, some teaching that John the Baptist was Elijah, and that no other

fulfilment is expected, others maintaining that John the Baptist was not

Elijah and quoting his own words as proof.  Yet such a division would be

wrong.  Just in the same way, the fact that 483 years after the command to

restore Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince, that He should be cut off 'and

have nothing' is as true as the other aspect of truth, namely that He awaits