Just as Genesis 3:15 contains all prophecy in embryo, so the Image of

Daniel 2 covers all Gentile dominion, from the appointment of Nebuchadnezzar

until the ten toes symbolizing the ten kings in the final stage of Gentile

dominion is reached, when without a moment's interval, the Stone cut out

without hands strikes the feet of the image with utter destruction, fills the

whole earth, and is set up by the God of heaven as a kingdom which shall

never be destroyed.  We believe that all prophecy, which is future to Daniel

2 must fit into the overall pattern foreshadowed by the Image therein

depicted and interpreted.  If there be periods of blessing to this earth

either with or without Israel as a factor before the Millennial kingdom

(which immediately follows the striking of the feet of the image), we must

find a place for it indicated by the sure word of prophecy.  To substantiate

this idea, we would draw attention to Luke 21:24 where the 'times of the

Gentiles' coincide with the 'treading down' of Jerusalem by the Gentiles.

This passage as it stands is fatal to any idea of a pre -Millennial kingdom

in which an enlightened Israel has a central place, for a people cannot be

trodden down and at the same time function as a kingdom of priests, there is

no place for a regathering of Israel and a time of blessing and illumination

that will last for years, followed by a fresh dispersal and another gathering

at the time of the end.  The image is seen as a whole when the stone strikes

the feet.

The translation 'treading down' has been questioned, and a much more

modified idea substituted.  We have discussed this, and provided a

concordance of the Greek word so translated in Millennial Studies9 No. 17, a

short article entitled Treading Down of Jerusalem, which should be consulted.

Coming to Daniel 2, we observe that at verse 4, the language in which

the prophecy is written changes from Hebrew to Syriac (Aramaic), the language

of the Gentiles.  The words 'in Syriac' mark the place where the language

changes and Hebrew is not resumed until the opening of chapter 8.  This of

itself shows that during these visions, the Gentile is prominent.  Before

going into detail it may be well to consider one or two interpretations that

have been put forward, so that the way may be cleared, and our study pursued

Four kingdoms.-- One school of interpretation speaks of the image

as representing four kingdoms only -- Babylon, Medo -Persia, Greece and Rome.

The legs represent the two divisions of the Roman Empire, the eastern and

western, and the ten toes, the kingdom into which it will finally be divided,

thus making Rome's dominion, either in its full power or in its divided form,

cover the whole period from before Christ to the present time, and

necessitating a revival of ancient Rome at the time of the end.  Some who

endorse this view believe Rome to be the Babylon of the Apocalypse, whilst

others still believe that literal Babylon will be rebuilt.

The fourth kingdom regarded as Satanic. -- Another view of the

purport of the vision does not include Rome at all.  This view is that

Babylon, Medo -Persia and Greece followed one another, but that by the time

the Lord was here upon earth, the devil could claim that the kingdoms of the

world had been delivered unto him (Luke 4:6).  Moreover, another objection to

Rome having a place in Nebuchadnezzar's vision is said to be the fact that

she never really had possession of Babylon itself.  We would add, however,

that this is not strictly true.