position in which he was placed. When the elect nation failed to exercise power for the glory of God then

power was committed unto the Gentiles. The period during which this power is committed unto them is

called "the times of the Gentiles." "Times," in the plural, because of there being many nations as

distinguished from the one nation of Israel.

Now as to the beginning, the course, and the issue of these "times," we are not left to human records or

human reason. History does not transpire merely because the events have been predicted, but rather they

are foretold because they were ordained to come to pass. Prophecy, as we have seen (Sermon ii.), did not

originate in the prophet's own unfolding of the mind of God, but, God Himself in old time revealed His own

will, through Holy men by His Spirit. Hence we are not left in ignorance, or to our own imaginations; but the

word of God is so clear and so necessary, that history itself cannot be understood without a knowledge of

the Prophecy.

"The times of the Gentiles," as we have already seen (Sermon v.) have no reference to "the Church of God,"

because the Church is itself taken out from the nations (Acts xv. 14). These "times" however, cannot but be

of the deepest interest to us, seeing that in God's providence our lot is not only cast within their limits, but

near, very near to their end.15

In the Prophecy of Daniel we have the great commanding predictions as to these "times," from their

beginning to their end. Other prophecie s speak of them and refer to them, and they all agree in teaching us

that those "times" are marked by progression.

They are marked by evolution, but it is downward and not upward; rather, it is a devolution! They are

marked by progress, but it is progress in corruption: by development, but it is in inferiority.

In the prophecy of Daniel this outline is given us in two parts. One from the human standpoint in Daniel ii.

where under the figure of a man in stately proportion, they are seen in their succession by a man of the

Gentiles: the other from the divine standpoint in Daniel vii. and viii, where by a man of God, they are seen in

their origin. The one therefore displays their outward appearance to the eye of a man of the world: the other

reveals their moral character to the eye of the man of God. Nebuchadnezzar sees these nations and "times of

the Gentiles" under the outward aspect of glittering gold, shining silver, brilliant brass, and irresistible iron.

Daniel sees them as wild beasts ferocious in their nature, cruel in their career. Nebuchadnezzar sees them in

a dream, as a stately man, in his palace. Daniel sees them in a vision of God, as wild beasts arising out of the

waters. For -- "man being in honour abideth not, he is like the beasts that perish" (Ps. xlix. 12). And man

apart from God, has ever gone, and must ever go down, down! Even the saint without Christ can do nothing.

But man apart from God can do "only evil continually." He goes down, as it is here shown, from gold to miry

clay; and from the noble lion to the nondescript dragon! Yes, man has indeed a free-will, but it is ever

exercised in opposition to God's will, it is "enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither

indeed can be" (Rom. viii. 7). Man has ever destroyed himself, and his help is found only in God (Hos. xiii.

Now look at the IMAGE. Look first at its values. All tends downwards, first gold, then silver, brass, iron, and

clay. Look at its weight, its specific gravity.

Gold is equivalent to 19.3 Silver " " 10.51 Brass " " 8.5 Iron " " 7.6 Clay " " 1.9

Down, down from 19.3 to 1.9. The image is top-heavy, and the first blow of the mighty stone upon the feet

shall shatter its pottery, and bring it all down in pieces.

See the Appendix.