This, however, would be inaccurate, the specific gravity of lead being 11·4 (11.4),

whereas that of gold is as high as 19·3 (19.3). Gold is the heaviest metal mentioned in

Dan. 2: and it is of that metal that the head is constructed, so that the image of Gentile

dominion is top-heavy from the commencement. This can be seen by observing the

relative specific gravity of each material:

8.5  (Copper 8.78)

Clay

The arrangement of these metals in the structure of the image indicates depreciation

not only in weight, but also in the characteristics of the kingdom. The kingdom of which

Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold was an absolute monarchy. Of him it could be

said: "whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive." The Medo-Persian

kingdom, represented by silver, was not absolute, as was Nebuchadnezzar's. Darius was

limited by the presidents and princes, and by his own laws "that could not be broken".

The Grecian kingdom of brass was a military kingdom, and consequently lower still in

the scale. We will not here speak of Rome, as we have not yet dealt with the question of

the fourth kingdom. We see enough, however, to realize that this prophetic image

prevents us from ever believing that the kingdom of heaven will come upon earth as a

result of Gentile rule; rather are we clearly told that Gentile rule must be ground to

powder before the kingdom of the Lord can be set up.

The times of the Gentiles are insolubly linked with one item of prophetic import, "the

treading down of Jerusalem" (Luke 21: 24), a feature that continues into the book of the

Revelation (Rev. 11: 2) and to the middle of the final seven years of Daniel's great period

(Dan. 9:). Those who would rule Rome out of the image of Dan. 2:, must of necessity

deny or ignore this great identifying characteristic. There is far more evidence in the

Scripture that Rome dominated Jerusalem, than did Persia or Greece. Rome it was that

compelled the mother of the Saviour to travel to Bethlehem. It was Rome's penny, and

Cæsar's image and superscription that was shown to the Lord. It was a Roman Governor

who handed Christ over to be crucified, and he was reminded by the Saviour that the

power he had exercised had been given him from above. It was Rome's soldiers that

guarded the tomb. It was Roman soldiers who safeguarded Paul, and it was to the Roman

Cæsar the Apostle made his appeal.  Finally it was a Roman General who sacked

Jerusalem and destroyed its temple.  To deny all or any of these items betokens

something more deadly than prejudice. Jerusalem is the key to the problem. Whatever

Gentile power dominates Jerusalem, that power is in the succession symbolized by

Daniel's image. A two-edged argument has been employed by some in the attempt to

rule Rome out from this succession. It is that Rome never ruled over the lands governed

by Babylon. But this cuts both ways, Babylon never ruled over the lands dominated by

Rome, and consequently the argument proves itself to be invalid. Indeed, if the argument

be taken to its legitimate ends, Babylon itself would be suspect, for Nebuchadnezzar most

certainly never ruled over the territory that had been given him, namely "wheresoever the