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'Does Nebucaneezer's dream teach that there shall
never be another empire that rules the entire world?' Harrell Davidson |
Brother Jerry Brewer has received a question for The Gospel Preceptor that he has passed on to me to answer. The question is: "In Daniel 2:36 begins the interpretation of the king's dream of the great image. Question: does this dream foretell that there shall be no world empire after the divided Roman kingdom/empire?" After answering the question above, we have received an addendum to the question for clarification. For the purpose of clarification the question seems to be this: "Will there ever be another empire that rules the entire world?" In searching through not only Daniel chapter 2 and chapter 7, as well as any other prophesy that pertains to the question, we cannot find a clear statement or implication as to whether there will be another world empire that will rule the world the way the former four ruled. Daniel left the question at the kingdom of the Lord and went no further. Let us remember that the church and the kingdom are one and the same (cf. Matthew 16:18,19). This much is abundantly clear. There will not be a world empire that can destroy the Lord’s church. On any given Lord’s Day around some of our world, brethren meet in secret having to hide from government authorities. The late brother Ira Y. Rice, Jr. along with the late brother George Benson, who was a long time missionary to China, had many years ago converted several individuals. Brother Benson was forced by the Chinese government to leave in 1939. A few years before the untimely death of brother Rice he had visited in China several times. One of those converts was a brother who was at that time eighty nine (89) years young and they were meeting in a basement under a blanket or tarpaulin with a flashlight in order to see, but not to be seen. The same thing is happening in other Communists countries where the freedom of religion is not enjoyed. The point is precisely this, though Daniel did not say that there would never be another world empire, he did indicate that no world empire would ever destroy the church. Rather, the church would break the back of such rule through faithfulness to the truth. Polycarp, whose case is well noted, died at the stake being burned until death came over him, but the kingdom was not destroyed. The mighty Roman Empire lost the battle and the Lord’s church won the battle. We believe that this is what Daniel was saying in regard to the kingdom of the Lord. We do not see the prophesy saying that there will "never" be another world empire. There very well may not be, but who knows this for sure? This we know, Christianity will eventually win the battle and will not be destroyed. We will one day be delivered up to the Father in heaven as the faithful kingdom (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24). This coincides with Daniel’s prophecy regarding the kingdom never coming to an end. We hope this helps. |