The following reasons may be urged to show that Rome is the power represented by the iron legs of the image, and by the horn which came out of one of the horns of the goat, which was little at first, but afterward waxed exceeding great.
1. It was to come forth from one of the four kingdoms of Alexander's empire. We have seen that nations are not brought into prophecy, till connected with the people of God. The Roman power had been in existence many years before the league with the Jews previously mentioned; and seven years previous to that event, namely, B. C. 168, it made Macedonia, one of the horns of the Grecian goat, a part of itself. Speaking of the peremptory manner in which Popillius, the Roman ambassador commanded Antiochus to quit Egypt, the historian says: "That which made him so bold as to act with him after this peremptory manner, and the other so tame as to yield thus patiently to it, was the news which they had a little before received of the great victory of the Romans, which they had gotten over Perseus, king of Macedonia. For Paulus Æmilius having now vanquished that king, and thereby added Macedonia to the Roman empire, the name of the Romans after this carried that weight with it, as created a terror in all the neighboring nations; so that none of them after this cared to dispute their commands, but were glad on any terms to maintain peace, and cultivate a friendship with them." Being introduced into prophecy after this event, it is represented as coming forth from one of the horns of the goat.
2. The following specifications of the little horn, are also fulfilled in the Roman power to the very letter: 1st. It waxed exceeding great towards the south, and towards the east, and towards the pleasant land, [Palestine, Ps. 106 : 24; Zech. 7 : 14.] Rome being almost directly north-west from Jerusalem, its conquests in Africa, Asia, and Palestine, were of course in those directions, and furnish an exact fulfillment of the prophecy. 2d. It was to cast down of the host and of the stars, the same as predicted of the dragon, [Rev. 12 : 3, 4,] which all admit to be Rome. Who can fail to see their identity? 3d. It was a king of fierce countenance. See Moses' description of the same power. Deut. 28 : 49, 50. 4th. It did "destroy wonderfully;" from fifty to one hundred millions of the "mighty and the holy people" being put to death by it. 5th. It did stand up against the Prince of princes. Pagan Rome nailed Jesus to the cross. 6th. It is to be "broken without hand." How clear the reference to the stone "cut out without hand," that smote the image. Dan. 2 : 34. Further proof is unnecessary; and probably ere this, the reader has agreed with us that Rome is the subject of the prophecy.
From small beginnings, with a steady ascent, Rome rose to unparalled greatness. How Macedonia became a Roman province B. C. 168 has been already stated. The empire of Syria shared a like fate B. C. 65, when Pompey reduced all those parts to the Romans as far as the river Tigris. The only remaining portion of the goat's dominions, not yet engrossed by the little horn, was Egypt; but this also fell before the Romans, when Augustus Cæsar, on the death of Cleopatra, made it a Roman Province B. C. 30. Twenty-five years after this, when the whole world was settled in thorough subjection to this same Augustus, and the temple of Janus, at Rome, which was kept open only in times of war, was for the fifth time shut since the building of the city, and peace reigned over the nations, there was born "in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2 : 1-11.
There is a view largely prevailing in the Christian world, which we deem not only a grave error in itself, but the parent of dangerous errors on other important subjects, which demands a notice at this stage of our investigation. It is that Christ, at his first advent, set up the fifth kingdom of Dan. 2 : 44, 45; or, in other words, that the kingdom which was to be set up in fulfillment of the prediction that in the days of these kings the God of Heaven should set up a kingdom, is the kingdom of grace in the hearts of believers; and that it was established at the cross or at Pentecost. Thus Butler in his Historical sketches, says: "In this glorious, peaceful reign of Augustus Cæsar, the fifth kingdom commenced, [Dan. 2 : 44, 45,] in the Advent of the Messiah." Prideaux says: "At this very time, Christ's kingdom commenced in the erection of his church." "The kingdom of Christ," says Scott, "was evidently intended: from small beginnings it hath already made vast progress," &c. "A stone cut out: the fifth monarchy; the spiritual kingdom of the Lord Jesus," says Clarke, "which is to last forever, . . . the extensive and extending empire of Christ," &c.
In reference to this position, we have brought the image down to the cross of Christ, where it is said this kingdom was set up, in order to avail ourselves of the advantages to be derived from illustration, in impressing the truth upon our minds on this subject. To meet the question fairly we must here anticipate a little. The image had two feet and ten toes; and the fourth and terrible beast of Dan. 7, had ten horns; which both represent the ten kingdoms which arose out of the Roman empire, as will be more particularly noticed hereafter. Until this division of the empire took place, the image was not complete: the feet were not fully developed. But where did the Stone smite the image? Upon the feet, and the feet only. Now look at the illustration. There is the cross, but where are the feet? We have not reached them. Can it then be said that the Stone that was to smite the image upon the feet, did its work away back there upon the thighs at the cross of Christ? Impossible. But do you say that we have erected the cross too soon? that the image should have been completed, and the cross erected at the feet? We answer, That cannot be; for the feet were not developed till 483 years after the crucifixion. No: the image cannot be smitten upon the feet, till we reach the feet; therefore it could not have been smitten at the cross. The prophecy promised that in the days of these kings (those that rose from the Roman empire) the God of heaven should set up a kingdom, and not 483 years before the division took place, or the kings existed.
Again, it does not read that the Stone gradually wore away the image, or that by some chemical process, it dissolved its metallic substances, and appropriated them to itself, till they were all used up. Far from it: the Stone smote the image; and the iron, brass, silver, and gold, were ground to powder, and blown away. The nations have not yet been dashed in pieces with a rod of iron; (Ps. 2 : 9,) they have not yet been shivered like a potter's vessel; therefore that fifth universal kingdom which is to be set up by the God of heaven and stand forever, which is to be ushered in with events like these, is yet before us.
The conclusion is therefore obvious, that the position handed us by Butler, Prideaux, Scott and Clarke,—a position which has been seized upon by hosts of more modern origin as an objection to the faith we cherish of the soon coming of the Son of man to establish upon the demolition of all earthly governments, an enduring empire;—it is obvious, we say, that their position is erroneous and untenable. We declare unhesitatingly and without fear of contradiction, that they, have misapplied that portion of prophecy. Nor can any one say otherwise, until he can change the phraseology of the Scripture so that it will read that the image was smitten upon the thighs and not upon the feet.
That the work of grace upon the heart, the freedom of the gospel, the growth of Christianity, and events in the church's history, are sometimes set forth by the phrase, kingdom of heaven, is not to be doubted; but it does not come within the province of this article, to show the application of all these expressions wherever they occur. The prophecy of Daniel is our subject, and to show the application of the kingdom there brought to view, is all that the scope of the theme demands at our hands. We have endeavored to show that that kingdom was not set up at the crucifixion, but is still future. It was future at our Lord's last passover. Matt. 26 : 29. He did not set it up before his ascension. Acts 1 : 6. Flesh and blood cannot inherit it. 1 Cor. 15 : 50. It was a matter of promise to the apostles, and is so to those that love God. James 1 : 5. It is promised in the future to the little flock. Luke 12 : 32. It is to be set up when Christ shall judge the living and the dead. 2 Tim. 4 : 1. It is to be set up when the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him. Matt. 25 : 31-34.
This is the kingdom prepared for the faithful from the foundation of the world, upon which they will enter, when those who will not have Jesus to reign over them, are brought forth and slain in his presence. Luke 19 : 12-27. This is the kingdom which the saints shall take under the whole heaven, and possess forever and ever. Dan. 7 : 27. The prayer which our Saviour taught his first disciples, still fervently ascends from the lips of his patient waiting flock in these last days, "Our Father who art in Heaven, thy kingdom come!"