p. 646 | The Sabbath-School by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 29, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 41.

The Sabbath-School.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

LESSONS FOR PACIFIC COAST—NOV. 14 AND 21.

The Fourth Kingdom.

IN order to catch up, so that the notes may be of service to Sabbath-school scholars in the East, it is necessary this week to furnish notes on lessons 9 and 10. This may be done without any break in the notes, since the subject begun in the ninth lesson,—The Fourth Kingdom,—is continued through the tenth.

THIS fourth kingdom is described in Dan. 2, 7, and 8. It will therefore be our work to quote these several descriptions, to show that they all apply to the same power, and to show beyond question the name of that power. The basis of the whole is found in the second chapter of Daniel. In that chapter, as already learned, four universal empires are symbolized by the four different metals of which the image was composed. The fourth division of the image was the legs of iron, and the feet and toes of mingled iron and clay. Of this division the prophet said: "And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise." Dan. 2:40.

THIS fourth kingdom is the only one that is not somewhere in the prophecy directly named; but by the data given we may identify it as readily as though it were called by name. Thus: There are to be but four universal monarchies from the time of Daniel's prophecy, since the fourth closes with the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom, which is to take the place of all others. See Dan. 2:34, 35, 44, 45. From Dan. 2:37, 38 we learn that Babylon was the first of these universal monarchies. Daniel 5 relates the history of the last night of Babylonian rule, and verses 28, 30, 31 tell what power succeeded. Ezra 1:2 shows that the Medo-Persian Empire, like its predecessor, was a universal dominion. In Dan. 8:3-7, 20, 21, we are plainly told that Grecia was to overthrow the Persian Empire, and fill its place; and history bears witness that such was the case. The Grecian Empire, especially under Alexander the Great, did "bear rule over all the earth." Dan. 2:39.

Thus we have identified three of the four universal kingdoms that were to reach from the prophet's time till the end of the world. Now if we can find any mention of a universal monarchy, other than Babylon, Persia, and Greece, we shall know that it is the fourth kingdom, the one represented by the legs of iron. This is as evident as it is that three from four leaves one. Now in Luke 2:1 a universal dominion is brought to view; for we read: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." But everybody recognizes Cæsar as a Roman name, and Cæsar Augustus as the first Roman emperor. Then since his dominion extended over all the world, it follows that Rome was the fourth universal empire,—the one represented by the legs of iron in Dan. 2:33.

PROFANE history coincides with sacred history in declaring Rome to be universal. Says Gibbon:—

"A modern tyrant who would find no resistance either in his own breast or in his people, would soon experience a gentle restraint in the example of his equals, the dread of present censure, the advice of his allies, and the apprehension of his enemies. The object of his displeasure, escaping from the narrow limits of his dominions, would easily obtain in a happier climate a secure refuge, a new fortune adequate to his merits, the freedom of complaint, and, perhaps, the means of revenge. But the empire of the Romans filled the world; and when that empire fell into the hands of a single person, the world became a safe and dreary prison for his enemies. The slave of imperial despotism, whether he was compelled to drag his gilded chain in Rome and the Senate, or to wear out a life of exile on the barren rock of Seriphus or the frozen banks of the Danube, expected his fate in silent despair. To resist was fatal, and it was impossible to fly. On every side he was encompassed with a vast extent of sea and land, which he could not hope to traverse without being discovered, seized, and restored to his irritated master. Beyond the frontiers his anxious gaze could discover nothing except the ocean, inhospitable deserts, hostile tribes of barbarians of fierce manners and unknown language, or dependent kings, who would gladly purchase the emperor's protection by the sacrifice of an obnoxious fugitive. 'Wherever you are,' said Cicero to the exiled Marcellus, 'remember that you are equally within the power of the conqueror.'"—Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chap. 3, paragraph 37.

THE same historian, in another place, in recording the universal conquest of Rome, makes unmistakable reference to Dan. 2:40, in the following words:—

"The ambitious design of conquest, which might have been defeated by the seasonable conspiracy of mankind, was attempted and achieved, and the perpetual violation of justice was maintained, by the political virtues of prudence and courage. The arms of the republic, sometimes vanquished in battle, always victorious in war, advanced with rapid strides to the Euphrates, the Danube, the Rhine, and the ocean; and the images of gold, or silver, or brass, that might serve to represent the nations and their kings, were successively broken by the iron monarchy of Rome."—Decline and Fall, chap. 38, par. 44.

IN the seventh of Daniel, four beasts are seen coming up out of the sea. These beasts denote four kingdoms. Verse 17. These four kings are universal; for it is expressly said of the fourth: "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces." Dan. 7:23. Then the four beasts must represent respectively Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The description of the fourth kingdom, as given in verse 23, tallies exactly with the character of Rome as described by Gibbon. So we find that the "dreadful and terrible" beast of Daniel 7, is identical with the legs of iron of Daniel 2.

AGAIN, in the eighth of Daniel we find the same succession of universal kingdoms referred to. The prophecy begins with Medo-Persia, represented by the ram, and shows its conquest by Grecia, which was represented by the goat. The great horn between its eyes, represented the first king of Grecia as a universal monarchy, viz., Alexander the Great. When this horn was broken, four notable ones came up in its place (Dan. 8:8), indicating that at the death of the first king, Alexander, four kingdoms should "stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Verse 22. Alexander died B. C. 323, and the history of the kingdom after his death is thus briefly summarized by Dr. Barnes in his notes on this passage:—

"Though the kingdom was not by him [Alexander] divided into four parts, yet, from the confusion and conflicts that arose, power was ultimately concentrated into four dynasties. At his death, his brother Aridæus was declared king in his stead, and Perdiccas regent. But the unity of the Macedonian power was gone, and disorder and confusion, and a struggle for empire, immediately succeeded. . . . In 305 B. C. the successors of Alexander took the title of kings, and in 301 B. C. there occurred the battle of Ipsus, in which Antigonus, who reigned in Asia Minor, was killed, and then followed in that year a formal division of Alexander's empire between the four victorious princes, Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassander, and Lysimachus. In the division of the empire, Seleucus Nicator obtained Syria, Babylonia, Media and Susiana, Armenia, a part of Cappadocia, Celicia, and his kingdom, in name, at least, extended from the Hellespont to the Indies. The kingdom of Lysimachus extended over a part of Thrace, Asia Minor, part of Cappadocia, and the countries within the limits of Mount Taurus. Cassander possessed Macedonia, Thessaly, and a part of Greece. Ptolemy obtained Egypt, Cyprus, and Cyrene, and ultimately Cœle-Syria, Phenicia, Judea, and a part of Asia Minor and Thrace. Thus the dominions of Seleucus were in the East; those of Cassander in the West; those of Ptolemy in the South; and those of Lysimachus in the North."

THE entire history of these four divisions of the Grecian Empire is given by Rollin under the head of "Alexander's Successors," thus showing that each one of the divisions, and all the kings of each division, are considered as still forming a part of the goat,—Grecia,—and not as forming a kingdom which should take the place of Greece.

"AND out of one of them [i. e., one of the four horns of the goat], came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land." Dan. 8:9. The power here brought to view is described in verses 10-12 and 23-25. Before noticing any points in this description, we pause to state that from what we have already learned, we know that this little horn symbolizes Rome. We know it by the same means by which we determined that the legs of iron symbolize Rome. Four universal monarchies cover the world's entire history, from the time of the prophet until the coming of the Lord. These four kingdoms we have found to be Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The first three are named in the prophecy; the last one we determine by a mathematical demonstration. Well, in this prophecy we have Medo-Persia brought to view, with Greece succeeding it. These powers are respectively termed "great" and "very great." Verses 4, 8. Now immediately following Greece, we have a power represented by a little horn, which is said to wax "exceeding great." It must then have been more powerful than either Medo-Persia or Greece, and consequently could not be less than universal. But if it was universal, it must have been Rome; for Rome was the only power, after Greece, which, as both sacred and profane history agree, was able to break in pieces and subdue all nations.

LACK of space prevents our noticing the further description of this little horn, and showing its exact fulfillment in the Roman Empire. These points will be noted next week, before commenting on the next lesson. E. J. W.