In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how he spoke to King Nebuchadnezzar about his dream and said, “You, O king, are a king of kings: for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven has he given into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all. You are this head of gold. And after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth”, and in Daniel chapter two and verse forty Daniel shared how he told King Nebuchadnezzar, “and the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron” where we read,
And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things: and as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
The verse reads, “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things:” Daniel began with the words, “and the fourth kingdom” or “and the fourth royal realm or ruler” “shall be strong as iron” which means “will exist as powerful and mighty similar and in likeness to iron metal”: “forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces” or “inasmuch, similar and in likeness to how iron metal shatters, crumbles and crushes” “and subdues all things” which means “and crushes and weakens each, every, the whole and everything”. Daniel shared ho the “fourth”royal rule that would come on the scene would be mighty and powerful like iron metal because iron metal is able to crush and weaken every other thing.
The verse goes on to say, “and as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” Daniel continued with the words, “and as iron” which means “and similar and in likeness to iron metal” “that breaks all these” or “that shatters, crumbles and crushes every one of other metals”, “shall it break in pieces and bruise” which means “will it, the fourth kingdom, shatter, crumble and crush into particles”. Daniel said similar to the way iron metal crumbles and crushes every other metal, the fourth kingdom will crumble and crush into particles every other kingdom.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel that the fourth royal power that will arise will be so mighty and strong that it will be like “iron metal” which crushes all the other metals. This world-wide empire was to replace the third kingdom, and the strength of it would be known around the world. One by one each of these royal realms were being revealed, and God had a plan for all of them to bring about the birth of His Son Jesus who would die on the cross and be resurrected from the grave after three days so all who believe and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and provided with the wisdom of His Holy Spirit to know the purpose for a kingdom that was strong as “iron metal”.
Next time Daniel shares how he told King Nebuchadnezzar, “you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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