Daniel 2:40-43

 

2:40   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. 

  2:41   And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 

  2:42   And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 

  2:43   And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 

 

The iron is connected to the “they” in vs.43 because “they” represents pagan Rome which is also represented by iron. The clay is connected to the “seed” because clay represents truth (Isa. 64:8; Jer.18:4, 6) and seed represents Christ (Gal.3:16). The iron mixed with miry clay; but iron is not able to be mixed with clay. This basically states that truth and error can’t be mixed.

Toes

Clay represents Christianity (Isa.64:8, Jer.18:4, 6).

So the mixture of clay and iron in the toes is the compromise between paganism and Christianity and this resulted in the beginning of the papacy. This is represented in the feet but in the toes it is a different variation of idolatry that is compromised with Christianity. This idolatry is a devotion to the things of the world. So this mixing of Christianity and the world results in apostate Protentism. The mixing of iron and clay leads to three problems: first it causes apostasy in church, which leads to the mixing of state and church which then leads to persecution and intolerance.

Both the ten toes that came out of the feet and the ten horns that came out of the leopard like beast in Rev.13, 17 represents pagan Rome. The reason for the toes and horns in Revelation 13, 17 being related is that they both come out of the papacy. Rev 13, 17 give more details about the toes of Dan. 2. The 10 horns in Dan. 7 represent the breaking of pagan Rome so therefore if we are living in the toes, this chapter cannot be connected to the toes and the other horns. We are living in the toes now (1T pg, 360).

Daniel 2

Daniel Chapter 2

The image represents the future degradation of both the kingdoms on the earth,  in religion and morality(4BC 1168). Gold represented Babylon (see Daniel 2:38), which was in power of the known world from 605-539 BC.  We know this from both the Bible and history. According to history,  Babylon tended  to use gold in abundance,  especially in their main city. Silver represents Medo-Persia,  because in 539 BC Cyrus overtook Babylon and reigned over most of the then known world till 331 BC.  (see Dan 2:39 and cross reference to Dan. 5:25-30)  He was prophesied somewhere in Ezra and Isaiah. Brass represented Greece. In 331 BC Alexander the Great took over the same territory and more. Then Rome took over after Alexander died. The Roman empire fell apart and became divided into 10 different  kingdoms. (see Dan.7) Then the stone was cut out of the mountain,  and it broke the whole image,  so that there was nothing left of it. This shows the end of the world and all earthly kingdoms and the coming of heaven.