Studies in Daniel: Legs of IRON

 

iv. The LEGS of IRON (vv. 33a, 40): The Initial Phase of the ROMAN EMPIRE.

 

      v. 33a: “…its legs of iron…”

v. 40: “Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces.”

 

Synonymous with the Fourth Beast of Daniel 7.

v.7: "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”

 

Unlike the three previous Kingdoms, the Fourth Kingdom is not specifically named elsewhere in Daniel—but it is the most discussed within the Book, and there can be no doubt as to its historic identity!

 

a. ROME in its various forms receives the largest amount of discussion (vv. 40-43); an indication of its uniquely unparalleled importance to the history of Western Civilization, as well as its eschatological importance.

 

o   Consider its vast longevity…

 

>In the West, Rome existed as a distinguishable and identifiable entity from approx. 750 BC unto approx. AD 500—over a millennium!

>In the East, Rome existed an additional millennium as an identifiable government throughout the length of the Middle Ages! (approx. AD 1500; the Byzantine Empire).

 

o   Consider its cultural influence…

>Its influence upon legal & political institutions…

>Its influence upon art, language, the military & technical sciences, religion…

>The continuing persistence of its institutions and ideals, long after the decline

of the nominal Empire…

>Subsequent emerging medieval civilizations (Western European, Greek

Byzantine, and Islamic) can be counted as the political and cultural heirs of ancient Roman civilization…

 

o   Though outwardly gone, the Fourth Kingdom thus survives, in a sense, through its lingering influences, ideals, and institutions.

>The World System introduced by Rome has prevailed, and will prevail until

Jesus comes a second time.

>The western world has had an undeniable dominating influence throughout

the globe throughout the past several centuries.

 

 

b. A Fierce and Militant Kingdom of IRON!

1.The Fourth Kingdom chiefly characterized by its astonishing military prowess and strength (2:40; 7:7).

When Nebuchadnezzar dreamed his dream, the small Roman state was essentially a village based around Palatine Hill along the Tiber River. Through its martial spirit and military expertise, Rome first came to dominate the entire Italian peninsula, and then defeat its chief Mediterranean rival, Carthage. Ultimately, its iron legions and finely-tuned diplomatic tactics allowed it to dominate and absorb the entire Hellenistic world! Consider its power at the time of our Lord’s first advent:

 Luke 2:1: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Rome was noted for its stern brutality, smashing all opposition to its iron-fisted rule; the Pax Romana (Roman Peace) was enforced by an iron-fisted inhumanity and the harsh threat of violence.

2. Iron is also an appropriate symbol for Rome, as it also noted for making great use of this metal in its weaponry. Dan. 7:7: “and it had large iron teeth.”

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Epochs of Roman History

 

I. The Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC)

 

II. The Roman Republic (509–27 BC)

 

III. The unified Roman Empire (27 BC – AD 395)

 

IV. The Divided Empire:

i. The Western Empire (AD 395–476)

II. The Eastern, or Byzantine, Empire (AD 395–1453) 

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3. Iron also continues the theme of deterioration of sovereign authority.

With end of the Kingdom period and the rise of the Republic, the Romans came to despise the despotism of oriental Kingship and the trappings of hereditary royalty.

 

Roman values: the Romans valued a sense of duty & piety, gravity and seriousness of purpose, and the maintenance of personal dignity. All of these were conducive to prizing a spirit of Republican virtue and self-worth.

 

Despite the demise of the Republic and the rise of the Empire with Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor, Republican forms and institutions were still highly valued and outwardly maintained.

 

c. The two legs may speak as to the division of the Empire after the death of

Theodosius the Great (AD 395) into Eastern and Western Empires.

 

 

                                           The Empire divided in half in AD 395.                    

                    Augustus, Rome’s first Emperor, in the garb of Pontifex Maximus (High Priest).

 

 d. Unlike the other Kingdom’s, this one has two distinct expressions.

i. Initial phase: Legs of Iron.

ii. Latter phase: Feet partially of Iron, partially of Clay.