Thank you for your thoughts! Hope you can / might also interpret the AOD is the cross. It is and always will be THE most abominable” act that man could ever do … against our own God. This will cause God to make desolate His relationship with His people for almost 2000 years- the “time of the Gentiles,” and then, He will give them their “Damascus” experience and remove the blindness from their eyes.” This will then cause them to preach the Word of God AND the Testimony of Jesus as Paul did- a pure teaching of His Word not corrupted by the little horn over the past 1500 years. I will get back to you later on 2:41. Thanks again.
Nebuchadnezzar's Statue vs. Heads of the Beast - How Would You Link Them?
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Part 1
Daniel 2:41
41And whereas thou saw 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 saw the iron mixed with miry clay..
The fourth kingdom begins with pagan Rome (verse 40) and will continue in various forms until the end of time. This period encompasses part of the second-time bracket and the entirety of the third-time bracket within God's plan of salvation. The second-time bracket covers the seventy-weeks-of-years prophecy, which starts during the Medes-Persian Empire after the Jews return to Jerusalem (457 BC) and concludes 3.5 years after the cross, around 33/34 AD.
The third and final time bracket begins after the end of the 70 weeks of years prophecy and continues until the end times, culminating in the second coming of the Messiah. This final period includes the remaining 400 years of the pagan Roman Empire. In the late fifth century AD, pagan Rome transitions into Papal Rome, representing the divided form of the fourth kingdom. This transition signifies a shift in power and influence, from the unified pagan Rome to the fragmented Papal Rome, which continues to exert its influence throughout history until the end times.
God has revealed a deliberate yet enigmatic method for understanding the events and transitions within the fourth kingdom of Rome, both before and after the stone strikes the feet. His use of symbolism in Daniel’s vision is intentional and structured, revealing profound truths that require careful interpretation. Rather than providing every step explicitly, God gives us key pieces of the puzzle, requiring us to actively engage with His Word to fully comprehend both the dream sequence and its interpretation.
The dream sequence (Daniel 2:31-35) presents a broad prophetic vision, illustrating the material composition of pagan Rome before the cross. However, it does not immediately disclose the intricate shifts that follow, leaving much of the kingdom’s transformation veiled in mystery. To unravel this mystery, we must turn to the interpretation sequence (Daniel 2:41-45), where God provides detailed symbolic elements that clarify the kingdom’s evolution.
A critical aspect of God’s prophetic structure is His deliberate use of iron and clay—not only to define the fourth kingdom’s composition but also to signal whether the prophecy refers to pagan Rome before or after the cross, or Papal Rome after the cross. By positioning iron or clay in a superior role, God marks which phase of the kingdom is being described.
Before the cross, iron dominates (Daniel 2:33), symbolizing pagan Rome’s military strength and control over God’s people (ceramic clay).
After the cross, the order reverses—clay takes precedence over iron (Daniel 2:41a), marking the rise of the Church within the empire and its eventual transition into Papal Rome. (as you can see how important 2:34 is to these verses / prophecies. It represents Jesus coming in the early first century to break apart the clay from within the iron feet (4th kingdom of Rome).
These shifts in placement serve as prophetic indicators, illustrating how the fourth kingdom evolves from a purely political and military empire into a religious-political system that exerts power in a new way. It should also be mentioned that these transitions take place over the next 500 years after the cross. Further, during this transition period, we will see pagan Rome move from a purely Imperial Empire to one that will embrace Christianity at the time of Constantine and then end with Papal Rome in power.
By connecting the interpretation sequence with the dream sequence, we uncover hidden relationships, structural shifts, and defining characteristics that reveal how pagan Rome before the cross transitions into Papal Rome after the cross. God’s use of iron and clay, and His purposeful positioning of each element, acts as a prophetic roadmap, guiding us through the transformation of the fourth kingdom.
This method requires diligent examination, as each symbolic detail functions as a puzzle piece, revealing the interplay of political, religious, and spiritual transformations within Rome. The vision in Daniel 2 is not merely a historical forecast—it is a layered, symbolic revelation, requiring us to connect the dream and interpretation sequences to fully grasp God’s prophetic blueprint.
Before examining Daniel 2:41-45, it is essential to recognize that God’s revelation is structured with purpose. His symbolism unveils truth, and the interpretation sequence is more than an explanation. By following this deliberate and symbolic design, we gain a profound understanding of the fourth kingdom’s evolution and its role in prophetic history.
The next few verses in Chapter 2 are quite complex and require careful interpretation. Verse 41 has four parts that require specific attention:
Part 1
Daniel 2:41
41And whereas thou saw 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 saw the iron mixed with miry clay..
The fourth kingdom begins with pagan Rome (verse 40) and will continue in various forms until the end of time. This period encompasses part of the second-time bracket and the entirety of the third-time bracket within God's plan of salvation. The second-time bracket covers the seventy-weeks-of-years prophecy, which starts during the Medes-Persian Empire after the Jews return to Jerusalem (457 BC) and concludes 3.5 years after the cross, around 33/34 AD.
The third and final time bracket begins after the end of the 70 weeks of years prophecy and continues until the end times, culminating in the second coming of the Messiah. This final period includes the remaining 400 years of the pagan Roman Empire. In the late fifth century AD, pagan Rome transitions into Papal Rome, representing the divided form of the fourth kingdom. This transition signifies a shift in power and influence, from the unified pagan Rome to the fragmented Papal Rome, which continues to exert its influence throughout history until the end times.
God has revealed a deliberate yet enigmatic method for understanding the events and transitions within the fourth kingdom of Rome, both before and after the stone strikes the feet. His use of symbolism in Daniel’s vision is intentional and structured, revealing profound truths that require careful interpretation. Rather than providing every step explicitly, God gives us key pieces of the puzzle, requiring us to actively engage with His Word to fully comprehend both the dream sequence and its interpretation.
The dream sequence (Daniel 2:31-35) presents a broad prophetic vision, illustrating the material composition of pagan Rome before the cross. However, it does not immediately disclose the intricate shifts that follow, leaving much of the kingdom’s transformation veiled in mystery. To unravel this mystery, we must turn to the interpretation sequence (Daniel 2:41-45), where God provides detailed symbolic elements that clarify the kingdom’s evolution.
A critical aspect of God’s prophetic structure is His deliberate use of iron and clay—not only to define the fourth kingdom’s composition but also to signal whether the prophecy refers to pagan Rome before or after the cross, or Papal Rome after the cross. By positioning iron or clay in a superior role, God marks which phase of the kingdom is being described.
Before the cross, iron dominates (Daniel 2:33), symbolizing pagan Rome’s military strength and control over God’s people (ceramic clay).
After the cross, the order reverses—clay takes precedence over iron (Daniel 2:41a), marking the rise of the Church within the empire and its eventual transition into Papal Rome. (as you can see how important 2:34 is to these verses / prophecies. It represents Jesus coming in the early first century to break apart the clay from within the iron feet (4th kingdom of Rome).
These shifts in placement serve as prophetic indicators, illustrating how the fourth kingdom evolves from a purely political and military empire into a religious-political system that exerts power in a new way. It should also be mentioned that these transitions take place over the next 500 years after the cross. Further, during this transition period, we will see pagan Rome move from a purely Imperial Empire to one that will embrace Christianity at the time of Constantine and then end with Papal Rome in power.
By connecting the interpretation sequence with the dream sequence, we uncover hidden relationships, structural shifts, and defining characteristics that reveal how pagan Rome before the cross transitions into Papal Rome after the cross. God’s use of iron and clay, and His purposeful positioning of each element, acts as a prophetic roadmap, guiding us through the transformation of the fourth kingdom.
This method requires diligent examination, as each symbolic detail functions as a puzzle piece, revealing the interplay of political, religious, and spiritual transformations within Rome. The vision in Daniel 2 is not merely a historical forecast—it is a layered, symbolic revelation, requiring us to connect the dream and interpretation sequences to fully grasp God’s prophetic blueprint.
Before examining Daniel 2:41-45, it is essential to recognize that God’s revelation is structured with purpose. His symbolism unveils truth, and the interpretation sequence is more than an explanation. By following this deliberate and symbolic design, we gain a profound understanding of the fourth kingdom’s evolution and its role in prophetic history.
The next few verses in Chapter 2 are quite complex and require careful interpretation. Verse 41 has four parts that require specific attention:
41a: "Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and iron,"
41b: "The kingdom shall be divided,"
41c: "Yet the strength of the iron shall be in it,"
41d: "Just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic (miry) clay,"
End of Part 1Part 2
These elements provide a framework for understanding the divided nature and enduring strength of the fourth kingdom.
41a and 41b
In Daniel 2:33 of the dream sequence, the feet of the fourth kingdom are described as being partly iron and partly clay—in that order—but without any mention of the toes or the specific type of clay. At this stage, the feet represent pagan Rome before the Messiah arrives. Nebuchadnezzar, in his dream, sees the feet as a mixture of iron and clay, but the toes remain hidden from his view. Later, in Daniel 2:41d, Daniel clarifies that the clay within the feet is ceramic clay, a hardened and brittle material. This indicates that, to Nebuchadnezzar, the feet would have appeared as a solid structure of iron and hardened clay, completely encasing or hiding the ten toes that will later be revealed in Daniel 7.
The Messiah, represented by the stone cut without hands in Daniel 2:34, strikes these feet, breaking apart the iron and the ceramic clay. This impact does not destroy the entire image, but rather, it begins a symbolic process of division and separation within the fourth kingdom of Rome. The iron represents the Roman imperial power, and the ceramic clay symbolizes the Jews living under Roman rule. When the stone strikes, it breaks the hardened ceramic clay from the iron, allowing the Lord—the Potter—to take from it pieces of clay that He will shape and mold (Potter’s clay) as He desires.
This potter’s clay refers to those Jews who accept Jesus as their Messiah and are transformed into the first followers of the Gospel. These faithful ones, shaped by God’s hand, become the foundation of the early Church, which then expands to include millions of Gentiles. The act of breaking apart the ceramic clay from the iron symbolizes the division (divided kingdom) within Rome—not its immediate destruction. Jesus Himself spoke of this purpose in Matthew 10:34, declaring that He had come to bring a sword, not peace, meaning His arrival would divide those who accepted Him from those who rejected Him.
A key detail emerges in Daniel 2:41a, where the order of the iron and the clay is reversed. Instead of being described as iron and clay, it is now clay and iron—signaling that the potter’s clay (believing Jews and later Gentiles) has taken a superior position to that of the iron within the Roman world. This shift marks the beginning of the Jewish-Christian movement, a growing force within the fourth kingdom that does not destroy Rome but transforms it from within. The division caused by Christ's coming does not immediately bring the empire to an end; instead, it sets into motion a movement that will reshape the spiritual landscape of the world.
The ceramic clay, on the other hand, represents those Jews who remain hardened in their rejection of Jesus. While some are molded into potter’s clay, ready for the Lord’s work, others remain unyielding, keeping with their pre-cross Jewish faith within the iron kingdom of Rome. The cross is the defining event that separates these two groups, causing the fourth kingdom to be divided—just as Daniel prophesied in Daniel 2:41.
Thus, the stone’s strike is not a moment of destruction, but of separation. It is the act that breaks apart the elements within the fourth kingdom, distinguishing between those who will carry forward God’s plan of salvation and those who will remain part of a crumbling empire. The final destruction of all earthly kingdoms, including Rome, does not come until Daniel 2:35, at Christ’s second coming. But Daniel 2:34 marks the pivotal moment when the fourth kingdom is spiritually divided—when the Messiah’s arrival changes the course of history forever.
41C and 41D
In its earliest days, the Jewish-Christian Church had no military power and was subject to severe persecution under pagan Rome. Yet, despite the empire’s efforts to silence it, the Church did not disappear—it grew, spreading across the Roman world. The faith of those who followed Jesus the Messiah, could not be broken, even under oppression. However, the course of history was destined to change. In the early part of the fourth century, Constantine rose to power and ended the persecution of Christians. He declared Christianity an acceptable religion within pagan Rome, and within fifty years, it would become the official religion of the empire.
But this moment of religious acceptance also marked a fundamental shift within the Church itself. The strength of the iron shall be in it (Daniel 2:41c)—meaning that the Christian movement, which once had no worldly power, was now intertwined with the same iron-like strength that had once persecuted it. What had begun as a Jewish-Christian Church, persecuted but faithful, had now transitioned into a Gentile-Christian Church that carried the influence and power of Rome within it.
In Daniel 2:41d, the prophet confirms that the "strength" within this now divided kingdom is the same strength he saw in the fourth kingdom of pagan Rome (Daniel 2:33). Yet, just as before, the iron does not fully mix with the clay—a reality that defines both pagan Rome and the later divided kingdom of Papal Rome. The iron remains distinct from the clay, and the two elements never truly unite into a single, stable foundation. This ongoing instability and division is a key characteristic of the fourth kingdom’s transition from an empire of emperors to an empire of popes. Even after pagan Rome fell, the fourth kingdom continued in a divided state, its power now wielded by Papal Rome. The church that had once been persecuted had now become intertwined with political and military authority, enforcing its religious decrees through the strength of iron.
Where the imperial Caesars once ruled with force, the new rulers of this divided kingdom—their successors, Papal Rome would also use military-like power to extend their influence across the world — the strength of iron shall be in it.
This transformation did not mean that the divided kingdom of Papal Rome was passive or gentle. Whether the fourth kingdom was composed of iron and ceramic clay (pagan Rome before the cross and before Constantine, 2:33), or of potter’s clay and iron (post-Constantine up to Papal Rome), it continued to rely on the iron of Rome’s military power to assert its will. The transition from ceramic to potter’s clay, and the shift in their order of prominence, did not change the kingdom’s dependence on force and political dominance. Though potter’s clay represents those who initially followed Christ in faith, over time even this clay was shaped by the iron, leading to the rise of a religious system that would exercise authority much like the empire that came before it.
Daniel himself could not have fully grasped the depth of the visions before him. His prophetic words foreshadowed the crucifixion of his God, the non-military division of the fourth kingdom after the cross, and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom, which would spread throughout the Roman world. But his vision also foretold what would happen within 500 years of the Church’s growth—the gradual assimilation of Christ’s Church by the little horn who would head Papal Rome (which will be revealed in chapter 7).
Jesus did not come as a conquering king—not in the way the world expected. Instead, He came as a humble servant, to divide rather than to destroy. His kingdom was not built on military conquest but on truth, and His followers were to spread His message, not by force, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, even as His kingdom grew, the iron of Rome would still be found within it—and the divided nature of the fourth kingdom would remain until the day that the stone, once rejected, returns to bring all human kingdoms to an end.
The Scriptures in Jeremiah, Romans, Isaiah, and Luke speak about the "potter’s clay." In Jeremiah 18:1-6, we read about how God, as the Potter, shapes and reshapes the clay, symbolizing His authority and ability to mold His people according to His will. Romans 9:20-21 discusses how the potter has the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use, highlighting God's sovereignty. Isaiah 64:8 reminds us that we are the clay, and God is our Potter, emphasizing our dependence on Him. Luke 12:7 tells us that even the very hairs of our head are all numbered, assuring us of God's intimate care and knowledge of us. In these passages, the metaphor of the potter’s clay illustrates God's control and care, aligning with the vision in Daniel where the potter’s clay represents those who accept Jesus as their Messiah and spread the Good News.
Please consider the above and I look forward to your questions... Thanks.
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