AYa UF THESE KINGS
3248 HE great question that troubles
the hearts of men today—hearts that are
torn with conflicting emotions, hearts that
are filled with fears and oppressed by dark
forebodings—is: ‘“ What about the future?
Will there actually be peace in our time?
Will this world be better after it has been
purged of evil men who seek to dominate
the souls and consciences of others? Is it
possible that there will never again be any
wars upon the earth, so that our children
may grow up without this fear hanging over
them continually? Of what can we be
certain?’
Someone has said that we cannot be cer-
tain of anything except death, as that
comes to all men, rich and poor alike. But
we are not ready to admit the truth of such
a statement for there is something else that
1s positive and certain, and that is the word
of the living God, which abides forever;
for “we have a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as
unto a light that shineth in a dark place.”
2 Peter 1:19.
“Prophecy, . . . as a light,” is shining
amidst the darkness of a world in distress.
It contains the divine predictions of a God
who sees the end from the beginning, and
who has never made a false prediction.
These revelations are today unfolded before
the world, and God says, “Take heed’;
but the world passes on.
It 1s some 2,500 years since the light of
prophecy unfolded before that powerful
empire-builder, Nebuchadnezzar. Never in
the history of the world, before or since, has
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Hy Wesley Amundsen
there been such a kingdom as his. But in
spite of greatness and beauty, and the ap-
parent security of his kingdom, the king
was troubled, and the haunting ques-
tion arose, “ Will my kingdom stand? What
will take place when I am gone?”
His thoughts gave rise to a dream in the
night season, but when he awakened from
his sleep the dream was gone. The impres-
sion which 1t had left, however, was so
strong that he demanded that his wise men
tell him what the dream was and explain to
him its meaning. Of course this was hu-
manly impossible. None of the wise men
could meet the king's demands. So the
decree went forth that they should all be
killed.
At this time word came to Daniel and his
three young companions that they too
would suffer death, for they were included
with the group of the wise men of the realm.
But Daniel requested the privilege of a
respite, in order that he might seek God for
divine revelation. His request being
granted, these four lads set themselves to
pray and plead with God for His favor.
Then was the secret revealed to Daniel,
and he was ready to stand before the king.
Listen to his words:
“There 1s a God in heaven that revealeth
secrets, and maketh known to the king
Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter
days. . And He that revealeth secrets
maketh known to thee what shall come to
pass.” Daniel 2:28, 29,
After the Lord had revealed the dream
to Daniel, the prophet had said: “He
her seven children, and their families.
X Former Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary,
As here
shown, they are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin
Bullock, of Royalston, Massachusetts.
207 KE
changeth the times and the seasons: he
removeth kings, and setteth up kings: . . .
He revealeth the deep and secret things:
He knoweth what is in the darkness, and
the light dwelleth with Him.” Verses
21, 22.
It is God alone who can foretell the
future; it 1s He that tells us what shall be in
“the latter days.” Kings and rulers are
permitted to reign only so long as He
suffers them to continue. He sees the condi-
tion of things in this world of darkness, and
He also sees the light of hope that shines
amidst the gloom. We are permitted to see
only as His prophetic word gives us light.
Therefore men everywhere ought to study,
pray for an understanding of, and accept
the teachings of, the Holy Scriptures. If
they will do this, they will be able to
see the purpose of God in the things that
perplex them, and find a solution to their
problems.
In the dream which Daniel presented to
the king there 1s a record of that which
should be in “the latter days.” The image
of the dream was that of a man, made up
of the various metals,—gold, silver, brass,
iron, and clay. Baser and baser became
each successive kingdom. Babylon, Medo-
Persia, Greece, and Rome, four universal
empires, all have gone down to ruin as the
prophecy indicated they would. The
kingdoms into which Rome was divided,
symbolized by the iron mixed with potters’
clay, are present with us to this day. The
conclusion of the dream pictured a stone,
“cut out without hands,” and it crashed
against the image with such tremendous
force that the gold, the silver, the brass, the
iron, and the clay were ground to powder,
and the “wind carried them away.” Then
the word says that the stone ‘filled the
whole earth,” thus taking the place of the
kingdoms which now possess it.
In his interpretation, the prophet showed
that the four metals represent the four uni-
versal empires which we have mentioned.
He says: “Thou, O king, art a king of
kings: for the God of heaven hath given
thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and
glory. . Thou art this head of gold.”
Daniel 2:37, 38. History reveals that
Babylon came upon the stage of action
about 606 B. c. so it is easy by the study of
history to follow on from that point to our
time and to see the accuracy of the predic-
tion and the application of the prophecy.
Following Rome, there will never be an-
other world kingdom until the fifth king-
dom 1s established, which 1s represented by
the “stone.” No power on earth can alter
this prophecy, none can change it. Armies
with tanks and airplanes may put fear into
the hearts of men, but God will laugh at
them as they endeavor to weld together
that which He has said would never again
become one under the rule of man. Says
the prophet:
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