Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 96:382 (Apr 1939)
Article: The Signs of the Times
Author: John Ker Munro

BSac 96:382 (Apr 39) p. 224

The Signs of the Times

John Ker Munro

Contrary to general opinions on the philosophy of current history is the biblical revelation that the world is not coming to the end of an age but is moving toward the convergence of three ages. Since from the divine viewpoint there are three divisions of humanity (1 Cor 10:32), there are three separate programs being consummated on the earth. For convenience we shall refer to them according to their relationship to the threefold classification of men: Gentilic, Judaic, and Ecclesiastic.

I

The beginning, course, and end of the Gentilic program in the earth is contained largely in two major passages, both of which are in Daniel, chapter 2 and chapter 7. Our purpose is not to prove that our interpretation of these chapters is the true interpretation, but simply to review it for the purpose of relating ourselves in time to the end of this program.

It will be recalled that chapter 2 of Daniel records Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the inability of the wise men to reproduce it, and Daniel’s success in recalling the forgotten dream and in giving the interpretation thereof. In this dream, the Babylonian king saw a huge image of a man, whose head was of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs brass, legs of iron, and feet part of iron and part of clay. This image was smitten and ground to powder by a stone cut out without hands, whereupon the wind blew the particles of the image away, and the stone grew into a great mountain that filled the whole earth.

BSac 96:382 (Apr 39) p. 225

The interpretation, given by Daniel, was that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold, and that following him there should arise another kingdom inferior to his own. This second kingdom was to be followed by a third of brass and a fourth of iron. Historically these were the Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman Empires respectively. This succession is confirmed in the beast-vision of Daniel in chapter 7. Perhaps many will think that the days of the Roman Empire passed with the invasions of the Goths and Vandals in the fifth century, but from many biblical considerations, there is to be a revival of the Roman Empire. Let us note carefully this fact as predicted by Daniel. The first thing to notice is that there were ten toes on the image of Daniel 2, and ten horns on the fourth beast of Daniel 7. The toes and horns refer to the same thing. That these represent ten kings is seen in You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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