Can you explain more about the image in Daniel 2?

In a few words and by means of a heathen king�s dream, God through Daniel foretold 2500 years of the world�s history. (Dan. 2)

Prior to the image of Daniel 2 we understand that Israel since the time of Moses represented God�s kingdom on earth. (Amos 3:2) They were given God�s law, his promises to be their king and guide, if they would only obey his edicts. But time and time again they broke God�s holy law and preferred the ways of the heathens. God promised that if they disobeyed that he would ultimately cast them off from his favor and scatter them throughout the world. Finally, in the reign of Zedekiah, who was to become their last king, Babylon took Israel captive and drove them from their homeland, leaving it desolate. Israel lost the crown [dominion] and would not regain it until Christ�s return when God would make a new covenant with them, thus establishing his kingdom on earth, and again through Israel. (Ezek. 21:24-27) God permitted the Gentiles to rule between the time of his taking the dominion of the world from Israel until he returns with his kingdom.

This is the time that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had his dream of a glorious statue of a man composed of five different elements: gold, silver, brass, iron and clay, recorded as the image of Daniel 2. Daniel interpreted the dream as representing four Gentile governments that would rule the world for the next 2500 plus years. (Luke 21:24) History and the scriptures identify these four governments that ruled the known world as: Babylon (head of gold), Medo-Persia (breast and arms of silver), Rome (legs of iron), Holy Roman Empire, a mixture of church and state (toes of iron mixed with clay).

Suddenly Nebuchadnezzar saw a stone strike the image on its feet so that the entire image crumbled and was reduced to dust. Then the stone became a great mountain and filled the entire earth (Dan. 2:35). The stone, which becomes the fifth universal empire, is that of Christ�s kingdom. As Daniel says, it becomes a great mountain that filled the entire earth. A mountain in scripture represents a kingdom or a ruling government. (Isa. 2:2, 3; 65:25; Micah 4:1, 2)

When the stone strikes the image of Daniel 2 on the feet, it topples the entire image, thus beginning the destruction of all world governments, which will make way for the Kingdom of God and Christ on earth. The means by which this is done is by �a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.� (Dan. 12:1) After the time of trouble destroys all governments, the Kingdom of God will be inaugurated: �And I will shake [time of trouble] all nations and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. (Hag. 2:7)

It is interesting to note that this great statue represents man�s view of world government. Man views these kingdoms as glorious and mighty. But in Daniel 7, in a vision of Daniel�s, God�s view of the world�s kingdoms are depicted as four beasts, corrupt, evil and greedy. These beasts correspond exactly to the ones mentioned in Daniel 2. The first, a lion represents Babylon; the second, a bear equals Medo-Persia; third, a leopard representing Greece, and; fourth, the Roman Empire, so awful and terrible that there was no animal to compared to it.

We all pray for God�s kingdom to be established on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt. 6:10)