World History & The Holy Bible (Legs of Iron)
4. Legs of Iron: In 168 B.C., it was the Roman Empire’s turn.
Daniel 2:40, And the fourth kingdom [Rome] shall be strong as iron, since iron breaks to pieces and subdues all things; and like iron which crushes, it shall break and crush all these.
In 168 B.C., it was the Roman Empire’s turn to enact its supreme rule upon the region. Prophetically speaking, iron perfectly symbolizes this kingdom: its military strength and discipline, its domination over many conquered nations, its laws imposed on all people far and wide. Every aspect of this nation was like the strength and endurance of iron. This kingdom reigned until A.D.476. In fact the fall of this kingdom is VERY important to Bible Prophecy. It sets up what we see today in fact.
Considered one of the most successful imperial powers in history. In the course of centuries Rome grew from central Italy into a vast empire that ultimately embraced England, all of continental Europe, most of Asia west of the Euphrates, northern Africa, and the islands of the Mediterranean. Unlike the Greeks, who excelled in intellectual and artistic endeavours, the Romans achieved greatness in their military, political, and social institutions. Roman society, during the republic, was governed by a strong military ethos. While this helps to explain the incessant warfare, it does not account for Rome’s success as an imperial power. Unlike Greek city-states, which excluded foreigners and subjected peoples from political participation, Rome from its beginning incorporated conquered peoples into its social and political system. Allies and subjects who adopted Roman ways were eventually granted Roman citizenship. During the principate, the seats in the Senate and even the imperial throne were occupied by persons from the Mediterranean realm outside Italy. The lasting effects of Roman rule in Europe can be seen in the geographic distribution of the Roman languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian), all of which evolved from Latin, the language of the Romans. The Western alphabet of 26 letters and the calendar of 12 months and 365.25 days are only two simple examples of the cultural legacy which Rome has bequeathed Western civilization.
It is said that the Roman Empire was never destroyed by any particular kingdom, rather several parts of it was taken down at different times. Its worth pointing out now the significance of the next part of the dream as God showed Daniel.
