by the friends of the
Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:00:03.70\00:00:06.94
Doug Batchelor: There are
few humans whose intellect could
00:00:09.24\00:00:11.64
match the genius of Leonardo
da Vinci, one of the greatest
00:00:11.67\00:00:15.38
artists and
inventors of all time.
00:00:15.41\00:00:17.91
Probably, he's most renowned
for his Mona Lisa painting.
00:00:17.95\00:00:22.22
Leonardo also excelled in the
fields of science, engineering,
00:00:22.25\00:00:26.92
anatomy, botany, architecture,
geology, zoology, mechanics, and
00:00:26.96\00:00:33.23
many more.
00:00:33.26\00:00:34.56
In many of these areas,
he was far ahead of his time.
00:00:34.56\00:00:38.40
For example, he drew designs
that were the equivalent of a
00:00:38.43\00:00:42.17
helicopter, one for parachute,
a diving suit, an armored tank,
00:00:42.20\00:00:46.94
and many other fascinating
inventions of our day.
00:00:46.98\00:00:50.21
He even build a robot capable of
walking, sitting, and moving its
00:00:50.25\00:00:53.98
jaw, and some of his robotic
concepts are currently being put
00:00:54.02\00:00:58.15
to use in robots for
space exploration today.
00:00:58.19\00:01:01.89
Looking back, it almost seems
like Leonardo could see into
00:01:01.92\00:01:05.46
the future.
00:01:05.49\00:01:07.23
We might wonder if anyone
really can predict the future.
00:01:07.23\00:01:10.87
In ancient Babylon, the
Prophet Daniel informed King
00:01:10.90\00:01:13.80
Nebuchadnezzar about the God of
heaven who revealed the deep and
00:01:13.84\00:01:17.67
secret things of the future.
00:01:17.71\00:01:19.77
So join me now, friends, as we
discover what God's Word really
00:01:19.81\00:01:22.74
says about the mysterious beasts
from the prophecies of Daniel
00:01:22.78\00:01:27.28
and Revelation.
00:01:27.32\00:01:28.75
Doug Batchelor: Our study for
tonight is called "Dream of the
00:01:32.39\00:01:35.99
Empires," and we're going
to literally be looking at a
00:01:36.02\00:01:39.46
panorama of Bible
prophecy tonight that you find
00:01:39.49\00:01:42.36
in Daniel chapter 2.
00:01:42.40\00:01:44.20
Just to give you the
story, a little background of
00:01:44.23\00:01:46.17
what's going on, Nebuchadnezzar
II, but everyone calls him
00:01:46.20\00:01:51.27
Nebuchadnezzar 'cause no one
knows much about the first, King
00:01:51.31\00:01:54.38
Nebuchadnezzar was one
of the greatest kings of the
00:01:54.41\00:01:56.64
Neo-Babylonian Empire.
00:01:56.68\00:01:59.38
That's about 585 BC.
00:01:59.41\00:02:01.92
He actually conquered Israel
and he told him as long as they
00:02:01.95\00:02:05.25
obeyed, he'd give them a certain
amount of freedom, but they
00:02:05.29\00:02:09.06
continued to rebel.
00:02:09.09\00:02:10.43
They didn't want to pay taxes.
00:02:10.46\00:02:11.69
They tried to get Egypt to fight
with Babylon so they'd be freed
00:02:11.73\00:02:14.56
from Babylon.
00:02:14.56\00:02:15.86
Finally, he said,
"Enough is enough."
00:02:15.90\00:02:18.03
He carried away
captive a lot of the people.
00:02:18.07\00:02:21.40
He conquered the city.
00:02:21.44\00:02:23.34
He carried away a
number of captives.
00:02:23.37\00:02:25.11
Nebuchadnezzar burnt Jerusalem.
00:02:25.14\00:02:26.98
He burnt the temple.
00:02:27.01\00:02:28.34
The Temple of Solomon was
destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.
00:02:28.38\00:02:31.68
Took all the gold, and the
brass, and the treasures, and
00:02:31.71\00:02:33.85
brought it back to Babylon.
00:02:33.88\00:02:35.78
And along with the treasures and
the people, he took some of the
00:02:35.82\00:02:41.32
brightest young people in the
kingdom, because he said, "You
00:02:41.36\00:02:44.43
know, the Jews were brilliant."
00:02:44.46\00:02:46.29
They were good architects
and they understood language.
00:02:46.33\00:02:49.80
And you know, David was a poet,
musician, and he always took the
00:02:49.83\00:02:53.30
best of the best
from his kingdom.
00:02:53.34\00:02:55.17
They'd kinda go through some
college training and intensive
00:02:55.20\00:02:58.24
training so they could serve
in his cabinet as counselors to
00:02:58.27\00:03:01.34
help him with ministry.
00:03:01.38\00:03:03.38
And among the four young people
that he took, you had Daniel,
00:03:03.41\00:03:08.15
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
00:03:08.18\00:03:11.32
In fact, God had told through
a prophet, King Hezekiah--Isaiah
00:03:11.35\00:03:14.86
the Prophet told King Hezekiah,
"Because of your pride when the
00:03:14.89\00:03:18.83
Babylonian ambassadors came
to visit, everything that they
00:03:18.86\00:03:22.06
looked at is going to be carried
off to Babylon, including
00:03:22.10\00:03:25.03
your descendants."
00:03:25.07\00:03:26.94
Daniel and his
friends were descendants.
00:03:26.97\00:03:29.74
The Bible tells us that the king
of Babylon--it foretold this
00:03:29.77\00:03:33.78
in Isaiah.
00:03:33.81\00:03:35.04
King of Babylon will make some
of your descendants eunuchs in
00:03:35.08\00:03:38.45
his palace, and
that's exactly what happened.
00:03:38.48\00:03:42.18
So Daniel and his friends were
taken to Babylon, along with
00:03:42.22\00:03:45.22
thousands of other Jews.
00:03:45.25\00:03:46.99
Nebuchadnezzar had conquered all
of the surrounding kingdoms, and
00:03:47.02\00:03:50.79
Babylon became incredibly
wealthy and powerful, but he was
00:03:50.83\00:03:54.93
an extremely ambitious king.
00:03:54.96\00:03:57.47
And one night, he was wondering
how long this kingdom of Babylon
00:03:57.50\00:04:01.14
was going to last, and he
became troubled about that.
00:04:01.17\00:04:04.84
And this was on his mind
evidently, and he fell asleep,
00:04:04.87\00:04:08.01
and he had a dream.
00:04:08.04\00:04:09.91
And this dream was very vivid
that gave him an outline of the
00:04:09.94\00:04:13.95
history from the time of
Nebuchadnezzar up until the
00:04:13.98\00:04:17.09
second coming of Jesus.
00:04:17.12\00:04:19.15
Now, why did God give this
Babylonian king this dream?
00:04:19.19\00:04:24.69
It says, "There is a God in
heaven who reveals--" what's it
00:04:24.73\00:04:27.66
say there in yellow?
00:04:27.73\00:04:29.16
"Secrets, and He's made known to
King Nebuchadnezzar what will be
00:04:29.20\00:04:33.10
in the," what days?
00:04:33.13\00:04:34.84
"Latter days."
00:04:34.87\00:04:36.20
So this dream is
talking about what?
00:04:36.24\00:04:39.64
The future.
00:04:39.67\00:04:41.01
It says He, through this king,
is revealing something that is
00:04:41.04\00:04:44.35
coming in the future.
00:04:44.38\00:04:46.58
And the Lord chose to give this
dream to Nebuchadnezzar, and
00:04:46.61\00:04:50.19
then He ultimately calls a
Hebrew prophet who reveals what
00:04:50.22\00:04:55.39
is coming.
00:04:55.42\00:04:56.73
And just like the pharaoh of
Egypt had a dream, and he didn't
00:04:56.76\00:05:00.83
know what the dream meant, and
he ultimately had to call his
00:05:00.86\00:05:05.53
wise men and they didn't
know what the dream meant.
00:05:05.57\00:05:08.70
Finally, there was a Hebrew that
was in prison and he was able to
00:05:08.74\00:05:13.58
interpret the dream, even though
he was a captive in that land.
00:05:13.61\00:05:17.51
Well, this sort of repeats
itself in the story here that we
00:05:17.55\00:05:20.32
find in Daniel.
00:05:20.35\00:05:22.58
Now, I tell you what, before I
get to the second question, let
00:05:22.62\00:05:25.39
me read the first few
verses right from the Bible.
00:05:25.42\00:05:27.56
I get dependent
sometimes on the screen.
00:05:27.59\00:05:30.33
And if you have your Bibles,
you can turn to Daniel 2.
00:05:30.36\00:05:32.69
I'm going to read the
first few verses here.
00:05:32.73\00:05:35.73
"Now in the second year
of Nebuchadnezzar's reign,
00:05:35.76\00:05:38.73
Nebuchadnezzar," he's the king,
"had dreams; and his spirit was
00:05:38.77\00:05:43.41
so troubled that
his sleep left him.
00:05:43.44\00:05:46.17
Then the king gave command
to call the magicians, the
00:05:46.21\00:05:48.54
astrologers, the sorcerers, and
the Chaldeans to tell the king
00:05:48.58\00:05:52.31
his dream.
00:05:52.35\00:05:53.65
So they came and
stood before the king.
00:05:53.68\00:05:55.82
And the king said to them, 'I've
had a dream, and my spirit is
00:05:55.85\00:05:59.45
anxious to know the dream.'"
00:05:59.49\00:06:01.79
So the king said, "Okay,
time for you to earn your pay.
00:06:01.82\00:06:05.26
I've had this dream.
00:06:05.29\00:06:06.59
It was three-dimensional.
00:06:06.63\00:06:07.93
It's very real, very vivid.
00:06:07.96\00:06:09.26
It's--there's something in it.
00:06:09.30\00:06:10.60
God is trying to
tell me something.
00:06:10.63\00:06:12.07
What's the message?"
00:06:12.10\00:06:14.14
And they said, Okay," let the
king tell us the dream and we'll
00:06:14.17\00:06:18.91
tell the interpretation."
00:06:18.94\00:06:21.04
And the king says in verse 5,
"My decision is firm; you shall
00:06:21.08\00:06:25.38
make known the dream to me, and
its interpretation, or you'll be
00:06:25.41\00:06:29.52
cut in pieces, and your
houses will be made an ash heap.
00:06:29.55\00:06:32.69
However, if you tell me the
dream and its interpretation,
00:06:32.72\00:06:35.66
you'll receive from me gifts,
and rewards, and great honor.
00:06:35.69\00:06:38.46
Therefore tell me the
dream and its interpretation."
00:06:38.49\00:06:42.06
And you can imagine the
consternation of the wise men
00:06:42.10\00:06:45.67
when they said, "You
know, we could concoct some
00:06:45.70\00:06:48.14
interpretation for you, but
you want us to tell you what
00:06:48.17\00:06:51.34
you dreamed."
00:06:51.37\00:06:53.07
They said, "The answer for
that only belongs with the gods.
00:06:53.11\00:06:55.31
How can we do that?"
00:06:55.34\00:06:57.18
And the king was furious
and he said, "Man, you guys
00:06:57.21\00:06:58.98
are frauds."
00:06:59.01\00:07:00.62
He says, "You're just stalling."
00:07:00.65\00:07:02.38
"The king gave the
command to," do what?
00:07:02.42\00:07:05.19
"To destroy, execute all
of the wise men in Babylon."
00:07:05.22\00:07:09.19
Now, that always
seems like a bad idea.
00:07:09.22\00:07:11.06
If you actually killed all the
wise men, what do you have left?
00:07:11.09\00:07:16.83
When Daniel learned about the
death decree, what did he ask of
00:07:16.87\00:07:20.27
the king and what
did he tell his friends?
00:07:20.30\00:07:23.17
"Daniel went in and
he petitioned the king.
00:07:23.20\00:07:25.94
He said, 'Give me time,
that I might tell the king
00:07:25.97\00:07:29.74
the interpretation.'"
00:07:29.78\00:07:31.41
So he goes to the
king and he asks for time.
00:07:31.45\00:07:34.32
How long was that time?
00:07:34.35\00:07:35.82
We don't know.
00:07:35.85\00:07:37.19
He might've--that
might have been a day.
00:07:37.22\00:07:38.79
The reason I say that, there's
prophecies in Daniel where it
00:07:38.82\00:07:41.82
talks about a time, a times, and
the dividing of a time, and that
00:07:41.86\00:07:46.83
represented three and a half
days, which in prophecy is three
00:07:46.86\00:07:50.13
and a half years, but that's
a subject for another night.
00:07:50.17\00:07:52.93
So it may have been he said,
"Give us 24 hours," and the king
00:07:52.97\00:07:55.20
thought, "Well, you know, if I
kill all the wise men, I've got
00:07:55.24\00:07:58.31
to find new wise men.
00:07:58.34\00:07:59.67
They're hard to find.
00:07:59.71\00:08:01.08
And I would like to
know what the dream means."
00:08:01.11\00:08:03.61
And the king interviewed Daniel
and his three friends in chapter
00:08:03.65\00:08:06.45
1. It says he found them ten
times wiser than all the other
00:08:06.48\00:08:09.32
wise men in the kingdom.
00:08:09.35\00:08:10.69
Why kill them all?
00:08:10.72\00:08:12.02
They weren't at
the first interview.
00:08:12.05\00:08:13.39
Let's give them a chance.
00:08:13.42\00:08:14.82
So the king thought,
"Well, 24 hours, sure."
00:08:14.86\00:08:18.16
So after that petition, the
Bible said, "Daniel then went to
00:08:18.19\00:08:21.46
his house, and he made the
decision known to Hananiah, and
00:08:21.50\00:08:24.13
Mishael, and
Azariah, his companions."
00:08:24.17\00:08:26.87
Now, Daniel and his friends
say, "We need to know what the
00:08:26.90\00:08:29.20
king dreamed."
00:08:29.24\00:08:30.57
They had a real
heartfelt prayer meeting.
00:08:30.61\00:08:34.18
And in that prayer meeting, they
believe, "That they might seek
00:08:34.21\00:08:37.58
mercies from God," and
this is Daniel 2:17, "concerning
00:08:37.61\00:08:41.58
this secret."
00:08:41.62\00:08:42.92
It's a mystery.
00:08:42.95\00:08:44.29
Does God reveal secrets?
00:08:44.32\00:08:45.62
What does the Bible say
we do if we lack wisdom?
00:08:45.65\00:08:47.92
"If anyone lacks wisdom, let
him ask of God, who gives to all
00:08:47.96\00:08:51.66
men liberally."
00:08:51.69\00:08:53.03
They had very
intense prayer meeting.
00:08:53.06\00:08:55.30
And during that time, they felt
a peace that God heard their
00:08:55.33\00:08:58.57
prayer, so they
finally went to sleep.
00:08:58.60\00:09:02.04
And evidently during
the night, Daniel had
00:09:02.07\00:09:05.34
Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
00:09:05.37\00:09:07.64
Now, it just so happens that
we've got a copy of that dream.
00:09:07.68\00:09:11.25
I'm going to read it.
00:09:11.28\00:09:12.58
And you start in
Daniel chapter 2, verse 31.
00:09:12.61\00:09:14.35
This is when Daniel's
relating it to the king.
00:09:14.38\00:09:16.38
We've got beautiful 3D animation
video we're going to play for
00:09:16.42\00:09:19.29
you that kind of gives, you
know, at least a representation
00:09:19.32\00:09:22.76
of what that dream is
about based on the description.
00:09:22.79\00:09:25.63
And we're going to
show that to you now.
00:09:25.66\00:09:27.66
"You, O King, were watching,
and behold a great image.
00:09:27.66\00:09:31.40
This great image, whose splendor
was excellent, stood before you
00:09:31.43\00:09:35.04
and its form was awesome.
00:09:35.07\00:09:37.31
The image's head was of fine
gold; its chest and its arms of
00:09:37.34\00:09:40.94
silver; its belly and its thighs
of bronze; its legs of iron; its
00:09:40.98\00:09:46.85
feet partly of
iron and partly of clay.
00:09:46.88\00:09:49.95
And you watched while a stone
was cut without hands, which
00:09:49.98\00:09:52.85
struck the image on its feet
of iron and clay, and broke them
00:09:52.89\00:09:56.59
in pieces.
00:09:56.62\00:09:57.86
And the iron, and the clay, and
the bronze, and the silver, and
00:09:57.89\00:10:00.50
the gold were crushed together
and became like the chaff of the
00:10:00.53\00:10:04.23
summer threshing floor, and the
wind carried them away that no
00:10:04.27\00:10:07.90
trace of them was found.
00:10:07.94\00:10:09.67
And the stone that struck the
image became a great mountain
00:10:09.70\00:10:13.21
and filled the whole earth."
00:10:13.24\00:10:15.54
So here is sort of an overview
of what happened in that dream.
00:10:15.58\00:10:19.95
In that dream, you see there's a
panorama for the history of the
00:10:19.98\00:10:24.75
world because the angel
of the Lord guided Daniel in
00:10:24.79\00:10:28.36
interpreting the dream as well.
00:10:28.39\00:10:31.73
So the first thing the king
saw in the great image was this
00:10:31.76\00:10:35.10
great image, and it's
made of the following elements.
00:10:35.13\00:10:38.27
So we notice that, and you see
that up on your screen there.
00:10:38.30\00:10:42.07
They head was of gold.
00:10:42.10\00:10:44.74
It says the breast and
the arms were of silver.
00:10:44.77\00:10:47.71
The belly and the
thighs were bronze.
00:10:47.74\00:10:50.55
The legs were of iron.
00:10:50.58\00:10:52.45
And the feet were iron and clay.
00:10:52.48\00:10:55.35
So here's an outline of
what we're going to go through.
00:10:55.38\00:10:58.55
Now, the only safe way to
interpret the Bible is let the
00:10:58.59\00:11:01.52
Bible explain itself, amen?
00:11:01.56\00:11:04.39
So we're going to find out what
the Bible says to understand
00:11:04.43\00:11:07.00
this dream so we don't have
to speculate, and I think you're
00:11:07.03\00:11:09.66
going to be amazed.
00:11:09.70\00:11:11.03
First of all, what does
the head of gold represent?
00:11:11.07\00:11:14.37
So the king is breathless,
his eyes are wide, his mouth
00:11:14.40\00:11:17.01
is open.
00:11:17.04\00:11:18.37
He's on the edge of his
throne listening to Daniel
00:11:18.41\00:11:19.71
explain this.
00:11:19.74\00:11:21.04
He said, "Okay, now I'm going
to tell you, this is the dream.
00:11:21.08\00:11:22.41
Let me give you
the interpretation.
00:11:22.44\00:11:23.98
You are the head of gold."
00:11:24.01\00:11:26.01
Well, Nebuchadnezzar
thought, "I like that.
00:11:26.05\00:11:28.82
I'm the top.
00:11:28.85\00:11:30.65
I'm the head of gold."
00:11:30.69\00:11:32.12
And he felt
pretty good about that.
00:11:32.15\00:11:35.02
Would the Babylonian
kingdom last forever?
00:11:35.06\00:11:37.49
The prophecy tells us, "But
after you shall another kingdom
00:11:37.53\00:11:41.60
arise inferior to you."
00:11:41.63\00:11:43.73
Now, if I can say, "Look, I've
got 10 pounds of gold I'm going
00:11:43.77\00:11:46.03
to give you, or I'm going to
give you 10 pounds of silver,"
00:11:46.07\00:11:47.60
which do you want?
00:11:47.64\00:11:50.24
If you know anything about
value, you're going to want
00:11:50.27\00:11:52.74
the gold.
00:11:52.77\00:11:54.11
People say silver and gold,
but boy, they're not comparable.
00:11:54.14\00:11:56.41
Gold is a lot more
valuable than silver.
00:11:56.44\00:11:59.71
But you know what?
00:11:59.75\00:12:01.15
Gold is softer than silver.
00:12:01.18\00:12:02.85
And what you're going to see
happening now as you go through
00:12:02.88\00:12:05.29
this prophecy is with each
succeeding power, and that are
00:12:05.32\00:12:11.16
represented by these metals,
they get harder, the kingdoms
00:12:11.19\00:12:15.90
last longer, but
they're of less value.
00:12:15.93\00:12:18.73
Starts with gold
and ends with clay.
00:12:18.77\00:12:21.80
If I tell you I'm going
to give you a pound of clay,
00:12:21.84\00:12:23.37
who's interested?
00:12:23.41\00:12:24.91
Doug Batchelor:
Don't go anywhere, friends.
00:12:25.61\00:12:26.94
We'll be back in just
a moment with the rest of
00:12:26.98\00:12:28.98
today's presentation.
00:12:29.01\00:12:30.78
Because of its mysterious
symbolism, millions feel that
00:12:30.81\00:12:34.42
the book of Revelation and
its prophecies are confusing.
00:12:34.45\00:12:38.09
Have you ever wondered, can
anyone really know for certain
00:12:38.12\00:12:41.12
what all this symbolism means?
00:12:41.16\00:12:43.49
Well, we can know.
00:12:43.53\00:12:45.29
What if I told you that the key
to understanding Revelation and
00:12:45.33\00:12:48.83
decoding your future is
in understanding the past,
00:12:48.86\00:12:53.00
beginning in the Old
Testament book of Daniel?
00:12:53.03\00:12:55.50
"Amazing Facts" wants to send
you an incredible, eye-opening
00:12:55.54\00:12:58.77
magazine called
"Daniel and Revelation: Secrets
00:12:58.81\00:13:02.28
of Prophecy."
00:13:02.31\00:13:03.65
It's a free resource that will
guide you step-by-step through
00:13:03.68\00:13:06.78
the books of
Daniel and Revelation.
00:13:06.82\00:13:08.85
Featuring stunning artwork and
historical images and facts, the
00:13:08.88\00:13:12.75
true mysteries of prophecy will
become clear for you like never
00:13:12.79\00:13:16.46
before and you'll experience a
peace and assurance that you've
00:13:16.49\00:13:19.59
never had before.
00:13:19.63\00:13:20.96
To get your free copy, call the
phone number on the screen and
00:13:20.96\00:13:24.23
ask for offer number 604
or visit the web address.
00:13:24.27\00:13:28.17
And after you read this
incredible resource, be sure and
00:13:28.20\00:13:31.27
share it with a friend.
00:13:31.31\00:13:32.61
Let's return now to today's
presentation and learn some more
00:13:32.64\00:13:35.81
amazing facts
from the Word of God.
00:13:35.84\00:13:38.25
Doug Batchelor: So there's
an inferior kingdom that rises.
00:13:39.61\00:13:43.05
And let me tell
you how this happened.
00:13:43.08\00:13:45.02
Now, Babylon, I just mentioned,
was surrounded by the Euphrates
00:13:45.05\00:13:47.89
River, and the river
actually ran under the walls.
00:13:47.92\00:13:50.89
Babylon, after Nebuchadnezzar
died, his grandson was on
00:13:50.93\00:13:55.50
the throne.
00:13:55.53\00:13:57.23
The son of Nebuchadnezzar
was off fighting another battle
00:13:57.27\00:14:00.40
somewhere else and
Belshazzar was on the throne.
00:14:00.44\00:14:03.30
And he was sort of a
reprobate, young king.
00:14:03.34\00:14:05.44
He had grown up spoiled.
00:14:05.47\00:14:06.84
He hadn't had to fight wars to
get his privileges, and he kept
00:14:06.88\00:14:10.71
having parties.
00:14:10.75\00:14:12.78
And the Persians came and
surrounded the city, the Medes
00:14:12.81\00:14:16.38
and the Persians.
00:14:16.42\00:14:17.75
And Belshazzar
said, "I'm not afraid.
00:14:17.79\00:14:20.89
Babylon's got
enough food stored.
00:14:20.92\00:14:22.69
We've got the river
running under the walls.
00:14:22.72\00:14:24.19
We've got enough food
stored to last 20 years."
00:14:24.23\00:14:26.43
That's actually
what one historian says.
00:14:26.46\00:14:28.83
"And they can't
afford to besiege our city.
00:14:28.86\00:14:30.73
They'll run out of
money feeding their army.
00:14:30.77\00:14:32.63
We'll outlast them."
00:14:32.67\00:14:34.00
So to show that they weren't
afraid, they had a big party in
00:14:34.04\00:14:36.17
the city.
00:14:36.20\00:14:37.64
Well, I told you that there was
a moat that went around Babylon.
00:14:37.67\00:14:41.28
The river ran
underneath the walls.
00:14:41.31\00:14:43.14
This is actually a
reproduction of the Ishtar Gate.
00:14:43.18\00:14:45.35
They have actually found
one of the gates of Babylon.
00:14:45.38\00:14:48.48
It has beautiful, blue
porcelain tiles everywhere.
00:14:48.52\00:14:52.29
And you can see it
in Germany to this day.
00:14:52.32\00:14:54.26
They've reconstructed one of
the gates of Babylon in Germany.
00:14:54.29\00:14:58.29
And under the walls
ran the Euphrates River.
00:14:58.33\00:15:00.56
Cyrus the Persian general, he
thought, "Well, the way, if we
00:15:00.60\00:15:05.20
can't go over the walls,
let's go under the walls."
00:15:05.23\00:15:08.84
And way upstream, he had his
men dig a channel diverting the
00:15:08.87\00:15:14.18
water of the Euphrates
River into a low lake bed.
00:15:14.21\00:15:18.48
And when he gave the signal,
they broke the dam and all the
00:15:18.51\00:15:20.62
water stopped running in
the river and it ran off into
00:15:20.65\00:15:23.05
this reservoir.
00:15:23.08\00:15:24.39
The water level went down in
Euphrates so low that at night,
00:15:24.42\00:15:29.72
he had a contingent of soldiers
that went under the wall.
00:15:29.76\00:15:34.30
They went through the moat area.
00:15:34.36\00:15:36.13
The inner gates had been left
open because the soldiers had
00:15:36.16\00:15:38.87
been drinking, and they were
able to open the main gates and
00:15:38.90\00:15:42.84
let the whole Persian army in.
00:15:42.87\00:15:44.21
And in one night with hardly
a shot being fired, Babylon fell
00:15:44.24\00:15:49.71
to the Persians.
00:15:49.74\00:15:51.08
And this was all
foretold in prophecy.
00:15:51.11\00:15:53.82
Now, when the king was in the
palace, King Belshazzar, having
00:15:53.85\00:15:56.75
his party, he wanted
to mock the God of heaven.
00:15:56.79\00:16:00.99
He said, "I know my
grandfather Nebuchadnezzar.
00:16:01.02\00:16:03.86
He turned away from
our gods to Jehovah."
00:16:03.89\00:16:06.06
Do you know there's one section
in the Old Testament that's
00:16:06.09\00:16:08.10
written by a non-Jew.
00:16:08.13\00:16:09.96
You know who it is?
00:16:10.00\00:16:11.73
Nebuchadnezzar.
00:16:11.77\00:16:13.40
There's a chapter in Daniel
when Nebuchadnezzar shares his
00:16:13.44\00:16:15.84
testimony of his conversion.
00:16:15.87\00:16:18.07
He actually goes crazy for
several years, and finally his
00:16:18.11\00:16:20.31
mind returns and
he turns to the Lord.
00:16:20.34\00:16:24.91
And Belshazzar said,
"We're not going to follow these
00:16:24.95\00:16:29.22
Jewish gods."
00:16:29.25\00:16:30.72
He was trying to undo the
influence of Daniel and his
00:16:30.75\00:16:33.39
friends over the
people and the religion.
00:16:33.42\00:16:35.76
He said, "We
conquered those Jews.
00:16:35.79\00:16:37.39
Matter of fact, we've got
their vessels from the temple in
00:16:37.43\00:16:39.66
my storehouse.
00:16:39.69\00:16:41.00
Bring out all the holy vessels
from their God of Jehovah."
00:16:41.03\00:16:43.97
And he began to pour wine
in these holy vessels from the
00:16:44.00\00:16:47.54
Jewish temple, and he began
to toast the gods of wood, and
00:16:47.57\00:16:51.81
stone, and silver,
and gold, and iron.
00:16:51.84\00:16:55.94
The Bible says that while they
were at the peak of their party
00:16:55.98\00:16:58.08
and he was mocking the God
of heaven, a bloodless hand
00:16:58.11\00:17:00.28
appeared and began to write
on the plaster on the walls,
00:17:00.32\00:17:03.92
burning letters.
00:17:03.95\00:17:05.39
A bloodless hand just came out
of nowhere and starts to write,
00:17:05.42\00:17:10.69
and everybody at
the party stood still.
00:17:10.73\00:17:14.30
They were frozen with fear.
00:17:14.30\00:17:16.60
And you know
what the writing said?
00:17:16.63\00:17:18.30
"The party's over."
00:17:18.33\00:17:21.57
The king calls in his wise men.
00:17:21.60\00:17:24.24
Now, once again, the wise men
proven themselves useless all
00:17:24.27\00:17:26.34
the time.
00:17:26.37\00:17:27.71
Called in his wise men, and
astrologists, and said, "Whoever
00:17:27.74\00:17:30.31
interprets this, I'll make
him third ruler in the kingdom,"
00:17:30.35\00:17:32.68
because Belshazzar was
really only the second ruler.
00:17:32.71\00:17:35.25
His father who was the
king was off out of town.
00:17:35.28\00:17:37.99
"I'll make him third ruler
in the kingdom and give him
00:17:38.02\00:17:41.06
great rewards."
00:17:41.09\00:17:42.66
They couldn't
interpret the writing.
00:17:42.69\00:17:45.26
They finally called in an
old prophet who had worked for
00:17:45.29\00:17:48.13
Nebuchadnezzar, who was still
alive, by the name of Daniel.
00:17:48.16\00:17:51.80
And he says, "I'm going
to give you all these gifts."
00:17:51.83\00:17:53.20
Daniel says, "Keep your
gifts because I know how
00:17:53.23\00:17:54.94
the story ends.
00:17:54.97\00:17:56.27
I don't want them.
00:17:56.30\00:17:57.64
But I'm going to tell you what
the writing says: 'Mene, Mene,
00:17:57.67\00:18:00.31
Tekel, Upharsin.'
00:18:00.34\00:18:01.91
You are weighed in the
balances and found wanting.
00:18:01.94\00:18:04.75
And this night, the Medes
and the Persians are going to
00:18:04.78\00:18:07.45
conquer the
kingdom and you will die."
00:18:07.48\00:18:10.29
That's a paraphrase.
00:18:10.32\00:18:12.19
And the very thing Daniel
had foretold at the time he was
00:18:12.22\00:18:15.12
fulfilling the prophecy, the
Persians were going underneath
00:18:15.16\00:18:18.16
the wall right
then, and the city fell.
00:18:18.19\00:18:20.93
And even the
historians bear this out.
00:18:20.96\00:18:22.76
So the Babylonians
fell to the Persians.
00:18:22.80\00:18:25.27
Persian Empire started out led
by Darius the Mede, and later
00:18:25.30\00:18:29.90
Cyrus the Great, 539 to 331 BC.
00:18:29.94\00:18:34.91
Each kingdom, the territory of
Persia, is bigger than Babylon.
00:18:34.94\00:18:40.18
They're growing bigger, they're
lasting longer, but the value
00:18:40.22\00:18:44.02
is less.
00:18:44.05\00:18:45.39
The metal is less valuable.
00:18:45.42\00:18:46.89
In the capital for
Persia then was Persepolis, and
00:18:46.92\00:18:49.96
unfortunately, later when
Alexander came, he and his men
00:18:49.99\00:18:53.19
were drunk and
they burnt the city.
00:18:53.23\00:18:54.60
These are some of the ruins of
what was once a splendid palace
00:18:54.63\00:18:59.03
of the Persians.
00:18:59.07\00:19:00.44
And you know, the Bible even
foretold that Cyrus the king
00:19:00.47\00:19:05.24
would be letting the people of
Israel go back to the promised
00:19:05.27\00:19:07.84
land; that he would be doing
a special work for the Lord, for
00:19:07.88\00:19:11.51
His people.
00:19:11.55\00:19:12.85
You can read
about this in Isaiah 45.
00:19:12.88\00:19:14.98
Now, another example of the
amazing power of prophecy: long
00:19:15.02\00:19:18.92
before, hundreds of years before
Cyrus is born, here's what
00:19:18.95\00:19:22.32
Isaiah the prophet wrote.
00:19:22.36\00:19:23.69
By the way, we know that Isaiah
wrote this before it happened.
00:19:23.73\00:19:26.83
The Dead Sea scrolls and the
Jewish history tells us these--
00:19:26.86\00:19:29.76
the prophecy of Isaiah is one of
the most dependable prophecies.
00:19:29.80\00:19:32.87
He's a real
historical character.
00:19:32.90\00:19:35.27
"Thus says the Lord to his
anointed, to Cyrus," calls him
00:19:35.30\00:19:39.24
by name, "whose right hand I
have held--to subdue nations.
00:19:39.27\00:19:43.24
I'm helping him subdue nations
before him to loose the armor of
00:19:43.28\00:19:46.68
kings, to open before before
him the double doors," the
00:19:46.72\00:19:50.35
two-leaved gates of the inner
city had been left open, "so
00:19:50.39\00:19:54.29
that the gates of the
city will not be shut."
00:19:54.32\00:19:57.23
What an amazing prophecy.
00:19:57.26\00:19:58.76
Calls him by name.
00:19:58.79\00:20:00.20
What metal would
represent the kingdom that
00:20:00.23\00:20:02.23
followed Medo-Persia?
00:20:02.26\00:20:05.20
Says, "Another third kingdom
of bronze, which shall rule over
00:20:05.23\00:20:08.77
all of the earth."
00:20:08.80\00:20:10.37
So you've got this
third kingdom of bronze.
00:20:10.41\00:20:12.34
Alexander the Great, a very
brave soldier, one reason that
00:20:12.37\00:20:15.41
he was so successful, he
would lead his men into battle.
00:20:15.44\00:20:19.55
Sometimes he was the first one
over the wall and he nearly got
00:20:19.58\00:20:23.45
killed once or twice.
00:20:23.49\00:20:25.15
Because of his courage, his
men would--they'd follow him
00:20:25.19\00:20:28.42
anywhere, and conquered,
and conquered, and conquered.
00:20:28.46\00:20:31.83
And you've probably heard the
story that he sat down and wept
00:20:31.86\00:20:33.90
one day because there was
no more places to conquer.
00:20:33.93\00:20:36.67
That's not totally true.
00:20:36.70\00:20:38.27
It is true that he wanted to
keep going on and his soldiers,
00:20:38.30\00:20:41.07
after 11 years on the road
fighting, they said, "We've got
00:20:41.10\00:20:43.81
families we haven't seen.
00:20:43.84\00:20:45.14
We may never see them again.
00:20:45.17\00:20:46.81
We're done.
00:20:46.84\00:20:48.08
We followed you this far, but
we're not going any farther."
00:20:48.11\00:20:50.95
And he finally had to
concede to his soldiers.
00:20:50.98\00:20:53.48
So this kingdom now, bronze,
not as valuable, but it's harder
00:20:53.52\00:20:58.45
than silver.
00:20:58.49\00:20:59.79
Kingdom gets bigger.
00:20:59.82\00:21:01.22
What happens next?
00:21:01.26\00:21:02.96
What metal
represents the fourth kingdom?
00:21:02.99\00:21:05.79
Now any fifth grader knows
what kingdom came after Greece.
00:21:05.83\00:21:11.60
It tells us that you've got this
fourth kingdom that is as strong
00:21:11.63\00:21:15.64
as, what?
00:21:15.67\00:21:17.04
Iron.
00:21:17.07\00:21:18.47
And so Rome, they are
the kingdom that they had the
00:21:18.51\00:21:23.88
iron weapons.
00:21:23.91\00:21:25.25
They had learned from the
Phoenicians and others how to
00:21:25.28\00:21:28.25
perfect this.
00:21:28.28\00:21:29.52
And the Philistines were good
with iron and they had a great
00:21:29.55\00:21:32.45
deal of armor.
00:21:32.49\00:21:34.92
And they were ruling the world
during the time when our Savior
00:21:34.96\00:21:38.83
was born.
00:21:38.86\00:21:40.33
Rome was ruling the world.
00:21:40.36\00:21:41.83
They had their iron spears.
00:21:41.86\00:21:44.07
One of those
pierced the side of Jesus.
00:21:44.10\00:21:45.73
And the iron nails,
iron cat o' nine tails.
00:21:45.77\00:21:49.84
And so this was called
the iron monarchy of Rome.
00:21:49.87\00:21:53.04
So, just doing a
little review quickly.
00:21:53.07\00:21:55.24
The head is of gold.
00:21:55.28\00:21:56.61
It represents what kingdom?
00:21:56.64\00:21:58.81
Babylon.
00:21:58.85\00:22:00.25
Thank you.
00:22:00.28\00:22:01.58
Then you've got the silver,
which represents what kingdom?
00:22:01.62\00:22:03.92
Medo-Persia, 539 to about 331.
00:22:03.95\00:22:07.62
Then you move on to the
bronze, and bronze represents
00:22:07.66\00:22:10.19
what kingdom?
00:22:10.23\00:22:11.53
Greece.
00:22:11.56\00:22:12.89
Now, it's interesting.
00:22:12.93\00:22:14.20
Daniel foretold this
all before it happened.
00:22:14.23\00:22:15.96
And then the Greek kingdom, 331
to the Battle of Pydna, where
00:22:16.00\00:22:18.90
the Greeks fell to the Romans.
00:22:18.93\00:22:20.84
Then you've got the iron
that represents what kingdom?
00:22:20.87\00:22:24.04
Rome, 168 to about 476 AD.
00:22:24.07\00:22:28.24
Rome sort of disintegrated.
00:22:28.28\00:22:29.61
It wasn't one decisive battle.
00:22:29.64\00:22:32.95
What would happen after
the fall of the Roman Empire?
00:22:32.98\00:22:36.55
It tells us, "The
kingdom will be divided.
00:22:36.58\00:22:39.62
As the toes of the feet were
partly of iron and partly of
00:22:39.65\00:22:43.16
clay, so the kingdom
shall be partly strong and
00:22:43.19\00:22:46.13
partly fragile."
00:22:46.16\00:22:47.50
Rome did not fall in a day.
00:22:47.50\00:22:49.36
Rome kind of
disintegrated little by little.
00:22:49.40\00:22:52.47
You've got everything from
Attila the Hun to the Barbarians
00:22:52.50\00:22:55.00
that came down from Germanic
kingdoms and continually ate
00:22:55.04\00:22:57.97
away at the Western Empire of
Rome until Rome fragmented into
00:22:58.01\00:23:02.24
ten kingdoms.
00:23:02.28\00:23:03.58
We can see this
happen historically.
00:23:03.61\00:23:05.05
This was all foretold, just
like the ten toes in the image.
00:23:05.08\00:23:08.95
But what are the feet made of?
00:23:08.98\00:23:11.29
Iron and clay.
00:23:11.32\00:23:13.15
Would these ten kingdoms
ever succeed in uniting?
00:23:13.19\00:23:16.96
No.
00:23:16.99\00:23:18.29
It says, "They will mingle
themselves with the seed of men,
00:23:18.33\00:23:20.63
but they will not adhere to one
another, just as iron does not
00:23:20.66\00:23:23.93
mix with clay."
00:23:23.97\00:23:26.00
Now, this is something that
happened is that, you know, they
00:23:26.03\00:23:28.64
kept trying to forge alliances
all through Europe with
00:23:28.67\00:23:31.87
marriages because they
kept warring and fighting.
00:23:31.91\00:23:34.11
Everybody tried to rebuild
the Roman Empire, and you've got
00:23:34.14\00:23:37.88
everybody from Charlemagne,
to you know, Louis XIV, and
00:23:37.91\00:23:42.88
Kaiser Wilhelm.
00:23:42.92\00:23:44.49
Napoleon tried it.
00:23:44.52\00:23:45.75
He got probably the closest
of anybody, but he made the same
00:23:45.79\00:23:48.62
mistake Hitler later make--made
of trying to take on Russia.
00:23:48.66\00:23:52.16
Russia was so vast, it just
swallowed up their armies and
00:23:52.19\00:23:55.03
they starved.
00:23:55.06\00:23:56.77
They were never able to cling
together again, even though they
00:23:56.80\00:23:59.43
tried to do it through marriage.
00:23:59.47\00:24:01.30
At one point, Queen Victoria was
related to every leading country
00:24:01.34\00:24:05.64
in Europe through marriage.
00:24:05.67\00:24:07.44
She lived a long time and had
a whole gaggle of kids, and they
00:24:07.48\00:24:11.51
all married to try and
forge alliances, but they
00:24:11.55\00:24:13.55
kept fighting.
00:24:13.58\00:24:14.88
They will not
cling to one another.
00:24:14.92\00:24:16.25
Who will set up
the final kingdom?
00:24:16.28\00:24:18.65
"And in the days of these kings
the God of heaven will set up a
00:24:18.69\00:24:21.39
kingdom, which will never be
destroyed; and the kingdom will
00:24:21.42\00:24:24.56
not be left to other people; it
will break in pieces and consume
00:24:24.59\00:24:28.53
all these other kingdoms,
and it will stand forever."
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.93
So, quick review.
00:24:31.97\00:24:33.20
We got the gold is Babylon; the
silver, Medo-Persia, the bronze
00:24:33.23\00:24:36.30
is Greece; the iron is Rome.
00:24:36.34\00:24:38.94
Did this happen, friends?
00:24:38.97\00:24:41.08
And did everything in
Daniel's prophecy come true?
00:24:41.11\00:24:44.91
Babylon ruled.
00:24:44.95\00:24:46.25
Of course, Daniel was
alive then, but he predicted the
00:24:46.28\00:24:47.72
Medo-Persians,
and then the Greeks.
00:24:47.75\00:24:49.78
There was just a small tribe.
00:24:49.82\00:24:51.79
Rome wasn't anything back then.
00:24:51.82\00:24:53.25
Maybe, you know, Romulus
and Remus were still with a wolf
00:24:53.29\00:24:55.62
back then.
00:24:55.66\00:24:56.96
I don't know, but to predict
that they were going to be a
00:24:56.99\00:24:58.33
world empire, who
would've known that back then?
00:24:58.36\00:25:01.60
And Greece is actually mentioned
by name in the book of Daniel,
00:25:01.63\00:25:04.90
that it would become a world
power, and that the Roman power
00:25:04.93\00:25:08.27
would divide into ten parts
and they would never again be a
00:25:08.30\00:25:10.97
world empire.
00:25:11.01\00:25:12.71
And we're living in the
days of iron and clay right now,
00:25:12.74\00:25:14.98
friends, those same divisions.
00:25:15.01\00:25:17.01
United Nations, how successful
have they been at uniting in
00:25:17.05\00:25:19.91
the nations?
00:25:19.95\00:25:22.18
What does the stone do to
these other world kingdoms?
00:25:22.22\00:25:26.55
The stone that was cut without
hands, who is that stone?
00:25:26.59\00:25:30.49
Jesus, the Rock of Ages.
00:25:30.53\00:25:31.86
What does David use
to bring down Goliath?
00:25:31.89\00:25:34.83
A stone.
00:25:34.83\00:25:36.13
What does the
Word of God compare to?
00:25:36.16\00:25:37.87
Jesus said, "He that hears these
words of mine and does them is
00:25:37.90\00:25:40.30
building on the rock."
00:25:40.34\00:25:43.30
Christ is that Rock of Ages.
00:25:43.34\00:25:45.61
"He strikes the image on
its feet of iron and clay."
00:25:45.64\00:25:49.44
You know how you sharpen iron?
00:25:49.48\00:25:51.11
With a stone, 'cause stone
actually can wear down iron.
00:25:51.15\00:25:55.38
Broke them in pieces.
00:25:55.42\00:25:57.35
"Then the iron, and the clay,
and the bronze, and the silver,
00:25:57.39\00:25:59.65
and the gold were crushed
together, and became like the
00:25:59.69\00:26:02.16
chaff from the
summer threshing floors.
00:26:02.19\00:26:05.26
And the wind carried them away.
00:26:05.29\00:26:06.63
But the stone--" It says,
"They're carried away, no trace
00:26:06.66\00:26:09.96
of them is found.
00:26:10.00\00:26:11.23
And the stone that struck the
image becomes a great mountain
00:26:11.27\00:26:14.07
and fills the whole earth."
00:26:14.10\00:26:15.74
Which kingdom is going to last?
00:26:15.77\00:26:18.01
Will it be the Babylonians,
the Persians, the Greeks, the
00:26:18.04\00:26:20.38
Romans, the divisions of Europe?
00:26:20.41\00:26:22.84
What kingdom is the
kingdom that will last?
00:26:22.88\00:26:25.65
The kingdom of the
stone, which is Christ.
00:26:25.68\00:26:27.72
It is the one that
ultimately fills the earth.
00:26:27.75\00:26:29.45
This message that Daniel gave to
Nebuchadnezzar, "You might be a
00:26:29.48\00:26:32.35
world king now, and we might
be captives in your kingdom, but
00:26:32.39\00:26:36.76
when the end comes, the kingdom
of God, King Jesus, the new
00:26:36.79\00:26:42.36
Jerusalem that you burnt
with fire," Daniel's telling
00:26:42.40\00:26:45.63
Nebuchadnezzar, "it is
going to rule the earth."
00:26:45.67\00:26:48.70
And everything in this prophecy
has happened exactly as foretold
00:26:48.74\00:26:52.21
up to this time.
00:26:52.24\00:26:53.54
Now, the question is, if
you know that everything in this
00:26:53.58\00:26:56.81
prophecy has happened, why
would we doubt the last part?
00:26:56.85\00:27:01.22
Friends, do you
believe Jesus is coming again?
00:27:01.25\00:27:03.18
male announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing,
00:27:07.49\00:27:09.82
free resource.
00:27:09.86\00:27:11.19
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:27:11.23\00:27:13.46
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:27:13.50\00:27:16.00
mobile device.
00:27:16.03\00:27:17.33
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:27:17.37\00:27:20.57
the keyword on your screen to
40544 or visit the web address
00:27:20.60\00:27:25.24
shown on your screen.
00:27:25.27\00:27:26.68
And be sure to select the
digital download option on
00:27:26.71\00:27:29.31
the request page.
00:27:29.34\00:27:30.65
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:27:30.68\00:27:33.75
"Amazing Facts," wherever
and whenever you want, and most
00:27:33.78\00:27:37.42
important, to
share it with others.
00:27:37.45\00:27:40.02
female announcer: Did you know
"Amazing Facts" has a free Bible
00:27:40.52\00:27:42.92
school that you can do from
the comfort of your own home?
00:27:42.96\00:27:46.13
It includes 27 study lessons to
aid in your study of God's Word.
00:27:46.16\00:27:50.57
Sign up today by
calling 1-844-215-7000.
00:27:50.60\00:27:54.90
That's 1-844-215-7000.
00:27:54.94\00:27:57.74
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's free offer.
00:28:03.71\00:28:05.71
It's sure to be a blessing.
00:28:05.75\00:28:07.52
And thank you for your continued
support as we take the gospel of
00:28:07.55\00:28:10.95
Jesus Christ to the world.
00:28:10.99\00:28:12.89
We hope you'll join us next week
as we delve deeper into the Word
00:28:12.92\00:28:16.36
of God to explore
more amazing facts.
00:28:16.39\00:28:20.36
¤¤¤
00:28:20.53\00:28:24.27
male announcer: This
presentation was brought to you
00:28:24.30\00:28:25.80
by the friends of the
Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:28:25.83\00:28:28.47