Pr Joshua Yong

Daniel 2:21 - “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”

By the grace of God, we were able to have our Church Family Worship through live stream three weeks ago. Considering the times in which we are living, the theme of God’s Sovereignty was a most appropriate one to consider. We have seen how the sovereignty of God describes God’s rule, reign, authority and control over everything. This includes His rule and reign over the kingdoms. As we continue to witness events unfolding all over the world, we must remember that God is sovereign over all kingdoms.

In Daniel 2, God had revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, through a dream of a great image of different metals, how various empires would rise and fall. The image had a head of fine gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. A stone that was cut out of a mountain without hands then smote this image upon its feet and broke them in pieces. These different parts made out of different metals represent various kingdoms. The head of gold represents the Babylonian empire; the silver represents the Medo-Persian empire; the brass, the Grecian empire; the iron, the Roman empire; the feet of iron and clay represents the revived Roman empire of the Antichrist, and the stone represents the millennial kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

From Daniel’s perspective, the empires of the Persians, Greeks, and Romans were empires that would rise in the future. But from our perspective, all these empires were superpowers that had already ruled in history. Seeing how these prophecies were fulfilled and how these nations had risen and fallen tells us that God is sovereign over these empires.

Daniel declared the truth of God’s sovereignty over the kingdoms when he said that God “changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:…” This tells us that God is the one who determines the ages (the word “times” means “era” or “ages”) and the specific unfolding of time (the word “seasons” means “appointed time”). Whether it be the grand and broad schemes of history, or whether it be the specifics of each moment, God is in sovereign control over all of them.

How did God demonstrate His sovereignty over these empires?

1) The Beginning and the End of Each Empire

What we can observe from the truth of Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is that God predetermined when each empire would rise and fall. When we look at the various superpowers that ruled in history, we see how their rulers consolidated their power and established their kingdom. For example, in considering the rise of Nebuchadnezzar, historians described how he rose to power when he defeated the Egyptians and Assyrians in the battle of Carchemish. Upon the death of his father, he became the king of the most powerful empire of that time.

What we must remember when we see the rise and fall of superpowers is that God determines their rise and  fall. Historians have been trying to understand and explain how the Roman Empire fell. Though man may not be able to understand or explain these events in history, we know that God is the one who determined the rise and fall of each empire.

How long will the superpowers of our time last? God has already determined. We may feel aggrieved when we see certain regimes that have persecuted Christians lasting and remaining for decades. But we must remember that God is in sovereign control and He determines their beginning and end.

2) The Length of Rule of Each Empire

God determined how long each empire would last. The Babylonian empire was estimated to have lasted for about 100 years as the most powerful empire in the world. The Persian empire was said to have lasted for 200 years. Greece, which was ruled by Alexander the Great, lasted for a brief 13 years and Rome for more than 1000 years. Were they able to exist and rule simply because of their political strategy, or because of the genius of their rulers? God was the one who determined how long these empires ought to rule so that His purpose might be fulfilled. Although Alexander the Great’s empire lasted a mere 13 years, the greatest effect that his empire had on the world was the spread of the Greek culture and language that long outlasted his brief rule. The Romans admired the Greek culture and language so much that they continued to use Greek both in speech and in writing until the 6^th century AD. 

It was no accident that the Greek culture had such an impact. God ordained that the New Testament was to be written in the Greek language even though the Romans ruled the Promised Land.

The Romans were used by God to build roads and to establish peace throughout its empire. This paved the way for the missionary journeys that we read of in the book of Acts during which God used one man to bring the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. 

3) The Sequence of the Rise of Each Empire

The sequence of these empires was determined by God. It was not by chance that the Persians came after the Babylonians. God had a purpose for each of these empires including their sequence. God used the Babylonian empire to chastise and judge Israel and to bring them into captivity because of the idolatry of Israel. After 70 years, Persia was used by the Lord to deliver Israel out of captivity. God ordained the very characteristics of these empires so that they would accomplish His sovereign will.

God has appointed today’s superpowers. We know that all the kingdoms of the world will end and the final kingdom that will be established will be the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we look to the kingdoms of this world for our hope, we will only be disappointed. Throughout history we have seen how the policies and the systems of man have failed. Kingdoms and nations come and go. But the kingdom of Jesus Christ stands forever. One day the Lord Jesus Christ will return and He will establish His perfect kingdom. Will you be a part of it?