A World Wide Revelation

Let us break away from the symbology of prophecy for a moment and ask ourselves, what did God mean when He gave the revelation of world powers to humanity? Did He reveal such things just for the sake of proving His foreknowledge? Did He intend for the reader of this prophecy to focus on the shortcomings of mankind? Why not simply make it a message of hope without giving account of what was to transpire? One can give as many reasons as possible for God revealing such matters to man. I will simply suggest three which I believe deserve careful attention.

First, at the time that this prophecy was given, the Jewish people had been taken captive and their city had been destroyed. This was a heartbreaking and world shattering reality. God’s people had enjoyed the revelation of God’s future for them but as apostasy was tolerated, sin defiled God’s designs and plans for their future. Their future which had rested so securely on an impressive history of God’s providence was now taking a turn for the worst. Now as a result the future was handed over to pagan authorities who would trifle with the sanctity of God’s principles. A great controversy, between the principles of God and man, was put into motion on an epic scale that would consume the entire world. God needed to reveal the magnitude of this struggle so that no one would underestimate it.

Second, in revealing the future to a pagan king God was moving in a powerful way among a heathen nation which was ignorant in regards to the Creator of heaven and earth. The Babylonian system of worship was established on pagan rituals and beliefs which disregarded the true power and identity of a Creator God who personally dealt with the affairs of humanity. God would take it upon himself to awaken the conscience of the pagan world by being a presence in their midst. Through methods that they would understand, including dreams, visions, wise men, miracles, etc., God would impress the pagan mind with a very different view of the divine. As much as Nebuchadnezzar struggled with God’s principles to the point of temporary insanity, he eventually declared, "I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation…" (Daniel 4:34).

Finally, the revelation of world powers serves to reveal God’s work in all of humanity. What began in Babylon will be carried out to every part of the globe. Although the world empires are of human origin and are temporary, there is a strain of faith that runs through them all as we will discover. This faith comes to be known as the gospel of Christ that is to go out among all nations, tribes and peoples. The examples of faith found in Daniel were not only for that time and place. That same faith is to be preserved throughout the history of world governments until the very end.

In summary, the revelation of world powers is given for 1. to reveal a great controversy 2. to reveal the Creator 3. to reveal the work of God in all humanity.