Sunday
June 21
1. THE BABYLONIAN KINGDOM
a. With what words do the prophets describe the beautiful city of ancient Babylon? Isaiah 13:19; 14:4. How did Babylon’s glory affect the attitude of its monarch, Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel 4:30.
b. As Nebuchadnezzar considered the greatness of his kingdom, what was revealed to him in a dream? Daniel 2:1, 26–29, 31–38.
“The dream of the great image, opening before Nebuchadnezzar events reaching to the close of time, had been given that he might understand the part he was to act in the world’s history, and the relation that his kingdom should sustain to the kingdom of heaven. In the interpretation of the dream, he had been plainly instructed regarding the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 503.
“God is the ruling power in the affairs of this world. He changes the times and the seasons, He removes kings and sets up kings, to fulfill His own purpose.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 49.
Monday
June 22
2. MEDO-PERSIA
a. How was the destruction of Babylon foretold? Who were the human agents to fulfill that prophecy? Isaiah 45:1, 2; Daniel 5:30, 31.
“While those who had remained loyal to God in the midst of Babylon were seeking the Lord and studying the prophecies foretelling their deliverance, God was preparing the hearts of kings to show favor to His repentant people.”—The Review and Herald, March 21, 1907.
b. What notable experience took place in the reign of Darius the Mede? Daniel 6:13–22. What important work was to be accomplished in the time of the kingdom of Medo-Persia? Ezra 5:13; 6:1; 7:12, 13.
“Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him. . . . On account of his praying to God, he was cast into the lion’s den. Evil angels accomplished their purpose thus far. But Daniel continues to pray, even in the den of lions. Was Daniel suffered to be consumed? Did God forget him there? O, no; Jesus, the mighty Commander of the host of heaven, sent His angel to close the mouths of those hungry lions that they should not hurt the praying man of God, and all was peace in that terrible den. The king witnessed his preservation and brought him out with honors.”—Ibid., February 18, 1862.
“The highest agencies of heaven were working on the hearts of kings, and it was for the people of God to labor with the utmost activity to carry out the decree of Cyrus.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 572.
“The provincial officers of the Medo-Persian realm visited the returned exiles, and requested them to state the name of the one who had commanded them to rebuild. If the Jews at that time had not been trusting the Lord for guidance, this inquiry made by men high in authority might have resulted disastrously to the builders. ‘But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius’ (Ezra 5:5). The officers were answered so wisely that they decided to write a letter to Darius Hystaspes, king of Medo-Persia, directing his attention to the original decree made by Cyrus, commanding that the house of God at Jerusalem be builded, and that the expenses for the same be paid from the king’s treasury.”—Ibid., December 26, 1907.
Tuesday
June 23
3. GREECE
a. What part and what material of the image represented the third empire of the world? Daniel 2:39. Why did Medo-Persia come to an end and was followed by Greece?
“The Medo-Persian kingdom was visited by the wrath of God because in it His law was trampled underfoot. The fear of God possessed no power among the people. Wickedness, blasphemy, and corruption were the prevailing influences in this kingdom; and the kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt. They deteriorated because they cast off God. Forgetting Him, they sank lower and lower in the scale.”—The Review and Herald, February 6, 1900.
“The deification of the dead has held a prominent place in nearly every system of heathenism, as has also the supposed communion with the dead. The gods were believed to communicate their will to men, and also, when consulted, to give them counsel. Of this character were the famous oracles of Greece and Rome.”—Evangelism, p. 603.
b. Following the example of the two previous kingdoms, how did the kingdom of Greece end? Daniel 7:6, 12; 8:5–8.
“Every nation that has come upon the stage of action has been permitted to occupy its place on the earth, that it might be seen whether it would fulfill the purpose of ‘the Watcher and the Holy One.’ Prophecy has traced the rise and fall of the world’s great empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. With each of these, as with nations of less power, history repeated itself. Each had its period of test, each failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another.”—Education, pp. 176, 177.
“From the rise and fall of nations as made plain in the books of Daniel and the Revelation, we need to learn how worthless is mere outward and worldly glory. Babylon, with all its power and magnificence, the like of which our world has never since beheld—power and magnificence which to the people of that day seemed so stable and enduring—how completely has it passed away! As ‘the flower of the grass’ (James 1:10). it has perished. So perished the Medo-Persian kingdom, and the kingdoms of Grecia and Rome.”—The Faith I Live By, p. 345.
Wednesday
June 24
4. THE ROMAN EMPIRE
a. What part of the image represented the Roman empire, and of what material was it made? Daniel 2:40. What characterized Rome?
“The metals in the image [shown to Nebuchadnezzar], symbolizing the different kingdoms, became less and less pure and valuable, from the head down. The head of the image was of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the sides of brass, and the feet and toes iron mingled with clay. So the kingdoms represented by them deteriorated in value.”—The Review and Herald, February 6, 1900.
b. What important events took place under Roman rule? Luke 2:1–7; 21:20, 21. Finally, into what did the powerful Roman empire mutate?
“Angels behold the weary travelers, Joseph and Mary, making their way to the city of David, to be taxed, according to the decree of Caesar Augustus. Here, in the providence of God, Joseph and Mary had been brought; for this was the place prophecy had predicted that Christ should be born. They seek a place of rest at the inn, but are turned away because there is no room. The wealthy and honorable have been welcomed, and find refreshment and room, while these weary travelers are compelled to seek refuge in a coarse building which shelters the dumb beasts. Here the Saviour of the world is born.”—Ibid., December 17, 1872.
“Christ would have averted the doom of the Jewish nation if the people had received Him. But envy and jealousy made them implacable. They determined that they would not receive Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. . . . Their own fierce passions, uncontrolled, wrought their ruin. In their blind rage they destroyed one another. Their rebellious, stubborn pride brought upon them the wrath of their Roman conquerors. Jerusalem was destroyed, the temple laid in ruins, and its site plowed like a field. The children of Judah perished by the most horrible forms of death. Millions were sold to serve as bondmen in heathen lands.”—Prophets and Kings, pp. 712, 713.
“The vast empire of Rome crumbled to pieces, and from its ruins rose that mighty power, the Roman Catholic Church.”—The Youth’s Instructor, September 22, 1903.
Thursday
June 25
5. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM
a. The kingdom of Rome was represented by the legs of iron. What composed the material of the feet? Daniel 2:41, 42.
“Our position in the image of Nebuchadnezzar is represented by the toes, in a divided state, and of a crumbling material, that will not hold together. Prophecy shows us that the great day of God is right upon us. It hasteth greatly.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 361.
b. What was foretold about the mingling of iron and clay of the image’s feet and toes? Daniel 2:43. What event will take place in the time of the divided kingdom? Daniel 2:44, 45; 7:18, 27; Psalm 37:29.
“The image revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, while representing the deterioration of the kingdoms of the earth in power and glory, also fitly represents the deterioration of religion and morality among the people of these kingdoms. As nations forget God, in like proportion they become weak morally.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 50.
“[Micah 4:8 quoted.] The kingdom forfeited by sin, Christ has regained, and the redeemed are to possess it with Him.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, p. 489.
“The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 342.
Friday
June 26
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. What news was proud Nebuchadnezzar probably shocked to hear?
b. What can we learn from the way God worked in the heart of heathen rulers, such as Darius the Mede and Cyrus of Persia?
c. What warning should we heed from the rise and fall of various empires?
d. Describe the bitter woe that came upon those who rejected Christ.
e. What is signified by iron mingled with clay—and how will this era end?