Dan 2:36-45 | Scofield

Daniel 2:36-45

wheresoever the children

This is universal dominion. It was never fully realized, but power was given for it. but there shall be

From the "head of gold" (Daniel 2:38) to the "iron" of the "fourth kingdom" (Rome) there is deterioration in fineness, but increase of strength (Daniel 2:40). Then comes the deterioration of the "fourth kingdom" in that very quality, strength.

(1) Deterioration by division: The kingdom is divided into two, the legs (Eastern and Western empires), and these are again divided into kingdoms, the number of which when the Stone smites the image will be ten toes, Daniel 2:42; cf. Daniel 7:23,24.
(2) Deterioration by admixture; the iron of the Roman imperium mixed with the clay of the popular will, fickle and easily moulded. This is precisely what has come to pass in the constitutional monarchies which, the Republic of France and the despotism of Turkey, cover the sphere of ancient Roman rule.

and in the days

The passage fixes authoritatively the time relative to other predicted events, when the kingdom of the heavens will be set up. It will be "in the days of those kings," i.e. the days of the ten kings (cf. Daniel 7:24-27 symbolized by the toes of the image. That condition did not exist at the advent of Messiah, nor was it even possible until the dissolution of the Roman empire, and the rise of the present national world system. See "Kingdom (O.T.)" ; Genesis 1:26; Zechariah 12:8 "Kingdom (N.T.)" ; Luke 1:31-33; 1 Corinthians 15:28, (See Scofield "Matthew 3:2") note (defining "kingdom of heaven"). Verse 45 repeats the method by which the kingdom will be set up. (Cf) See Scofield "Daniel 2:31" ; Psalms 2:5; 2:6; Zechariah 14:1-8; 14:9.