42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, aso the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly1 fragile.
43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings athe God of heaven will set up a kingdom bwhich shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; cit shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45aInasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Daniel and His Friends Promoted
46aThen King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering band incense to him.
47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly ayour God is the God of bgods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”
48aThen the king promoted Daniel band gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and cchief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel 2:36-43 describes four major kingdoms, empires, or governmental systems that have ruled over the greater part of the civilized world:
1. The Chaldean-Babylonian Empire (625 to 538 BC)
2. The Medo-Persian Empire (538 to 330 BC)
3. The Greco-Macedonian Empire (333 to 31 BC)
4. The Roman Empire (Established 31 BC. The imagery suggests that it will exist in some form until the end of the age.)
Clearly, these physical empires existed on earth. Verses 44-45 then say that God's Kingdom will encompass all of these previous kingdoms—on earth! Daniel 7:17-18 says much the same.
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