Godless kingdoms.
Daniel's vision brings before us the origin, the character, and the destiny of godless kingdoms.
I. ORIGIN.
1. Earthly. The Divine kingdom comes from above—"with the clouds of heaven" (verse 13). These kingdoms come from below—from the dark depths of the sea. Earthly passions, not the will of God, shape their origin.
2. Tumultuous. "The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea;" the kingdoms issued from the throes of the storm. The great monarchies of antiquity did not grow up by the development of peaceful arts and commerce. They were formed by wars of conquest, and wild, wicked strifes of ambition. The glory of political success often leads men to disregard the crimes by which it is achieved. But these cannot be ignored by God.
3. Successive. One after another the great beasts rise from the sea. God's kingdom is one and lasting, but as these earthly kingdoms are transient, new kingdoms take the place of the old. Thus the same drama is reacted in many ages. Till the reign of Christ is complete, we must expect to see the rise and fall of earthly ambition.
II. CHARACTER.
1. Points of agreement.
2. Points of difference. The great beasts are "diverse one from another." Nationalities are of various types. The faults of governments are not all alike. Evil assumes various forms. All godless kingdoms are not equally bad. In the vision, the first kingdom shows signs of improvement in its later days (verse 4). The second is far more destructive (verse 5). The last power is least in apparent size, yet most fatal to its neighbours (verse 8). Thus human history is full of variety, change, and surprise. It is only in the Divine order that we meet with assured and peaceful stabilty.
III. THEIR DESTINY.
1. They are all only temporary. One succeeds another.
2. They all come up for judgment (verse 10). There is a judgment on nations as well as on individuals. The proudest earthly power must bow before the judgment-seat of God. They who ignore God will not escape his notice.
3. As there are degrees and varieties of crime, so there will be degrees and varieties of punishment. The worst of the great beasts is entirely destroyed (verse 11). The others are dealt with more leniently. Thus at the great judgment the sentence will be proportionate to the sin (Luke 12:47, Luke 12:48).
4. The godless kingdoms will all be superseded by the universal and eternal kingdom of heaven. God's righteous rule will ultimately take the place of the most violent and destructive earthly powers. Evil will finally succumb to good.