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Iraq In The BiblePart 4
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 2/16/03 Review Iraq is the second most often mentioned nation in the Bible. Many vital Biblical events took place in the area now called Iraq. Here are some examples.
In our last message we looked at the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation (Daniel 2:36-44). We learned the following…
The Head of Gold was the Babylonian Empire The Chest and Arms of Silver was the Medo-Persian Empire The Belly and Thighs of Brass was Grecian Empire The Legs of Iron was the Roman Empire The Feet and Toes of Iron and Clay is the revived Roman Empire Focus
Remember that the image in Daniel 2 represented the time period that is called the times of the Gentiles. Luke 21:24 says, "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." You will note that the strategic characteristic that is revealed about the times of the Gentiles is that "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles…until the times…be fulfilled." My friends, it is exactly as God said it would be! Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish nation has been under Gentile control from the time of the Babylonian captivity around 590’s B.C. until our present day. That’s 2600 years.
On May 14, 1948 the nation of Israel was reborn. However, the boundaries that the United Nations established for Israel did not include her real capital, Jerusalem. Let me tell you my friends, the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and Jews is over Jerusalem! Biblically, Jerusalem belongs to Israel! However the nations of the world refuse, at this point, to admit it. They all have their embassies in Tel Aviv. In 1995 the United States Congress passed a resolution requiring that America’s embassy be built in Jerusalem by 1999. However President Clinton refused to allow it to be. Jerusalem is still "trodden down of the Gentiles." No Jewish king from the line of David rules from Jerusalem. We are still in the times of the Gentiles. However, the times of the Gentiles could have been brought to an end in Christ’s day if the leaders of Israel would have accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah King. Turn to Luke 13:34-35 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
Daniel 2:34-35 & 44-45 "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." This surely is a reference to the glorious return of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ to set up his Millennial Kingdom. He will defeat the rebellious Gentile nations. Turn to Revelation 19:11-16 "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
Most Bible believing scholars teach that the kingdoms appear in chronological order and then die off. Only the fourth, the Roman Empire, will reemerge at the end of the age. I used to hold that view. However in light of what I have seen in recent times I think it is very possible that Dr. Harry Ironside is right. He said, "Those these kingdoms are successive in their rising, one does not necessarily completely destroy the other; but the four great monarchies, with their characteristic features, are to run on in some form until Jesus comes." (Lectures on Daniel by Ironside). I think it is possible that the entire image of Daniel will re-emerge and be active when Christ comes. Here’s why. Daniel 2:35 says, "Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." We have see that Babylon is Iraq today. The ancient Medo-Persian Empire is Iran. It was only in 1935 that Persia changed its name to Iran. Today Iran is the second most powerful nation in the Middle East and is believed to have at least two nuclear bombs. What about the Grecian Empire? When Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided into four parts. It was the Syrian part of the Empire that Antiochus Epiphanes ruled. He ravaged the nation, persecuted the people & defiled the Temple. That portion of the Grecian Empire today is known as Syria. Today Syria has a well-equipped army and hates Israel. All three of these nations, Iraq, Iran and Syria are committed to Islamic supremacy. As one author noted, "Their rise (Iraq, Iran, & Syria) has been parallel to the emergence of Israel and accomplished in less than 50 years." And the revived Roman Empire. What form will it take? The United States of Europe? Perhaps. Possibly even the United Nations. I will say this. In my judgment, we are seeing the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream coming to life again before our very eyes. If you are not sure you are saved, it would be a good time to trust Christ as your Savior. I would urge you to call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. (If you want to listen to this sermon go
www.sermonaudio.com/fbcoc)
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