〈iron - pagan Rome〉

Daniel 2 in Four Parts>Daniel 2 in four parts>four kingdoms>

Branch Note:

The characteristics of iron:
Dan. 2:41: "The strength of iron"
Dan. 2:40: "breaks in pieces and subdues all things"; "bruises"


"The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force: every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or stepping stone on which he himself may climb to a higher place." {DA 435.2}

God never forces the will or conscience; but Satan's constant resort - to gain control of those whom he cannot otherwise seduce - is compulsion by cruelty. Through fear or force he endeavors to rule the conscience and to secure homage to himself. To accomplish this, he works through both religious and secular authorities, moving them to the enforcement of human laws in defiance of the law of God. {GC 591.2}