The latter days

With reference to Daniel 2:30—Now, Nebuchadnezzar who was, as it were, the second founder of Babylon, which he had built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of his power, and for the honor of his majesty (Dan. iv. 30), was much interested to know what would be the fate of the kingdom over which he ruled. That he might know the thoughts of his heart (ii. 30) a symbolical representation was presented before him in a dream, illustrative of the general fortunes and consummation, of the kingdom of Babylon "in the latter days." Hence, the kingdom of Babylon has been in continuous existence from his reign until now, for we are now living "in the latter days." It is true, that "the House of the kingdom" has not always been the Babylon, which was the beginning of Nimrod’s dominion (Gen. x. 10); it has been sometimes at one place, sometimes at another, until at length Rome became "the House" of the Great City. Various dynasties have become the inheritors of the kingdom of Babylon. After Nebuchadnezzar’s, there was the silver dynasty, and the brazen dynasty, and the iron dynasty, and the clay dynasty -- five dynasties ruling over one and the same kingdom; called also, "THE KINGDOM OF MEN" (Dan. iv. 17). This Babylonish kingdom in its latter-day manifestation, the Spirit styles apocalyptically, "that Great City Babylon;" and is the arena upon which will stand erect and complete in all its parts the entire Image, which, in these latter days, is to be smitten by THE STONE, or Angel of the Rainbow.