Why does the Bible overlook the fact that there were many powerful races and cultures that rules larger areas of territory than Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome?
First of all the Bible, though it does present history is actually not a book of history but rather a book of HIS story. In other words, the Bible deals specifically with those nations that somehow impacted God’s people. All the other great civilizations were heathens and pagans and did not play a significant part in the history of the people of God. Those four empires outline, against the background of world history, the experience of God’s people from the days of Daniel down to the close of time.
Secondly, though those other nations, existing during the time of these four empires, were large and powerful during their time Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome were the only universal empires. When Rome fell she was the last of such. Heretofore it was possible for one nation, rising superior to its neighbors in prowess, bravery, and the science of war to consolidate them all into one vast empire. But when Rome fell, such possibilities forever passed away. According to the prophecy, the iron was mixed with clay, and lost the power of cohesion. God has erected a Biblical “Iron Curtain” which has stood as an impregnable barrier to all would-be aggressors. Your history books will tell you that various rulers have tried in vain to once again unite and rule over one great world empire––Charles V, Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte, Kaiser Wilhelm, Adolph Hitler and others have tried by force, subterfuge, marriage and every other way, without success. And the Bible stands defiantly declaring, “they shall not cleave one to another” to this very day.
Thirdly, those four empires have had an impact and influence on western civilization that those other races and cultures have not in such areas as art, literature, language, law, music, science, mathematics and so forth, which cannot be said of those other empires for they were for the most part secluded and isolated from the rest of the world.
Fourthly, the very history of these empires only serves to verify and authenticate the accuracy and truthfulness of these amazing prophecies with all their details and strengthens the Bible students’ belief and faith in the divine Word of God.
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