This is probably well-worn territory, seeing as the WTs Daniel interpretations havent really changed in 50 years. I wanted to write some stuff out tho on the subject, just so i could see it all in one place. In 3 places in Daniel, succession of kings is discussed: chapter 2 on the metal dream image; chapters 7-8 on the beasts; and chapter 11 on the kings of the north and south.
In the WTs new Daniel book, which just summarizes the 1958 Your Will Be Done book's interpretations of these portions, all three interpretations include Rome, Britan and America. But note how they fit together in the different portions. In the quotations, ive summarized portions or added comments in [italicized brackets] and bolded parts for emphasis.
pg 55-57 (discussing Dan 2:40)
The iron legs of Nebuchadnezzar's dream image pictured not only the Roman Empire but also its political outgrowth. [7 kings of Revelation 17 considered.] Britain was once a northwestern part of the Roman Empire. But by the year 1763, it had become the British Empire--The Britannia that ruled the seven seas. By 1776 its 13 American colonies had declared their independance in order to set up the United States of America. In later years, however, Britain and the United States became partners in both war and peace. Thus, the Anglo-American combination came into existence as the seventh world power of Bible prophecy. Like the Roman Empire, it has proved to "strong like iron," exercising ironlike authority. The iron legs of the dream image thus include both the Roman Empire and the Anglo-American dual world power.Wow! so both britain and america are merely 'outgrowths' of the roman empire! historians might call this a vast over-simplification, but hey, britain was once a roman colony and america was once a british colony, so there you go. what more do you need? the accompanying chart, shows rome, britain, and america combined as the 'iron legs.' the next section provides a little more detail on this succession.
pg 137-141 (discussing Dan 7)
"I kept on considering the horns [of the fourth beast--Rome]," said Daniel, "and look! another horn, a small one, came up in among them, and there were three of the first horns that were plucked up from before it." (Daniel 7:8) Concerning this outgrowth, the angel told Daniel: "Another one will rise up after them [the ten kings], and he himself will be different from the first ones, and three kings he will humiliate." (Daniel 7:24) Who is this king, when did he rise, and what three kings did he humiliate?OK. cant argue with the facts of history, can you? Britain was the most successful roman colony and therefore, her successor, merely an 'outgrowth.' simple as that. and, oh yes, throw in america too. the accompanying illustration shows the beast of Rome and the horn of Anglo-America snarling at the reader, a single entity.Consider the following developments. In 55 B.C.E., Roman General Julius Caeser invaded Brittania but failed to establish a permanent settlement. In 43 C.E., Emperor Claudius began a more permanent conquest of southern Britain. Then, in 122 C.E., Emperor Hadrian began to build a wall from the Tyne River to the Solway Firth, marking the northern limit of the Roman Empire. Early in the fifth century, the Roman legions left the island. "In the sixteenth century," explained one historian, "England had been a second-rate power. Its wealth was slight compared with that of the Netherlands. Its population was much less than that of France. Its armed forces (including its navy) were inferior to Spain's." Britain evidently was an insignificant kingdom then, making up the symbolic small horn of the fourth beast [Rome].
[Several paragraphs discuss ascendancy of Britain during 16th to 20th century.]
There was more to the "small" horn that the British Empire. In 1783, Britain recognized the independance of its 13 American colonies. The United States of America eventually became Britain's ally, emerging from World War II as the earth's dominant nation. It still has strong ties with Britain. The resulting Anglo-American dual world power constitutes the 'horn having eyes.' [[Again, this is the small horn projecting from the beast representing Rome.]
But now, for the final trick, watch the next portion carefully, the King of the North versus the King of the South.
pg 243-247 (discussing Dan 11 - the four pages in this subheading do not actually discuss any verses in Daniel, but merely serve to patch up Dan 11:26, where the North King is Rome and the South King is Egypt, to Dan 11:27, which is in the 20th century.)
[discusses Roman Empire's split into West and East in 9th century.]WHOA! Did you follow all that? the actual successor of Rome is now GERMANY! What happened to Britain and America?? Well, Britain once controlled Egypt sort of, so obviously they are the successors of Egypt! and, oh yes, almost forgot, throw in america again. america is a successor of egypt too, doncha know. So now Britain and America are fighting against Rome's new successor, Germany! But didnt we already say Britain and America were themselves the successors of Rome? So obviously in fact, that they were essentially the same kingdom?!As time passed, the successors of Charlemagne proved to be ineffectual rulers. The office of the empiror even lay vacant for a time. Meanwhile, German King Otto I had gained control of much of northern and central Italy. He proclaimed himself king of Italy. On February 2, 962 C.E., Pope John XII crowned Otto I emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital was in Germany, and the emperors were Germans, as were most of their subjects. Five centuries later the Austrian house of Hapsburg obtained the title of "emperor" and held it for most of the remaining years of the Holy Roman Empire.
THE TWO KINGS AGAIN IN CLEAR FOCUS
Napoleon I delivered a deathblow to the Holy Roman Empire when he refused to recognize its existence following his victories in Germany during the year 1805. Unable to defend the crown, Emperor Francis II resigned from Roman imperial status on August 6, 1806, and withdrew to his national government as emperor of Austria. After 1,006 years, the Holy Roman Empire--founded by Leo III, a Roman Catholic pope, and Charlemagne, a Frankish king--came to an end. In 1870, Rome became the capital of the kingdom of Italy, independent of the Vatican. The following year, a Germanic empire began with Wilhelm I being named caeser, or kaiser. Thus the modern-day king of the north--Germany--was on the world scene.
But what was the identity of the modern-day king of the south? History shows that Britain took on imperial power in the 17th century. [discusses British influence in Egypt in 19th century.] Gradually forming close ties, Britain and the United States of America became the Anglo-American World Power. Together they came into the position of the king of the south.
There are so many wacky interpretations in this book, you simply have to read it yourself. But this is a clear, black-and-white example of why, whenever the WT tries to defend the bible from the allegation that its prophecies are unclear and can be intrepreted in any way one wishes, they just come off looking silly.
mox
