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		Well? Is this it? Are we the generation that shall witness the end of the ages? Long ago, Jesus spoke the following words, “I tell you the truth, this generation will
certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Matthew 24:34). Is there one single event that indicates that we have arrived at that time?

 If you have longed to see the appearing of Jesus Christ, and the final end of this wicked world, you will not have to wait long. As you read the following account taken from Daniel chapter 2, you will learn of the prophecy that points to an event that transpired May 1st, 2004 which has marked us as the final generation upon this earth.

 - Nebuchadnezzar’s great dream -

 Abruptly summoned from their bedchambers, an elite group of wise men had been sent to settle the troubled mood of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar. “If you don't tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be demolished into heaps of rubble” (Daniel 2:5)!

 No doubt the dream was important to the great ruler. Yet he couldn't remember what the dream was about when he awoke! Nebuchadnezzar (Neb"ukudnez'ur) reigned six hundred years before the birth of Jesus. He had recently become the most powerful ruler of the world and he was determined to keep it that way. The king selected the worlds brightest wise men and astrologers from every region of his kingdom to insure that Babylon would endure forever. He provided the very best food and housing a king could offer, and now, in his hour of need, it was time for them to prove their supernatural skills. Unfortunately, the kings demand was too great for them.

 “The Astrologers replied to the King, There isn't a man alive who can tell your Majesty his dream. And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician…The King was furious when he heard this, and he sent out orders to execute all the wise men of Babylon” (Daniel 2:10-12). The normally reasonable King of Babylon had run out of patience. He knew the dream was heaven sent and believed that it foretold the destiny of Babylon's future. He accused the wise men of holding back the knowledge regarding the dream and its meaning.

Among this group of soon to be executed wise men was a Hebrew captive in his late teens named Daniel. “Daniel went home and told his friends...He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret.” (Daniel 2:17). As they prayed throughout the night, the God of Heaven answered their request. Then Daniel, filled with courage approached a high ranking Babylonian official saying, “Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream." Then Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, "I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell Your Majesty the meaning of your dream" (Daniel 2:24)!

 The egotistical king thought very highly of himself at this point. He succeeded in his efforts to dominate the world and was delighted that even the God of the Hebrews had taken notice. Then came the bad news. “But after your kingdom comes to an end, another great kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place” (Daniel 2:39). His kingdom coming to an end? This was not what Nebuchadnezzar wanted to hear! All who greeted the great King were commanded to say, “Oh king live forever” (may your kingdom rule forever) He wanted to establish a kingdom that would be everlasting. But only God’s kingdom would have this unique quality.

 The prophecy of Daniel chapter 2 outlines four successive periods of world domination (shown lower left). The fifth period accurately portrays the fragile unification of modern Europe. “As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be party strong and partly brittle...so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united” (Daniel 2:42-43).

 It is significant that the prophecy of Daniel chapter 2 draws special attention to the toes, for each human body has ten. If this were not so, the prophecy would indicate otherwise. The event which transpired May 1st, 2004 was the attachment of the ten nations to the European Union. “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people” (Daniel 2:44). Notice that those living “in the days of these Kings” (meaning those ten nations most recently attached to the European Union) shall witness a Kingdom arise that “shall not be left to other people”.  According to the prophecy, we now live in the “generation that shall not pass away”!

Today, the nations of Europe have become two portions. One division is representative of dominant Roman ideologies; while the other is opposite in its ideological nature as iron is to clay. When Europe attempts to become one nation, the “Word of God” will be introduced to prevent the union. “A stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image...and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:34-35).

 “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). The stone that fills the earth represents the gathering and assembling of God’s chosen people as He elevates them before all the earth. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world...and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). The power of God’s word will be demonstrated before all the earth by the humbling of nations through His people. “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel...He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come” (Revelation 14:6-7).

 Our world will soon witness a great contest between the “Word of God” and the will of earthly Kings. All shall know that the “Holy Ones” have power over the nations. In this struggle, they shall demonstrate that the “Word of God” is all powerful. Every nation upon the earth shall watch as they see the European Union collapse before their eyes. And as the rebellious rulers of the earth redouble their efforts and engage the nations in their impossible quest for unity, they shall suffer the repeated judgments of God. Like a great mountain, “It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44). And as these nations suffer the results of their rebellion, a different Kingdom shall flourish amid the confusion; it is the everlasting Kingdom of God.

“The holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men” (Daniel 4:17).

Written by Tim Czapiewski

 Point by point, Nebuchadnezzar nodded intently as he listened to Daniel’s description. He recalled the eerie dream that troubled him just hours before. He saw a great statue composed of many colorful metals, it’s feet made from iron and clay. This wondrous image was destroyed by a stone cast down from heaven.