What does the feet of clay and iron represent in Nebuchadnezzar's dream?

Note that the Bible describes the feet and toes of the image as being “partly of iron and partly of molded clay,” adding: “The kingdom itself will prove to be divided, . . . will partly prove to be strong and will partly prove to be fragile . . . , but they will not prove to be sticking together.” (Daniel 2:33, 41-43) This lack of sticking together in unity became apparent as decolonization proceeded, as nationalism flourished, and as the developing countries gained in stature. The globe was rapidly slipping into political fragmentation.

Similar to the uneasy mixture of iron and clay in the feet and toes of the image, some governments have been ironlike—authoritarian or tyrannical—and others have been claylike—more pliable or democratic. Understandably, they have been unable to stick together in a world unity. Pinpointing this in our day, the German book Unsere Welt—Gestern, Heute, Morgen; 1800-2000 (Our World—Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow; 1800-2000), says: “By the 19th century, democratic freedom prevailed in nearly all civilized countries, and by the end of World War I, freedom’s cause seemed to have approached final victory. . . . With the revolution in Russia in 1917, dictatorship rose up anew. Since then the 20th century has been characterized by coexistence and confrontation between dictatorship and democracy.”—Italics ours.

As indicated in Daniel’s prophecy, when the governments represented by the feet were in power—and that means in our time—the end of the great image would be approaching. It will fall, not because of the weakness of the feet made of iron mixed with clay, but because of being struck and crushed by a symbolic stone. What does that “stone” represent? The Messianic Kingdom that was to “crush and put an end to all these kingdoms” and become ‘a large mountain that fills the whole earth.’—Daniel 2:34, 35, 44.

“The dream is reliable, and the interpretation of it is trustworthy,” said Daniel. (Daniel 2:45) The initial fulfillment's of these two prophecies—one about the destruction of Babylon and the other pertaining to the succession of world powers—assure us that what remains to be fulfilled will happen on time. This will include the destruction of the prophetic dream image by the interference of God’s Kingdom.

1

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

What does the feet of clay and iron represent in Nebuchadnezzar's dream?

Daniel 2:34 You kept on looking until a stone was cut out not by hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and of molded clay and crushed them. 35 At that time the iron, the molded clay, the copper, the silver and the gold were, all together, crushed and became like the chaff from the...

The metal, Gold, silver, bronze and iron are all political kingdoms that ruled on the earth, Babylon, Medo-Persians,Greece, and Rome. Now we are in the iron and clay period. I would say that the iron represents political systems and the clay is not a metal which indicates a different power that being, a religious power. Now these powers do not join together but work independently. We know that a religious power ruled in the dark ages for 1260 days/years and received a deadly wound. It was said to be a beast power. We read in Revelation that this power will rise again ( it will be healed of this deadly wound) and have a strong influence in worldly affairs. This corrupted religious power will seek to persecute God's true people as seen in Rev 13:11-18. Those that are faithful to God are said to be keeping the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. Rev 12:17; 14:12. Now in Rev 17:1-13 we see an unholy union between the political powers of the earth and this religious power ( whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication). Also note in verse 8 you can see that this beast power that was, and is not, and yet is. This anti-christ religious power will be doing great wonders, so that he maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth and its a deceiving power and also forces its religious beliefs otherwise you should be killed. Rev 13:11-18. Now this false religious power will use the secular/political power to enforce religious dogma. You may also understand this by the mingling themselves with the seed of men. Rev 14:6-11 is a warning to avoid following this false religious power represented by the clay. Rev 18:3,9 Also talks about this unfortunate union with church and state as the kings of the earth committing fornication with her (false church). The good news out of this is that the saints look forward to the stone that destroys the image and sets up the everlasting kingdom were peace and joy reigns.

Iron and clay do not stick together. We see this trend in families around the world. People in general are divided not only in religion, but also in politics. Since 1763 c.e the Anglo-American world power has been formed, yet there are how many other governments since 1914 that have come into existence. None of these governments agree with one another even with the help of the United Nations. Iron is strong while clay is fragile and these cannot stick together. Thus there is no sticking together of authoritarian rule and the common people--no more than there could be a uniting of iron with clay. In fact I heard one of the newscasters say that the ones debating on issues such as social security can not agree on anything that is brought to the table. We are truly subject to the last of governments made by man. The rock that will symbollically hit the image and destroy it will be God's kingdom. This is the kingdom we as Christrians pray for in the Lord's prayer. Matthew 6: 9 and 10 Only God's kingdom can and will bring true peace and happiness to this sick world we live in. Daniel 2:44 Christ Jesus as king of God's kingdom will once and for all unify the entire human family as he is doing,even in these last days with his followers. We as Jehovah's witnesses truly,as best as we can being imperfect, show love for one another in many different ways. John 13;34 and 35 which says; "I am giving you a new commandment,that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." There is a saying that love makes the world go around. What a day it's going to be when no one can say anything bad about another person. You can learn more about Daniel's prophecy concerning God's kingdom be going to www.watchtower.org and go the the link

What Does the Bible Really Teach. This book is used in over 230 lands of the world to teach honest hearted ones the truth. Thank you for your time I appreciate being able to give an answer to your question.

It represents the Anglo-American dual world power.

It being partly of iron and partly of clay signifies that it is partly strong and partly fragile. Also the rulers would apparently mix with the common people (symbolized by the clay). This perhaps suggests that they would give their subjects more of a say in the process of governing than the previous world powers of the image. Despite this there is no sticking together between the two as the people are often critical of and oppose in some way the governments' policies.

All of this makes the Anglo-American world power somewhat fragile in that it's incumbent presidents and prime ministers often seem to have only a marginal majority approval rating -- if not an outright minority. Also, presidents and prime ministers are voted into office with very close margins having a relatively weak mandate from electors and opposition representatives who often comprise close to 50% of the elected representatives are often able oppose new governmental bills in the houses of parliament with support from just a few contrary-minded government representatives.

These situations weaken the sovereign power of governments to effect new policies in a timely manner. A good example of this is the stalemate that often results when the Democrats and Republicans try to agree on a new budget, or a new healthcare plan.

Nebuchadnezzar Dream Statue

Well, it wasn't the Greek Empire, that was the bronze. The feet of miry clay and iron is what appears to be Iran and Syria, who tried to get Lebanon to join up with them. Since then, the Lebanese government has toppled, but Syria is in turmoil- so it would seem incapacitated to renew the effort of gathering nations to form what the news agencies referred to as an "Axis" of nations during that time last year.

So it appears that the feet are two nations that push to form this future confederacy. The confederacy begin the Ten Toes.

They are partly brittle, partly strong. The way it appears to be going is that the brittle part is because these nations are riddled with fanatical tendencies towards social upheavals. The people of those nations can be riotous, as long as the right people inspire them to be. A Frenzy of activity destabilizing the workings of those countries.

EDIT:

The mountain that crushes them will be Christ's kingdom. That's the mountain made without hands, which will continue forever.

The clay is the church that becomes like the world as it melds into the iron feet. The love of many will grow cold. Ignore the Watchtower commentor.

Its legs, teeth and feet are of iron symbolizing its strength. The toes is the number of nations on the legs that make up this empire. The clay is the seed of men or the weakness amidst its strength within its institutional structure.