Yes—Les Feldick teaches that democratic governments are weak because political authority is divided among many people instead of concentrated in one strong ruler.
Les sees this pattern in Daniel 2's image: political power moves from an absolute ruler, to a consensus of two, then four, then a republic with a senate, so each empire becomes weaker as decision-making is spread among more people. He says democracies are so unstable that if people fill the streets to demonstrate, the government can go down. Still, he loves democracy and calls it the greatest form of government, even though it is the worst for getting things done.
Daniel 2:43 — This verse describes the final kingdom as a mixture of iron and clay that will not cleave together, which is the foundation for Les's point that divided political authority is weak.
Daniel 2:40 — Shows that while the fourth kingdom is strong as iron, its later phase becomes a divided mixture—where Les locates the weakness of democratic-style government.
In Daniel 2, God gives Nebuchadnezzar a dream of a great image: "This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay" (Daniel 2:32-33). Daniel explains that each section represents a kingdom, and the fourth kingdom "shall be strong as iron" (Daniel 2:40). The final stage of the image is a divided kingdom: "And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay" (Daniel 2:41). Daniel 2:43 adds, "they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay." Scripture shows a kingdom that is mixed, divided, and unable to hold together.
Les Feldick sets the stage with the metals of Nebuchadnezzar's image: they go from gold to silver to brass to iron, decreasing in value as they increase in hardness (Clip 0). But politically, he sees a different flow. Babylon had absolute power in one ruler; the next empire required a consensus of two; the one after that, a consensus of four; and Rome, though thought of as ruled by Caesars, was actually a republic depending on its senate and representatives. He calls this "the seeds of democracy," with a consensus of many (Clips 3, 4). Les applies this to our day: Western Europe is an enlarged democracy, and "democracies are weak." If people do not like a government, they can fill the streets and demonstrate, and down it goes. A democracy has no real strength, and consequently it is inferior (Clips 1, 2). Les is not anti-democratic—he says democracy is loved and is the greatest form of government that has ever come on the scene—but "when it comes to getting something done, it's probably the worst that was ever conceived" (Clips 5, 6). He contrasts this with Christ's coming kingdom. It will be a kingdom of one, with absolute power and no confabs (Clips 5, 6). Rome, he adds, fell from within because of political, economic, and moral corruption, not from an outside invader (Clip 7).
Les traces the political flow through the empires of Nebuchadnezzar's image. Babylon began with the absolute power of one; the next empire required consent of two; the third a consent of four; Rome was a republic with a senate and representatives, the seeds of democracy. Each step brought more people into decision-making, and Les says that made the governments politically weaker.
Les points to Western Europe today as an enlarged democracy. "Democracies are weak," he says, because if people do not like the government they can fill the streets and demonstrate, and down it goes. This shows a government with no real strength, and consequently it is inferior compared to the more centralized empires.
Les makes a distinction: democracy is loved and is the greatest form of government that has ever come on the scene, "no doubt about it." But when it comes to getting something done, it is probably the worst ever conceived. He then points to Christ's coming kingdom as the solution—it will be a kingdom of one with absolute power and no confabs.
Les uses Rome's fall to show that a nation can be destroyed from within without an outside conqueror. Rome had the greatest military machine of its day, yet it became so corrupt politically, economically, and morally that it defeated itself and fell. This supports his larger point about the fragility of human government.
From Gold to Iron: Empires Change
Les sets up the Daniel 2 image, noting that the metals decrease in value while increasing in hardness—background for his point that political power, not military strength, declines.
Democratic Weakness in Western Europe
Les says Western Europe is an enlarged democracy, and democracies are weak because street demonstrations can bring down a government; they have no real strength and are inferior.
Democratic Weakness in Western Europe
Les repeats that democracies are weak because people can fill the streets and topple a government; it has no real strength.
From Absolute Power to Consensus
Les explains the political flow from an absolute power of one to a consensus of two, then four, then a republic with a senate—showing more people in decision-making.
From Absolute Power to Consensus
Les reiterates that the Roman Empire, though associated with Caesars, was actually a republic with a senate and representatives, containing the seeds of democracy.
Democracy Loved but Weak, and Christ's Coming Kingdom
Les says democracy is loved and is the greatest form of government, but the worst for getting things done; Christ's kingdom will have absolute power in one ruler.
Democracy Loved but Weak, and Christ's Coming Kingdom
Les repeats that democracies are weakened by the number of people in decision-making, and that Christ's kingdom will be a kingdom of one with no confabs.
Rome's Self-Destruction
Les points out that Rome fell because of internal corruption politically, economically, and morally, not because an outside power conquered it—showing the instability of human government.
Daniel 2:40: And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Identifies the fourth empire as strong like iron, the backdrop for the divided mixture that develops later.
Daniel 2:41: And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Describes a kingdom that is divided, providing the biblical basis Les uses for political weakness in shared authority.
Daniel 2:43: And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Shows the divided elements will not hold together, which Les connects to the weakness of democratic consensus.
Daniel 2:44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Points to God's coming kingdom—the contrast Les uses when he says Christ's rule will be absolute and efficient.
Yes, in terms of decision-making and stability. Les teaches that as political authority spreads to many people, government becomes weaker—so weak that street demonstrations can topple it. This does not mean he disapproves of democracy; he says it is loved and is the greatest form of government, but inefficient at getting things done.
Daniel 2's image shows a succession of empires from Babylon to Rome, and Les sees a political progression from one absolute ruler to consensus of many. This widening circle of decision-makers is why each empire—and today's democracies—are weaker.
No. Les says Christ's coming kingdom will be a kingdom of one, not a democracy; He will have absolute power and there will be no confabs, making it efficient and strong.
Watch the Teaching: Biblical Timeline: Creation to Christ's Kingdom!