OceanSide church of Christ
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KINGDOM PROPHECIES (2)
Victor M. Eskew
In last week’s bulletin, we began a discussion of “Kingdom Prophecies.” We examined three of prophecies, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:6-7, and Daniel 7:13-14. We want to continue that study in this article. We will be examining two prophecies. The first prophecy we will consider is one found in Daniel 2:44. The second is found in Luke 1:28-33.
In Daniel 2, we find many of the children of Israel in Babylonian captivity. They are under the domain of a wicked king named Nebuchadnezzar. When Nebuchadnezzar found young, strong, wise young men among those whom he took as captives, he had them trained to be part of his wise men. One who the Israelites who became part of this group was named Daniel.
In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream. “And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him” (Dan. 2:1). Nebuchadnezzar called his wise men in order for them to tell him the interpretation of the dream. There was one difficulty, however, the wise men had to overcome. Nebuchadnezzar could not remember the contents of the dream. His wise men responded with these words to the king: “And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” (Dan. 2:11). This response angered the king. In his wrath, he sent out a decree that all the wise men should be destroyed.
When Daniel heard about the decree, he “answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard…” (Dan. 2:14). He was able to go in unto the king “and he desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation” (Dan. 2:16). Daniel and his companions lifted up their voices to God and pled for His mercies “concerning this secret” (Dan. 2:18). “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision” (Dan. 2:19). Soon, he stood before Nebuchadnezzar in order to reveal the interpretation of the dream.
Daniel acknowledged that it was the God of heaven that revealeth secrets (Dan. 2:18). Then, he provided the king with the dream and its interpretation. Daniel 2:31-35 contain the dream. Daniel 2:38-45 reveal the interpretation of the dream. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream involved four kingdoms. His was the first. Then, the Medo-Persian empire would follow his. Then, the Greek Empire would arise. Finally, the Roman Empire would spring forth as the world power. It was this final kingdom that would be involved with the kingdom of God.
Daniel proclaimed: “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 forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation is sure” (Dan. 2:44-45).
Daniel reveals many things about the kingdom of God in this text. First, he prophesies that it would be established in the days of the Roman kings. This was the fourth kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. It is interesting that the birth of the Christ was right in the middle of Rome’s glory (See Luke 2:1, Matt. 2:1, 22). Second, he reveals that this kingdom is not a kingdom of man’s making. He proclaimed that the God of heaven would set up a kingdom. This was not going to be a physical kingdom on earth. Instead, it was going to be a spiritual kingdom (John 18:36). Third, this kingdom was not going to be a kingdom that would be conquered by others. Instead, “it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms.” This spiritual kingdom would invade other kingdoms. Its teachings and principles would be accepted and lived by many in those kingdoms. Fourth, Daniel foretells of the lasting nature of this kingdom. He does so with the four words: “It shall stand forever.” The fifth aspect of the prophecy concerns its growth. A small stone was part of Nebuchadnezzars dream. It was cut out “without hands” (Dan. 2:34). This stone “smote the image upon the feet that were iron and clay, and broke them to pieces” (Dan. 2:35). “…and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Dan. 2:35). This kingdom would begin small in the city of Jerusalem. Twelve men would be commissioned by their King to take the gospel to the entire world. The world would be transformed by the divine message they were given by the Almighty God.
Another prophecy regarding the kingdom of God was given to Mary when an angel informed her that she had been chosen to give birth to the Christ. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33). There are many things that could be said from this text. Two things are evident about the kingdom from the words of the angel. First, Jesus would be the King over this kingdom. Second, the kingdom would have no end.
The Jews were extremely familiar with the kingdom prophecies. They eagerly anticipated both the king and the kingdom. This kingdom had its beginning in the days of the Roman kings in the city of Jerusalem. The beginning is recorded for us in Acts 2. Sadly, the Jews did not understand the spiritual nature of this kingdom. Many of them rejected the King and the kingdom. Unfortunately, many today do not understand the kingdom of God. They are looking for a future, earthly kingdom. They are expecting a kingdom that will never come into existence. The kingdom is here right now. Jesus Christ is reigning over this kingdom from David’s throne in heaven. Paul teaches us that when the resurrection transpires and death is destroyed, “then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24).
Dear readers, do not anticipate a coming kingdom. Instead, seek to find the kingdom of God that is in existence today. When you find it, do as Jesus instructed Nicodemus in order to become a citizen of the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5).