"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."
There are two schools of theology that seem to prevail concerning the establishment of the Kingdom of God and when it shall take place. These positions are actually in opposition to the scriptural guidelines given to us in Daniel's prophecy, and of course in the New Testament.
THESE POSITIONS EXPLAINED BRIEFLY ARE...
Meaning that Christ's coming to receive His church is deferred until AFTER the supposed seven years of tribulation on the earth. This scenario is in opposition to those who propose the Pre-Tribulation theory. They claim that after this supposed seven year tribulation has ended, then Christ will come again and establish His Kingdom on earth for a thousand years.
Meaning that Christ's coming will "rapture" the church and take them into Heaven BEFORE the supposed seven years of tribulation. Only the unbelivers and Jewish population would be left to endure the so-called seven years of tribulation. After the proposed seven years are over Christ will return with His church and begin an earthly reign for a supposed thousand year period. This scenario is called "The Millennial Age."
Actually these philosophies have been so widely propagated that few people ever question these positions. Our focus will be upon the scriptural guidelines that the Lord gave to Daniel as we seek to correct both of these false theories of men. Let us review these scriptural foundations....The four divisions of Nebuchadnezzar's image are interpreted by the millennialists as the four monarchies, but the fourth (Rome) they say, is to be perpetuated in the form of the ten toes, or the ten kingdoms. These powers are to continue until the second coming when the Divine Kingdom is supposed to appear which will break up these toes and then develop into the great Kingdom of God here on earth at that time. Can this be true? Not according to the specifications of the image. Let us examine this perfect symbol that the Lord has given to Daniel and all who will come after... Please check the number of years that accompany the image on our previous page.
Let us do a little arithmetic concerning these things... Nebuchadnezzar's image proper was about one thousand years in length. It is now the year 2,000. It has been over fifteen hundred years since the downfall of the Western Roman Empire, which fell in AD 476.
The Eastern division lingered longer and fell in AD 1453 with the fall of Constantinople. The "Millennial" people use the scripture "in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up his kingdom" out of context. They affirm that this scripture refers to the ten toes, which grew out of the Western Roman Empire. They refer to the toes on the image as kingdoms.
In Daniel's prophecy, the ten toes are not called kingdoms at all! There were ten lesser provinces that came forth from the Kingdom of Rome. These are represented as the ten toes. Daniel's prophecy speaks of only four kingdoms as "kingdoms" before the advent of the Kingdom of God.
Think about this...What a disproportionate image it would be to stretch these ten toes out past the time of the fall of Rome and into this present age! Do you realize that the toes would be longer than the image of the man himself! This would be inconsistent with that which God has revealed in this perfect image of the man.
Let us examine the facts analytically, carefully and prayerfully to arrive at the truth.... It is recorded that there are just four kingdoms before the advent of the Divine kingdom.
The FIRST kingdom was the Babylonian. Thus it is written: "Thou art the head of gold."
"And after thee…ANOTHER KINGDOM," which was the Medo-Persian, or the second kingdom.
"And another THIRD KINGDOM of brass," which was the Grecian.
"And the FOURTH KINGDOM shall be strong as iron." which was the Roman.
Rome is always termed "The Kingdom" in spite of the divisions that followed. The scriptures do not say one word about TEN kingdoms. The scripture relates clearly, "In the days of these kings" which affirms that the Kingdom of God was to become a reality as these kings or kingdoms fell.
It is evident that... Christ was born into this kingdom of Rome during the days of the Caesars. For it is written according to Luke's account, "And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed."
All Christians are familiar with this account that gives the full story of Jesus' birth, even as Daniel prophesied, "In the days of these kings." Yes, the Son of God was born into this world to be a King! He spoke these words before the magistrates as they ask Him...Are you a King? He said, "To this end was I born." A King must have a Kingdom to be crowned a King! A King must have followers to have a Kingdom. Christ announced the fulfillment of all He came to be and accomplish.
It is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Jesus continued as He said, "This day is this scripture FULFILLED in your ears." What was the "acceptable year of the Lord" that Jesus was referring to? Bible students understand that it was the "Day of Jubilee." The Day of Jubilee meant a NEW BEGINNING AGAIN for all humanity! Even the ushering in of the Kingdom of God into the world! Christ's Kingdom is a Spiritual Kingdom. "Whosoever will" can be born again into His Kingdom. This is why Jesus spoke these words, "unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Hear what all the gospels speak concerning the Kingdom of God... Mark writes: "The time is FULFILLED, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Let us continue to review what more Daniel has to relate concerning this monumental event as we search the truth concerning the "stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands."
The spiritual reign and dominion of Christ began... in that first century, historically and scripturally. However! As historians confirm, the great apostasy began to develop in the latter part of the second century. This apostasy was foretold in Daniel's vision of the four beasts. It is written that Daniel was grieved in his spirit, and was troubled with the vision, so he ask the one that stood by (an angelic being) to give him the interpretation of what he was seeing.
Daniel ask in particular about the fourth beast and of the ten horns and of the other which came up before whom three fell; even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
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Let us consider next the "horn" that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things. | |
