Read: Daniel
2:26-35
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will
set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be
left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms,
but it will itself endure forever.”
(Daniel 2:44 NASB)
Daniel’s
prophecy to Nebuchadnezzar about the future under the Times of the Gentiles
contains a fascinating element at the end.
Daniel predicts that a stone (who is none other than the Son of God,
Jesus Christ) will someday come and set up a kingdom on earth that will crush
into dust the kingdom of the revived Roman Empire . This will take place at the end of the period
known as the Times of the Gentiles.
(See Revelation 19:11-16; Luke 2124-28)
What
kind of Kingdom will Christ establish?
What is the nature of the stone cut
out of the mountain without hands?
Who might this stone be?
First,
let it be established that this kingdom will be a supernatural kingdom. Man
will not play a part in its establishment.
Man can make cinder blocks, bricks out of clay and straw, mortar to hold
them together, skyscrapers, bridges, arches, and monuments out of steel, but
only God can make a stone.
Second,
the kingdom will come suddenly. All the other man made kingdoms were
erected on the ruins of one another and took place over thousands of
years. The return of Christ, called the
Second Advent, will take place in two phases.
First, will be the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17);
second, the coming as described in Revelation 19:13-16). Both of these events will take place without
any prior notice. The Apostle Paul
describes them as “in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye,” and “like a
thief in the night,” “suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child.” (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 5:2-3) His coming will not only be sudden but it will be decisive – millions will die at his
second coming.
Third,
When Christ’s second coming takes place it will not be in secret. The Bible states
that every eye will see him; “Behold, he
is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced
him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen.”
(Revelation 1:7 NASB and Matt. 24:30)
Fourth,
the stone that represents Christ was implanted in the young Jewish virgin,
Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The baby born to Mary and Joseph was the Son of God who laid down his
life on the cross, and took it up again on the third day. Jesus himself said, “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so
that I may take it again. No one has
taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have
authority to take it up again. This
commandment I received from My Father.” (John
10:17-18 NASB)
When
Christ comes at the end of the seven year tribulation period the psalm written
by Solomon says, “All kings will bow
before him, and all nations will serve him” (Psalm 72:11 NLT).
Jesus
will be the one in charge. There will be
no opposition, no Al-Qaeda and no decay.
His kingdom will endure forever.
The
big question is: Are you prepared for the sudden appearance of the Lord? Do you have a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ? If not, why not
acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of savior, and believe that Jesus
died for you. The Bible says, “Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Thought for the Day: The King is coming
– are you ready?
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you that you
have given to me eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord.
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