While working our way through the book of Daniel, we're concentrating on the life of Daniel,
! which is the first six chapters of this book. The people of Israel find themselves captives.
! There were about 10,000 Jews, especially from Judah and from Jerusalem, that were taken captive
around 600 BC. The reason they were taken captive is because of their rejection, their rebellion
against the commands, the ordinances that God had given to them through the law, especially as it
related to their worship, their worship of the one true God. So they find themselves as exiles
there in Babylon. The temple has been destroyed. Their beloved city of Jerusalem has been decimated.
The walls have been torn down. And they find themselves in this place, distant from Israel,
and from all outward appearances, distant from God. But we're going to find, as we have found,
consistently through the testimony of this little book, that God has been true and present with
his people, even though they have been taken captive, even though they're in the midst of judgment and
discipline from God. God is still present. God is still honoring his promises.
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream at the beginning of chapter 2. The kind of dream that's described in this way,
it's described as dreams, and not just a dream, a singular dream, but a succession of dreams that happen
probably on a succession of nights or multiple times through an evening. He could not escape the terrible
nature of this dream. It unsettled his heart. It troubled his spirit. It kept him from enjoying rest.
And so as a result of this troubling dream, he wants to know what this message means.
He recognizes the nature of this dream as being distinctly from God. And so he calls in his counselors.
He calls in his magicians, his wise men to come and to interpret this dream. But he doesn't want an
approximation. He wants to know precisely what God is telling him through the instrumentation of this
revealed message through this dream. And so he asks the impossible from his wise men. He says,
tell me what the dream is, and then I'll know you can give me the interpretation.
The wise men in hearing this command are mystified. This has never happened to them before. And this
kind of request is impossible for any king to demand. King Nebuchadnezzar, how could you possibly
expect this of any of your counselors? There's no man on this earth who can fulfill your request.
Because the dream exists with the gods. And the gods do not dwell with men.
Which, by the way, was the perfect setup. The perfect setup of the God of heaven,
who made himself present and has been present through the life and ministry of Daniel and his friends.
And through our passage today, will demonstrate itself in a present, gracious, revealed interpretation
to Nebuchadnezzar and subsequently to us. This message, the testimony of a God who is eternal,
who is overall, who not only speaks the future in the subsequent empires that we will see in our passage today,
revealing to Nebuchadnezzar what the course of the next 1,000 years of history will be,
how it will unfold, and testifying that God is not only the one who is able to declare this revealed word,
but he's also the one who can make it happen. God is over all.
We're going to witness through the rise and fall of empires through the course of our passage.
We'll see the testimony of that which dissolves.
In 1979, John MacArthur preached a message on this passage.
And in that message, I find it quite telling,
because we can see the evidences, the real practical evidences of it playing out even today.
But here's what he says,
quote,
Man is not ascending, man is descending.
1 Timothy 3.13, God says,
Evil men shall grow worse and worse.
Things don't get better, they get worse.
We see decay, working in our society everywhere,
nationally, socially, domestically, individually, organically.
All things in this world are caught up in the process of deterioration
that began when man fell into sin in the garden and continues to this very day.
He continues,
No matter what the intentions are,
no matter what the safeguards are,
the dissolution of mankind's efforts is inevitable.
So that history, as studied, becomes a succession of defeat.
An empire begins, reaches a peak, and fades, and dies,
and another one builds on its place.
We're looking at America, he says.
America, in the past, reached its apex.
We are on the downside,
the back slope, as it were.
We're watching a defeat take place.
We see the dissolution of our country on every hand.
Political humanism, ruling the government,
a government once established on the principles of the word of God.
Godless atheism now dominates our education.
A lack of conviction, a lack of courage,
destruction of the family,
is causing a loss of all orientation among people.
End quote.
We are seeing today the testimony of a nation
that once held to the doctrines,
once held to the understanding of a God who is over all.
And now it continues, the downward slope, as it were,
the deterioration of culture is coming to bear in our present day.
So that even just recently, within the past couple of weeks,
Louisiana has passed a law so that the Ten Commandments
are listed on the walls of the classrooms.
And that is now seen, of course, as radical.
What was once understood as being natural,
as being necessary,
is now painted in the picture of that
which is wrong and harmful to culture.
In our text this morning,
we're going to see that God has revealed himself to Nebuchadnezzar.
That God has revealed the unfolding events
of future empires that would rise and fall.
And now standing where we are,
this is history.
And this history, of course, is certain.
God revealed this timeline of future events to Nebuchadnezzar.
And it stands for us as a testimony of a God
who not only knows the future,
but holds the future in his hand.
This morning, for those of us who put their faith in confidence
in a God who is eternal,
there is dependence,
there is a refuge,
there is security,
there is confidence for us
in a God who is over all.
The psalmist says in Psalm 102, 11 and 12,
he says,
And then in verse 25, he says,
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain.
They will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe,
and they will pass away.
But you are the same.
And your years have no end.
The children of your servants shall dwell secure.
Their offspring shall be established before you.
And that is the testimony of a God
who is eternal,
who is infinite,
who is over all.
Our confidence is not in the rise and fall of powers,
the rise and fall of nations,
the rise and fall of kings.
Our hope and our confidence
is in the settled power and authority
of God himself,
who is over all,
who knows the end from the beginning,
and who tells in this event,
tells Nebuchadnezzar,
what will happen in the years to follow.
And those things happen just as God has indicated.
God's plans extend beyond our own.
Generations will come and go,
but God's plan remains intact.
And that is the God
who makes himself known to Nebuchadnezzar
through his servant Daniel this morning.
The God who is eternal.
The God who is infinite.
The God who can be trusted.
So turn with me, if you would,
to Daniel chapter 2,
beginning in verse 31.
Daniel chapter 2,
verse 31.
Let me read the first several verses here,
and we'll dive into our text.
It says,
As you saw, O king,
and behold a great image.
This image, mighty and exceedingly,
exceeding brightness,
stood before you.
Its appearance was frightening.
The head of this image was of fine gold.
Its chest and arms of silver.
Its middle and thighs of bronze.
Its legs of iron.
Its feet partly of iron
and partly of clay.
As you looked,
a stone was cut out
by no human hand.
And it struck the image
on its feet of iron and clay
and broke them in pieces.
Then the iron, the clay,
the bronze, the silver,
and the gold,
all together were broken in pieces.
And because,
like the chaff of the summer
threshing floors,
and the wind carried them away,
so that not a trace of them
could be found.
But the stone that struck the image
became a great mountain
and filled the whole earth.
We're going to see
this progression of the dream
first being revealed
and then being explained.
We're just going to follow along
piece by piece
in the narrative this morning
and draw out
the principles that we see about God
as we make our way through.
First, the dream revealed.
And Daniel will begin
speaking about the image as a whole.
He speaks with certainty.
Notice.
You saw, O king,
and behold,
a great image.
He speaks with confidence.
There is no hesitation.
There is no doubt
in Daniel's mind
that God is the one
who revealed this dream.
God is the one
who spoke that same dream
to Nebuchadnezzar.
And it is God
who intends
to reveal
the interpretation
of that dream
to Nebuchadnezzar.
And the events
that will take place
are sure
and firm
as we find
in Daniel chapter 2, 45.
Notice that
just for a moment here.
A great God
has made known to you
the king
what shall be
after this.
The dream
is certain
and its interpretation
is sure.
Daniel knows
the interpretation
of this dream
and the outworking
of this dream
because it is not
derived from himself.
It is derived
from God.
He is receiving
this direct revelation
from God
and now
has become
this representative,
this ambassador,
this prophet
as it were
to speak directly
to the king
what God has said
to him.
Thus says the Lord,
Daniel will say.
He knows that God
has revealed
the contents
of this dream
and its interpretation.
Daniel is not
making this up
so he can have
complete confidence
to speak for God.
And as a side note,
those of us
who are also
ambassadors of God,
those of us
who are also
commissioned to speak
for God
can speak authoritatively
and confidently
as we speak
from God's word.
We have the same
privilege
as Daniel does
to be a mouthpiece
for God
to the nations.
Whether it be
your workplace
or your community
or even your family,
you have the joy
as Daniel had
to speak
without hesitation
knowing
what God says
directly from the scriptures
and we can share
with others.
Notice how he begins.
You, O king,
you saw, O king,
and behold
a great image.
The word
a great image
is literally
one great image.
The importance
here at the beginning
is to emphasize
the unity
of this image.
It will be significant
as we move our way
into the parts
and we begin
to see the discontinuity
that will now
be representative
through the movement
of these various parts.
But at the whole,
the importance
of this unified image,
the world power
in all its phases
are considered
as one entity.
The image
in totality
is expressed
in terms
of greatness.
Daniel uses
a number of words
to describe
how impressive
this image is.
Notice,
it's a great image,
mighty in appearance,
radiating with
exceeding brightness,
having an appearance
that was terrifying
or frightening.
It conveys
this appearance
of strength
and fear.
fear.
The word frightening
is literally
to fear.
And as Nebuchadnezzar
saw this dream
and even as Daniel
describes this dream,
this image itself
did present itself
to be terrifying.
It was impressive
to behold.
And we'll see
that it represents
the succession
of kingdoms
from Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom
moving all the way
through the kingdom
of Rome.
But while the image
was one in unity,
it exists in parts.
And that's where
we come to next.
The image in parts.
Verses 32 and 33.
The head of this image
was of fine gold,
its chest and arms
of silver,
its middle and thighs
of bronze,
its legs of iron,
its feet partly of iron
and partly of clay.
Now Daniel begins
to describe the image
in its pieces.
It has an identifiable form
and that will be important
to us as well
as we move our way
through this passage.
We'll see the contrast
between that which is
of human origin
and that which represents
human power
in contrast to that
which is of divine origin
and that which expresses
divine power.
It's clear
that while this image
is impressive,
it is still fashioned
by human hand.
And what we realize
is that the image
descends from head.
Daniel describes it
from head to toe,
from ascending order
to descending order.
Notice a head
first of gold,
a chest and arms of silver,
middle and thighs of bronze,
legs of iron and feet
which is a mixture
of iron and clay.
These will be important
as they begin
to characterize
those future
coming kingdoms.
And much can be said
about that
and we'll try to
reference that briefly
as we move our way through.
But notice,
only the head
is singular.
Only this head
is made of gold.
It represents
that of highest quality.
And then the discontinuity
of the other parts
begin to take shape
so that not even
the subsequent kingdoms
represent any form of unity.
It breaks at the arms
and then the midsection
in thigh
and the legs
which all hint
at the separation
and discontinuity
of these empires.
It's not by accident
that it is Nebuchadnezzar
who receives
this great revelation.
And it's not
by accident
that Nebuchadnezzar
is this head of gold.
After all,
we saw from
the first chapter
in verse 2,
Babylon is seen,
is the scene
of this revelation
happens in the land
of Shinar.
And the land of Shinar,
if you remember
the last time
that this reference
was made,
it goes all the way
back to the time
of Genesis chapter 11,
where the people
assembled as one.
They gathered there
in the land of Shinar.
They sought to make
for themselves
a way to get to God.
They're building
this great structure,
this monument,
so they can present
for themselves
their authority,
their power,
and their ability
to get to God.
But this gate to God,
Babel,
is now confused.
The people's languages
are mixed.
The people are scattered,
and God demonstrates there
that he is over all.
And now,
Nebuchadnezzar,
who represents,
again,
a unified power,
but it is still,
God is over this power,
and we see
that God is the one
who is still in control.
He is the one
who is still over all,
even in this.
In verses 34 and 35,
we see now
a shattering stone.
Notice,
as you look,
the stone was cut out
by no human hand.
It struck the image
on its feet
of iron and clay
and broke them in pieces.
Then the iron,
the clay,
the bronze,
the silver,
the gold,
and all together
were broken in pieces
and became like the chaff
of the summer threshing floor.
And the wind carried them away
so that not a trace
of them could be found.
But the stone
that struck the image
became a great mountain
and filled
the whole earth.
The scene now shifts
to this image,
now backing away
from this image,
perhaps zooming out a bit
or in the distance,
there's hand
that's cutting
this stone
out of a rock.
A stone that was cut out
by no human hand.
The hand of the God
is evident in this dream.
The divine authority,
divine power
is contrasted
by this human power.
We see that it's a stone
whose origin
is supernatural.
We see that this stone
is a stone
that has extraordinary
power to demolish
the authorities
that are represented
in this image.
we see that this stone
is represented
as growing
and filling the earth
and taking the place
of these human kingdoms.
The stone that is hurled
at the image
and struck its feet,
every section of the image
is now demolished
so that it's turned to dust
and there's no trace
of those kingdoms
to be seen.
Everything
that inspired,
provoked fear
and shattered
is now turned
to nothing.
All that remains
is the stone
that begins to grow
and fill
the earth.
That stone
that demolishes
in order to rebuild,
to reestablish
and to renew.
it's a stone
that is unlike
any other stone
in that it has
some sort
of living property
and that should
be reflective
and representative
of what we know
about the living stone
that was rejected
indeed by men
but chosen
by God
and precious
that stone
of course
the chief cornerstone
elect
and precious
Christ
is this stone.
He is the stone
who will renew
and reestablish
and rebuild.
Unlike what the enemy
will do
as Jesus says
in John chapter 10
verse 10
he says
the thief does not come
except to steal
and to kill
and to destroy
but I have come
that they may have life
and they may have it
more abundantly.
That which is
representative
of the enemy
the adversary
is that he destroys
he steals
he kills
he demolishes
he deconstructs
but from the beginning
God has been
a builder
a creator
a constructor
and so God
will destroy
that which is
foreign
that which is corrupt
so that he can
rebuild
that which is pure
that which represented
human power
human greatness
is no match
for the power
of God.
This dream
has now been revealed
and so Daniel
now establishes
himself
as one who
can not only
reveal the contents
of this dream
but can now explain
what the dream means
and this is what
Nebuchadnezzar
has been after
from the beginning.
What does this dream mean?
The dream explained
in verses 36 to 45
but before we get
to verses 36
and 35
we need to back up
just for a moment
to verse 28
it provides
kind of the context
for this dream
and in this statement
that we see
in verse 28
we come to understand
the purpose
of why this dream
was even given
to Nebuchadnezzar
notice
Daniel says
there is a God
in heaven
who reveals mysteries
he has made known
to King Nebuchadnezzar
what will be
in the latter days
King Nebuchadnezzar
God is not only
the revealer of dreams
God is also
the one
who is overall
God is eternal
God is the ultimate
and supreme power
this dream
was meant
to be given to you
so that you would know
who this God
truly is
as the psalmist says
you will perish
but he will remain
this phrase
the latter days
that we find
here in verse 28
is not just
a phrase
we find
in Daniel chapter 2
it's a phrase
we find
all throughout
the Old Testament
and especially
in the first five books
of the law
when it says
latter days
this is an
eschatological statement
which means
a statement
that refers
to the end times
and all throughout
the scripture
whether you're
in Deuteronomy chapter 4
or Genesis chapter 49
or Deuteronomy 31
Numbers 24
Jeremiah 23
and 30
and 48
and 49
Ezekiel chapter 38
Daniel chapter 10
Hosea chapter 3
and Micah chapter 4
these phrases
exist
the latter days
to draw attention
to the entire
portion of history
all the way up
and to
the time
of the messianic
return
it encapsulates
all of history
as it were
until the coming
of Christ
the coming
and establishment
of his throne
on the earth
and God has revealed
this
working out of history
to Nebuchadnezzar
of all people
why would God
reveal
this plan
to a pagan king
why would God
reveal
this revelation
this message
this prophecy
in a pagan
land
of all places
I think the answer
is twofold
first
to allow
the nations
to understand
God's master
plan
for
the nations
so that
every tongue
and tribe
and nation
and people
will be
ushered in
and allowed
to be part
of this
gospel good news
message
this coming
kingdom
is meant
for all peoples
not just
for the Jews
and so
God reveals
this to
Nebuchadnezzar
of all people
to help
this representative
of this
first kingdom
this first
empire
to recognize
that while
his empire
is small
while it
will be
limited
as he takes
part
in the kingdom
of God
he can enjoy
the benefits
of what God
has promised
through Abraham
I will bless
those who bless
you
I will curse
those who curse
you
in you
all the nations
will be blessed
in Nebuchadnezzar
as one
of those nations
and the first
as it were
of the succession
of nations
and empires
that are to come
and the second
reason is because
to help
to reassure
God's people
who are in
captivity
who are facing
discipline
who have been
removed from
their land
who have
experienced
the destruction
of their
sacred city
and have
experienced
the decimation
of their temple
even
for these
people
God
has not
removed
his promises
God
would not
remove
his promise
from them
and disqualify
them
from the things
he had spoken
to their forefathers
this actually
strengthens
God's promise
it provides
dimension
it provides
perspective
it provides
clarity
to help
them know
how God
is going
to bring
this promise
to fruition
and God
has given
clear
uncompromising
testimony
of his ability
not only to
make promises
but his ability
to keep promises
promises
we can know
that God
is faithful
as we look
at the testimony
of the rise
and fall
of these empires
that were
testified
600 years
before the
final empire
ever existed
only God
is able
in his
eternality
in his
foreknowledge
in his ability
to know the
end from the
beginning
only God
can know
what will
happen
and cause
it to happen
then we come
to the rise
and fall
of empires
the description
of that for us
in verses 36
to 38
notice
this was the
dream
this explanation
now we will
tell the king
its interpretation
you oh king
the king of kings
to whom the
God of heaven
has given
this kingdom
the power
and the might
and the glory
and into whose
land he has
given
wherever
yeah wherever
they dwell
the children
of men
the beast
of the field
the birds
of heaven
making you
rule
over them
all
you are
the head
of gold
this stunning
introduction
you oh king
the king
of kings
what does this mean
well Ezekiel
will repeat
this similar
phrase
in Ezekiel
26 verse 7
he will refer
to Nebuchadnezzar
also as a
king of kings
and simply
it means
that Nebuchadnezzar
stands at the
beginning
he stands
at the forefront
of the succession
of these empires
that will come
he is the first
of these kings
and in the
explanation
of this dream
he is the only
king that is
named
every kingdom
that will come
the second
and third
and fourth
and fifth
kingdoms
that will come
there are no kings
that are mentioned
only kingdoms
Nebuchadnezzar
stands as a
prominent figure
in the representative
really of
the kingdom
of Babylon
that lasted
for about
70 years
Nebuchadnezzar
himself ruled
over Babylon
for 43
of those
70 years
he died
in 562 BC
he would turn
the kingdom
over to his
son
who would be
subsequently
assassinated
that son's
son
would rule
for four years
and then die
then the next
son would be
promptly
assassinated
and finally
Nabonidus
would take
the throne
and assume
great power
and share
that power
with his
co-regent
Belshazzar
that we find
in Daniel
chapter 6
as it relates
to gold
and the
description
and the
feature
or the
characteristic
of this
empire
being represented
by gold
the Babylonian
empire
was known
as an
empire
of gold
one historian
who came
90 years
after
the empire
of Babylon
came and
described
the prominence
of gold
in the city
of Babylon
he describes
chapels
and vessels
in the
accoutrements
of the
embellishments
made of
solid gold
this all
90 years
after
the fall
of Babylon
no mistake
that God
would assign
gold
to this
kingdom
but notice
the kingdom
for all
of its
power
for all
of its
reach
for all
of its
dominion
that we
notice here
the dominion
over birds
and beasts
and people
you almost
get the picture
that it's
almost like
a second
garden of
Eden
as it were
but all
of that
power
comes from
God himself
God
stands
as the
direct
power
who allowed
Nebuchadnezzar
to enjoy
this kind
of authority
notice
verse 37
to whom
belong
excuse me
to whom
the God
of heaven
has given
this kingdom
notice
verse 38
and into
his hand
God
has given
you
man
and beast
and bird
God
made you
rule
over
them all
make
no mistake
Nebuchadnezzar
this is
from
the hand
of God
God
who is
eternal
God
who raises
up kings
and puts
kings
down
that same
God
is the
one
who
institutes
his
servants
the
rulers
the
authorities
in this
day
as well
as we
find in
Romans
chapter 13
verses 1
to 7
let every
person be
subject to
the governing
authorities
for there
is no
authority
except
from God
and those
that exist
have been
instituted
by God
therefore
whoever
resists
authorities
resists
what God
has appointed
and those
who resist
will incur
judgment
for he
is God's
servant
for your
good
for he
is a
servant
of God
for because
of this
you also
pay taxes
for the
authorities
are ministers
of God
attending
to this
very thing
and while
they are
ministers
of God
we know
they're
broken
and while
they are
ministers
of God
we know
that
especially
in our
day and
age
they
resist
God
themselves
but God
is still
the one
who raises
up
and puts
down
the various
leaders
that are
put in
place
God
is over
that
and God
has a
purpose
for
those
leaders
and he has
a purpose
for us
in how we
respond
to those
leaders
Nebuchadnezzar
was the head
but Daniel
will continue
to describe
the remaining
parts
that we find
in verses
39 to 43
it says
another kingdom
inferior to you
shall arise
after you
and yet a third
kingdom
of bronze
which shall
rule over
all the earth
and there shall
be a fourth
kingdom
strong as iron
because iron
breaks to pieces
and shatters
all things
and like iron
that crushes
it shall break
and crush
all of these
and as you saw
the feet and toes
partly of potter's
clay
and partly of iron
it shall be
a divided kingdom
but some
of the firmness
of the iron
shall be in it
yet just as you saw
iron mixed with the clay
and as the toes
of the feet
were partly iron
and partly clay
so the kingdom
shall be partly strong
and partly brittle
as you saw
the iron mixed
with soft clay
so they will
mix with one another
in marriage
but they will not
hold together
just as iron
does not mix
with clay
Daniel is now
describing the
subsequent kingdoms
that will rise
and fall
the kingdom
of Mediapersia
the kingdom
of Greece
the kingdom
of Rome
and some future
kingdom
that will have
Rome
like qualities
that we have
not yet seen
but each element
of this picture
is intact
this silver
which represents
Mediapersia
is given to us
because it was
Mediapersia
this silver
is the same word
as money
the characteristic
of the Mediapersian
empire would be
money or silver
and history
bears this out
the Mediapersian
empire
developed a vast
system
of taxation
they required
that their taxes
be paid
in silver
and they literally
filled their coffers
with tons
and tons
of silver
the Mediapersian
empire would last
for about 200 years
and then the next
kingdom that's
represented by bronze
would take its place
the kingdom
of Greece
Greece would come
led by Alexander
the Great
he would come
in 332 B.C.
and the Greek
empire would last
again for another
200 years or so
to 146 B.C.
this representation
of bronze
was seen
in their soldiers
in their weaponry
in their battles
Greek soldiers
would have on their
head
a helmet
of bronze
a breastplate
of brass
a shield
of brass
a sword
of brass
and their primary
instrument
a spear
which was tipped
with bronze
all of these
characteristics
again
representing
the kingdoms
that will come
the fourth kingdom
this kingdom
of iron
Daniel goes on
to describe
this Roman
empire
that would
take power
in about
146 B.C.
it would last
until the 400s
about 500 years
this kingdom
of Rome
would last
and the
languishing
or languishing
effects
of this kingdom
would reach
even until
1453
when Constantinople
was finally
knocked off
in the east
but no empire
would even
take its place
Rome is described
as one that
crushes
historians
would describe
this as one
who breaks
and smashes
and breaks
into pieces
it crushes
Rome ruled
the nations
with an iron
hand
and like a huge
iron club
it is said
that they shattered
all who resisted
its will
again God
illustrating
the coming
of this
Roman empire
here Daniel
is interpreting
this dream
600 years
before Christ
and the Roman
empire
wouldn't even
begin to be
thought of
really
and have
its way
until about
31 years
before Jesus
comes to earth
this iron
mixed with clay
this final kingdom
that Daniel
describes in
verses 41
to 43
this feet
and toes
partly of potter's
clay
partly of iron
it should be
divided kingdom
and some of the
firmness of iron
shall be in it
just as you saw
iron mixed
with clay
we see this
continuing
deterioration
of disunity
from one
kingdom
to the next
and now results
in ten toes
mixed with
iron
in clay
demonstrating
the disunity
the discontinuity
of this kingdom
we come to find
in Daniel chapter
7
verses 23
to 24
that these
ten toes
actually represent
ten kingdoms
Daniel
will have
another vision
thus he said
as for the
fourth beast
there shall be
a fourth kingdom
on the earth
which shall be
different from
all the other kingdoms
it shall devour
the whole earth
and trample it
down and break
it to pieces
as for the
ten horns
out of this
kingdom
ten kings
shall arise
and another
shall arise
after them
he
shall be
different
from the
former ones
and shall
put down
three kings
God is still
speaking
in
the kinds
of metaphors
we don't quite
understand
yet
but we
understand
that ten kings
will arise
and as we find
from Revelation
chapter 17
verse 12
the continuing
illustration
the continuing
description
of these
ten kingdoms
ten horns
that you saw
are ten kings
who have not yet
received their power
but they
are to receive
authority as kings
for one hour
together
with the beasts
this kingdom
is still
on its way
it's going to be
kind of a resurgence
as it were
of the kingdom
of Rome
and we don't know
all of the
the evidences
we don't know
all of the
descriptions
of this
kingdom
but this
kingdom
will find
its way
to power
before this
stone
will come
and destroy
that's where
we end our
study this morning
in verses
44 to 45
we see this
eternal stone
and the description
of that stone
is recounted
for us
in the next
several verses
beginning
in verse 44
in the days
of those kings
the God of heaven
will set up a kingdom
that shall never
be destroyed
nor shall the kingdoms
be left
to another people
it shall break
in all pieces
all these kingdoms
and bring them
to an end
and it shall stand
forever
just as you saw
that a stone
was cut
from a mountain
by no human hand
and that it broke
in pieces
the iron
the bronze
the clay
the silver
the gold
a great God
is made known
to you
the king
what shall be
after this
the dream
is certain
and its interpretation
is sure
notice this phrase
in the days
of those kings
it's quite an
interesting
surprising statement
as it were
in the days
of those kings
now
as the God
of eternity
stands outside
of time
and kind of
binds
all of those
empires
together
all of those kings
that represented
those empires
he puts them
all in one
category
he unifies
them again
and says
he is over all
God who stands
as the one
who is eternal
God who stands
while empires
rise and fall
it is God
who is over
these kingdoms
and these kings
it is God
who will establish
his kingdom
once and for all
this rock
that breaks
and shatters
will now grow
and fill the earth
and the dominion
that he will have
will be over
the entire earth
history
of nearly a thousand
years
has merged
back into one
because standing
above history
is an eternal God
and when Daniel
refers
to again
is the God
of heaven
his kingdom
that will never
be destroyed
God's kingdom
will break
all the others
into pieces
by one
single blow
ultimately
we understand
that God
himself
is the king
of kings
in the Lord
of lords
it is God
who will establish
his kingdom
on the earth
and as we find
from revelation
this kingdom
will have the quality
not only of being
a spiritual kingdom
that Jesus
began to introduce
during his ministry
in his first return
this good news
of the kingdom
of God
that was
so
so prevalent
in the message
that Jesus spoke
and his disciples
reiterated
it does have
a spiritual
dimension to it
but just as
the kingdoms
of the ages
have had
a literal
and a physical
observable
authority
God's kingdom
also
will have a visible
observable
and physical
reality
to it
revelation
tells us
that this kingdom
will last
for a thousand
years
where Jesus
will sit
on the throne
of David
where Jesus
will rule
from Jerusalem
Jesus
will have
his
his day
and it will be
in fulfillment
of the promises
that he's given
to his people
going all the way
back to Abraham
but reinforced
to Isaac
and Jacob
and to David
history has
testified
of the rising
and fall
of these kingdoms
as God
prescribed
it stands
as a witness
to the power
of God
not only to
reveal his word
but his power
to bring
it to pass
so as we've seen
the four kingdoms
at least
that have come
and gone
four empires
we can come
to put our confidence
in the fact
that God
will fulfill
the remaining parts
of this
prophecy
in a similar way
the disciples
asked Jesus
when will these
things be
what will be
the sign
of your coming
and the end
of the age
and Jesus
responds
in Matthew
chapter 24
verses 36
and 44
by saying
concerning that day
and the hour
no one knows
not even
the angels
of heaven
nor the son
but the father
only
therefore you also
must be ready
for the son of man
is coming
in an hour
you do not expect
are we ready
are you ready
for the coming
of the king
because every
knee will bow
and every tongue
will confess
that Jesus Christ
is lord
to the glory
of God
the father
he is coming
to establish
his kingdom
and he is made
a way
through his son
Jesus
who was the stone
who came
and established
once and for all
how relationship
with God
is possible
not only
through the stone
but through
the same stone
who is also
the lamb
the sacrifice
the lamb
of God
who is
killed
for us
so the precious
blood of Christ
as of a lamb
without blemish
and without spot
becomes the payment
for sin
have you asked
forgiveness
for your sin
do you know
Jesus
as your savior
have you made him
the lord
the king
of kings
over your life
are you awaiting
and looking forward
to his coming kingdom
we finish our time
this morning
in the dreams
required response
what is
the essential
necessary
response
to the dream
this revelation
that God
has given
to us
about the
subsequent
generations
the subsequent
kingdoms
but culminating
in the
kingdom
of God
we find this
response in
Daniel chapter 2
verses 46
to 49
it says
then king
Nebuchadnezzar
fell upon his
face
and paid
homage
to Daniel
and just
pause there
for a moment
I want you
to recognize
that
Nebuchadnezzar
is paying
homage
to Daniel
not because
he's
worshipping
Daniel
but because
he recognizes
that God
is speaking
through
this representative
Daniel
and he doesn't
know how else
to express
his worship
he has no
other way
he has no
other insight
on how to do
it
so God's
representative
is there
and so he
worships
Daniel
he commands
that an offering
of incense
be offered
again
worship
is taking
place
the king
answered
and said
to Daniel
truly
your God
is God
of gods
and Lord
of kings
and a revealer
of mysteries
for you
have been
able to
reveal this
mystery
and the king
gave Daniel
high honors
and many
great gifts
and made him
ruler over
the whole
province of
Babylon
and chief
prefect
over all
the wise
men of
Babylon
Daniel
made a
request
of the king
and he
appointed
Shadrach
Meshach
and Abednego
over the
affairs of
the province
of Babylon
but Daniel
remained
at the
king's
court
Daniel's
commitment
to the
God
who is
over all
as we've
learned
he's the
God
who reveals
secrets
he's the
God
who is
accessible
he is
the God
who is
available
he's the
God
who is
over all
the
God
of heaven
who is
supreme
and Daniel
has committed
his heart
to following
after God
and to
trust
that God
will reveal
this
significant
dream
to him
and now
he has
been a
mouthpiece
of God's
future plan
and God's
desire
for Nebuchadnezzar
himself
to bow
before
the king
of kings
and the
lord of
lords
God
himself
and while
Nebuchadnezzar
doesn't
understand
perfectly
yet
we're
going to
find
that God
will
continue
to reveal
himself
to Nebuchadnezzar
we're going
to see it
in Daniel
chapter 3
we're going
to see it
even more
in Daniel
chapter 4
where God
will not
give up
on Nebuchadnezzar
and he seeks
to draw him
into more
knowledge
of himself
that happens
through his
representatives
and we
like Daniel
have been
given
the unique
responsibility
and the unique
privilege
of being the
mouthpiece
and representative
for God
in a very
dark
and fallen
world
we can
do that
because
we
rest
our
confidence
in a
God
who's
eternal
we can
do that
because
we can
rest
our
confidence
in a
God
who is
over
all
circumstances
whether
they seem
to be
out of
control
and not
working
in our
favor
we can
trust
that God
is
over all
of these
things
and he
has a
purpose
for them
as we
place
our
confidence
in him
as we
rest
in who
he is
and as
we share
his words
with others
we will
be used
like Daniel
was
to be a
mouthpiece
of God's
message and
gospel
to the
world
around us
and be
able to
enjoy
the benefits
of the
living
powerful
word
of God
as it
has its
way
in the
hearts
of those
around us
may God
help us
this week
as we
seek to
make much
of God
in our
life
both
personally
and wherever
we are
as we
put our
confidence
in the
God who
is eternal
and overall
may God
help us
to do
that
faithfully
oh Lord
we thank
you
for the
testimony
of Daniel
we thank
you for
his courage
we thank
you for
his faith
we thank
you for
his willingness
to cut
it straight
this message
that he
gives to
Nebuchadnezzar
is not
an easy
one
it's not
a message
that Nebuchadnezzar
wants to hear
that his
kingdom is
going to
dissolve
into
nothingness
and yet
it was a
message
that the
king
needed to
hear
in order
to grab
his attention
and cause
him to
fall
in worship
before
the God
of heaven
God I pray
that you'd
help to give
us courage
as well
as your
representatives
not only
to speak
your words
but to
show your
life
to the
world
around us
help us
to be
faithful
and may
your
Holy Spirit
have his
way
in our
lives
we pray
in Jesus
name
amen
God bless
you
have a
great
week