What Shall Be
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
If you have your Bibles, you can take them and open them to Daniel chapter 2. This morning we continue making our way through the book of Daniel by looking at verses 31-45. Last week, we worked through Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel’s responses to the dream that the king began having. We noticed how Nebuchadnezzar turned to his men, but Daniel took his friends and went to God for the interpretation of the dream. This week, we make it to the contents and interpretation of this dream, but a focal point in this passage is found in verse 45 when Daniel says, “A Great God has made known to the king what shall be after this..”. This dream is going to allow us to step outside of the kingdom of Babylon for just a moment, and view history the way that God revealed it to Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar. So if you will stand with me as we read Daniel 2:31-45.
Body
Body
(1) The Kingdoms of Earth
a. Their Rise
- The Gold Head: Babylon
- The Silver Arms: Medo-Persia
- The Bronze Middle and Thighs: Greece
- The Iron and Clay Feet: Rome
b. Their Inferiority
- Babylon: “the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all.
- Medo-Persia: A Divided Kingdom between the Medes and Persia, indicated by the two silver arms. Would take over, but there would always be constant tension between leadership with bureaucratic issues, succession issues, and war issues.
- Greece: Initially led by Alexander the Great, who would lead them on one of the most successful conquests, taking over the Medo-Persian Empire in about 13 years, but would die in his early 30’s resulting in the Greek Empire being split among 4 of his generals.
- Rome: Would build the most expansive Empire, but would eventually be split into the East and West Roman Empire, indicated by the two feet, but would also consist of 10 different kingdoms that made up the Roman Empire. Some of these nations were strong, but some were weak, which overtime would lead to the downfall of the Roman Empire.
Application:
Brothers and sisters, this is the ultimate work of sin. Sin not only divides but it ultimately leads to destruction. This can be viewed from any perspective, the world, Empires, nations, kingdoms, cities, individuals, etc.
It was sin that divided Israel, and led them into captivity. The same is true for Babylon, for their sins against God will lead to their punishment, which is Babylon’s downfall. It is sin that leads to Greece taking over Medo-Persia. Yet, their sin will divide their nation and make them vulnerable to Rome. It is sin that divides Rome, but it is also sin that leads to Rome’s destruction. The very instruments that God uses to administer justice against sin, become those being judged for their sin.
Even today, we see traces of this truth in our own nation, because although our pledge identifies us as one nation under God, it is evident with each day that passes, we are indeed a divided nation with only a few who truly are under God.
This is why brothers and sisters, we must make every effort to overcome sins through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Not to save our nations, the kingdoms of today are doomed, they will be made a footstool, but to stand in reconciliation with the true and might King, the God of Heaven.
c. Their Demise
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
- The Demise of these kingdoms begins with the divine purpose of God, to send Jesus Christ in his perfect timing.
- Each one of these kingdoms simply served as a pathway for God to send Jesus: The Gold in the storehouse under Nebuchadnezzar, King Cyrus releasing the Jews back to Israel, The Greek Language, Roman Peace, Roman Roads, the Synagogues.
- The Fall of all of these kingdoms would not take place by sword, politics, economics, democracy, etc. but rather, the humility of the cross, which Jesus endured, would be the instrument that would lead to the humility of the nations.
(2) The Kingdom of Heaven
a. A Sovereign Kingdom
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
b. A Strong Kingdom
waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
c. A Standing Kingdom
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
