Monday: Daniel and the Second Coming of Jesus
Though many Jews in the time of Jesus expected the Messiah to overthrow the Romans and establish Israel as the most powerful nation of all, that’s not what the advents of Jesus, either the first or second, were to be about.
Image © Steve Creitz Goodsalt.com
Instead, God had something so much bigger in store for His faithful people than just a rearrangement of the old sinful and fallen world.
Perhaps nothing else in the Old Testament reveals as clearly as does Daniel chapter 2 the truth that the new world does not grow out of the old one, but instead is a new and radically different creation.
Daniel chapter 2 shows the rise and fall of four great world empires — Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and then finally Rome, which then breaks up into the nations of modern Europe. However, the statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream (symbolizing the succession of these four major world powers) ends in a spectacular way that shows the great disconnect between this world and one that will come after the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read Daniel 2:34-35, Dan. 2:44-45. What do these verses teach about the fate of this world and the nature of the new one?
These verses leave little ambiguity about what happens when Jesus returns. In Luke 20:17-18, Jesus identified Himself with this stone, which crushed to powder all that was left of this world. The Aramaic of Daniel 2:35 reads that after the gold, the silver, the clay, iron, and the bronze were crushed, they “became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them”. That is, nothing is left of this old world after Jesus returns.
Meanwhile, the stone that destroyed all trace of this old world “became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth”. And this kingdom, which arises as a result of the Second Coming, is one that “shall never be destroyed”, and “it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44, NRSV).
Only one of two endings awaits every human being who has ever lived on this planet. Either we will be with Jesus for eternity, or we will disappear into nothingness with the chaff of this old world. One way or another, eternity awaits us all.
(57)
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands,
Baby born in a manger insignificant (Hebrews 1:6)
Boy grew up in a insignificant environment (Luke 2: 46 & 47)
They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. (John 6:42)
"You don't realize that it's better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed." insignificant
22 The stone the builders rejected (insignificant)
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]
This stone will fill the whole earth.
We should be rejoicing because Jesus is coming again. Because His day is so close!
We may all be distracted by so many things, but this does not change the fact that we are close to the end of this planet. There are announcements of wars, famines, sufferings, injustice everywhere! Greed, selfishness, pride, lies, and all sorts of evil! But Jesus is bringing good news! Of peace and restoration. Of eternal love which will finally take over and never again be surpassed!
Are we truly happy and excited with these news?
Are we telling others about them?
May we see the work that God has assigned just for us individually! Because this work is what He left for the good and building of our own character!
I taught my children that just as Jesus left in the clouds at His ascension so will He soon return in the clouds again. When they were little they would look at the beautiful puffy clouds with the sun shining through and announce that they looked perfect for His return. Sometimes they ask when He will come as it is taking longer than they would like and I tell them Jesus is waiting for the whole earth to hear the good news first. So we have work to do and we must pray for those Jesus is waiting for to make their decision. He doesnt desire for any to perish and that is why He tarries - out of love for the lost. May we work diligently with the Holy Spirit to bring the good news to those around us!
The great of image of Daniel 2 shows the coming of the Kingdom, which Jesus announced at his First Coming. The NT several times applies the imagery of Dan 2 to the ministry and presence of Jesus. Modern Adventist interpretation ignores this and focuses on the Second Coming. However, a huge amount of Jesus' teachings are not simply predicting a future coming, but celebrating a PRESENT reality. For that reason, the Christian church, including many Protestant interpreters, has generally held that the coming of the stone points to the FIRST, which indeed arrived during the period of the Fourth Kingdom. The "smashing" and growing do not literal refer to physical destruction but the impact of Christianity on the world.
I think we have lost something by ignoring the classic Christian interpretation of Dan 2 and wonder if readers might find a way to blend the two interpretations?
You cannot blend truth with anything that is contrary to it. If you read all of Daniel, the meaning of Daniel 2 becomes clear, and the stone is foretelling the destruction of the kingdoms of this world at the end of the world, when Jesus returns as promised. The stone comes long after Rome was divided, which was centuries after Jesus returned to heaven. Compare Daniel 2 with chapters 7 and 8.
I think you missed the point of my post. I am well aware of the Adventist interpretation, which focuses everything on the Second Coming. However, the NT announces that the Kingdom of God has already arrived when Jesus came the first time.
E.g. After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. “The time is fulfilled," He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” Mark 1:15
I am asking how do we incorporate both understandings of Dan 2.
I understood your comment Jordan, and I still cannot agree with your interpretation of Daniel 2 and how you apply it to the 1st coming of Jesus. What Jesus brought in His earthly ministry had been given to Adam the day he sinned(see Gen 3:15), and was handed down as a covenant to all who believed until Jesus came in fulfillment of the promised propitiating sacrifice. In His mission, Jesus only ratified the covenant with His own blood, then returned to heaven to minister there and bless the church raised up to finish the gospel work so that Daniel 2 can be fulfilled at the 2nd coming of Christ, after which the kingdoms of the earth will be swept away for good. Jesus did not come the first time as a judge to condemn the world, but came to pay the penalty(of death) for sinners that they might find forgiveness and new life in Christ. When this work is complete and every soul takes their final stand one way or the other, then Jesus will come to gather His faithful who will return with Him to "rule the nations with a rod of iron", and after this, establish the kingdom of God forever.
Jesus' first coming did not judge and destroy the kingdoms of this world and set up a new kingdom in their place. This is still future as all of prophecy points out, following events yet to take place(see Rev 13-17). The prophecy is clear in it's meaning isn't it? Jesus never taught that Dan 2 was fulfilled by His coming to earth as the Lamb of God.
The judging and destruction of the world's kingdoms and of sinners does not all come at once, at one event, but began with the work of Jesus 2,000 years ago. It does not begin with the Second Coming, but when Satan was judged and condemned at the cross. Jesus, in many texts, announced that the Kingdom of God had arrived in his day. Do you need me to list them?
How do you reconcile this with your other statements?
Jordan, Jesus taught that there would be a day of judgment. Read Daniel 2 closely and see it mentioned there as well. Jesus did not come the first time to judge anyone, but to save, by taking the sin of the world upon Himself by paying the full penalty for sinners, and now able to forgive all who "receive Him and believe on His name". THIS is the Kingdom of God's grace, now ratified by His sacrifice, having been only a promise before then. This was His work, and now in Heaven preparing a place for all who believe in Him, soon to come and then to judge the "dead" as pointed out in Rev 20, Ps 2, etc.
Do you realize that the judgment comes in an "hour", not over the spane of centuries. God has appointed a time to judge, once all have made their choice to accept or reject the gospel.
It seems we agree then that the Kingdom of God's grace arrived with the ministry of Jesus. You ask about Dan 2, where I see the stone being cut out, striking the world's kingdom's and felling them, and becoming a mountain that fills the whole earth. Let me offer a more complete view, based on the words of Jesus himself.
Jesus explained that the Kingdom of Heaven was like a mustard seed which would grow from small beginnings and become great. He was referring not to some future growth but to its incipient action in the lives of the disciples and hearers of this time. This was a text that interprets Dan 2.
Asked by the Pharisees how and when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17:20-21. This is also a text that interprets Dan 2.
Jesus and the disciples announced the arrival of the Kingdom, not that it would arrive in the future. "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it." Luke 16:16 This text applies Dan 2.
The "smashing" of the statue represents the tremendous force of the arrival of God's kingdom, beginning some 2,000 years ago. But don't make the same mistake that the Jews did. They thought the kingdom would come with outward display, with military-like power. They expected a physical smashing of the Romans, whereas Jesus taught the Kingdom was spiritual. The Jews of Jesus time expected a military kingdom, not the kingdom of grace and love. That kingdom arrived was announced, slowly filling the whole earth, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Dan 2.
How then do we understand the violent language of the text? Prophecy often uses the imagery of the culture to reveal God's message. In ancient times, nations clashed and destroyed one another. Whole empires came and went that way. Dan 2 uses this grand metaphor of physical destruction, but in fact empires and nations can fall in many ways. To interpret Dan 2, Christian commentators have turned to the words of Jesus, who explains that God loved the world and sent his Son, that this event signaled the arrival of God's kingdom. It did not occur with swords clashing or trumpets blasting, but in the form of a baby in a sheep's manger.
One question: what part of the image is the stone actually striking?
What does that tell you about the meaning of this if you include the entire dream and it's interpretation? You must also include the Revelation in your interpretation, since it is an enlargement of Daniel.
Look closely at verses 34,35, 41-45. Can you see the order of the events, when they take place, and what actually happens? It is describing the execution of the sentence upon sinners in meting out their wages for sin. This is not about gospel advancement, for that has been accomplished in all who have accepted by faith, and by what is represented by the stone, God is executing judgment as He has been faithful to warn sinners of. He loves them, but cannot help or save them from their determination to overthrow what they cannot overthrow; His righteousness. They are incurable, miserable, and would destroy all that is good and each other as well, for this is the end result of being opposite in character of God, while the redeemed reflect Him perfectly.
Making an application is not the same as having an accurate interpretation. Your interpretation is simply not in harmony with the clear description of Daniel 2. The kingdoms of this world will disappear and be "no longer". It is after the last kingdom of iron mixed with clay replaces the kingdom of iron when this is shown to take place, after the close of human probation. I understand your spiritual application, but it is not an accurate interpretation. While you apply the various passages to be referring to Daniel 2, they don't fulfill the events being portrayed and are at the wrong time as well. God's kingdom does not rule over the nations today, nor has it at any time since the fall. It will come, but hasn't yet. God was showing Nebuchadnezzar(along with all who believe His Word) what will come to pass at last, that no earthly kingdom can endure, and that God rules over the kingdoms of men and sets up or removes them according to His "good, acceptable and perfect" will. This is not about gospel advancement, but is to be the result of it, and it's rejection by the vast majority of those who have lived on the earth. God is trying to show that Satan's plan will fail, and is calling all to "come out" and be separate from sin and sinners so they will not need to partake of their plagues and final recompense. Remember, this was a vital part in the evangelizing of a heathen king, laying the foundation for his eventual change of heart and conversion. By this dream, Christ was telling a heathen king to "repent and believe the Gospel", for it will triumph at last and stand forever.