Thursday: The Stone
Read Daniel 2:34-35, Daniel 2:44-45. What do these verses teach us about the ultimate fate of our world?
The focus of the dream is on what will happen in the “latter days” (Dan. 2:28). As powerful and rich as they may have been, the metal (and clay) kingdoms are nothing but a prelude to the establishment of the stone kingdom. Whereas to some extent metals and clay can be products of human manufacture, the stone in the dream comes untouched by human hands. In other words, although each of the previous kingdoms eventually comes to an end, the kingdom represented by the stone will last forever.
Image © Steve Creitz at Goodsalt.com
The metaphor of the rock, then, often symbolizes God (for example, Deut. 32:4, 1 Sam. 2:2, Ps. 18:31), and the stone likewise may be a representation of the Messiah (Ps. 118:22; 1 Pet. 2:4, 1 Pet. 2:7). Thus, nothing is more appropriate than the figure of a stone to symbolize the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
Some argue that the stone kingdom was established during Jesus’ earthly ministry, and that the propagation of the gospel stands as an indication that the kingdom of God has taken over the entire world. Yet the stone kingdom comes into existence only after the four main kingdoms have fallen and human history has reached the time of the divided kingdoms, represented by the feet and toes of the image. This fact rules out the fulfillment during the first century, because Jesus’ earthly ministry took place during the dominion of Rome, the fourth kingdom.
But the stone gives way to a mountain. That is, “the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan. 2:35, NKJV). A mountain such as this evokes Mount Zion, the place where the temple stood, the concrete representation of God’s earthly kingdom in the Old Testament times. Interestingly, the stone cut from the mountain becomes a mountain itself. This mountain, which according to the text is already in existence, most likely points to the heavenly Zion, the heavenly sanctuary, whence Christ will come to establish His eternal kingdom. And in the Jerusalem that will come down from heaven (Rev. 21:1-22:5), this kingdom will find its ultimate fulfillment.
| Daniel chapter 2 has been correct on all the kingdoms so far. Why, then, is it so logical and wise to trust its prophecy about the coming of the final kingdom, God’s eternal one? Why is it so irrational not to believe the prophecy? |
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I grew up in the “Dead Men Do Tell Tales” evangelism era. By the time I reached my teen years I had heard the spiel at least 3 times and had seen about that many people join the church as a result. When I was old enough to push handbills into letterboxes and to make sense of what was going on, I noticed the great crowds that came along for the first couple of nights to hear the presentation. One of the evangelists had been to the Bible-lands and had made a series of 16mm films about the archaeological sites. I realize now, the enormous investment in time and money that he had put into making those films. They were pretty good and gave me an idea of what Babylon and other biblical archaeological sites looked like. However, apart from giving a good night’s entertainment (remember this was in the days before TV), the lessons in archaeology linked to prophecy did not convince a lot of people that Seventh-day Adventists had a compelling case for “the Truth”.
And, Nebuchadnezzar, although impressed with Daniel’s explanation of the dream and even saying;
… was not so impressed that he thought he should obey Daniel’s God. In the very next chapter, he built an all gold image ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and commanded that everyone should worship it. He had not learned to replace the image with the rock in his own life.
Today, we often pat ourselves on the back and exclaim to one another how good it is that fulfilled prophecy confirms the inspiration of the Bible and the sovereignty of God. But we have to remember that we are already convinced. The same story does not make a lot of sense to unchurched folk unless we replace the image with the rock in our own lives.
Paul had the right perspective in his letter to the Corinthians:
I think that Paul sensed that prophecies can fail, not because they are wrong, but because they are delivered in the wrong language to unreceptive ears.
Do we love a little more because we respect the interpretation of prophecy? Have we replaced the image with the rock?
This is eye opening. I agree with your comment "We have to remember that we are already convinced."
The truth that we are anchored in can be a struggling point for others. We need to to be able to share these truth without forgetting the other important aspects of the gospel.
He is the God of Yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The Holy Spirit guides his people, and his church all the way and will guide us, his church in the time of trouble, until we see Jesus face to face.
Looking backwards to more forward.
As we look at Daniel 2 we read into several figures of speech. As mentioned, the word Rock or stone is used as a metaphor to represent God and Jesus, the Great One. The word corner stone also represents Christ.
Stones represent endurance, stability and permanence, these are associated with the divine and the eternal.
Matt 7:24-27 Jesus spoke about the wise and foolish builders. What is similar- They all Hear His words. What is different- Only the wise put them into practice.
Those words described the wise who put their trust in Jesus. The rain came from the top, flooding from the bottom and winds from every side yet the house stood still on the rock. Jesus explains the meaning. The Physical he used to explain the Spiritual.
The Bible says the stone in Daniel was cut out without hands from the mountain. The great image was destroyed from the feet upwards and not the head downwards, as a result, the great image shattered.
The stone then became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Are we seeing the similarity- The Great Image(rep great Earthly Kingdoms) was destroyed, then the Great Mountain according to Daniel 2:44 is God Kingdom which shall last forever.
Prophecy has traced the rise and fall of the world’s great empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. With each of these, as with nations of less power, history repeated itself. Each had its period of test, each failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another.
While the nations rejected God’s principles, and in this rejection wrought their own ruin, it was still manifest that the divine, overruling purpose was working through all their movements. Ed 177
“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). “Upon this rock,” said Jesus, “I will build My church.” In the presence of God, and all the heavenly intelligences, in the presence of the unseen army of hell, Christ founded His church upon the living Rock. That Rock is Himself—His own body, for us broken and bruised. Against the church built upon this foundation, the gates of hell shall not prevail. DA 413.
Amen and Amen
Today's illustration looks like a meteor heading for the image, makes me think about current events, USA and Iran dropping missiles on each other, obliterating their targets.
The successive world kingdoms didn't completely wipe out the previous one, especially in terms of their religions but often incorporated some of their elements, just as the children of Israel did, time and time again, the 'good' kings broke down the altars and killed the pagan priests. Even Christianity has incorporated elements of pagan religions. We see when seeds of alien plants are allowed to grow they soon take over the whole garden.
The lesson of the stone that completely destroys all the remnants of the other kingdoms and grew into a mountain that filled the whole world tells us of the physical fate of the world and shows what the LORD wants to do in our hearts while we wait for His soon coming.
WHAT A STONE !
A stone that has seven eyes just like the lamb in revelation. Zechariah 3:9
A stone cut without human hands and no iron tool can be used on it. Deut 27:5
A stone that was rejected by builders, rejected by men but became the chief cornerstone. Matt 21:42
A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for those who don't believe. Rom 9:33
A stone that if you believe in it you Will not be disappointed. 1 Peter 2:6
A stone that if you fall on it, it Will break you into pieces, but if it falls on you it will scatter you like dust. Matt 21:44
A stone that is tested, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. Isaiah 28:16
A spiritual stone that gave a spiritual drink and followed the Israelites in the wilderness. 1 cor 10:4
A living stone! 1 Peter 2:4
A stone that crashes all other metals. Dan 2:45
A very choice and precious stone before God. 1 Peter 2:4
A stone that became a great mountain and fills the whole earth. Dan 2:35
And this stone is Christ! 1 cor 10:4
God is wonderful and provides us with all the proofs we need to believe He is God. But He also leaves us free to decide whether these proofs can interfere in our daily lives or not! Are they real proofs or just "fairy tales", nice stories to tell our kids? That's why nothing can substitute a personal experience with God. Although we can well accept the fact that the Bible is true, and considering information as something necessary to help us decide which way to go, without a close relationship with the "most human of God's forms" it is impossible to perceive (praise) Him. Daniel's accounts of the dream ends with a Stone, immediately rejected by the king! It is easy for us to accept only what relates to us. The different, the anoying, we tend to avoid, and to accept only what we can relate to and understand! This can probably be a block from our own egos! To stop being "kings" of our own "minds" (our own empire) and let a "strange Idea" (Jesus) takr over (reign), sometimes is not that easy!
God is wonderful and provides us with all the proofs we need to believe He is God. But He also leaves us free to decide whether these proofs can interfere in our daily lives or not! Are they real proofs or just "fairy tales", nice stories to tell our kids? That's why nothing can substitute a personal experience with God. Although we can well accept the fact that the Bible is true, and considering information as something necessary to help us decide which way to go, without a close relationship with the "most human of God's forms" is impossible to perceive (praise) Him. Daniel's accounts of the dream ends with a Stone, immediately rejected by the king! It is easy for us to accept only what relates to us. The different, the anoying, we tend to avoid and accept only what we can understand! This can probably be a block from our own egos! To stop being "kings" of our own "minds" (our own empire) and let a "strange message" (Jesus) take over (reign), may not be that easy! That's why sometimes we should be like children! Uncomplicated!
Thanks Shirley De Beer for that comment
Daniel insists, “In the days of those kings”, “four kings
”, (Dan 2:44; 7:17,18) God sets up His eternal Kingdom with Christ as King. It’s definitely not after those kings are gone. God’s command to Christ in Psa 110:1,2: “Sit at My right hand... rule in the midst of Your enemies”. He thus established justice and righteousness in the earth and His people are called upon to live justly, godly, and righteously amidst an evil generation (Phil 2:15; Tit 2:12,13). Christ runs the government (Isa 9:4-7; 11:1-5) judging the poor, orphans, widows...
Note that the 4th beast crushes and breaks in pieces the other kingdoms (Dan 2:40). (Is that Rome?). The Stone does the same thing but endures forever. The Stone is Christ! (Matt 21:33-44).v 42,44: “The Stone which the builders rejected, This became the Chief Corner... and he who falls on this stone will be broken in pieces but on whom it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” We know Christ’s weapons of war are spiritual and so is His kingdom. David described his defeat of his enemies: “Then I pulverized them as the dust of the earth: I crushed and stamped them as the mire of the streets”(2 Sam 22:43). God uses His people to shatter nations and destroy kingdoms(Jer 51:20).
A stone cut from a mountain is for foundations (Jer 51:25,26; Zech 4:7-9; 1 Kings 5:15,17). Christ’s death on the cross was the blow that rendered the ruler and god of this world powerless to hold His people under sin’s dominion (Heb 2:14,15; Rom 6:14), as in Egypt. He thus laid the foundation of His kingdom (Isa 28:16; 1 Cor 3:11: Eph 2:20; 1 Pt 2:4).
Jesus declared that no one could see or enter His kingdom unless they were born from above, or born of water and the Spirit. He further stated that law and prophets were up to John, the Old Covenant. The eternal Kingdom of God/Heaven succeeds that economy (Matt 11:11-13; Lk 16:16). His kingdom is as a mustard seed that grows into a big tree where all gather under it. The Stone becomes a great big mountain itself. This process involves its inception, its administration with Christ as King. He gathers His people out of the world (sanctification to blamelessness, having been rescued from the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 2:13; Heb 12:22-24)). He gives righteous judgment to them. They are lights in this world of darkness. He reigns until He has put all His enemies under His feet (1 Cor 15:24,25) abolishing all earthly rule, authority, and power. The 2nd coming takes us out of this world. The Stone begins a process leading up to the second coming.
I see some unsettling anachronisms within my church's current interpretations of the "stone" of Daniel 2. Some quotations from the day's lesson raises the following questions/observations:
1) "The focus of the dream is on what will happen in the “latter days” (Dan. 2:28)".
I believe Scripture supports this concept. Scripture is rife with references to the "last day(s)" or "latter days". How are students of Scripture to understand how each of these references are to be applied or understood? Context of use is important, but the centrality of God's commitment in love for ALL humanity, should never be minimized or ignored. Scripture begins with a revelation of God's interest in relieving humanity's painful misstep into sin (Gen 2:17; 3:6-7,22-24). While His commitment has never wavered, God reveals in Scripture a time of decisive action against the presence of sin in the human experience (Gen 3:15; 1 Jn 3:8; Act 26:15-18). That period of God's decisive action, or "latter days" (Heb 9:26), was inaugurated by the physical appearance of Jesus Christ in the Earth (compare Mt 21:36-37 with Heb 1:1-2). God's INTEREST and Christ's MISSION are central to a correct understanding of the book of Daniel.
2) "Yet the stone kingdom comes into existence only after the four main kingdoms have fallen and human history has reached the time of the divided kingdoms, represented by the feet and toes of the image. This fact rules out the fulfillment during the first century, because Jesus’ earthly ministry took place during the dominion of Rome, the fourth kingdom."
I believe the "stone" is a portrayal of Christ (Gen 49:24...a "Stone"; Eze 34:23-24..."royalty/shepherd"; Heb 8:1-2...'high priest")--all the portrayals point to Him (Mt 2:5-6), and the true citizenry of His Kingdom (Mt 16:18-19). So Christ, the "stone", is portrayed as arising from a pre-existing body (Dan 2:45; compare Mt 21:36-37 with Lk 16:16), without human action, which body is elsewhere identified (Rev 12:1-2,5; Mt 12:47-50 NKJV). He strikes the image on its feet, pulverizing the ENTIRE image of a human, then goes on to establish another body (Gal 4:23-27), that grows and becomes "a great mountain and FILLED the WHOLE EARTH" (Dan 2:35; Mic 4:1-2; Heb 12:22-24). Note that the crushing action of Christ, the "stone" (Dan 2:35), is followed by the clearing action of the Holy Spirit, the "wind" (Jn 3:8; 16:7-8,13). Therefore, the new "mountain" (Eph 2:13-15) that is INAUGURATED by Christ (the "stone") is "cut out" from a pre-existing "mountain" (Eph 2:18-22) of FAITHFUL men and women who preceded, coexisted and will succeed ALL kingdoms of Earth--whether of gold, silver, bronze, iron or clay (see Heb 11)!
3) "This mountain, which according to the text is already in existence, most likely points to the heavenly Zion, the heavenly sanctuary, whence Christ will come to establish His eternal kingdom. And in the Jerusalem that will come down from heaven (Rev. 21:1-22:5), this kingdom will find its ultimate fulfillment."
I find the uncertainty and the anachronism of the above statements troubling. If the "stone" is the second coming of Christ, does that support or undermine our present understanding that the second coming of Christ ushers in a millennium of desolation on Earth while the saved are in heaven? Do those concepts support or undermine Daniel's, which reveals growth and establishment of the Kingdom of God IN THE EARTH after the "stone" strikes the feet of the image?
A lack, or a misunderstanding of Scripture is not necessarily a call for shame, and definitely not for defensiveness. Those who have an understanding can be lost (1 Cor 9:27), and those who lack can be saved (Mt 8:11-12). Daniel himself, a prophet gifted in understanding dreams, didn't always understand his own dreams (Dan 1:17; 7:1,15-16). To successfully be and remain a part of the new "mountain", one must be born and grow in continual, humble, subjection to the Stone's designated Helper (Jn 16:7,12-13).