The Prophecies of Daniel - Part 8
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great statue ended with the statue being struck by a stone and completely crushed. Then the stone that struck the statue became a mountain that filled the whole earth.
“As you were looking, a stone was cut out without [human] hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together and became like the chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them could be found. And the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”—Daniel 2:34-35 (AMP)
When the children of Israel were given instructions for taking possession of the Promised Land, they were told to destroy all of the images of the unbelievers. That is exactly what this stone does.
“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: When you cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the people living there. **You must destroy all their carved and molten images and demolish all their pagan shrines”—**Numbers 33:51-52 (NLT)
It was revealed to Daniel that the stone that destroys and crushes the image represents the kingdom of God. Daniel saw that once the kingdom of God is established, it will fill the whole earth, and it will endure forever.
“In the days of those [final ten] kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left for another people; but it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. Just as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has revealed to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”—Daniel 2:44-45 (AMP)
This was revealed again to Daniel in his vision in chapter 7:
“And to Him (the Messiah) was given dominion (supreme authority), Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language Should serve and worship Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”—Daniel 7:14 (AMP)
Even King Nebuchadnezzar himself, the supreme ruler of Babylon, declared the truth of the everlasting kingdom of God!
“Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages who live in all the earth: ‘May your peace be great! I am pleased to declare the signs and miracles that the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs And how mighty are His miracles! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.’” —Daniel 4:1-3 (NKJV)
When the time came for the Messiah to be born, this truth of the everlasting kingdom of God was again declared to Mary by the angel Gabriel:
“Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”—Luke 1:31-33 (AMP)
We finally see the fulfillment of all of these prophecies in Revelation chapter 11:
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”—Revelation 11:15 (NKJV)
The Stone that the Builders Rejected
This stone in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is the same stone that was prophesied in Psalm 118:22:
“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.” (NKJV)
Jesus reminded the religious leaders of this verse in Psalm 118, and He also used the language of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to speak of the kingdom of God.
“Jesus asked them, Have you never read in the Scriptures: The very Stone which the builders rejected and threw away has become the Cornerstone; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?
“I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom It falls will be crushed to powder [and It will winnow him, scattering him like dust].”—Matthew 21:43-44 (AMPC)
Peter tells us that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. He invites us to take our places as living stones in God’s Kingdom, serving as priests to the Most High God.
“Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God’s sight.
“[Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
“For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame.
“To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,
“And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”—1 Pet 2:4-9 (AMPC)
