Chapter Two
Victory Through Preparation For The Eternal Kingdom
We find the main purpose of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream give in verse 44. This is in fact the key-verse to the whole book of Daniel. There is a kingdom, which cannot be shaken or moved. God is calling people and preparing them for this kingdom. He is teaching them how to become members of such a Kingdom.
A Kingdom Which Cannot Be Shaken
No doubt great kingdoms with great kings will appear in the world, but every one of them will be broken down and brought to an end. Indeed, nothing of man can by any means last forever. Manmade buildings, however strong and mighty they may be, will surely fall down one day.
God wants people who will seek those things, which can never be shaken or moved. If we want to be in that kingdom we must so live that whatsoever we do or say will bring everlasting fruit, and by living and serving in this way we will be acceptable in that kingdom. This is God’s test to us, if we wish to be overcomers. Some may imagine that God’s power is manifested through us when we are used to perform miracles, signs and wonders, but God says that it is those things, which last forever, that we should do because they are the things that please Him. We should seek to remember this continually.
The End Of Man-Made Things
In this dream the king saw a huge image. The head of gold, the arms of silver, the belly of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet part of clay and part of iron. It was comparatively only a small stone, which came and fell upon the feet of the strong image. Gold, silver, iron and brass are all very strong metals, but the stone broke the image in pieces. And the gold, silver brass and iron of the broken image became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The small stone, which smote the image, now became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (verse 35).
In this simple way God was saying that all man-made things would suddenly come to an end. Even though a man may become great like a flourishing green tree, yet he will be cut off suddenly (Psalms 37:35). The things of man will perish even though for some time they may appear like gold, silver, brass and iron.
Whatsoever is of God will alone not be shaken or moved. The work of God may begin in a simple way, but it will abide forever. God can use a few verses or even half a verse, to humble a man and break down his pride and vanity. That small verse begins by breaking down every idol in his hear, and then that verse multiplying becomes a mountain, and foes on multiplying until that man is filled with love for the Lord Jesus Christ. That is how the Lord is establishing His kingdom. He does not use carnal weapons to do it.
God is not using angels to preach the Gospel. If He had wished He could have done so. Angels were sent at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and again at the time of His resurrection. In the same way of God could have used angels to preach the Gospel to the whole earth, but such been not His will. He is using humble men and women, like vessels weak and small, to preach the Gospel. In this way He breaks the strong holds of Satan and establishes His kingdom.
The Lord Jesus himself came to earth like a small stone; He did not come with pomp of an earthly king. He came as a man, yet without sin. Several of those who became His chief disciples were fisherman. Even today His disciples are few in number, but He is establishing His kingdom through them.
Worldly people in spite of all their knowledge and wealth are full of fears. On the other hand those who have received God’s word, even though they may be very simple people, will have no fear, but their hearts will be filled with perfect peace and joy. By faith they can see God’s kingdom established. Their eyes are upon that kingdom, and that is the secret of their peace and joy.
All things, which we can see, now will one day pass away. As we read in Matthew 24:35 and Luke 21:33, our Lord Jesus said, ‘Heaven and Earth will pass away.’ It is only God’s word that will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). But we find that in the hearts of men there is much longing for gold, silver, brass and iron; there is no desire for word of God. God was showing king Nebuchadnezzar that although he was glorying so much in his kingdom one day all its glory and power would pass away.
King Nebuchadnezzar had received a wonderful vision. Through Daniel it had revealed again in a wonderful way, even after he had forgotten it. Furthermore he had received a clear lesson of warning through the interpretation of the vision. But king Nebuchadnezzar took no notice at all. Only after he had been driven out from men and put among the beasts to eat grass like oxen for seven years did he repent.
Gold speaks of worldly glory; silver speaks of earthly wealth; brass speaks of worldly wisdom and iron of human power. We can find these four things in every human heart. Love for earthly glory, wealth, wisdom and power. But none of these things can last forever. One day they will all be completely destroyed.
If you want to be an over comer in God’s kingdom, all love for earthly glory, wealth, wisdom and power, must be completely cleansed from your life. Then all will see Christ, the stone cut without hands, spreading and increasing in you. You will be willing for Christ’s life to fill you, and your eyes will be constantly upon the things of eternity. You will want your labors to bring everlasting results.
May the living God make us overcomers.