Is the Stone in Daniel 2 the 2nd Coming of Christ or the Kingdom to be Established before He Comes as King of kings?
When God Establishes His Kingdom
Unpack the symbolism in Daniel’s vision and understand the nature and timing of God’s Kingdom.
Prayer Thought:
"A Call for Present Truth:
Receiving New Light and Advancing in God's Kingdom"
A spirit of pharisaism has been coming in upon the people who claim to believe the truth for these last days. They are self-satisfied. They have said, "We have the truth. There is no more light for the people of God." But we are not safe when we take a position that we will not accept anything else than that upon which we have settled as truth. We should take the Bible, and investigate it closely for ourselves. We should dig in the mine of God's word for truth. "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." Some have asked me if I thought there was any more light for the people of God. Our minds have become so narrow that we do not seem to understand that the Lord has a mighty work to do for us. Increasing light is to shine upon us; for "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."--Review and Herald, June 18, 1889. {CW 34.2}
PURPOSE - To reexamine our teachings on Daniel 2 that undermine the TRUTH for ages past, now be understood as the Kingdom of Christ on Earth before He comes as King of kings.
INTRODUCTION:
The subject of Daniel chapter 2 is commonly understood.’.
This study will focus on an aspect of the king’s vision that is not normally discussed.
Daniel 2 contains one of the Bible’s most comprehensive prophetic visions, given to King Nebuchadnezzar and interpreted by the prophet Daniel. This vision provides a symbolic timeline of earthly kingdoms and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom “on earth as it is in Heaven” (Mt. 6:9, 10).
The Actual vision - read Daniel 2:31-35
2:31-Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness [was] excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof [was] terrible.
2:32- This image's head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
2:33- His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
The Interpretation of the Dream
2:36- This [is] the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
2:37- Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
2:38- And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art] this head of gold.
2:39- And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
2:40- And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all [things]: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Babylon: Head of Gold: (606-539 BC)
Medo-Persia: Chest and Arms of Silver: (539-331 BC)
Grecia: Belly and Thighs of Bronze: Greece (331-168 BC)
Rome: Legs of Iron: (168 BC-476 AD)
Present World: 476 AD - Present
Where did the stone come from? "cut out of the Mountain"
Dan. 2: 45 “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream [is] certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”
Is the stone literal?
If it is not, then the mountain must be symbolical as well!
What Does A Mountain Represent In The Bible?
Let’s ask Daniel!
What is the mountain?
Daniel 9:16, 20
9:16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people [are become] a reproach to all [that are] about us.
9:20 And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God.
Mountain is God’s people - Jerusalem
Let’s ask Isaiah
What is the mountain?
Isaiah 2:2, 3
2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Mountain is God’s people - Zion and Jerusalem
Which Church Does this mountain Represent?
Dan 2:28
2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
The Seven Churches
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." Revelation 1:11, 18-20.
The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era. The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the world. AA 585.2
Rev.3:14
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
"The Laodicean Message: A Call to Awaken from Carnal Security"
3T. p.252
The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time. {3T 252.1}……
The Lord here shows us that the message to be borne to His people by ministers whom He has called to warn the people is not a peace-and-safety message. It is not merely theoretical, but practical in every particular. The people of God are represented in the message to the Laodiceans as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments. {3T 252.3}
Why Not The Other Churches Also?
Sheep outside the fold:
A Gathering of the Second fruit during the Loud Cry
Jn.10:16
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.
Rev.18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Why only a stone? Whom does this stone represent?
December 2, 1971
Mr. Craig Muller
5300 Lorna Street
Torrance. California 50503
Dear Bro Muller
On October you wrote to me asking if we can direct you to a statement indicating that Jesus Christ was the stone of Daniel 2:45,
This has been the holding of the denomination down through the years. Ellen White touch the matter of this vision of Nebuchadnezzar rather lightly. She does no go into great detail. So we are unable to direct you to any statement from her pen on this point. This does not in any sense mean that the views we have held are not correct.
With the best of wishes, I am.
Sincerely your brother,
Arthur L. White, Secretary
"The Narrow Way: Few Will Be Saved by God's Appointed Path"
2T. p.445
I have tried in the fear of God to set before His people their danger and their sins, and have endeavored, to the best of my feeble powers, to arouse them. I have stated startling things, which, if they had believed, would have caused them distress and terror, and led them to zeal in repenting of their sins and iniquities. I have stated before them that, from what was shown me, but a small number of those now professing to believe the truth would eventually be saved--not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God's own appointed way. The way marked out by our divine Lord is too narrow and the gate too strait to admit them.
"The Starling Fact: A Small Portion will be Sanctified and Saved
1T 608.3
In concluding this narrative, I would say that we are living in a most solemn time. In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved. Many will get above the simplicity of the work. They will conform to the world, cherish idols, and become spiritually dead. The humble, self-sacrificing followers of Jesus will pass on to perfection, leaving behind the indifferent and lovers of the world.
I was pointed back to ancient Israel. But two of the adults of the vast army that left Egypt entered the land of Canaan. Their dead bodies were strewn in the wilderness because of their transgressions. Modern Israel are in greater danger of forgetting God and being led into idolatry than were His ancient people.
Wonderful Truth: Singled Out 144,000 the Hope of Glory
Sermon and TalksVol.1.p.72-73
Why were they [the 144,000] so specially singled out? Because they had to stand with a wonderful truth right before the whole world, and receive their opposition, and while receiving this opposition they were to remember that they were sons and daughters of God, that they must have Christ formed within them the hope of glory. [ 7BC,p,978]
This Stone Is CHRIST in His People - The KINGDOM
1Pet.2:3-5
2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious.
2:4 To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,
2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Zech.12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
A Corporate Stone: His Purified Chruch Reflecting Jesus
“…His church on earth is to assume divine proportions before the world as a temple built of living stones, each one reflecting light. It is to be the light of the world as a city set on a hill, which cannot be hid. It is built of stones laid close together, stone fitting to stone, making a firm, solid building. Not all the stones are of the same form or shape. Some are large, some are small; but each has its own place to fill. And the value of each stone is determined by the light that it reflects. This is God's plan. He desires all His workers to fill their appointed places in the work for this time.” {8T 173.2}
Thus the Stone, did not come from the sky but from the church.
7BC 970.10
“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand (RH March 9, 1905).”
How Is The Stone cut Out?
Dan.2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
A SMALL NUMBER SEALED and SAVED from Living SDA !!
IT. 608-609 “In the last vision given me I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who profess the Truth will be sanctified by it and be saved…”
5T.213-214
“Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads…..”
This “small portion” is the literal, living 144,000.
TM 445.2
“This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation…”
What Cause The Stone To Grow?
STONE (Ghezar-cut out v. 45 meaning to quarry) NUMBER SEALED and SAVED from Living SDA !!
Dan.2:35
Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Rev.7:9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
A LARGE NUMBER SAVED from the WORLD - Thousands Converted in a Day
Thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth. . . . These conversions to truth will be made with a rapidity that will surprise the church, and God's name alone will be glorified.--2SM 16 (1890). {LDE 212.1}
There will be thousands converted to the truth in a day who at the eleventh hour see and acknowledge the truth and the movements of the Spirit of God.--EGW'88 755 (1890). {LDE 212.2}
The time is coming when there will be as many converted in a day as there were on the Day of Pentecost, after the disciples had received the Holy Spirit.--Ev 692 (1905). {LDE 212.3}
The Mountain of the House of the Lord: People shall Flow unto “it” (Kingdom - Dan. 2:44; Mt. 24:14)
Micah 4:1-2
But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
1844 - JC entered Heavenly Sanctuary
-Dan. 8:14; Rev. 4:1-7:17
Judgment for the Dead
Judgment for the Living
Rev. 8:1 - Half an hour silence in heaven.
Harvest the First Fruit
144,000 Rev. 7:1-8; Rev. 14:14-16
Ezek. 9 Slaughter
Gathering in the Barn (Kingdom - Church Triumphant) Isa. 66:19-20; COL 255, 256; GC 346.4; PK 19, 22, 713-725
Harvest the Second Fruit
Great Multitude Rev. 7:9; Rev. 14:17-20
Rev. 15-16 - 7 Last Plagues
Second Coming of Jesus