Scripture

“As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay smashing them to bits…. but the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.

Observation

Daniel is given the revelation of what the King’s dream contained and also the dream’s interpretation. In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a huge shining statue of a man. The head was made of gold, the chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, and the feet a mixture of iron and clay. A stone cut from a mountain struck the statue, obliterating it.

Daniel explains that the statue represents four great Empires. The Lord will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered, and this Kingdom will stand forever.

Nebuchadnezzar is so pleased with Daniel’s revelation that he makes him ruler over the province of Babylon and chief over the king’s wise men.

Application

This dream is a powerful description of the four empires of ancient times – Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman.

The stone cut from the mountain but not by human hands is God’s kingdom, the church. This Kingdom is eternal and covers the entire world.

All of this was foretold centuries before the birth of Jesus. The church began as an offshoot of Judaism and quite insignificant in size. Yet, in a few generations, it conquered the Roman Empire by love, and it outlasted it. Now, the church spans the entire world.

It is estimated that one-third of all the people in the world identify as Christian

God’s kingdom is the greatest Kingdom in history. It is eternal and it is available for all people to enter it. Praise be to God, our great Creator and Sustainer.

Prayer

Lord, I marvel at your grace and power. You overcome great empires and prove yourself to be above every human kingdom. Amen.