God's Kingdom Reigns Over All

"But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days... “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome... And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth." (Daniel 2:28,31,35)

God knows what He is doing, and where things are going, and the role you are to play in His divine purpose. All things are intentional and nothing is by accident!

God clearly positioned Daniel to be right where he was in Babylon so that he could intercede for the work of the Lord and be a sanctified vessel to speak His prophetic Word to the King after the significant dream that troubled his spirit.

Daniel has purposed in his heart not to defile himself...influenced his friends...inspired those that ruled over him...and believed that God could do what no other man or false god could do. Daniel gave God all the glory and made it very clear that it was not him that was interpreting the dream but that God alone revealed it to him.

Do you give God all the glory for what HE does in your life? Are you fine with not getting the recognition for how God chooses to use you in any given situation?

We would be wise to remember what John the Baptist said to his disciples when they were concerned with people leaving him to follow Jesus. John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven...He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:27, 30).

This would be a valuable lesson that King Nebuchadnezzar would soon have to learn as his dream was precisely interpreted by Daniel and was given to reveal what was to come in the future and what was in his heart at the time. The great image that the king had seen started with a head of gold that represented Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. It was followed by other kingdoms that would eventually overtake the other...until all was replaced by Christ, the Stone that was not of this world!

Consider the span of the kingdoms of this earth:

• The Babylonian Empire, represented by gold, stood for 66 years.
• The Medo-Persian Empire, represented by silver, lasted for 208 years.
• The Grecian Empire, represented by bronze, ruled for 185 years.
• The Roman Empire, represented by two legs of iron, endured for more than 500 years.
• The End Times Mixture, represented by iron and clay, has been expanding to the Present.

But after all these kingdoms, the exciting news in this dream is the fact that there is a STONE that was "cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold" (Dan. 2:45). This stone of God's kingdom would reign forever and ever!

This stone, which represents Christ and His everlasting, righteous kingdom, was not like the other kingdoms, as there was no flesh or human hands involved in the rising of this kingdom and the power it had to overcome all other powers. Hebrews 9:11 says, "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation."

This stone means everything for this world since it represents God's redeeming love for this world and what He alone is able to do to save us, sanctify us, and restore us for His good pleasure. There is no mixture or metal or man-made aspect to this kingdom!

This stone is the Chief Cornerstone, and we are all living stones collectively making up one expanding, everlasting kingdom on earth that one day be fully established and exalted over all the earth.

Revelation 11:15 says, "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!”

This is a cause of great celebration and praise since you are a part of the kingdom that will outshine, outlast, and overcome all other kings and kingdoms! Jesus is the Rock of Ages, the Stone of salvation that you will either fall on in humble worship or the stone of offense that will fall on you in final judgment (Matt. 21:44).

"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily." (Isaiah 28:16)

DANIEL CHALLENGE:
What needs to change in you for God’s kingdom
to come and reign more fully through you?