The Coming Kingdom
Intro. We have just elected a new president who has just completed the
selections for his cabinet posts, and many people are looking to
the government to provide jobs, health programs, a stronger
economy, and cure whatever ails us, while reducing the National
debt. They feel that we are entering into a new age, and have
great hopes for the future. I wish I could share their optimism,
but being a realist, I have given up hope on man's ability to
properly govern his fellowman.
I. The forms of government tried in Israel.
A. The first was a Theocracy, a people ruled by God.
1. The man at the head of the people was in direct contact
with God receiving instructions from God for every
situation.
2. The people were aware that God ruled.
B. There came a dark day in their history when they came to
Samuel, who was the man through whom God was ruling, and they
demanded a king like the other nations. A monarchy is the most
efficient form of government outside of a theocracy, and the
best form, providing you have a good king.
1. The first king though he had great potential was a
dismal failure. Chiefly because he refused to take
orders from God and began to do his own thing. God
rejected him from being a ruler over the people.
2. The second king was much better and brought the nation
into the Zenith of it's glory and power. He was a
humble shepherd who had the heart of a shepherd and
ruled over the people like a shepherd watching over his
flock. He sought the Lord for help in the decision
making.
3. The kings gradually became worse, until they began to
reign for their own benefit, rather than the benefit of
the people.
C. The time of the kingdom of Israel has come to a close, the
nation has been conquered by Babylon and the people are now to
be ruled by outside Gentile powers. Their will be five major
Gentile powers that will be given rule over them.
1. These major powers are represented in the dream of
Nebuchadnezzer the king of Babylon.
2. His dream of a great image of a man with a head of
gold, chest of silver, stomach of brass, legs of iron,
and feet and ten toes of iron and clay.
a. It is significant that the image was that of a
man. Man's attempt to govern over man. The
elevating of man. Humanism, where God is
eliminated, and man is supreme.
b. Karl Marx the German Jew who founded Communism,
had set for a goal the eradication of what he
called four abominable things.
1. The idea of God.
2. The superstition of religion.
3. The dictates of conscience.
4. The sanctity of the home.
c. These are the goals of the humanist today
Norman Leer with the PAW and their ilk. It is
frightening to see how well they are
succeeding.
3. The first Gentile power to rule over them was Babylon
the head of Gold.
4. In 538 B.C. the head of gold was conquered by the chest
and two arms of Media and Persia.
5. The Medo Persian empire was conquered by the stomach of
brass, or the Grecian empire headed by Alexander the
Great, in 330 B.C.
6. In 63 B.C. the Grecian empire was subdued by the
Romans, and after the Roman Empire fell, there has not
been a major world dominating power.
7. This leaves one part of the image unfulfilled, the feet
and ten toes of iron and clay.
D. In as much as the iron represented the Roman Empire, the fact
that the feet are part iron, means that it will be related in
some way to the Roman Empire, yet the clay being mixed with it
weakens the strength tremendously.
1. The clay being common represents the rule of the common
people through a democracy, democracy is fine if the
people are godly, but if they are not godly, power is
given over to the devil.
2. That is exactly what is to happen when these ten
nations formerly a part of the Roman Empire are united
together with treaties, seek to dominate the world. The
leader who will emerge from this coalition of nations
will be none other than the anti-christ.
3. It is interesting that the Lord said of the iron and
clay mixture, "They will mingle themselves with the
seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another
even as iron is not mixed with clay."
4. We see the difficulties that they are experiencing in
bringing to pass the European Community. It is as a
clumsy giant trying to rise to his feet while drunk.
Every nation seeking the best for itself, and not
anyone willing to give much to another. Some nations
are even threatening to pull out of the union.
5. In a few days from now they are expected to take a
giant step forward as the border guards will be removed
within the community and goods will travel freely from
one nation within the community to another.
6. It would appear that slowly but surely the iron and
clay feet with ten toes are emerging.
D. The truly exciting aspect of this whole scenario are the words
of Daniel, that in the days of these kings shall the God of
heaven set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed; and the
kingdom shall not be left to other people, but shall break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for
ever.
II. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands is none other than
Jesus Christ.
A. He is the precious corner stone that God has promised to lay in
Zion. He is the stone that was rejected by the builders or
religious leaders
of the nation, but will become the chief corner stone.
1. Israel began as a Theocracy, they degraded to a
monarchy, and for centuries have been under Gentile
domination first by the Babylonians, then the
Medo-Persians, in this period of time known in the
scriptures as the time of the Gentiles. The Gentile
rule over Israel.
2. Jesus said that Jerusalem would be trodden under the
foot of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles
were fulfilled. i.e. When Jerusalem again came under
the authority and control of the Israeli government it
would be a sign that the times of the Gentiles had come
to an end.
3. In 1967 Jerusalem again came under the control of the
Israeli government.
4. Israel is presently trying to operate as a democracy,
but finds itself deeply divided between the Labor party
and the Likud, neither party can gain a firm control.
B. Israel is about to become a Theocracy once again. The Stone not
cut with hands is about to appear on the scene and put an end
to the
miseries and suffering that man has experienced through corrupt
governments. He will bring down the governments of man, and
establish His kingdom in righteousness and justice and peace.
His kingdom shall never be destroyed.
C. Daniel closes this section with the words, God has made known
to the king what is to come to pass, the dream is certain, and
the interpretation is sure.
1. What can we say? Up to this point, it has been totally
accurate in the presenting in advance the ruling
kingdoms of the world.
2. At this very moment we see the nations of Europe
seeking to combine the iron and clay, the final attempt
of man to develop a government that can rule the world,
and bring in an economic utopia.
3. We are talking here of the second coming of Jesus
Christ. When He first came they declared "We will not
have this man to reign over us." When He receives His
kingdom, He will come again, and begin His reign over
the earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords. And He
shall reign forever and ever.
4. Sometime before this event, He will come for His
church, that they might escape the great tribulation
that is coming upon the earth as a judgment from God
for their rejecting Him from ruling over them.
5. If the signs of His second coming are all about us,
then that puts the rapture of His church that much
sooner. Look up, lift up your head, for your redemption
draweth nigh.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.