Keys to Daniel (1 of 3) = Understand the Focus of Daniel 2

1

Daniel 2 has 7 symbols that lay the foundation for all the prophecies in Dan. & Rev., & the stone is their focus (Point 2):

Symbol Material Interpretation Key Word – Repeated! Time = Duration
1. Head (Dan. 2:32) Gold Babylon Kingdom – (37) 605 – 539 BC = 66 yrs.
2. Chest & arms (Dan. 2:32) Silver Medo-Persia Kingdom – Another (39) 539 – 331 BC = 208 yrs.
3. Belly & thighs (Dan. 2:32) Brass Greece Kingdom – 3rd (39) 331 – 168 BC = 163 yrs.
4. Legs (Dan. 2:33) Iron Rome Kingdom – 4th (40) 168 BC – AD 476 = 643 yrs.
5. Feet & toes (Dan. 2:33, 41) Iron & clay Europe Kingdom – Divided (41) 476 – SC = 1,535 yrs. so far
6. Stone (Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45) Rock Kingdom of Glory Kingdom – God sets up (44) Oct. 22, 1844 to Eternity
7. Mountain (Dan. 2:44, 45) Rock Kingdom of Grace Kingdom – (Jer. 51:24, 25) Fall – SC = c. 6,000 yrs.

2

The focus of Daniel 2 (& all of Dan., Rev., the Plan of Salvation, the Bible, & the Great Controversy) = the stone:

Intro. & Symbols Words %

Introduction (Dan. 2:31) 25 17

Babylon (Dan. 2:32) 7 5

Medo-Persia (Dan. 2:32) 7 5

Greece (Dan. 2:32) 7 5

Rome (Dan. 2:33) 4 3

Europe (Dan. 2:33) 9 6

Stone (Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45) 84 59

Total 143 100

God outlined world history from Babylon to Eternity in just 143 words (Dan. 2:31-35, KJV)! Count them! The graphed count shows the stone towers above & is more than twice the other symbols combined! Then shouldn’t we discover what the Bible says the stone is (Point 3)? “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. 32 This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was [1.] cut out without hands, which [2.] smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 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 [3.] filled the whole earth.”

3

What is the stone? Dream: “…a stone…smote the image upon his feet…and brake them to pieces…and filled the whole earth.” (Dan. 2:34, 35). Interpretation: “…a kingdom…shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Dan. 2:44). Thus the stone = the kingdom the God of heaven sets up in the days of Europe.

4

Kingdoms have 5 components (God sets up this kingdom’s): (1) King (Christ, Dan. 7:14), (2) Citizens (sheep, Mt. 25:31-40), (3) Laws (Love God & man, Mt. 22:37-40), (4) Terms of citizenship (Look like Christ in character, Mt. 25:34-40; be an overcomer, Rev. 21:7; obey God, Rev. 22:14), & (5) Territory & duration (earth forever, Dan. 2:35).

5

This stone kingdom comes in 3 clearly sequential phases:

Dream (Dan. 2:34, 35), “Thou sawest till that a [a] stone…”

(1)Cut “…was [b] cut out [c] without hands,…”

(2)Smite & Consume: “…which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 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:…”

(3)Fill Whole Earth & Stand Forever: “… and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.”

Interpretation (Dan. 2:44, 45), “And in the days of these kings [Europe]…”

(1). Pre-Advent Judgment (Oct. 22, 1844-CP): “…shall [c] the God of heaven [b] set up a [a] kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people,…”

(2) Second Coming to Destruction of Sin & Sinners: “…but it [the kingdom] shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms.,…

(3) Righteous Inherit New Earth Forever! “…and it [the kingdom God sets up] shall stand for ever.”

6

According to John 3:16, God invites everyone to be citizens of His Kingdom of Grace (mountain, Dan. 2:45; Panel D; sheep & goats) & be transformed by that grace back into His image He created us in back in Eden (Gen. 1:26). He does this through His plan of salvation (Panels A & B), & all who cooperate with Him in this transformation of character by His matchless grace become citizens of His stone Kingdom of Glory (the focus of Dan. 2) in which everyone looks like Christ in character (Mt. 25:34-40, sheep only). These sheep are thus fitted to live with Him forever & fill the earth made new (Mt. 25:31-40). So let’s cooperate with God in transforming our characters into Christ’s lovely character to be citizens of His stone Kingdom of Glory He’s even now setting up in the Pre-Advent Judgment (Dan. 7:9-14).

7

Notice how these chapters add more specific detail to the stone kingdom the God of heaven sets up in Daniel 2:

What

Who

When

Where

Why

How

Daniel 2

Kingdom (44, 45)
The God of heaven (44)
–
After Rome, AD 476 (33)
During Europe (41-44)
Pre-Second Coming (44)
From the mountain (45)
–
Without hands (34)

Daniel 7

Kingdom (14, 18, 27)
Ancient of Days (9, 10)
Son of man (13, 14)
After 1,260 years,
that is, AD 1798 (25)
Pre-SC (26, 27)
Pre-Adv. Jud. (9, 10)
–
From books (10)

Daniel 8

[“a holy nation,” 1 Pt. 2:9]
–
Prince, etc. (25)
The Day of Atonement
Oct. 22, 1844 to CP (14)
Pre-SC (25)
Most Holy Place (14)
–
Sanctuary cleansed (14)

Lk. 19:11-27

Kingdom (12, 15)
–
A Nobleman (11)
After ascension,
= AD 31 (12)
Pre-SC (12, 15)
A far country (12)
–
–

Mt. 22:1-14

A Marriage (1)
King (2, 7, 11, 13)
His Son (2)
After AD 70 (7)
–
–
–
Mixed company (10)
Robe of Christ (11)

Keys to Daniel (2 of 3) – The Kingdom of God in 2 Phases

Kingdom of Grace

Phase 1 – God’s Kingdom (or Workshop) of Grace. At the Fall, the God of heaven set up this 1st phase to transform all who wish back into His image He created us in in Eden (Gen. 1:26):

(1) King of Grace = Christ (Heb. 4:15, 16; Zech. 6:12, 13).

(2)Subjects of grace = Whoever professes connection to Christ:

[1]Sheep (Mt. 25:34-40, e.g., Abel, King David, Peter, etc.).

[2]Goats (Mt. 25:41-46, e.g., Cain, King Saul, Judas, etc.).

God offers everyone the invitation to come to Christ to be pardoned & changed back into Christ’s likeness (Jn. 3:16):

Most reject God’s gracious offer (Mt. 22:1-6; Lk. 14:15-24):
1. These are condemned already (Jn. 3:17 – 19), and are…
2. Judged during the 1,000 yr. millennium (1 Cor. 6:1-3),
3. Punished after the 1,000 yr. millennium (Rev. 20).

Some accept God’s gracious offer, & the Bible clearly teaches that those who accept the gospel invitation fall into 2 groups:
1. Bad (Mt. 22:10-14) = Those not wearing the wedding garment of Christ’s righteousness, but their own (Isa. 64:6).
2. Good (Mt. 22:10-14) = Those wearing the wedding garment (Christ’s righteousness) not their own (Isa. 61:10; Lk. 15:22).

(3) Laws: Love God & man (Mt. 22:34-40; Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18).

(4) Terms of Citizenship (Plan of Salvation, Panels A & B):
1. See I’m a sinner (Isa. 6:1, 5).
2. Confess & forsake my sins (Prov. 28:13; 1 Jn. 1:9).
3. Accept Christ as my Savior (Jn. 3:16; Acts 4:12; Isa. 43:11).
4. Obey Christ as my Lord (Heb. 5:9; Jn. 8:30, 31; Rm. 8:1).
5. Conform entirely to God’s will (1 Pt. 4:1; Heb. 5:8).

(5)Territory & Duration: The heart (Lk. 17:20, 21) of whosoever comes to Christ, the King of Grace, through all the earth from the Fall when we 1st needed God’s pardoning & transforming grace to Christ’s 2nd Coming when we will no longer need God’s sustaining grace (1 Cor. 15:51 – 54).

Symbol in Daniel 2 = The mountain
(Dan. 2:45). A mountain = a kingdom (Jer.
51:24, 25.)

Tallest of All

Kingdom of Glory

Phase 2 – God’s Kingdom of Glory: On Oct. 22, 1844, the God of heaven began setting up His Kingdom of Glory (Phase 2) from His Kingdom of Grace (Phase 1). Why? Mixed Company:

(1)King of Glory = Christ (Ps. 24:7 – 10; Lk. 1:30-33).

(2)Subjects of glory = Sheep only (Mt. 25:34-40) = Those like Christ in character wearing His wedding garment = being one in mind, heart, will, thought, & life with Christ (Amos 3:3).

In fact, Mt. 22:11-14 shows there comes a time after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (Mt. 22:7) that the Father comes to “see” who of those that accepted His gospel invitation are wearing His Son’s robe of righteousness or their own:

Good: Those He finds wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness instead of their own. These will be the citizens of His stone Kingdom of Glory forever, & He blots out their sins from their books of record (Rev. 3:5; Dan. 12:1; Phil. 4:3; Lk. 10:20).

Bad: Those He finds not wearing Christ’s robe of righteousness but their own. He blots out their names out of the Book of Life (Ex. 32:30-33; Ps. 69:28; Rev. 13:8; 20:12, 15), & their sins remain on the books of record.

This is the work the God of heaven is doing in setting up His stone Kingdom of Glory (Dan. 2:34, 35) from His mountain Kingdom of Grace (Dan. 2:44, 45; 7:9-14; 8:14).

(3) Laws: Love God & man (Mt. 22:37-40; Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18).

(4) Terms of Citizenship (Plan of Salvation, Panels A & B):

Look like Christ in character (Mt. 25:31-40).

Obey Christ as Lord (Heb. 5:9; Rev. 22:14).

Conform entirely to God’s will (Mt. 26:39).

(5) Territory & Duration: Whole earth forever (Dan. 2:35; Mt. 5:5; 25:34) from Christ’s 2nd Coming to Eternity (Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45; 4:34; 7:27; Lk. 1:30-33).

Symbol in Dan. 2 = Stone

(Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45). Since the stone is a kingdom (Panel C, Point 3) & the stone & the mountain are the same material, the mountain is also a kingdom.