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.