SABBATH The Kingdom of Godmetromenspm.com/Files/2015-06-13_SS_Notes_Q2_Lesson_11.pdf · 2015. 6....

METRO NEW YORK WORLD MINISTRY ADULT SABBATH SCHOOL CONTRIBUTING NOTES

For the week of Jun 6 – Jun 12, 2015

Lesson: Book of Luke, Lesson 11

Metro New York World Ministry – http://www.metromenspm.com/

A special note: Included in Wednesday’s lesson is a very extensive study on the prophecy of Daniel 2 in connection with the Second Coming. Please read/review slowly and prayerfully – step by step, point by point – and go over the material. Even if you think you know Daniel 2 like the back of your hand, it would always do us well to review this foundational prophecy. God Bless.

SABBATH – The Kingdom of God

(Memory Text) Luke 13:29 “And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.” When standing before Pilate, Jesus was asked several questions, which Jesus gave very interesting answers.

(John 8:33-37) Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

The kingdom of God is not of this world. In other words we should not be putting our hopes in this world or the things of this world. The kingdom of God that we must put are all into is not this world.

(Matthew 6:31-34) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 319) There will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments. The days of our probation are fast closing. The end is near. To us the warning is given, “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34.

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Beware lest it find you unready. Take heed lest you be found at the King’s feast without a wedding garment. “In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” “Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Matthew 24:44; Revelation 16:15.

(Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 151) Instead of rendering to God the means He has placed in their hands, many invest it in more land. This evil is growing with our brethren. They had before all they could well care for, but the love of money or a desire to be counted as well off as their neighbors leads them to bury their means in the world and withhold from God His just dues. Can we be surprised if they are not prospered? if God does not bless their crops and they are disappointed? Could our brethren remember that God can bless twenty acres of land and make them as productive as one hundred, they would not continue to bury themselves in lands, but would let their means flow into God’s treasury. “Take heed,” said Christ, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life.” Satan is pleased to have you increase your farms and invest your means in worldly enterprises, for by so doing you not only hinder the cause from advancing, but by anxiety and overwork lessen your prospect for eternal life.

SUNDAY / MONDAY – Characteristics of the Kingdom of God (part 1 & 2)

If we want to know about the characteristics of the kingdom of God, all we need to do is study the one who will be the ruler over this kingdom. In Daniel 7 you have four beasts (vs. 3-7) which represents four world kingdoms (vs. 17, 23). These kingdoms are:

Symbol Kingdom Dates ruled

Lion Babylon 605 BC - 539 BC

Bear Medo-Persia 538 BC - 331 BC

Leopard Greece 331 BC - 168 BC

Dragon with iron teeth

Rome 168 BC – 476 AD

Beast #4 has ten horns (vs. 7) which represent the 10 kingdoms (vs. 24) that divided the Roman Empire. Then a little horn comes forward (vs. 8) which rules for 1260 years (vs. 5 - using the year/day principle). This little horn represents the Roman Catholic Papacy. Let’s add to our chart…

10 horns Rome divided 476 AD – 538 AD

Little horn Roman Catholic System 538 – 1798 AD

Each of these powers set up their kingdoms on this earth and they were all intent that they would last forever. But as we can see by looking at the dates all of them, as mighty as they seemed to be, are gone.



The next scene in Daniel 7, after all of these powers have ruled, is the judgment. In the judgment it will be decided who has a right to rule and who will receive a kingdom that is everlasting.

(Daniel 7:13, 14) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

This is the kingdom of God. Jesus will rule this kingdom. Will he rule it with an iron fist? Absolutely not as this is not his character. Jesus will do something with his kingdom that is unthinkable to any other king that has ever ruled.

(Daniel 7:27) And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Jesus will give this kingdom (which is his) to those that overcome. How unlike is this to every other king.

(Revelation 3:21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Those who overcome this world will have a throne. Kings sit on thrones. We will be as kings – with Jesus the King of kings. The point we want to make here is Jesus is not selfish in any particular as he will give the kingdom that was granted to him to the saints he died for. These were once terrible sinners. Many probably were drunkards, murderers, adulterers, blasphemers, etc… But they have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb.

(Revelation 1:5) Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. (Revelation 7:14) These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The kingdom of God is love. The opposite of love is not hate. It is self. When you love someone you will do anything for them. When you won’t do something it is because we are thinking of our selves.



TUESDAY – The Kingdom of God: Already, Not Yet

(Luke 17:21) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

We can be in the kingdom of God now. Not literally but by faith. There is a hymn called “We Have This Hope” – that hope is in Jesus Christ who will come again and take us home to be with him forever.

(Titus 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The kingdom of God can be expressed through us by loving others and sacrificing our time and efforts.

(John 13:34, 35) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

God’s love can be expressed in many ways and sometimes in ways we refuse to even consider.

(Revelation 3:19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Yes, the straight testimony and rebuke is an act of love because our purpose should be to better the person in the ways of the Lord.

(1 John 3:16-18) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

The Bible is telling us not to just go around and say “I love the Lord.” or say “I love people.” – No, this is all lip-service! It is telling us to demonstrate our faith with corresponding works motivated by love. If we really are converted our lives will show it. We are also told that if we truly love our neighbor we will not keep the special message for this time from them.

(Prophets and Kings, p. 141) Those ministers who are men pleasers, who cry, Peace, peace, when God has not spoken peace, might well humble their hearts before God, asking pardon for their insincerity and their lack of moral courage. It is not from love for their neighbor that they smooth down the message entrusted to them, but because they are self-indulgent and ease-loving. True love seeks first the honor of God and the salvation of souls. Those who have this love will not evade the truth to save themselves from the unpleasant results of plain speaking. When souls are in peril, God’s ministers will not consider self, but will speak the word given them to speak, refusing to excuse or palliate evil.



It is selfishness that leads us to hide the message. As the quote says “True love seeks first the honor of God and the salvation of souls.”

WEDNESDAY – The Kingdom and the Second Coming of Christ

The kingdom of God and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is revealed throughout the Bible. Daniel 2 is a prime example to give us hope that Jesus will come and save his people. We all are familiar with the story. Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and he can’t remember it when he awakes. Getting to the point Daniel is able to reveal to the king the dream and what it means. How was Daniel able to tell the king his dream? Did Daniel look into a crystal ball or look at the zodiac signs? Did he go to a gypsy to have his palm read? No, none of these methods work and let's make that real clear because there are many Christians today who are looking to these things and God forbids his people from entertaining these ideas. Daniel got it in a night vision - a dream from God.

(Daniel 2:19) Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision… When we want any answers in life we must only go to God for answers. He is the source of all wisdom. THE DREAM REVEALED

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 cut out without hands, 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: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.



Before we go to the interpretation, let’s make a chart and really make this clear and easy.

Symbol Interpretation/fulfillment

Head of GOLD

Arms/breast of SILVER

Belly/thighs of BRASS

Legs of IRON

Feet/toes of IRON**

+ CLAY**

Stone cut out without hand

Great mountain that fills the whole earth

METHODS OF INTERPRETATION

Before we go to the interpretation of the dream it would do us well to discuss methods of interpretation. There are 3 main schools of prophetic interpretation: #1. PRETERISM: This is the idea that the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation have already fulfilled in the past. The Antichrist is said to be Antiochus Epiphanes (who was a Greek king) who offered a pig on the altar in the Temple. The prophecy about the little horn (of Daniel 7) and the beast (of Revelation 13) is supposed to be Nero because Nero's name equals 666. And it is also believed that Jesus has already returned during the 1st century. #2. DISPENSATIONALISM (more commonly called FUTURISM): The majority of Protestants today believe in this system. This is the idea that all the prophecies about the Antichrist, the beast, the image of the beast and the mark of the beast are all still in the future. These things will not happen until after the church is "raptured" away to heaven in a secret coming of Jesus. And it is this secret rapture event that starts the beginning of a 7 year tribulation that is going to come upon the earth. And those who were "left behind" will have a second chance at salvation. It is also believed that the Antichrist will come upon the scene, set up his image and enforce his mark during this 7 year period - after the church has been raptured away to heaven. #3. HISTORICISM: Seventh-day Adventist are the only church left in the entire world that uses this method to interpret Bible prophecy. There is a unique advantage in using Historicism because we look at the past, the present and we look at the future. We can look at Historicism as a river: We see where the river starts. We see as the river flows along, and we then see the river go into the ocean. In other words we see the culmination of historical events. We see the beginning, the development and the end.

**The elements of the feet (iron and clay), though they are “together,” have been listed as

separate for two reasons: 1) to more clearly identify each element, and 2) to show that the

iron in the feet actually exists first, and then the clay is added to the iron at a later time.



Here is the definition of Historicism and how it operates in a nut-shell:

Historicism simply means that prophecy begins to fulfill in the day when the prophet who receives the vision is living, and it culminates or reaches its end when Jesus sets up His everlasting kingdom. And in-between these two points event after event transpire - without interruption. There are no gaps of time in Historicism.

Historicism is a disciplined way of interpreting prophecy. It lets you know where we are in prophetic time at any given moment. THE BIG QUESTION!!!

What evidence do we have in the prophecy of Daniel 2 that tells us this is the way we're supposed to interpret it? To find out we need to go to the interpretation of the dream! THE INTERPRETATION

(Daniel 2:36) This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. God is so good in that he not only tells us a prophecy but he reveals the interpretation. He does not want to leave us in the dark.

(2 Peter 1:19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

THE HEAD OF GOLD IDENTIFIED

(Dan. 2:37-38) Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

Daniel has just told King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the kingdom Babylon, that his kingdom is represented by the GOLD in the statue. Kings are the head of kingdom and that is why Daniel pointed at Nebuchadnezzar and said you are the head of Gold – meaning his kingdom. Proof in that he was speaking of the kingdom and not about the king only is found in what he says next in vs. 39:

And after thee shall arise another kingdom… You cannot have another kingdom unless the first one was a kingdom. Another important detail is that this verse lets us know that these metals are representing kingdoms as it says “another kingdom.” So we have a clear starting point to this prophecy (this is vital) – the head of gold represents the kingdom of Babylon. This kingdom ruled the known world from 605 BC to 539 BC.



Remember – In Historicism prophecy begins to fulfill immediately in the day of the prophet who receives the vision. Daniel received the vision. Daniel’s living in Babylon and the starting point of the prophecy, the head of Gold, is the kingdom of Babylon. Clearly we are seeing that only Historicism is to be used. THE SILVER IS IDENTIFIED

(vs. 39) And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee… Just as silver is inferior to gold, so would the next kingdom after Babylon. Who conquered Babylon? It was the Medo-Persia Empire. Does the Bible tell us this? It does so in chapter 5. Belshazzar is throwing a feast (a party) and a bloodless hand appears and writes on the wall - MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN…

(Daniel 5:26-28) This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

That very night Babylon was taken by the Medes and Persians. History books will confirm this also. Something else to take note is that the Bible says that two different kingdoms (the Medes and the Persians) can make-up one kingdom. And the reason for stressing this is because there are some who teach that the kingdom of silver represents the Medes and the next kingdom of brass is the Persians - but the Bible explicitly says that this is not so. The silver kingdom represents Medo-Persia. It was two kingdoms joining together to overthrow the Babylonian empire. The Persians were the dominant force of the two. Medo Persia governed from 539 B.C. (that's when Babylon fell) until 331 B.C. THE BRASS IS IDENTIFIED

(vs. 39) …and another third kingdom of brass It says the brass represents the third kingdom. What was the kingdom, historically, that conquered Medo-Persia? It was Alexander the Great’s Greece. Does Daniel speak about the kingdom of Greece? It sure does In Daniel chapter 8 there is no symbol for the kingdom of Babylon but there are two beasts that represent the two kingdoms that come after Babylon. In Daniel 8 we have a ram and a he-goat (vs - 1-8). The he-goat attacks the ram and kills it. How do we know these two beasts represent the two kingdoms that come after Babylon? In the same chapter is given the interpretation. Verse 20 says the ram represents the Medes and Persians, and verse 21 says the he-goat is the kingdom of Greece. It doesn’t get any plainer and easier than that. Very clearly Greece, represented by the brass in the image



of Daniel 2 and called the third kingdom, conquered the Medo-Persia Empire. Greece ruled from 331 BC to 168 BC. THE FOURTH KINGDOM: THE IRON MONARCHY OF ROME

The long legs of iron represent the old Roman Empire.

(Dan. 2:40) And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron… Rome was the kingdom that conquered Greece after it started to weaken after the death of Alexander the Great. Historians refer to Rome as the “iron monarchy” as they used iron for their weapons. Rome ruled from 168 BC all the way to 476 AD (which historians refer to as the official fall of Rome).

IMPORTANT!

Have you noticed there are no pauses in terms of time between Babylon and Medo-

Persia? And there are no pauses in terms of time between Medo-Persia and Greece, and

between Greece and Rome? This is very crucial to understand.

Each of these kingdoms arises as soon as the previous kingdom falls. It's one right after

another. There are no interruptions between one to the other. No gaps of time. The

kingdoms are consecutive - one right after another - WITHOUT INTERRUPTION!!!

There is a reason for stressing this point because many Christians today believe there is a

great pause or gap in Bible prophecy that has lasted about 2000 years. But there is no

foundation for a pause or a gap in Bible prophecy when the Historical method is used to

interpret prophecy. We are right on track - letting the Bible interpret itself and not

applying human opinion which will fail every time.

Remember - In Historicism prophecy fulfills step-by-step-by-step - without any

interruptions - from the time of the prophet who receives the vision all the way until the

everlasting kingdom.

This is a disciplined way of studying Bible prophecy. We are not guessing. We're not just

saying the first thing that comes to mind off the top of our heads. We are really finding

out what these symbols mean. It's not what I think they mean or what someone else thinks

they mean. We are letting Scripture interpret itself by letting the Bible explain what these

symbols represent.



Let us fill in our chart so far:


Head of GOLD BABYLON

Arms/breast of SILVER MEDO-PERSIA

Belly/thighs of BRASS GREECE

Legs of IRON ROME

Feet/toes of IRON**

+ CLAY**



THE FEET AND TOES PART OF IRON AND PART OF CLAY: THE IRON IS IDENTIFIED

Things are going to change drastically at this point of the prophecy as there are no more world empires.

(Daniel 2:41) And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

It’s very important to point out that the clay is not ordinary clay – it’s potters’ clay and then later turns to miry clay. What a drastic change. What was the iron in the legs a symbol of? It was the old Roman Empire. So think about it - if the iron in the legs represent Rome and the feet have iron in them - then this means Rome must continue into the feet and ten toes. Let’s fill in our chart as we go along step by step:


Head of GOLD BABYLON

Arms/breast of SILVER MEDO-PERSIA

Belly/thighs of BRASS GREECE

Legs of IRON ROME

Feet/toes of IRON** ROME CONTINUED

+ CLAY**



But now let's notice that something strange happens - to the iron is added a strange element: potters' clay! But then as the verse 41 says it progresses to "miry" clay. We'll look at that in a moment.



Is the clay element different from all the other elements that we have seen so far? Is it completely different in its chemical composition? Absolutely! Clay just doesn't fit - it doesn't mix. We have 4 metals - the last being iron - and then comes potters' clay! It's just totally different. So what do we have here? We have Rome + clay mixing together. The clay is added to the iron, or we could say it's added or joined to political Rome. THE CLAY IS ADDED AFTER THE IRON EXISTS IN THE FEET AND TOES

Only when Daniel 2 is compared with Daniel 7 can we see clearly that the clay is added in at a later time to the feet of iron. We will not be able to go into all the details about this chapter but we do want to make a comparison that is almost entirely overlooked. In Daniel 2 we have clearly mapped out a sequence of powers. In Daniel 7:3-7 are four beasts. The first is like a lion. What color is a lion? It's a yellowish/gold color. Isn't gold a yellowish color? The lion is the king of beasts as gold is the king of metals. The lion also represents the kingdom of Babylon. The second beast is a bear and this represents Medo-Persia. The third beast is a leopard which represents Greece. Now notice the fourth beast (vs. 7) – what kind of teeth does this beast have?

(Daniel 7:7) … and it had great iron teeth… Why iron? Why not bronze teeth, or even silver teeth? It’s simply because this is parallel to the iron legs of Daniel 2 which is the fourth kingdom just as this beast with iron teeth is the fourth kingdom. We have the four beasts in Daniel 7 (and they parallel the four metals in Daniel 2). How many toes on a pair of feet? Obviously ten. The fourth beast with iron teeth in Daniel 7 sprouts ten horns.

(Daniel 7:7) After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Here’s a very important question: Did the fourth beast go away when the ten horns came forward? Not at all, it just grew ten horns. Daniel says the ten horns actually grew off the head of this dragon beast…

(Daniel 7:20) And of the ten horns that were in his head... In Daniel 2 we have ten toes and in Daniel 7 we have ten horns. Iron (or the political power of Rome) continues in the feet of Daniel 2 and the fourth beast of Daniel 7 sprouts ten horns. In other words BOTH CONTINUE.



Let’s make a chart for clearer understanding as the Bible says:

(Habakkuk 2:2) And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Daniel 2 Daniel 7

Head of GOLD Lion

Arms/breast of SILVER Bear

Belly/thighs of BRASS Leopard

Legs of IRON Dragon with iron teeth

Feet/ 10 toes of IRON** Ten horns

+ CLAY**

Now what comes up among the 10 horns?

(Daniel 7:8) I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn...

A "little horn" is added among the ten horns (which grew off the head of the fourth beast). Daniel 2 and 7 are clearly parallel prophecies. Looking at the chart above - notice the parallels In Daniel 2 we have gold - In Daniel 7 we have a lion. Then in Daniel 2 is silver and in Daniel 7 a bear. Then we have brass and the leopard Then in Daniel 2 are the legs of iron - and in Daniel 7 we have a dragon beast with iron teeth. And then Daniel 2 has the feet/10 toes which parallels with the ten horns in Daniel 7. Now according to the sequence of powers and symbols here - what would the little horn of Daniel 7 be equivalent to in Daniel chapter 2? It is without a doubt the clay. Notice that Rome has three stages - and they're consecutive - it's one right after another.

1. The fourth beast (or dragon beast) governs by itself for a period of time. 2. The kingdom is divided (into ten horns) 3. And then among the ten - comes up a little horn

(Daniel 7:23, 24) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom... shall arise.

When the fourth beast rises to govern - Does it already have the 10 horns? Absolutely not because in order for the ten horns to come out of the fourth beast - the fourth beast has to already to exists. The kingdom exists before the ten horns sprout.



So far that’s two stages of Rome and here's the 3rd...

(Daniel 7:24 – and this is after speaking about the 2nd stage) And the ten horns out of this kingdom... shall arise: and another shall rise after them..."

Where does this little horn come up from? Also the head of the fourth beast because the ten horns grew off the head of the fourth beast and the little horn comes up among them. Is this fourth beast (the dragon) still alive when the little horn comes out? Yes – it did not go away. The fourth beast is alive and ruling by itself at first. Is it alive when the ten horns come out? Yes. Is the fourth beast still alive when the little horn comes out among the ten horns? Yes. So how many stages does the fourth beast have? It has three stages and they're consecutive - no pauses in regard to time - one right after another. This again is Historicism (at its best) - God is not going to leave us in the dark. Back to the clay --- What does the clay in Daniel 2 parallel to? Clearly it parallels the little horn of Daniel chapter 7. Notice our chart complete:

Daniel 2 Daniel 7

Head of GOLD Lion

Arms/breast of SILVER Bear

Belly/thighs of BRASS Leopard

Legs of IRON Dragon with iron teeth

Feet/ 10 toes of IRON Ten horns

+ CLAY Little horn

This is not brought out clearly in Daniel 2 because Daniel 2 is just a foundation for what's to come in the other chapters. The purpose of Daniel 2 is not to give us every detail but a broad overview – a foundation to build on.

(Psalm 11:3) If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? But when we compare with Daniel 7 we know the clay is added to the iron. Just like the little horn comes after the ten horns.



THE CLAY AND LITTLE HORN HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON

We can see that the clay is different in composition than all the other metals – it just doesn’t fit. Is the little horn in Daniel 7 different than the ten horns it came up among?

(Daniel 7:24 – speaking about the little horn) ...and he shall be diverse from the first..." The little horn is diverse, or different, than the ten horns it come up among, just as the clay is completely different than the iron that it is combined with in Daniel 2. THREE STAGES IN DANIEL 2

In Daniel 2 the legs are made of iron and the iron is continued into the feet and ten toes. There’s two stages. Is there another added element to the ten toes of iron? Yes...it is the clay! So how many stages do we have in the legs and feet? Three, just like there's three stages of Rome in Daniel 7. THE FEET AND TEN TOES AND THE STONE

According to Daniel 2 at what point of the image does the stone hit? It's at the feet of iron and clay – very important! It is commonly taught that the feet of iron and clay represents the modern countries of Europe today. This interpretation says that some of the European countries are strong (symbolizing the iron) and some are weak (symbolized by the clay). This is a very problematic interpretation for several reasons. First – Is there a Bible text that says clay represents a weak nation? We can’t just make stuff up that sounds good. We most likely would be building on sand. The second area of concern is at this point of the prophecy when compared with Daniel 7 - The little horn has already come on the scene and destroyed 3 of the 10 kingdoms - so that leaves only 7 kingdoms. But yet there are still ten when there should only be seven horns. The third issue is this - If the feet and ten toes represent the nations of Europe only then we have to ask the question: Is Jesus only going to make His Second Coming to Europe and for Europe only? Because this is the point when the stone hits the image at the feet of iron and clay. There is much more to this prophecy than what we generally hear. Jesus is coming to put an end to every nation of this world - not just Europe!!! The feet and ten toes must have a much broader meaning. We can conclude from the Biblical evidence so far that when Jesus returns the clay is mixed with the iron, and the iron represents the political power of Rome. In other words this means that the clay is going to be mixing with the state - and it's going to be happening around the entire world.



THE IRON AND CLAY WILL HAVE TWO STAGES

We do not have time to deal with this but the iron and clay will have two stages of existence.

1. 538 to 1798 (the period of the Dark Ages) 2. End-time stage (when Jesus returns it will be mixed together)

THE CLAY IS IDENTIFIED

We are dealing with symbols in Daniel 2. Is gold a symbol for something? Is silver a symbol for something? What about the brass, and the iron? Yes these are all symbols for something as we’ve seen and identified these symbols. Are the 10 toes a symbol for something? Is the stone that smashes the image in its feet a symbol for something? Is the great mountain the stone turns into a symbol for something? These are all symbols for something, but what about the clay - that's not a symbol(?). No, the clay must represent something beyond a literal meaning. If the gold represented Babylon, and the silver represented Medo-Persia, and the brass represnts Greece, and the iron legs represented the old Roman Empire, and the ten toes of the feet represent ten kingdoms --- then the clay must also be symbolic for something. It's only logical and it's following the Biblical pattern set forth here in Daniel 2! What does the clay represent? In Genesis 2 God is creating Adam. Notice the wording used:

(Gen 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The word "formed," in the Hebrew, is the word "yatsar." According to Strong's Concordance #3335 the meaning of this word is the following:

"through the squeezing into shape, to mould into form; espec. as a potter." Have you ever tried to form something out of literal dry dust? Could you even do it? You can't do it - so this must be damp dust or clay. In vs. 6 it talks about a mist that waters the earth. So man was made out of wet dust...or we could say clay.

(Isaiah 64:8 --- this is very plain) But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

God's people are referred to as the clay and God is the potter. So what are we? We are clay and God is the potter. So God used potters' clay to form the body of man? Daniel 2:41 says the feet and toes have what kind of clay? Potters' clay, and in Gen. 2:6 it says God used what to make man? No doubt he used potters clay going by the definition provided by Strong’s. God was the master potter and he formed with his own hands...clay - the human body. Wasn't Adam a child of God?



We are not dealing with literal things here - but symbols. Does Jesus have a body on earth - meaning a spiritual body?

(Colossians 1:18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

(1 Corinthians 12:13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The church is his body - spiritually speaking - just like the physical body was made of clay and God breathed into it the literal breath of life - so the church is the spiritual body of spiritual clay. Did God breath his spirit of life into that body? Who built and molded the Christian church? Remember when Jesus said "you are Peter and upon this Rock I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18) So who formed the church? Who chose the apostles who were the nucleus, and attracted the people who would form the body of the church? It was Jesus himself who formed the body of the church with spiritual clay. And what happened with that body on the day of Pentecost? It was filled with the Holy Spirit. When the church was filled with the Holy Spirit - did it go out and proclaim the gospel with power? Did it become a living church or a living body at that time? It sure did. So what must the clay represent? It must represent the spiritual body which is the Christian church. Even ancient Israel was called the church (Acts. 7:38). In Jeremiah 18 it is referring to Israel's captivity by Babylon and then it will speak about their restoration.

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

What was the Lord doing? - He was using potters' clay to make something at the wheel. Now what was he making?

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

"Marred" is referring to the Babylonian captivity - when Israel was taken captive to Babylon. And they were saying this is the end of us, we're finished - we'll never go back to our land. This vessel was shattered by their captivity.

Now here's the interpretation in verses 5 and 6:

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

"so he made it again" - did they come back from their captivity? Yes they were restored after the captivity.



Now notice the interpretation:

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

What does the potters' clay represent in this passage? It represents God's people...Israel. It says God is the potter and Israel is the clay. God's people - His church - are symbolically represented by the clay. So when Daniel chapter 2 says the iron will mix with the clay - it is saying the political power of Rome (represented by the iron) was going to be joined to what? It would be joined to the Christian church (symbolized by the clay). In other words there is going to be a mingling of church and state sometime after the empire of Rome is divided. Is this what happened in history? Yes and it lasted for over a 1000 years during the Dark Ages. Just read history. THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY CONFIRMATION

Ellen White knew this point without even going through the texts we’ve gone through! Maybe it must have been a lucky guess? (I don’t think so)

(SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, pp. 1168, 1169) We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified, who must not become unholy by laying upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Every soul who is loyal to the commandments of God will see that the distinguishing feature of our faith is the seventh-day Sabbath. If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. But statesmen will uphold the spurious sabbath, and will mingle their religious faith with the observance of this child of the papacy, placing it above the Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations. The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves.

When Rome crumbled and divided into 10 kingdoms (which 7 of them went on to be current European nations of today), is it historically true that shortly after this division the Church appealed to the powerful arm of the State to enforce its teachings? Is it historically true that through Constantine the Great (and others after him) - Did the Church and the State join hands together to enforce the teaching of the Church by law and even on pain of death? There is no doubt about all of this – just read history. And it lasted over 1000 years in a period of time referred to as the Dark Ages. Have you heard of the Inquisition and the Crusades?



The sequence in Daniel 2 is so clear - there's no way around it. When you study this prophecy it's talking about the union of the political power of Rome joining with the clay - which is the religious power of papal Rome. Did you know the organizational system of the Roman Catholic Church is identical to the organizational system of the old Roman Empire? Instead of an Emperor - you have the "pontifex maximus" (or the supreme pontiff and bridge builder) - the pope is the Emperor. He dresses like the Emperor. He has a scepter like the Emperor. He wears a crown like the Emperor. He doesn't have Senators - he has Cardinals. No consuls - you have Bishops. No proconsuls - you now have Archbishops. The Roman Catholic Church Organization simply adopted the political organizational system of the Roman Empire. Instead of a palace - you have St. Peter's. This is where the pope sits on his "cathedra" and speaks "ex-cathedra" which means "from the throne." The civil power of Rome passed on to the religious power of Rome. Thus we have the mixing of church and state. THE STONE CUT OUT WITHOUT HANDS

It is important to point out that the stone that smashes the image in the feet of iron and clay is “cut out…without hands.”

(Daniel 2:45) Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands…

What does this expression mean “without hands”? Who built the heavenly sanctuary? It was Jesus. And who built the earthly tabernacle? That would be Moses.

(Hebrews 9:11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

That phrase “not of this building” really means "not of this creation" – other Bible translations will actually say this (NKJV). Let’s ask ourselves - Is the final kingdom going to be established by Christians taking over the government? Will this planet get better and better when Christians influence and control the governments of this world? Will the world then be Christianized and become a better place? The Bible says no – this is not the answer. Here in Heb. 9:11 it says that this stone is "cut out without hands" and that means it is not of this creation. In other words this is a supernatural kingdom from outside of human history. Not from inside and not because of human events. The reason this point is stressed is because the offshoot group Shepherd’s Rod teaches that the stone here in Daniel 2 is the 144,000 and not Christ. They quote 2 verses of the Bible to try and sustain this idea (Zach. 12:3 and 1 Pet. 2:5). Neither of these texts matches the description given in Daniel 2 as we have learned that this stone comes from outside of this world. By applying a human fulfillment of the stone instead of it being Christ couldn’t we say that this is taking the place of God when it is a function of Jesus?



Daniel 8 uses this phrase "without hands" when speaking about the destruction of Antichrist:

(Daniel 8:25) And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

The Antichrist will not be destroyed by any human power - it will be destroyed by Jesus Christ at the Second Coming. The Bible makes this point very clear – notice:

(2 Thessalonians 2:8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The stone in Daniel that is cut out without hands is none other than the return of Jesus. Here’s another use of this phrase:

(Mark 14:15) We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."

Who made the resurrection body of Jesus? Who transformed and immortalized it? It was the Father. In all of these texts the phrase "without hands" is referring to Jesus. It is always in the context of and connected to Jesus Christ. So this last kingdom of Daniel 2 - who's going to establish it? God will and it will not be by any human power. THE STONE AND MOUNTAIN ARE IDENTIFIED

What is this “mountain that this stone comes from, or is cut out of? A mountain represents a kingdom:

Isaiah 2:2-5 – speaks of the mountain of the Lord

Isaiah 11:6-9 – speaks of the Lords holy mountain

Jeremiah 51:25 – Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom of Babylon is called a mountain

Micah 4:1, 2 – refers to the mountain of the Lord

THE STONE AND ZION

(1 Peter 2:6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Where does this stone lay? It says in Zion. Is the stone in Daniel 2 cut from a mountain? Yes. Do we have a stone and a mountain here in 1 Peter 2? Absolutely, we have Zion and the stone Peter is speaking about is Jesus because he is the chief corner stone. What is Zion that this verse speaks about? We need to read several texts for that answer.



(Psalms 48:2) Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King."

So Zion is a called a mountain and it's on the sides of the north. The second text is in Isaiah 14:13. This is speaking about what Lucifer was thinking when he rebelled in Heaven.

(Isaiah 14:13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.

Notice that the “mount of the congregation” is also in the sides of the north just like Zion is located in the sides of the north. The final text:

(Isaiah 51:16) ... and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." From these three texts we learned that Zion is a mountain, Zion is a congregation, and Zion is God's people. And what is the "chief corner stone"? It is none other than Jesus. This stone is a person (Jesus), and where do you think he comes from? He comes from a mountain and it says He's cut out of Mount Zion! The question is: Which Mount Zion - the earthly or heavenly? There is no doubt the heavenly Mount Zion.

(Hebrews 12:22) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels"

Jesus is in the heavenly Zion right now and He is going to be "cut out of a mountain" - so to speak, to come and destroy Antichrist and all these nations who are seeking to destroy His people. In other words Jesus is going to leave the kingdom of heaven to rescue his people.

(1 Peter 2:6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."

The stone is clearly Jesus - because it says he that believeth on him. The “him” is none other than Jesus.

(1 Peter 2:7, 8) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.



Now there are three Old Testament quotations that Peter is using in this passage:

(Isaiah 28:16) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

(Psalm 118:22) The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

(Isaiah 8:14) And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Isn't it amazing? Right here in Daniel 2 we have a Messianic prophecy! The stone in Zion is Christ and His Judgment - who then leaves the heavenly mount Zion and will come to this earth and destroy all human kingdoms at His Second Coming. And then Jesus will establish a kingdom that will stand forever and ever. Of course that will be after the millennium. THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON POINT

We’ve seen that the kingdom of gold has passed. We’ve seen that the kingdom of silver has passed. We’ve seen that the kingdom of brass has passed. We’ve seen that the kingdom of iron has passed. We’ve seen that the first fulfillment of the ten toes has happened (the second happens just before Jesus comes and is described in Rev. 17). We’ve seen the iron and clay (the church and the state come together during the Dark Ages. And we are seeing right now how the iron and clay are coming together again. Pope Francis is speaking before both houses of Congress in September of this year (2015). The people of the United States are ready to listen to him. The image of the beast is almost complete and is God’s church ready? Are you as an individual ready? This prophecy should give us strength, encouragement, and tremendous faith in trusting God because if all of these have taken place with exactness, just as the prophecy has predicted, the next event is the stone coming to smash the kingdoms of this world. JESUS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT COMING! How can we be assured that that stone, when it hits, will save us and not crush us? Did you know that Jesus Himself referred to Daniel 2? Notice what Jesus says:

(Matthew 21:40-44) When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.



Jesus is comparing the Jews and the Gentiles. And the original ones who rejected the stone - which were the Jews - they rejected Jesus as the Messiah. But the kingdom was taken and given to those who have accepted the Messiah. What Jesus is saying is that if you fall upon Jesus (meaning the stone or the rock) and He breaks your heart and you become changed and converted to Him you will be saved by the stone. But if you do not fall on the Rock and be not converted then that stone, when it comes, it will crush you. Jesus does not want to crush anyone. Salvation is open to everyone. Accept the invitation today for tomorrow may be too late.

THURSDAY – Witnesses

(Matthew 24:14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The everlasting gospel must be preached, or we could say we must witness to every nation and people, in order for Jesus to return. Revelation 14 reveals the fullest gospel message to be preached. In verse 6 is the gospel going to all nations of the earth - telling people of Jesus and his great sacrifice that he made for us while we were sinners. This message must go to the world. THAT’S NOT ALL Revelation 14:7 starts out with a very important word: “Saying.” This means as we go tell the world about Christ and the plan of salvation we are to “say” (or explain) to those same people (which is every person on earth) the things contained in the three messages. Jesus said:

(Matthew 28:19, 20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We need not fear any man as we preach these thing because Jesus assures us that he will be with us every step of the way.

(Gospel Workers (1892), p. 102-103) “Ye shall be witnesses unto me.” [Acts 1:8] These words of Jesus have lost none of their force. Our Saviour calls for faithful witnesses in these days of religious formalism. But how few, even among the professed ambassadors for Christ, are ready to give a faithful, personal testimony for their Master. Many can tell what the great and good men of generations past have done, and dared, and suffered, and enjoyed. They become eloquent in setting forth the power of the gospel, which has enabled others to rejoice in trying conflicts and to stand firm against fierce temptations. But while



so earnest in bringing forward other Christians as witnesses for Jesus, they seem to have no fresh, timely experience of their own to relate. {GW92 102.3} Ministers of Christ, what have you to say for yourselves? What soul conflicts have you entered that have been for your good, for the good of souls, and for the glory of God? You who profess to be proclaiming the last solemn message to the world, what is your experience in the knowledge of the truth, and its effect upon your own hearts? Does your character testify for Christ? Can you speak of the refining, ennobling, sanctifying influence of the truth as it is in Jesus? What have you seen, and what have you known, of the power of Christ? This is the kind of witness for which the Lord calls, and for which the churches are suffering.


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