The Everlasting Kingdom.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
WHEN is the everlasting kingdom to be set up? “And in the days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan. 2:44. “In the days of these kings.” These words occur at the close of the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image. The kings (kingdoms) referred to cannot refer to the four universal monarchies,—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome,—because these follow in succession, and it would be impossible for one kingdom to be set up in the days of each of them. The expression can refer to nothing else than the kingdoms into which Rome was divided, and which are referred to in Dan. 2:41. This division was completed before the close of the fifth century A. D. The expression, “in the days of these kings,” shows conclusively that in no sense was the kingdom of God set up at the time of Christ’s first advent. There was at that time only one kingdom—Rome—and it exercised universal dominion. There was then nothing to indicate that the proud empire would ever crumble into fragments. This fact alone is sufficient to show that the setting up of the kingdom was not in the days of Christ or his apostles. By what symbol is it represented? The verse above quoted says that the kingdom of the God of Heaven “shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms.” In the statement of the dream, Dan. 2:31-35, we are told that the stone which was cut out without hands, “smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces,” and that “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 threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them.” When we remember that these various metals represent the kingdoms of earth, which are to be broken in pieces and consumed by the kingdom of God, we know that in this prophecy, the kingdom of God is represented by the stone. WHERE is the image to be smitten by this stone? What part of the world’s temporal history is represented by the feet of the image? “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet.” Dan. 2:34. It is self-evident that the feet of the image represent the last portion of this world’s history, or, rather, of the history of nations on this earth. We say this is self-evident, because in the time represented by the feet, the image is to be totally demolished and consumed. After it is smitten, no place is to be found for its fragments, showing that from that time the nations of earth are to have no place in history. It is evident, then, that this smiting of the image on the feet is the thing to which the disciples referred when they asked Christ, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Matt. 24:3. DID either of the four great kingdoms utterly destroy, or exterminate, the kingdoms that ruled before it? Repeat a scripture that seems to allude to this fact. In speaking of the fourth and last beast, Daniel says: “I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” Dan. 7:11. But in direct contrast with this, he speaks of the three preceding beasts as follows: “As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.” Dan. 7:12. This shows that none of the kingdoms are utterly destroyed until the last. When Cyrus conquered Babylon, the Medo-Persian kings began to rule over the territory and subjects over which the Babylonian kings had formerly ruled. It was the same way, also, when Alexander conquered the Persians. When one universal empire succeeded another, the world simply changed rulers. Had it been otherwise, the conqueror would not have had much dominion. The characteristics of the conquered nation modified to a great extent the nation which subdued it. This is plainly indicated in the symbol of the fourth kingdom, as seen by John (Rev. 13:1-10). That beast was like a leopard (third kingdom); its feet were as the feet of a bear (second kingdom); and its mouth as the mouth of a lion (first kingdom). Besides these characteristics, it had the seven heads and ten horns peculiar to Rome, and did the same work that is ascribed to the fourth beast of Daniel 7. These facts of Scripture are in harmony with the statement in Daniel 2, that when the stone smites the image, the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold are all broken to pieces together. It is in the days of “these kings,” the ten divisions of the Roman Empire, that the smiting is done, but the consequent destruction takes in all that remains of all the preceding kingdoms. WHAT is to be the effect of this smiting? When will this utter destruction take place? Dan. 2:34, 35, 44, which have already been quoted, answer question 8. All earthly kingdoms are to be destroyed utterly, to make room for the everlasting kingdom of God. This smiting is many times referred to in the Bible. God, speaking through the prophet David, says to Christ: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Ps. 2:8, 9. The prophet Habakkuk had a view of this terrible dashing to pieces of the nations, and he describes it thus: “The mountains saw thee, and they trembled; the overflowing of the water passed by; the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.” Hab. 3:10-12. Compare the last clause with Dan. 2:35. Isaiah also bears testimony similar to that given by David: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, . . . and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Isa. 11:1-4. Compare 2 Thess. 2:8. And lastly we read the graphic prophetic description given by John: “And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in Heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. . . . And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him. . . . These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Rev. 19:11-21. Let the reader carefully compare these texts, and he will be convinced that they refer to the same time to which Peter does, when he says: “But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word [the word of the Lord] are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:7. And this is, in part, the fulfilling of the promise of Christ’s coming. BUT the destruction of the wicked of earth is only a part of the work to be done. Habakkuk says, immediately following the words before quoted from him: “Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed.” Immediately following the statement quoted from Isaiah, is a description of a wonderful state of peace, closing with these words: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Isa. 11:9. And this agrees with the statement in Dan. 2:35, that, after the destruction of the image, the stone, representing the kingdom of God, “became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” This shows conclusively that the kingdom of God is to be finally established on this earth; that it is to be as real and literal a kingdom as were the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Grecian; that it is not yet set up, because when it is set up it immediately consumes the kingdoms of earth; and that it is to be absolutely universal, because it is to fill the whole earth, and no place is to be found for any opposing power. How will the earth itself be purified from the effects of sin and the curse? “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. That this results in the purification of the earth, is evident from verse 13: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” How will all the righteous, both the dead and the living, escape this terrible destruction? Habakkuk says that when the Lord brings these terrible judgments upon the earth, he goes forth for the salvation of his people. Since the preservation of his people is the object, they may fearlessly “abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Resting on the promise of Jehovah, that, “Because thou hast made the Lord thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” (Ps. 91:5-10), the righteous can sing: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Ps. 46:1, 2. But the people of God are not to be left on this earth during the great conflagration which destroys the wicked and melts the elements. “For the Lord himself shall descend from759heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. As the trumpet sounds, the dead are raised incorruptible, and the living are likewise changed from mortal to immortal, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:51, 52); so that when they go to be with Christ, and to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34), they are equal unto the angels, for they cannot die any more. And thus is fulfilled the statement in Dan. 2:44: “And the kingdom shall not be left to other people.” Not forever are the people of God to remain away from this earth. Says John: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them which were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” Rev. 20:4, 5. Here the first resurrection, the resurrection of the righteous, is brought to view, with the statement that a thousand years is to intervene between that and the resurrection of the wicked. During that time the earth is in a state of chaos, an abyss, as it was in the beginning. Isaiah describes it thus: “Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.” “The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word.” Isa. 24:1, 3. And Jeremiah says: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.” Jer. 4:23-27. DURING this period of desolation, those who have had part in the first resurrection, upon whom the second death has no power (Rev. 20:6), are sitting on thrones of judgment (Rev. 20:4), judging the world and wicked angels. 1 Cor. 6:1-3. They are in the kingdom of God, because they are in the New Jerusalem, the capital of that kingdom. The gates of the “strong city” will have been opened, “that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth” might enter in. Isa. 26:1, 2. At the close of the thousand years, when “the holy city, New Jerusalem,” comes down “from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:2); the wicked dead are then raised, and the prophetic declaration is, that “they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of Heaven, and devoured them.” Rev. 20:9. THIS devouring is the same as the destruction described in the nineteenth chapter, a portion of which has been quoted. It is the same as the casting of the tares into the fire, spoken of by Christ in Matt. 13; and when this has been done, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Reader, would you be one of the happy subjects of that kingdom? If so, you must do the will of God, and that means that you must keep his holy law; for only “the righteous nation which keepeth the truth” shall have a place in that kingdom. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14.