THE FIFTH UNIVERSAL KINGDOM.
By Chas. Nelson
IN the second chapter of Daniel we read of a dream which was given to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. In this dream he saw a great image whose head was of gold, breast and arms of silver, sides of brass, legs of iron, feet part of iron and part of clay. He also saw a stone cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet and broke them to pieces. At the same time the other metals were broken up, and together they became as the chaff of a summer thrashing-floor; but the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Verses 31-35. In the interpretation of this dream, we learn that there should be five kingdoms that should rule over all the earth. The first of these was Babylon, represented by the head of gold. The second, symbolized by the breast and arms of silver, was Medo-Persia. The third of brass, Grecia; and the fourth of iron, Rome. The feet and toes part of iron and part of clay denoted that the fourth kingdom should be divided, but yet retain some of the strength of the iron. This prophecy has thus far been literally fulfilled. Babylon was overthrown by Medo-Persia, B.C. 538. Medo-Persia was conquered by Grecia, 331 B.C. At the time of the birth of Christ, Rome ruled the whole world. Luke 2:1. Between A.D. 351 and 476, this kingdom was divided, and since that time there has been no kingdom that has ruled over all the world; neither will there be till God sets up His kingdom. This brings us to verse 44: "And in the days of these kings [the kingdoms represented by the iron and clay] 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." This will be a world kingdom like the other four before it, but with this difference, that it will stand forever, and the saints of God will be the subjects. Dan. 7:27. It was to this that Jesus referred when He said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. Again: "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." Matt. 5:5. God promised Abraham that he should be the heir of the world (Rom. 4:13), yet he did not receive any of it while he lived; no, not as much as he could set his foot upon. Acts 7:5. This promise will not be fulfilled till Jesus comes again. Then all the righteous will receive their reward. They that sleep in the dust of the earth will come forth, clad in immortality; the living will be changed; and together they will meet their Saviour. "Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25:34. "Flesh and blood [man in his present state] can not inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor. 15:50. It is thru the resurrection from the dead that God will bring His people into the land that He promised to Abraham, the father of the faithful. In the 37th chapter of Ezekiel this truth is made very plain. The prophet was carried out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set down into a valley of dry bones. He was told to prophesy, and there came sinews, flesh, and skin upon them. Again he was told to prophesy, and there came breath into them, and they stood upon their feet an exceeding great army. Verses 1-10. That these represent all of God's people that shall come out of their graves, and not the children of Israel after the flesh alone, is clear from the following: "Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel." Verses 11, 12. To make this yet plainer to their understanding, the prophet was to take two sticks and write upon them. One stick for Judah and the children of Israel his companions, another for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all of Israel his companions. He was then to join them one to another, and they should become one stick in his hand. Verses 16, 17. These sticks on which the prophet had written he should hold in his hand before the eyes of the people. Verse 20. Now when they should ask what was the meaning of this, he should answer: "Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in Mine hand." Verse 19. As these two literal sticks were made one in the prophet's hand, so should the time come when Israel and Judah would be united and become one people. This has not yet taken place, and will not take place till the final gathering of God's people when Jesus comes. Then one King shall rule over them all. They shall no more defile themselves with their idols, nor detestable things, but shall walk in His judgments, and observe His statutes and do them. They shall dwell in the land forever, and God will set His sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore. Verses 22-28. The seer of Patmos describes the conditions that will exist then as follows: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev. 21:1-3. This is the fifth universal kingdom—the kingdom of God represented by the stone which smote the image set up on the earth after sin is eradicated and God makes all things new. There Christ Will Be King
and sit upon the throne of David and reign forever. Luke 1:32, 33. The New Jerusalem, "whose builder and maker is God," (Heb. 11:10) will be the capital. Thru its gates of pearl, on which are written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, will all of God's people enter. Here will be no death, sorrow, or pain; "for the former things are passed away." Here the river of life will flow, clear as crystal, and on both sides of the river will be the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruit, a kind each month. "And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." Rev. 22:3, 4. "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation
That keepeth the truth may enter in."
Isa. 26:1, 2. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in thru the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.