There have only been four world empires in history: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. And those four empires and their entire cultures are represented by this famous image of man. The image is of a man because of how man centered those cultures were. This is really an image of what humanism is all about: man as the measure of all things. And a great deal of Western education flows out of those four empires. Some call it classical education. Others call it humanistic education. There is a great deal that is splendid in it (and verse 31 talks about that - that's what attracts many people to this education), and yet root stock and branch, Christ will cause it to vanish according to verse 35: "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away" [get this next phrase:] "so that no trace of them was found."
What has Jerusalem to do with Athens? That was a question posed by an early church father who was struggling to determine how to live in a wicked world that is so contrary to God's Word. What does Jerusalem or the church have to do with Athens or Rome or Babylon? Should we "escape" from the world and live in a monastery? The Bible doesn't seem to allow us to do that because we have been called to disciple the nations. In fact, in this chapter we see a head on confrontation between those world views. Another alternative that people in history have given: should we "identify" with what is best in culture? Unfortunately this is what the liberals and others have done where their churches have looked like the most current fashion of the world. They are failing to teach the nations all things that Christ has commanded us. For all practical purposes, Christ and the world are identical. So these are the extremes to which we can go to escape. Others, like Thomas Aquinas, have agreed that we can't just escape from culture and we can't identify with culture. They said, let's try to "synthesize" the best of the world's wisdom and Biblical authority. After all, all truth is God's truth. But you know what happens when that is done? There is a clash of authorities. How do we determine what is truth in the world? And over and over, the synthesizers have found themselves compromising the clear word of God in order to be respectable in the eyes of the world; or in order not to get thrown into the lions den. They have opted for the day age theory, or natural law or psychologized preaching, etc. A fourth group of people have recognized problems with escaping, with identifying and with synthesizing both. They have said, let's honor both, and live in both worlds, but keep both worlds separate. They held to a "paradoxical" tension. Charles Anderson from Covenant College describes this view in this way, "The followers of Luther soon made his dualism into an orthodoxy and consequently domesticated the Gospel. In other words, the way to ease the tension between the two kingdoms is to make the Gospel into a kind of civil religion. And so the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of Christ can exist alongside of each other. Indeed, it would sometimes seem that religion exists to preserve culture and give it an air of respectability. This kind of conservatism is typical of the ‘God and country' mentality of much of American fundamentalism." (p. 27). These people don't want to get too carried away by bringing Biblical law into government. They just want both kingdoms to be comfortable places to live, but they too fail to apply the authority of Scripture to the world.
Reformed people have to the best of their ability tried to follow the fifth model; Daniel's model of "transformation". We are not of the world, but we are in the world and responsible to Christ for transforming this world. This is my father's world, not Satan's, and we are conquering every square inch for Christ. There are times in history when our success will be like Daniel's, quite a bit of success but not total. But this chapter gives promise that there is coming a day when every vestige of humanism will give way to Christ's lordship.
Thus far in chapter 2 we have seen how quickly the wisdom, power and splendor of the world can leave unbelievers feeling bankrupt. We have also seen how important it is for Christians to be ready to stand in the gap when that happens.
God's Vision Of Total Conquest
The Ongoing War Between Humanism and Theocracy (vv. 31-45)
Similarities
What makes Christians so frequently unready to stand in the gap is that they have already opted for humanism. They see so much in culture that is good that they are blinded to how those very things are used to prop up humanism; to prop up this image. Look at the splendor described in verse 31. It says, "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome." God uses words like "great,", "splendor," "excellent," "awesome" to describe this humanistic culture. He does not deny that there is beauty in Greek art, or usefulness in Babylonian technology, or benefits in Roman culture. To the extent that paganism borrows from Christian principles there will be greatness. But He points us not to the statue for understanding His world; he points us to the original source which is far better: Christ, the stone cut without hands. There will come a time when there will be a truly Christian culture, not just Christians borrowing from the world. Christ promises that every aspect of life that humanism has dominated in, Christianity will dominate in.
In verses 35 and 44 we see the total removal of every trace of the statue. Verse 35 promises that the wind of the Holy Spirit will carry them away so that no trace of them will be found.
What frequently makes people confused in how we should relate to this world is the greatness of some humanistic culture. There is much that humanism borrows from a Christian world and life view, and to the extent that it does, it has greatness. Modern science and modern medicine could not exist if people were consistent and threw out all Biblical principles. In a random chance universe there could be no medicine or science. And by the way, we are finding new age scientists and physicians promoting nonsense like ancient Egypt did and other pagan nations do because they have abandoned the Western world and life view that was shaped by Christianity. To the extent that it abandons eternal principles, to that extent it becomes what verse 39 calls "inferior." "But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours." There are some humanistic cultures that are better than others. Several commentaries have pointed out that Medo-Persia was not in any way inferior to Babylon in strength, extent of empire or glory. In fact, each of these successive empires becomes more powerful militarily. It was inferior because it went further, and further away from God's standards. Calvin said,
We see then that his [Cyrus's] kingdom is not called inferior through having less splendour or opulence in human estimation, but because the general condition of the world was worse under the second monarchy, as men's vices and corruptions increase more and more."
If there was ever a time when the world was getting worse and worse, it was in the days leading up to Christ, not in our day. America is certainly getting worse and worse, but the world is much better off now than it was under Nero. Since the time of Christ we have not been repeating history. We have been reversing history. There is progressive degeneration from gold, to silver, to bronze to iron to clay. But the cross of Christ reverses that process of things getting worse and worse. Just see the cross as being the center of history. Things going down toward it and things going generally up from it.
Now that's an overview, but let's look quickly at the nature of the conflict between humanism and Christianity. And I'm not going to be covering everything in this chpter and I'm probably covering too much. This is much more of a teaching lesson than the preaching I have been giving. But bear with me, I want you to understand at least the basics. It is an all out war for total conquest. Because of Israel's failure to be salt and light in chapter 1, they were cast out to be trodden under foot of men. God gave the world over to the bondage of humanism. In verses 38-39 it shows how pervasive was the rule of this image of humanism "and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven..." and he goes on to summarize in the last phrase: "shall rule over all the earth." Humanism's goal was total conquest. But it should be pointed out that God's kingdom has plans to do the same. The New Testament quotes Psalm 8 as being fulfilled in Christ. "You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen - even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea..." Do you see how what God gave over to humanism under Nebuchadnezzar has been given to Christ for His reclaiming? Verse 35 says that His kingdom will fill the earth. Verse 44 says "it shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."
Those are encouraging words. There is no question that both humanism and Christianity are described as having greatness, but Christianity is said to have more greatness. Both have world wide dominion, but only Christianity will last. Both crush and replace previous kingdoms, but only Christianity will never be replaced. Both have times of overlap where one empire co-exists with the previous one. But only Christianity will outlast all other empires. So there are many similarities. But the contrasts are far stronger.
This image starts off glorious and ends up as dust or chaff according to verse 35. In contrast God's kingdom starts off looking small and as unfinished and humble as a stone and yet ends up growing into something as glorious as a mountain and then finally filling the earth. Even as a mountain it would be greater than a carved image. But it goes beyond mountain status says the last phrase of verse 35 "and filled the whole earth". That's the difference between power religion and true religion. Power religion imposes things from the top down. True religion transforms as leaven from the bottom up. Humanism is formed by men's hands, Christianity is not. Verse 45 describes this as a stone cut without hands. It is done by God. Humanism is temporal, Christianity is eternal. Humanism is defeated, Christianity will never be defeated. Verses 44-45 say, "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."
So we have seen first of all that there is a danger that Christians can fall into of failing to advance God's kingdom because the are so busy appreciating the splendor of man's kingdom. Secondly, we saw that these two kingdoms are in conflict for total control of every facet of life. Thirdly we saw that God's approach to dominion and man's approach are totally different.
They both have greatness
Humanism (vv. 31-32)
Theocracy (v. 35,44)
World wide dominion for both
Humanism (vv. 38-39)
Theocracy (v. 35,44)
They both crush previous kingdoms
Humanism (vv. 40)
Theocracy (v. 35,44-45)
They both have dominion on earth
Humanism (vv. 38,39,43)
Theocracy (v. 35)
There is sequence yet overlap from one kingdom to the next
Humanism (vv. 35,40,45)
Theocracy (v. 35,44)
Contrasts
a great image with splendor and awesome form versus an unfinished stone
formed by hands versus cut without hands
awesome versus humble
the stone stronger than the image (v. 34-35,44)
temporal versus eternal (v. 44)
defeated versus undefeated (v. 44)
The Downward Progress Of Humanism
The Quality Of The Image Deteriorating
Gold - Representing Babylon
Silver - Representing Medo-Persia
Bronze - Representing Greece
Iron progressing to iron and clay - Representing Rome
"another kingdom inferior to yours"
"a kingdom" (v. 37) versus "kingdom shall be divided" (v. 41)
"power, strength" (v. 37) versus "partly strong and partly fragile" (v. 42)
"glory (vv. 37-38) versus "break in pieces and crush" (v. 40)
The Upward Progress Of Christ's Kingdom
God was reigning even before Christ's Kingdom was set up.
But fourthly, I want to look at when it is that God reigns. We might be tempted to think that God's reign is only seen during times of Christian dominance. But remember, all the way back in 1:2 Daniel says that Israel's captivity into Babylon was of God's doing. And this chapter says the same. In verses 37-38 it says, "You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all..." Nebuchadnezzar could have no authority without God's aid. During the last empire of iron, Rome, Christ told Pilate "You could have no power at all against Me unles it had been given you from above." During dark times like this image illustrates, God is not wringing His hands over the sad state of affairs. He governs history for His purposes. God has always been on the throne and His kingdom is an eternal kingdom. Later Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God's kingdom and reign. So don't think that this chapter discussed the beginning of God's eternal kingdom. It discusses the beginning of the Mediatorial kingdom of Christ which reconciles the world to Him. And I want to end by examining the nature of this kingdom.
But there is a kingdom that God set up in history: the mediatorial kingdom of Christ.
It does not have its origin in this world (cut without hands" v. 34) yet it impacts this world and its kingdom's ("struck the image" v. 34)
First, it does not have its origin in this world, yet it impacts the world. Verse 34: "You watched while a stone was cut out without hands," [that phrase "without hands" is a reference to God doing the cutting. This kingdom is not something constructed by man. But notice that this is not something restricted to haeaven as some Christians think. Certainly it comes from heaven, but notice it says] "which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces." Without both sides of that equation you have an imbalanced equation. If all you think about is the supernatural, heavenly character of this kingdom you will end up a pietist who does little to change earth; who does little to cause humanism to tumble. On the other hand, if you are so preoccupied with striking the image that you fail to depend entirely upon God and His provisions from above, you will be frustrated at best and become liberal at worst. It does not have its origin in this world, yet it impacts this world powerfully.
It is all victorious (v. 44)
Secondly, we have already seen in verse 44 that it is all powerful and all victorious. The same verse points out that it is eternal.
It is eternal (v. 44)
It eventually fills the entire earth (v. 35,44)
This kingdom is set up during the time of the kings of the fourth empire (v. 44 "in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom")
But notice when this kingdom is set up. Verse 44: "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.." In the days of these kings. Which kings is He referring to? There are many people who have tried to make the establishing of the kingdom still in our future. But the immediate context is discussing the fourth kingdom, Rome. Let's do a little history lesson for you outlining the four kingdoms. Verse 37 describes various kings in the first kingdom. It says, "You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has givne you a kingdom, popwer, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all - you are this head of gold." So Babylon was the first kingdom. Then verse 39 says, "But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to your's..." This second kingdom was Medo-Persia. This was the silver chest and arms. It was one empire but made up of two parts: the Medes and the Persians. This represents the two arms. Verse 39 goes on: "then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth." This third empire is Greece. Each of these empires had an emperor who ruled over numerous kings. Then verses 40 and following describe the fourth empire, Rome. In verse 40, Rome starts off as strong as iron: "And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters all things; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others." Rome was so brutal that one ancient author said, "They make a desert and call it peace." Verse 41 goes on to describe why this empire eventually fell apart and was never succeeded by another world empire. "Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potters clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay." That is a fantatic description of the deterioration of Rome. Verse 44 contines, "And in the days of these kings..." These kings refers either to all the kings who had existed in Rome, or more likely, to the ten toes: the ten kings who ruled over the ten imperial provinces of Rome. Chapter 7 describes those ten kings of Rome as ten horns as does Revelation 17. The fourth empire is gone and if there is any future world empire, it would certainly be a fifth empire, not a fourth.
This passage thus shows clearly that Christ's kingdom came during the time of Rome and it has been growing ever since. And the New Testament identifies Christ as being the stone that grinds humanistic rebellion to powder. There are five passages which show this, but I want you to turn to Matthew 21:42-44: "Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and givne to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." It will grind him to powder. Christ is the stone which grinds all humanism to powder.
These kings are described by ten toes in this vision and by ten horns in chapter 7
This was during the first century A.D. when the Roman Empire was divided up into ten provinces each ruled by a king.
In verse 34 it strikes the image on its feet.
At that point it is merely a stone (v. 34). Christ said that He was the stone, and on whomever he fell, they would be ground to powder.
Christ shares this power to break nations in pieces with believers (Rev. 2:26-27; Acts 4:23-31 with Psalm 2)
But this stone grows into a mountain (v. 35)
Eventually it fills the earth (v. 35)
Eventually no trace of the humanistic image will be left (v. 35,44)\
Christ is the key
There are kingdoms which flow from the first Adam and a kingdom which flows from the second Adam. We have been citizens of both.
And Christ is the key to understanding this passage. All of history flows towards Him as its solution or flows out from Him in transforming power.
Christ is the stone. Verse 45 says that it was cut out of a mountain. And Christ indeed arose from Mount Zion - from Israel. But verse 34 highlights the miraculous nature of Christ. He was cut out of Mount Zion, yet cut without hands. His origin is divine alone.
Verse 44 indicates that Christ came out of Israel, Mount Zion. He is described as a stone cut out of the mountain. Yet He is not merely another Jew. He was cut out of the mountain without hands. That is a description of His divine nature and divine incarnation. It was not man's doing.
It is not what our hands can do that accomplishes the righteousness of God. It is not what our hands can do that destroys humanism. Only Christ can accomplish this. And this means that we must continually look to Him for our strength.
And that is probably a good note to end on. Christ and His kingdom relate to earth; the mountain is significant, and its impact upon culture is significant. But this kingdom is cut without hands. It is not what our hands accomplish that produces the righteousness of Christ. It is not what our hands accomplish that destroys humanism. Only Christ can do this. And we must continually be cast upon the Lord in our task of world conquest. The Great Commission does not say, "It's up to you, church. Disciple the nations." It begins by pointing to the fact that all authority has been given to Christ in heaven and on earth and it says, "go therefore." And then if His promise of power is not enough, he ends the great commission by saying, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Christ is with us. He has promised,, "I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." When you grow tired and discouraged of the effort, stop looking at our own puny resources. Of course we can't do it. But we serve a God who can, has promised to do so, and will eventually disciple all nations so that not a trace of that humanistic statue is left.Now that concept may be totally new to you but I challenge you to read and re-read this chapter. I think you will see that the curch is destined to triumph, not failure.
Secondly, remember that Christ doesn't win with a big splash. He starts humbly, as a common stone. Unobserved and apparently powerless. Yet as His Spirit moves, this stone miraculously grows into a mountain and then finally fills the whole earth. Walk by faith, and not by sight. Don't worry if it looks like a giant image against a small stone. Remember that it is the God who casts the stone who matters. And He is powerful enough for world conquest. May we tust them for that. Amen.