From Earth to Heaven

Daniel 2:44-45 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands — a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.”
 
DANIEL says the dream means that after the kingdoms represented by gold, silver, bronze and iron – Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome – will come a worldwide kingdom? This, in fact, has happened. The world-covering kingdom is the church of Jesus Christ.
    What else is worldwide? What else has lasted since the church began in Acts 2  beyond all earthly kingdoms? What other organization has endured revolution, scandal, rejection, persecution and rebellion to still proclaim God’s message across the globe?
    Consider that through the ages mankind has developed great technology to subdue other nations. The horrors of 19th-century warfare gave way to even worse killing fields in the 20th century. Weapons of enormous, deadly power remain at the ready to defend or to attack. Politics change. Passions shift from one cause to another. What will last?
    Of course, it is the Kingdom of God founded on Jesus’ passion to the cross. Scripture declares this is God’s future vision for mankind: Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. And there are many New Testament prophesies of the coming Kingdom, including Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
    Daniel declares to King Nebuchadnezzar that the king’s time and all earthly kingdoms are limited. The “Rock of Ages” – the Holy God Almighty – will transform earthly nations into one true nation, one people under his rule.
    This is a vision for your life, too. Know God’s power is beyond all earthly matters. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension assures you God’s story continues to become reality. Trust his power to rule your life and to rule the world now and forever. Amen.
 
Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”