Will We Bring The Kingdom of God?

In Daniel 2, it is recorded that King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. It bothered him so he demanded that his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologists tell him both the dream’s content and its interpretation, under penalty of death. He said to them, “If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.” (Daniel 2:5) Attempting to save their skins, they responded, “What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.” (Daniel 2:11)  

They did not take into account the living God who is aware of all things. Once Daniel found out about the ultimatum, he sought the Lord to answer the king’s demands. After God revealed the dream to him, Daniel approached the king. “The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), ‘Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?’ Daniel replied, ‘No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.” (Daniel 2:26-28)

Daniel was sure to give God the credit. He was very clear with the king that only the true and living God could do what the king wanted. Daniel described the dream: the king had seen a large statue of a man, comprised of various metals. Eventually, a large rock toppled the statue and broke it into tiny pieces. “But the rock [cut out, but not by human hands] that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:34-35)  

From head to toe, the various metals represented the future world empires, starting with the Babylonians, followed by the Medes and Persians, followed by Greece, and then by Rome. The rock represented the final and everlasting Kingdom of God, which would destroy all the kingdoms of man.

It was this Kingdom of which Jesus often spoke. His first visit to earth was to die for our sins and to set up His kingdom in the hearts of people who received Him. When He returns, He will establish His rule over the entire earth. It is not the Church that ultimately convinces the world to obey God. It is the return of Jesus that will forever change its spiritual landscape.

The Church, made up of all true Christians, will be victorious, but not without a lot of casualties. “As I watched, this horn [Antichrist] was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” (Daniel 7:21–22)

While Jesus is away, Christians will become the objects of hatred because they love Jesus. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me.” (Matthew 24:9) During the Tribulation, Christians will not be allowed to buy or sell anything because they won’t bow to the Antichrist. Others will be killed. “I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus.” (Revelation 20:4)  

It sure doesn’t sound like Christians so influence the world that it becomes God’s Kingdom. Rather, Christians will be the recipients of scorn, derision, and persecution. The world will never adopt Christianity. A relatively small number of individuals will, but Jesus told us that most will choose to stay on the “broad road that leads to destruction. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)  

Christians will never be the majority of this world. Our message is an affront to man’s will and accomplishments. History shows that all of man’s efforts to establish kingdoms in the world have resulted in hurt, conflict, and failure. Though we don’t turn this world into God’s Kingdom, we are to share the gospel with others because Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Right this minute you can ask Jesus to come into your life and establish His kingdom rule over your life. As soon as you do, God will make you a member of His Kingdom. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13–14) Then, when He establishes His earthly Kingdom, He will reserve a spot for you.