“A Kingdom Which Shall Never Be Destroyed” THE KINGDOM/CHURCH ESTABLISHED

Introduction The center-piece of Dan. 2 – and of the book of Daniel – is the kingdom prophecy We studied in the last lesson about the kingdom prophecy in Daniel 2

In this lesson we want to study about the establishment of that kingdom! “The eternal kingdom of God was established in the days of the Roman Empire in the first century and it is identified in the New Testament as the church of Christ.” (Dub McClish)

The Small Stone Small stone cut out of a mountain “without hands” (without human aid) The stone became a great mountain THIS REFERS TO THE KINGDOM CHRIST ESTABLISHED --- THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

This kingdom is a spiritual kingdom – not a physical kingdom

Jn. 18:36 [36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

I. The church was planned by God from eternity

Christ came at the right time – Gal. 4:4-5 [4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Eph. 3:10-11 [10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, [11] According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

II. The church was promised by God to the great men of old

Gen. 12:1-3 [1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Christ is the promised seed – Gal. 3:16 [16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Christians are the true children of Abraham – Gal. 3:26-29 [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

God’s promise to David 2 Sam. 7:12-13 [12] And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

Christ was David’s Seed – Rom. 1:3 [3] Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

III. The church was prophesied by men of God in the O.T.

Is. 2:2-3 [2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. [3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

1. The Lord would build His house 2. It would be in the “latter days” 3. All nations would come into it 4. It would be built in Jerusalem

God’s house is His church 1 Tim. 3:14-15 [14] These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The “latter (or ‘last’) days” is the period of time from the first to the second coming of Christ

Heb. 1:1-2 [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Daniel foretold the coming of the kingdom - Daniel 2:44 [44] 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 for ever.

The kingdom would be set up when Rome ruled the world (Dan. 2)

Joel prophesied the coming of the kingdom - Joel 2:28-32 [28] And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: [29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

[30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. [31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

[32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

1. It would take place in the last days 2. God would pour our His Spirit 3. It would be in Jerusalem 4. Those who called on the name of the Lord would be saved

IV. The coming of the kingdom was prepared by John and Jesus

John the Baptist - Mt. 3:1-2 [1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, [2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. At hand = was very near

Christ – Mt. 4:17 [17] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mt. 16:18-19 [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Kingdom = Church Keys are used to unlock and open When we see Peter use the keys we will know the kingdom has come

Mk. 9:1 [1] And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

1. some of those then living while Jesus was on earth would see the kingdom come 2. The kingdom would come with power

V. The church was established on the first Pentecost day following the ascension of Christ

Acts 1:4-5 4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Acts 1:8 [8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:37 [37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Acts 2:38 [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

Acts 2:41 [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:47 [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Church = kingdom (Mt. 16:18-19)

The church is spoken of as being in existence for the first time The prophecies of Is. 2, Dan. 2, and Joel 2 are fulfilled in Acts 2

It was in the last days; God built His house (church or kingdom); It was during the days that Rome ruled; God poured out His Spirit;

Salvation was available to those who called on the name of the Lord; It was during the lifetime of Jesus’ disciples; The power came when the Holy Spirit came; It was in Jerusalem.

Church/kingdom now in existence Col. 1:13 [13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The kingdom/church has come You can be a member of it today You must be born of the water and of the Spirit

1 Cor. 15:24 [24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power