Weekly Devotional 2-19-24 Kingdoms
Daniel 2:1 “Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.”
In context, Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by a dream in which he saw a huge, formidable figure standing before him and he called the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to explain his dream; not just explain it but tell him the dream. Of course none of them had had the dream themselves and found it impossible to tell the king what he had dreamed or explain it to him. Daniel was summoned for this purpose and sought an explanation from the only true God “The Mighty One of Jacob- EL SHADDAI [el-shah-dahy] who is all knowing and sovereign over all.” The dream and its meaning were revealed to him. In praise Daniel responded, “20 Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. 21a And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings” (Daniel 2:20-21a).
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream concerned his kingdom and a succession of four kingdoms to follow. His kingdom, the Babylonian Kingdom, would be overthrown by the Medo-Persian Kingdom which would be overthrown by the Grecian Kingdom which in turn would be overthrown by the Romen Kingdom.
God’s revelation to Daniel has proven to be true. Each kingdom has come and gone in the above order. However, the fourth kingdom, the Roman Kingdom will be revitalized in the last days of this present dispensation, but it too will be overthrown, by the Kingdom of Heaven, the final kingdom.
What is interesting in all this is that Daniel was led to exclaim that it was (is) God who “removes kings and raises up kings.” It is God, therefore, who sets up kingdoms and removes kingdoms. This biblical teaching is something we who are “born again” Christians should hold especially dear; particularly in the light of the turmoil that exists in the world today. Our own country, the United States of America, will someday become subject to the revitalized Roman Empire. Then God will bring to pass His promise of setting up His kingdom upon the earth and His anointed, the Lord Jesus Christ, will rule righteously over it for one thousand years and then He will establish a new heaven and a new earth.
Although it is God who removes kings and sets up kings (king-doms) He has allowed Satan to deceive and influence these kings and kingdoms toward defiance against His authority. (For information about Satan see Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:11-19). This defiance is played out in horrendous acts against His (God’s) person as seen in the evil that surrounds us, including nations at war with one another. But still, God is in control and will put an end to Satan’s and unregenerate man’s vitriol against Him. The apostle John writes of this in Revelation 19:11-21, Consider:
“11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”
The kingdoms of the world will finally be ruled by the king of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. Halleluiah!
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