Let us look again, before going further, at the foundation of the kingdom of Babylon. Again, this nation was established, but it was endued with such tremendous power for the sole reason of Israel’s sin. Because Israel’s sin was so bad, the punishment God placed upon them was equally as terrible. As if a yoke of slavery was not bad enough, the wooden one was replaced with an iron one.
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Daniel 3:1-2
Chapter three is traditionally referred to as the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Again, in verse one, the king made the image in the plain. In verse two, using the same verse as the Kingdom of God being “set up” in Daniel 2:44, the king set up the image in the plain of Dura. This difference highlights the difference between this kingdom of the king, and God’s Kingdom.
But, we can consider that God called this king a “head of gold” (Daniel 2:38). This is in direct contrast to the allegorial representation of Christ in Song of Solomon.
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
Song of Solomon 5:11
What we read in Daniel 3 is the familiar story, but we must recognize the deeper parallel here in order to further recognize the significance. Once again, this kingdom is the pinnacle of demonic power and man’s kingdom. The reason this kingdom reached the height it did was for one and only one reason–to punish Israel for the defiant disobedience and deceptions, and willful rebellion. Because God promoted Nebuchadnezzar, for the sole purpose of dominating Israel, he was that head of gold that continued for the next several centuries, until God’s Kingdom broke it. But, consider what Nebuchadnezzar did.
In the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the king erected his image upon the plain, and, to summarize, said all who do not bow down and worship this image will be thrown into a firey enclosure, the furnace.
A Kingdom Set Up
God also had a Kingdom, and was planning to set up. What Nebuchadnezzar picked up by instinct in his interaction with the Lord, He did not truly understand. But, what he envisioned, he recreated. But, what he saw was the Kingdom of God.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15
God the Father, in and around 33 AD, had an image that He ‘set up’.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
John 12:32
Jesus was the image of the invisible God. Jesus was the image that the Father set up, and, remarkably, with the same command. Whoever does not bow down and worship this Image will be thrown into another firey hot place, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
The True and False Images
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1 Peter 1:12, emphasis added
From the best of our discernment and understanding, what appears to have happened here is that after the king received a true revelation from God, he then stepped into the realms of divination. It is said that even the angels desire to peer into these things, so the same would be true of the demonic fallen ones. Nebuchadnezzar, under the influence of the prince of this world, caught a glimpse this great mystery of the cross, and applied it to his own ego. Perceiving by his soul the dimensions of heaven, but not Christ, he recreated the truths of heaven through his own power, and created a golden image. This is the essence of religion, and so Babylon became the mother of harlots.
Considering this spiritually, the establishment of the idol on the plain erected a barrier in the eyes and minds of man because the simple spiritual principle that Jesus stated that the “light of the body is the eye” (Matthew 6:22), and, “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23). Once man’s eyes are fixed upon something in the natural for worship, he becomes blind to worship of the divine. Once man’s eyes are trapped by the first and even the second heaven, even if it is in the name of God, he can no longer perceive the God of Glory.
This then, is also the power of the Babylonian kingdom, it’s religious service. Since it is idolatrous to the core, no good could ever come from Babylon in any of its forms. As God the Father “set up” a Kingdom, as per Daniel 2:44, corresponding to Christ’s first coming, so, Nebuchadnezzar effectively set up his enduring kingdom with this act. We understand that the only reason a one-world government was possible upon the Earth was simply because of God’s enablement. The enemy comes only to kill, steal, and destroy, and while he may be able to coordinate to a large degree, his primary method is deception for the purpose of destruction. The enemy is simply incapable of creating something new, but has only ever demonstrated his ability to counterfeit the genuine.
With the establishment of the idol, and its subsequent blinding, we see the veil it cast over the next kingdoms, as well. The pantheons of these nations are still well known in history, and the secular records them in detail. All to the the hiding of the light of the one true God.
So, in essence, we see re-created in a soulish, fleshly capacity, the Kingdom of God in Babylon. This was not a righteous thing, but was a deadly counterfeit. More to the point, when the three Hebrew boys refused to submit to the demonic idolatry, they were brought before the king (v13). This is a picture of the final judgment. On their righteous defiance of the kings decree, the furnace was heated to seven times the normal temperature. Yet, though the heat slew the guards that carried them in, even the fires of unrighteousness could not harm the children of light. Instead, they entered into a communion of sorts with a pre-incarnate Jesus, as it seems.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel 3:24-25
Whatever the fourth kingdom is, and we see fairly conclusively through these and the further proofs that it must be historic Rome, it is without a doubt inferior to this (Daniel 2:39). While the subsequent kingdoms may have covered vaster regions of land or more greatly dominated the people, it was said of the Babylonian Kingdom that it was superior to the others.
The King In the Field
When we consider Daniel 4, we see perhaps yet a more clear connection, yet no less important. The king received another dream, and Daniel interprets it as meaning that the king would go mad, be driven from men, and live like a beast for seven years. This happened literally, and Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind for a period of time, only at the end to look up to heaven and acknowledge God as supreme over all the Earth.
But, the word spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, when he exalted himself was this,
While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’
Daniel 4:31-32
The words “sovereignty has been removed from you” speak of the independence of agency and thought and the ability to make one’s own decisions and will. Like the statement of being a ‘head of gold’, this is also spoken of the Lord, and, to a measure, each one of us, to have our own sovereign will. But, here, the sovereignty that rested upon this kings life was lifted, and the full weight of the kingdom came upon him without any protective covering or the ability to do anything about it. As a result, the king simply lost his mind. And, it was precisely because he exalted himself in pride because of his many revelations (by supposition, not only the dream of the kingdoms, but the inferred greatness that comes from knowing how to administer a kingdom and the great and vast empire of Babylon, which he took credit for in his own strength).
This could be compared with Paul, who, in God’s mercy, supplied the thorn to keep him from becoming vaulted up with pride because of his own great revelations. Whatever Paul’s discomfort was, and there are many speculations, God said His Grace was sufficient, and that His strength was made perfect in weakness. This, too, is precisely what Jesus said in Matthew 5:3, Most Happy are those who are poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. When you’re at the end of your rope, Jesus is right there with His. But, for Nebuchadnezzar, he did not get the benefit of a thorn.
Wisdom to a King
Of profound significance, however, for all of us today, is the wisdom God gave Daniel in this regard. On relating the interpretation to the king, he counseled,
Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.
Daniel 4:27
According to Daniel, what took place twelve months later could have been avoided by a two-fold approach. As much as we may tend to dislike formulas today, this one is as good as ever. Break from your sins by doing good, and from your bentness towards it (iniquity means ‘bent’) by showing mercy to the poor. Repentance and helping the poor are the prescription both now and then both for revival as well as keeping ones self from, well, going insane and having a great fall. No one should think themselves beyond the need for these two simple keys.
But, in it all, even the greatest ruler of all time had to look to God above and admit that He alone is in charge of the universe.
But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?
Daniel 4:34-35
The Supremacy of the Kingdom
What is interesting is that Daniel 3-6, while not containing elements directly applicable to the End Times in terms of revelatory content, all four demonstrate in their own way the supremacy of the Kingdom of God as a foreshadowing of what was to come.
We have already looked at erection of the image in Daniel 3 and the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. But, Daniel 5 demonstrates another aspect of the Kingdom of God.
In this chapter, Darius the king attempts to use the things that are dedicated to God and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. At this, they dinner party saw a hand appear in mid-air and write on the wall, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN”. Thus, Daniel interpreted this text, meaning, “Numbered, Numbered, Weighed, Divided”. Meaning, the king’s days had been numbered, he had been weighed and found wanting. His kingdom would be divided. So, we see demonstrated God’s holy jealousy for the things of His house. When the king abused and misused the things of God’s kingdom for his own glory and for the realms of darkness, God stood up, and judged him. Thus, God defends His own.
And, in Daniel 6, we see God’s sovereignty even over the schemes of man and the animals. In this chapter, Daniel is threatened with the den of the lions if he worships God. Instead, he continued his custom of praying at his window. The king, having been tricked into making an evil decree against this, was forced against his will by his own decree to cast Daniel into the den. Yet, as a demonstration of the power of God and a foreshadowing of what would be demonstrated in the Kingdom of God for believers, the God of Daniel was proven stronger than both the king’s decree, as well as the power of beasts themselves.
So, we see the Kingdom of God triumphant over the will and sovereignty of the greatest pagan nation ever as well as the elements (fire), the greatest pagan king ever (Daniel 2:38) and the pride of man (hence, Leviathan, Job 41:34), over false worship and that He is jealous for His own (us, the vessels of His house, 2 Timothy 2:20), and over the legislative jealousy and schemes of an evil Kingdom and even the beasts of the Earth themselves. So, that, in every way, the Kingdom that God was bringing forth was demonstrated to be better, more powerful, and capable of overcoming any and every obstacle that would ever present itself against men.
Truly I say to you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mathew 11:11
The Dominion
When many have looked through the Old Testament prophecies, they have seen a great and dread conflict coming, particularly through the prophecies of Daniel 2 & 7. They have rightly seen the great “showdown of the ages”, as it were, and that the pinnacle of wickedness must be countered by the manifestation of the Kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44).
What they have discerned, of course, is the fact, but the difficulty lies in “when”. The problem with the futurist interpretation lies in the fact within the text that shows, in fact, this conflict must be past. First, if, as we have claimed, the first three materials have been broken or even are missing, then the fourth is broken (making it Rome), and the thing that broke it was the Kingdom. In Daniel 2:44, however, we also read that the Kingdom will not be left to another people. God has given the Kingdom to the saints of the church, and this Kingdom is not to be taken from those saints who have not wavered in it, nor faulted, especially those who have already fallen asleep in Christ.
We first of all cannot assert that the iron kingdom, even if it wasn’t Rome, will be the devil’s greatest empire, because each successive empire was weaker called inferior, even if more violent. Second, since we see that the nations were capable only of this world-wide dominion as a result of God’s hand, and that as a punishment to the true Kingdom of God. It is wrong to blame the greatness of Babylon on the wiles of the devil. Since this Kingdom will not be left to another people, there remains no precedent for God empowering a nation like Babylon again. Third, since we equate Babylon with Rome, and the outworking of the second half of the book of Revelation with this fourth Kingdom, we see that the dragon had given his authority to the beast, or to Rome and its emperors (Revelation 13:2, 4). This was why the downfall of Rome was so important.
The key is that there was a prophesied great conflict of Kingdoms, it already happened, and it is now historical. Basing a future expectation upon a fulfilled prophecy is nonsense, because God is not bound to re-create the whole thing, simply to fill someone’s wrong interpretation, assuming that it is that. However, from all we have studied through this prophecy, and where we will continue to develop, all the parts point towards Rome. The great conflict that Daniel 2 foretold happened around 1,500 years ago.
The Place for Watchfulness
Now is the place, however, that many people miss the point. Whether you agree with what we’ve written, let us come back to where we can all agree. Namely, as many point out, World War II did not fulfill the prophecies of the End Times. Few would argue that the attempted Nazi takeover and attempted extermination of the Jews in anyway accomplished the books of Daniel and Revelation, yet, we all agree that they happened. And, this is the point.
Around the turn of the century, a new “optimism” had emerged upon the world scene, and, in fact, many in Eschatology began to embrace an idea that things were just getting better. But, with the onset of two world wars, the enthusiasm quickly wore off. But, God never said there wouldn’t be horrible wars and atrocities, just that those which were prophesied and fulfilled were already completed.
We must approach this with a right understanding. WWI and WWII did happen, and they were horrendous. But, whether you believe the events of Eschatology are already fulfilled or not, it was not the teaching on the End Times that was supposed to prepare the church, but simply the regular watchfulness of the New Testament. With WWII, the church was unprepared. But, no amount of true End Times teaching would have prepared the body for these, but they came nonetheless. Despite our conclusion that the great conflict of the Daniel 2 statue is destroyed, we also see that great conflicts continue, and are yet prophesied.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Mark 13:37
And, while we see no Biblical case for a future “super-villian”, as some have created him, we see all of history is replete with many antichrists. Just as Hitler and Stalin were precisely that, and they were not the beast of Revelation (for we see him as historical), these demonized world rulers did appear, and, more than likely, there are and will be more in our future. As for the specifics, we will cover them in a moment.
So, while WWII convinced many people with historical interpretations that their blind optimism was not wise, so too a blind futurism which can only bring for the necessary sobriety and alertness required in every generation bears little usefulness for the Kingdom in the midst of the world’s events either.
The Spiritual is More Real
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Hebrews 8:6
We must make a consideration here, however. God is Spirit (John 4:24), and His Kingdom is by nature a Spiritual Kingdom.
We discussed in the last chapter that the transition between the four elements involved a natural overthrow of Kingdom in outward, physical overthrow. This resulted, however, not in the replacement of the previous kingdom, but the amalgamation of it, and the creating of the four-part statue. When the rock of Daniel 2:44 struck the statue and destroyed all four together, then, it was not through outward war and conquest.
Rather, consider the beast of Daniel 7 to be the spiritual power, and when the Spiritual Kingdom of God overthrew it, the manifestation of the result was sure to follow. After all, that is how all of faith operates. Since faith is the substance of what is hoped for (Hebrews 11:1), faith is not the same as hope. When one has the spiritual “substance”, if you will, of a thing that one has been hoping for, it is the same as possessing it, and this is called faith. So, when something is yours in the spiritual dimension, spiritual forces are put into motion to fulfill the laws of God, ensuring that you possess it.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mark 10:21
The one thing the man lacked, as it were, could be said to be the treasure in heaven. When our treasure is located heavenward, we can be sure that our physical needs will be well taken care of.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14
You see, there must be made a distinction, even as John 3:3 says that no one can see the Kingdom unless they are born again, the natural man does not, and cannot receive things of God’s Spirit. They may claim some sort of spirituality, but they never truly perceive spiritual things.
It is only the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) that is able to perceive the Spirit, and truly have spiritual conversation, comparing spiritual things to spiritual things (2 Corinthians 2:13).
Therefore we say that there is that which is earthly, or of the Earth, and there is that which is of another realm, heavenly, which is not enter-able nor even discernible by those who are not saved. This realm, or dominion, is properly called, The Kingdom. It is by function of the new-birth, being born again, that we are made alive, and able to enter again into the perfect plan of redemption of God, and to so enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Every believer, from the youngest in Christ to the oldest, has this Kingdom living within them, through the work of the Holy Spirit. The new believer does not have a part of the Spirit of Christ, but all of Him, even if not tested or proved. There is simply nothing a seasoned believer in Christ can do that an hour old convert cannot do, so long as they believe. The principle is the same, whether new or old, only the knowledge of God’s Word and faith in the same are required. Experience and teaching may help to eliminate doubts, so as to build upon the sure foundation of God’s Word, but it is simply believing that motivates heaven when we pray.
So, as we are instructed through the Epistles, we are to grow up to become mature sons, capable of knowing our right hand from our left–discerning faith, and separating soul from spirit, discerning what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of the Father. As we grow and mature in the Word and in the Faith, the Kingdom itself within us produces its fruits, according to the parable of Jesus in Mark 4:27. Understanding, of course, that only some soils will continue on to productivity, it is not a failing in the seed of the Word that causes unfruitfulness, but only the heart of faith in the individual.
Of course, there are those who are babes, and those who are mature in Christ, as Paul laid out the distinction in 1 Corinthians 3:1 and Hebrews 4:15. It is important that we make a constant, careful, diligent, reverent, and prayerful study of God’s word. But, the Kingdom is available now, to all who believe, and the forceful take it by force.
If there is no quickening of your Spirit, if the Word of God does not come alive for you, if you do not hear His voice, if you do not experience, at some point, his chastening, blessing, and refreshing, in a real, tangible way, what Kingdom are you serving?
Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
John 3:11
Jesus, and His disciples, testified to a realm that was the Kingdom from a first-hand basis. They had entered into that dimension of the Holy Ghost that is the reign of God, and experienced the dramatic results of watching that Kingdom destroy the yokes of the world’s Kingdoms.
Matthew 7:22 indicates that many will call Jesus Lord, and will move in power, but will never have submitted themselves to this realm, the dominion and reign of Christ. Jesus said it was only those who do the will of the Father that will enter the Kingdom, and merely to walk in the gifts is not what Jesus came and demonstrated. The precepts of the Kingdom that Jesus laid out were of greater severity than that of the Law of Moses if for only one simple reason, that while it was meant to be walked out literally, it was meant only to be walked out through the power of the Holy Spirit. Living by the Spirit, we do not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16), so that whoever is keeping in step with the Spirit would not break the law of Love, which is the principle upon which the whole of the Mosaic Law is based upon.
Certainly, all who truly love Jesus are not the ones who are in view in Matthew 7:21-22, but, the text does say that many will be surprised that though they had done miracles, signs, and wonders, even deliverances, they will be shut out of the Kingdom.
If we study the life of the apostles, we see that they moved in the miracles and the anointing of God so long as Jesus was there. From the cross at Passover to baptism of the Spirit at Pentecost, they did not move in the supernatural power, because, as it seems, Jesus had been their source. In one way of putting it, the apostles, and the other disciples who did miracles, would be likened to deputies of Sheriff Jesus. While He was physically on the Earth and operating in the Spirit, they moved in His anointing and dominion. At His ascension and departing from the Earth, the anointing which they had walked in went with the Lord. They had the preparation and the teaching, and even a measure of the Spirit (John 20:22), but not the power of the previous three and a half years. So, too, while we are around anointed ministers of the Kingdom, and can operate in a measure of their anointing simply through relationship, we must be careful to be approved of God alone, being diligent to both know and do the will of the Father alone.
Likewise, we who are ministers, who have a dispensation of the Kingdom, authority, and might of the Gospel, must circumcise our own lives, and be diligent to watch ourselves, as Jesus said,
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Luke 17:3 NASB
Seeking first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, both, we shield ourselves from both evil and harm. It is in the protection of the shelter of His wings, Psalm 91:1, that we are shielded through the protection of the Kingdom, from all harm, that it might be said, ‘Not one hair of your heads shall be harmed.’
A Real Appointment of a Real Kingdom
So, it was at the end of His ministry that Jesus appointed a Kingdom to the twelve (Luke 22:29). With the conference of a Kingdom, a measure of His Kingdom, they were then able to operate in their own measure of power. While never separate from Christ, they were able then to operate in the gifting and the power that Christ provided, separate from His physical presence, through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Let us never, then, be those who are merely ‘working in the ministry’, able to flow in the gifts, without first the real, vital, and ongoing, life-giving relationship with Jesus. For, unless we do and make this our priority, there is the chance that on that day, He may say to us as well, “Depart from me, I never knew you, you worker of iniquity.”
This understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven becomes a practical necessity, first of all, through salvation. Many a sinner might think of no need for a savior, or, being of some other religious persuasion, might feel their own religious adherence and devotion to be sufficient to merit whatever particular religious concoction of “tomorrow” might bring. But, it is the realm of the Spirit, the spiritual things, that proves them wrong.
You in yourself cannot prove a man a sinner to himself if he doesn’t want to see it. Or, worse, if he thinks his own efforts, his own religious tradition, or his own piety is sufficient to merit his reward, there is little in the realm of mere men that could convince Him otherwise. But, man was not created thus. Natural man, as he is now, is dead (Colossians 2:13). How does a dead man see, but through the dirt, and that, not at all?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23
And,
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:10
How does a man come to know this?
And when he [the comforter, the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
John 16:8-11, edited for clarity
It is the job of the Holy Spirit to bring the truth of God’s conviction, righteousness, and judgment to the world. While it is the job of the preacher to preach the Word, that faith might come (Romans 10:14-17), the conviction and resulting conversion of the soul, death to life, is a thing wholly of God’s Living Spirit. While the mortal man may try all the while to do this and that, it is the Spiritual New Birth, regenerating the spirit of a man, that makes him whole again.
For,
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8
This faith, then, is a Spiritual thing. It is what is accredited to us as righteousness before God, faith in His Son. It is this realm of the Spirit, above and beyond all feelings, thoughts, powers of this present age, and beyond even the elements themselves, that is the order of the Kingdom.
Paul correctly identified the object in his own revelation of the Kingdom with these words, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,” (Colossians 2:20). Where “rudiments of the world” could also be translated various ways, including “elemental spirits”. Ultimately, as much as the Kingdom is ours by Faith (Romans 12:6), and as it is in the will of the Father, we are not subject to the basic laws and ordinances, nor even the rudiments or elemental spirits of this present world. Consider, for a moment, Jesus walking on the water. The rudiments or elemental spirits of this world include sinking in water. And sickness. And lack and poverty. And heartache (Matthew 5:4).
The Higher Dimension of the Spirit
The purpose of this chapter is to outline the spiritual dimension of this Kingdom that Jesus brought. The accuser of both this line of argument, and of the Gospel of the Kingdom itself, would always try to take the focus away from the invisible, and get it on the visible, to get it on the problem instead of the invisible God, who is the solution. Even as the children of Israel complained in the desert, thinking they were only led there to die, they couldn’t see beyond their own circumstances, to a God that was bigger, who brought them through, to bring them out.
Jesus said,
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mark 11:23
Modern commentators, including some whom I respect in other areas, have tried to minimize this passage, claiming that Jesus meant “spiritual” mountains, as if “spiritual” is easier. But, really, what is Jesus trying to say? He picked something extremely large on purpose, to show the efficiency of even the smallest amount of uncompromised faith towards the largest of obstacles. He is trying to prove the ordinary by stating the extraordinary, because if you do the great with only a little faith, then anything smaller would likewise be possible. Any attempt to make the “mountain” any less extreme, such as by calling it spiritual, only weakens the argument. And, of course, this goes against the original purpose of the statement. No, Jesus meant a physical mountain, and the only reason to suppose differently, is, well, to put it plainly, doubt.
Some have said, “Well, I tried that, and it didn’t work”. Well, obviously, from the scripture, they either didn’t have any real faith in their activation, or, undetected and unperceived due to its familiarity, they had some doubt. It shows up in statements or thoughts that follow, such as, “I knew that wouldn’t work.”, or, perhaps suppressed fears and inhibitions that prevent the fullness of the release of that faith that is in there, which we often don’t even let ourselves acknowledge inwardly.
But, the scripture is there, and it means what it says it means. If we are attempting to study Eschatology with the principle that Scripture says what it means and means what it says, we should simply agree with this through Jesus’ speaking of faith as well. History shows that people have walked in this kind of power. Perhaps there are few recorded mountains being moved, but, as we have seen, it is not for our own use anyway. The mantle of the Kingdom is to do the Father’s will, and Jesus was only stating an extreme case to remove all possibility of confusion. If it were God’s will that a mountain be moved, then it certainly would be through faith. But, if it is merely a demon or a cancer to be removed from a body, which certainly seems like a smaller thing moving a much shorter distance, then certainly, the same faith which COULD move a mountain is sufficient to remove that!
Moving Mountains in the Kingdom
We talk of the dominion of the Kingdom. This is an extreme, mountain moving faith, but not an exaggeration. Nor is it the limit by any means–if God wanted to move something larger through faith, a mountain is not the maximum. But, for those who would want to discredit or minimize what the Spiritual Kingdom is, we must be aware of the potentials.
What it comes down to is that the Spiritual Kingdom holds dominion over every aspect of creation. It not only dominates over the physical creation through mountain moving faith, for those who find it, and also, walking on water, transforming water to wine, and translation like Phillip in the book of Acts (Acts 8:39), but it is transcendent over all the basic principles of this world, including the elements themselves. Beyond that, it is powerful beyond the exterior, to the inward heart of man. It is efficacious to the righting of every wrong thought, emotion, and a discerner even of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Beyond the physical and the emotional, we also see that it conquers all things in the heavenlies as well, overruling them all.
That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1:19b-23
So, physically, internally, and in the invisible spirit world, both of God and of darkness, Christ is triumphant, and holds complete dominion. To call the Kingdom ‘spiritual’ is not to call it ‘make-believe’.
Spiritual, not “Ethereal”
Some like to object to a spiritual Kingdom, and use words such as “ethereal”, which give the impression of imaginary. But, only so long as you call casting out a legion of demons from a single man and having him clothed and in his right mind, able to evangelize an entire ten-city area (the Decapolis), can you call that imaginary.
This is, in fact, the problem with the Western mind, and much of the modern church. Jesus criticized the Pharisees because they know “not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” (Mark 12:24). In all honest consideration, not attempting to vilify anyone, we must say the same thing about many commentators, both evangelical and even Spirit-filled ones, who simply cannot see the Kingdom standing amongst them. Many deny, avoid, or misinterpret the Scriptures that clearly depict the Kingdom as in our midst, as a realm of power, and yet as that Spiritual Kingdom yet still set to “come”, and they have little to no knowledge of the operative power of God that casts out demons and sets captives free. These who have set themselves up on the matter of authority of the Kingdom self-admittedly have no experience with it. They know not the Scriptures concerning it, in an experiential way, nor do they know the exercise of the power of it in their own lives, let alone in the rule and government of the church. How would one expect them to have an informed opinion on the subject?
But, all this remains as a Scriptural proof, and not an experiential one. While we wholly base and subsist our doctrine upon the Word of God, it is the Word of the New and Old Testament that firmly support the experience of this dynamic of God which is His Kingdom. Those who have tasted of this heavenly gift, and been partakers of the powers of the age to come, as it is said, find little reason to argue with the Book. It is in there, so it’s for me. But, it is clearly demonstrated that many yet disagree, despite what is seen, perhaps because they saw the real or perhaps because they saw the fake, but the Scriptural merit of the case stands entirely on its own.
But, ultimately, if you want to call what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 12:28 and Luke 11:20, demons cast out by the finger or Spirit of God, if you want to call that “ethereal” or “imaginary”, go right ahead. I just don’t think that level of unbelief meets with anything but rebuke from the Master.
The Totality of Rule
This is then to demonstrate, even further, the dominion of this Kingdom, that Christ is the chief among them all, and the ruler and the chief amongst the entire world. As Paul wrote in Colossians,
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 1:15-20
For what purpose? That in all things he might have the preeminence. And Paul finishes this with the following,
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Colossians 1:21-23
The message of Salvation through Jesus Christ alone is the message of the Kingdom, even if it is only the “door”. That is to say, Christ Jesus Himself is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no one comes to the Father but through Him. John 14:6. These three titles are said to correspond to the entrances of the tabernacle. The way into the outer courts where the altar of sacrifice was is called The Way. The way into the holy place was called The Truth. And the way into the Holy of Holies, with the ark of the covenant, was called The Life. We do not leave Christ to go to deeper truths of God; on the contrary, He is the entrance into the very depths of God, into the glory of God Himself!
But, The Message is the Gospel of the Kingdom, the whole thing, from outer to inner, and He Himself is our only Lord. It is from the first germination of the seed of faith in the heart, to the growth of produce of faith in the life. The fullness of the Gospel is realized, in this life, through the germination of the Word of Faith in the heart, that grows, prospers, and produces fruit that manifests into this life, through the hearing and obeying of the Word of Faith.
The Gospel of the Kingdom
It was the Gospel of the Kingdom that the disciples preached in the days of Jesus, and it was the Gospel of the Kingdom preached through to even the very last verse of the book of Acts,
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ–with all boldness and without hindrance!
Acts 28:31
The message has never changed, never deviated, and never been altered. There is one Gospel, and one salvation, and no other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved.
As it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the inner heart of every man, who are all sinners before God before repentance, to bring to them an awareness of their desperate condition before God, this same Spirit-Life-Kingdom, when fully grown, through the agency of faith, produces the very same results in a life that Jesus demonstrated in His.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Mark 16:15-18, emphasis added
The impact of the Gospel is most felt when it is accompanied by signs and wonders following. As Jesus said,
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause.
John 15:22-25, emphasis added
Even Jesus said that if He had not done among them the works which no one else could do, they would not have had sin. The true, apostolic preaching of the Gospel has always been intended to be accompanied with the witness of signs and wonders following (2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 15:19).
That being said, we see as “spiritual”, that which pertains to God, the heavens, and His throne. We do not count what the world sees as “spiritual” as anything of the sort, for it is only a fallen, perversity of witchcraft and spiritism, relying the functioning of unclean spirits, of divination, and false prophecies. These are but a counterfeit of the real, and are perverse, demented, and evil concoctions, appealing only ever to the sensual, the earthly, and to the soulical nature of man. But, those who are in Christ are free!
For, there has always been only one true God, and He revealed Himself through Israel, only. The church, as it was told by Paul, is the root of Israel, with some branches broken out, and Gentiles grafted in, to make of the two One New Man (Ephesians 2:15).
But, the Spiritual is what is above. It is that true light, the only true light, that comes into the world, that gives light to every man (John 1:9). This is different than allegory or symbol, in that the spiritual is the more real. As it is written, the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3).
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Allegorization vs Spiritualization
And so, there is allegory, which is mere fable. This does not make up the subject of prophecy or scripture. We deal with Truth, not myth–Allegorization of scripture is never intended. Next, we have the language of symbolism, or prophetic titling. To call Jerusalem Sodom (Revelation 11:8), or to call Rome Babylon (Revelation 17:5) is merely another name to attribute to something. But, to call it by another name merely adds another dimension to our understanding, it does not change the original, and actual, thing that was being named.
And, finally, we have the dimension we call “spiritual”. As per above, spiritual is not allegory, and it is not symbol. It is the real, actual, and dynamic dimension of heaven, the place of God’s very actual throne, and His Holy Ones.
Do not let anyone confuse allegorization of a passage with a “spiritual” interpretation. True spiritual interpretation actually corresponds to the truth of a higher dimension, not lessening the impact of a passage, but heightening it. Not minimizing, but increasing it.
For example, Jesus read and declared as fulfilled by His appearing,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:18-19
In the recorded ministry of Jesus, we never have a record of him visiting a prison, such that “deliverance to the captives” would be preached to those in jail. Yet, spiritually, all men were “captives”. This is not allegory, this is the Truth, as Jesus corrected the people.
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:31-36
The Jews said that they had never been slaves, but Jesus said that whoever sins is a slave to sin. Even as a sinner, every man, is dead in their trespasses and sin apart from Christ, so every man who sins is a slave to sin. Whether a man is aware that they are damned and destined to an eternal hell has nothing to do with the fact that a just God will judge this Earth, and all the kingdoms and men of it, for what they did in the flesh. In the same way, those who do not know they are captives are some of the hardest to bring to repentance.
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 5:32
The difference between a spiritual interpretation and an allegorical one is the difference between a supreme truth and absolute make-believe.
Right Seeing is by the Spirit
We agree that the allegorization of the text is a degradation that does not hold the Word of God in high regard. However, a spiritual understanding of things pertaining to scripture is absolutely essential to its understanding.
Without an understanding of Spiritual things, how could one ever hope to understand the wheels of Ezekiel, the Throne Room of Daniel and John, and the many theophanies throughout scripture, including the one where all of the leaders saw God and ate and drank (Exodus 24:11). Without a spiritual understanding of these mysteries (we say mysteries because to the un-regenerate they are foolishness, or as nothing), we see nothing at all.
God has a throne, and it is real. Much of the visions of Ezekiel, John, and those who saw the heavens, merely saw the scenery and the furniture. Without an understanding of a real heaven and a real throne, we might mistake the scenery for the narration, and attempt to make something of it that we ought not.
It must be understood, that every person who has ever been born, at one point, could not perceive this Kingdom, this dimension. It is only in being born again, that we are able to see and enter. And, as has been said previously, if it is see-able or know-able by the unsaved, it is not God’s Kingdom.
Conclusion
So, as we go forward in our discussion of the Kingdom, and the times prophesied by Daniel, Revelation, and the various other passages associated with End Times study, we will continue to understand that the Kingdom remains on high, transcendent, unyielding, and eternally unchanging.
And, if some people’s experience with the things of Faith shows to be less than what is expected, dare we take God at anything but other than His Word? He said, plainly, the faith of a mustard seed, without any doubt, could do anything. With God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). Regardless of our apparent results, the proclamation of the Kingdom is Dominion. Yet, to each man according to the measure of his faith.
If we pray, and find we do not witness the results that Jesus promised, we must conclude, meekly, that we either lack faith at that particular juncture, or our doubt and unbelief remain unchallenged, and our love must grow in knowledge and in depth of insight, until we can perceive.
In the Kingdom, and many who are first will be last. Those who lift themselves up will be abased, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. The way forward, according to John 3:19-21 is transparency and honesty, of clearly coming into the light, so that our deeds might be exposed. It is in being completely revealed, that we are freed from the power of shame and hiddenness, and can witness boldly for the Lord.
It is only thus that we can have every dark corner of our hearts cleansed, and witness that full, manifest light like the light of a lamp shining on us, which is His anointing.
It is only in the purity of heart that the dominion of a Holy God is manifest in our lives. It is not our effort, or our struggles, but it is merely the clarity of a pure heart that sees God above all else. As it is written,
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:25
Summary
- The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego at the furnace is a picture of the judgment of Christ.
- Both Nebuchadnezzar and Jesus were called a “head of gold”.
- Both Nebuchadnezzar and God set up an image.
- God’s Image is Christ’s Son, Jesus. Colossians 1:15
- Whoever did not bow down to either image ended up in a “fiery hot place”.
- The sons of God’s Kingdom could no be hurt by the greatest of the Kingdom of pride.
- This was the greatest pagan Kingdom, and it was the greatest because God was punishing Israel by it, and for no other reason.
- Nebuchadnezzar’s had his sovereignty taken, and so lost his mind.
- Daniel’s advice, apparently unheeded, was to break from sin by righteousness and from iniquity by helping the poor. In this way disaster can be averted.
- Even Nebuchadnezzar had to admit that God was sovereign over all people, including himself, the greatest king of the greatest kingdom ever, other than God’s.
- Many see a great conflict of kingdoms in Daniel 2 & 7. But, what they fail to realize is that it is now for us today historical.
- On the other hand, many taking such a view let down their watchfulness, but WWII, which was not the End Times, should stand as a sober reminder that wicked things come, and we must always stand ready, waiting, and watching.
- God is Spirit, and His Kingdom is Spiritual.
- A Spiritual Kingdom is better than a natural one, in the same way that the Spiritual Priesthood of Jesus is better than an Earthly one.
- The Gospel of the Kingdom is the message of salvation. All Have sinned, and the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Jesus had a real Kingdom, and conferred one upon His disciples.
- Faith is the entrance into the Kingdom, even as Mark 11:23-24 says.
- Trying to make the “mountain” of these verses be anything other than a physical, literal mountain is simply a “mountain” of doubt. Albeit, we should consider that Jesus never did it in His recorded ministry for the simple fact that He only did what He saw the Father doing.
- The Kingdom is not “ethereal” in some imaginary sort of way, but is powerful and active. It was this Kingdom by which Jesus and His disciples did all of their miracles.
- Many people err on their interpretation of the Kingdom because they do not know the Scriptures concerning it in context with real, practical experience, nor do they know the actual operation and function of the power of God in their own lives. Yet, these people attempt to determine our theology based on their own lack of experience.
- The Gospel of the Kingdom is the Message Jesus, the disciples, and Paul all preached. It always had signs and wonders following.
- We must not confuse allegory with spiritual interpretation.
- Allegory is story or make-believe. Spirit is the nature of God and His Kingdom. The visible was created by the invisible, so we should not dismiss it as less important.