Bible Dreams.
Zion's Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 9, September 1902.Nebuchadnezzar saw, besides the great image, a stone that was cut out without hands, which smote the image, and finally became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. This stone represents Christ and his kingdom. The stone being cut out of the mountain without hands signifies that Christ's coming into the world and the establishment of his kingdom was to be without the concurrence of human policy or force, and entirely independent of human means. This appears all the more evident by the stone being wholly distinct from the image, and directly opposed to it. This truth is set forth by Paul in regard to spiritual circumcision, or regeneration. He says, "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands." Colossians 2:11. Thus it is clearly taught that the setting up of this kingdom, and the preparation of subjects for it in the work of regeneration, is all accomplished without the employment of human aid.
How different was the manner of the setting up of Christ's kingdom from the manner in which the kingdoms represented by the great image were established! Jesus came not with princely dignity and an army equipped with weapons of carnal warfare to conquer by force of arms. On the contrary he made himself of no reputation, took on himself the form of a servant, and became so poor that he had no place to lay his head. He called, as his associates, twelve men as poor as himself. "My kingdom," he said, "is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight." Here was the stone cut out of the mountain without hands. The subjects of this spiritual kingdom are all circumcised in heart with that circumcision that is made without hands. Thus the setting up of this kingdom in the world and its perpetuity was not made dependent upon the help of man. Men were compassing sea and land to make proselytes when Christ was here, but when made they were two-fold more the child of hell than those who made them. Matthew 23:15. Men are operating the same way today, with no better results than did those ancient scribes and Pharisees. The kingdom established by Christ is as separate from such vain and speculative operations as then. Of it he said, "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Daniel said, "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed." "The dream is certain," said he, "and the interpretation thereof sure."
About six hundred years after the time that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed, a perplexed and troubled carpenter had a dream, in which the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:20, 21. Six centuries had come and gone, and the Chaldean Monarchy had been succeeded by the Medo-Persian, the Medo-Persian by the Grecian, and the Grecian by the Roman. Malachi, the last of the prophets, had been hushed in death for about four hundred years. The Jewish nation was writhing under the oppressive yoke of the Roman Empire. It was a dark period in the world's history.
In the angel's statement to Joseph it is declared that the virgin Mary should bring forth a son. This declaration was fulfilled. It is next asserted that his name should be called Jesus. This assertion proved true. Next it is positively said that he should save his people from their sins. This saying is coming to pass, and will prove as true as the other two. The people of his foreknowledge, predestination and choice will all be saved from all their sins. There are many of them so many that they cannot be numbered and they are all so weak that they are said to be without strength, but Jesus has all power and is abundantly able to save all of them to the uttermost. Each of them has many sins, but he bore them all on the cross and put them away by the sacrifice of himself. The curse of the law held them in its iron grasp, but he delivered them from that curse. They had sold themselves for naught, but he obtained eternal redemption for them when he suffered and died in their behalf. In the gloomy prison of sin they lie, but he holds the key in his own hand and he opens the massive door and brings them forth one by one. Satan tries with all his power to draw them away from his loving hand, but his Father, who is greater than all, has given them to him, so none are able to pluck them away. They fall, but are not utterly cast
down because he upholds them with his hand. Death confronts them, but that too shall be conquered as the last enemy. All the people spoken of by the angel will be with him when he shall finally say, "Behold I and the children which God hath given me." "Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." Thanks be to the adorable name of God which gives all his people such a triumphant victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. All heaven will sweetly ring forever with the joyful praises of that glorified people, who will claim not even the smallest part of the glory in their salvation. "Unto him that loved us," they will exultingly say, "and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
J. R. D.
