Saturday, March 27, 2021

Pre-Millennialism and the Vision of Daniel 2

 

 

It is significant that all of the kingdoms comprising the different body parts of the statue surveyed thus far (Babylon, Persia, Greece, historical Rome, Rome Phase II) are all literal kingdoms that existed for a literal time, occupied specific lands with identifiable borders, and had a capital city. This demands the question, why would not the last kingdom, represented by the stone cut without human hands, also not be a literal kingdom that will reign for a literal time (Rev 20:1-10), that will occupy a specific land with identifiable borders (Gn 15:18-21), and have a capital (Isa 2:2-3)? Such a presentation represents a premillennial view of history. The expression “millennium” simply means a thousand years. Premillennialism is the belief that the thousand-year kingdom will not come into existence until Jesus comes back first (or “pre”) and then sets up His earthly kingdom (cf. Rev 20:4-6).

 

However, the premillennial view is not the majority view of church history. The majority view instead is amillennialism, which argues that Jesus set up His kingdom spiritually in the first century. However, to arrive at this conclusion one must interpret everything in the statue literally except the smiting stone and then interpret it non-literally. Such interpretive vacillation is tantamount to switching hermeneutical horses in midstream. A consistent interpretation of the statue demands premillennialism. Dwight Pentecost explains why the presentation of the smiting stone found in Dan 2 is inconsistent with the belief that Christ established His kingdom at His first advent:

 

Amillennialists hold that this kingdom was established by Christ at His First Advent and that now the church is that kingdom. They argue that: (a) Christianity, like the growing mountain, began to grow and spread geographically and is still doing so; (b) Christ came in the days of the Roman Empire; (c) the Roman Empire fell into the hands of 10 kingdoms (10 toes); (d) Christ is the chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). Premillenarians, however, hold that the kingdom to be established by Christ on earth is yet future. At least six points favor that view: (1) The stone will become a mountain suddenly, not gradually. Christianity did not suddenly fill “the whole earth” (Dan. 2:35) at Christ’s First Advent. (2) Though Christ came in the days of the Roman Empire, He did not destroy it. (3) During Christ’s time on earth the Roman Empire did not have 10 kings at once. Yet Nebuchadnezzar’s statue suggests that when Christ comes to establish His kingdom, 10 rulers will be in existence and will be destroyed by Him. (4) Though Christ is now the chief Cornerstone to the church (Eph. 2:20) and “a stone that causes [unbelievers] to stumble” (1 Peter 2:8), He is not yet a smiting Stone as He will be when He comes again. (5) The Stone (Messiah) will crush and end all the kingdoms of the world. But the church has not and will not conquer the world’s kingdoms. (6) The church is not a kingdom with a political realm, but the future Millennium will be. Thus Nebuchadnezzar’s dream clearly teaches premillennialism, that Christ will return to earth to establish His rule on the earth, thereby subduing all nations. The church is not that kingdom. (J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in Bible Knowledge Commentary, ed. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 1985), 1336) (Andrew M. Woods, “Daniel 2:29-45: The Times of the Gentiles and the Messianic Kingdom,” in Michael Rydelnik and Edwin eds., The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy: Studies and Expositions of the Messiah in the Old Testament [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2019], 1123-24)