Print /download article here:
Read Daniel chapter 2. Excerpt from the bible text (verse 31 to 35)
"31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth."
In the traditional interpretation, we see a statue representing several literal kingdoms of this world. First Babylon (Gold), followed by Medo Persia (Silver), then Greece (Brass), then we have the Roman Empire (Iron) and finally fragmented kingdoms (Iron and clay). This statue is finally crushed by the rock that is cut out without human hands. So the kingdoms of this world is at last crushed and succeeded by the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ, who is the rock of ages.
Ellen White writes in several places about the importance of the three angels' message advancing. That is, it moves more in depth and becomes multidimensional, more comprehensive.
What is interesting about this statue in the Book of Daniel is that it is built with physical, literal materials from this old earth / world. That is, of the perishable, not the eternal. And that it is built by human hands. While the stone that crushes the statue is not built by human hands. (Not man-made).
In 1 Corinthians 3 we can read the following:
" 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. "
So we see that the text speak of what wisdom (what law and doctrines) one value and receive into ones soul temple (hearts and minds).
In other words, we see the contrast in building with perishable materials of this world, with human hands. Versus the house/temple (moral character: hearts and minds) that is built by the power of God and His law and doctrines. (Hebrews 8:10)
Note also here that it is a matter of wisdom from the eternal, supreme God in relation to us, individuals in the church, being the temple of God. This is not about vegetables, that are well and good, but which are only building materials for the perishable, outer body. Here, however, it is speaking of the (re)creation God can perform in our inner man, which is to recreate, sanctify our fallen character to become more like His own. To receive the very law of God written on our spiritual minds and hearts, by grace (God's spiritual power and atonement) through faith.
This is salvation and sanctification from the old to the new order of Jesus Christ. To be recreated in the moral image of God.
So we see again the old, literal, perishable, worldly order / kingdom (the metal man,) its law and spirit of the self/of the world/ot the flesh. Versus the eternal stone that represents Jesus Christ and His new, eternal, spiritual order / kingdom.
A house, a kingdom, a temple is the same thing. So in a deeper sense it means the moral character (hearts and minds) of each individual.
So the core of the matter is that they represent worldly kingdoms/ temples/houses of this earth, and in a deeper sense moral characters with the law and spirit of 666. (the unholy trinity): (the dragon, the beast and the false prophet) Which is also the law and spirit of the flesh, of self, of this world (The latter is not about three, they simply mean the same thing). While the everlasting rock represent the kingdom, the moral character filled with the law and spirit of 777 (the Holy triune God). The latter can only happen by the assistance, the sanctification (both forgiveness for repented sins and power to overcome our fallen characters) by the triune God. Which is by grace through faith.
Not only do we see the deeper interpretation here, but also the downfall of these kingdoms, of the moral character of 666 (of the unholy trinity, of the law and spirit of the self, the flesh, of this world). And that the only building, the only kingdom, the only character that can stand strong and survive the fiery trials and testing, and the final shaking, is the heart and minds that have severed their connection to the law and spirit of this world, and surrendered all to Jesus Christ. And received His character, His law and spirit, The new, everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Go to the rest of the articles in this series here:
1. "From 666 to 777. Sanctified in the Image of God. Part 1."
2. "From 666 to 777. Sanctified in the Image of God. Part 2."
3. From 666-777. Part 3. Three unclean spirits like frogs and The Leopard.
Entire series "From 666 - 777. Sanctified in the Image of God."