The Kingdom that Cannot Be Removed

"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever." (Daniel 2:44 ESV)

Centuries before Christ's birth, Daniel prophesied about a kingdom that would supersede all human empires. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones draws our attention to how this ancient prediction illuminates the true significance of Christmas.

Daniel's prophecy emerges from his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream—a colossal statue representing successive world empires. Each empire, despite its apparent power and permanence, eventually collapses and gives way to another. Human kingdoms, Daniel reveals, are inherently temporary, regardless of their might or majesty.

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes the striking contrast between these transient human powers and the kingdom God promises to establish. The phrase "the God of heaven will set up a kingdom" indicates divine origin rather than human achievement. This kingdom doesn't emerge through political maneuvering or military conquest but through direct divine intervention.

The expression "in the days of those kings" places this divine kingdom within human history. Lloyd-Jones observes that Christ's birth occurred precisely when Daniel predicted—during the Roman Empire, the fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar's vision. The seemingly insignificant birth in Bethlehem fulfilled this momentous prophecy made over five hundred years earlier.

Daniel's description of this kingdom contains several remarkable characteristics. It "shall never be destroyed"—unlike every human empire that inevitably declines and falls. It shall not "be left to another people"—maintaining continuity rather than changing hands through conquest. It "shall break in pieces all these kingdoms"—ultimately prevailing over all human power structures. And it "shall stand forever"—enduring beyond time itself.

Lloyd-Jones draws attention to how these prophetic elements found fulfillment in Christ. The baby in Bethlehem inaugurated a kingdom that continues expanding through history and will ultimately encompass all creation. What began with a handful of shepherds worshiping at a manger will culminate with every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This Christmas, recognize the prophetic significance of Christ's birth. The seemingly minor event in Bethlehem—unnoticed by Rome's elite—inaugurated the eternal kingdom Daniel foresaw. The empires that dominated Daniel's world have vanished into history, but the kingdom established through that child continues transforming lives today.