Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/261

 it is losing its adhesive power, and the iron and clay show signs of dissolution, dnd will quickly crumble when smit- ten by the " stone," the true Kingdom.

Continuing his interpretation, Daniel states: "Foras- much as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the moun- tain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass here- after; and the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure." Verse 45.

The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smites and scatters the Gentile powers, represents the true Church, the Kingdom of God. During the Gospel age this "stone" kingdom is being formed, "cutout," carved and shaped for its future position and greatness not by human hands, but by the power or spirit of the truth, the invisible power of Jehovah. When complete, when entire- ly cut out, it will smite and destroy the kingdoms of this world. Not the people, but the governments, are sym- bolized by the image, and these are to be destroyed that the people may be delivered. Our Lord Jesus came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. John 3:17.

The stone, during its preparation, while being cut out, might be called an embryo mountain, in view of its future destiny; so, too, the Church could be, and sometimes is, called the Kingdom of God. In fa<St, however, the stone does no.t become the mountain until it has smitten the im- age; and' so the Church, in the full sense, will become the Kingdom to fill the whole earth when " the day of the Lord," the "day of wrath upon the nations" or "time of trouble," will be over, and when it will be established and all other dominions have become subservient to it.

Call to mind now the promise made by our Lord to the
 * ,vercomers of the Christian Church: "To him that over-

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