THE STONE KINGDOM
by Bill Burns
Faith Tabernacle
P. O. Box 1148
Kremmling, Colorado 80459
http://ft111.com
The Stone Kingdom is the end-time kingdom of God that is being established in the earth. The prophet Daniel saw the Stone Kingdom in a vision. Daniel's vision revealed Nebuchadnezzer's dream, which revealed the kingdoms of this world that would oppress God's people. (Daniel chapter 2)
The image that Daniel described represents the kingdoms that the spirit of the anti-christ rules over. Daniel saw four kingdoms in the image of the beast. The fourth kingdom is the last political system, which is ruled by the anti-christ. This kingdom is the feet and toes of the image and are made of iron and clay.
Daniel 2: 40-41"And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.
Daniel also saw a fifth kingdom that would rule over the fourth kingdom.
Daniel 2: 44-45 "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."
Daniel revealed the Stone Kingdom that is now being established by God in His Church. The Stone Kingdom is not established by the hand of man; it is established by God Himself. The mountain that the Stone Kingdom is cut of is Zion. (Micah 4:1-2)
Jacob's prophecy over Joseph, who is a type of Christ, makes reference to the King of the Stone Kingdom.
Genesis 49: 22-24 "Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel).
The Stone Shepherd's name is Jesus Christ who is the Cornerstone (Psalm 118:21-24). Jesus is also the Capstone -- finishing stone (Zechariah 4:7). Those who dwell with Jesus in truth and spirit will have a part as joint heirs in establishing the Stone Kingdom in these last days. These are the living stones that are being built into a spiritual house by the Lord.
1 Peter 2: 4-9 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
The Four Horns:
In scripture horns represent authority (power). In a later vision Daniel saw a little horn that represents Satan operating through the spirit of the anti-christ (Daniel 8:9-12). The army that Satan has is led by four more horns whose purpose is to scatter God's people by opposing the truth of God's Word.
Zechariah 1: 18 Then I raised my eyes and
looked, and there were four horns.
19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What
are these?" So he answered me, "These are the horns
that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
The four horns are lying spirits, which have been sent forth as spirits of the anti-christ (1 John 2:18-19 and 4:1-3). The four unholy horns have established false doctrine in the Church, and these false doctrines have scattered (divided) God's people. This is why we have so many denominations today.
Daniel saw four kingdoms of this world that would oppress and scatter the nation of Israel. In the same way, the four horns (spirits of anti-christ) have divided and scattered the Church. These horns have promoted different false doctrines down through the ages. However, there is no need for despair because God is sending His craftsmen to cast these lies out of the Church.
The Four Craftsmen:
Zechariah 1: 20-21 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. And I said, "What are these coming to do?" So he said, "These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it."
The craftsmen are those who the Lord will use in these last days to establish the Stone Kingdom on the sure foundation of truth.
Isaiah 28: 16 -17 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily. Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
Ephesians 2: 19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The four craftsmen are the apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers who have made the Holy Spirit their Teacher. They are those who have the four faces of Jesus.
Revelation 4: 6-8 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"
The face of a man who speaks face to face with the Lord and speaks only that which he hears. This one lives the sacrificed life (the calf) and does the will of the Lord. These have prophetic insight (the eagle), and they will reveal the hidden mysteries of these last days. They, like the Lion of Judah) will walk in apostolic power and authority. In Matthew chapter 16 the Lord said that He would build His Church on the rock of revelation. (Matthew 16:17-18)
These are the craftsmen of these days; they are the living stones who worship in spirit and in truth. The Lord Himself will anoint them with the oil in His Horn, and they shall establish the word of His truth. These are the builders of the Lord's house, the house that is built upon The Rock who is the Stone Shepherd. And, this house will become the rock cut out without human hands.
Zechariah 4: 5-9 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"‘" Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
Zerubabbel means "out of Babylon." Those who have come out from Mystery Babylon (Revelation chapter 17 and 18:4) will establish the Stone Kingdom, which is the fifth kingdom (symbolizing grace). The living stones will become the walls of God's house. They will be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets who have built upon the Cornerstone. When the walls are finished, then the Capstone will be brought forth "with shouts of grace, grace to it."