“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
The stone-kingdom interpretation: In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. This explicitly identifies the stone with God's kingdom, breaking human rule and replacing it with divine governance. The temporal reference in the days of those kings (the kingdoms represented by the statue's parts) suggests that God's kingdom arises within human history, not after its completion. The permanent nature of this kingdom (never be destroyed, never be handed over to another people) contrasts absolutely with the temporary, successive nature of human empires. This kingdom will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it shall stand forever. The eschatological vision promises ultimate vindication of God's purposes and judgment of human rebellion.
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