NOTE.—From the earliest times it has been God’s purpose that those who receive the gospel should make it known to others. For this purpose He chose a special people and established them in Palestine, in the highway of the nations; but they shut up the revelation of the truth to themselves, and so lost it. A few, like Daniel and his companions, maintained a personal connection with God, although surrounded by spiritual declension and dry formalism, and so were chosen by God to carry out His plan that the gospel of the kingdom should be preached in Babylon. They were tested and trained in Babylon, as shown in the first chapter of Daniel, and then, being ready to make known the gospel, the way providentially opened for them by the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. 7. In interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, what kingdom did Daniel say would follow the four world empires? “And in the days of these kings shall _the God of heaven set up a kingdom_, which shall never be destroyed.” Dan. 2:44. 8. What was this kingdom to do to the other kingdoms? “The kingdom shall not be left to other people, but _it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms_.” Same verse. 9. How long is this kingdom to continue? “And it shall _stand forever_.” Same verse, last clause. 10. What words of Christ imply the gospel’s final triumph? “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and _the gates of hell shall not prevail against it_.” Matt. 16:18. NOTE.—Anciently the gates to cities were places for holding courts, transacting business, and deliberating on public matters. The word gates, therefore, is used for counsels, designs, machinations, and evil purposes. The gates of hell mean the plottings, stratagems, and designs of Satan to overthrow the church. But none of these are to prevail. 11. What promises to David will thus be fulfilled? “Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever: ... thy throne shall be established forever.” 2 Sam. 7:16. NOTE.—By uniting His divinity with humanity in becoming the Son of David, Christ laid the foundation upon which He built His church, and thus established the house of David forever. The kingdom of God, the house of David, and the church of Christ are so inseparably connected in this prophecy that the establishment of either involves the establishment of the other two. 12. Through whom are these promises to be fulfilled? “He shall be great, and shall be called _the Son of the Highest_: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32, 33. 13. In order to fulfil these promises, whose son did the Son of God become? “The son of _David_.” Matt. 22:42. 14. What is this union of divinity and humanity called?