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As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.  Luke 19:11 ESV

Notes from the ESV STUDY BIBLE, regarding the above verse:

The key to the meaning of this parable is given at the beginning. Jesus gave the parable in response to those who supposed that the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately. This was probably a concern especially because He was near to Jerusalem, where expectations of a political messiah may have been extra high. The parable will show that the Kingdom will not be seen in it’s fullness until Christ returns; it begins in a small way and grows gradually until then.

 

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”  Luke 13:18,19 ESV

Notes from the ESV STUDY BIBLE, regarding the above verses:

Luke concludes his first section on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem…with two parables emphasizing the arrival of the Kingdom. They contrast the Kingdom’s modest beginning and it’s glorious final state.  …The mustard seed would have been the smallest known seed to Jesus’ audience. became a tree. The mustard “tree” refers to a large herbal plant that grows to the height of 8 to 12 feet. The birds….. made nests emphasizes the surprising supernatural result – i.e., the enormous size of the final plant in comparison to the very small seed from which it grew. The Jews expected the Kingdom to come with apocalyptic power, bringing God’s judgement on all evil, and hence Jesus’ teaching that it would arrive in such an “insignificant” way was surprising.

20 Now He was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  Luke 17:20,21 NASB

Notes from the ESV STUDY BIBLE, regarding the above verses:

(20)The Pharisees apparently desire to know the cosmic signs preceding the coming of the Kingdom so that they can be sure not to miss it. Jesus replies that the Kingdom will not come in ways that can be observed (a phrase that translates a Greek word parateresis that occurs only here in the entire Bible). In light of vv 21-37, Jesus apparently means that the arrival of the Kingdom of God will not be accompanied by spectacular signs in the heavens but rather that the Kingdom will come quietly, evident only in the change in people’s lives… (21)The Pharisees repeat their mistake of 14:15 in not recognizing that the Kingdom of God has already come. It is in the midst of you, in the person of Jesus and in the reign of God manifested in those who are already following Jesus. Some understand Jesus to say here that the kingdom is “within you,” but He would not say that to disbelieving Pharisees.

  DANIEL 2:31-45 NLT  (Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue):

31“In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight.

32The head of the statue was made of fine gold.

Its chest and arms were silver,

its belly and thighs were bronze,

33 its legs were iron,

and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay. 34As you watched, a ROCK was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. 35The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the ROCK that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.

36“That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means. 37Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. 38He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control.

You are the head of gold.

39“But after your kingdom comes to an end,

another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen,

yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world. 40Following that kingdom, there will be

a fourth one,

as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes. 41The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom (the fourth one) will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron. 42But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay. 43This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.

44“During the reigns of THOSE kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. 45That is the meaning of the ROCK cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.”

      

from Benson Commentary:

Daniel 2:34-35. Thou sawest till a STONE was cut out without hands, which smote the image, &c. — Here the whole image is represented as destroyed by a great stone falling upon its feet and breaking them to pieces, whereby the whole image was overset and broken. In like manner the KINGDOM OF CHRIST, a kingdom of God’s own erecting, was to break to pieces and destroy the fourth and last empire, in which the remainder of the others was comprehended, and at length to put an end to all earthly rule, authority, and power, 1 Corinthians 15:24. The Jews, as well as Christians, agree that by the STONE here is meant the Messiah, or his KINGDOM, and indeed it is a very apt description of it; for without any visible means, or adequate assistance of human power, it arose, prevailed mightily, and increased to a high degree of strength and greatness, and will still INCREASE, until it become superior to, and swallow up, all the kingdoms of the earth……..And the STONE that smote the image became a great mountain, &c. — This denotes the advancement and increase of Christ’s kingdom, that it should from small beginnings proceed to fill the whole earth; as if a STONE by degrees should grow to a mountain. 

and from Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary:

Daniel 2:31-45 This image represented the kingdoms of the earth, that should successively rule the nations, and influence the affairs of the Jewish church. 1. The head of gold signified the CHALDEAN EMPIRE (Babylon *see note), then in being. 2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the MEDES and PERSIANS. 3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the GRECIAN EMPIRE, founded by Alexander. 4. The legs and feet of iron signified the ROMAN EMPIRE. The Roman empire branched into ten kingdoms, as the toes of these feet. Some were weak as clay, others strong as iron. Endeavours have often been used to unite them, for strengthening the empire, but in vain. The STONE cut out without hands, represented the KINGDOM of our Lord Jesus Christ, which should be set up in the kingdoms of the world, upon the ruins of Satan’s kingdom in them. This was the STONE which the builders refused, because it was not cut out by their hands, but it is become the HEAD STONE of the corner. Of the increase of Christ’s government and peace there shall be no end. The Lord shall reign, not only to the end of time, but when time and days shall be no more. As far as events have gone, the fulfilling this prophetic vision has been most exact and undeniable; future ages shall witness this STONE destroying the image, and filling the whole earth.

* NOTE   Nebuchadnezzar II, also spelled Nebuchadrezzar II, (born c. 630—died c. 561 bce), second and greatest king of the Chaldean dynasty of Babylonia (reigned c. 605–c. 561 bce). He was known for his military might, the splendour of his capital, Babylon, and his important part in Jewish history. Britannica

   regarding the above verse, from Mathew Poole’s Commentary

The mountain of the Lord’s house; the temple of the Lord which is upon Mount Moriah; which yet is not to be understood literally of that material temple, but mystically of the church of God, as appears from the next following words, which will not admit of a literal interpretation; and from the flowing of all nations to it, which was not to that temple, nor indeed was fulfilled till that temple was destroyed; and from the frequent use of this metaphor, the TEMPLE, or the HOUSE of the Lord, concerning the Christian church, both in the Old and the New Testament. Shall be exalted above the hills; shall be placed and settled in a most conspicuous and glorious manner, being advanced above all other churches and kingdoms in the world. All nations, those Gentiles, whom you now despise, and judge to be abhorred and quite forsaken by God, shall flow unto it, shall come in great abundance, and with great eagerness, like a river, as the word signifies.  Isaiah 2:2

51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “DEATH (the last enemy) has been swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 BSB

Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.  Matt. 24: 29-31 BSB