CHRIST'S INCREASING KINGDOM "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14) -- Tomorrow:
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE THERE SHALL BE NO END, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this!" (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Devotion 4 of 36
THE PROPHECY OF JESUS RECEIVING THE KINGDOM -- INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
In the book of Daniel, the grandeur of earthly kingdoms is diminished by the glory of God. As soon as men appear to be invincible, and their kingdoms unconquerable, our attention is turned to the God of heaven. If circumstances arise that seem to put the people of God in an impossible situation, our hearts are made to consider the Living God, who both intervenes in the affairs of men and controls them. The consistency of this is most remarkable, as the following instances confirm. These are all recorded in Daniel prior to the above text.
CONTROLS
1. When Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, captured the king, and carried away vessels of the Temple, we are told the Lord gave these things into his hand (1:1-12).
2. God gave Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, majesty, glory, and honor (2:37-38; 5:18-19).
3. The breath of Belshazzar was in God's hand, and his ways were from Him (5:23).
4. God numbered Belshazzar's kingdom, finished it, weighted Him in the balances, found him deficient, and gave his kingdom to the Medes and Persians (5:26-28).
The affairs of this world are under the control of the God of heaven. If this was not the case, He could not work all things together for our good (Rom 8:28), and would be powerless to not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13). Neither, indeed, could He nourish and sustain the people of God through the various difficulties and vicissitudes of life. All of those things presume the control of God.
GOD INTERVENES
1. God brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs (1:9).
2. God gave the four children of Judah knowledge, skill, and wisdom (1:17).
3. The Lord revealed the secret of Nebuchadnezzar's dream to Daniel (2:19,23).
4. God made known to Nebuchadnezzar what would take place in the latter days (2:28,29).
5. In the reign of powerful kings, God would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed (2:44,45).
6. God sent His angel, delivering Shadrach, Meshach, and Abnedgo from the fiery furnace (3:28).
7. God decreed the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar by driving him from men, and causing him to live with beasts and eat grass (4:24-25).
8. In one hour, God humbled Nebuchadnezzar as He had decreed, deposing him from the throne (4:31-33; 5:20).
9. God delivered a message to Belshazzar during a feast, sending a hand that inscribed a message on the wall of the palace (5:5).
10. God numbered Belshazzar's kingdom, finished it, weighed Him in the balances, found him deficient, and gave his kingdom to the Medes and Persians (5:26-28).
11. God sent an angel and delivered Daniel from the lions (6:22).
12. Daniel sees Divine judgment intruding into the affairs of men, ridding the world of despotic governments (7:9-10).
The saved of the Lord are not left to their own, and their enemies do not operate with a free and unhindered hand – and that includes Satan and his principalities and powers. God, because of His great power and nature, can break into the affairs of men for either blessing or cursing, for lifting up or casting down.
Those who imagine that God does not violate the supposed "free will" of man must rethink their position. The Lord imposed His will on Adam and Eve by expelling them from the garden (Gen 3:24). He imposed His will upon Cain by making him a vagabond, contrary to his previous occupation (Gen 4:12). His imposed His will upon the world of Noah's day, sending a flood and destroying all flesh, saving for eight souls (Gen 7:23). He imposed His will upon those who were building the tower of Babel, confounding their language and causing the work to cease (Gen 11:9). He imposed His will on the inhabitants of Canaan, driving them out of their countries to make place for His chosen people (Josh 13:6).
Admittedly, this is not the manner in which He saves men – imposing His will upon them. However, if they do not receive the love of the truth, He will impose strong delusion upon them, forcing them top believe a lie that they might be damned (2 Thess 2:10-12). Let no one dare to provoke a Sovereign God! Rather, through Christ let us believe in Him (1 Pet 1:21). Then He will work all things together for our good (Rom 8:28) – whether our enemies want Him to or not!