CHRIST'S INCREASING KINGDOM -- 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 14 of 36
" And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom . . . " (Dan 7:14)
Because there has been such corruption of this glorious text, I again want to emphasize this is a declaration of something taking place in heaven – not upon the earth. This is the result of the "Son of man" being presented to the "Ancient of days," the "God of heaven." This is not the chronicling of an earthly, or fleshly, kingdom. The vision has to do with the exaltation and enthronement of Jesus, a matter declared and emphasized in Apostolic doctrine. I fear that a considerable amount of contrived theology regarding this text reveals earth-mindedness rather than Divine purpose. This is a condition that must be avoided at all cost.
When speaking about accomplishments and issues relating directly to Christ Jesus, there is no latitude allowed for error. If the Gospel, or good news, of Christ is God's "power unto salvation" (Rom 1:16), improper presentations of Him cannot be allowed, for God does not bless through error, or work through vain imaginations. One will search the Scriptures in vain for the slightest hint that God is tolerant to any degree of those who misrepresent His Son. Our salvation is hinged to our faith in Christ. We simply cannot be wrong about Him.
While it may seem totally unnecessary to say this, we live in a religious climate that demands that this point be repeatedly affirmed. There are matters where some allowance is made for varying views – like the eating of meat and the observance of days (Rom 14:1-12). But even then, there are certain things that are incumbent upon those with varying views. First, they may not judge or despise one another in such matters (14:3-4). Second, each person must be "fully persuaded" in their own mind (14:5). Third, their view must be toward the Lord and for the Lord (14:6). The individual must remember that he has not been called to live unto himself, but unto the Lord (14:7-9). Fourth, the individual will be called into account for his view and how he handled it (14:10-12).
Notwithstanding those provisions for differing persuasions, such an approach to the Lord Jesus is not permitted. If one chooses to believe Jesus is not the Son of God, he is condemned (John 3:18). If they refuse to confess He has come in the flesh, they are "not of God" and possess the "spirit of antichrist" (1 John 4:3). Without lingering on this subject, it is critical that we believe "the record God has given of His Son" (1 John 5:10-11). We cannot be wrong about Jesus and be saved. If someone wishes to argue about that, they will be striking at a brick wall. It is a truth that simply cannot be contradicted.
HE WAS GIVEN DOMINION
"And there was given Him dominion . . . " Other versions read, "He was given authority" (NIV), "to Him was given authority" (BBE), "and He gave Him power" (DOUAY), "and He gave Him dominion" (GNV), and "on Him was conferred rule" (NJB).
Here Daniel is given to behold more precisely what was revealed to Nebuchadnezzar in his first dream. "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" (Dan 2:44). This kingdom was "set up" when "the Son of man" was invested with authority and dominion, as declared in this text.
Let it be clear that the Word, prior to His incarnation, was not without power and authority. Nor, indeed, was He without it when He walked among men. Frequently He exhibited His power and authority in healing diseases, expelling demons, stilling the sea, calming storms, withering a fig tree, calling for a fish to deliver a coin, etc. He also had "power on earth to forgive sins" (Matt 9:6). However, that is not the power of which our text speaks.
The power, authority, or dominion, delivered to "the Son of man" was nothing less than laying the government upon His shoulder, as Isaiah prophesies (Isa 9:6-7). That is, the exalted Christ has made the executor over all power, given all authority, and, as a Man, made "the Head over all things for the church" (NKJV). Thus He was given "power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thu (the Father) hast given [to] Him" (John 17:2).
He was given this power in the capacity of a Man – "the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5). Not only was the Word required to become a Man in order to pay the penalty for sin, He also had to be a Man, or "the Son of man," in order to effectively redeem men from the curse, destroy the adversary, intercede for them, and bring them all the way to glory (Heb 2:10). That task required that everything be placed under Him. He was given the Kingdom in order to bring the sons of God home to glory (Heb 2:10).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a Savior who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.