CHRIST'S INCREASING KINGDOM "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." (Dan 7:14) -- 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 23 of 36
We are now expounding the extent of the kingdom given to the triumphant, exalted, and enthroned Christ – the "Son of man." This is the kingdom over which He now presides. It has already been affirmed that "all people" are subject to Him. Daniel now hears a further elaboration of the dominion given to the Messiah.
ALL NATIONS
" . . . that all . . . nations . . . should serve Him . . . " The term "nations" views humanity from a political and geographic point of view. The offspring of a progenitor may be scattered throughout the world. This circumstance allowed for the judging of the nation of Israel to be distinct, for they were (as a nation) "scattered" among other nations (Esth 3:8; Psa 44:11; Zech 7:14). Yet, they remained a people, even though dispersed among the nations. Thus, according to Divine appointment, they became "an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD" led them (Deut 28:37). That is because their existence as a nation contradicted the ordinary rules concerning nations.
ALL LANGUAGES
" . . . that all . . . languages, should serve Him . . . " The expression "languages" views humanity from the standpoint of their speech, or means of communication. A "people," for example, may be divided in their language. This can also be true of a nation. One language can be embraced by several different people groups, or several different nations.
THE REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE
Thus, from every vantage point, the "Son of man" is being served by humanity. The descendants of every progenitor are under His rule – "all people." Every government and every continent is embraced by His kingdom – "all nations." All languages, whether crude or refined, are within His domain – "all languages." There is no place where Jesus does not rule. There are no people that are not governed by Him. There are no nations, governments, or land-masses that are not subservient to Him. There is no language that is not under His control.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The implications of this are staggering to consider. This means wherever a person seeks the Lord, regardless of the people group to which that person belongs, God will be found by that person. It means that any individual who seeks the Lord, regardless of the government under which he lives, or the continent in which he resides, will find Him. It means that any male of female, young or old, bond or free, that reaches out for God, regardless of the seeming barriers of language, will find Him.
If that seems too difficult to receive, sift it through the words of the Sovereign Himself. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Mat 7:7-8). Weigh it in the balance of the truth revealed in Paul's Athenian discourse. "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring'" (Acts 17:26-28, NIV).
If "the Son of man" was not reigning over all people, nations, and languages, no one could be saved. In such a case, a quest for the Lord could be frustrated, and reconciliation to God would be rendered impossible. If that is not true, then men are able to overcome evil forces that on their own that have held the world captive for centuries. Such a postulate is too foolish to embrace.
This is precisely why the government has been placed upon Christ's shoulders! That is why all peoples, nations, and languages serve Him. It is in order for Him to bring "many sons to glory" (Heb 2:10). For that to be accomplished we needed a Man in heaven who had passed through this valley of tears, and gained the victory. We needed a Representative in heaven to whom every personality is subject, who can get Divine resources to us and subdue our enemies – one who is able to be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses. We needed one to whom Satan and his hosts are subject. We required one whom the Father honors, and to whom He listens. We had to have a Man next to God who has, in fact, received all power in heaven and earth! By the grace of God, we have such a one – praise the Lord! It is the glorified Christ whom Daniel saw!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that I cannot possibly confront anyone or any thing that is not subject to Your Son.