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 25 of 36
"His dominion . . . "
Other versions read, "His authority" (BBE), "His power" (DOUAY), and "His rule" (NJB). This is the "dominion" that was given to the exalted Christ upon His triumphant return to heaven (Dan 7:14a). A "dominion" is an empire, or area over which the sovereign rules. We have already been told this area includes "all people, nations, and languages." The Gospel message informs us it includes the heavenly host and demonic droves as well (Matt 28:18; 2 Pet 3:22). We are told that "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil 2:10). This is not merely something that ought to be – it is something that will eventually take place, because Christ's dominion is real, not theoretical. As it is written, "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom 14:11). If appearance seems to contradict that affirmation, rest assured that appearance is scheduled for a change, and it will occur.
Jesus DOES have a dominion. Even now, those who are stubborn, refusing to bow the knee to Him, are living on borrowed time. At any moment the One with dominion can strike them down as He did Herod (Acts 12:23). If uncomely circumstances are found in His church, He can remove members suddenly and without remedy, as He did Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:5,10), and the people in Corinth who desecrated the table of the Lord (1 Cor 11:30). He does not do this in every case, because the purpose of His reign is not to filter out and throw down the wicked. He can do that in an instant – and will when He comes again (2 Thess 2:8). He is reigning primarily to bring God's sons to glory (Heb 2:10), and there is no place from which He cannot bring them!
This is "HIS" dominion! It was given to Him because of His exploits – because He fulfilled the Father's commission – a commission that would throw open "the door of faith" (Acts 14:27), and usher in "the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2). Because He successfully completed His mission , laying down His spotless life and taking it up again (John 10:17-18), God has "highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name" (Phil 2:9).
This dominion, power, or authority already belongs to Him. It is not something He is going to receive, but what He presently possesses. It is a very real "dominion," and will grind to powder all competing governments - - just as surely as it has already decimated the four global governments that rose from an agitated and fomenting society (Dan 2:44).
AN EVERLASTING DOMINION
" . . . is an everlasting dominion . . . " Other versions read, "eternal authority" (BBE), "everlasting power" (DOUAY), "everlasting rule" (NJB), "His rule is eternal" (NLT), and "a dominion age-enduring" (YLT),
Nothing can interrupt this rule, stop the Divine time-clock, or interfere with Christ's dominion. Since the "Son of man" has been given the Kingdom, there has never been a period of time when it was not dominant. The Kingdom did not begin with Christ's exaltation, but was given to Him at that time. It was already in existence, for God has never been without a kingdom. This Kingdom will outlast both the world and time.
This is the same kingdom of which the Psalmist spoke. "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations" (Psa 145:13). That very kingdom has now been given to "the Man Christ Jesus," and it remains everlasting.
It is the one of which Peter wrote. "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 1:11). Peter means we will be inducted into this kingdom in the fullest sense, with no vestiges of mortality or the curse remaining with us, as they do at this present time. We are now in that Kingdom (Col 1:13), but not in the fullest sense. There remains a part of us that is now within the control of that Kingdom, yet cannot enter into it – namely "flesh and blood" (1 Cor 15:50). Yet, even that part is under the Lord's dominion, and in His power can be subdued and brought under subjection (1 Cor 9:27), and eventually it will be "changed" (1 Cor 15:52).
HIS DOMINION WILL NOT PASS AWAY
" . . . which shall not pass away . . . " Other versions read, "which will not come to an end" (BBE), "that shall not be taken away" (DOUAY), and "it will never end" (NLT).
Dominion was given to the lion-like kingdom of Babylon – but it was taken away. Power was given to the bear-like Persian empire – but it was taken away. Authority was given to the leopard-like kingdom of Greece – but it was taken away. Dominance was given to the ruthless beastly empire of Rome – but it was taken away. What of this Kingdom – the one that God "set up" in the days of those ancient, and now defunct, global powers – the kingdom that has been given to the Son of man? The answer: "it will NEVER end!" (NLT)
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for making me a willing part of a kingdom and dominion that is eternal.