THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on July 14, 2024 under 2024 |

Bethany Bible Church Sermon Message from July 14, 2024 from Daniel 7:13-14

Theme: The details of Daniel’s vision of ‘The Son of Man’ give us cause for victorious hope in troubled times.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

Click HERE for the video archive of this sermon.

Click HERE for the audio version of this sermon.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at a vision. It’s a remarkable vision; because it reveals God’s broad plan for the history of the nations of the world.

In Daniel 7, God had given Daniel a vision in the night of how four great world empires would arise in succession—beginning in his own time and continuing on in history all the way to the time of the return of the Lord Jesus. God had shown these world empires to him in the form of four remarkable beasts—the first representing the Babylonian empire, the second representing the Median-Persian empire, the third representing the Grecian empire, and the fourth representing the Roman empire. These four empires were the world-ruling empires that constitute what the Bible calls ‘the times of the Gentiles’—that age of history that precedes the millennial reign of our Lord on earth.

And in our last time together, we considered something important about that last kingdom that was mentioned—the Roman empire. Daniel was shown certain aspects of that empire that have not yet occurred. He saw that there would be a revival of the Roman empire—sometime yet in our future—in the form of a ten-nation confederacy. And from the midst of this confederacy, a Satanically-inspired man will arise. He’s presented in Daniel’s vision as “a little horn” who will speak pompously, and make great boasts, and display open hostility against God’s people. This is a prophetic picture of the Antichrist, who will rise to world dominance just before the return of the Lord Jesus. It was important that we took the time to focus specifically on what the Bible tells us about him.

But that would be a very dismal place for us to end our study of Daniel 7. And so; this morning, I ask that we focus on what Daniel went on to tell us in Daniel 7:13-14. Daniel must have been awestruck by the whole vision that God gave him; but I believe that what we find in these verses left him more awestruck than any other thing he saw. He wrote;

“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

I too am awestruck by this part of his vision. It’s a prophetic picture of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ—our Savior and Redeemer—as He takes to Himself His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords, and commences His literal reign upon this earth for a thousand years. His kingdom is the final world kingdom—the greatest of them all. His is the kingdom that Daniel saw in the dream that God had given King Nebuchadnezzar in Chapter 2—where he saw a stone cut without hands striking the mighty image of all the world kingdoms at the feet and causing the whole image to crumble away, and which then itself became a mighty mountain that covered the earth.

And you and I need to pay special attention to what Daniel described to us in our passage this morning. It shows us what God’s plan is for the future of this world. It shows us the culminating event to which human history is heading. And it shows us where your and my hope should rest in the tumultuous times in which we’re living today. It’s what the apostle Paul called our “blessed hope”.

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; before we get into the details of this wondrous portion of Daniel’s vision, I’d like to turn your attention for a moment to another passage. It’s Psalm 2. In that psalm, we’re given the perspective of God the Father Himself with regard to what His plan is for the future. In this psalm, it’s made very clear to us that God’s plan will absolutely be fulfilled … and that it will not fail.

The psalmist, who wrote these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was focused upon the same basic subject that Daniel’s vision was focused upon—and that is, the history of the nations in relationship to the coming of our Lord. But in this psalm, he gives voice to the perspective that God the Father on the matter. In Psalm 2:1-3, the psalmist wrote,

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1-3).

In these words, ‘the Lord’ is a reference to God the Father; and ‘His Anointed’—or His ‘Christened One’—is a reference to His Son Jesus Christ. And do you notice what the psalmist says that the nations do in relation to ‘the Lord’ and ‘His Anointed’? They rage against the Persons of the Godhead, and plot against Them, and align themselves together to declare their independence from Them. The nations—and the rulers of those nations—do not want to submit to God. They want instead to declare themselves to be the ultimate authority.

And look at what God Himself is said to be doing about all this:

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:

“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion” (vv. 4-6).

It’s ridiculous for the nations to rage against Almighty God and seek to throw His authority off themselves. He has already declared His plan. It’s already established—as an inviolable decree—that He has set His King upon the throne; and that His King will rule over the world from God’s ‘holy hill’ in Jerusalem.

And look at what God the Son then says that God the Father has told Him;

“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel’” (vv. 7-9).

When a potter takes an iron rod in hand and smashes clay vessels to pieces, it’s so that he can then crumble those pieces to dust, make them into clay once again, and remold their form according to his will. And that’s what King Jesus will do when He comes to reign over the nations. He won’t simply gather up their various constitutions and forms of government and adopt them. Instead, He will demolish them and remake them over in holiness—according to His own sovereign will.

You get the clear impression that this will absolutely happen; don’t you? It’s not presented to us as a mere wish, but rather as an absolute decree. This is God’s plan for the world; and it will not be prevented or thwarted in any way—not even if the most powerful forces on earth rally together against it. And that leads us to what the psalmist then advises the kings of this world to do:

Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him (vv. 10-12).

Now; what the psalmist presents to us in Psalm 2 is a description of the same event that Daniel presents to us in Daniel 7:13-14. Psalm 2 presents it to us from God’s perspective as He looks down upon earth; and the vision that Daniel saw presents it to us from earth’s perspective as it looks up to God. Psalm 2 declares the absolute certainty of it, and Daniel 7 presents the heavenly majesty of it. Psalm 2 declares it as a warning to the unbelieving world, and Daniel 7 presents it as an encouragement to God’s people.

And that, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, is why you and I ought to look carefully at the details of Daniel’s vision in our passage this morning. God has preserved these words for our encouragement, and for our joy, and for our confidence in the light of the promised return and reign of our Savior. They’re meant to keep us from falling into despair during troubled times, and to turn our heads upward in expectant anticipation, and to motivate us to faithful work in the service of Christ’s kingdom.

The details of Daniel’s vision of ‘The Son of Man’ give us cause for victorious hope in troubled times.

* * * * * * * * * *

So then; let’s go back now to Daniel 7:13-14 and look carefully at those details. Seven specific details call for our attention. And the first is …

1. THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THE VISION WAS GIVEN.

This is shown to us at the beginning of verse 13; where Daniel tells us, “I was watching in the night visions …” That may not seem, at first glance, to be an important detail. But it’s actually very important. It shows us that what we find in verses 13-14 does not constitute a separate and distinct vision, but rather is a part of the whole vision that Daniel was being given of the history of the nations. He was still ‘watching’ the vision of the world empires as a whole when he saw the specific thing he saw in verses 13-14.

And so; what was the immediate context of this vision? We find it in verses 9-10. He had been watching as ‘the little horn’—the Antichrist—was rising upon the scene, and boasting and blaspheming against God. Daniel was then shown what was going on in heaven at the same time:

“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened (vv. 9-10).

Who is ‘the Ancient of Days’? That’s a reference to God the Father. Daniel saw Him seated in sovereign authority upon the throne in the heavens. His garments and His hair were white as a symbol of His absolute purity. And His throne was issuing forth in the burning fire of judgment. A vast and immeasurable multitude worshiped and served before Him. And even as ‘the little horn’ bragged and boasted and sought power over the world, God’s court was being seated and the books of judgment were being opened.

What a picture this is of how God laughs at the boasted threats of the kings of this world! What a picture this is of how He will respond in His wrath! What a picture this is of the certainty of His decree to set His Son upon His holy hill in Zion! Let’s not ever doubt that it will indeed happen!

So; that’s the context of this vision that Daniel saw. And now—secondly—let’s move our attention back to verse 13 and notice …

2. WHO IT WAS THAT DANIEL ‘BEHELD’.

Daniel wrote that he was watching in the night visions, “And behold, One like the Son of Man …” I suspect that this was something that Daniel watched with astonishment and awe. You’ll remember that, when God had revealed to him all of the world empires that would precede the coming of the Lord, they were all depicted as monstrous animals—a lion with wings; a devouring bear; a four-headed, four-winged leopard; and a dreadful ten-horned beast with ferocious teeth. But here—approaching the throne of the Ancient of Days—was, of all things, a Man! What a contrast this was to the inhuman nature of the other kingdoms that Daniel saw!

Daniel seemed to struggle to describe what he was seeing. He said that this Man was “One like the Son of Man”. That’s a phrase that emphasizes to us that this One was truly a human being. He was a representative member of the human family. It’s a name that God repeatedly gave to the prophet Ezekiel throughout the Old Testament book that bears his name; and in Ezekiel’s case, it was probably meant to be taken in that ‘representative’ sense. But when used in Daniel’s vision, this name seems to have meant much more than just ‘a sample taken from out of humanity’. It would have meant that this One was presented as the chief member of the whole human family itself—the One who stood before God as the representative of all humanity. It’s an Old Testament name for the Messiah—the Anointed One of God the Father—the Christ.

This was Jesus’ most frequent name for Himself. He applied it to Himself about 95 times in the four Gospels. Let me share one of those times with you. It was when our Lord spoke of Himself in relation to the promised events of the end times. In Matthew 24:29-31, He said;

“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 heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).

So; this is who Daniel ‘beheld’ in his vision. He was given a prophetic glimpse of “One like the Son of Man”; that is, the representative of the human family before God—the Chief of human beings—the Son of God—our Lord Jesus; who willingly set aside His heavenly glory for a time, was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary, was born into the human family as one of us—but without sin, who died in our place on the cross, was raised up alive from the tomb, and who ascended to the right hand of God the Father in glory as the Son of Man.

And a third thing to notice is …

3. HOW IT WAS THAT HE ‘CAME’.

Daniel said that he saw One like the Son of Man, “Coming with the clouds of heaven!” This shows us the divine majesty and glory with which He appeared in the vision.

Do you remember how, after Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared a final time to His apostles? We’re told that, as He spoke with them, He was taken up and received out of their sight into a cloud. And then, two ‘men’—probably angels—were found standing next to the apostles. They told them;

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

That’s how we’re told that Jesus left this earth. And that’s also how we’re told that He will return to this earth. It says in Revelation 1:7;

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7).

When Daniel beheld this ‘One like the Son of Man’ coming in his vision, he beheld Him in divine glory and power—“coming with the clouds of heaven”. That’s how our Lord will literally return to this earth; and that’s how Daniel saw Him approaching the Ancient of Days in heaven. What majesty! What an awesome sight it must have been! What a contrast it is to the darkness and dimness of the rebellious nations that are—even now—resisting God’s authority on this earth!

And fourth, notice …

4. BEFORE WHOM IT WAS THAT HE WAS ‘BROUGHT NEAR’.

We’re told, “He came to the Ancient of Days …” The Son of Man—who comes in the clouds of divine authority—came to the throne of the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth. And do you notice the manifest favor and acceptance in which He is shown to be coming? We’re told, “And they brought Him near before Him.” The “they” probably refers to the countless thousands of thousands who are said to be ministering before God’s throne. They escort Him as worthy to approach before the Ancient of Days—and in a manner that was formal and intentional.

I believe that, in these words, we’re being given just a hint of what we’re told about more fully in Revelation 5. In that passage—which is presented to the apostle John as a vision of things yet to come—God is shown to be upon His throne in heaven. It says;

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:1-12).

I feel sure—don’t you?—that this is what’s being described to us when we’re told that the Son of Man will be “brought near before” the Ancient of Days.

And fifthly, notice—when He is brought …

5. WHAT IT WAS THAT HE WAS ‘GIVEN’.

Revelation hints of it. The prophecy of Daniel makes it plain. Verse 14 says, “Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom …” He didn’t take these things to Himself on His own initiative … as so many kings and emperors and dictators throughout history have sought to do. Instead, they were “given” to Him after He had been brought near to the throne of the Ancient of Days. This tells us that they were given to Him by God the Father—the Ancient of Days—who alone has the right to give them to whomever He wishes.

And notice what these three things are. First, we’re told that He will be given “dominion”. That speaks of His authority. Note that He’s not given merely a ‘portion’ of dominion, but dominion as a whole—full dominion. Then, we’re told that He will be given “glory”. That speaks of His honor and majesty. And again, note that He’s not given merely a ‘portion’ of glory; but rather “glory” … as if it is all given to Him. And finally, we’re told that He will be given “a kingdom”. But note that it’s not simply “a kingdom”—as if He will be given one kingdom of many. In the original language of Daniel’s vision, we’re told that He was given “kingdom”; or as it can be translated, “sovereign power”. He alone is worthy to receive these things from the hand of the Ancient of Days.

Sixthly, notice …

6. WHY THESE THINGS WERE GIVEN TO HIM.

We’re told the reason in verse 14: “That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.” That’s why dominion and glory and sovereign power are exclusively given to Him by the heavenly Father. It’s so that what we’re promised in Philippians 2:9-10 will become a full reality:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

And finally, we’re shown …

7. HOW LONG THESE THINGS WILL ENDURE AS HIS POSSESSION.

Daniel, in this majestic vision, was shown that

His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.

And dear brothers and sisters; we cannot end our look at this vision without noticing a very glorious aspect of this. We’re told that we who have placed our trust in Him, and are united to Him by faith, will be given by Him a share in His glorious rule. Later in this chapter, Daniel was granted an angelic interpretation of the things he saw in this vision. And the interpretation closes with these words—in verse 27;

“Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (v. 27).

That’s the future that the Father has determined for His Son … and that’s our future in Him!

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; the thing that was revealed to Daniel in verses 13-14, is something that the kingdoms of this world—as they presently exist in these ‘times of the Gentiles’—are even now fighting against. They rage against it, and seek to cast God’s authority away from themselves, and declare their independence from Him. Their rebellion against Him will be most horrifically expressed when the Antichrist—’the little horn’—takes the temporary rule of this world and boasts himself against God.

But even when that happens—and even now—the court will have been seated, and the judgment established. God has already declared that He has set His Son upon His holy hill in Zion. It is sure and certain. It will not fail. And so; let’s allow these details of Daniel’s remarkable vision of ‘The Son of Man’ to give us cause for victorious hope—even in these troubled times.

AE

AE