I shared this with a few family members last week. I offer it here lightly edited, trusting that the Lord will use it as He chooses.
“‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’” – Daniel 7:17–18
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” – Hebrews 12:11
I woke up this morning with Daniel 7:18 replaying in my head over and over. “But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.”
I thought about why the “but” is there. Why? Because it isn’t in euphoric times of peace that the Stone cut without hands will crush the statue of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. “But” also provides the contrast between what appears strong and Who actually is. I thought of the Highest One, the Name above every name, far above all rule and authority, and to Whom all things everywhere are being gathered.
I thought of “will receive” not take by force. How many times after David was anointed by Samuel could he have listened to the advice of those closest to him, taken the life of Saul, killed an adversary, or taken the throne by force? “Now is your chance!” But he received the throne! We are all acquainted with our fleshly tendency to take by force, and with its consequences. How different is the life-giving receiving by the Spirit, that which comes from His hands, “which cannot be taken”! The kingdom is established by the Stone “cut without hands,” and we ourselves are living stones being built into a spiritual house by His own hands, by the Spirit. That house is the Body of Christ, and Christ is Head over it. How much of the Lord’s beauty was etched into David’s heart in those decades between anointing and the throne? He learned, albeit imperfectly, what our Lord perfectly embodied and proclaimed, that man must not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God! This beautiful work of His love is a display of our Father’s mercy and grace, not only in this age, but also in the age to come, that we may share in His holiness.
I thought of “the kingdom.” The total unhindered rule of God in the lives of His saints and one day soon over all the universe, the administration of His holy government of righteousness, “that God may be all in all.” What are the implications now that we are anointed like David and awaiting our inheritance in the heavenly kingdom?
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:28–29
The Apostle Peter said that entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to us and that a time is coming very soon when the Morning Star, Christ Himself, rises fully in our hearts and the great and glorious Day dawns. As the Apostle John said, “we shall see Him as He is.”
He carves living stones without a chisel, and fights our battles not with a sword of iron, but with the sword of His mouth.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;” – 2 Corinthians 4:7 We are not to be surprised at the fiery trials which attempt to sideline us, put us on the injured list, or bench us from our struggle “against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12
We may feel physically weak or just plain worn down. There is an end to our striving in our own strength, as we learn to labor according to His power, which mightily works within us. “for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” – 2 Corinthians 10:4
This is our warfare. Anointed and awaiting, but not left in a purposeless interim without the careful and loving hands of God, leading, caring for the ewes, perfectly shepherding His sheep. No! As we walk with Him, we are promised the presence of Almighty God, fellowship with Him in His sufferings, which produces eternal glory in Christ that far outweighs all temporal trials.
I thought of “forever, for all ages to come.” Eternity – from age to age and unto all ages forever and ever. Our great God and King spans the two eternities, if we can even use that phraseology. He was before time, is now, and will always be after time ends. “And so shall we always be with the Lord”! “That which was from the beginning…concerning the Word of Life…in Him was life and the life was the light of all mankind.”
“Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” – John 12:28
Oh God, help us to see, by living faith, beyond the horizon and even beyond the next horizon! When Zaccheus heard that Jesus was coming, he ran ahead and climbed a tree, an undignified thing for a rich man to do. He thought, “I must SEE HIM!” He got up, ran ahead, climbed a tree, and saw Him! Our Lord looked up, locked eyes with him, a man of small stature and questionable character, but with a heart ready to receive and obey. Receive! What a difference from taking by force! Receive. And He called him by his name and said “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Let’s get up, run ahead, and climb together today “in the strength of His might!”
The beasts have their moment. The kingdoms rise. The saints suffer. The enemy appears to prevail. But the Highest One reigns!
And the saints will receive the kingdom, forever, for all ages to come.
May God, through His unending and super abundant love and grace, strengthen these weak hands and feeble knees and make straight paths for our feet, by “the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”
Love you all.
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”- Revelation 22:17
“Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.’” – John 17:1–5, 22–24