August 1: THE GLORY OF OBEDIENCE AND TRUST
But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. 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. Daniel 7:26-27
The dominion of antichrist is temporary. The bellwether of his dominion has been to incite disobedience to the word of Almighty God as if such instruction comes from Him, “saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD’ when the LORD had not spoken” (Ezekiel 22:28). Once the dominion of the antichrist is consumed and destroyed by the Lord Jesus Himself, it will not rise again. The Lord loves to highlight the truth of this announcement with the glorious reward to come for His faithful followers, affectionately referred to as the saints of the Most High. At the same time, it is an invitation to surrender in obedience to the victory that is found only in Christ. Daniel has done a spectacular job of recording lessons for us in a memorable way. In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream …a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like the chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them could be found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (2:34-35, see also verse 45) A Day is coming when our God will make all things new. Right before the eyes of the saved, He will recreate this earth (see Revelation 21:5) where the capital city of the universe will be permanently situated (vv.2,10). There will indeed be no trace left of sin and its resulting corruption.
Today’s opening verses combine the concepts of judgment and the everlasting kingdom of God. This combination is repeatedly taught in the Scriptures, though street interviews consistently reveal ignorance regarding the mission (to save) and goal (to sanctify) of our Savior and the connection between God’s righteous judgment and the ultimate establishment of His kingdom on this earth. Every true Christian will encourage others to choose obedience to God whether or not the ultimate reason or outcome is understood. The Lord in His wisdom always leaves room for trust, the foundational element to any lasting relationship. Daniel freely admitted his lack of full understanding. But this human aspect of limitations did not interfere with his trust which he had, as a child, placed firmly in his God. Chapter 7 of Daniel’s book is the centerpiece of many studies. It describes his dream given in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon. More information from heaven was forthcoming. But first, Daniel had two years to ponder this amazing dream of chapter 7, which he closes thusly:
“This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.” Daniel 7:28
For review: Daniel 2:44; 3:25,28; 4:34-35; 6:22,26,27