What a future!
Daniel 7; Rev 22v5
An mp3 of this talk can be downloaded from the Bethany City Church website here
Introduction
My wife loves ice-skating. I enjoy, but I’m not that good at it. I feel unsteady, insecure, not 100% sure footed. Going in a straight line is fine, so longer as no one significantly more confident than me dashes in front of me missing me by about 3 inches. But I don't feel insecure because of the ground; the ground itself is very stable. it is my connection with it that is not.
Sometimes, when we look at passages like Daniel 7, or some of the questions that spring from it we can feel like we are ice skating. The ground we are walking on is not unstable but we are anything but steady footed and secure. If you feel the same as me, come skating with me!
Conclusions and Questions from Daniel 7
In 'Apocalypse Now!' we were thinking about a difficult, but thrilling passage. Chapter 7 is the pivotal chapter in the book of Daniel which the rest of the book orients around. In summary we came to three conclusions.
1. Heaven rules, which means that evil will not win. Even when, humanly speaking it looks like things are bad, evil is romping unchallenged through our world and our lives,at the end of the day evil will not win!
2. All kingdoms, dominions, authorities and rules in this world – whether the Babylonians, Greeks, Communism, Captialism, British empire, US or China, all kingdoms will come to an end... except one. The Kingdom of the Son of Man, who is in fact God will reign forever. And the reality of that Kingdom is found in his rule and reign as he is worshipped and honoured as King over the world and universe, both now and for eternity.
3. So, in the here and now, we should live lives investing ultimately not in something that will one day end, but in that which will last forever – the Kingdom of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. How have you been doing that this week?
But amongst many other things, I am left with 2 questions at the end of the vision in Daniel 7.
- Firstly, what does it mean to honour, worship and obey the Son of Man, who reigns? (v14-15)
- Secondly, 3 times in the second half of Ch7, Daniel speaks of the ‘Saints [holy people] of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and will possess it [rule] for ever - yes, for ever and ever.’ (v18, 22, 27) If that is the destiny of those who put their trust in the hands of the Son of Man, what will experiencing the reality of that kingdom be like - both now and then? What does it mean that we will 'rule'?
All Kingdoms end, but one lasts forever
The first 6 chapters of Daniel make clear that the Kingdom of God was a present reality 700 years before Jesus. In fact, it was from the spans of eternity before that and still is today. Daniel 1-7 makes clear that Daniel lived under the influence of many Kingdoms, dominions and rules, including that Kingdom - and so do we. It has always been like that. In Daniel’s day, when he first saw and penned what we now have before us in Daniel 7, these Kingdoms and Dominions were defined and dominated by Kings and Leaders with great authority who represented, and oftens dominated their people. Firstly King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. Then other Babylonian Kings who replaced Ned. Eventually different kingdoms rule, until Ch7 when we are left looking forward to Alexander the Great and the Greek Empire, Caesar and the Romans. What about today? Well, for some of us in this world, our outlook is dominated by a leader of power and authority in one part of the world or another. The figure head of a Kingdom is a person. For others of us, our horizon is dominated not by a King or Lord, but by an outlook or philosophy that we sign up to whether it be Materialism, Atheism, Polytheism or something else. But we all live under the influence of a Kingdom, or Kingdoms.
Daniel 7 paints it like this. It is as though we have a fistful of straws, each straw representing a Kingdom, and each having influence for a time. The message of Daniel 7 is striking, profound, cataclysmic and Cosmic, both 700 years ago, and today. All rthese straws, all rule, Kingdoms and Dominions, whether good or evil will end. Evil will not win. All will be judged and have an end. All these straws are ultimately short. Except one. There is one which is eternal!
The eternal kingdom of the Son of man.
Let me be honest. When it comes to considering the nature of the eternal kingdom of the Son of Man, I am left with lots of questions, hints and things I’m not entirely sure of. When embarking on a subject that looks at these 'end time' things it is important to state that publicly, especially when so much damage can and has been done by dogmaticsm on these things. Having these questions is actually, I think, probably a good thing. Whilst acknowledging the questions, what we do know whether in Daniel 7 or the NT was actually given to encourage and build us up, not divide. So, this is how it looks from where I am standing.
When speaking to his closest disciples, Jesus said these words.
‘I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judgeing the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.’ Matt 19v28-29
Jesus deliberately shows us a number of things. Notice, firstly, how he associates himself with being the mysterious figure of the Son of Man, a direct reference to Daniel 7, who is worthy of worship equal with God because he is God. He is the one who will sit on his glorious throne when all other kingdoms, dominions and rules have ended. A time will come when the fistful of straws will all end as the throne room of the Ancient of days brings justice to the universe. But one Kingdom will not end it will be 'renewed' (or regenerated).
The Bible talks about this day in lots of ways. We often think and see it all as negative, partly because we are used to glum guys with depressing faces and messages preaching doom and gloom - ‘Behold – the Kingdom of God is nigh!’ and talking about it all the time. Actually, much of what the Bible paints about that final day is in pictures, picture that tell us that the final day will be an end to this world as we know it. It will be destroyed, but not removed from existence. It will be a day when this world will be made new (regenerated). It is a day of definitive change which is why Jesus uses the word ‘regeneration’. To all intents and purposes, this universe is wrapped up, and ends. But it is not the end. One Kingdom is everlasting.
There will be a new heaven and a new earth. In fact it appears that this earth will be renewed, regenerated (that is what the word Jesus uses suggests). It will be made of the same stuff but different; new. And it is here that the physical worlds and spiritual worlds that currently exist will finally collide into one reality; the Kingdom of the Son of man, where perfection, truth, beauty and peace rule. In fact Peter calls it the ‘home of righteousness' (2 peter 3v13). I love that! The place where righteousness reigns!
We will reign!
And it is mind blowing when we see who is in charge, who rules and reigns over this kingdom. We saw earlier, that Jesus speaks of the 12 disciples sitting on thrones ruling over the 12 tribes. That is interesting, especially as, when Jesus is writing, 10 of those tribes no longer exist... Looking at the Bible as a whole you see that this hints towards a slightly different picture. Daniel, Jesus, Peter, Paul and John all make clear that Christian people, followes of Jesus rule in the Kingdom of the Son of Man. A quick walk through some of these verses will suffice to make that clear.
‘...the sovereignty, power, and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed pver to the saints, the people of the Most High. His Kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ (Daniel 7v27)
It is interesting that other translations make clear that 'their Kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.' (English Standard version). In fact, This is the preferred translation in the ESV. Gods people will reign over the Kingdom.
‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’ (Luke 22v28-30)
Now it is important that we don't just assume that when Jesus speaks to the 12 he is also speaking to us (ruling the twelve tribes). But notice, this Kingdom is a place of eating and drinking. It is real physical. Eslewhere Jesus speaks of not eating bread and drinking wine again with his people until it is with him in his Kingdom. The Kingdom of the Son of Man, is. like this world, physical. It enjoys food and drink, but with Jesus.
‘Don’t you know that the saints will judge the world?...Do you not know that you will judge the angels?’ (1 Cor 6v2-3)
In his letters to the Corinthians, Paul speaks not to the 12, but this time the reference of ruling is to all Christians! We, all those who follow Christ will rule the then world, and, it appears, will judge the angels! This is a little confusing, but more of that in a bit.
‘You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’ (Revelation 5v10)
Here in Revelation, the picture of all those who are saved by the blood of the lamb, purchased for God will 'reign' as Kings and priests over the Kingdom. This reign is only possible because of the centrality of the person and work of the Son of Man in ransoming them.
‘No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.’ (Rev 20v3-5)
This Kingdom will be a place of no curse (sin, pain, suffering etc) and will have the servants serving God and reigning over the Kingdom - but with him as they see him face to face. All those who worship and follow the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the King of the everlasting Kingdom, will reign with the King in his presence in that everlasting Kingdom on the renewed earth. They will be physically real, spiritually real, eating and drinking, seeing God and leading the angels. This is mind blowing stuff and difficult to get our heads around, so let us look at it this way.
Genesis to 'Regenesis'
A little earlier we said that the day of the judgement room od Daniel 7, when the Ancient of days will bring final justic to the universe will be a day when the universe as we know it will end. Peter puts it like this
‘But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the eements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.' 2 Peter 3v10-12
It will be a definitive end of all things as we know it. But, Jesus use of the word ‘regeneration’ is important not just because it helps us to see that it is renewed. This new earth will be a new creation, in many ways like the old creation – but different. In fact, the regeneration should lead us back to the first 'generation' in Genesis 1 when the world was first created.
Look at these verses from Genesis, making particular note of what God expected of humans in his first, then perfect, creation.
‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the seas and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground... FIll the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish...’ Genesis 1v26, 28.
Gods plan for the world has always been that the pinnacle of his creation – the only part to be made in his image would rule, reign and be masters over the world, in perfect relationship with him. This was his originalplan and is still the destiny of the universe. It will happen! This kingdom is the only kingdom that will last forever. Here there will be no sin, no rebellion.
Notice that when Adam and Eve first rebelled against God, it marked the day when a separation between the physical world and spiritual world occurred. Sin and rebellion against God ripped the one perfect reality into two as God, who had walk with his perfect people was now distanced from them because of their refusal to rule over the world (or kingdom...) in relationship with him. But, the day is coming when, once again, the people who worship the Son of Man will be a Kingdom and priests to serve God, and they will reign on the earth. They will leave as originally intended in perfect harmony with the kingdom and with God. One reality, forever.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I want to be there. In one way we are already of we follow Jesus Christ. That Kingdom exists now. It existed in Daniels day - even King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged it, (and Belshazzar and Darius too) – even while they reigned. They each said ‘His kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom.’
The wonderful thing is, Daniel does not leave us with a fist full of straws. We are not left guessing which Kingdom is the one to follow, the one that will last the longest. It is as though Daniel opens out the fist, laying the straws out for us to see. He shows us which kingdom is everlasting and he introduces us to its King. He tells us to worship him who lasts forever and gives thrones to his people to reign over the earth in a new world of justice and righteousness for eternity.
The Son of Man – the key
And if this seems a little far-fetched for you, simply think about the Son of Man. De died, but rose again – regenerated. He was recognised by his disciples as he walked with them. He ate with them and talked with them after the resurrection but he was different in his resurrection body. In his death the judgement of the world was foreshadowed and the new creation started as he rose from the dead. He lived a life of perfect holiness and righteousness. And he accepted the worship of God, used the names of God and claimed to be God. The person of Jesus foreshadowes what will happen to the kingdom. God is a God or resurrecton, righteousness and right reign, and responding to him means being included in this cosmic recreation and future of reigning with him.
Want to be there? Just look at how the straws are laid out – and chose to follow, love and worship him.
Live in the light of his coming and our reigning!
If you are already are followers of Jesus the Son of Man, look again at the words of Peter.
'Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness’ 2 Peter 3v11-13
Since everything is going to melt away, we live holy lives. Why? Not because we are scared and must but because we look forward to the new heavens and the new earth when we will reign over the world, in perfection. It will be a new world, but there is a continuity between the now and the then. If we will reign then, we will want to reign now! We live now, aware that the spiritual realm is in real and exists. But we also know that it will one day be reunited with the physical world we live in. There will again be one great ultimate reality. And so we pray that God’s Kingdom will come, and his will done here on earth. And we seek to make this earth – that will one day end, a place where righteousness dwells – ready for the day when the books are opened and the only kingdom that lasts forever is the only reality. We store up treasure, not on earth where rust and moth destroy, but in the knigdom which is to come where it will never be destroyed or waste away. And we live for the ultimate treasures.
It is easy to get excited about the Kingdom that is to come, but the ultimate treasure is not the Kingdom. It is the King. Being with and experiencing the glory of God in the presence of his Son Jesus Christ for all eternity will be awesome and worth living the present in the light of. My prayer is that you want to be there! I do. So live in the light of its coming.