Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

So far, we have seen Daniel interpreting a Babylonian monarch’s dreams. Now, it’s Daniel’s turn to have his own dreams. In his first dream, he saw four dreadful beasts --a lion, bear, leopard and a horrific beast with iron teeth and bronze claws. The four beats represent four world-empires. The lion represents Babylon; the bear, Persia; the leopard, Greece under Alexander the Great; and the fourth beast, with great iron teeth, Rome. The culmination of history ends when the Son of man destroys this final kingdom pictured as the fourth beast. This vision corresponds with dreadful image dreamt by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 2.

                                                                                

Daniel saw the Ancient of Days, referring to the Eternal God, sitting upon His throne. His snow-white raiment betokening His purity, and His fiery throne bespeaking His fiery judgment to all things that offend and work iniquity (vs 9-10).

The climax of this vision is the appearing of the Son of Man who reigns over His eternal kingdom: “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (vs 14).

The Son of Man is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone fits the description of one who is with the Ancient of Days, having dominion of all kingdoms. Just before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). In Revelations 11:15, John saw the angels announcing: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

Daniel 7:14 was fulfilled when Christ rose from the dead and sat down at the right hand of God which draws all men to Him acknowledging Him as their Lord. The apostle Paul spoke of its fulfilment in Philippians 2:9-11: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

What is the name ‘which is above every name’? It is the name Jesus; the name that means “Jehovah is salvation”. It testifies to the divinity of Jesus that Jesus is Yahweh. Paul was quoting from Isaiah 45:22-23 which God said: “I am God, ….unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

Today, as in Paul's day, it takes courage to believe and confess that Jesus is LORD of all. It further takes humility to bow at the name of Jesus. As Lord, Jesus Christ deserves reverence, honour, and obedience because of the glory that was bestowed upon Him by the Father. As followers of Christ, we must acknowledge Him in all of our ways. This confession that Jesus is Lord is not just a lips confession but a confession that is shown in our manner of life (John 13:35).

We are in God’s Eternal Kingdom. The apostle Peter says an entrance has already been laid up for the faithful but still, we must be diligent in making our calling and election sure and steadfast (2 Peter 1:9-11). Those who fail to live the virtuous life that Peter mentioned in verse 5 to 8 will not get to enter the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Daniel saw the Son of Man in His dominion and everlasting kingdom in which His followers will “serve and obey him” (vs 27). Are you serving your Lord in His kingdom? (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.