Daniel 7:13-14 – God gives the Son of Man an eternal kingdom. A vision of the Son of Man’s presentation to
the Lord who gave Him an indestructible kingdom. Here we get the picture of one like a son of
man appearing before the Lord, not coming to earth as in Mark 13. By the time
of the New Testament, the Son of Man was conceived as an individual, a heavenly
figure. Jesus used the term to signify His Messiahship. This is the
proclamation of the final establishment of Christ’s kingly rule. It says that
at the end all things in the world will be subject to Christ and that all
nations will serve Him. This is the basis for Christian hope.
Here we have a delightful scene in heaven. The Son of
Man is presented to the Father. It is similar to a subject’s presentation to a
king. Jesus has completed the task God =gave him. He died for the world and
rose in victory. Now he returns to heaven and is presented to the Father. As a
reward for his work, the Father gives him an eternal and universal kingdom.
Daniel saw better than he knew.
The word “dominion”
is used several times in these two verses. It is the kingdom, the reign give to
the Son of Man. This makes him more than a king, for his rule extends to the
ends of the universe. Because of this dominion, he is the judge of the earth.
Since he is God’s Son, his rule is eternal for the LORD cannot die. The
universe belongs to Christ and it is in his good hands. In spite of this,
Christ does not have perfect dominion until every heart accepts him as king.
As the king of the universe, the Son of Man has innumerable servants, as a king deserves. He served the people of all ages by his atoning death, and now all peoples are his servants. If Christ is our king, ten we are his servants. We exist to obey. We live to please him. In that service we find our peace, our joy and our freedom. .[2]
Collect for the Glorious Reign of Christ —Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son, we pray, that he may lead home His bride, the Church, that we will all the redeemed may enter into Your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. [3][1] The New Heaven, Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] Lectionary
Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
[3] Collect
for the Glorious Reign of Christ, Lutheran
Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing, St. Louis
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