Daniel 7:27, commentary and pictures

Worldwide dominion under the whole heaven will be given to the holy people of God, and that kingdom will endure forever with all other powers serving and obeying it. It is the future kingdom of glory to be set up at Christ's second coming and established at the final judgment, distinct from the kingdom of grace established by His death, for His kingdom is not yet established on earth. The inheritance promised is not Canaan only but the whole earth freed from the curse, purified by fire and cleansed of sin, where the redeemed will live forever as immortal beings. The Father first gives the kingdom and its greatness to Jesus, who takes possession to reign as King of kings, and then to the heirs of salvation as His joint heirs and sons of God. It is given when His work of atonement and intercession is finished, every case decided and the subjects of the kingdom settled, after the wicked are destroyed and the earth made new, when He raises the dead and changes the living saints to take and possess it forever.

Prophecy's Giving and Sealing

The mysteries of ages to come were entrusted to Daniel as God's ambassador at the time he was honored with responsibilities of state and with the secrets of kingdoms bearing universal sway. For coming generations he was enabled to write the prophetic record in figures and symbols covering the history of this world till the close of time.

The ability to understand visions and dreams and to read the mysteries of the future was God's approval and blessing and honoring of Daniel for his firmness, self-denial, purity of motive, unwavering trust, and allegiance to God while he was being instructed in court life in Babylon. Even Daniel himself did not fully understand what was revealed, for the words of chapters seven to twelve were shut up and sealed even to the time of the end. Those prophecies must be studied carefully and applied correctly, tracing events in their historical order toward the close of earth's history.

The light given in Daniel was given especially for the last days, the visions are now in process of fulfillment and all the events foretold will soon have come to pass, so Daniel and Revelation should have attention as never before. At the end of the days, in the closing period of this world's history, Daniel will rest and then stand in his lot and place.

Empires and Little Horn

The four beasts are the successive empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, and the beast of Revelation 13 shares their characteristics and inherits the power they held in succession. The description of the little horn in Daniel 7 closely matches the leopard-like beast of Revelation 13, and both prophecies point to the papacy. The little horn's dominion is removed at the close of the 1260 days, identified with February 1798 when Berthier entered and took Rome and the Pope was taken prisoner.

In the history of the kingdoms shown in Daniel, God worked to abase the pride of men and lay human glory in the dust, casting down one mighty ruler and setting up another. God alone is great, and He and His law are to be exalted while the human agent is kept out of sight. He is the monarch of the universe, the Ancient of days, the living God, the source of all wisdom, the ruler of the present and the revealer of the future, in contrast to how poor, frail, short-lived, erring, and guilty man is.

Nature of Everlasting Kingdom

Worldwide dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom in which all dominions shall serve and obey him, and this is light at eventide, the hope of the fallen race centered in the coming of a Deliverer. It is the future kingdom of glory to be set up at Christ's second advent and established at the final judgment, distinct from the kingdom of grace established by Christ's death. Until then Christ's kingdom is not established on earth.

When Christ's kingdom is established, those who oppose Christ will be destroyed and the righteous rewarded. Christ will take His power and reign as King, and take His great power and reign. The saints will inherit the kingdom prepared for them, with the kingdom and its dominion under heaven given to them and possessed by them forever at the full establishment of God's kingdom of glory at Christ's second coming.

The promised inheritance is not limited to Canaan but is the whole earth given to God's people. The promise is fulfilled through Christ for those who belong to Him, and its inheritance is the earth freed from sin's curse. This kingdom is the renewed earth, purified by fire and cleansed of sin and every mark of the curse, where the saints will live in peace and happiness, redeemed and immortal. After the wicked are destroyed and the earth is purified and the great controversy ends, the kingdom and dominion under heaven are given to the saints of the Most High as their eternal inheritance, and they possess it forever.

The glory of earthly kingdoms will give way to the kingdom given to the saints of the Most High. God's Word moves surely from victory to victory, and the saints receive the kingdom's glory.

Christ Receives and Shares Rule

The Father gives Jesus the kingdom and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, and Jesus takes possession of the kingdom under the whole heavens to possess it forever. The sacrifices pointed forward to the coming Saviour who would take the kingdoms under the whole heaven and possess them forever. When He receives it He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The kingdom and its greatness under heaven are given together to Jesus and to the heirs of salvation, the people of the saints of the Most High. Christ acknowledges the faithful as His heirs and joint heirs with Him, for the kingdom and dominion promised to the Son of God also belong to His followers as sons of God. Their present humiliation and reproach conceal their adoption into God's family, their fellowship with the Father and Son, and their holy calling from a world that does not understand or value them.

His rule brings judgment among the nations and rebuke among many peoples, and brings an end to war throughout the earth. Through Christ's death ransoming many and destroying the power of death, fallen people can be exalted to regain favor with God, enjoy heaven, and dwell with Him. The redeemed will be with Him and will dwell with Him, while Satan and sinners are ultimately destroyed so they can no longer disturb heaven or the purified new earth.

In Gethsemane and during His suffering Christ was assured that His death would defeat Satan and bring a multitude of the redeemed to eternal salvation to share in that everlasting kingdom. The kingdom of this world will be given to the saints of the Most High and will be everlasting, with all dominions serving and obeying Him. He would see the results of His suffering and be satisfied.

Timing of Kingdom Giving

The kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven are about to be given to the heirs of salvation when Christ's work of atonement and intercession is complete. That giving comes after He has made atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. It comes when the judgment of the righteous dead and living is complete, every person's case has been decided, and the number and subjects of the kingdom are settled and complete.

Then the marriage of the Lamb is consummated. Then Jesus takes the kingdom and its greatness under heaven with the heirs of salvation and reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The kingdom is given after the wicked are destroyed and the earth is purified, when the great controversy ends. Then the kingdom and dominion under heaven become the eternal inheritance of the saints of the Most High, which they possess forever. This is the expected return of Jesus, when He will raise the dead, change the living saints, and cause them to take and possess the kingdom forever.

It is the complete victory of Christ's saving work in which God's kingdom will prevail. The gospel will be heard among all nations, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and people from every direction will honor Him, though not all will accept His grace.

Call to Extend and Inherit

The work of Christians is to advance Christ's kingdom through the gospel, and persevering fidelity in making the truth known is richly rewarded in the promised kingdom that will endure forever. The kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven will ultimately be given to the saints of the Most High, who will take and possess it forever. Christ's kingdom work advances toward this lasting victory. This promise gives the goal of Christian work to extend Christ's kingdom.

Through consecrated, united service the church on earth is to exhibit heavenly government and extend Christ's influence toward the coming universal conquest. The greatness and dominion of God's kingdom under heaven will be given to the saints of the Most High.

The greatness of God's kingdom under the whole heaven will be given to faithful, believing children of God. Those who seek God wholeheartedly, humbly follow Christ, labor in faith, and hold fast to God's promises will prevail and receive this kingdom.

God as Father gives the kingdom under the whole heavens in place of the world to obedient people who obey His command to come out and be separate. The gift is for a life of obedience in which a person separates from the world in affections, does not follow its practices or example or conform to it in any action, remains free from its contamination, and escapes the corruption that is in the world through lust.

To receive it for a life of obedience means to be adopted by God as sons and daughters, to be made heirs and members of the royal family. It means to receive an eternal weight of glory and a life as enduring as eternity.