11/2/10- Daniel 7:13-14 Who is Really in Charge

13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. 14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.  (Matthew 24:30,31)

(The Sign in the Sky- Cross picture taken 10-31-10)

Thoughts: Real devotion comes from a desire to see Him and be with Him more than anything else.  So the Bible ends with the longing, "Come Lord Jesus!"  The great hope is that one day God will set it all straight.  Scoffers act as if God will never act.  Some act as if the election alone will change the world in some kind of ultimate and drastic way.  But we need to remember who is really the king of kings.  Those under a heavy load in life long for relief and things to be set right the way they were meant to be.  One day the weakness of the cross will be replaced by the power and glory of the resurrection.  It is in God's great patience and timing. 

Prayer: Lord, may I long for your coming to set things right. Today we pray for the elections and ask that you would show yourself to be in charge by them.  May you be honored here as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

John Calvin abridged: Daniel has shown how God is on the throne of judgement, and at the end God shows what is now hidden, that He has the supreme authority of all government.  This passage in Daniel definitely refers to the Christ as "Son of Man" and speaks of his ascension to power.  In the end Christ will punish those who rebel against his authority.  He says this in part to encourage those who are persecuted by those in authority.  It is offensive to see the ungodly living without concern because they think their mockery of God will go unpunished.  It is too easy to be captivated by the allurements of our own prosperity and lose the fear of God.