In Sunday’s sermon, we thought about how Christ is the fulfillment of Daniel 4:17. God’s king has come to reign over all the nations, even while they still strive and contend in vain against him. We call this doctrine the “present reign” of Christ. This was predicted at many points throughout the Old Testament – most notably in Daniel 2, Psalm 2, Psalm 110, and 2 Samuel 7. Perhaps we don’t think enough about how Christ is right now on the throne of the universe. Here in the American church, we rightly make much of the Cross and Resurrection, but unfortunately might meditate too little on the Ascension. The Ascension began the present reign of Christ, even as we see portrayed in Revelation 4 & 5 (and as we’ll soon see in Daniel 7). It established Jesus as the true representative of humanity in heaven.
In Revelation, we see the Lamb on the throne given a scroll with seven seals, which represents God’s plan for bringing history to a close in a manner that is both terrible in its fury and wonderful in its salvation. Jesus is the one worthy to open that scroll, and to execute the process of bringing history to its just and true end. Yet we don’t know quite what to do with that claim that he is enacting these things from his throne, because as the seals are opened, horrific things happen! We see these horrors all around us – wars, plagues, deceptions, natural disasters, societal seductions and delusions. And much of this is carried out by…a beast. Many horrific harms to humanity are committed by these beasts. And yet Jesus opened the seals. And the language surrounding the beast’s actions are that “it was given” to be able to do this or that for a season. It was given…by whom? And we start to see the connection back to the book of Daniel.
God is on the throne, and now he has given that authority to the “lowliest of men” – to the Lamb who was slain. And yet “beasts” seem to rule the day. Why? Four observations:
- Christ’s throne is in heaven, not on earth. He rules from the control-room of all that was made, but we don’t see him here where the results of his commands come about.
- His reign is indirect, not direct. Because his reign is from heaven, he enlists thrones and powers here on earth. They think that they have elevated themselves by their own intrinsic worthiness. In actuality they are unwitting vice-regents, being wielded by the hand of the architect of history.
- Often “it is given” to these lesser powers (beasts) to be able to freely act on what is in their hearts, namely, evil schemes that bring about destruction on the earth. They are culpable for these actions, and yet mysteriously there is also a cosmic justice at work, as we are “given over” to the fruits of our own rebellion (Romans 1:18-32).
- We feel the tension in this time. Christ’s reign is waiting for its full expression. Why waiting? God’s patience and mercy. He seeks to still warn us, to invite us, to draw us into clemency and peace. But one day soon all enemies will be put under Jesus’ feet. He will begin to rule directly, as heaven and earth are united, and it will be declared, “Now begins the age of the King!” Soon enough, there will be no more beasts.