Sermon for Christ the King – Sunday November 21, 2021
Calvary/Marquette ● Soli Deo Gloria

Grace be unto you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6, NKJV)

Daniel 7:13–14 (NKJV)
13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

In the Name of Jesus, the Christ,
King of kings and Lord of lords,
Dear Fellow Redeemed in His Blood –

“He’s not my president!” It’s become popular in some corners of our country today to petulantly disavow the man elected to the presidency...because they voted for the other guy. It’s no surprise in our increasingly divided society where everything is black and white and those to talk the loudest imagine they are correct. It’s sadly childish. “He’s not my president” seems to say that certain people believe that only they can choose a legitimate president.

“He’s not my King!” In a monarchy it’s a decidedly more dangerous statement. The King usually comes to power by force of arms and wields authority over the military. If you live in a monarchy and declare, “He’s not my King!” Well, you might just disappear or end up in a deep dark prison...unless the next king looks with favor upon you.

“He’s not my King!” The Chief Priests of Jesus’ day petulantly declared at the conclusion of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate (John 19:15, NKJV): “We have no king, but Caesar.” Then a short time later, Pontius Pilate essentially declared the same when he had fashioned a title to be hung on the cross over the head of the dying Nazarene: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” He might be a king fit for the Jews, but he’s not my king.

“He’s not my King!” There are people that still boldly say the same about Jesus of Nazareth. They refuse to recognize Christ’s Kingship or Authority.

The Prophet Daniel reveals to us this final Sunday in the Church Year that the day is coming when everyone will recognize the Son of Man’s Authority and Kingship. On that day, the Ultimate Inauguration will take place when Christ the King comes from heaven...not earth and is given dominion over all...and will rule forever among His Subjects.

On that Day everyone who has declared, “He’s not my King!” will weep and mourn...and then depart to eternal punishment. May God the Holy Spirit grant that we cling to Jesus by faith through His Word. We therefore pray: “Sanctify us by your Truth, O Lord, Your Word is Truth.” Amen.

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past week, you heard all that you care to hear about the Courtroom. It seems that the judge can barely move in his seat without the media telling us something about the trial in Kenosha. It seems more like a soap opera than a court of law.

If you read through the book of the Prophet Daniel, you will find more than the burning fiery furnace and the den of lions. You will also read how the LORD enabled Daniel to interpret the dreams and visions of kings - Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius. When all the wise men of these kings drew a blank, they turned to Daniel, and the LORD revealed the meaning of these dreams and visions...and Daniel prospered.

The Prophet Daniel himself was also given a frightening vision by God in which he saw four beasts rising from the earth, coming out of the sea. These beasts represented four great empires to rise on earth.

 The First Beast looked a Lion with the wings of an Eagle. It represented the Babylonian Empire...which ruled until replaced by the next great empire.
 The Second Beast looked like a Bear. It represented the Medo-Persian empire which overtook Babylon and ruled until it was replaced by the next great empire.
 The Third Beast looked like a Leopard with four heads and four wings. It represented the Greek Empire which overtook the Medo-Persian and ruled the earth under Alexander the Great.
 The Fourth Beast was dreadful with huge iron and nails of bronze and 10 horns. It represented the Roman Empire which replaced the Greek Empire and ruled the world, trampling enemies under its feet.

After each of these beasts arose from earth and ruled...there was also to come a time of Judgment. I’ll simply read the description of the courtroom and I’m quite sure you will understand who is the Ancient of Days; and the Day these words describe (Daniel 7:9-10):

“I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.”

There is no description of a long-drawn-out trial. There are no lawyers strutting about like peacocks. There is no media coverage. The final horn of the dreadful beast is destroyed and cast into fire.

Then Daniel’s Vision relates to us the Ultimate Inauguration Day...

13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

It’s not difficult for us to figure out who is the Great King.

First of all, He’s described as the Son of Man.

This is a title that’s used nearly 200 times in the Scriptures. In some cases, it’s used of humanity in general (Psalm 8:4) and can emphasize the frailty of human beings. In other cases, it’s used of someone who is the Commander in Chief of the Angels of Heaven (Matthew 13:41).

Jesus used the title “Son of Man” many times of Himself (Matthew 8:20, 9:6, 12:8, 18:11). When Jesus was asked by the High Priest if He was the Promised Christ, the Son of God, He replied plainly and in a way that reminds us of these very words (Mark 14:62):

“I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

In Daniel’s Vision, it’s clear that the Son of Man is more than a man. He comes into the courtroom into the very presence of the Ancient of Days, God the Father.
It is clear that this Son of Man is human, yet also fully God.

Secondly, the Son of Man is described as coming on the clouds of heaven...not from the sea.

Each of the four beasts (Lion, Bear, Leopard and Dreadful) in Daniel’s vision originated on earth, pictured as rising up from the sea...the Son of Man does not come from earth. While He is the Son of Man, He does not come from earth, but from Heaven.

On the Great Day of His Inauguration, He comes on the clouds of heaven. He doesn’t come to the court to stand and be judged. He comes to take his rightful place as the King of All.

14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

This Inauguration Day won’t be like those cold days in Washington DC in January. It will be different in many ways.

 The President of the United States...is just a man. He is one elected by the people and his term will serve God’s purposes whether by bringing blessing or judgment.

The One given the Throne in Daniel’s Vision...is more than a man. He is no politician. He won’t take an oath of office or swear to assure His people that He will act in their best interest. He proved Himself faithful and true by living a sinless life as our substitute and by laying down His life to make atonement for the sins of all. In truth, all those who trust in Him are His People. They include some from every ethnic group (people) and political boundary (nation) and from every language.

 The President of the United States...places his hand on the Bible and swears, submits to the Highest Power.

This King will not place His Hand upon a Bible...or submit to one higher. He is the Son and Word of God.

 The President of the United States...no matter what He may think...holds only one of the three branches of power in our country. He is no monarch, no dictator. He owes his power to the people, to those who elected him...and he ought to remember it.

This King is given all power and authority in heaven and on earth. He served us by laying down His life, now all serve Him. Now people may claim that Jesus is no King...but on that day all will have to admit that He is Lord. For (Philippians 2:9-11):

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 The President of the United States serves the people...until he is replaced by another. There is a limit to his time in the Whitehouse. There is a limit to his lifespan on earth.

This King will rule forever and ever. He possesses a Kingdom that will never end and never be replaced. For it is here written:

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Kings rise and fall. Pharoah, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius....arose, ruled and died and were buried.

Nations rise and fall. On the world stage, countries have risen to prominence and then fallen into obscurity. China, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome...Great Britain...the United States. These all rise and fall for a variety of reasons.

The King seen by Daniel in his night vision...is the Son of Man...but in His first coming He didn’t look much like a King. He lived in humility and was treated with shame. He suffered and died. He was buried.

Then He arose from death and ascended into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of the Ancient of Days to await the day of His 2nd Coming when He will be inaugurated as the King above all Kings and Lord over every Lord. The Kingdom of Christ continues...because He lives.

The Dominion, the Kingdom of Christ is eternal. It was foretold to be...by Daniel...and by the Angel who came to his mother Mary with the surprise news of His Birth, saying (Luke 1:30-33):

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Of course, you know all this.

But...do you mind if I ask...Do you rejoice in it?

When Satan comes calling and accusing you of sin...do you return to the Cross and rejoice in your forgiveness and thank God?
When you hear how some Christians are persecuted and killed for their faith, do you rejoice to know that Christ the King is still in control and is still coming back to rule as the King Eternal?
When you feel lonely and alone, when the tears flow, do you remind yourself that when the King returns....

“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Daniel reminds us that while monsters rise on earth and rule...the Son of Man is coming. Then will the ultimate inauguration take place when the King comes from heaven, and is given the kingdom and will rule forever and ever.

For to Him belongs the Kingdom, and the power and the glory...forever and ever.
Amen!