13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And 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 one
that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
The Ascension of Jesus Christ is often one of the most overlooked parts of the life and work of Christ. Really it is often seen as insignificant – as inconsequential. But there is nothing that is insignificant or inconsequential about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Everything He did and does matters. He doesn’t do things that don’t matter.
The ascension of Jesus Christ was vitally important to the plan of redemption. That is to say that the ascension of Jesus Christ is vitally important to our salvation – it is vitally important to our souls.
If Jesus Christ did not ascend to heaven to sit down at the right hand of the Father, then we do not have an intercessor in heaven praying for us. If Jesus Christ did not ascend to heaven to sit down at the right hand of the Father, then we do not have an advocate for us before the Father when we sin. And if Jesus Christ did not ascend to heaven to sit down at the right hand of the Father, then we do not have a ruling and reigning King in heaven who is over all the earth. But the good news is that Jesus Christ did ascend into heaven to sit down at the right hand of the Father. And so we have all of those things.
Not only is the ascension of Jesus Christ vital to the plan of redemption, but it was also always a part of the plan of redemption. What may seem so inconsequential was always a part of the plan, so much so, that it was given to the prophet Daniel in a vision as a prophecy about the Messiah and His kingdom, as we read. The Prophet Daniel foresaw the ascension of Jesus Christ.
When the Prophet Daniel foresaw the ascension of Christ, He foresaw Christ receiving dominion and rule over all the nations and peoples of the earth. This implies that the ascension of Christ directly affects our lives and the lives of all nations and peoples that live on earth today, because it means that since Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, we are all under his authority and rule.
There are many who believe that the Kingdom of Christ has nothing to do with this earth, or has nothing to do with earthly nations and governments. Jesus was not simply given dominion in heaven and in His Church, but He was given dominion over all people on earth throughout history. Since Christ ascended to heaven, the world does not belong to the devil, and the world is not neutral. The ascension of Christ was not a retreat from the world, it was Christ’s receiving of the world. The Ascension was not an escape from the earth, it was an embracing of the earth – of all the earth – to have it, keep it, and rule it.
We do not serve a dead Christ, nor do we serve an absent retreatist Christ. We serve the ascended, ruling, reigning Christ who owns the ground wherever our feet may step.
Before Christ was even born it was foretold of Him that when He ascended up with the clouds of heaven and came before the Ancient of Days that He would be given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; and that is His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
This means, that since Jesus Christ has indeed ascended, as He did around 2,000 years ago, that these things – this kingdom, dominion, and rule over all peoples, nations, and languages has been given to Him. It has been His for over 2,000 years and it will not stop.
Since there are no exceptions to the people, languages, and places that shall serve Him, this necessarily includes our people and place. This includes Springfield Missouri. The city of Springfield belongs to Jesus Christ, whether that is acknowledged or not. We are a particular people, nation, and language, among all those that belong to Jesus Christ. Springfield is not the exception to Daniel 7:13-14 – there are no exceptions. In other words, the prophet Daniel prophesied thousands of years ago that Springfield Missouri would be given to Jesus Christ when He ascended to Heaven, and when Christ ascended about 2,000 years ago, Springfield Missouri was given to Jesus Christ.
So we pray that all in this city, that all who govern this city, the mayor, city council, police chief, and all others would come to know Christ and worship and serve Him, and do so in their offices of authority. Praise be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
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