“until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” Daniel 7:22
God gave the prophet Daniel wild visions pertaining to the future of God’s people. Most of his visions needed angelic interpretation. This verse is from one of those interpretations.
The angel was explaining that one of the kings (horns) of the 4th earthly kingdom (4th beast) will wage war and overpower God’s people (saints). That is until God (the Ancient of Days) intervenes by passing judgment in favor of His people (saints of the Highest One).
The next phrase in the verse is the one that captured my attention today: “and the time arrived when the saints (His people) took possession of the kingdom.” When is that? When will we “possess” the Kingdom? Will we possess the Kingdom when we get to heaven?
No, in the New Heaven and New Earth of eternity, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb illuminate the Kingdom (Rev. 21:22-23). During the Millennial Kingdom, it is Christ who reigns for 1000 years (Rev. 20:4). In these time periods, we will be worshipping and serving the Creator and Possessor of all things. By process of elimination, that leaves only the current time period in which we (the saints) possess the Kingdom. That fits the narrative of Matthew 28 where Jesus delegated His authority and power to His disciples and left the earth.
Let’s read the verse again with that thought in mind:
The Ancient of Days (God) came. Let me just stop right there and say that God did come; He came to the earth in the form of a man – Jesus Christ. When God came, He passed judgment in favor of the saints of the Highest One (His people). Jesus Christ is the Highest One. His death and resurrection is the judgment that was passed in favor of the saints (God’s people). Because of God’s favor and Jesus’ blood, we (His saints) took possession of the Kingdom.
You and I have possession of the Kingdom of God right now! Wow! That is a whole new perspective for me!
I have envisioned myself as a citizen of heaven, a daughter and ambassador of The King. However, possession of The Kingdom is a whole new level of blessing and responsibility. The Ancient of Days came and passed judgment in my favor so that I could possess His Kingdom until He returns. I am still getting my mind wrapped around that, but it makes me stand a little taller. How about you?