Daniel 7:27 - "Then the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High; and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him."
He's saying that all of the kingdoms will become His kingdom; and every dominion, every realm over which anyone rules, will become His domain; and they will serve and obey Him. So we get then to the applications of this, and of course, faithfulness in this life determines the level of authority you'll carry in the millennial reign. So everyone of us has got a different responsibility and assignments in the millennial kingdom - everyone, everyone. Think of what it takes to run a nation - you've got to have people doing all kinds of jobs, all kinds of places, and so there's going to be a place for everyone. God's big enough to make that happen.
In Revelations 20:6, it says: we'll be priests and Gods, and reign with Him 1000 years - that means we'll have an authority to bring about change or transformation. In Luke 19:17, someone was put over 10 cities; in Luke 19:19, someone was over five cities. In Revelations 2:26 - some will get power over the nations. Revelations 3:21 - some will sit with Me in My throne. Now the thing I want you to see from there is this: there are many different realms of authority. Some will sit in His throne with Him. Some will have authority to change nations.
Well, there's only so many nations of the world, a couple of hundred, so there's only a couple of hundred people going to be doing that! And then there'll be others who have authority over ten cities, over five cities, and then over less and less and less and less. He's saying then, that what we do now determines the level we will operate at in the coming kingdom. Faithfulness now, in serving, determines what responsibility and authority we have in the coming kingdom.
I'd like you to read Luke 19:11-27, which is the parable, not unlike the Talents parable which is a slightly different one. It's the Parable of the Pounds, or Minas.
"And a certain Nobleman when to a far country to receive a kingdom for Himself and return."
The Nobleman is Jesus; the country is heaven. He's gone to receive a kingdom, and return. He tells His servants: occupy, or do business, until I come. In other words, every believer... God doesn't want you just mucking around - enjoying a nice service! He wants you to be busy with your gifts, your time, your resources - engaged in advancing the kingdom, and representing Jesus. When He returned, having received the kingdom, He commanded the servants who He'd given money to, and called them: I want to know how much each man had gained by trading - Luke 19:13. So everyone will be called when the Lord returns: what did you do?
In another session, I will show you what He takes into account, which is quite a relief really! He takes our weaknesses into account. He takes lots of things into account, in working this out - He's a Righteous Judge! Everyone will give account; and our faithfulness will be acknowledged, and then rewarded. If you've been productive and fruitful in this life, you will then be productive and fruitful, and given authority, in the next.
What about people who are not? What about people who resist Him? He said: bring these enemies of mine, that did not want Me to reign over them - and slay them before Me! People who fight against God in this age - there's going to be a problem for them, when He returns. They'll meet an untimely death!
That's a great parable to study. It's a parable of the coming kingdom. There's lots of truths hidden in the parable. The core of it, is that faithfulness now is required - well done, good and faithful servant; faithful over few things, ruler over many! In order for us to participate in ruling with Jesus, we have to overcome now. Now is the day! Every day presents a new challenge to overcome. It's a great honour that we have been given! Our eternal destiny is the throne of God Himself.
Revelations 3:21 - "To him who overcomes, I will grant with him to sit in My throne, as I also overcame."
Overcoming is the big issue.
"He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, I'll give him power over the nations".
Notice how, in all of these great promises, they're very, very big, mind-blowing promises. But at the core of them, always - you must overcome! There's always something to overcome. Revelation 2 & 3 tells you what all the end time churches have got to overcome. It's not automatic, it doesn't come to every believer; it's promised for those who overcome! You overcome losing your first love; you maintain passion; you overcome in trials, and don't quit. Think of people you know in church - one little thing, and they quit! What? You - it's like, you don't understand what's at stake here. Compromise - think of many people are compromised. They're just living one foot in the church, one foot in the world; one in the kingdom, one outside the kingdom - that's not going to cut it! We need to live strongly!