Dominion is the Son of man’s by
covenant, by personal title, by title of service or obedience, and by title of
death or purchase; and I may add, BY CONQUEST also; for the judgments which are
to clear His way to the throne and take out of the kingdom all that offends
are, as we know, executed by His hand. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in
battle" (Psalm 24).

What foundations are thus laid
for the dominion of the Son of man! How does every title join in subscribing
itself to His honoured and glorious name! As we see in Revelation 5, none in
heaven or earth could take the Book but the Lamb that was slain, who was the
Lion of Judah:but into His hand He that sits on the throne lets it pass at
once; and then the church in glory, angels, and all creatures in all parts of
the great dominions triumph in the Lamb’s rights and title. And if the title is
thus sure, sealed by a thousand witnesses, and wondrous too, so will be the
power and kingdom which it sustains. In the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
"the Lord from heaven," as well as "the Son of man," all
the great purpose of God in the rule of all things stands revived and
established. We may say that as "all the promises of God in Him are yea,
and in Him amen," so all the destinies of man under God are alike in Him
yea, and in Him amen. (2 Cor. 1:19-20).

There was dominion in Adam;
government in Noah; fatherhood in Abraham; judgment in David; and royalty in
Solomon. In Christ all these glories will meet and shine together. In Him, and
under Him, will be "the restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). Many
crowns He will wear, and many names He will bear. His name of "Lord"
in Psalm 8, is not His name of "King" in Psalm 72. The form of glory
in each is peculiar. The crowns are different, but both are His. And He is
likewise "the Father of the everlasting age," a King and yet a
Father— both the Solomon and the Abraham of God. In Him all shall be blessed;
and yet to Him all shall bow. The sword, too, is His:the "rod of
iron," as well as the "sceptre of righteousness." He will judge
with David and rule with Solomon.

As Son
of David, He takes power to exercise it in a given sphere of glory. As
Son of man, He takes power, and exercises it in a wider sphere of glory.
He comes likewise in His own glory, in the glory of the Father, and in the
glory of the holy angels. And as the risen Man He takes power. This is
shown us in I Corinthians 15:23-27. And in that character He has His peculiar
sphere also. He puts death, the last enemy, under His feet. And this is so
fitting, like everything else, perfect in its place and season, that as the
risen Man He should put down death.