Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
It is evident that the purpose of God in making a human being in the image he had always perceived in his mind, was for him to have dominion, ruling over all things for God’s glory! But that dominion was never intended to be as fallen, selfish men would have imagined! It was to be only brought into effect as God intended by way of man himself becoming a servant!
(The “image nation” {imagination} is one of the “nations” that Christ would rule with a rod of iron! 2 Corin. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;)
Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
It is little realized, and seemingly never a topic of Christian conversation, that the very earliest “image” one can find in the scriptures is that of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:8). Therefore that must be that the image the Lord spoke of in our above listed verse, which he intended to use as his pattern to make man, which was one of a sacrificing servant. He would be Lamb-like! (My SHEEP hear my voice.. Jn. 10:37 …we are his people, and the SHEEP of his pasture. Psa. 100:3)
They would constantly be living sacrifices! Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
They would bear about death in their bodies, and be always delivered unto it! 2 Cor. 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
While they remain dead, they would have the Lamb Himself to actually live their life in, and for them! Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Therefore the man fit for dominion is only that man who himself has been conquered by Christ and his cross! Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
That Word “Dominion”
The Hebrew word dominion, Strong says, means “to subjugate.” It is the same word translated in 1 Kings 9:23 to bare rule. And in Lamentations 1:13, and it prevaileth against them.
The Greek word translated dominion as found in Ephesians 1:21 is from the word Lord in Ephesians 1:15, 17. It is also from the word in Ephesians 6:5, there that are your masters. And in Ephesians 6:9 master. And our word dominion is the exact same Greek word government in 2 Peter 2:10.
All sin is a rebellion against God’s appointed dominion! For none are outside of delegated authority! Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Therefore all punishment is due to that rebellion against God’s Christ! For the “government” of the entire world rests upon his shoulders! Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Failure to submit to the presently reigning Christ is the greatest of crimes! Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
This is exactly how the most glorious angel became the most hideous Devil! Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Sin and rebellion against God may seem as nothing, or even sweet for a time to those rebelling, but that will never continue! Even Satan, for a time was termed, prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), and god of this world (2 Corin. 4:4), but that shall soon, and eternally turn into bitterness! For that temporary sweetness is only due to the longsuffering of God! And that will soon come to an end. You have God’s word on it! Psalm 50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Christ’s Present Dominion
The dominion of the entire universe has already been transferred back to the Lord’s Anointed One – Jesus Christ. For he, the last Adam, has fully recovered all, and even more than the first Adam lost! He is the one who fulfills that dominion spoken of in our Genesis 1:26 verse! Rev. 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
And just when was that dominion to begin? The scriptures are very plain about this, though religious persons continue to ignore it, thereby filling the world with false doctrine concerning the end times! Just listen to these scripture passages!
Hebrews 1:3 clearly tells us that his reign began after his cross work was completed! Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Daniel 7 tells us it was upon his ascension, and gives us the scene in heaven of this event! Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Did you notice in verse twelve that concerning the rest of the beasts, that is, the Gentile governments, they had their dominion taken away? Their lives were prolonged, that is, human government would continue, but none would ever have the dominion any more! And when did that take place? Why that is made evident in verse thirteen! It took place when the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven into the presence of the Ancient of days! – that is, the Lord’s ascension!
He left here in physical clouds of the first heaven! Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And he arrived in spiritual clouds of glory in the third heaven! So, without doubt, Christ then received world wide dominion at his ascension! Just reread verse fourteen! – his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
And what about these verses in Daniel chapter seven? 18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Jesus Christ is the presently and eternally reigning Lord of all the universe!
Three Areas of Dominion
Remember our beginning verse in Genesis? There were three specific areas in which the Lord God said that the dominion would be exercised. Let us see if Christ met those qualifications. First there was the sea. And the Lord Jesus walked on it. (See Matthew 14:28,29.) He had caused his people to walk through it. (See Exodus 14:22). And as one has well said, he did his banking there! Matt. 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. And as far as the fish of the sea, he made his disciples fishers of men. (Matt. 4:19, Mk. 1:17).
Then there was the air. And in Phil. 2:10 we read at his name the knees of things in heaven shall bow! And it was there that Satan, who sought to steal the dominion, was said to be prince. (Eph. 2:2). But the scriptures state that Satan was cast out of the heavens when salvation was accomplished! (See Revelation 12:7-10). Christ, the Landlord, threw that squatter out for overdue rents!
And as far as the fowls of the air he makes his people to be as eagles, mounting up to soar in the heavens, thinking Christ’s thoughts and seeing by faith things unseen by the human eye. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
And finally there is all the earth. And where, and of what did he make this man who was to have dominion? Was it not from the dust of the ground? As a child, long before Play-Doh was around, we used to make figures out of mud. But we had rocks for eyes and buttons, and sticks for arms. But none of us ever thought we could give them life! But the breath of God started blood to flow in that form, (for the life is in the blood), and then that dust became a living soul! I’d say that was dominion over the earth, wouldn’t you?
And when one of his was to glorify Him, as God, he caused that body, quickly returning to dust to “Come forth!” And he that was dead came forth! (John 11:43,44). The earth was once again required to yield itself to the sovereign Voice, calling forth life from it’s dust! All praise to the Lord and the Lamb forever!
And upon his resurrection, the earth was so used to His making it yield up life from dust, it just started spitting out saints all over the place! Matt. 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Hebrews 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.
Pastor Gene Breed
September 23, 2011
