(Dn.7:13-14; Ps.93:1-2,5; Rv.1:5-8; Jn.18:33b-37) "My kingdom does not belong to this world." "The Lord is King, in splendor robed," our psalmist cries. "King" is our word for our great Lord; it is the best our imperfect thoughts and pale vocabulary can utter. But much more than king is our Lord Jesus Christ, for kings do come and go but "His kingship shall not be destroyed"; His "throne stands firm from of old" – it is "from everlasting" to everlasting. More than a king… He is God. "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.'" He has no beginning or end but is Himself the beginning and end of all things. He "came into the world to testify to the truth," and now His truth is spoken, and His kingdom is coming. "Behold, He is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him. All the people of the earth will lament Him. Yes. Amen." None shall be able to hide from the Truth, from the King of "all peoples, nations, and languages." And the same vision as John has Daniel had so many centuries before: "I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven," He whom the Ancient One gives "dominion, glory, and kingship." And the testimony of two witnesses holds truth, cannot be broken. He is coming, and all are called to "serve Him." Brothers and sisters, He "loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood," which He offers without a fight before Pilate this day. By His sacrifice He "has made us into a kingdom, priests for His God and Father." And the kingdom we are is not of this earth, is "not here"; and the sacrifice we offer now is heavenly – it comes down to us from above… this miraculous blood we drink and shed ourselves in His Name. Here our King stands before us, standing in the hearts of all His holy ones. He who lives forever now draws us into the kingdom where He ever remains. Not of this world, we come before His radiant majesty. "To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen." Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Vision of Children" from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, your Son's kingdom is not here, is not of this world, but remains forever in Heaven – let us meet Him in His reign. YHWH, from you Jesus has received dominion, glory, and kingship. From all eternity He is your Son. To Him be glory and power forever, and may we join Him at your side. To testify to the Truth He came into the world, to reveal your presence unto us, dear LORD. And so that we might become holy as He, as you, He died to take away our sins. May our hearts be set upon the Truth you are, the Truth He declares by His very presence among us, and may we follow Him through this world on His way to Heaven. To this world He does not belong, and so should we transcend this place. Its honors and its power are as the dust, but with Him is life everlasting. He is the One who is and who was and who is to come – He is all things, dear God. And with Him we shall be made into a kingdom, and share in your eternal glory.