Here is the fulfillment of Psalms 23:5: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies."

The Kingdom of God will be installed on the earth in spite of the vicious opposition of all who hate Christ and His saints. The Lord will "cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies" (Isaiah 42:13).

The raising of the saints marks the conclusion of the day of life. The day of image and union now comes into view.

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. (Revelation 11:15)

Jesus now is revealed as supreme Lord.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

At this point we may profit from the careful consideration of a concept set forth in the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel. This concept provides scriptural support for our assertion that the ministry of the two witnesses, and the work of God during the day of image and union, will come through Christ and His saints.

We are stating that there are two witnesses of the day of image and union—the Lamb and His Wife. The Father and the Son are two witnesses. Yet, we behold the Father and the Son as one Witness; and it appears likely the world, to some extent at least, will behold the Kingdom witness as one witness (John 17:21-23).

The oneness is set forth in the Book of Daniel.

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. (Daniel 7:13)

Who is the "one like the Son of man"? The one like the Son of man is our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man. Most assuredly this is the correct answer. Christ and none other is our lawful Sovereign.

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. (Daniel 7:14)

Observe carefully the following:

I [Daniel] came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. (Daniel 7:16)

The interpretation should have been, Christ will come and sit on the Throne of David.

But that was not the answer. The same answer was given three times:

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. (Daniel 7:18)

Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (Daniel 7:22)

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. (Daniel 7:27)

It stands clearly in the Scripture that the "one like the Son of man" is the saints of the most High.

To be continued.