Daniel 7:27 promises the final victory of God’s Kingdom and the participation of His redeemed people in it.
This prophecy does not predict an earthly political revolution, but describes the conclusion of the great controversy between Christ and the forces of evil after the heavenly judgment and the Second Coming of Jesus.
Its place in the prophecy of Daniel 7
The seventh chapter of Daniel shows the historical succession of earthly empires represented by beasts, as well as the rise of the “little horn”—a power that opposes God and persecutes His faithful ones. Yet earthly history does not end with the triumph of violence or religious apostasy. Daniel sees a heavenly judgment in which the authority of the hostile power will be taken away, and the Kingdom will belong to God.
“But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.” Dan. 7:26
After this comes the promise concerning the saints of the Most High. It continues the previous vision, where the “Son of Man,” that is, Jesus Christ, receives royal authority from the Ancient of Days—God the Father.
“Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:13-14
Thus, the kingdom belongs first of all to Christ. But He, the Savior and King, shares the fruits of His victory with His people.
When will this happen?
There are several connected stages in the prophecy. From the Adventist perspective, the heavenly judgment shown in Daniel 7 precedes the visible return of Christ. It is not needed for God to obtain information, because God knows all things; it is a judgment open before the universe, showing the justice of God’s decisions and the faithfulness of those who have accepted salvation in Christ.
The final fulfillment of Daniel 7:27 will come after the Second Coming, the millennium, and the final destruction of sin. When Christ returns, He will resurrect the righteous and take His people to Himself. After the millennium, the judgment upon evil will be completed, and God will create a new earth. Then the saints will inherit the kingdom in its fullness.
“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.” 1 Cor. 15:24-25
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” Rev. 21:1
Ellen White, in the book The Great Controversy, describes this event as the restoration of the world that was lost through sin: after the final cleansing of the earth, God’s people receive their eternal inheritance. This is not the temporary rule of one group over another, but life in God’s restored order, without death, pain, or sin.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4
Who are the “saints of the Most High”?
The “saints” in Daniel are not people who have earned eternal life by their own moral perfection. They are God’s people who belong to Him by faith, receive Christ’s grace, and remain faithful to God amid trials. In the context of the chapter, they are those persecuted by the anti-God power, yet vindicated and delivered by God.
The kingdom is not “taken” by the saints through force. It is given to them as Christ’s gift. The saved will reign not independently of Him, but together with Him, serving Him as kings and priests.
“And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:10
What do “all dominions” mean?
The expression “all dominions shall serve and obey Him” means all dominions, authorities, and kingdoms. First of all, this stands in contrast to the beastly kingdoms at the beginning of Daniel 7. Earthly empires rose up, claimed absolute power, persecuted God’s people, and in the end disappeared. God’s Kingdom, by contrast, is eternal.
“Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” Dan. 7:27
These “dominions” do not mean that wicked earthly rulers will remain alive in the new world and receive a second chance. The Bible teaches that unrepentant evil will be finally removed. The point is the full recognition of God’s supremacy: no power in the universe will ever again be able to rise against Christ. All legitimate authority will be subject to His righteous reign.
Hope and practical application
Daniel 7:27 assures us that injustice will not have the last word. Christ is already King, and His final reign will soon become visible to all. Therefore, the believer should not build hope on political leaders, state power, or human systems. What matters most today is to belong to Christ’s people: to accept His salvation, live by His Word, remain faithful under pressure, and prepare daily for His return.
