The Hand-Off of the Kingdom: From the Son to the Father, From the Father to the Saints

The Hand-Off of the Kingdom: From the Son to the Father, From the Father to the Saints


At first glance, it might seem paradoxical: in 1 Corinthians 15:24–28, Paul says that Jesus hands the kingdom over to God the Father. Yet in Daniel 7:27, it is the Father who gives the kingdom to the saints. So, which is it?


The Great Transfer: 1 Corinthians 15


Paul describes a climactic moment in redemptive history:


“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.”

(1 Corinthians 15:24, NKJV)


This isn’t the end of history—it’s the end of the old covenant Jewish world, the end of rebellious spiritual powers, and the full manifestation of the new covenant. Christ, having reigned “until all enemies are under His feet,” completes His messianic task and delivers the kingdom back to the Father. This is not a resignation—it is a consummation. It is the Son saying, “Mission accomplished. All is restored to the Father.”


The Kingdom to the Saints: Daniel 7


Centuries earlier, Daniel prophesied:


“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.”

(Daniel 7:27, NKJV)


This is the same moment, from a different angle.

In Daniel, the Son of Man comes “with the clouds of heaven” to the Ancient of Days—not to leave earth, but to receive a kingdom. That kingdom is then handed to the saints. It’s a vision of heavenly enthronement. And the result? A new dominion shared with the people of God.


So how do we reconcile these two scenes?



Divine Dominion


Jesus gives the kingdom to the Father (1 Cor 15).

The Father gives the kingdom to the saints (Dan 7).

But the saints reign in Christ (Eph 2:6; Rev 3:21).

And Christ is always subject to the Father (1 Cor 15:28).


It’s a fulfilled kingdom of unity and participation.



Abraham Kuyper and Kingdom Ownership


Abraham Kuyper famously declared:


“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'”


T,hat’s true. Everything is Christ’s. But in Christ’s own humility and love, He hands it all to the Father. And the Father, in turn, shares it with us—His saints, His children, His heirs.This doesn’t make the saints equal to God—it makes them participants in His divine purpose. We are not owners of the kingdom—we are stewards and vessels of it.


New Jerusalem: A Kingdom Shared


In the fulfilled reality of the New Covenant, the saints are the New Jerusalem—the city of God, the bride of Christ (Rev 21:2). The Father dwells with them. The Lamb is their light. And the kingdom is not somewhere they go—it’s something they are.


“The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)


So when Christ delivers the kingdom to the Father, and the Father gives it to the saints, it’s not a contradiction—it’s a holy succession of love and dominion, where God's will is done on earth as in heaven.


Conclusion 


The story of Scripture ends not with escape but with inheritance. This is the beauty of divine purpose: Everything starts with God. Everything returns to God. And in the middle, He shares it all with us.


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