但四17 “…好叫活人知道，至高者才是人国的掌权者，要将国赐与谁，就赐与谁；祂立极卑微的人掌权。”

　　　　26 “…等你知道诸天掌权，以后你的国必定归你。”

　　但以理书的中心思想是：诸天的掌权，（四26，）就是诸天之神的掌权，（二37，44，）管理地上整个人类政权，以配合神永远的经纶，使基督得以了结旧造，使新造有新生的起头，并得以打碎、压毁人类政权的集大成，建立神永远的国。

　　在创世记十章以前，没有人的国；那时人类是一整个，并没有列国的建立。列国的建立是从宁录开始，他建立了预表巴比伦的巴别。（8~10。）人类的政权要总结于要来的敌基督，就是将来罗马帝国的最后一位该撒。人类从宁录到敌基督的所有政权，一直都在且要继续在诸天之神的诸天掌权之下。（但以理书生命读经，五至六页。）

　　Dan. 4:17 …To the intent that the living may know that the Most High is the Ruler over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills and sets up over it the lowliest of men.

　　26 …Your kingdom will be assured to you after you have come to know that the heavens do rule.

　　The central thought of Daniel is that the ruling of the heavens (4:26) by the God of the heavens (2:37, 44) over all the human government on earth matches God’s eternal economy for Christ to terminate the old creation for the germination of the new creation and to smash and crush the aggregate of human government and establish the eternal kingdom of God.

　　Prior to Genesis 10 there were no human nations; instead, there was only mankind as a whole without established nations. Nations began to be established by Nimrod, who built Babel, a prefigure of Babylon (Gen. 10:8- 10). Human government will conclude with the coming Antichrist, who will be the last Caesar of the Roman Empire. All human government from Nimrod to Antichrist has been and will continue to be under the ruling of the heavens by the God of the heavens. (Life-study of Daniel, pp. 4-5)

　　整个世界局势都在诸天之神的诸天掌权之下，以配合神为着基督的经纶。今天世界的局势，特别是欧洲和地中海沿岸的国家，已经被平衡，带进一种局面，预备好为着基督的再来。祂已临近，时候快到。我们看见这局势，就该醒起，看见世界不是为着我们的。我们乃是为着基督，我们每天必须预备好迎见祂，好得着祂的赏赐。

　　但以理书说到三件要紧的事：神属天的掌权、基督的居首位、以及神子民的分。神在祂的经纶里管理宇宙，为要成就祂的定旨，就是基督应该在万有中居首位。…要使基督居首位，神就需要一班子民。神若没有一班子民，就无法使基督成为居首位的。

　　我们蒙神拣选作祂的子民，为叫基督居首位，我们乃是在神属天的掌权之下。…在神属天的掌权下，万有都互相效力，叫我们得益处。（罗八28。）在我们个人的宇宙中所发生的事特别是这样。我们的宇宙包括我们自己、我们的家庭、以及召会。在我们的宇宙中，每一天都发生许多事，目的乃是要使基督居首位。我们需要看见这事，并顺服神属天的掌权。…在但以理四章二十六节，但以理对尼布甲尼撒说，“等你知道诸天掌权，以后你的国必定归你。”掌权的乃是诸天，不是尼布甲尼撒、古列、亚历山大大帝，或疾病、风暴、背叛。

　　地是在属天行政的管治之下。诸天是为我们掌权，基督也是为着我们的。不仅如此，我们是在神为着基督的属天掌权之下。属天掌权的目的，是要完成神的选民，使基督得以居首位，就是使祂成为首先的—中心，并成为一切—普及。

　　因着诸天在掌权，所以基督在我们一切的情况中，都与我们同在。我们病了，祂与我们同在；我们在风暴中，祂与我们同在。我能见证，在风暴和背叛当中，我们能享受祂的同在。…我们都需要学知三件事：这个宇宙是在神的行政管理之下；神行政管理的心意，乃是要使基督成为居首位的，使祂在万有中居首位；为着完成神的心意，我们这些神的子民，神的选民，必须与祂有最好的配搭与合作。借着我们的配搭与合作，神就要完成祂永远的心意，使基督借着诸天的掌权，成为居首位的。（但以理书生命读经，六、九○至九二页。）

　　参读：但以理书生命读经，第一、五至六、十二、十七篇。

　　The entire world situation is under the rule of the heavens by the God of the heavens, to match His economy for Christ. Today the world situation, especially in Europe and the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, has been balanced and brought into a condition which is ready for Christ’s return. He is at the door and the time is near. As we see this situation, we must wake up and realize that the world is not for us. We are for Christ, and every day we must prepare ourselves to meet Him. Then we will receive a reward from Him.

　　The book of Daniel covers three crucial matters: God’s heavenly rule, the preeminence of Christ, and the portion of God’s people. In His economy God administrates the universe in order to fulfill His purpose. His purpose is to give Christ the preeminence in all things…. For Christ to be the preeminent One, God needs a people. Apart from God’s having a people, there is no way for Christ to be made preeminent.

　　As those who have been chosen by God to be His people for Christ’s preeminence, we are under God’s heavenly rule…. Under God’s heavenly rule, everything is working together for our good (Rom. 8:28). This is especially true of the things in our personal universe. Our universe includes ourselves, our families, and the church. In our universe many things happen day by day for the purpose of making Christ preeminent. We need to realize this and be submissive to God’s heavenly rule. In Daniel 4:26 Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, “Your kingdom will be assured to you after you have come to know that the heavens do rule.” It is the heavens that rule, not Nebuchadnezzar or Cyrus or Alexander the Great or illness or turmoil or rebellion.

　　The earth is under the rule of a heavenly administration. The heavens rule for us, and Christ is for us. Furthermore, we are under God’s heavenly rule for Christ. The purpose of the heavenly ruling is to complete God’s elect so that Christ may be preeminent, that He may be the first—the centrality—and everything—the universality.

　　Because the heavens rule, Christ is with us in all our situations. When we are sick, He is with us. When we are in turmoil, He is with us. I can testify that we can enjoy His presence in the midst of turmoil and rebellion. We all need to learn three things: that this universe is under God’s administration; that God’s intention in His administration is to make Christ preeminent, to cause Him to have the first place in everything; and that for the accomplishment of God's intention, we, His people, His elect, must give Him the best coordination and cooperation. Through our coordination and cooperation, God will consummate His eternal intention to make Christ preeminent through the rule of the heavens. (Life-study of Daniel, pp. 5, 77-78)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Daniel, msgs. 1, 5-6, 12, 17