The King and His Throne
The King and His Throne THE KING AND HIS THRONE
By Athens Clay Pullias
(Director of Bible, David Lipscomb College, and
Minister, Charlotte Avenue Church of Christ,
Nashville, Tennessee.) The central message of the Bible is the salvation of man. In this drama of human redemption the personality of Jesus the Christ, “the King of kings and Lord of lords,” adorns the center of the stage. He is called “Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), “The Rose of Sharon,” “the bright and morning Star.” The Old Testament Scriptures point forward to him in hope. In the New Testament he is revealed in kingly glory. Our purpose is to trace that series of divinely directed events by which Jesus obtained the throne of his father David. The Meaning of Throne
Literally the word throne means “the seat on which a king s,its on ceremonial occasions.” Solomon had the most magnificent throne in this sense that the world has ever seen. It was made of solid ivory and overlaid with pure gold. More often, the word throne is the symbol of sovereign power and regal dignity. For example, this is what Pharaoh meant when he said to Joseph: “Only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”
Facts Concerning the Kingdom
God definitely predicted the establishment of the kingdom over which Jesus now rules. Through Daniel he said: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). Referring beyond question to this prophecy Jesus said: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). On another occasion Jesus asserted that the kingdom wTould come during the lifetime of thos.e who heard him: “Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). The kingdom came with power on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of our Lord. Thereafter the kingdom is spoken of as an accomplished fact. For example, Paul, writing to the Coloss,ians, expressed gratitude to God “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). In Hebrews 12:28-29 : “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” To deny that the kingdom now exists is, to deny the word of God.
Facts Concerning the Messiah
God told Abraham: “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Paul explains clearly the meaning of this promise: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). Speaking of this very point Jesus said: “Your farher Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and s,aw it and was glad.” (John 8:56). Through the magic eye of faith Abraham caught a glimpse of “the Light of the World.” Throughout the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah are to be found. In fact, the Old Testament ends on that very note: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts” (Mai. 3:1).
Facts Concerning the King and His Throne
The spiritual realities of the New Testament often have a type in the Old Testament in the form of some physical reality. This is true with reference to the throne which Christ now occupies. When rebellious Saul was found unworthy to continue on the throne of Israel God promised that throne to David: “. . . the Lor d hath sworn to David ... to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersjheba” (2 Samuel 3:9-10). Later Jehovah, speaking to David, added: “And thy house and thy kingdom shall be stedfast for ever before thee, thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:16). David prayed to Jehovah in the same connection: “0, Lord Jehovah, thou hast spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come—Therefore now let it please thee to bles,s the house of thy servant that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, 0 Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever” (2 Samuel 7:19; 2 Samuel 7:29). David remembered God’s word when he was about to pass the throne to Solomon: “I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; —That the Lord may continue his word wdnch he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 2:2; 1 Kings 2:4). In the Psalms there is an even more pointed reading: “I have sworn a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn to David my servant. Thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy throne to all gen-erations” (Psalms 89:34). “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thmg that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his, throne as the sun before me” (Psalms 89:34-36). “The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body Will I set upon thy throne” (Psalms 132:11). The prophet Isaiah adds further evidence: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts, will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7). “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1). These passages establish several basic truths:
(1) That God promised David that his (David’s) throne would continue.
(2) That it was to continue in some one great king and not in a series of earthly monarchs. In the New Testament an angel from God in speaking to Mary reaffirms, the covenant with David and designates Jesus as the one to sit on David’s throne according to God’s promise: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his, name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33). The crucifixion ended the earthly career of our Lord. Forty days after the resurrection he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). Ten days later the Holy Spirit descended, the kingdom was established and Jesus the Christ began to reign on David’s throne. The apostle Peter took great care to explain this very fact in the first sermon ever preached under the Christian dispensation. “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would rais,e up Christ to sit on his throne; he, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:29-33). The conclusions are unmistakable.
1. God promised David that he would raise up Christ to sit on his, throne (David’s throne).
2. God has done what he promised to do—he has raised up Christ and placed him on David’s throne. —“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses,.”
3. Jesus did receive the throne; “therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit”—God through the Holy Spirit promised David that Christ would receive his (David’s) throne—now, says Peter, he has received that throne according to that promise. In verse 36 Peter, using the fact that Christ was at that moment on David’s throne, concludes his thought in these eloquent words: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
Jesus of Nazareth at the very moment in which Peter spoke was both “Lord”—king, supreme governor and “Christ”—4he anointed, the Savior. Paul writing to Timothy said: “I charge thee in the sight of God—and before Christ Jesus—That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the anpearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,—who is the bles,sed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of Lord” (1 Timothy 6:13-15).
Christ Has Never Sat and Will Never Sit On An Earthly Temporal Throne
The Jews were given to literal interpretations. This caused them to often misunderstand the lessons of Jesus. For example, Nicodemus could only think of a physical birth when the Master said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). The woman at the well in Samaria could think of no water except ordinary drinking water, (John 4:15). Any number of similar cases could be mentioned. The Jews made the same mistake in connection with the Messiah and his kingdom. Being intensely nationalistic the Hebrews, long had dreamed of a powerful Jewish state that would dominate the world. Yet if they had understood the Old Testament prophecies they would have known better than to expect this. “For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens,” (Psalms 89:2). This is said in direct comment on David’s throne (See Psalms 89:4). “His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness, in heaven (Psalms 89:36-37). The land promise to Abraham cannot be used as evidence of a future earthly kingdom because that promise was fulfilled in the days of Joshua. “And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein” (Joshua 21:43). Christians by faith, not Jews by blood, are now the seed of Abraham, the “father of the faithful”—for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs, according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28-29).
Jesus proved a bitter disappointment to the Jews by refusing to become an earthly king. Perceiving the Master’s remarkable powers they tried by force to make him become a temporal ruler. Jesus flatly refused (John 6:15). Christ did not refuse to set up an earthly kingdom because the Jews rejected him, as some would have us believe. Instead, the Jews rejected Christ because he did refuse to establish a material kingdom. Commenting on his kingdom Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Jesus added that if his kingdom were of this world he would have pursued an entirely different course of action.
Furthermore Jesus convinced every one at the time of his trial and death that he did not plan an earthly kingdom. The Jews wanted a temporal monarchy and they cried: “Let him be crucified.” Pilate, who, as a representative of Rome, would certainly have opposed any and all attempts to set up a temporal state said: “I find no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4) and “I am innocent of the blood of this just person” (Matthew 27:24).
Jesus now reigns from heaven where he sits, at the right hand of God. “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the majesty in the heavens” (Hebrews 8:1). Psalms 110:4 declares: “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent: thou art a pries,t for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” “Be-hold, the man whose name is the Branch—shall build the temple of the Lord: and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he s,hall be a priest upon his throne” (Zechariah 6:12-13). In Hebrews 8:4 the writer says: “If he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all.” Certain conclusions are evident:
(1) Christ now reigns in heaven as priest and king.
(2) He is a priest forever.
(3) Therefore he will never return to this earth to set up or reign over a temporal kingdom.
“Then Cometh the End”
The reign of Christ on David’s throne will continue until Christ returns to judge the world and gather his loved ones. home. Paul specifically says so: “But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:23-25). The second coming of Chris,t will mark the end of his reign, not the beginning. The second coming of Christ will be the consummation of God’s long and costly effort to redeem the human family from the bondage of sin. God sent his Son to save us. To that end Jesus died, arose, ascended to heaven, established the kingdom and reigns over it tonight. Some day, Jesus will return to judge the world. The redeemed will be delivered to God the Father; the remainder condemned forever. The work of salvation will be finished. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven v'i.th a s,hout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord m the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:1617). I pray that we may be among that number who shall “ever be with the Lord.” A Solemn Warning
Paganism ever knocks, at the door of Christianity with its materialistic conceptions of spiritual truth. The ancient religions of Persia, Greece, and Rome were built around a politico-religious dream of an earthly empire where ease and luxury would prevail. This whole structure is exactly the opposite of the spiritual realm which God did establish through Jesus Christ.
Judaism developed the same physical picture of the kingdom of God. In their selfish, nationalistic minds they thought that the Messiah would literally restore the physical glory of Israel as it was in the heyday of Solomon. They crucified Jesus of Nazareth because he refused to fit into their crude plans. Like their pagan neighbors, the Jews could not rise in their thinking above their national and temporal ambitions. The total collapse of the Jewish state in 70 A. D. should have buried forever the literal and earthly res-toration theories concerning the kingdom and the throne of David. Unfortunately certain teachers in the church revived the idea under the general head of premillennialism. Irenaeus and Tertullian were prominent among these teachers asserting that Christ would reign for 1000 literal years during a period of universal bliss. Clement and Origen opposed these heresies so vigorously that they were practically stamped out. De Principiis II. 11:2.
Periodically since then premillennial teachers have appeared with fallacious materialistic doctrines con-cerning the kingdom of God, the throne of David and the second coming of Christ. Alexander Campbell wrote a refutation of some of these false doctrines more than ninety years ago. Thes,e were republished in the Gospel Advocate during 1938. (See Vol. 80, pp. 863 and 911). In recent years such teachers have been especially active. As a consequence in some places the body of Christ has been seriously disturbed. The whole brotherhood has been adversely affected and handicapped in its work of preaching the gospel to the whole creation by the disputes, divisions and misunderstandings which the teaching of the premillennial doctrines has occasioned, Whatever may be the attendant aggravating circumstances the primary blame must fall upon those who insist upon teaching their speculative theories, just as thos.e who brought in the instruments are responsible for that division. Therefore, these teachers by willfully and stubbornly continuing to teach their unscriptural views (views which they themselves do not consider essential to salvation) have assumed frightful responsibilities before God in judgment.
These false theories, and all other false teachings, must be steadfastly and unequivocally opposed by those who love the truth of the Bible and the unity of God’s people. “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). In Conclusion
God has faithfully performed the promises which he made of old to Abraham and to David. The Messiah came, according to the Scriptures, received the throne of David on the first Pentecost following his resurrection and sits enthroned tonight at the right hand of God. The vital question for your personal consideration is this: Does he reign in my heart? Have I enthroned him in my life? Since. Jesus is our King our lives must be subject to his rule. It is a shameful tragedy to see thousands of nominal citizens in the kingdom of God allowing Satan to rule their lives. This troubled world could have peace, now and for-ever, if Christ truly governed the hearts of men. May we who enjoy citizenship in the kingdom of God take every precaution to elevate the Christ before our fellowmem Weary souls are looking our way. Nations tired of carnal strife may turn their eyes upon us. I humbly pray that they may see in us and through us “The Light of the World.”