Kingdom Disciples

Only Jesus is the Light of the World, the expression of God, and the source of truth, life, and salvation, and he alone reigns supreme . From time immemorial, presidents, kings, dictators, and religious deceivers have claimed to be humanity’s best hope for peace and prosperity, self-proclaimed bulwarks of order who hold back the darkness that threatens to overwhelm society. Today, this plague of pretenders is worse than ever,  especially in the churches and political arena of the United States of America .

The sovereignty of Jesus began with his exaltation to the Messianic Throne following his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension – Psalms 110:1. The New Testament connects the enthronement of Jesus to his Resurrection and Ascension by applying key prophetic texts to his life. The Son of God qualified to reign from God’s “ right hand ” because of his “ obedience unto death ,” this was confirmed when God raised him from the dead, and he therefore reigns over the Cosmos with a crown of thorns, so to speak.

Following his Resurrection, Jesus began his reign from the Messianic Throne as prophesied by David – Psalm 2:6-9. Only Jesus is the Messiah and King of Israel, only he is God’s Anointed. There will never be another , and all competing claimants to this designation are imposters and liars. This same Jesus reigns over the Earth today. His Kingdom is a present reality, and his reign will be consummated when he returns – (1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Revelation 1:4-6).

The New Testament applies messianic and royal promises from the Psalms to Christ’s present reign. He alone is, present tense, Lord and Messiah! Since his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus has reigned as absolute Lord over the Earth. He is seated on the Messianic Throne where he reigns supreme from “ Mount Zion ” as promised by the God of Israel. Because of his “ obedience until death ,” Christ is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” who possesses “ all authority in Heaven and on Earth .” His sovereignty knows no bounds.

Humanity is divided into two, and only two groups, the followers of the Lamb and the devotees of the Imperial Beast . In the Book of Revelation , every man either “ Tabernacles in Heaven ” or is numbered among the “ Inhabitants of the Earth .” The terms are not geographical but reflect the leader each group chooses to follow. Men either belong to “ Heaven ” or the “ Earth .” Those who elect to follow the Lamb “ wherever he goes ,” tabernacle in heaven. The “ Inhabitants of the Earth ,” in contrast, have chosen to venerate the “ Dragon ” and therefore await a grim fate.

Only God’s Kingdom will prevail and endure forever. All other political powers are transitory. Already they are passing away . Despite human pretensions, History demonstrates without exception the impermanence of political power and governments. Rome endured for a thousand years, but the Empire fell all the same. Like life, political power is fleeting, and regimes often collapse quickly and unexpectedly when their allotted time expires. Only the “ Kingdom of God ” will endure. Disciples of Jesus must decide today whom they will serve.

Christ’s reign from the Messianic Throne began following his Death, Resurrection, and Exaltation to God’s presence – Psalms 110:1. The New Testament links Christ’s enthronement to his Resurrection and subsequent Exaltation by applying key Messianic texts to his life. He qualified to reign from God’s “ right hand ” because of his “ obedience until death, even death on the Cross .” This was confirmed when God raised him from the dead and seated him “ at His right hand ” where he now rules over the Universe.

The New Testament applies messianic promises from the Psalms to the present reign of Jesus. He is CHRIST THE KING ! Since his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus has reigned as absolute sovereign over the Earth, indeed, over the Cosmos. He is seated on the Messianic Throne of David and rules from “ Mount Zion ” as promised. Because of his “ obedience until death ,” Christ is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” Before his Ascension, he declared, “ I have all authority in Heaven and on Earth .”  His present sovereignty is limitless.

The reign of Jesus on the Divine Throne is based on his sacrificial death and resurrection, the unshakable basis of his universal authority . The Death, Resurrection, and the Exaltation of Jesus are all linked in the  Book of Revelation . Christ reigns supreme over the Earth because of his obedient death and subsequent resurrection, and he therefore is authorized to reveal and put the contents of the “ Sealed Scroll ” into action. He does not tyrannize his subjects; instead, he is “ the Shepherd of the nations ” who redeems men and women from every nation.

Jesus, the Faithful Witness, now reigns supreme over the Kings of the Earth, and he is shepherding the nations to the Holy City of New Jerusalem . Jesus is called the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” in the Prologue of  Revelation . This declaration is made in the  present tense  since his sovereignty is based on his Death and Resurrection. He does not rule by hereditary right, economic power, or military might, but because of his redeeming death. The slain “ Lamb ” is the one who sits on the Throne, and his authority extends even over “ Death and Hades .”

The conspiracy by the Earth’s kings to unseat the Messiah is applied in the New Testament to the plot to destroy Jesus – Psalm 2:1-6. The Second Psalm is a key passage applied to Jesus multiple times in the New Testament. When were its predictions fulfilled, and is the Messiah reigning now on David’s Throne? Is the world still waiting for his enthronement at a future date? What about the “ revolt ” of nations and kings against the Son of God? Is it a prediction of a coming war between Jesus and earthly governments - (Psalm 2:1-6)?

Jesus is the promised King from the Line of David who guides the Nations of the Earth to the Holy City, New Jerusalem  – Revelation 12:5. The “ Son ” pictured in the twelfth chapter of the  Book of Revelation  is the Messianic figure of the  Second Psalm  who is destined to “ Shepherd the Nations .” Following his Enthronement, Heaven declared, “ Now is come the Kingdom of God and the authority of His Messiah .” His reign commenced following his “ Faithful Testimony ” given in his Death, and his victory through his Resurrection. He is also, therefore, the “ Firstborn of the Dead .”

Following his baptism in the Jordan River, the Voice from Heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of the LORD . The theme of fulfillment is prominent in  Matthew’s Gospel . The promises of God are fulfilled  in Jesus, the  Anointed Son sent to redeem Israel and rule the nations. Peter confirmed that he was the “ Messiah ” but failed to understand that he would undertake that role as the suffering “ Servant of Yahweh ,” a misunderstanding that persists to this day. Christ’s true identity and the significance of his mission are revealed in his Death and Resurrection.

Jesus is the Son of David and heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh . The  Gospel of Matthew  declares Jesus to be the promised “ Son of David .” This same Jesus demonstrated what it means to be the King of Israel, especially through his sacrificial death. Traditionally and scripturally, the hoped-for ideal king was linked to the House of David. With the arrival of the Nazarene, that understanding was forever altered.

Jesus has reigned as Sovereign over the Earth since his Death and Resurrection, already he is seated on the Messianic Throne. Because of his obedience, he is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” Before his Ascension, he declared that God had bestowed all authority on him - “ In Heaven and on Earth .” Thus, his authority is without limits and a present reality.

The Lamb’s reign commenced with his Death and Resurrection. Since then, he has been shepherding the nations to the Holy City, New Jerusalem . The Book of Revelation  assures the beleaguered congregations of Asia that Jesus reigns and has events firmly in hand despite appearances. His sovereignty is based on his past Death and Resurrection. It is absolute, extending even over “ Death and Hades .” His resurrection from the dead marked the start of his reign from the Messianic Throne.

At the end of his journey, his destination was the Temple in the center of the city.  The next several stories prepare the reader for his final days, A full third of Mark’s gospel account concerns the events of that week that culminate in his death and resurrection. All that preceded his arrival in the city was moving inexorably forward to his arrest, trial, and execution in the city of David and the prophets.