In this second article, “The kingdom of Christ,” we will look at the King of the kingdom. It is my purpose to study with the reader each of the points identified in the first article. Just to remind the reader, those points are: 1) the king, 2) the authority of the king, 3) the law by which the kingdom is governed, 4) the heart being the place of the constitution, “the teaching of Christ” is directed, and 5) the citizen army. Let us turn our attention to the King of the kingdom.
It is without question, that the “kingdom of God’s dear Son” exists today, just as it did in the first century! As Paul wrote: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col 1:13). God’s “dear Son” had and does have a kingdom and serves as its only King! This truth was in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (14) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14). A few words about this text is necessary. The words, “the Son of man” refers to Jesus, who was both the son of man and the Son of God. He was as John wrote: “And the Word (was God, see verse one, frw) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …” The angel of the Lord told Joseph: “… for that which is conceived in her (Mary, frw) is of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20); therefore, through Mary, he was the son of man and as Mary “conceived” of “the Holy Spirit,” he was the Son of God. The scene viewed by Daniel is the return of “one like the Son of man” to heaven as he comes before the “Ancient of days” (God the Father, frw) whereby he was given “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom.” Then, as Daniel continued: “his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Thus, there was given, in Daniel “vision,” to “one like the Son of man” a kingdom, over which he would have “everlasting dominion!” Daniel is describing a King and the King is receiving a kingdom. It is very important to notice when “the Son of man” would become king! It was after he returned to heaven; as he came “with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days.” Jesus was not to become King on this earth and he would become King after his death, when he came before the “Ancient of days.”
It is necessary that we understand that the physical kingdom of Israel would no longer exist when Jesus ascended to the right hand of almighty God! Then, at the destruction of Jerusalem it physically ended for all time. When Pilate asked Jesus: “Art thou a king then?” (John 18:37), Jesus answered in these words: “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,…” (John 18:37). Therefore, if we believe Jesus, and I certainly do, he said that he came into this world to be king! Then, in the highly figurative book of Revelation, he is called “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Highly figurative but true, as Jesus really is the “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS?!” Then, there are the words of prophecy given by Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zech. 9:9). So, what about these words? Let us hear Matthew as he wrote: “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, (5) Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matt. 21:4-5). Matthew, the apostle of Christ, has here quoted the words of Zechariah and applied them to Jesus, as he came into Jerusalem. Now, some like to say that Jesus was rejected by the Jews, that even though he came to be king, he was never appointed to be king. Nevertheless, Matthew writes that not long before Jesus was to be put to death, at the call of the Jews, he did that which Zechariah said the one appointed king would do. John covered the actions of Jesus and wrote: “On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, (13) Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. (14) And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, (15) Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt” (John 12:13-15). Therefore, not only did Matthew quote the words of the prophet, but so did John and both applied the words of the prophet to Jesus as he was to be king. Either Jesus was the coming king as he rode into Jerusalem, or else one must conclude that the prophecy of Zechariah failed; thus, the Bible is untrue!
We must accept that Jesus is the “King of kings, and Lord of lords,” or reject the Bible as being inspired! Which leg will you take: 1) that the Bible is inspired and true, or 2) that the Bible is not inspired, therefore, it is not true? Those who deny that Jesus is king over his kingdom at this time, must also deny that the Bible is inspired; therefore, it is not true. Therefore, I ask, why are we discussing the subject at all?
My friends, Jesus is King! He now reigns at “the right hand of the Majesty on high!”
Frank R. Williams