Crowns and Thrones: The Majesty of Our God (Part Seven)

Grace Thoughts

Crowns and Thrones: The Majesty of Our God (Part Seven)

Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. I believe we have established that in previous parts of this special series. If you did not read the last part of this series, I recommend you do to help explain what I’m about to share with you.

God made an unconditional covenant with King David of Israel three-thousand years ago and will keep it. Even though no one from David’s lineage has sat on the throne in Jerusalem for more than 2,500 years, King Jesus will soon return from His throne in Heaven to sit on a Throne in the current city of Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem yet to come.

King Jesus and His Kingdom

Some people claim that Jesus of Nazareth never claimed to be a king. They claim that only Jesus’ apostles claimed He is a king. That’s not true. Here’s an exchange Jesus had with the Roman governor of Judea just prior to His crucifixion.

Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. John 18:37

Pilate used the Greek word basileus for “king.” Jesus used the same word in His response. The word means “a king, sovereign, ruler, emperor.” However, some people claim that Jesus only thought of His kingdom as spiritual, not physical. They use these verses to make that claim:

Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ John 18:36

The word “now” is important to note. The Greek reads – nun de hē basileia hē emē ouk estin enteuthen. The literal is – “now however kingdom my not is from here.” Jesus was answering Pilate’s question (“Are You the King of the Jews?”, v 34) by saying that His Kingdom was not on earth yet. Jesus said that if His Kingdom was an earthly Kingdom at that time, His servants would fight so that He would not be delivered to the Jews. That’s an important distinction that many critics miss. Jesus had come from Heaven to earth to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom (Mark 1:14), suffer death on a Roman cross as a payment for sin, rise from the dead and ascend back to Heaven. He would set up His earthly Messianic Kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament at a later date.

Another important note is found in Acts 1. The disciples of Jesus asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time resort the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus’ followers knew that Jesus was the rightful King of Israel. He had died for their sins and risen from the dead. They wanted to know if He was going to restore the Kingdom that God had promised. Jesus answered their question this way:

It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:7-8

Jesus did not restore the earthly Kingdom to Israel at that time because He wanted His followers to take the Gospel of Grace to the entire world. After Jesus said those words to His followers, He ascended back to Heaven where He sits on His throne with His Father (1 Peter 3:22). Jesus is reigning as King in Heaven. That’s clear from what we read in the Book of Acts. Jesus was not telling Pilate that He was not the King of Jews or that His Kingdom would not be headquartered in Jerusalem. Jesus was telling Pilate, and the disciples, that He would not be setting up His Kingdom in Jerusalem at that time.

Will Jesus return physically to set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem in the future? Absolutely! Jesus’ disciples watched Him as He ascended into the sky until He was out of their sight. While they watched, two angels appeared and asked them a question and made an important statement:

Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. Acts 1:11

Jesus ascended from Mt. Olivet (Acts 1:12) and the angels said He would return “in like manner” as the disciples saw Him go into Heaven. That’s interesting in light of what we read in Ezekiel 10 and 11. The “glory” of the Lord left Solomon’s Temple, hovered over the door of the east gate, then proceeded out of the city of Jerusalem “and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city” (Ezekiel 11:23). The Mt. of Olives is a short distance (about a Sabbath’s Day journey) east of Jerusalem.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. Acts 1:12

Another clue for us from the response Jesus gave to Pilate is this – “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight.”

We find two types of servants of King Jesus in the Bible – angels and humans. Both will be involved in fierce fighting when King Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom on earth. Here are several New Testament Scriptures that refer to those battles and the outcome of the fighting:

The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. Matthew 18:38-40

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:30-32

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to giveyou who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. Jude 1:14-15

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’ Revelation 1:7-8

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. Revelation 12:7-8

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’ And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. Revelation 14:6-11

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head weremany crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.’ And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. Revelation 19:11-21

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. Revelation 20:1-3

The Millennial Reign of King Jesus

Once the battles in Heaven and on earth are finished, King Jesus will take His rightful place on the David’s Throne in the city of Jerusalem. Jesus will reign on earth for a thousand years and we will reign with Him.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6

That is an extraordinary statement. We will reign with King Jesus on earth for a thousand years. What will we do? The easy answer might be to say that we will serve Him, but we will also reign with Him. You might say that we will serve Him as we reign with Him. Revelation 11 tells us that “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” So, what part will we play in reigning over the kingdoms of this world?

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:2 that we will “judge the world.” Revelation 2:26-27 says this – “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels.’ Revelation 12:5 says that Messiah will “rule all nations with a rod of iron.” As we just read in Revelation 19, “And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”

Reigning and ruling for a thousand years is going to be a different type of challenge for Christians. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 that we will “all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-55)

Christians will be different physically, mentally, and spiritually after they are “changed.” Paul taught that the “change” would happen in the “twinkling of an eye,” which is almost instantaneous. A person who witnesses a “twinkle” in another person’s eye can see it, but it’s difficult to measure time wise. I did an experiment years ago and discovered that a twinkle can be seen, but it could only be captured with high speed video or film (between 1/60th to 1/30th of a second). That’s faster than the average time for an eye to “blink” (about 1/10th of a second).

That means the “twinkling” of an eye is much faster than the “blink” of an eye. While’s it’s difficult for a human to understand the complete change of our bodies and minds from corruptible to incorruptible and mortal to immortal, that’s what the Apostle Paul taught. Keep in mind that the “change” Christians will experience includes being “seized up, snatched up” (harpagēsometha) into the air to meet with Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:17). All of that in the speed of an eye “twinkle.” Amazing!

This extraordinary change that we will experience “at the last trumpet” will prepare us for reigning with Christ. Christians will return to earth with Jesus to “judge the world” and reign with Him. Jesus may send many Christians around the world to help govern the nations of the earth during the Millennium. That governance may include enforcement of rules that King Jesus uses during His reign. He will rule with a “rod” of iron and so will we.

I believe the “change” Christians experience at the rapture/resurrection is when we will be “like Christ” (Romans 8:29. The Apostle John wrote – “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Notice the important words “when He is revealed.” We will be like King Jesus when He is “revealed” (Greek – ephanerōthē – “made visible, manifest, become graspable”). When God’s Holy Sprit who lives in every Christian “changes” us to be incorruptible and immortal, we will see King Jesus in person and in all His glory.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6

Paul said Christians would judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2), so those sitting on the thrones with judgment “committed to them” may include some or many Christians. Believers who do not worship the beast or his image, and do not receive his mark on their foreheads on on their hands, will reign with Christ for a thousand years. They will be “priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

The millennial reign of King Jesus on earth will not go without challenges. Why would Jesus need to rule with a rod of iron if everyone born during the Millennium was perfect and sinless? We see in Revelation 20:7-10 that Satan will be released from his prison at the end of the thousand years and will go out to deceive the nations. Satan will gather a massive army, “whose number is as the sand of the sea,” to battle King Jesus. How could Satan deceive a perfect, sinless people to go to war with the King of the world, Jesus Christ, unless they still had a sin nature?

What this shows us is that people born during the Millennium will have a sin nature. My thought is that many of them will not like the righteous demands of King Jesus and will be ripe for revolting against Jesus’ reign when Satan is released from prison and deceives people into thinking they will be successful in going to war with Christ. How does that battle end? Not well for Satan and those who rebel with him.

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:7-10

Notice that fire comes down from God out of Heaven and devours the rebels. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and tormented day and night forever and ever. Christians will be on the winning side of that battle.

The Eternal Reign of King Jesus

These events set up the next step for King Jesus. It will begin with something God promised for thousands of years – Judgment Day.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

What about those whose names were written in the Book of Life? They will enter into the New Jerusalem to live with King Jesus forever and ever (Revelation 21:27). It will be a place of great safety and joy because nothing that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie will be allowed into the great City – “only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

Let’s back up for just a minute to see what come between the end of the “great white throne” judgment and the entrance of the New Jerusalem. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Revelation 21:1). This planet that you and I call our home right now will one day pass away. This is how the Apostle Peter described that event:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10

Once the current (first) heaven and earth pass away, God will create “a new heaven and a new earth.” That’s when God will introduce the New Jerusalem.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful. Revelation 21:2-5

You can read the rest of Revelation 21 and the first part of Revelation 22 to see how beautiful and wonderful this city will be for those who live there. One thing I’d like to point out is that there will be kings and people living on this new earth. Who are they? Since Christians will be reigning with Christ, will that be from the new earth? the new heaven? the New Jerusalem? We know from the apostles’ teachings that Christians will reign and rule with Christ forever. We know that Christians will serve Him as “kings and priests” to God.

What we can say is that eternal life with King Jesus will be beyond our wildest imaginations. We get some ideas from reading Revelation 21 and 22, but words can’t fully describe the physical and emotional joy we will experience in eternity. What will we do? We will reign. We will serve. We will love. We will be with our dearest Friend – our Lord and Savior – King Jesus.

Crowns and Thrones: The Majesty of Our God (Part Seven)