We have, in earlier installments, noticed that the land promise God made to Abraham was fulfilled, and that Jesus need not return to earth to fulfill it at a later time.  We also noticed that God has restored Israel to Palestine in keeping with his promise to do so, citing scripture references which indicate the limits and conditions of that promise, thus eliminating the need for Jesus to return to earth to do this.  We also noted that the kingdom of Daniel 2, Isaiah 2, and Micah 4 was established on Pentecost of Acts 2, thus eliminating the need for Jesus to return to earth to do this.  We have encouraged our readers to examine the evidence presented and draw the conclusions warranted by the facts, and we ask the same for this material.

IS CHRIST NOW REIGNING ON THE THRONE OF DAVID?

     Advocates of the doctrine of Premillennialism contend that Jesus must return to earth and reign on the throne of David in order that the prophecies of God might be fulfilled.  If this is the case, then Jesus certainly will return to the earth; but if it is not, then another tenet in this damnable heresy will have failed the test of examination.  Let us see.

     In the eighty-ninth Psalm we read, "For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever:  thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.  I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations.  Selah...My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing 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.  It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.  Selah" (Psalm 89:2-4; 34-37).  So from these verses we learn that God would see to it that David's seed would endure and his throne would be forever as the sun (until time ends).  We also learn from these verses where the throne would be, for verse 37 says that it is in heaven.  So, David's seed (Jesus) would sit forever (until time ends) on David's throne in heaven.  Would Jesus have to set foot on earth again to reign on a throne in heaven?  No, in fact, from our last article, we demonstrated that the kingdom is the church and that Jesus is now reigning over it, and he is in heaven.

     We read from Samuel, "And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies.  Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with they fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.  I will be his father, and he shall be my son.  If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever" (II Samuel 7:11-16).  These verses tell us that David's seed would be given an everlasting throne in his kingdom.  But who is David's seed?  Where is the proof of it?  "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 raise 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" (Acts 2:30-31).  Peter (by inspiration) applied the prophecy of Samuel to the resurrection of Christ.  Jesus began to reign upon his ascension.  His reign is in heaven, not yet to be in the future on the earth.

     In Zechariah 6:12-13 we read, "And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is THE BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:  Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne:  and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."  These verses tell us that when Jesus is priest, he would also be king.  King and priest at the same time.  Hear Paul:  "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:14-15).  Jesus is now our priest, therefore he is now king.  We know he could not be priest and king on this earth, for Paul also wrote:  "For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law...." (Hebrews 8:4).  He can't be priest on earth, he would be king and priest at the same time, he is priest, therefore he is also reigning as king in heaven.

     Sometimes people try to make a distinction as to the throne of David, the throne of Solomon, and the throne of the Lord, but see how they are used interchangeably in I Chronicles 29:23 - - "Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered..."

VOLUME XIX                June 2, 1996            Number 22

     The issue is whether Jesus will reign on his throne in Judah.  We contend not.  This is proven by noting the words of the prophet Jeremiah:  "Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord.  Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days:  for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah" (Jeremiah 22:28-30).  In Luke 3:31 and Matthew 1:6 we see the descent of Christ from David.  In Luke 3:27 and Matthew 1:12 we see the descent of Christ from Zorababel after Coniah.  Therefore, according to God's own prophecy, Jesus cannot reign on a physical throne in Judah, where Jerusalem is located.
     To easily clear the issue up, hear Paul:  "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet" (I Corinthians 15:25).  Jesus is now reigning.  He is in heaven, on the throne of David, just as God promised and as the New Testament writers affirmed.

(Space is gone for now, but we plan to continue these thoughts in a future issue).

 Tim Smith
 1272 Enon Road
 Webb, AL 36376
 334-899-8131

Are you a christian?  Have you heard and believed (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6)?  Have you repented (Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38)?  Have you confessed your faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32, Acts 8:37-38)?  Have you been baptized for the remission (washing away) of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16)?  Are you being faithful (Revelation 2:10)?  Call on us at the Enon church of Christ.
 

THIS ISSUE WAS PRINTED EARLY.
 

"There is no royal road to anything.  One thing at a time, all things in succession.  That which grows fast withers as rapidly; that which grows slowly endures."
 J.G. Holland