The Absolute Lord

Messianic promises from the Hebrew Bible are applied to the present reign of Jesus who possesses all authority in Heaven and on Earth. Jesus has reigned as Sovereign over the Earth since his Death and Resurrection. Already he sits firmly on the Messianic Throne. Because of his “obedience unto death,” he is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” Jesus declared that God had given him “all authority in Heaven and on Earth.” The sovereignty of the “Lamb” is limitless and a present reality.

Not only is he the “King of kings,” but every man redeemed by his blood becomes a member of his “Kingdom of Priests” and reigns with him, only his disciples “overcome” and reign in the same manner that he did.

[Photo by Denis Degioanni on Unsplash]

His disciples become royal “priests” who mediate his light in this dark world. They overcame the Devil by the “blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and because they love not their lives unto death.”

• “Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. Unto him who loves us and loosed us from our sins through his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father… He that overcomes, I will grant him to sit with me on my Throne, even as I overcame and sat with my Father on his throne… the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful”  - (Revelation 1:5-6, 3:21, 17:14).

In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of Man is?” Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” though his brief epiphany vanished once Jesus explained what the Messianic calling meant.

As the Messiah of Israel, Jesus must “go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed,” though God would resurrect him on the third day. He would become the ‘Suffering Servant of the LORD’ before he could be exalted to the Throne of David - (Matthew 16:13-28, Isaiah 53:1-12).

Afterward, he was exalted by his Father and given the “name which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” He now summons his priestly disciples to proclaim his message and sovereignty in every nation and inhabited corner of the Earth - (Philippians 2:9-11).

On his way to his death in Jerusalem, he promised that some disciples would not die until they saw the “Son of Man coming into his Kingdom.” His words echo the vision of Daniel in which he saw the figure known as the “Son of Man” receive the Kingdom and authority to rule over the nations:

• “I continued looking in the visions of the night, when, behold, with the clouds of the heavens, one like a son of man was coming, and to the Ancient of days he approached, and before him, they brought him near; and to him were given dominion and dignity and kingship, that all peoples, races, and tongues unto him should do service, his dominion was an everlasting dominion ” – (Daniel 7:13-14).

Only after his Death and Resurrection did Jesus receive “All authority in Heaven and on Earth.” He attained his present position through suffering and death as he “gave his life a ransom for many.” His declaration as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew alludes to the Messianic prophecy of the Second Psalm:

• (Psalm 2:7-8) – “Let me tell of a decree, Yahweh said to me, You are my son. I, this day, have begotten you. Ask of me and let me give nations as your inheritance, and as your possession, the ends of the earth.”

PRIESTLY KINGDOM

Because he possesses absolute authority, he sends his disciples as his envoys to proclaim his Gospel and his Lordship to the “ends of the Earth.” That is how they participate in his present reign.

Because of his obedience, God made him “both Messiah and Lord.” His followers proclaim his Lordship and Salvation to the nations. All men are called to submit to His Sovereignty and to receive salvation while time remains before the final judgment. All men and women who receive the forgiveness of sins join his “Kingdom of Priests” - (Matthew 25:31-46, Acts 2:36, Ephesians 1:20-22, Revelation 1:5-6).

The man from Nazareth has become the one true “Emperor” who reigns over the entire Earth rather than Caesar or other pretenders to world sovereignty, including kings, princes, dictators, prime ministers, and presidents.

The one who now reigns is the “Lamb with Seven Horns and Seven Eyes,” an image that points to his absolute power and limitless knowledge. There is nothing beyond his reach, including “Death and Hades.”

Nevertheless, it is the “Slain Lamb” who reigns, not the “roaring Lion of Judah,” and he has determined to “shepherd the nations” with his rod rather than destroy them. In the end, the “Holy City, New Jerusalem,” will be populated fully, and its residents will include the “Kings of the Earth” and the “nations” – (“The Nations shall walk amidst its light, and the Kings of the Earth bring their glory into it” – Revelation 21:24).

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SEE ALSO:

• King of Kings - (The Messiah shepherds the nations by the word that proceeds out of his mouth in preparation for the final battle - Revelation 19:11-16)

• The Lamb Reigns - (Jesus as the Lamb reigns supreme over the Kings of the Earth, and he is shepherding the nations to the city of New Jerusalem)

• Servant or Tyrant? - (Satan offered Jesus unlimited political power to achieve his messianic mission if only he acknowledged the Devil as his Overlord)