Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
1 Chronicles 29:11-22 [ASV]
11Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth [is thine]; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.12Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou rulest over all; and in thy hand is power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.13Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.15For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.16O Jehovah our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name cometh of thy hand, and is all thine own.17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, that are present here, offer willingly unto thee.18O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee; 19and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.20And David said to all the assembly, Now bless Jehovah your God. And all the assembly blessed Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped Jehovah, and the king.21And they sacrificed sacrifices unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,22and did eat and drink before Jehovah on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Jehovah to be prince, and Zadok to be priest. The reign of the house of David is based on a divine covenant in which the son of David was also declared to be the Son of God (Psalm 2:7; 89:27; 2 Sam 7:14). David acknowledges Jehovah as King and that the kingdom of Israel is His Kingdom. The phraseology "Kingdom of Jehovah" and "Kingdom of Israel" are synonymous and they also describe the Davidic monarchy. The Davidic is basically the under shepherd of Jehovah God. Jehovah God is the King immortal and the Davidic king was/is His vice regent. The above is a prayer to Jehovah by David. Here in this prayer David acknowledges the sovereign rulership of Jehovah over Israel in particular and all creation in general. Verse 20, during the coronation ceremony of Solomon David commanded that the assembly present bless Jehovah God and they did this by bowing their heads and worshipping Jehovah as well as king David. Do you notice this? Part of blessing Jehovah was to give worship to His anointed King which happened to be David at this point and shortly would be Solomon. So the argument that one must be God Almighty in order to receive worship is false. Jehovah God decreed that the Israelite king was to receive worship in respect to the office of being king of Israel and being of the royal seed of David. 2nd Samuel 7:14 14 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; Part of the Davidic covenant is that the son of David is also declared to be the Son of God. Psalm 2:7 7I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee. When a Davidic king was installed into his office as king, he entered into a Father-son covenant relationship with Jehovah God. The above is a coronation hymm of an Israelite Davidic King and not about literal birth. To be anointed and/or enthroned as the King of Israel was at the same time to be adopted as God's begotten son. Psalm 89:27 27I also will make him my first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth. Again, this is not literal birth but rather the exaltation of the Davidic king above all other kings. It's another coronation passage. John in the book of Revelation chapter 1 attributes this passage to Jehoshua's resurrection and ascension: 5 and from Jehoshua Messiah, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;6 and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. John calls Jehoshua the firstborn in connection with His resurrection from the dead which resulted in Him being the ruler of the kings of the earth. Hebrews 1 and Colossians 1 cover this in more detail. The Kingdom of David is the manifestation of God's rule over all the earth. Jehoshua became the ruler over all the earth upon His ascension into heaven and being seated on the throne of David at the right hand of God. The Davidic king often led the assembly of the kingdom into the worship of Jehovah God. The Davidic King is in effect a worship leader. 1 Chronicles 13:2-4 (ASV) 2And David said unto all the assembly of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and if it be of Jehovah our God, let us send abroad every where unto our brethren that are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us;3and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul.4And all the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. Here David is organizing an effort where all the brethren of Israel can participate in the worship of Jehovah God. 1 Chronicles 28:2-8 (ASV) 2Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.3But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.4Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;5And of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel.6And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.7And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day.8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever. Here David organizes an assembly of the esteemed men of Israel to give charge regarding the building of the temple of Jehovah God. 1 Chronicles 29 1And David the king said unto all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Jehovah God. David leads the assembly of Israel into the worship of Jehovah God at the enthronement ceremony of his son Solomon. 1 Chronicles 29 10 Wherefore David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. David here is leading the assembly into the worship of Jehovah God. 1 Chronicles 29 20 And David said to all the assembly, Now bless Jehovah your God. And all the assembly blessed Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped Jehovah, and the king. Here David leads Israel into bowing to Jehovah blessing Him with their worship. Israel also worships David as their king showing that the Davidic king is worthy of worship. 2 Chronicles 1:3-5 (ASV) 3 So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Jehovah had made in the wilderness.4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim to [the place] that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.5 Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah: and Solomon and the assembly sought unto it. Solomon the king of Israel leads the congregation into the worship of Jehovah God. This is the primary function of the Davidic king which is to guide his kingdom into the worship of Jehovah God. 2nd Chronicles 6:3-13 (ASV) 3And the king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood. 4And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hands fulfilled it, saying,5Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:6but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.7Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.8But Jehovah said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart:9nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.10And Jehovah hath performed his word that he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.11And there have I set the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with the children of Israel.12And he stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands13(for Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;) Solomon the king of Israel now blesses the people and gives a prayer of dedication for the temple. Solomon remembers the covenant that Jehovah made with his father David. Before the congregation of Israel, Solomon blesses Jehovah God and leads the Israelites in prayer and worship of the creator God. 2 Chronicles 7:7-8 (ASV) 7Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of Jehovah; for there he offered the burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat.8So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt. Here we see Solomon offering sacrifices unto Jehovah God and keeping the feasts leading the nation of Israel in doing so. In 2 Chronicles 20:5-14 we see king Jehoshaphat pray to Jehovah God in the midst of the congregation of Israel. Jehoshaphat was a faithful son of David following in his footsteps of leading the people of Israel into worshipping Jehovah God. 2nd Chronicles 23:3 3And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king`s son shall reign, as Jehovah hath spoken concerning the sons of David. Jehoaida along with the elders of Israel anoint Joash to be king of Israel at 7 years of age in order to preserve the Davidic royal lineage which was at the brink of destruction due to the queen Atatallah. Jehoaida references the Davidic covenant that Jehovah made with David as proof that that what they were doing in anointing Joash was of divine authority. This same covenant gave the John the baptist authority to baptize Jehoshua into Kingship. Jehoshua was confessed as the King of Israel two days after being baptized at the Jordan river. In 2 Chronicles 29, Hezekiah king of Israel led the nation into the true worship of Jehovah God which had been lost due to their idolatry: 23And they brought near the he-goats for the sin-offering before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands upon them:24and the priests killed them, and they made a sin-offering with their blood upon the altar, to make atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded [that] the burnt-offering and the sin-offering [should be made] for all Israel.25And he set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king`s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets.26And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.27And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of Jehovah began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David king of Israel.28And all the assembly worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this [continued] until the burnt-offering was finished.29And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves and worshipped.30Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises unto Jehovah with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. Hezekiah briefly returned Israel to the godly ways of David his father. This passage shows that one of the primary functions of the Kingship of Israel was as worship leader. It is unbiblical to call those in church who sing songs worship leaders. It is only the king of Israel Jehoshua who is our worship leader. In verse 10, Hezekiah said that it was in his heart to make a covenant with Jehovah God so that His wrath would turn away from Israel. The Davidic king had the responsibility of Israel's spiritual health. 2nd Chronicles 30:22-26 22And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that had good understanding [in the service] of Jehovah. So they did eat throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.23And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept [other] seven days with gladness.24For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.25And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.26So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. King Hezekiah reinstituted the feast of unleavened bread and organized it so that the people could participate by donating of his substance. The princes of Israel also donated part of their substance to the people of Israel so that they could offer sacrifices to Jehovah God. Hezekiah brought back the glory days of Israel as the nation rejoiced in the love of Jehovah God and the reinstitution of His feasts and law. It was the Davidic king who caused a revival in the nation of Israel. This shows the importance and influence that the Davidic king had among the people. Often the nation went as the king went. 2nd Samuel 7:12-16 12When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.14I 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;15but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.16And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. This passage is the Davidic covenant that Jehovah made with David. In verse 12, Jehovah through the prophet Nathan tells David that He will set up David's seed (sperm) after David falls asleep (death). This descendant of David has to be of his literal fleshly line and He will come out of David's bowels which is a reference to the male seat of generation i.e. the male sexual organs. This is a clear statement that this future Davidic King will come from a male descendant of David. Jehovah God will establish the Kingdom of the future Messianic King who comes out of the stock of David. While this was partially fulfilled in Solomon the ultimate fulfillment is found in the only begotten Son Jehoshua. One clue that is often overlooked is that this seed is said to come after David falls asleep showing that this verse goes beyond the scope of Solomon who came out from David while David was still alive. The future Davidic King would build the house of Jehovah. This is a dual prophecy. Solomon built the physical temple that was eventually destroyed but Jehoshua built and is still building the spiritual temple which is eternal and will never be destroyed. Verse 14, "I will be His Father, and he shall be my son", a legal relationship applicable to every Davidic king but uniquely fulfilled and descriptive of Jehoshua, as the only begotten Son via baptism and the firstborn from the dead via resurrection making Him the eternal Davidic King. David's lesser sons did indeed sin sometimes in far worse ways than Saul. Jehovah said He would use the rod of correction against them. Jehoshua of course had no sin in Him. Verse 15, Jehovah's covenant loyalty would remain with David even though some of David's sons would sin greatly against Jehovah. The sins of the lesser sons could not jeopardize the coming of David's greater Son. The covenant promise is unconditional because the ideal seed of David is Jehoshua. Verse 16, both the Kingdom of David and his throne would be established forever through Jehoshua as the other Davidic kings did not fulfill this. Jehoshua's resurrection validated His claims of Sonship. Jehoshua was declared to be the Son of God with power by way of His resurrection. He was made the firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth as He was enthroned as King of Israel in New Jerusalem. Romans 1:1-3 1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,2which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,3concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,4who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord, Jehoshua went from being the suffering Son of God during His earthly ministry to the Son of God with power after His resurrection being installed on the throne of David in heaven upon His ascension. Jehoshua's resurrection made Him the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. It is through His resurrection that the beloved apostle John says He was made the firstborn Son, higher than the kings of the earth: Revelation 1:5-6 5and from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;6and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Through His resurrection Jehoshua fulfilled the promises of the Davidic covenant, being enthroned as King and also establishing the Davidic Kingdom forever. Through the shedding of His blood, Jehoshua made those who trust in it to be a kingdom. This clearly shows that His resurrection not only paved the way for Him to be enthroned as the eternal Davidic King, but also established and inaugurated the Davidic Kingdom which of course goes hand in hand with Him being King. James the Lord's brother confirmed this in Acts 15: 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,16After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, James confirmed that the bringing in of the Gentiles into the Messianic faith was a fulfillment of prophecy that the tabernacle (Kingdom) of David was being rebuilt and set up. This is the establishment of the Davidic Kingdom which will last forever as promised to David in verse 16 of 2 Samuel chapter 7. John in the book of Revelation agreed with this by saying that the Son of God's shedding of blood and subsequent resurrection made us (those who have faith in the Son of God) a kingdom. The kingdom that the Son of God made us to be is the very kingdom James says was being set up and the very Kingdom promised to David as an everlasting covenant, that is the Kingdom of David. Colossians 1:12-13 12giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;13who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; Paul clearly states that the Kingdom of Jehoshua is a present reality and this letter to the Colossians was written about A.D. 61. This refutes the idea that the Son of God's Kingdom starts in some earthly millennium. This shows that it was the Son of God's first advent and subsequent resurrection and ascension that fulfilled the Davidic covenant in that David's Kingdom would be established forever. Also, Hebrews 1:8-9 proves that Jehoshua was given an eternal throne upon His ascension into heaven which of course is the throne of David as the passage quotes Psalm 45:5-6 which is a coronation hymn of an Israelite King. This eternal throne can be none other than one promised to David's seed who would be the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. Hebrews 1:8-9 8but of the Son [he saith,] Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows Jehoshua upon His ascension into heaven is given an eternal throne by Jehovah God. The prophetic was only promised one throne which was the Davidic one. The throne of David in the old testament was also called the throne of Jehovah. The throne that Jehoshua sits on is Jehovah's throne which is also the heavenly throne of David. The transfer of the Davidic throne from earthly Jerusalem to heavenly new Jerusalem was prophesied in Psalm 89: 35Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David:36His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me.37It shall be established for ever as the moon, And [as] the faithful witness in the sky. Selah Jehovah says that once the covenant that He made with David is fulfilled that the Davidic throne will be a heavenly witness just as the moon and the sun which are before Jehovah. The throne of David is a faithful witness in the sky meaning it is a heavenly throne and it is a witness that God's promises are true and sure and enduring as the Davidic covenant is a covenant of salt. Upon the faithful witness of the Davidic throne sits the faithful and true witness, who is the seed of David, Jehoshua Messiah. Psalm 2:7 "I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee" The Messiah is speaking here and stating the decree or law that Jehovah made concerning Him. Jehovah is declaring the pedigree of His Messiah. The word "begotten" used in this verse can also mean to declare pedigrees. The pedigree that is being declared is that the son of David is also Jehovah's Son, being adopted i.e. begotten. This begetting is a spiritual one not a literal birth and the begetting is an installment into Kingship. Jehovah's chosen one is being begotten into Kingship and Sonship at the same time. Kingship and Sonship go hand in hand. To be Jehovah's anointed King of Israel is also to be His begotten (adopted) Son. This is a legal relationship based upon the Davidic covenant that Jehovah made with David. The agreement to this covenant is that Jehovah would be a Father to the royal seed of David. Psalm.89:27 "I also will make him my first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth" In the context of Psalm 89 is the Davidic covenant in which Jehovah God promised David an eternal King from the fruit of his (David's) loins. The term "firstborn" in this context is not about literal birth but rather its a designation of rank and privilege (higher than the kings of the earth). This would be partially fulfilled in the Davidic kings of the old testament but found its ultimate fulfillment in Messiah Jehoshua. To be Jehovah's firstborn does not mean He literally gave birth to you but rather chose you by adopting you into a covenant with Himself. We see this in a few places elsewhere in scripture: Exodus 4:22 "And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born" In the time of their suffering in Egypt, Jehovah adopted Israel as His firstborn son. Of course we know that Jehovah didn't literally give birth to the nation of Israel but rather adopted them into sonship. Jehovah lovingly adopts His covenant people as His children. Here all Israel was counted corporately as Jehovah's son, the firstborn or oldest male child with special rights to dignity and the inheritance. "Firstborn" comes from the Hebrew word "bkowr" (Strongs 1060) & means "chief, eldest son, firstborn". In the Greek, "firstborn" is rendered from the word "prototokos" (Strongs 4416) and means "firstborn, (literally or figuratively): - firstbegotten - born". Cleary the term firstborn has both a literal and figurative meaning. Jeremiah 31:9 "They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born." Here Jehovah says that He is a father to Israel and that Ephraim (northern tribes) are His firstborn son. Obviously this is to be taken figuratively as Jehovah didn't literally give birth to the nation of Israel. This is a reference to the covenant Jehovah made with Israel during their sojourn in Egypt (Exodus 4:22). 1 Chronicles 28 4Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;5And of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel.6And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.7And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day. Jehovah God chose David as His covenant son and king by covenant (2 Samuel 7). To be chosen by God to be the King of Israel was the same as being chosen to be His son. This is seen also in Psalm 2:7. In verse 6, David says that Jehovah God has chosen Solomon (David's son) to be His (Jehovah's) son. This is in connection with Jehovah setting Solomon upon the throne of His (Jehovah's) Kingdom which is the same as the Kingdom of Israel (verse 5). The choosing of Solomon to be the king of Israel was the same as choosing Solomon to be His (Jehovah's) son. Also, in verse 6 after David says that Jehovah chose Solomon to be His (Jehovah's) son, He also says that Jehovah said He (Jehovah) will be Solomon's Father. This speaks to the Davidic covenant in 2nd Samuel ch 7. Basically the installment and/or anointing of the royal seed of David upon the throne of Israel was a covenant agreement between Jehovah God and His adopted Davidic son.
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My continuing study on the book of Revelation from a historicist position. Revelation 11:15-19 15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,17Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.18And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering's, and an earthquake, and great hail. This passage is very enlightening as to the reason why Jehovah God is going to pour out His wrath on mankind. The sounding of the seventh trumpet brings without further delay the Kingdom of God and His Messiah. The Son of God will reign forever according to verse 15. This goes in line with what the prophet Daniel said regarding the future Son of man: 13I 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.14And 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. The eternality of the Son of God's Kingdom was also covenanted to David regarding His royal seed (2 Samuel 7). Even though the Son of God will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father when the end comes it does not mean He will no longer be King nor sit on His throne as such. It just means that all things will be reconciled to God the Father because death has been destroyed. The Father is the ultimate Sovereign over all creation including His Son Jehoshua. This is true now even though Jehoshua currently sits as King and will be more true at the end after Jehoshua defeats the last enemy. Both Revelation 21 and 22 show that both God and His Son reign over the new heavens and new earth albeit the Father is head over His Son. Verses 16 and 17 shows the 24 elders worshipping Jehovah God identifying Him as the eternal one "which art, and wast, and art to come" Verse 18, the state of the nations will be one of anger, specifically against God and His commandments. We see this going on today. The seventh trumpet is the time in which the dead will be judged, both the just and unjust. This shows the true state of the dead. The dead don't come to life again until the day of Judgment which is ushered in by the second advent. It doesn't say they are alive in hell and will be judged but rather they are dead and will be judged. The bible elsewhere says that it is appointed to die once and then the judgment. The saints and prophets will be rewarded, these are the just. It also says those that fear the name of Jehovah God. When the bible talks about fearing God, it is equated with keeping His commandments. We will see in a couple of verses that the whole reason the Son of God comes to tread the winepress of God is due to the breaking of the 10 commandments. The unjust are those who destroy the earth. This is not necessarily about those literally destroying the earth's environment although that is included as man's greed is usually the root cause of the earth's environmental issues. However, the primary understanding of this destroying of the earth is that sin destroys the earth. Sin is defined as breaking the law of Jehovah (1 John 3:4). See Leviticus 18 for this principle and the three specific sins that cause a land to be defiled. Isaiah 24:1-5 (ASV) 1Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.3The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word.4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.5The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. In verse 5 we see that the reason Jehovah makes the earth empty is because they have broken His commandments. In Leviticus 18, we see that there are certain sins, child sacrifice, Homosexuality and incest that cause Jehovah to vomit the inhabitants out of the lamb. Let's go back to Revelation 11 and look at verse 19: "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail" This is a very revealing verse as it shows us the very reason God is sending judgment on the earth. We are shown the holy of holies in the heavenly sanctuary and the original ark of the covenant. Here it is called "the ark of His testament". Testament is the testimony. What is the testimony that is contained in the ark? Deuteronomy 10:4-5 4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Jehovah spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and Jehovah gave them unto me.5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as Jehovah commanded me. The 10 commandments were written with the finger of God and then Moses put the tables which the commandments were written on in ark. So clearly the testimony that is in the ark is the tables of the 10 commandments. Hebrews 9:4 says the same things regarding what the ark contained: "Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant" The tables of the covenant are the 10 commandments as shown in Deuteronomy 10:4-5. If the tabernacle in the wilderness was only a shadow of the original tabernacle in heaven as Hebrews 8:2 says, then it stands to reason that the testimony in the ark in heaven also contains the 10 commandments. While most of Christendom says these commandments are no longer binding in the new covenant keep in mind that these commandments were written by the very finger of God: Deuteronomy 9:10 (ASV) 10 And Jehovah delivered unto me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them [was written] according to all the words, which Jehovah speak with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. Jehovah God is the one who wrote the 10 commandments and these commandments were then put in the ark of the covenant. As Isaiah 24:1-5 shows the controversy that causes Jehovah to judge the earth is the transgression of His laws and the everlasting covenant. All throughout the book of Revelation it is the commandments that are at the center of the controversy between God and Satan. The keeping of the commandments is what marks out what the true Church is, as we will see as we proceed in our study of the book of Revelation. So here in Revelation 11:19 we see the culmination of why Jehovah is pouring His wrath out which is the violation of the testimony in heaven. This verse shows that the 10 commandments, which are the testimony contained in the ark, will be the standard of judgment for the servants of God and for those who destroy the earth. Lightnings, voices and thundering's and an earthquake and great hail are heard and seen at the opening of the heavenly sanctuary and the ark of the testimony being seen. This shows judgment and wrath in connection with the ark of the covenant. Again, this clearly shows that it is the violation of the 10 commandments that move Jehovah to pour out His wrath on mankind. Let's now go to chapter 12: Revelation 12:1-4 1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Now we cycle back to the birth of the Messiah. The woman clothed with the sun is the nation of Israel which God chose to bring the prophetic Messianic King. The crown of 12 stars represents the 12 tribes of Israel. Some say the moon represents the old covenant and the sun represents the new covenant. Verse 2 of Revelation 12 shows the hardships of Israel in anticipation of her Messianic saviour likening her waiting period to the birth pangs of a woman in labour. Satan is the large dragon with the heads, horns and crowns representing earthly governments that he uses to accomplish his agenda. In the days of Jehoshua's ministry these Satanic tools of government were the Roman empire and the Jewish religious establishment. Satan was ready to destroy the Messiah even before He was born of the woman Israel. The killing of the baby boys 2 years and under show that Satan was actively trying to kill the Messiah early in His life: Matthew 2:16 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. The Messiah's father Joseph even had to take the family to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod who was used as one of the Dragons crowns to destroy the saviour of Israel. Verse 5 of Revelation 12: "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne" The nation of Israel brought forth Her promised Messianic King who was to be the ruler of all the nations. Even though Satan tried to destroy the Son of God, the Warrior King triumphed overcoming the world and ascending to heaven being sat on the throne of David at the right hand of God. Acts 2:29-36 details the victory of the Davidic King and His ascension into heaven on the throne. Psalm 110:1-2 (ASV) 1Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.2Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. King David prophesied about His seed being raised up to sit on the throne of Jehovah God which is the same as the throne of David. It was at Jehoshua's ascension into heaven that this prophesied was fulfilled. Verse 5 of Revelation 12 says that the Messiah would rule the nations with a rod of iron. Here in verse 2 of Psalm 110 it says that Jehoshua will rule in the midst of His enemies. Jehoshua rules over His enemies even now in the interadvental age. Psalm 2 echoes the ascension theme of the Son of God, the Davidic royal seed: 8Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter`s vessel. Verse 8 is the enthronement of Jehoshua and Him being given His Kingdom and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. This takes us back to Psalm 89 in which the Davidic King was prophesied to be given the earth as His possession: 25 I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers. Daniel 7:13-14 (ASV) 13I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, 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. The above prophecy was fulfilled at the ascension of the Messiah into heaven and speaks to His enthronement as King of Israel and the establishment of His everlasting Kingdom in which will be all peoples, tribes and languages. The idea that the Son of God's Kingdom is a Jewish Kingdom is patently false. The Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah is an international Kingdom in which all are eqaul. This international Kingdom constitutes the true Israel of God. Back to Psalm 2, the Messiah will return to break the nations with a rod of iron meaning He will utterly destroy them not rule over them as their political ruler. Jehoshua will dash the nations in pieces like a potters vessel, again this speaks to their destruction not their continued existence in some earthly millennium. Let's now go back to Revelation 12: 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. The woman is Israel i.e. the church and she flees into the wilderness due to persecution. The fact that the woman flees into the wilderness right after the ascension of the Messiah into heaven shows that the persecution/tribulation of the church began right away and that the true church has never been the visible mainstream Church system but rather has always been a small remnant. This is a serious indictment against the modern institutional Church system whether they be Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant or Evangelical as all these systems stem from the union of Church and State established by the Roman emperor Constantine. God's true church has always been a persecuted church that is the minority not the majority. The reference to the 1,260 days is important as it starts in conjunction with the woman (church) fleeing into the wilderness showing that this number is symbolic of the new covenant church age which began at the ascension of the Messiah. The 1,260 days starts right around the time of the ascension of the Messiah and the woman fleeing into the wilderness showing that this is not about a future persecution of "end time" saints. We can also know that these 1,260 days span the entirety of the new covenant church age due to the use of the number elsewhere in the book of Revelation. Throughout history the church has always suffered. Verses 7-9 of Revelation 12: 7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels [going forth] to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;8And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.9And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. The war of the angels symbolizes the effect of the Messiah's exaltation upon Satan and his forces. Satan's defeat relates especially to his work as the accuser of the brethren in the court of heaven. As a result of the Son of God's victory on the cross and subsequent ascension into heaven, Satan and his angels no longer have access to the heavenly courts. Satan and the fallen angels are permanently cast into the earth where they continue to rage against God's people. Satan also controls people (unbelievers) with his lies. Verse 10 of Revelation 12: "And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night" "Now is come", this is a present tense statement in connection with the casting out of Satan, showing us that the Kingdom of God and His Messiah was established at the ascension of the Son of God into heaven which resulted in the casting out of Satan. This is another clear scripture that destroys the futurist doctrine that the Kingdom of the Son of God begins in some future millennium. Salvation and strength is connected with the arrival of the Kingdom. We know that salvation has come in the arrival of the Son of God onto the scene nearly 2,000 years ago which means the Kingdom also arrived at that time since salvation and the Kingdom are inseparable. Satan is the accuser of the brethren who was defeated at the cross and cast out of heaven for good. He is no longer able to accuse the brethren before God in the heavenly places. Verse 11 of Revelation 12: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" The brethren cannot be accused by Satan as they have overcome him not by their works but by the blood of the Son of God and the word of their testimony. This testimony is not the testimony of their conversion or past life before their conversion but rather the testimony of Jehoshua Messiah who is the Spirit of prophecy. We as the church overcome the world by proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jehoshua Messiah which is His testimony as He is the pinnacle of all bible prophecy, hence Jehoshua is the Spirit of prophecy. We as the church are to prophesy which is to proclaim the Messianic prophecies in the old testament that pointed forward to the Messiah and were fulfilled at His first advent. Also, we proclaim future prophecy that will be fulfilled at His second advent. Verses 12 and 13 of Revelation 12: 12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.13And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. This passage shows that immediately upon the devil being cast down to earth he starts to persecute the woman which is Israel, which is the new covenant church. Remember, that it was upon the ascension of the Messiah into heaven that resulted in the casting out of Satan. Immediately upon his casting out he started persecuting the church. This is key in understanding as it helps us determine the timing of bible prophecy in terms of futurism vs. Historicism. Verse 14 of Revelation 12: "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent" The fact that this time period "time, and times, and half a time" begin right after the ascension of the Messiah into heaven shows this to be a symbolic time period covering the new testament church age. This is the same time period mentioned in Revelation 11:2 which is called the "forty and two months" which is eqaul in time to the time period mentioned in Revelation 12:14. This supports the Historicist understanding of prophecy and destroys the futurists doctrine of end times. Also, it shows that the woman i.e. the church goes into the wilderness right after the Messiah's ascension into heaven which means that the true church has always been a persecuted minority and never the mainstream majority. This destroys the Orthodox (RCC, Protestant, EO, Evangelical) claims of being the true church and guardians of truth. In a few verses we will learn what identifies God's true Church. Verses 15 and 16 of Revelation 12: 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. Satan's flood is persecution which he sends after the church in the form of human governments and false religion. Again, this persecution took place right after the Messiah ascended to heaven. It initially took the form of religious political Israel and the Roman empire. The persecution of the woman eventually took the form of the Roman Catholic Church. Again, this shows that the true church has always been a persecuted church and never the established state churches of Christendom. The same is true today in regards to the state 501 c 3 churches. "The earth helped the woman", throughout history the church has found refuge in the crevices of the earth. The Jerusalem church found refuge in the Mountains of Pella before the events of AD 70. The early church in the Roman empire found refuge in the underground catacombs. The Waldenses found solace in the french and Italian alps. The Anabaptists in the dark European forests. Even today, Christians worldwide meet in underground hideaways to worship God and His Son for fear of persecution. Verse 17 of Revelation 12: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" Satan persecutes the church on earth, the spiritual offspring of Israel i.e. the woman. This verse right here shows us the identifying marks of the true church of God. This one verse destroys any claim of Orthodoxy of being the true church and guardian of the truth. Every single church under the umbrella of what is called "Orthodoxy" fails to meet the criteria listed above regarding what is the remnant church. One of the identifying marks of the true church is that they keep the commandments of God. This is an obvious reference to the 10 commandments. Many churches try to deny that this verse is a reference to the 10 commandments or say that this passage is strictly about the Jews and fleshly Geo-political Israel (dispensationalism). Just about every denomination under the umbrella of "Orthodoxy" violates the 4th commandment of the Sabbath day by either keeping a Sunday Sabbath or disregarding it all together. Even the denominations that keep the Sabbath commandment, such as Adventism, Seventh Day Baptist or the various churches of God, violate the first commandment by worshipping a trinitarian or binitarian god. God's true church has never been a trinitarian church nor a Sunday keeping church. This destroys the claim of all of "Orthodoxy" that they are the "Church". Again, Orthodoxy includes the Roman Catholic Church, The Eastern Orthodox Churches, Protestants and Evangelicals. Also, the testimony of Jehoshua Messiah is an identifying mark of the true remnant church. Revelation 19:10 says that the testimony of Jehoshua Messiah is the Spirit of prophecy. The true church preaches what the prophets foretold regarding the Messiah and also the fulfillment of those prophecies with the Messiah's arrival onto the scene. Also, the Spirit of prophecy testifies of the Son of God's future arrival & consummation of His Kingdom. Jehoshua is the Davidic King proclaiming a coming Kingdom, that Kingdom must be the Davidic Kingdom. This Kingdom is also called the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of heaven.
1 Chronicles 28:4-5 (ASV) 4Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;5And of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel The Davidic King was given the Kingdom of Jehovah God, to be it's ruler and the throne of David was the same as the throne of Jehovah. David and His royal seed was chosen by God to be King over Israel. This is an eternal covenant (Psalm 89). The King of Israel was God's elect man. Jehovah God elected the Davidic royal seed to be King over His Kingdom. 1 Chronicles 28:6-7 (ASV) 6And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.7And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day. Jehovah God chose Solomon to be His son and stated that He would be Solomon's father. Solomon became Jehovah's adopted son upon His anointing as king of Israel. God had promised David a lasting dynasty. This was ultimately fulfilled in Jehoshua. The adoption of Solomon as God's son was promised to David back in 2 Samuel chapter 7: 14 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; This promise to David that Jehovah would be a father to his (David's) son has a near fulfillment in Solomon but is ultimately fulfilled in Jehoshua. This promise actually applies to David's royal seed, it's a promise of a Father-son covenant relationship between Jehovah and the royal seed of David. It has nothing to do with ontological relationship but rather election. Jehovah God elected/adopted David's royal seed into this Father-Son covenant. To qualify for this sonship one has to be of the seed of David through a male descendant and have a right to sit on the throne of David. Again, it has nothing to do with ontological relationships (virgin birth, eternal generation, literal begetting before time) angelic Christology, preexistence of the Messiah nor the Messiah being God. Ultimately Solomon didn't fully live up to all that Jehovah commanded as he had his downfalls but he was still a great king. Solomon's kingdom eventually was split and it didnt last forever as Jehovah had told him if he did all He (Jehovah) commanded. It wouldn't be until Jehoshua came on the scene that the Davidic dynasty would be established forever as He was the only Davidic King to fully obey Jehovah and keep His commandments. The pattern was that Jehovah would adopt a Davidic royal claimant as His son when that son was anointed as the king of Israel. This would sometimes precede the actual enthronement which was another occasion in which the adoption was more fully cyrstalized. Once the Davidic royal claimant was anointed as king he then entered a Father-son covenant relationship with Jehovah God. If the enthronement was at a later date then the adoption would be restated and both Jehovah and the Davidic king entered into a new phase of their already existing Father-son relationship. The language of 2 Samuel chapter 7;14 speaks of a future Sonship for Jehoshua who was the ultimate fulfillment of this promise Jehovah made to David. This shows us that Jehoshua did not exist in the old testament as Jehovah's Son but was a future prophetic Son which would be realized when the fulness of time had arrived. This time period where the fullness of time would come was when Jehoshua was baptized at the Jordan river. This is when Jehoshua fulfilled the promise made to David and when Jehovah God became His Father and He Jehovah's Son. Only 2 days after His baptism, Nathanael confessed that He was the Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:49). The futuristic not yet Sonship of Jehoshua is proven also in the new testament in the book of Hebrews chapter 1: 1God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,2hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; We see clearly here that God did not speak through Jehoshua in the old testament times, proving that He was not God's Son yet but rather He became God's Son when the last days began which marked the start of His ministry. A few verses down we see a quotation of 2 Samuel ch. 7:14 in Hebrews 1:5 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son? Both Psalm 2:7 and 2nd Samuel 7:14 are quoted here within one verse. These both refer to the time when the future Davidic seed would become King of Israel (Psalm 2:7) and also become Jehovah's Son (2 Samuel 7:14) which are the same thing and same event. The anointing of a royal Davidic seed was an adoption ceremony where Jehovah entered into a Father-son covenant relationship with the royal son of David. The Davidic royal claimant was begotten into Kingship and Sonship by the anointing of oil and Jehovah's Spirit. The begetting of the royal Davidic seed into sonship was an installment into office of being king of Israel. These two titles, son of God and king of Israel equated one with being Jehovah's messiah. While all Israel could rightfully claim to be sons and daughters of God, the messianic king was Jehovah's firstborn son or begotten son. Israel as a nation was called Jehovah's firstborn son denoting their preeminence among the nations, however the king of Israel was the elect one within Israel who was in a special covenant Father-son relationship and was to be the ideal Israelite. Very few of the Davidic kings lived up to being the ideal Israelite. David, Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Hezekiah and Josiah all lived up to being the ideal Israelite in many ways but none of them completely fulfilled what Jehovah had initially promised to David. The promise was that of his seed would one establish David's throne and Kingdom forever. While the promise to David was unconditional, there was a condition that had to be met by the specific Davidic seed that hoped to be the one that would fully fulfill the covenant. 1 Chronicles 28 tells us what that condition was: 7And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day.8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever.9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.10Take heed now; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. For a royal seed of David to fulfill the Davidic covenant completely he had to constantly keep the commandments of God. David equates having a perfect heart and willing mind with keeping God's commandments. We know that only Jehoshua fulfilled these requirements completely as He kept the Father's commandments and word perfectly. So unlike many of the other Davidic kings, Jehoshua was not cast off from Jehovah but rather was resurrected to eternal life so that He can build the new covenant temple of Jehovah which is the church. In the chapter after 1 Chronicles 28, Solomon is enthroned as the King of Israel: 1 Chronicles 29:22-25 (ASV) 22and did eat and drink before Jehovah on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Jehovah to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.23Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.24And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.25And Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. The throne of David is considered the throne of Jehovah God. This is because Jehovah God's Spirit rested on His adopted son, the king of Israel. Also, it denoted that the king of Israel had the authority of Jehovah God behind his throne and in the rulership of the kingdom. The king of Israel was Jehovah God's earthly representative and vice regent. The nation of Israel obeyed king Solomon as the king was to be honored and reverenced as Jehovah's anointed. Verse 25 shows us the grandeur in which Jehovah exalted king Solomon. The Father magnified Solomon exceedingly and gave him royal majesty unseen before among the previous two kings. If this is true of an earthly Israelite king, how much more of the eternal heavenly King of Israel, Jehoshua? Hebrews 1:8-9 shows us the majesty that was given to Jehoshua upon His enthronement as King of Israel: 8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Jehoshua due to His righteousness and hatred of lawlessness was anointed with majesty, magnificence and the holy Spirit above His companions. The companions spoken of could mean the other Israelite kings. No other king, no matter how successful their reign was, completely kept God's commandments. Jehoshua was the only one and it is because of this that He was made the eternal Davidic King who fulfilled the oath made to David. Jehoshua did what the other kings could not, which is to be sinless once He was anointed as King which in His case was at His baptism. 2 Chronicles 13:4-8 (ASV) 4And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel:5 Ought ye not to know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?6Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord.7And there were gathered unto him worthless men, base fellows, that strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them.8And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David; and ye are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods. The background here goes back to a prophecy in 1 Kings 11;29-40 in which Ahijah told Jeroboam that Jehovah God would give him 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel to be king over. We will look at this shortly, however let's look at this passage above in which the Kingdom of Jehovah is said to be in the hand of the sons of David. The Davidic Kingdom is equated with the Kingdom of Jehovah God. In verse 5, Abijah tells Jeroboam that Jehovah God gave the Kingdom of Israel to the royal seed of David by a covenant of salt which means the covenant is an enduring one that lasts forever. This is clearly a reference to God's promises to David and his sons (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17). War against the house of David was a war against Jehovah God. Verse 6, Abijaj equates rising up against the house of David as rebellion. The Davidic King was Lord of the people of Israel. Verse 8, the Kingdom of Jehovah God had been covenanted to house of David back in 2 Samuel chapter 7. The royal seed of David is the administrator and regent of Jehovah's Kingdom. The Davidic dynasty has been given the keys to the Kingdom of Jehovah God. The Kingdom was placed in the hands of the house of David by a covenant of salt. Numbers 18:19 also mentions a covenant of salt: "All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto Jehovah, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, as a portion for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before Jehovah unto thee and to thy seed with thee" This verse shows that a covenant of salt alludes to the enduring nature of the agreement made between Jehovah God and the one He is making the agreement with. Leviticus 2:13 (ASV) 13And every oblation of thy meal-offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meal-offering: with all thine oblations thou shalt offer salt. Salt is a preserving agent used as a symbol of God's covenant. Jehovah's covenant with David is a preserving one in which Jehoshua fulfilled to it's ultimate climax even when hope for the future Davidic King seemed bleak at the time of Messiah's birth. 1 Chronicles 17:14 "but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever" The context here is the covenant of salt that Jehovah made with David (also see 2 Samuel 7). Jehovah is telling David that He will settle his royal seed in His (Jehovah's) house and Kingdom forever. This is an enduring covenant that Jehovah is making with the house of David. Jehovah is establishing the Davidic dynasty here in this passage. Let's look at the meaning of the word "settle" in Hebrew. "Settle" comes from the Hebrew word "amad" (Strongs 5975) and means "abide, appoint, confirm, cease, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (make to, make to be at a, with -), tarry." As you can see from the above meaning of the word "settle", Jehovah settling the royal seed of David in His (Jehovah's) Kingdom was the same as raising up the seed of David, appointing it administrator rights and giving the house of David the keys to the Kingdom and house of Jehovah God. The Davidic King had spiritual access to the heavenly courts of Jehovah God in heavenly Zion as well as managing the earthly affairs of Jehovah's Kingdom on earth. Abide, confirm and set forth are all descriptions of what the word "settle" means in Hebrews. The Kingdom of God was not only set forth in the hands of the house of David but it was to continue to abide in the hands of the royal seed of David. The last part of verse 14 shows that Jehovah promised David that His throne will be established forever. One of David's offspring would fulfill this promise and be an everlasting King. The throne would be occupied by various Davidic descendants but only one would fully establish the Kingdom, crown and throne of David for eternity. This man is our Lord Jehoshua Messiah, the only begotten Son of God. 1 Kings 11:29-40 (ASV) .29And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; now [Ahijah] had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.30And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces.31And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee32(but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David`s sake and for Jerusalem`s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel); 33because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and [to keep] my statutes and mine ordinances, as did David his father.34Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant`s sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;35but I will take the kingdom out of his son`s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.36And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.37And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.38And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that which is right in mine eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and will build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.39And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.40Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. The prophet Ahijah used a garment as a picture of what Jehovah was gonna do concerning the kingdom of Israel. Ajijah tore the garment in 12 pieces and gave 10 to Jeroboam which signified the 10 tribes of Israel. Jehovah was handing Jeroboam 10 of the 12 tribes, taking them out of the hands of the house of David. This was due to Solomon's departure from the commandments of God and leading Israel into idolatry. Yet, Jehovah still kept His promise to David by leaving Solomon one tribe (Judah) for the sake of the covenant He made with David. Jehovah did this for the sake of David who kept the commandments and statutes of Jehovah God. Take note of verse 36, the reason that one tribe is still Solomon's is so that David would have a light in Jerusalem always. David was the light of Israel and Jehovah was His light. The unconditional and unfailing promise to David found fulfillment in Jehoshua Messiah who is the eternal Davidic light of Israel. In a lesser sense all the royal seed of David was to be a light to Israel and the Gentiles, however this wasn't always the case due to some of the kings rebellion against God. In verse 39, Jehovah speaking through the prophet says that He will afflict the seed of David but not forever. Jehovah would stay faithful to the promise He made to David even though He would afflict David's seed for a time. The end of this affliction found it's fulfillment in Jehoshua Messiah. David prophesied of this back in Psalm 132: Psalm Chapter 132 1Jehovah, remember for David All his affliction;2How he sware unto Jehovah, And vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob:3Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, Nor go up into my bed;4I will not give sleep to mine eyes, Or slumber to mine eyelids;5Until I find out a place for Jehovah, A tabernacle for the Mighty One of Jacob.6Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: We found it in the field of the wood.7We will go into his tabernacles; We will worship at his footstool.8Arise, O Jehovah, into thy resting-place; Thou, and the ark of thy strength.9Let thy priest be clothed with righteousness; And let thy saints shout for joy.10For thy servant David`s sake Turn not away the face of thine anointed.11Jehovah hath sworn unto David in truth; He will not turn from it: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.12If thy children will keep my covenant And my testimony that I shall teach them, Their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.13For Jehovah hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for his habitation.14This is my resting-place for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. 15I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.16Her priests also will I clothe with salvation; And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.17There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.18His enemies will I clothe with shame; But upon himself shall his crown flourish. Verse 1, David cried out to Jehovah to remember the affliction of himself and prophetically, his subsequent seed. Verses 2-9 speak of David's zeal for the ark of Jehovah and the future house that would keep it. Verse 10, David appeals to the covenant Jehovah made with him and pleads with the eternal God not to forget him (David). David refers to himself and prophetically Jehoshua as God's anointed i.e. Messiah. David as a King of Israel was Jehovah's Messiah. All those of the royal seed of David were Jehovah's anointed ones or messiah's. Of course, the ones who were rebellious likely ceased to be Jehovah's messiah or anointed one at some point in their rulership over Israel. Verse 11, David gets to the heart of the covenant which is that Jehovah swore that he (David) would have one set upon his throne permanently. Jehovah's promise to David was unconditional which is why David could say with confidence that Jehovah would not turn from what He swore to David. The one that would be set upon the eternal throne of David would be the fruit of David's body. The eternal King of Israel would be a flesh and blood descendant of king David. This is the heart and foundation of true Christology. In Acts 2, Peter seems to glean from this verse and says that Jehoshua is of the fruit of David's loins. This is a clear reference to the male sexual organs. The royal eternal Davidic King would have to come from a male descendant of David. Jehoshua is of the seed of David through the man Joseph who is said to be of the house of David. Fruit of the body and fruit of the loins clearly speak of the male seat of generation i.e. bowels or sexual organs. Here in Psalms 132, it says that the future Messianic Davidic King would come from the fruit of David's body showing us that it would have to be a male descendant of David in which Jehoshua was the fruit of. In verse 17, Jehovah says by way of the psalmist that He will make the horn of David to bud (blossom). The horn symbolizes strength and power. "Bud" means to sprout with life (Jeremiah 33:15). Of course, the power of David's kingdom and power is completely fulfilled in Jehoshua Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jehoshua's Kingdom has sprouted with life all throughout the world as there are 2 billion in His church. Jehovah has ordained a lamp for the royal seed of David, as they were to be a light to the nations. David and His royal seed were Jehovah's messiah's i.e. anointed ones. The lamp is symbolic of the eternality of the Davidic dynasty by Jehovah's faithfulness to His covenant (2 Samuel 21:17). 2nd Samuel 21:17 17But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel. David was almost killed in battle and his men swore that he (David) would no longer go out to the battlefield with them. David's death would bring chaos, like floundering in the dark. "That thou not quench not the light of Israel" or literally "lest you extinguish the lamp", David was the light of Israel and His dynasty was compared to a lamp kept shining in Jerusalem by God's mercy. David's men recognized that David, king of Israel, was the light of the nation. They knew that the death of David would cause Israel to be without a light. This became true of the royal seed of David, as the king went the nation went. When the Davidic king lived in darkness, Israel was in darkness and when he lived in light, Israel lived in light. 1 Kings 15:4 4Nevertheless for David`s sake did Jehovah his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem; Neither David's sin nor his son's threaten God's unfailing promise to bless the line of David and bring it through his son (2 Sam. 7:14-16). The reference to a lamp in Jerusalem shows that the royal seed of David was the light of Israel. The future eternal son of David Jehoshua was the ultimate fufillment of this and His light is so bright that He is the light not only of Israel but the whole world. Before we move on in this study, lets look at verse 18 of Psalm 132: "His enemies will I clothe with shame; But upon himself shall his crown flourish" The promise to David and His royal seed is that their enemies will put to shame. Of course, this was also dependant on the obedience of each particular Davidic king. The righteous Davidic kings were prospered by Jehovah God and their crowned shined brightly being a light unto Israel and at times even the Gentiles. Again, Jehoshua Messiah is the pinnacle of this as His enemies will be made his footstol and then He will come down to earth wearing a majestic crown and bearing a sword which is God's word and He will dash His enemies to pieces. Revelation chapter 19 captures verse 18 of Psalm 132 perfectly: 11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Verse 12, "Many crowns" doesn't refer to a numeric, meaning more than one crown, but rather it is a plural intensive meaning a glorious majestic crown. This the crown of David and it is being made to flourish as verse 18 of Psalm 132 says. The Spirit-anointed Warrior King Jehoshua will come down to earth on the day of Jehovah and strike His enemies with the sword and He will rule them with a rod of iron taking the earth as His rightful inheritance. The name written on His vesture (robe) is the King of kings and Lord of lords as Jehoshua is the eternal Davidic King who is the ruler over all Jehovah's creation. On that day He will conquer with violence all the other kings and lords of the earth. |
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