Does Christ Now Reign As King?

1 Timothy 6:11-16

Two Significant Prophecies Christ will reign on David’s throne (2

Sam. 7:12-16)– This would be a descendent of David

• He would reign “forever”

• How could this be a literal thousand years?

– David’s literal throne in Jerusalem• From David-Solomon-Rheoboam-Zedekiah

• Destroyed by Babylonians in 586 B.C.

• Since then a new reign has been misunderstood

Two Significant Prophecies God’s kingdom established in the days of

the Roman kingdom (Dan. 2:36-45)– Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

concerning world kingdoms

Two Significant Prophecies God’s kingdom established in the days of

the Roman kingdom (Dan. 2:36-45)– Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

concerning world kingdoms• (head of gold)—Babylon (Dan. 2:36-38)• (arms & breasts of silver)—Medo-Persian

(Dan. 2:39)• (belly and thighs of brass)—Greek (Dan. 2:39)• (legs of iron; feet of iron and miry clay)—

Roman (Dan. 2:40-43)

Two Significant Prophecies– “In the days of these kings” (of fourth

kingdom, v. 40) “shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom…” (Dan 2:44)• Either this came to pass as spoken by God or

the Scripture is broken and prophecy is unreliable

• This is a fifth kingdom and it “shall never be destroyed”—“it shall stand forever”

Are These Prophecies Fulfilled? Several speak of Jesus as King (if king He

has both a kingdom and a throne)– Angel announced at His birth (Lk. 1:30-33)– Peter preached Him on throne (Acts 2:29-

36)– James declared the tabernacle to be rebuilt

(Acts 15:13-17)• Quote from Amos 9:11• Tabernacle refers to lineage or descendents

Christ is raised up to reign

Are These Prophecies Fulfilled? Testimony is abundant about the kingdom.

– Kingdom is “at hand” (Mk. 1:14-15)• Some would not die until kingdom came with power

(Mk. 9:1)• Came with “power” (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4) on Pentecost

– Paul believed the kingdom had come• Some were already in the kingdom (Col. 1:13)• Received a kingdom (Heb. 12:28)

– John also spoke of the kingdom as existing• He was “in the kingdom” (Rev. 1:9)• Redeemed are in the kingdom (Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-10)

Are These Prophecies Fulfilled? How can Christ reign on David’s throne if He

is not on earth?– The “throne of David” in Jerusalem was in reality

“the throne of the Lord” (cf. 1 Kgs. 2:12 with 1 Chron. 29:33)

– David ruled over the Jews. A Jew came under his rule by birth

– Christ is now reigning over God’s people, but we come under His rule by spiritual birth

– Since Christ reigns on the throne of the Lord, He reigns on David’s throne

Are These Prophecies Fulfilled? It is now a spiritual kingdom

– “My kingdom is not of this world…my kingdom not from here…” (Jn. 18:36)

– “…the kingdom of God is within you” (Lk. 17:20-21)

We are made citizens by a Spiritual birth– “…Except a man be born of water and of the

Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Jn. 3:3-5)

Are These Prophecies Fulfilled? The rule of God’s people is in heaven

– “…when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:20-23)

Are These Prophecies Fulfilled? Christ is both King and Priest

– “…he shall be a priest upon his throne…” (Zech. 6:12-13)

– “…We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens (Heb. 8:1)

He is now King of kings– “…only Potentate, the King of kings and

Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15)

Why Bring Christ Back? His mission of redemption is complete (Jn.

19:30). What more could He do? His authority is complete (Matt. 28:19-20;

Heb. 12:25). What else must He prove? His revelation is complete (Jude 3; Heb. 1:1-

3). Why would we desire anything else? His glory is complete (Lk. 24:25-26; 1 Peter

1:20-21). Should He give up this to return? The one thing He cannot do is reign in

Jerusalem (Jer. 22:30; Matt. 1:11)