King of Kings

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Psalm 2: 1-12 KJV)

This is a Messianic Psalm, and one cited in the New Testament as referring to the Lord Jesus Christ. This Psalm identifies a man who is Lord God's appointed "king," who is God's "anointed" or "Christ," the promised Monarch of Israel, and son of David, eternally decreed (or 'predestined') to be "set" or "firmly established forever" on the "throne of David," ruling over Israel, and all the nations, and over all the cosmos.

This glorious eternal king of "Zion," of God's "holy hill," is not only "son of David," or "son of man," but also "Son of God," being both God and man, both divine and human. He is "begotten" of God from eternity, but "begotten" of David, of man, in time, when he "became flesh and dwelled among us." (John 1: 14) As God has always been Father so Christ has always been Son. If there be no eternal Son, then there can be no eternal Father, yet God is said to be an eternal Father to Christ the Son.

This King, who is promised eternal sovereignty, is said to be rejected by the "kings of earth," and this was literally fulfilled when Pilate, Herod, and other of earth's kings, rejected and put to death the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, salvation is in accepting the reign of Christ, in "kissing the Son." Those who do not bow to Christ, in faithful loving alleigiance to him, and who rather reject and oppose him, will "perish" as a result of his "wrath."

"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." (Hebrews 1: 8 KJV)

The writer of Hebrews alludes to the 2nd Psalm here and calls special attention to how the words of the Psalm relate to the divine eternal sonship of Christ, and who, as the "Son," is addressed as "God," and who is heaven's "eternal king."

The nature of the rule of Christ, God's and David's "son," is described as being not only supremely sovereign and eternal but also supremely spiritual, holy, righteous, and good.

"Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." (Isaiah 32: 1, 2 KJV)

These verses refer to the rule of Christ the Messiah as he is the God-man. As the eternal Son of God he has always been possessed of infinite sovereignty, power, and authority.

But, these verses respect him in his post incarnate, and post resurrection, and post second coming state, where he is in both his human and divine natures, having become one, in a "hypostatic union," and therefore respect his reign in his glorified body, and as the God-Man, or "superman," on earth, in the coming millenial age, and "throughout the ages of the ages."

"For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7: 1-3 KJV)

Christ, the "Son of God," the one typified by Melchisedec, will "reign in righteousness" and is appropriately titled "king of righteousness." He is also titled "King of Salem," or "King of Peace."

Melchisidec was unique in that he was the only person in the Old Testament who was both a "priest" and a "king" (unless we include Moses, who seemed to occupy the place of both, though not formally).

"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." (Zechariah 6: 13 KJV)

Thus Christ, like Melchisidec, is unlike any king or priest in Israel, being both king and priest simultaneously, being a "priest upon his throne." No king in Israel was a priest.

"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us." (Isaiah 33: 22 KJV)

This is also a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ who shares all authority and power with his Father. All political and governmental power, yea, every other power of earth and of the cosmos, resides in Christ. As heaven's appointed "king," he is also the "judge" and "lawgiver," and thankfully, the "savior." All legislative, judicial, and executive power resides in Jesus the "King of Zion."

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." (Matthew 2: 1-3 KJV)

"Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matthew 21: 5 KJV)

"And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19: 37-40 KJV)

These verses in the gospels tell us more about the monarchy and kingship of Christ. He was born king of the Jews, and died with that witness written over his cross. He fullfilled prophecies respecting his royal comings to his people, when here the first time in the flesh. Some might wonder why he did not commence his reign while he was here the first time. Notice these words.

"When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." (John 6: 15 KJV)

Why did he not agree to become king at this time? Clearly it was due first and foremost because he must first die for his people, as a sacrifice for sins, and therefore his "reign" must follow his work of redemption. His reign would be postponed till after his resurrection, yea, even after he has fulfilled his purposes in this inter-advent period. Besides this not being the time for him to become earth's sovereign, it was not intended that he become king by means of a mob.

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1: 5, 6 KJV)

Notice how his reign, his glory and dominion, comes following his death and resurrection, and after his victory over heaven's and his people's enemies, yea, even as a reward for it. Notice too how the Lord's people share in his royalty and in his majesty and highness.

"And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself." (Luke 23: 37 KJV)

"And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it." (Luke 23: 2, 3 KJV)

"But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." (John 19: 15 KJV)

"But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us." (Luke 19: 14 KJV)

Here are those who will ultimately "perish," as the Psalmist said, for they do not "kiss the Son" and King of Israel, the "King of kings," but reject him and his reign over them.

"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." (Luke 23: 42 KJV)

"Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." (John 1: 49 KJV)

Here are men who recognized and received Christ as their king. What will be the destinies of those who accept or reject Christ as their king?

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world...Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25: 31-34, 41 KJV)

The "sheep" are those "citizens" who said "we WILL have this man to reign over us," while the "goats" are those "citizens" who have said "we will NOT have this man to reign over us."

"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (I Timothy 6: 14-16 KJV)

"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17: 4 KJV)

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19: 16 KJV)

Christ Jesus the Lord is the subject of all these glorious descriptions and titles. He is the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords." He is "king of saints," of "preace," and of "righteousness," and "king of the aeons." At his return from heaven he will "show" or "demonstrate" that he is heaven's sole plenipotentiary.

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1: 16 KJV)

Friend, if you receive Christ as your prophet, priest, and king, then you can be sure of being one of those citizens who become part of the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and become co-regents with him.