Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, vol. 4

August 1, 1889

“The Throne of David” Bible Echo and Signs of the Times 4, 15.

E. J. Waggoner

“HE IS FAITHFUL WHO HAS PROMISED”

Although the Jewish people as a nation were rejected, God did not forget His promise. Centuries before, He had said to David that his throne shall be established, and the people of Israel should continue forever; and this promise he could not break. Said He: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips. Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” Psalm 89:34-38. Later still Isaiah had made the prophetic statement that, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6, 7. BEST August 1, 1889, page 233.1

Here, as in the promise made to Abraham, we find that Christ is the seed. It is through Christ that David’s kingdom is to be established forever, and to when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, he said said of Him, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:31-33. BEST August 1, 1889, page 233.2

David understood that the promise concerning the establishment of his kingdom was to be fulfilled in this manner. On the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted the words of David in the sixteenth psalm: “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad, moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope, for Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption,” and then he added: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell [the grave], neither His flesh did see corruption.” Acts 2:29-31. It was this assurance that caused David, like the other patriarchs, to die in full faith that the promise would be fulfilled. BEST August 1, 1889, page 233.3

Christ knew full well that the house of Jacob and the throne of David should endure forever even while he was foretelling the utter destruction of the Jewish nation. John 18:36; Acts 1:6, 7. He was now to Heaven, to sit down at the right hand of God. Why He went there, and what He is doing there, will be briefly indicated by a few scriptures. Through the prophet John He said: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21. So He has not yet received His kingdom, but also upon His Father’s throne, which is a throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16), procuring pardon and salvation for all who come unto God by Him. It was this work that the prophet Zechariah foretold in these words: “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord; even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” Zechariah 6:12, 13. BEST August 1, 1889, page 233.4

Since Christ sits upon a throne of grace, the kingdom in which He now rules must be a kingdom of grace. This is an entirely different kingdom from the kingdom of glory, and is designed to fit subjects for that kingdom. It is this kingdom of grace that is referred to in Colossians 1:12-14; Romans 14:17; Matthew 12:28; Revelation 1:9. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.1

Those who are in the kingdom of grace may expect to suffer tribulation, because tribulation works patience, and causes the sufferer to know more of the grace of God. But the kingdom of glory will put an end to all tribulation. So Jesus comforts the despised and sorrowing little band of disciples with the words: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.2

James says: “Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him.” James 2:5. Here is the kingdom of which those rich in faith are only heirs; it is promised to those that love God, but they do not yet possess it. And to the same intent Peter, after mentioning the Christian graces,-faith, virtue, godliness, patience, brotherly kindness, charity, etc. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10, 11. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.3

Thus we see that the grace of God, which is freely dispensed while Christ sits upon the throne of grace, and by means of which we are enabled to overcome (Hebrews 4:14-16), simply fits us for the kingdom of glory, into which an abundant entrance will be ministered to the faithful at the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Matthew 25:31-34. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.4

While he sits upon His Father’s throne, it is as a priest, counseling with his Father for the peace of mankind. David tells until what time he will remain there, saying, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.” Acts 2:34, 35; Psalm 110:1. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.5

When Christ was on this earth, he had not kingly power, except as he was full of grace and truth. As a representative of the kingdom of grace, he had power on earth to forgive sins. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” But the kingdom of this world was not His. If he had been possess the kingdom, he would have destroyed his enemies, as he will do when he comes again, after he has received it. At that time he paid tribute to earth the king; when he comes again, it will be as King of kings and Lord of lords. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.6

From all these texts it is evident that Christ did not receive the kingdom at his first advent. Instead of having a kingdom, he had not so much as a place to lay his head. But he has ascended to the right hand of God, there to remain until the kingdom is given to him, and His enemies are made his footstool, when he will return to rid his kingdom of his enemies, and to plant his people Israel in their own land. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.7

The parable of the ten pounds, as recorded by Luke, was given for the purpose of teaching this very thing. Luke 19:11-15. Then follows the accounting with the servants, and the commendation of those who had been faithful; and the parable closes with these words: “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” This is so plain as to need no comment. It shows that Christ has gone to heaven to receive the kingdom, and that he will return when he has received it. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.8

In the seventh chapter of Daniel, verses 9, 10, there is a graphic word-picture of the Judgment in heaven, which will determine who are worthy to be raised from the dead, or to be translated, when the Lord comes. As soon as this judgment is over, Christ will receive his kingdom, as we read in the following verses: “I 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. And 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.” Daniel 8:13, 14. This is the fulfillment of the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary, when he announced the birth of Jesus, saying: “And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32, 33. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.9

The throne of David is the throne that was a promise to Christ; therefore the dominion, the receiving of which is described in Daniel 7:13, 14, must be the kingdom of Israel. It was declared that His everlasting dominion should be over the house of Jacob; yet the prophet, after telling of the destruction of earthly monarchies, says: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Therefore it must be that all the saints of God will constitute the people of Israel, over whom Christ shall reign. This truth has been referred to before, but now more extended positive Scripture proof is in order. BEST August 1, 1889, page 234.10