The Two Thrones Representing the Kingdoms of Grace and of Glory

THE KINGDOM COMPLETE

In a kingdom there are, necessarily, a king, subjects, territory, and government. The sacred Scriptures speak of these component parts of the eternal kingdom of glory in plainest terms. Christ will be King, the immortal just will be the subjects, the whole earth restored from the curse will be the territory, and the holy city, Revelation 21:10-25, will be the metropolis, and seat of government. TTKGG 26.1

When Pilate inquired of Jesus, “Art thou a king?” he answered, “To this end was I born.” John 18:37. The import of his reply of the Son of God is more clearly seen by the light of these prophetic words: “For 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, Counselor, 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 forever.” Isaiah 9:6, 7. TTKGG 26.2

The prophet takes in at a glance, as briefly expressed, the birth of Christ, his wonderful teachings, the might of his miracles, and his future reign as the “Prince of Peace,” which will have “no end.” The Jews applied the entire prophecy to their limited ideas of the coming of the Messiah. And most Christians of our time extend it but little beyond the work of grace in the present age. But the burden of the prophecy is certainly the future kingdom. It evidently touches the stream of time at the birth and life of Christ, and passes along down to the establishment of the immortal kingdom, and out to the eternal sea of Christ’s glorious reign. TTKGG 26.3

The cheering declaration of the angel to anxious Mary is nearly a repetition of the words of the prophet, in announcing Christ as the King in the endless reign of future glory. After stating that his name should be called Jesus, he adds: “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 forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32, 33. Christ now reigns in the kingdom of divine grace in behalf of sinful men. But at the close of human probation he will deliver up the mediatorial kingdom to the Father, when the reign of grace and mercy for a lost world will end. “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” 1 Corinthians 15:24, 25. He will then receive from the Father the eternal kingdom of glory. Says Daniel: “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.” Chap. 7:13, 14. And the prophet speaks of the immortal and eternal subjects of this kingdom in these words; “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” Verse 18. TTKGG 27.1

But it is not until all the wicked of the earth shall be destroyed from off it that the immortal kingdom of glory will fill the whole renewed earth, which will be the eternal inheritance of the saints. Then will be fulfilled the words of David: “For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:10, 11. And it is to this same glory and reward that Christ points in his sermons on the mount, when he says: “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5. TTKGG 27.2

The prophet Daniel is assured by the angel that “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.” Chap. 7:27. And the great God, in response to the earnest prayer of Moses who was leading the children of Israel to the land of Canaan, the type of the kingdom of glory, says: “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Numbers 14:21. Isaiah takes up the promise of the future reward and glory in these words: “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Chap. 11:9. And another prophet repeats the promise in still stronger language: “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14. TTKGG 28.1