Christ, The Coming King Of Israel, And Of The Nations

by J. DORRICOTT | Category: General | Nov 1953

The coming of the Lord Jesus FOR His saints, as revealed in John 14. 2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4.16, 17, and other passages is clearly distinguished in the Scriptures from His coming WITH His saints to reign over Israel and the nations. It is of the latter coming we now write.

In Revelation 22.16 the Lord says of Himself,

"I am the Root and the Offspring of David,

The Bright, the Morning Star,"

and it is very. important to consider what is involved in His being both the Root and the Offspring of David, for in them we see Him. as being both David's Lord and David's Son, the Heir to David's throne as King. Here we behold His Godhead glory as well as His future earthly glory.

Let us look at Him first as David's Lord, for, as such, all things are His. All things were created by Him and for Him. Everything has been created for His future sovereignty and rule.

Universal dominion is His by right, but He will take it on the ground of redemption. Through His work on the cross all things have been put under His feet, but at the present "we see not yet all things subjected to Him" (Hebrews 2.8). He is the Divine Sovereign Lord of all, but He does not exercise that power yet.

When He asked the Pharisees,-" What think ye of the Christ? whose Son is He?" their answer was, "The Son of David," and the Lord then asked them, "How then doth David in the Spirit call Him Lord, saying,

'The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, Till I put Thine enemies underneath Thy feet?" (Matthew 22.42-44; see Psalm 101.1).

Dear reader, we pause to ask you the question-What do you think of the Christ? whose Son is He? Do you know Him as the. eternal Son of God who ever was and is in the bosom of the Father, through whom also He made the worlds, who came forth from God, the effulgence of His divine splendour, and who through His atoning death has become the Saviour of all who believe in Him?

It is easy to trace Him from the Sacred Writings as David's Son in regard to His earthly parentage and as the rightful Heir to David's throne, but to know Him as the "Root of David"(Revelation 5.5) David's Lord, needs the enlightenment of the Spirit of God. The human intellect fails here, and we can only prostrate ourselves before His divine glory.

Surely it ought to thrill our souls that our Lord Christ, as David's Lord and David's Offspring shall have dominion and reign over the whole earth, as well as over His people Israel! Please turn to Psalm 72. and read it carefully and prayerfully.

"Kings shall fall down before Him,For He shall have dominion

And gold and incense bring; O'er river, sea, and shore,

ALL nations shall adore Him,Far as the eagle's pinions,

His praise all people sing; Or dove's light wing can soar."

We shall now consider Him as the Offspring, Shoot or Branch of David, that is, as David's Son and Heir, and here we see the Lord's wonderful condescension in becoming flesh, and fulfilling the promises made to David (see 2 Samuel 7.12-16).

"I will establish the throne of His kingdom for ever."

One was to come through David, One, of whom Solomon was a type, whose peaceful, blissful reign was the effect of righteousness. This promise was confirmed in Isaiah, as in chapter 11., "And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse and a Branch out of his roots shall bear fruit ... for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea Also chapter 12 tells of the glorious time that will be brought about at the manifestation of our now rejected Lord The promise was repeated in Jeremiah 23.5; "I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and He shall reign as King." Isaiah 32.1, reads, "Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness," and Zechariah foretells the time when "the LORD shall be King over all the earth" and when "every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts" (chapter 14.9, 16).

When He came in humiliation He was born King of the Jews (Matthew 2.2). How was He received? The Scriptures tell us,-" He came unto His own, and they that were His own received Him not" (John 1.11). "We have no king but Caesar" was their cry. "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him," and to the cross He was hurried.

Thus the Lord of Glory, who became David's Son in humiliation, died as the rejected King of Israel. But does this frustrate the purposes of God? Is God defeated? That could never be. Shall His word come to nought? No indeed!

The Spirit of God abundantly bears witness to Him as the Offspring of David, Israel's King, even though He is now upon His Father's throne in heaven. (See Acts 2. 80; and 13.28, etc.). See how the epistle to the Romans begins to speak of Him as God's Son " who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh" (1.3). Timothy was told to "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David " (2 Timothy 2.8).

Now let us read the solemn charge by Paul to Timothy (a charge applicable to each of us) in the light of that coming day of His appearing WITH His saints,-" I charge thee in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession (remember the words-Art Thou a King then? with the Lord's answer, Thou sayest); that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in its own times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ... to whom be honour and power eternal. Amen " (1 Timothy 6.18-16).

May we also take heed to the exhortation expressed in Titus 2.18, "Looking for the blessed Hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ."

This precious truth will profit us nothing unless our hearts be led to love His appearing, and His kingdom, and unless it causes us to lay hold on the life which is life indeed, with present suffering and loss, assured of future reward, and reigning with Him; remembering also, if we deny Him, He also will deny us. Let us solemnly ask ourselves, which shall it be?

"Jesus shall reign where'er the sunThen come, 0 Lord, to earth again,

Doth his successive journeys run, Come, take Thy mighty power and reign; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Bid tumults, wars and conflicts cease, Till moons shalt war and wane no more. Rule far and wide,

Thou Prince of peace

Amen.

J. DORRICOTT | Nov 1953
General