The Christian faith is grounded in historical facts like the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But anyone can look backward. The only ones who can genuinely peer into the future are those who study what God has said in Scripture. In the Bible, He tells us what will happen in the coming days.
Understanding the return of Christ and His millennial reign helps us understand today's conflicts and gives us hope for tomorrow.
When we see what's happening today in America and Europe, in Russia and China, and especially in Israel and the Middle East, we realize the history of our day is moving in a prophetic direction. Perhaps sooner than we realize, this world will be under the political control of one King: Jesus. The Bible presents Him not just as Savior, not just as Messiah, but as a King who, at this very moment, is already sitting at the right hand of the throne in heaven.
Let's talk about the glory and majesty, the power and authority of our King and His kingdom!
King of the Jews. He is, first of all, King of the Jews. This title is significant as it was given to Jesus during two crucial periods of His life: His birth in Bethlehem and the end of His life in Jerusalem. The phrase 'King of the Jews' does not appear in the Old Testament or the epistles, but it is found in the Gospels at the birth and death of our Lord, marking these events with royal significance.
At Jesus' birth, the wise men inquired, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2).
That leads us to the death of Christ. When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "It is as you say" (Matthew 27:11). Addressing the mobs before him, Pilate shouted, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" And, "What then . . . do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" (Mark 15:9–12).
Their response: "Crucify Him!" (v. 13).
Pilate handed over Christ for crucifixion, along with a strange order for the executors. A sign was nailed to the top of the cross bearing the words: "THE KING OF THE JEWS" (v. 26). This was our Lord's title in birth and in death—one uttered by the magi, the magistrates, the mob, the markings over His cross, and by the Master Himself.
King of Israel. Similarly, Jesus is called the King of Israel. The first person known to have recognized this was the disciple Nathanael, who said in John 1:49, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
Approximately three years later, at the Lord's triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, large numbers of people celebrated His arrival in Jerusalem, saying, "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' The King of Israel!" (John 12:13).
Five days later, as Jesus suffered on Golgotha, one of His enemies shouted sarcastically, "If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe Him" (Matthew 27:42). According to these and other scriptures, Jesus Christ is the only rightful everlasting heir to the throne of David.
I've been to Israel many times, and so far, I've never seen a throne anywhere in Jerusalem. But its design is already in the mind of God, and one day the streets will again be filled with people shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!" I want to see that with my own eyes, don't you?
We have never seen anything like what God has in store when He sets up His Kingdom.
King of Kings. Jesus is also known as the King of kings. This is our Lord's ultimate title of royal honor, as we learn in Revelation 19: "On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords" (v. 16 NIV).
Yes, we live in a disturbed world. But remember, none of today's politicians, leaders, villains, or rogues will ever gain supreme authority. Not even the coming Antichrist. All will falter and fail, for only Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. One day, every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Romans 14:11).
King Over the Whole Earth. The prophet Zechariah added another title to our Lord when he described His return to earth with these riveting words: "The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and His name the only name" (14:9 NIV).
If you've had the opportunity to travel, you know our world is huge. There are so many landscapes and bodies of water and people groups that nobody could possibly visit everything interesting in a single lifetime on this side of the grave. Yet Jesus will rule over every inch, every grain of sand, and every ocean drop.
King of Glory. The last royal title I'll mention is the wonderful phrase found in Psalm 24. Jesus is the King of Glory.
We know Psalm 22 as the Crucifixion Psalm, which predicts in vivid detail our Lord's brutal execution.
Psalm 23 is the Shepherd Psalm, in which we exalt in the Lord as our Shepherd.
And Psalm 24 is the Coronation Psalm, which describes the King of glory ascending to heaven and taking His seat on the throne to await the moment of His return: "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. . . . Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts. He is the King of glory" (vv. 7–10).
Jesus is King of the Jews, King of Israel, King of kings, King over the whole earth, and King of glory.
The Redeeming King. Jesus' first incarnation in our world was primarily a redemptive mission. In His own words, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
Even so, Jesus did not enter our world as a prophet or a teacher or a shepherd or even a carpenter. He came as our redeeming King. We can see that in the royal titles ascribed to Him throughout the Scriptures.
The Reigning King. Christ is the King whose power is absolute, whose reign is infinite, and whose throne is unconquerable. He is an indescribable King, for He eternally reigns without beginning of days or ending of life. He is the epitome of humility, yet the Bible calls Him "the ruler over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5).
Yes, Christ is our Messiah, our Intercessor, the Compassionate Servant, the Humble Teacher, and the Selfless Savior. But never forget He is Christ the King! Without His supreme and sovereign rule, our lives would sink into chaos. Nothing can stabilize our emotions like remembering His royal reign. He commands and He controls, and nothing is exempt from His preeminent power. That's why so many people rely on Him as the anchor of their souls.
What seems to be greatness in the kingdom of humans amounts to nothing compared to the greatness of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
What seems to be greatness in the kingdom of humans amounts to nothing compared to the greatness of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Seeing what God has in store for those who love Him helps us keep a proper perspective of what is going on in our world.
Having already experienced, in some small way, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in our hearts, Christians can enjoy feelings of glad excitement about Christ's coming Kingdom. Jesus alleviated our fears about God's judgment through His death and resurrection. He made it possible for everyone to eagerly anticipate His return—everyone who puts Him where He belongs, on the throne of their hearts.
