JESUS CHRIST, THE RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
As I was thinking and praying about the message I should bring on the weekend of the coronation of King Charles III, a phrase from Revelation 1:5 came to my mind:
JESUS CHRIST, THE RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH.
Of course, the word king is used in a variety of ways, but its general meaning is someone who rules and it’s in that sense that we’ll be looking at it today. But first, let’s read Revelation 1:4-8.
4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Notice that this passage has something to say about:
· King Charles, who is one of the kings of the earth.
· The Lord Jesus Christ, the king of kings, who is the ruler of the kings of the earth.
· Us Christians who as Christ’s church are a kingdom of priests.
A. The kings of the earth (5)
Of course, King Charles is just one example. But let’s not to concentrate on King Charles. Rather, let’s take a brief look at what the Bible says about kings and rulers in general. Much of what we say will apply to King Charles – I’ll leave it to you to decide how much – but in many mays it’s more applicable to those who hold high office in government. Please notice 4 things:
1. Their authority to rule is God-given
Romans 13:1
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Of course, we know that historically this has been used to insist that kings derived their authority from God and could not therefore be held accountable for their actions by any earthly authority. King James I of England (1603-25), for example. Fortunately, we know that her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II understood her role as one of servanthood, and there are indications that King Charles will be adopting the same approach. Indeed, in our constitutional system, the power of the monarch is extremely limited anyway.
However, the NT clearly teaches that God himself is the source of all authority, and that all human authority is delegated from him. That’s why as Christians we should obey the laws, pay our taxes etc., unless, of course, the law of the state is contrary to God’s law. But those to whom God has given authority are ultimately accountable to God for the way in which they handle that authority and are responsible for the wellbeing of their people.
2. Their accountability to their ruler
As we have seen, verse 5 describes the Lord Jesus as the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the king to whom all other kings are accountable. He is the King of kings. The late queen was very conscious of this, and it is said of Queen Victoria that she hoped that the Lord would return in her lifetime so that she could be the first to cast down her crown at his feet. If only world leaders were equally aware of their accountability to him.
3. Their responsibility for the wellbeing of their people
Some of the parables Jesus told teach clearly that we are all accountable to God for our use of the things he has entrusted to us. This is particularly true of those who are in authority. The more we have been entrusted with, the more is required of us. Read Ezekiel 34 to see what God says about the shepherds (i.e. kings) of Israel, who had looked after themselves rather than caring for the people.
4. Our responsibility to those in authority
a) We should pray for them
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:2)
b) We should submit to them
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right (1 Peter 2:13).
c) We should honour them
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor (1 Peter 2:17).
B. JESUS – The ruler of the kings of the earth (5)
WHAT HE IS:
The ruler of the kings of the earth
The kings of the earth are temporal. They live, they die. And their authority perishes with them. But Jesus is eternal. Before Abraham was, I AM. He always has been, and he always will be, and his power and authority will never end.
1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:15-16
God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.
N.B. Here God is described as the only ruler. But in Revelation 1:5 Jesus is described as the ruler of the kings of the earth. This is just one of many evidences for the deity of Christ.
The Eternal Son of God
Grace and peace to you from
him who is, and who was, and who is to come
and from the seven spirits before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ (4-5).
Cf. verse 8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The faithful witness
Jesus said that the reason he came into the world was to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). His word is reliable. You can count on it. Everything he ever said was true. And because he wouldn’t deny the truth, they crucified him. But God raised him from the dead. Jesus was vindicated! He had said that he would rise from the dead, and he did. And he has promised eternal life to those who believe him. Because he lives, we shall live also. You can rely on what he says. He’s the faithful witness.
The firstborn from the dead
Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Compare Colossians 1:18 where he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
And in verse 15 he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Everything in heaven and earth was created by him and for him (16). He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (17). In short:
He is supreme in the church. He is supreme in the earth. He is supreme in heaven. He is supreme over death itself.
And in 1 Corinthians 15 Paul tells us that his victory over death is the basis of our victory too:
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his turn, Christ the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him (1 Corinthians 15:23).
WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US:
He has freed us from our sins by his blood (5)
We have all sinned, but because Jesus died for us, when we accept him as our Saviour we are freed from the penalty of sin.
He has made us a kingdom, and priests to serve his God and Father (6)
More of this in a moment.
He has promised to come again (7)
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
The details need not concern us. What matters is:
· He is coming
· Those who rejected him will know they were wrong
· There will be ultimate justice
· But we have nothing to fear because he has freed us from our sins…
And all this is because he loves us (v5).
C. YOU AND I as part of the church, a kingdom of priests
6…and has made us to be a kingdom, and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…
Revelation 5:9-10
And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Note: he has made us… you have made them… We’re already a kingdom of priests.
But they will reign on the earth.
Exactly what this will mean in the age to come has not been revealed, but 2 Peter 3:13 tells us that
In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells.
All earthly rulers are temporary.
Only Christ the supreme ruler is the King Eternal.
We, as Christians, are already part of his kingdom – a kingdom of priests with direct access to God.
But in the age to come WE WILL REIGN WITH HIM.