Israel and their glorious King

Israel

When we mention Israel today, lots of people think of the country, often forgetting that behind that nation there is also the People of Israel or the People of God, as well as Israel the Great Nation to be, Jerusalem going to be the capital of the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Kings of Israel and Judah

In ancient times, several peoples and the People of God wanted to have someone at the head of their nation. They got people who reigned over them. Some of those kings were not in favour of the God of Israel and asked the people of Israel to engage in idolatry and whoredom. Some of them came in collision with the people of God and were made a bearer, against their own will, of the sublime messages of Jehovah (Nu 31:8 Jos 13:22).

Israel desired not only a king that they might be like the other nations, but also requested for judges. They came to Samuel and asked him to appoint them a king.

“ And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah; and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1Sa 8:1-5 ASV)

God told Samuel to do as they wished: and Samuel anointed Saul, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, to be their king.

“ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Jehovah. And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” (1Sa 8:6-9 ASV)

The people had thought a king would always do for the good of the people, but they were mistaken. Some of their kings even disobeyed God in important matters that He had been commanded to do.

“ And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of Jehovah thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would Jehovah have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.” (1Sa 13:13 ASV)

“ Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah?” (1Sa 15:19 ASV)

“ So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Jehovah, because of the word of Jehovah, which he kept not; and also for that he asked counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby,” (1Ch 10:13 ASV)

During the reign of several kings of Israel there also was a worship of a golden calf (2Ki 13:9-25 14:1-8 2Ch 25:1-28).

For some time Tirzah had been the chief residence of the kings of Israel; but when Omri purchased the hill of Shomeron, (1Ki 16:24), he built there a new city, which he called Samaria, from the name of the previous possessor, Shemer or Shomer, and here fixed his royal seat. From that time Samaria was the capital of the Kingdom of the ten tribes. It appears, under the name of Beth-Omri, on the stone tablets some years ago exhumed by Layard from the ruins of Nineveh.

Towards the conclusion of the kingdom of Israel, Tiglathpileser having taken away a great part of the Israelites, the Ammonites were guilty of many cruelties against those who remained; for which the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel pronounced very severe prophecies against Rabbath, their capital, and against the rest of the country; which probably had their completion five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, (Jer 49:1-3 Eze 21:20).

God had rejected Samuel from being king, and appointed David, the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah, in his place. David was a man after God's own heart. Most of his life, he did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah, though like every human being he had his faults. He erred seriously in one or two things, but God forgave him.

There were twenty kings after David, all lineally descended from him, and sitting on his throne. The names were: Solomon, Rehoboam, Abija, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

Samaria was one of the three divisions of the Holy Land in the time of the Nazarene master teacher Jeshua, having Galilee on the north and Judea on the south, the Jordan on the east and the Mediterranean on the west, and occupying parts of the territory assigned at first to Ephraim, Mahasseh, and Issachar, (Luke 17:11 John 4:4). It is described as having its hills less bare than those of Judea, and its valleys and plains more cultivated and fruitful. Many gospel churches were early planted there (Acts 8:1,25 9:31 15:3).

The king honoured , mocked and killed

It was from the tribe of David that there was born a son of man, who was to be the only begotten beloved son of God, born in Bethlehem and brought up in Nazareth, who, at the beginning of our common era, was proclaimed king upon his entry into Jerusalem. (Mt 21:1-11; Mr 11:1-11; Lu 19:28-44; Joh 12:12-19)

Many were surprised the one who they thought was going them to liberate them from Roman oppression was killed at the stake. Though that man of flesh and blood had so often spoken about a kingdom to come.

He also had spoken that there would come terrible times when everybody had to see the Day of Jehovah had arrived. They also wondered how the temple would be destroyed but rebuild in three days, when it had taken many years to build.

The Kingdom of David was known as the Kingdom of Judah. It lasted 393 years after the revolt of the ten tribes. It was then overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who took the people away into Babylon, where they remained in captivity for seventy years. There was then a restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah, in consequence of a decree of Cyrus, king of Persia, who had overthrown the kingdom of Babylon. But the kingdom of David was never restored. In about 540 years after the return from Babylon, Christ was born. In seventy years after that, the Jewish state was broken up by the Romans, and since then, it has been "trodden down of the Gentiles".

From the line of David

God had promised David to give him a son who should sit on his throne for ever, and set up a Kingdom in Israel that should have no end; and that David should see it with his eyes, and have a place therein.

Even when the house would not be with God, an everlasting covenant was guaranteed by God with David.

“ Verily my house is not so with God; Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things, and sure: For it is all my salvation, and all my desire, Although he maketh it not to grow.” (2Sa 23:5 ASV)

The Most High Elohim gave David His word. Like all others got to know we too should believe that Jehovah God won’t back out on His promise and as such could come to see one of "David's sons"being set on the throne of David. Everything what comes out of the mouth of God, out of His Voice, becomes a reality.

“ Jehovah hath sworn unto David in truth; He will not turn from it: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.” (Ps 132:11 ASV)

“ I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations. [[Selah” (Ps 89:3-4 ASV)

“ My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” (Ps 89:34 ASV)

“ It shall be established for ever as the moon, And as the faithful witness in the sky. [[Selah” (Ps 89:37 ASV)

As such its real fulfilment is to be in Christ, who was born in David's line and declared to be, not only the Son of God, but the Son of David and heir to David's throne.

“ And Jehovah hath established his word that he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.” (1Ki 8:20 ASV)

“ Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set one upon his throne;” (Ac 2:29-30 ASV)

“ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Mt 1:1 ASV)

“ He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:” (Lu 1:32 ASV)

Though, Christ Jesus did not come to sit at the throne by his first coming. After his death he was taken up in heaven. But we may be sure he will return as really as he went away; and when he comes, men will see him as really as when he was on the earth before. At his second coming, he will sit on his throne, and reign in Jerusalem as king of the Jews and ruler of all mankind.

“ But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:” (Mt 25:31 ASV)

“ Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.” (Isa 9:7 ASV)

“ In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name whereby she shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.” (Jer 33:15-16 ASV)

“ Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory.” (Isa 24:23 ASV)

“ At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.” (Jer 3:17 ASV)

“ And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.” (Isa 2:3 ASV)

“ Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.” (Da 6:14 ASV)

“ And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;” (Ac 1:10 ASV)

“ and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus:” (Ac 3:20 ASV)

“ so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.” (Heb 9:28 ASV)

“ Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.” (1Jo 3:2 ASV)

“ Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.” (Re 1:7 ASV)

Jesus entering Jerusalem as a king

Jeremiah had spoken about a king who would be seated in Jerusalem. At the time of the Nazarene Jeshua (Jesus Christ) many were looking for the one who would bring an end to the Roman oppression and would become the new king of the Jews.

Several people saw in that man from Nazareth, the one spoken about in Scripture, and as such wanted to greet him as their king. This preacher had spoken a lot about a kingdom to come, and many thought it would come in their time, certainly when Jesus said it was already with them.

At Bethphage and Bethany on Mount Olives, the apostles were sent to fetch a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. In the gospels we find the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet that Zion’s daughter her king was on his way, poised and ready, mounted on a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal.

We are told that Jesus his disciples spread their coats on the colt, helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. It was general knowledge that a king would enter his place of the throne on a colt and now Jesus was given a royal welcome in Jerusalem.

The whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

"Blessed is he who comes, the king in God’s name!"

"Hosanna to David’s son!"

"Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!"

"Hosanna in highest heaven!"

As Jesus made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking,

"What’s going on here? Who is this?"

The parade crowd answered,

"This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee."

Jesus entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in.

Some Pharisees from the crowd told him,

"Teacher, get your disciples under control!"

But he said,

"If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."

Jesus wept over the city.

"If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit."

The disciples didn’t notice the fulfilment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him.

“ Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Mt 21:5 ASV)

(Mt 21:1-11; Mr 11:1-11; Lu 19:28-44; Joh 12:12-19)

A preacher, miracle worker and an autorised one

When Jesus was back in the Temple, teaching, the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders of the people came up and demanded him to show them his credentials and to tell them who authorised him to teach and act like this in Jerusalem. (Mt 21:23; Mr 11:27-29; Lu 20:1-2)

With all the verbal attacks on him Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge, telling them that God authorised and commanded him to commission them.

“ And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.” (Mt 28:18 ASV)

We too should come to see that this "Son of man" is the "sent one from God" who received from the Almighty Host of hosts, the authority to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.

“ and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.” (Joh 5:27 ASV)

Some people got convinced that Jesus was the promised King of Israel.

“ Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel.” (Joh 1:49 ASV)

“ Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (Joh 18:33-37 ASV)

King of the nations

Jesus was not only foreseen to be King of the Jews. By a new covenant made between him and his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, his sacrificial offering was accepted by God as a ransom for the sins of all.

To the king of Israel will be given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him. Whilst in the past the reign of the king was always limited by the age of the king, the most important king of Israel his reign shall be without an end. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

But the world should know that this time any nation or kingdom that doesn’t deliver will perish; those nations will be totally wasted. The nations of the earth will all be subject to Christ, and do honour to the Jews, of whose blessedness they will share. Those under the king on Judgment Day shall be brought back home like a great family gathering. At that time everybody shall know the People of God, them having become famous and honoured all over the world. All living and those taken out of the remembrance graves shall see the king's subjects with their own eyes — all those painful partings turned into reunions!" GOD’s Promise. All nations shall know by then that God is with them.

“ And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, 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.” (Da 7:14 ASV)

“ For that nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” (Isa 60:12 ASV)

“On Judgment Day I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering! You’ll be famous and honored all over the world. You’ll see it with your own eyes—all those painful partings turned into reunions!" GOD’s Promise.” (Zep 3:20 Message)

“A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: "At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, ‘Let us go with you. We’ve heard that God is with you.’"” (Zec 8:23 Message)

The ruling of all nations by Christ and his people last one thousand years.

Peoples shall be able to see the king on his throne and those who will reign with him as his chosen ones. But all shall also see those who were brought out of the graves to be judged but to be sent back in death. Others killed for their faith in Jesus and those who refused to worship either the idols or false gods shall come to live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did shall not live until the thousand years will be up. This is the first resurrection — and those involved most blessed, most holy shall not have to face a second death. They shall be priests of God and Christ and reign with Jesus the king of the Jews a thousand years. That millennium people shall get so old that One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal — anything less will seem like a cheat. Life will be greatly prolonged, and will be a blessed and happy state.

At that time everything shall be made clear. Those reigning with Christ their job shall be to teach Christ's people the difference between the set apart or holy and the common, to show them how to discern between unclean and clean.

“ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Re 20:4-6 ASV)

“ There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isa 65:20 ASV)

“ Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away; but they shall take virgins of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that is the widow of a priest. And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in a controversy they shall stand to judge; according to mine ordinances shall they judge it: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts; and they shall hallow my sabbaths. And they shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.” (Eze 44:22-25 ASV)

God's Plan of a Royal Garden fulfilled

Jehovah God when He started to make everything had a Plan. In His design there was to be the universe and Israel with a populated world where peace reigns and everyone is happy.

When man rebelled against God he was excluded from the Garden of Eden. At the time Jesus will take up his position as king that paradise shall be restored.

At the time when the truth about human nature has been grasped and everybody shall recognise Jesus as their saviour and anointed son of God, they shall have no doubts any more about Jesus his position and why human governments throughout the centuries have failed to establish lasting peace on earth. Those allowed to go through the narrow gate of the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of God shall be convinced how from the beginning the Bible has foreseen their solution. Nobody shall then have to prove how the intervention of God in human affairs at a critical moment in history is the firm prophecy of the Bible. They all shall be in agreement with the way God has done it and shall respect His and his son's position.

Many of those residing in that kingdom had been looking out and hoping for that return of Christ, which then will be a reality. They did not doubt that the purpose of the return of Christ was to be to re-establish the authority of God on the earth. They also were convinced that there would be that Day of judgement of the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

“ I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:” (2Ti 4:1 ASV)

They trusted that would happen and when the Last Days appear they shall see the signs of the Times, and hope for the better future.

After the resurrection those individuals who have understood the Gospel of God's grace will "appear before the judgment seat of Christ" to receive the reward of their deeds, "whether good or bad"

“ For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Co 5:10 ASV)

The Bible leaves us in no doubt that the governments of many nations will refuse the summons and will have to learn submission. Thus will begin the re-education of the peoples of the earth under the new kingdom of God with Christ as King. When God's will is understood and obeyed, then peace and justice among men will come to the earth at last.

Everybody shall be convinced that man has to obey God rather than man and shall submit themselves to every ordinance of Christ for the sake of God, obeying all the commandments of authority.

We may look forward to that time to come when the world may have a "Dispensation of the Fulness of Times," lasting from the beginning of Christ's reign for "ages to come."

With good reason we look forward to Christ's reign and administration at the completion of the long-range plan at the appointed times. Our eyes and hopes are directed at that time in which everything would be brought together and summed up in Christ–everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

We look forward to the times when God shall have us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in union with Christ Jesus.

“ unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say, (Eph 1:10 ASV)

“ that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:” (Eph 2:7 ASV)

Thousand years