A Very Different King

The Book of Revelation declares Jesus is the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” When it describes how he reigns over the “nations,” it presents a King of an entirely different kind than Caesar or the political rulers of this age. The One who rules from the Divine Throne is the “Lamb” who was slain to redeem men from every nation. He is “shepherding” the “nations” so the city of “New Jerusalem” will be inhabited.

The Book assures the beleaguered congregations of Asia that Jesus has events firmly in hand despite appearances. His sovereignty is based on his Death and Resurrection, which marked the commencement of his reign. Ever since, his Kingdom has been advancing across the Earth. As the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth,” Jesus possesses full authority over history, life, and death.

[Photo by POOYAN ESHTIAGHI on Unsplash]

The manner of his rule does not accord with human expectations or the political systems and ideologies of the present “evil age.” The Messianic King is a “Shepherd,” not a tyrant like many of the Earth’s rulers - (Revelation 1:17-18).

The Second Psalm is applied to Jesus several times in Revelation, especially its promise that the “Kings of the Earth” would be “shepherded” by the anointed “Son”:

• (Psalm 2:2-9) – “The Kings of the Earth take their station, and grave men have met by appointment together, against Yahweh and his Anointed One… Yet I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain… You are My son. I, this day, have begotten you. Ask of me and let me give nations as your inheritance and as your possession the ends of the earth. You shall shepherd them with a scepter of iron, as a potter’s vessel shall you dash them in pieces.”

He is the “Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” He gave “faithful testimony” in his sacrificial death and became the “firstborn of the dead” via his resurrection. His followers constitute a “Kingdom of Priests.” They participate in his reign as they carry out “priestly” functions and mediate his light to humanity – (Revelation 1:4-6, 5:9-12, 14:1-5).

Because they “overcame,” the “saints” sit with him on his “Throne,” but they qualify to participate in his rule in the same way that he did - By their faithful witness even “unto death” - (Revelation 3:21, 5:6-10, 12:11).

In the vision of the “Sealed Scroll,” John wept because no one worthy could be found to open it. He was commanded to cease weeping since the “Lion from the Tribe of Judah overcame to open the Scroll and its Seven Seals” – (Revelation 5:5-6).

When John looked, instead of the “lion” he saw the slain “Lamb.” Jesus was the “Lion of Judah,” but unexpectedly, he fulfilled that role as the “Slain Lamb.” He did not come to slay his enemies, but to redeem many of them.

The “Lamb” had “seven eyes, the Seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth.” This portrayed his authority that extended to “the uttermost part of the Earth,” as promised in the Second Psalm. Those men purchased “by his blood” rule with him as his priestly kings. He opened each of the seven seals to release their contents because Jesus was in firm control of events - (Revelation 6:1-8).

The Second Psalm is applied again to Jesus in the vision of the “Woman clothed with the Sun.” He was the “son, the male” born from the woman, the one who, according to the Psalmist, was destined “to shepherd all the nations with an iron scepter; and her child was caught away unto God and to His Throne” - (Revelation 12:2-5).

The “Son” was the “Christ.” The Book of Revelation follows the text of the Greek Septuagint version of the Second Psalm by translating the Hebrew verb for “rule” with the Greek term for “shepherd.” Something other than the forced subjugation of the nations is in view.

GOVERNING ENEMIES

Christ was “caught up to God and his Throne” before the “Dragon” could devour him. The same reality was portrayed when the “Lamb” appeared before the “Throne” following his sacrificial death. The “Dragon” failed to stop his enthronement and was expelled from the Heavenly Court, therefore, a great voice declared: “Now is come the salvation, the power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down” – (Revelation 5:5-14, 12:9-12).

The “Dragon” was defeated by the death of the “Son.” There was therefore no limit to his authority. For example, the “Beast from the Sea” could not launch its “war” against the saints until it was authorized to do so - (Revelation 13:5-7).

In the vision of the “Rider on the White Horse,” the Messiah rode forth brandishing “the sharp sword proceeding from his mouth with which he smote the nations. He will SHEPHERD them with his rod of iron.” Once again, the same words from the Second Psalm are applied to Jesus, and the term “rule” is changed to “shepherd.”

In the final vision, John saw the city of “New Jerusalem” descending to Earth, and the “Kings of the Earth” and the “nations” resided in it. This raises the question:  How did they gain entrance to the “Holy City” since so often in the Book they were hostile to the “Lamb”? Their inclusion was the result of the “Lamb shepherding the nations.” His reign as the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth” meant more than destroying his human enemies; it resulted in their redemption.

Jesus is the ruler who “Shepherds” the nations from his Messianic Throne. His only “weapon” is the “sword” that proceeds continually out of his mouth, the “Word of God.” With it, he defeats his enemies and saves men and women from the nations. It symbolizes the proclamation of the Gospel by the “saints,” his “Kingdom of Priests.” They reign with him. This is how he “shepherds the nations.”

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SEE ALSO:

• Jesus Reigns Now! - (Following his Resurrection, Jesus began his reign from the Messianic Throne as prophesied by David – Psalm 2:6-9)

• The Shepherd King - (Jesus is the slain Lamb and the true Messiah of Israel sent by God to redeem humanity and Shepherd the Nations)

• The True Emperor - (Messianic promises from the Psalms are applied to the PRESENT reign of Jesus who possesses all authority in Heaven and on Earth)