B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: The Coronation of the Messiah
Consider for a moment what the angelic messenger said to Mary,
the mother of Jesus: "You shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a
son, and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great ....and the Lord God shall
give unto him the THRONE of his father David: and he shall REIGN over the house
of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:31-33).
Notice also the account in John 18:37: "Pilate therefore said unto him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world""
Jesus was born to rule and reign as King over all nations. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus qualified to become this world's ruler by conquering Satan the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). But He did not remove and replace Satan then. He was not crowned King while a human being (John 18:36). Jesus was not to assume the responsibilities of His new office as world ruler at that time.
When Jesus' disciples thought the Kingdom of God would be set up in their day, He gave them a parable to explain when He would begin ruling the world.
1. According to this parable in Luke 19:12-27. where did Jesus go after His death and resurrection to obtain the office of King and to receive the Kingdom? Did He go to Caesar at Rome? Did He go to the people to have them induct Him into office? Verse 12. Who only had the authority to make Jesus the "King of kings?" Romans 13:1.
COMMENT: Jesus was showing His disciples He would have to ascend to His Father in heaven (the "far country" in the parable of Luke 19) to receive authority to rule the nations.
2. After Jesus ascended to heaven and had been there for approximately 60 years, He appeared in a vision to the Apostle John. Was there a crown on Jesus' head when John saw Him? Read Revelation 1:12-18.
3. But will Jesus have been crowned by the time He returns? Revelation 14:14. What scripture prophetically describes Jesus' actual receiving of the Kingdom which He went to heaven to obtain? Daniel 7:13-14.
COMMENT: Here is depicted the actual coronation of Jesus Christ. The "Ancient of Days" is the heavenly Father. The title "Father" was not used because Jesus had not yet been be-gotten as a human being when Daniel saw this vision. Notice also that "one like the Son" appeared before the "Ancient of days" to receive the Kingdom. The Logos or "Word" (John 1:1) was like the Son of man. He was not yet born as a son, but since He would later become a son of man, He was, in Daniel's day, "like the Son of man," the Jesus who was to be born of a human mother.
4. How many great crowns will Jesus have? Revelation 4:14. But what about the "many crowns" mentioned in Revelation 19:12?
COMMENT: Jesus will have only one great golden crown. That crown will designate Him as Supreme King over all nations-over all the world. The proper translation Revelation 19:12 is: "And on his head are many diadems." A diadem is a small crown or headband signifying royal office. The smaller crowns or diadems symbolize the lesser royal offices Jesus will hold.
5. What will Christ's official title be when He returns? Revelation 19:16. But who are these other "kings?" Let's understand.
6. Are Christians also to receive everlasting crowns-if they overcome? 1 Corinthians 9:25.Those who qualify in this life will rule over the nations as KINGS with Christ. Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4; Daniel 7:22, 27.
7.When do the "saints" - Christians - receive the reward of offices of rulership?
Compare Revelation 11:15, 18; 22:12 with Isaiah 40:10.
COMMENT: Jesus went to heaven to be crowned by the Father, but one of the reasons Jesus will return to earth is to bring rewards of rulership to His resurrected saints!
8. What did Christ say would be the reward of those who manage wisely the abilities God has given them now? Luke 19:16-19.
9. Will the resurrected saints also be priests? Revelation 5:10; 20:4, 6.
COMMENT: Resurrected Christians will be kings and priests, and will judge among the peoples of the earth during the Millennium.
Christ's government will begin at Jerusalem, where His headquarters will be located (Jeremiah 3:17). As His rule spreads over the whole earth, all rebellious nations will be brought into line.
10. How will Christ have to begin His rule on earth? Revelation 19:15. Notice the words "rod of iron."
COMMENT: At His return, Christ will have to powerfully subdue the world and force mankind to submit to His rule. He will use a "rod of iron," symbolizing absolute authority. He will rule with power, not hesitating to use it when necessary! A world that has been deceived and influenced by an invisible devil (Rev. 12:9) must be ruled rigidly until it learns the positive fruits of living God's way!
Jesus Christ will be in absolute control of the earth, but He will rule with perfect justice and mercy, having once been human Himself (Hebrews 2:9-10; 4:15). He will at first literally have to FORCE men to be happy! He will impose His merciful rule on rebellious mankind and bring the world COMPULSORY JOY!
11. How will Christ deal with those nations that refuse to come to Jerusalem to worship God the way He commands and keep the Feast of Tabernacles? Zechariah 14:16-19.
COMMENT: Although God will rule with power and authority, He does not intend to "cram His religion" down the throats of people. He will not force anyone to accept His truth in the sense of spiritual conversion-repentance, baptism, etc.
God is not a stern, cruel monster as some agnostics have falsely implied. God wants man to always be really happy! But God knows that the only way to lasting happiness is obedience to His laws!
Gradually, as men obey God's laws, they will wake up to the wisdom and justice of God's rule and will submit gladly to His authority, and a "rod of iron" will no longer be necessary.
Scriptures
(Luke 1:31-33) "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. {32} "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. {33} "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
(John 18:37) Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Satan Tempts Jesus
(Matthew 4:1-11) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. {2} And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. {3} Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." {4} But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" {5} Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, {6} and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" {7} Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" {8} Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." {10} Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" {11} Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
(John 18:36) Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
1. (Luke 19:12-27) Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. {13} "So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' {14} "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' {15} "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. {16} "Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' {17} "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' {18} "And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' {19} "Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.' {20} "Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. {21} 'For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' {22} "And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. {23} 'Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' {24} "And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.' {25} ("But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.') {26} 'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. {27} 'But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'"
Submit to Government
(Romans 13:1) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2. (Revelation 1:12-18) Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, {13} and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. {14} His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; {15} His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; {16} He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. {17} And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. {18} "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
3. Reaping the Earth's Harvest
(Revelation 14:14) Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
(Daniel 7:13-14) "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. {14} Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
4. Reaping the Earth's Harvest
(Revelation 14:14) Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
(Revelation 19:12) "His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself."
5. (Revelation 19:16) And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
6. (1 Corinthians 9:25) And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
(Revelation 2:26-27) "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations; {27} 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'; as I also have received from My Father;
(Revelation 3:21) "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
(Revelation 5:10) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
The Saints Reign with Christ 1000 Years
(Revelation 20:4) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
(Daniel 7:22) "until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
(Daniel 7:27) Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'
7. Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
(Revelation 11:15) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
(Revelation 11:18) The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."
Jesus Testifies to the Churches
(Revelation 22:12) "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
(Isaiah 40:10) Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.
8. (Luke 19:16-19) "Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.' {17} "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' {18} "And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' {19} "Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'
9. (Revelation 5:10) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
The Saints Reign with Christ 1000 Years
(Revelation 20:4) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
(Revelation 20:6) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
(Jeremiah 3:17) "At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts.
10. (Revelation 19:15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
(Revelation 12:9) So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(Hebrews 2:9-10) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Bringing Many Sons to Glory
{10} For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
(Hebrews 4:15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
11. The Nations Worship the King
(Zechariah 14:16-19) And it shall come to pass that everyone who 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, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. {17} And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. {18} If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. {19} This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.