AFTER JESUS' RESURRECTION: WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS THRONE?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. After Jesus' Resurrection
a) After Jesus arose from the dead, what happened to his body of flesh? What happened to his human status as “lower than the angels”? What happened to the throne he inherited from David?
b) The gospel’s core message is that "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and he was buried; and he rose again the third day... seen by [many]" (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
c) There are questions, however, about the nature and authority of Christ when he was seen resurrected, about his ascension to heaven and his accession to the throne of heaven.
2. What Happened To His Throne?
a) In considering the present status of Jesus, we must include his kingship and his throne. Peter spoke about this on the day of Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection.
Acts 2:30-36
30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ - this Jesus whom you crucified.”
b) God promised David, "I will raise up your descendant after you... and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom... and your throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16).
c) This must mean that Christ’s kingdom and throne, although inherited from David, would be established in heaven, not earth. Nothing on earth is “forever”.
d) Furthermore, Christ’s throne must be God’s throne, since Jesus was exalted to bear the name above every name, not a lower status. Therefore his throne must be the throne above every throne, not a lower throne.
e) Jesus is "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen" (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
f) Jesus himself said, "To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21).
g) This does not mean that Jesus has demoted or usurped his Father, but that he shares the Father’s glory and the Father’s throne. He is at his Father’s right hand — a place of highest honor but of deference to God.
h) Christ’s subjection to his Father will always be so — even after the end of the world. "The Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him" (1 Corinthians 15:27-28).
i) So we see that Christ at present shares the highest name and the highest throne with his Father, but always keeps himself subject to his Father. And so it shall always be. Amen.
j) Jesus Christ’s fleshly body was glorified, made immortal at his ascension. He was exalted above the angels, but did not cease to be man. As both God and man, he reigns forever on his Father’s throne at his Father’s right hand.
The End ...
1. After Jesus' Resurrectiona) After Jesus arose from the dead, what happened to his body of flesh? What happened to his human status as “lower than the angels”? What happened to the throne he inherited from David?
b) The gospel’s core message is that "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and he was buried; and he rose again the third day... seen by [many]" (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
c) There are questions, however, about the nature and authority of Christ when he was seen resurrected, about his ascension to heaven and his accession to the throne of heaven.
2. What Happened To His Throne?
a) In considering the present status of Jesus, we must include his kingship and his throne. Peter spoke about this on the day of Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection.
Acts 2:30-36
30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ - this Jesus whom you crucified.”
b) God promised David, "I will raise up your descendant after you... and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom... and your throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16).
c) This must mean that Christ’s kingdom and throne, although inherited from David, would be established in heaven, not earth. Nothing on earth is “forever”.
d) Furthermore, Christ’s throne must be God’s throne, since Jesus was exalted to bear the name above every name, not a lower status. Therefore his throne must be the throne above every throne, not a lower throne.
e) Jesus is "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen" (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
f) Jesus himself said, "To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21).
g) This does not mean that Jesus has demoted or usurped his Father, but that he shares the Father’s glory and the Father’s throne. He is at his Father’s right hand — a place of highest honor but of deference to God.
h) Christ’s subjection to his Father will always be so — even after the end of the world. "The Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him" (1 Corinthians 15:27-28).
i) So we see that Christ at present shares the highest name and the highest throne with his Father, but always keeps himself subject to his Father. And so it shall always be. Amen.
j) Jesus Christ’s fleshly body was glorified, made immortal at his ascension. He was exalted above the angels, but did not cease to be man. As both God and man, he reigns forever on his Father’s throne at his Father’s right hand.
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