Friday, February 13, 2009

Christ Seated On David's Throne part 3

In this post, I must argue that Christ is currently seated on David's throne. The reason I had to demonstrate that David's throne is God's throne is that Dispensationalists will separate the two. When this is done, they have Jesus seated at God's right hand while also looking forward to a later reversal in redemptive history. When David's throne is seen as God's throne, then we see that the world is not in some chaotic state and going to hell while Christ is powerless to do anything about it. Instead the New Testament explains to us that all things that happen do so according to Christ's purpose. Allow me to present two texts. First from Acts chapter 2:

29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,f]">[f] that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." 'g]">[g]

36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

The resurrection of Jesus was a resurrection that fulfilled all of the promises. Christ is now both Lord and Christ, seated at the right hand and on David's throne. He is now by virtue of His resurrection seated on David's throne. So again, this is not some future event but has already occurred.

The other passage is from Hebrews chapter 1.
After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
The writer tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. How does he demonstrate that this is the fulfillment of prophecy? He tells in the following verses. He cites from the Old Testament:
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Fathera]">[a]"b]">[b]? Or again,
"I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son"c]">[c]?
It was this very passage that caused me to seriously consider Dispensationalism years ago. When we start with the New Testament's own view of the fulfillment of prophecy, then we must reject Dispensationalism's claims for a future throne in a small earthly city called Jerusalem. Instead we must as Paul tells us, to consider the heavenly Jerusalem, the mother of us all.

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