--------------------
The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
--------------------
July 15, 1990
--------------------
Contents:
1) The Throne of David (Tom Edwards)
2) Mini TV Sermons (selected)
--------------------
-1-
The Throne of David
by Tom Edwards
The misconception of Premillennialism entails many false
doctrines. Some of these are "the throne of David," "the
rapture," "the Great Tribulation," "the thousand year reign of Christ,"
and the "Parenthesis Theory."
A few premillennial beliefs can be seen in the following statement:
"Christ is on the throne of God now, but not the throne of David. He
won't reign on the throne of David until He returns to earth and sets
up His kingdom and rules for a thousand years."
First question: Is there a difference between God's throne and David's
throne?
Answer: The Bible shows that "Solomon sat on the throne of his father
David" (1 Kings 2:12), and that "Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord"
(1 Chron. 29:23). Are we to assume that Solomon ruled from two
different thrones or that David's throne and the Lord's throne actually
have reference to the same idea?
We can make an interesting analogy between this and the "chair of
Moses" in Matthew 23:2. In this passage, Jesus is speaking of the
scribes and Pharisees who had "seated themselves in the chair of
Moses." He continues by saying, "therefore all that they tell you, do
and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say
things, and do not do them" (v. 3). This was not a literal chair --
what an antique it would have been (about 3,000 years old) if it were,
not to mention the enoooooooormous size necessary in order to have
provided seating capacity for all the scribes and Pharisees to sit
upon. Or, perhaps, if it were literal, we could assume they took turns
sitting on it. Actually, however, it was not a literal chair at all,
but it does represent figuratively the same level of authority that the
scribes and the Pharisees were trying to take upon themselves as that
which had been invested by God in Moses. Their commands were to be
revered, not only as much as God's, but sometimes even more so. For
instance, Jesus taught in Matthew 15:3-9 that the Pharisees had
nullified the commands of God for the sake of their own
tradition. As a result, they were guilty for worshiping God in
vain, for their teachings were merely the precepts of men rather than
the commandments of the Lord.
Thus the "chair of Moses" represents the authority that God invested in
Moses. As the apostle writes in John 1:17, "For the Law was given
through Moses...." Such an awesome responsibility he had in imparting
God's word to God's people, but because his life was so intertwined
with the workings of the Lord that the Laws which the Israelites were
given to live by have been referred to as both the "Law of Moses"
(Josh. 23:6) as well as the "Law of God" (Josh. 24:26). This is not a
reference to two different kinds of Law, but the same Law with two
different designations.
As we have seen, the "throne of David" was actually the same as the
"throne of God." This throne, regardless of which Bible name you use to
refer to it, simply signifies the authority from God that was invested
in the ruler. This authority was to be highly respected and obeyed. A
prime example of this is seen in David, who though threatened time and
time again by Saul, and just barely escaping his murderous attempts,
had opportunity on occasions to avenge himself out of protection for
his life, yet could not do so because he respected Saul and recognized
the great position of authority in which God had given to him. Hear
this in his own words: "And he said to his men, `The Lord forbid that I
should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out
my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord"' (1 Sam.
24:6).
Christ reigns from the throne of God with all power and authority in
heaven and on earth. To bring him back to Jerusalem and put him on a
literal throne would certainly be a demotion and not an
exaltation. Yet, some premillenialist teach that Christ will not
have "all" power until he does return to earth and establish His
"thousand year reign." If that be true, what then does the Lord mean in
Matthew 28:18 when He says "All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth"? This was ultimately fulfilled at the Lord's
coronation when He was exalted to the right hand of God (Dan. 7:13,14).
Note also the following from Acts 2:30-36:
"Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an
oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He
would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, (31) he, foreseeing
this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul
was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. (32)
This
Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. (33)
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received
from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this
which you now see and hear. (34) For David did not ascend into the
heavens, but he says himself: `The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My
right hand, (35) till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' (36)
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
It was David who believed in the promises of God and looked to the
Christ as being the one who would be raised up to sit on his
throne. The context shows that this is exactly what happened with
Jesus: He was resurrected from death and ascended into glory in order
to be made "both Lord and Christ." The term "Lord" means "ruler," and
the word "Christ" means "anointed." Therefore, just as the prophet
Samuel had anointed some of the kings of old, God, in His own special
way, anointed His Son to be the great King of kings and Lord of lords;
Christ has become the "Anointed Ruler" -- exalted above every other
authority or power in the universe! The Ephesian letter speaks of the
Lord's highly elevated position and shows that He has been exalted "far
above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name
that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come"
(Eph. 1:21).
Yes, just as God invested Solomon with the authority to rule over His
people Israel, an authority which is symbolized by the phrase of ruling
on "God's throne" or "David's throne," He has also given Christ the
authority to rule over all creation; and this He does from the "throne
of God" -- that same throne which is also designated as the "throne of
David" and that which signifies the authority of God.
--------------------
-2-
Mini TV Sermons
Most of man's inventions have been time savers -- then came television
(Joe Ryan).
Television is an appliance which changes children from irresistible
forces into immovable objects (Philadelphia Principal).
The primary danger of the television screen lies not so much in the
behavior it produces as the behavior it prevents -- the talks, the
games, the family activities, and the arguments through which much of
the child's learning takes place and his character is formed (Urie
Bronfenbrenner).
--------------------
The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be
lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
--------------------
First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
--------------------