How Christ Relates to the Church: King of Kings

CHURCH ARTICLE | William Stewart | Kingston, Ontario

The title “King of kings” is attributed to Jesus of Nazareth in three New Testament texts (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16). Implicit to the image is the understanding that Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, is a King. But not just a king, the King. The moniker stands as a powerful proclamation of the supremacy of our Lord over all things in His creation, but particularly over every other power, authority, and ruler. Let us delve into this monumental statement about Jesus Christ so we may better understand the significance of His role as King of kings.

The King is Prophecy

Several Old Testament texts point to the expected Messiah fulfilling the role of King. The level of detail varies from one prophetic depiction to the next, but the consistent message is that the He would be a monarch. Genesis 49:10 spoke of a ruler who would come from the tribe of Judah, identifying Him with the word Shiloh (tranquility, peace). 2 Samuel 7:12-16 revealed One who was the seed of David would build a house for the Lord and reign over His people forever. Though Solomon was an immediate fulfillment (1 Kings 8:20), there was another who would come, for after David and Solomon were deceased, the prophet Isaiah spoke of a Child who would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). This One would be lauded with descriptions such as “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” and He would reign in peace forever (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Long after Solomon was dead, Zechariah foretold One identified as “the BRANCH” (cf. Zechariah 3:8; Isaiah 4:2; 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15) who “…shall build the temple of the LORD…,” would “…sit and rule on His throne…,” and be “…a priest on His throne…” (Zechariah 6:12-13). This coming Messiah would be both King and priest, which calls to mind Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). David, in a Messianic psalm would speak of a ruler to come who would sit at the right hand of God, rule over His enemies, judge the nations, and be “…a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4).

The prophet Daniel recorded multiple statements about an everlasting kingdom which was to come (Daniel 2:44; 4:3, 34; 6:26). Then, in the details of a vision given to Him in chapter 7, he saw “…One like the Son of Man…” coming from heaven to whom “…the Ancient of Days…” gave “…dominion and glory and a kingdom… an everlasting kingdom, which shall not pass away … which shall not be destroyed…” (Daniel 7:13-14). This King and this kingdom were foretold time and again in the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets.

The Fulfillment of the Prophecies

The oracles detailed in the preceding section find fulfillment in the New Testament, and specifically in the Person of Jesus Christ. Indeed, He is the fulfillment of every Messianic prophecy. As Jacob foretold, Jesus would come from the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-33), but He would also be the intermediary between man and God, resulting in peace (John 14:27; 16:33; Acts 10:36; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:14). Acts 2:29-31 does not specifically reference 2 Samuel 7, but Peter identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of details given in the Samuel text. The father/son relationship between God and the anticipated Ruler of 2 Samuel 12, which also appears in Psalm 2:7 and 89:26-27, is fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5).

Matthew cites Isaiah 7:14 in the opening chapter of his gospel account, identifying the virgin birth of Jesus as fulfillment of this ancient prophecy. Though no New Testament writer quotes Isaiah 9:6 directly, Matthew does cite Isaiah 9:1-2 and links it with the ministry of the Messiah.

Zechariah’s builder of the temple, who would sit on His throne, and serve as a priest, is Jesus. He is our High Priest: Hebrews 3:1 identifies Him as “…the Apostle and High Priest of our confession…” (cf. Hebrews 4:14-15). But He is not just any priest within a random priesthood, He is revealed to be the High Priest and serving “…according to the order of Melchizedek… (Hebrews 6:19-7:28), in fulfillment of Psalm 110:4. Jesus is the builder of the house of God: Hebrews 3:3-6 speaks of Him building the Lord’s house, the church (Matthew 16:18). The New Testament reveals Christians as the spiritual house being built for God to dwell in (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5). Jesus is sitting on His throne: Peter, having cited David’s messianic message from Psalm 16, declared that Jesus not only was raised from the dead, but that He sat down on His throne at the right hand of God (Acts 2:29-36; cf. 5:31; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 12:2).

What of the astounding prophecies of Daniel? They too are fulfilled in Jesus. The angel who appeared to Mary said of the Child who would be born,

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. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:32-33)

The “…One like the Son of Man…” (Daniel 7:13) seen by Daniel in his vision is Jesus Christ, who identified Himself as the Son of Man, a powerful king who would reign (Matthew 9:6; 12:8; 13:41; 16:27-28; 19:28; 25:31; etc.). Stephen, the first martyr for the faith, identified Jesus as “the Son of Man” (Acts 7:55-56), as did John in the Revelation (Revelation 1:13, 18; 14:14).

Not Just a King, but the King of Kings

This title, “King of kings” was used of the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 26:7; Daniel 2:37) as well as the Persian king, Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:12). Both were mighty monarchs, reigning over not just their own people and land, but they had subdued and were in authority over many other nations (and kings). However, Jesus’ claim as “King of kings” is far greater than these.

Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 BC and Artaxerxes died in 424 BC. At their death, each man ceased to be king – another took their place. Within a generation of Nebuchadnezzar’s death, his kingdom fell to the Persians, and eventually ceased to exist. The Persian empire was defeated and effectively dissolved by the Greeks less than a century after Artaxerxes’ death. They were great kings and ruled over historically significant kingdoms, but both they and their kingdoms have ceased.

Given the fulfillment of the wonderful prophecies discussed above (and many, many more), and the endless duration and spiritual nature of His kingdom as described in Scripture, Jesus is rightly proclaimed “King of kings.” After His resurrection and before ascending to sit at the right hand of the Father, our Lord declared, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth…” (Matthew 28:18). Though Nebuchadnezzar and Artaxerxes, and perhaps other rulers would like to make such a claim, they cannot. Jesus, however, is

…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. (Ephesians 1:21)

Peter states that Jesus,

…has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. (1 Peter 3:22)

Jesus is the King over His people, His Kingdom, His church. He is the Monarch to whom we must render obedience, before whom we should prostrate and worship, and for whom we ought to yield not only our will, but our lives. He is a loving King, who willingly and purposefully gave His life for the people – all people, and has risen again, offering eternal life to all who choose to submit to His authority. This promise is available to citizens of every nation (Acts 10:35; Romans 10:12-13; Galatians 3:28), including rulers and kings (Acts 9:15; 24:24-25; 26:2-29).

Paul emphatically speaks of the scope of our Lord’s sovereignty, saying,

…God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Those who will bow before Him in this present age and confess His name are His subjects, the people of His kingdom. However, Paul said every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. All are under His authority, whether they acknowledge it or not. Those who do not acknowledge and serve Him in the here in now will bow and confess that He is Lord when they stand before Him in judgment. This is true of the peasantry and their princes alike, for all are made subject to Him (Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22; Psalm 110:1).

Conclusion

There are so many wonderful songs we sing in our assemblies which acknowledge the kingship and reign of our Lord and Saviour: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ name; Crown Him with Many Crowns; He’s My King; O Worship the King; Here I Am To Worship; Majesty; etc.. He is our King, but more – He is the King over all kings. He is our Lord, but more – He is the Lord over all lords.

In Revelation 17, those who yield their power and will to the beast make war with the Lamb, and will be overcome, “…for He is the Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” In Revelation 19, He is portrayed as the victorious ruler over the nations, who “…has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’”

Acknowledging that victory belongs to the Lord, and that all who oppose Him, whether great or small, will stand condemned, Paul wrote:

I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who along has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:13-16)

He is above all and worthy of our reverence, adoration, and dutiful submission. May we present ourselves as subjects of the King of kings this day, and every day, to His glory and honor, and culminating with the salvation of our souls.

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October 2024 | GROW magazine