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Some five hundred years before Christ came into the world, the prophet Isaiah foretold what was to come:


"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever" (Isaiah 9:6-7).


To a young maiden in Israel, the angel Gabriel delivered this message:   

"Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:31-33).


About fifty days following the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the apostle Peter preached a fulfillment of these prophecies.


"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing God had  sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne:…This Jesus  hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father  the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this" (Acts 2: 30-33).


The promise made to David is found in II Samuel 7:16.  It is repeated in Psalm 89:4 where God promised David, "Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations."


Every kingdom requires a king. And what is a king without a kingdom?  The word "kingdom" primarily denotes sovereignty, royal power, and dominion.  As a figure of speech it may refer to the territory or people over whom a king rules (W. E. Vine's Dictionary, page 294). The "kingdom of God," therefore refers to the "rule of God, the divine kingly authority."


In Jesus' day the prophet John spoke of the kingdom as being "at hand" (Matthew 3:2).  Christ also announced it as being "at hand" (Matthew 10:7).  In Mark 9:1 Christ would announce: "There be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."  When asked about the kingdom prior to His ascension, Christ would respond to his apostles, "Ye shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you" (Acts 1:8).


That "coming of power" occurred in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. On that occasion, Peter explained the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy and the fulfillment of David's prophecy concerning Christ's resurrection and being seated on the right hand of God on David's throne (Acts 2:17-21; 30-36). Christ was crowned by the Father upon His return from the earth (See Daniel 7:13- 14).


The apostle Paul would later refer to Christ "who is the blessed and Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (I Timothy 6:13-16).


Why not make Jesus what He was always supposed to be  -  "The King Of Kings and Lord of Lords!" In Matthew 28 the King spoke:  


"All power hath been given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded   you" (verses 19-20). All who submit to the laws of the King belong to His kingdom.                               


Larry Albritton

The Birth of A King
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