I've heard it often enough-- "King of kings, and Lord of lords," but I've always thought of it in terms of 'Quintessence'; that Christ is the Ultimate King and Ultimate Lord, that none could ever hope to surpass Him. And this is true, but this is not the end of the story-- Reading Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, has altered my perception. I tend to view everything through a 'literal' lens except where allegory or figurative speech is clearly indicated. But with this title, it would seem I have ignored the literal implications of "King of kings..."
I saw this evening, for the first time, it's more appropriate meaning-- it's literal, and therefore relational, meaning:
Christ is a King [Capital 'K'] of kings [Little 'k'], and a Lord [Capital 'L'] of lords [Little 'l']; One King over many kings... One Lord over many lords. How many of my brothers and sisters have failed to see that this also refers to our relationship, in terms of heirarchy, with Him?
It is God's intention for us to rule over all of Creation with Christ, just as it was His intention that Adam and Eve rule over all creation. They were to have dominion over all the Earth, and presumably, in time, all of creation, which includes the heavens AS WELL AS the Earth. It is our destiny to rule this world, and perhaps others, WITH Christ. We will be kings, but Christ will be OUR King.
Just thought I'd share that with you.
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"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." --Genesis 1:28
"Thou madest him [Man] to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet" --Psalm 8:6
"The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever" --Psalm 37:18
"He [Christ] shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth... Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him." --Psalm 72:8,11
"His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." --Matthew 25:26
"And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities." --Luke 19:17
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" --Romans 8:16-17
"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him..." --2 Timothy 2:12
"...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" --Revelation 2:10
"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations" --Revelation 2:26
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" --Revelation 3:11
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." --Revelation 3:21
"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne..." --Revelation 4:10
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." --Revelation 5:9-10
I don't know as I'm worthy to rule my own life, much less anything else, but I expect that when the time comes, the Lord will make all of us equal to the task.
As Mark suggests, since the resurrection is not just centered on Man, but rather on all of creation, there's no reason to think the universe will not also be redeemed.
Isaiah 9:7 says, "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. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Forever?
Did you catch that? the "Increase" of his government will have no end. The Earth itself is finite in size and ability for increase, but the Universe? How many eons might it take to increase God's Kingdom in a perfect and sinless universe that is itself increasing?
Who's to way we won't be given planets or solar systems or galaxies to rule in His name, to His glory. But this is speculation, merely something to think about. Our focus at present should be seeing His will done HERE and now. The future will tend to itself.
Yet more proof that God is a liberal!
Looking forward to the day this present world ends and the resurrected world begins is hardly 'placing greater importance on the future'. Please remember there are crowns laid up for those who love His appearing (2Tim 4:8). As a bride longs for her husband to come for her, keeping herself only for his appearing, so to should we look forward to Jesus' appearing. This is not placing too much emphasis on the future. It's the equivalent of saying, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." To pray such is to long for Christ to come...
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus"
--Rev 22:20
In the meantime, the fields are white to harvest (John 4:35)
Thanks for stopping by, and please return.
Hallelujah! Praise God! Thank you, Jesus! And Amen!
Thanks MSUGal!