THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST - From Commencement to Completion (video series)- Chapter 6, Revealing the Annointed King Part 1
by Brett Jacobsen
The focus of this teaching is to promote the biblical truth that Christ’s Kingdom is active and increasing right now on this earth, in this age. Erroneous eschatology has detracted from this truth in many circles of the Christian faith.
All of the major eschatological (study of how things end) passages are covered but the end of the world is not the important issue and true eschatology is merely a means to an end- Christ Himself as King of kings. Though we will look at the glorious end of earthly history from time to time, we will more so continually use the scriptures to interpret the scriptures and arrive at the present victorious Kingdom of Christ.
For most Christians this teaching will challenge you deeply in your understanding of the New Covenant and Christ’s Kingdom as well as liberate you greatly in the truth of His Word.
Revelation chapter 1 (first half)
Below are the scriptures from this teaching so you can read along:
Chapter 1:1-2
1 The Revelation [apokalupsis- appearing, coming, manifestation] of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants things which must shortly [en-tachos- a brief space (of time), in haste, quickly, speedily] come to pass [1]; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony [marturia- evidence given, record, report, witness] of Jesus Christ [2], and of all things that he saw.
[1] “shortly come to pass” is backed up in Rev 22 with “shortly be done” (Rev 22:6).
The bulk of Revelation is concerned with things which at the time of its writing were imminent.
[2] The “testimony [marturia] of Jesus Christ” is not only His testimony for the righteous but is also His evidence given against the unjust apostates who rejected Him.
Chapter 1:3
3 Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [kairos, set or proper time, season,] is at hand [eggus- near, ready].
* “the time is at hand” is also backed up in Rev 22 with “the time is at hand” (Rev 22:10).
Again, this shows that concerning the contents of the book, the time was near/ready.
Show eggus – (near, ready) in contrast to enistemi – (impend, instant, present).
Chapter 1:4-6
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia [1]: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ [2], who is the faithful witness [martus- martyr], and the first born of the dead, and the prince [archon- first (in rank or power), chief, ruler] of the kings of the earth [3]. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And has made us kings and priests [4] to God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion [kratos- ruling power] for ever [aion- ages] and ever [aion]. Amen.
[1] The letter was for the Asian churches in the first century, not the western churches at the end of the world.
[2] It is from: “him which is, and which was, and which is to come” – El Shaddai/Father
“the seven spirits which are before His throne” – Holy Spirit
“Jesus Christ” – The Son
[3] It is important that we see Christ’s dominion portrayed here at the opening of the letter which is in regard to contemporary and imminent happenings. Jesus, in verse five and six, is first called “the faithful witness [martyr]” (His sacrifice), then “the first born of the dead” (His resurrection), then “the prince [chief ruler] of the kings of the earth” (His dominion). It is the sacrifice and subsequent resurrection of Christ that made Him the “prince” who rules over “the kings of the earth”, and so “to him be glory and dominion [kratos- ruling power] for ever [aion- ages] and ever [ages]”. At the time of Revelations penning, Christ was ruling as prince/chief of the kings of the earth with a dominion (ruling power) which would last for ages and ages (not eternity, but ages on earth). This is in reference to Christ’s Kingdom, from His ascension to His complete dominion over all things (including death):
Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Cor 15:24-26)
[4] Because He “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” He “has made us kings and priests to God”. We, who are loved and washed, rule as “kings” on earth, being submitted to the “prince of the kings of the earth” because we also are “priests to God”.
Chapter 1:7
7 Behold, he comes with clouds [1]; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him [2]: and all kindreds [phule- tribes, races] of the earth [ge] [3] shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
[1] In that “He comes with the clouds” – This is not primarily His ‘second advent’ as some assert. It is evident in the scriptures that Christ did, and is, and will come with the clouds.
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13-14)
… And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:8-9)
Dwelling in the clouds is common terminology which speaks of ruling authority and God’s awesome power.
Jesus knew it:
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matt 24:29-30)
-Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (34)
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said to him, I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said to him, You have said: nevertheless I say to you, Hereafter SHALL YOU SEE the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Matt 26:63-64)
Satan said in his heart:
…I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Is 14:13-14)
God comes riding on the clouds of His glory:
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Ex 34:5-6)
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it […] As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke. (Ez 1:4-28)
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honour and majesty. Who covers yourself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain: Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind: Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: (Ps 104:1-4)
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like to the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Rev 14:14-16)
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven. (Job 22:14)
He holds back the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud upon it. (Job 26:9)
God’s word manifests through the cloud:
And the LORD said to Moses, Lo, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you… (Ex 19:9)
And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it to the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. (Num 11:25)
…a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him. (Matt 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34-35)
God led His people in the cloud:
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: (Ex 13:21)
God’s ruling cloud sets itself between the righteous and the wicked:
…the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. (Ex 14:19-20)
And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked to the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, (24)
The cloud brings mercy and judgment:
Mercy-
I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. (Lev 16:2)
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to me; (Is 44:22)
Judgment-
God is jealous, and the LORD revenges; the LORD revenges, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nah 1:2-3)
The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. (Is 19:1-2)
Also- Lam 2:1; Lam 3:44; Ezek 30:18-19; Ezek 38:16; Ps 18:8-14.
Temple/tabernacle cloud:
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Ex 40:34)
Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? (Job 36:29)
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. (1 Kin 8:10-11)
Also- Num 9:15-22; Num 12:5; Num 16:42; Deut 31:15; 2 Chron 5:13-14; Ezek 10:3-4.
Revival cloud:
See - 1 Kin 18:44; Prov 16:15; Is 18:4.
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