Will Jesus Return to Reign from Jerusalem?

     Those who anticipate the Lord’s return at the new millennium would say, “yes,” but the Bible emphatically says, “no!”  With the new millennium quickly approaching, much will be said regarding this subject.  Therefore, this question deserves our attention, and more importantly, this question deserves a Bible answer.
     Christ is ruling as priest and king on his throne now.  Zechariah promised in the long ago that Christ (the BRANCH) would be both priest and king on the throne (Zec. 6:13).  This throne, the throne of David, was to be occupied by the Christ long after David had been dead (2 Sam. 7:12,13).  The throne of David and the throne of God are one-in-the-same (1 K. 2:12; 1 Chr. 29.23).  Therefore, it was prophesied that Christ would sit upon David’s throne, the throne of God, as both priest and king—at the same time.  In this way God’s promise to David would be fulfilled, that one of the seed of David would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4).  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest of the Most-High God at the same time (Gen. 14:18).
     Now, when did Christ assume the throne of David?  Daniel prophesied that Christ would be given his (David’s; God’s) throne when he ascended to the Father, the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:13,14).  Those who say that Christ will return to reign on the earth would have that verse read that Christ would be given his throne when he came from the Ancient of Days.  Peter, in preaching to those assembled in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, said that Christ had been raised up to sit on David’s throne, on whose throne he was now sitting (Acts 2:29-36).  Therefore, it is evident that Christ is now sitting on David’s throne in heaven ruling over his kingdom.
     Is it even possible for Christ to rule on earth?  The Bible answer is no.  A few passages of scripture forever put to rest the idea that Christ could reign on earth.  A promise was made to Jeconiah by Jeremiah that no one of Jeconiah’s seed would ever sit on the throne in Judah (wherein Jerusalem is located) and prosper (Jer. 22:30).  Now Jeconiah is in the seed-line of Christ (Mt. 1:11,12).  Therefore, Christ cannot sit on the throne in Judah and prosper.  Also, remember that Zechariah prophesied that Christ would be both priest and king on his throne (Zec. 6:13).  However, the Hebrews writer states that Christ cannot be a priest on earth (Heb. 8:4), for he is of the tribe of Judah, and not of the priestly tribe of Levi (Heb. 7:14).  Therefore, if (as many would have us believe) Christ comes back to rule from David’s throne from literal Jerusalem, then he cannot proper (which no one would assert), neither could he be priest nor king, for he must be both at the same time (and the Bible explicitly says Christ cannot be a priest on earth).

 Do you have a Bible question that deserves a Bible answer?  Do you want more information about this subject?  Feel free to contact the Mabelvale church of Christ at 455-2548 or by fax at 407-0072.  We may also be reached by e-mail at mabelval@cei.net and we have a web page at www.cei.net/~mabelval.  On the web page you will find archives of all of the “Ask a Bible Questions” to date, as well as other items.  Also, tune into the Search television program on Sunday mornings at 8:00 on channel 4.