The
Davidic covenant - the Leader (1914 debunked)
As
correctly stated in the 2012 Calendar of Jehovah's Witnesses (May /
June), we read:
"God
predicted that the Messianic descendant of Abraham would come from
the lineage of King David (2 Samuel 7:12:13, Psalm 89:3.4). In the
year 29 CE, Jehovah anointed Jesus with holy spirit, thus making it
the king-designate who had the legal right to occupy the throne of
David "
The
above words are associated with the following prophecy:
Ezekiel
21:25 “And as for you, O deadly wounded, wicked chieftain
of Israel,
whose day has come in the time of the error of [the] end, 26 this is
what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘Remove the turban, and
lift off the
crown.
This will not be the same. Put on high even what is low, and bring
low even the high one. 27 A
ruin, a ruin, a ruin I shall make it.
As for this also, it
will certainly become no [one’s] until he comes who has the legal
right, and I must give [it] to him.’
On
the other hand, the teaching about 1914 states that from 607 B.C.E. ,
when Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians, to 1914 C.E.
“Jehovah’s throne” became vacant (or the line of kings who
descended from David was interrupted) – a vacancy or
interruption in the “Jehovah’s throne” lasting a span of time
of 2520 years.
Is
it really true? After all, we need to make sure all things (1
Thessalonians 5:21)
To
that aim, we need to delve into God's covenant with David, as we read
in the Scriptures :
2
Samuel 7: 12 When your days come to the full, and you must lie down
with your forefathers, then
I shall certainly raise up your seed after you, which will come out
of your inward parts; and I shall indeed firmly establish his
kingdom.
13 He is the one that will build a house for my name, and
I shall certainly establish the throne of his kingdom firmly to time
indefinite.
In
harmony with these words, Jehovah promised to David, as described by
Solomon:
2
Chronicles 6:5 ‘From
the day that I brought my people out from the land of Egypt I have
not chosen a
city out of all the tribes of Israel
to
build a house for my name to prove to be there,
and I
have not chosen a man to become leader over my people Israel.
6 But I shall choose Jerusalem
for
my name to prove to be there,
and I shall choose David
to
come to be over
my people Israel.’
Note
above that Jehovah had two choices:
(1)
a city out of all the tribes of Israel
to
build a house for my name to prove to be there
in
which Jehovah chose: Jerusalem
for
my name to prove to be there
(2)
a man to become leader over my people Israel
and
Jehovah chose: David
to
come to be over my people Israel.’
Let
us examine in detail each one of these choices:
(1)
- “a city...for my name to prove to be there”
This
choice is so important because the place where Jehovah's name
resides, this location represents God's rulership
God's
rulerships depends exclusively on His Name:
Deuteronomy
28:10 And all the peoples of the earth will have to see that
Jehovah’s
name has been called upon you,
and they will indeed be afraid of you.
Deuteronomy
14: 23 And before Jehovah your God, in
the place that he will choose to have his name reside there,
you must eat the tenth part of your grain, your new wine and your oil
and the firstborn ones of your herd and of your flock; in order that
you may learn to fear Jehovah your God always.
Anything
associated with the name of Jehovah will be linked to his Kingdom
and Jehovah is King by definition (axiom). Please notice 1 Samuel
12:12 and Judges 8:23.
Corollary
(1): God's rulership is represented by the place in which Jehovah
makes his name to reside.
And
as we saw earlier about the two choices of God, Jehovah said: “I
shall choose Jerusalem
for
my name to prove to be there”
Thus,
Jerusalem represented God's rulership before
and after 607 BCE.
God's rulership (its embassy) suffered no
interruption
in 607 BCE because Jerusalem and its Temple was rebuilt and Jehovah's
name remained there. Corollary
(1)
Jesus
himself recognized Jerusalem as the embassy of the Kingdom of God:
the city of the Great King :
“Jerusalem
is the city of the great King.” - Matthew 5:35
Jerusalem
was the holy city because the Name of Jehovah was still called upon
her (Matthew 4:5, Luke 4:9, Matthew 27:53
)
Even
in Jesus' days , Jews could sing:
Psalms
135:21 Blessed out of Zion be Jehovah,
Who
is residing in Jerusalem.
Praise
Jah, YOU people!
Jerusalem
was the embassy of the Kingdom of God (before and after 607 B.C.E
lasting in such position until first century C.E.)
Now,
let's turn our attention to the second choice made by Jehovah:
As
we extract from 2 Chronicles 6:5:
(2)
“a man to become leader over my people Israel”
and
Jehovah chose 'David to come to be over my people Israel.’
So,
realize that God's words to David involves:
(I)
a man to become leader
over my people Israel – a Leader over Israel –
a King or Leader over my people
(II)
establish the throne of his kingdom firmly to time indefinite
Thus
God's covenant with David involved the leadership of a king over
the people Israel or over God's people. The covenant involved the
role of a king in the kingdom of God , the position or “job” or
assignment in the "throne of Jehovah" – an everlasting
kingdom.
Remember
the fact that the position for 'the king' being still open (after 607
BCE) does not undermine or infringe a break in the Kingdom of God as
represented by its embassy: Jerusalem and its Temple - Corollary
(1)
The
angel Gabriel pointing to the fulfillment of the covenant
made to David told Mary about the child she would generate:
Luke
1:31 and, look! you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a
son, and you are to call his name Jesus. 32 This one will be great
and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will
give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he
will rule as king over the
house of Jacob
forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.”
It
is appropriate to remind us about the words to Zedekiah (Ezekiel
21:25) :
...and
lift off the crown... As for this [crown] also, it will
certainly become no [one’s] until he comes who has the legal
right, and I must give [it] to him.’
The
crown or throne – is a symbol of ultimate authority (royal) for one
person.
As
we read in the 2012 calendar: In the year 29 CE, Jehovah anointed
Jesus with holy spirit, thus making him the king-designate who
had the legal right to occupy the throne of David "
Question
is : Did Jesus have to wait thousands of years ahead ( 19 centuries to complete 2520 years) to
"put the crown on his head" as a King?
To
answer this question we need to understand what was the king's
jurisdiction and what
were king's subjects. Or in other words, what was the
Kingdom.
Over
whom the king would begin to exert his supreme authority 'on the
throne of David'?
The
angel Gabriel answers it:
he
will rule as king over the
house of Jacob
– Luke 1:32-33
Answer:
over
the house of Jacob -
Israel
of God, heavenly Jerusalem, over 'Jew who is one on the inside' -
Romans 2:29, Hebrew 12:22.
Just
as king David only exercised his authority or leadership in his
jurisdiction, the nation of Israel, and not over whole
world, in the same way Jesus came to reign over “Israel” ,
over “the house of Jacob” - spiritual Israel.
“it
will certainly become no [one’s] “– Hence this state
of the crown was changed in 29 EC - Jesus was approved by God
as king. Indeed, it was Jehovah himself who anointed Jesus as king of
His Kingdom 'over my people Israel', and God said to him : “I have
approved you”. Jehovah really trust his creatures so that God
entrusted Jesus the crown - the leadership over “Israel”
- even before Jesus' death! - No wonder the Devil (greatest Goliath)
tried all ways to destroy Jesus – The Greatest King David.
Therefore
the crown "of the throne of David" (symbol of royal
authority or position as a leader over Israel) was given to
Jesus.
The
crown thus left its previous state of 'it does not belong to anyone'.
Also
remember please the words of Ezekiel 21:27: “A ruin, a ruin, a
ruin I shall make it”
In
607 BCE the David's house (the Leader) was brought to ruin
Would "the
house of David" be in ruins during 2520 years?
Please
consider Acts 15:14-18:
Symeon
has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his
attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his
name. 15 And with this the words of the Prophets agree,
just as it is written, 16 ‘After these things
I shall return and rebuild the booth of David that is fallen down;
and I shall rebuild its ruins and erect it again, 17 in
order that those who remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah,
together with people of all the nations, people who are called
by my name, says Jehovah, who is doing these things, 18 known
from of old.’
“
I
shall return and rebuild the booth of David that is fallen down; and
I shall rebuild its ruins and erect it again” (Amos 9:11)
The
house of David, the Leader, was rebuilt in the first century! That
made it possible for people of all nations were called by the name of
God. With Jesus as Leader 'over my people Israel' the throne
of his kingdom is firmly stablished to time indefinite. (2 Chronicles
6:5)
Therefore
the “throne of Jehovah” or “David's throne” was not vacant
for 2520 years as stated by the doctrine of 1914
Jehovah gave his throne to Jesus much before 1914!
Jesus
reigns since first century with all authority within of the
jurisdiction of his kingdom: celestial Jerusalem and over the
embassy here on earth - 'Israel of God', over “people who are
called by my name, says Jehovah”
Examine
please some texts that shows the authority and execution of
the rulership of Jesus within his current jurisdiction: over
the house of Jacob
Philippians
2:9
For
this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position [king
- leader] and kindly gave him the name that is above every
[other] name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should
bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground
[as we must do before a king], 11 and every tongue should openly
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord [Lord of lords] to the
glory of God the Father.
Matthew
28:18 And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All
authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.
Jesus
inherited the kingdom of God - "the throne of David" -
the Leader – the King – over 'Israel' or people of God. Jesus
is our King - since 29 EC.
Matthew
23:10 Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR
Leader is one, the Christ [Greatest David]. - there
is no
“vacancy”
any longer – since 29 EC
Hebrews
12:2 as we look intently at the Chief
Agent
[Principal
Leader or King]
and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before
him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and
has sat down
[has inherited] at the right hand of the throne of God – [the
highest universally possible position - There is no a position above
God]
1
Peter 3:22 He is at God’s right hand [highest
possible position],
for he went his way to heaven; and angels
and authorities
and powers
were
made subject to him
[because
He
is King
over them, over “Jerusalem of above” ].
The
highest
position
in the 'organizational
chart'
of the Kingdom of God is to be at the right hand of God – there is
no position above it.
Jude
4 “...our only Owner
and Lord,
Jesus Christ.” [ The Greatest David – King of “Israel” ]
Acts
17:7 and Ja´son has received them with hospitality. And all these
[men] act in opposition to the decrees of Caesar, saying
there is another king, Jesus.”
For
Sure! Jesus is our king long ago: King over “people who are called
by my name, says Jehovah”
- “king over my people Israel”.
John
1:47,49
47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him: “See, an
Israelite for a certainty,
in whom there is no deceit.”
49
Nathanael answered him: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you
are
King of Israel.”
Jesus
is
King of Israel of God, over those who are Israelites
for a certainty, as
described in Romans 2:29:
“But
he is a Jew who is one on
the inside, and [his]
circumcision is that of the heart by
spirit, and not by a
written code. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from
God.”
Ephesians
1:20
with
which he has operated in the case of the Christ when he raised him up
from the dead and seated him at
his right hand in the heavenly places [“Put on high even what is
low” – Ezekiel], 21
far above every government
and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only
in this system of things, but also in that to come.
22 He also subjected all
things under his feet,
and made him head over all
things to the congregation [over the house of Jacob],
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills up all things in
all.
If
the old king David was king in Israel, how much more Jesus already is
King of “Israel” - far above.
Colossians
1:13 He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and
transferred us into the
kingdom of the Son
of his love,
Hebrews
1:3 He is the reflection of [his] glory and the exact representation
of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his
power; and after he had made a purification for our sins he
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places.
4 So he
has become better than the angels [a king],
to the extent that he
has inherited a name more excellent than theirs.
Jesus
inherited
the kingdom
when he
was resurrected (firstborn),
like manner the sons of the kingdom will inherit the kingdom when
they are resurrected during Lord's day.
Heb
1:8 But with reference to the Son: “God
is
your
throne
forever
and ever,
and [the]
scepter of your kingdom is
the scepter of uprightness. 9 You loved righteousness, and you hated
lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with [the] oil
of exultation more than your partners.”
Rev 3:21 To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, even as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Jesus
already inherited the throne of Jehovah since first century (He was
not awaiting almost 2 thousand years to inherit it )
King
Jesus was
enthroned
when
he ascended to heaven
- at
right hand of God
- “God
is
your
throne
forever
and ever”
Rev 1: 5 and from Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” “The firstborn from the dead,” and “The Ruler of the kings of the earth.”
John
3:35 The Father loves the Son and has
given
all things
into his hand. [crown
is included – all included – king in the kingdom of heaven ]
Heb
6:20 – 7:
20
where a forerunner has entered in our behalf, Jesus,
who has become a high priest according to the
manner of Mel·chiz´e·dek
forever. 7: 1 For this Mel·chiz´e·dek, king
of Sa´lem,
priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings and blessed him 2 and to whom Abraham
apportioned a tenth from all things, is first of all, by translation,
“King
of Righteousness,”
and is then also
king of Sa´lem,
that is, “King
of Peace.”
Jesus
is 'king
of Salem'
or 'King
of Righteousness' or 'King of Peace' or King of “heavenly
JeruSalem” - Jesus was and is King (before 1914 C.E.)
Let
us consider John 18:36:
Jesus
answered: “My kingdom is no
part
of this world. If my kingdom were part
of this world,
my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to
the Jews. But,
as
it is,
my
kingdom
is not from this source.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to him: “Well,
then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying
that I
am a king.
Pay
attention in the detail: “AS IT IS” - Jesus said: my
kingdom, “as it is” - “my kingdom it is”. Jesus
already had a working kingdom (since 29 EC).
It
is all about jurisdiction. Jesus respects the domains
that are outside his jurisdiction – no part of his kingdom. That is
why Jesus's attendants did not fight
- as
it was, and as it is, Jesus' kingdom is no part of this jurisdiction
or source or sphere or competence.
As
we also read:
“but
now is my kingdom not from hence.” (ASV)
But
in the future will be Jesus's kingdom from hence - jurisdiction
The
fact is: Jesus already had a kingdom with a current jurisdiction in
heavens.
When
Jehovah claims his rightful position as Universal Sovereign of the
all heavens and on earth, that one who already occupies the
highest position of authority within the running Kingdom of God -
The King Jesus (Greatest David) - will exercise authority far beyond
its previous jurisdiction.
When
Jehovah vindicates his right to govern the universe – all heaven
and earth – we will have that outcome:
Rev
11:15
And
the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in
heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king
forever and ever.”
Jehovah
will retake his great power as universal sovereign to begin ruling
as king - The jurisdiction of the Kingdom will be extended to the
ends of the earth and all heavenly places.
All
jurisdictions will belong to the already king Jesus - All of them
will be part of his kingdom - so Satan will be expelled from
heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)
Obviously
the nations will become wrathful
(Rev 11:18) And at this time, 'the
attendants of Jesus will fight.' -
because
his kingdom will be part
of this world. It will be present here.
(Wonder
if China's embassy within US stated: US is mine! )
During
the Lord's day "Israel" will conquer the world.
Christ
will be present
here – ie, we will be walking in territory that now belongs to his
kingdom, here
will be also his jurisdiction.
Let
us compare 1
Corinthians 15:24-26 with Hebrews 10:12 and Acts 2:34-36
(I)
1 Corinthians 15:24-26
24
Next, the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and
power. 25 For he
must rule as king
until
[God] has put all enemies under his feet.
26 As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing.
(II)
Acts 2:34-36
34
Actually David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says,
‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit
at my right hand, 35 until I place your enemies as a stool for your
feet.”’
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that
God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom YOU impaled.”
(III)
Hebrews
10:12-13
12
But this [man] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat
down at the right hand of God,
13
from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool
for his feet.
Consider
the sentences (I), (II) and (III) below:
(I)
For
he
must rule as king
until
[God] has put all enemies under his feet.
Question:
Up to when Jesus
shall reign?
Answer: until
[God] has put all enemies under his feet.
So
Jesus reigns as long as there are enemies “above
his feet”.
He must rule as
king
as long as there are other authorities or other “jurisdictions”
(nations, Devil, Death). Therefore Jesus is ruling as king right now,
but just only within his current jurisdiction.
God,
according to His will, submit all other jurisdiction under the
authority of King Jesus (extending his jurisdiction or competence in
the Kingdom of God)
Sentence
(II)
Sit
at my right hand,
35 until
I place your enemies as a stool for your feet
The
right hand of God is the highest position within the Kingdom. It is
the position occupied by the King - Jesus – “God
is his throne”.
From
(I) and (II), we deduce: “Rule
as King
, at
my right hand until
I place your enemies [other authorities] as a stool for your feet”
Now
consider sentence (III)
and
sat down at the right hand of God,
13
from
then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for
his feet.
Jesus
awaits Jehovah to enlarge his jurisdiction or sphere of competence in
order to exercise authority and power over "this new territory".
Jehovah is the one who extends the jurisdiction of the Kingdom
according to his will - Acts 1:7
So,
The kingdom of God is an operating
system,
a running
system. Such
kingdom has ambassadors (anointed Christians) in order to represent
it on earth. The citizenship of such ambassadors is in heaven. (2
Corinthians 5:20, Philippians 3:20)
Kingdom's
ambassadors represent the King Jesus.
Therefore
it is evident that the
throne of David ceased
to be “vacant”
when Jesus came to
reign
over
"the house of Jacob." , over God's people Israel.
The
position that Jesus assumes at the right hand of God, as king, is
irrevocable.
We
can not apply to Jesus, the words of warning that he told his
brothers:
Rev
3:11 I am coming quickly. Keep on holding fast what you have, that
no one may take your crown.
No
one can say to Jesus: "‘Remove the turban, and lift off the
crown."
Jesus,
after being resurrected as an immortal spirit and exalted to the
right hand of God (his throne) in heavens, he
inherited all the rights of the Davidic Kingdom.
Jesus, the greatest David, inherited the Kingdom of God - Jesus
passed to rule over "Jerusalem". So David's throne was
firmly stablished for time indefinite.
And
just as King David in the past passed to undertake the work
(provisions) of building
God's Temple in Jerusalem,
Jesus - the King David Major, has undertaken the construction
of the Temple of God in the heavenly Jerusalem.
(1 Corinthians 3:16)
Jesus
reigns using the 'key of David " (Rev 3:7) - opening privileges
related to Kingdom or vetoing them.
The
vindication of the sovereignty of Jehovah as the Universal Ruler is
naturally related to the "sons of the kingdom" or heirs of
the kingdom or God's Temple.
According
to Revelation 12:1,5 a woman who represents the set of
celestial beings who submit to the will of Jehovah. They dwell in
the heavenly Jerusalem (current jurisdiction of the Kingdom of
Heaven), this woman gives birth to 'a child'.
This
'one child' represents the set of heirs (children) of
the kingdom , beginning with Jesus, who are resurrected to heavenly
life with authority and thus inherit the kingdom as kings of this
realm. Jesus was the first of them: Jesus inherited the kingdom after
he ascended to heaven. The other "children" will inherit
during the day of the Lord, when they are also resurrected as kings.
Once
the Greater David (Jesus) has completed the construction of the
Temple of God in “Jerusalem”, at this point, Jehovah have all
material proof (undisputed) of the legitimacy of His Universal
Sovereignty - God's rulership thru King Jesus will be everywhere,
So
we have seen through the analysis of the Davidic covenant that:
1)
Jerusalem remained as Embassy of the Kingdom of God, even after 607
BCE, showing that the symbol of the Kingdom of God suffered NO
interruption during 2520 years
2)The
throne of David - representing the highest authority or king in the
Kingdom of God - was not vacant for 2520 years because Jesus, Greater
David, took over his kingdom over the 'Israel of God' or over the
'house of Jacob' - That still in the first century.
Therefore , the 1914 doctrine has no basis in the Scriptures
