FRIDAY August 12, 2022

Kings and Priests

...Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6

Jesus will become Ruler over the kings of the earth! He will rule and reign with a rod of iron: “ ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ ” (Revelation 2:27). The Pulpit Commentary helps us to understand this verse in context:

The rule over the nations is to be strong, but it is to be loving also. To those who obey it, it will be a shepherding; only those who resist it will be dashed in pieces.

In His First Coming, Jesus was meek. He fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: “...O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Jesus came meekly and submissively to die for sinners: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Sinners crucified Him. In His Second Coming, He is going to rule with all authority. Anyone who rebels against Him will perish.

The saints––believers in Christ–– will become kings and priests in the Kingdom Age. Imagine, everything we are learning in our service for Jesus Christ on earth will help us prepare for reigning with Him then. This is why we cannot make this world our home. One day we shall be in eternity, serving God forever:

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him (Daniel 7:27).

The only way the kingdom of God is going to be manifest in this world before Christ comes is if we manifest it by the way we live as citizens of heaven and subjects of the King.
~R.C. Sproul~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!