The Millennium Part 2

My study on the millennium part 2

Acts 2:32-36 (KJV)

32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

God the Father raised up Jesus from the dead through the Eternal Spirit. Christ's divinity did not die while in the grave. The Godhead Family was at work in the resurrection of Christ. The Apostles were witnesses of this. Just as Christ was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism in it's fullness, He was also anointed with the Father's Spirit in it's fulness at His ascension being exalted to the right hand of the Father. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit was a public display of Christ's royal power, as He is exalted at the right hand of God.

It is noteworthy that Peter cites Psalm 110:1 to show Christ's supreme exaltation as Lord and enduring Kingship until His enemies were destroyed,  just as Jesus had used this reference to declare His divinity (Luke 20:41-44, 22:69).

This alone proves that the fufillment of Christ being established as the everlasting King who sits on the throne of David was fufilled at His ascension and Pentecost.

In verse 36, Peter says that God the Father made Jesus both Lord and Christ, titles that were used of him on earth. The Lord a title referring to Jesus Kingship and Christ referring to being the anointed of Jehovah. After Christ finished work on the cross the Father manifested the glory of the begotten Son in a far greater way. Jesus is not a future King of the Davidic line but was made one during His earthly ministry and received His throne, sceptre, crown, Kingdom at His ascension.

Philippians 2:6-11 (KJV)

6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

To have the form of something is to have the very essence of the thing. Jesus Christ, being in essence God, did not view eqaulity with God as something to be stolen, robbed, or snatched because He already had it. The Son of God emptying Himself should not necessarily be taken to mean He set aside all of His divinity but rather highlights His humility. The begotten Son of God, who did not view eqaulity with God something to be grasped, in mercy took hold of the form, or essence of man as a servant.

Christ was exalted at His ascension. The pathway to Christ exaltation was marked by suffering and just as He was glorified and exalted after His suffering, so too will God's children. God the Father exalted His Son because the Son's suffering was successful and the result is salvation for all those given to Christ and the glory of God the Father. One day all will know that Christ is the undisputed King and will confess as such to the glory of God the Father.

Let's now go to the passage Peter refrenced in Acts 2:

Psalm 110:1-7 (KJV)

1The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.2The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.3Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.4The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.5The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.6He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.7He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

David affirms the duality of the Godhead and the pre existence of the Savior. Jehovah God says to His Son "Adonai" meaning Sovereign

"Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

This scripture was qouted in Hebrews 1:13 which we know in context is about the exaltation of Christ to the Davidic throne after His ascension into Heaven. In verse, we read that Jehovah will send the rod of His strength out of Zion to rule in the midst of the enemies of, in one sense David, but in a greater sense the Son of God. A rod can also be interpreted as sceptre which takes us back to Hebrews 1:8-9 as this sceptre was given to Christ as the installed King on David's throne.

Christ rules the earthly Kingdoms as He is the rod of Jehovah's strength that comes out of Heavenly Zion where His throne is. He rules with a right sceptre. Christ's medatorial Kingdom invades the kingdoms of this world overcoming them by His Word, Spirit, providence, and return in glory.

Back to verse 1 of this passage, David calls refers to the Son of God as "Adonai" meaning Lord. David who was the ruler of God's earthly Kingdom, acknowledged, that His descendant, Christ would be Sovereign over him (Matthew 22:42-45, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20:41-44). The place of supreme honor and authority over all things in heaven and earth cited in (Matthew 26:64, Colossians 3:1, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:34-35, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20-21, Hebrews 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10;12; 12:2). This implies that the earthly kingdom, centered upon Jerusalem, would be replaced with a universal Kingdom, based in heaven itself. "enemies thy footstool" denoting total victory and utter subjection (1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Hebrews 10:13). Christ's enemies will be made His footstool right before and at His second advent.

In verse 4, Jehovah makes an unrevocable decree to His only begotten Son (Hebrews 6:17-18). Christ having risen from the dead, has no successor, but intercedes through the ages for His people  (Hebrews 7:16-17, 24-25). Christ is a Priest of the Melchizedek order. The name means "King of Righteousness" (Hebrews 7:2). Melchizedek was the King of Salem and a Priest of the Most High God before David's Kingship and Aaron's priesthood, and thus a type of Christ (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7). Christ unites the offices of priest and king in one person  (Hebrews 5:6, 10: 7:17,21; Zechariah 6:13), implying that the old covenant and Aaronic priesthood would be obselete (Hebrews 7:11-12).

In verse 5, David says that the Lord (Christ) who sits at Jehovah the Father's right hand will strike through kings in the day of his wrath which is a reference to AD 70 and His second advent.

It is significant that the word "Lord" in this verse is not the same as the word "Lord" used in verse 1. In verse 1, the word Lord means Adonai or Lord. In this verse the word "Lord" should be rendered as the divine name "Jehovah" (Hebrew Strongs 3068). Unlike what Jehovah Witnesses teach, the Son of God is Jehovah. This passage can also read:

"Jehovah the Son at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath"

Verse 6 speaks of the judgment in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:14) as Jehovah the Son will sit on the white throne and judge the heathen nations after He has destroyed the wicked at His second advent and strewn their dead bodies all across the earth before the resurrection of the unjust.

 Psalm Chapter 89:1-4 (KJV)

1I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.2For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,4Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

Jehovah made an unbreakable covenant with David. The sworn promise was that David's seed would be established for ever as well as His throne. This was fulfilled in Jehoshua Messiah, God's only begotten Son. The question is, where will the Thone of David be established with Jehoshua as King? Also, when was this promise fulfilled?

Psalm 89:20

20I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

Jehovah chose David's family line to bring forth Jehoshua (Acts 13:22-23). Just as David was designated King by anointing with oil (1 Samuel 16:13); Jehoshua was anointed by the Father's Spirit as oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 45:6-7; Isaiah 61:1).

Psalm 89:26 (KJV)

26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

Just as Jehovah adopted Israel as His Son (Exodus 4:22), Jehovah adopted the royal line of David (2 Samuel 7:14), making it a type of the eternal Son of God in His resurrected Kingship (Psalm 2:7). Jehovah the Father and Jehovah the Son are the rock of our Salvation. The Father is the mountain and the Son is the stone cut out of it without hands.

Psalm 89;27-29 (KJV)

27Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.28My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.29His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

Verse 27, "Firstborn", not necessarily about birth although the Messiah is the firstborn of heaven (Colossians 1:15). In context of this passage, firstborn denotes a designation of rank and privilege (higher than the kings). This was fufilled in Christ  (Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:15, 18, Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 1:5). In verse 28, we see that the Father's covenant with David which prophesied of Christ being the everlasting King on David's throne was an everlasting covenant. Verse 29, Jehovah promises David that His seed will endure forever (fufilled in Christ), and his throne as the days of heaven, an everlasting throne which is fufilled in Christ. Even though Jesus will vacate the medatorial Davidic throne at His second advent and turn the Kingdom over to the Father, He still will sit as King on an everlasting throne in New Jerusalem on the new earth.

Psalm 89:34-37  (KJV)

34My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.35Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. 36His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.37It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

Verses 34 and 35 shows the surety of Jehovah the Father's words. His promise to David about his seed inheriting the throne and the Kingdom are unbreakable and immutable. Jehovah's commitment to exalt the Son of David forever is sealed with a solemn oath, communicating His unchangeable nature. The prophecy of Jesus being the everlasting King on David's throne was a covenant between Jehovah and David.

Verse 36, Davids seed will last forever, this is fufilled in Christ. David's throne will be as the sun before Jehovah denoting that the future home of David's throne was to be in Heaven.

Verse 37, David's throne is to be established forever as Christ is the eternal King of glory. And notice the second part of the verse says:

"as a faithful witness in heaven"

Christ will not rule on the Davidic throne from earthly Jerusalem in an earthly millennium but rather as the text says His throne will be a faithful witness in heaven before Jehovah God. A faithful witness denotes the justice and righteousness in which Christ will rule from the Davidic throne.

As the scriptures make clear, Christ reign on the Davidic throne began at His ascension into Heaven (Hebrews 1:8-9, Acts 2:32-36).

Acts 2:29-31 (KJV)

29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Peter tells the men of Israel that David is dead and buried in his sepulchre. This is significant because this is when the propechy was to be fulfilled regarding Christ inheriting the Davidic throne. Jesus could not be established as the King on David's throne while David was still alive. So in effect, Christ could not be enthroned as King while David was alive on earth or after David is to be resurrected at the end of this age inaugurating some earthly millennium.

Jesus could only be installed as King on David's throne between the time of David's death and the last day resurrection. Peter then hearkens to the unbreakable covenant Jehovah made with David (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Notice that Peter says that Jehovah's promise to David would be fufilled at the raising up of Christ meaning the Son of God's resurrection and ascension. Peter says that it would be the raising up of Christ that would immediately precede His (Christ's) be sat on David's throne.

Psalm 16:10 (KJV)

10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

David knew Jehovah's covenant to give him a descendant who would reign over his Kingdom forever and was enabled by the Holy Spirit to foretell Christ's resurrection.

"thou wilt not leave my soul in hell". Thou will not abandon me to the grave, a reference to resurrection from the dead. David was able to forsee that Christ would not see corruption in the grave and that He (Christ) would gloriously rise from the dead. David also knew that his body would not be left in the grave and would ultimately also rise from the dead. However, he doesn't say that he won't see corruption. David only said this of Christ.

Psalm 2:1-12 (KJV)

1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.11Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling.12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Verses 1-2, this opposition found climatic expression in the days of Christ (Acts 4:25-26). The nations raged and plotted vainly against Jehovah and His Christ during the Son's earthly ministry. Jesus is the divinely chosen and empowered King from the line of David.

Psalm 18:49-50 (KJV)

49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

David as a type of Christ, calls the nations to worship Jehovah for His great salvation (Romans 15:9). "mercy, faithful love, anointed. Chosen as King. "to David and to his seed. As Jehovah promised in His covenant that was ultimately in Christ as He sits on the throne of David being established at His ascension as the King of glory.

Now back to Psalm 2, verse 3, this speaks of the nations rejection of divine control and restraint.

Verse 4, the Lord here mentioned is Jesus Christ, as He will have the nations who rage and plot vain things in contempt and mockery. No matter how rebellious the nations get towards the Father and Son's principles, they will be laughed at by the united Godhead Family.

Verse 5, the Lord Jesus Christ will roar like the Lion of Judah that He is and strike terror in the hearts of the rebellious nations. Let us not think that Jesus Christ is anything but a Warrior King who will deal swiftly with the wicked when He sees fit to do so.

Verse 6, "set my king", rebellious opposition cannot frustrate Jehovah's plan and purpose which He will fufill through the Son of David (Christ). "hill of Zion", location of Jerusalem and God's special presence in the temple - a symbol of Jehovah's Kingdom. David's immediate offspring would rule on the throne in earthly Zion and Jerusalem whereas his later offspring (Christ) would rule from Heavenly Mount Zion in heavenly Jerusalem. This was fufilled at His ascension and is in progress now. Jehovah set His Son Jesus Christ as the King of the Church (Kingdom of God) in the heavenly sanctuary in heavenly  Jerusalem at His ascension leading to the day of Pentecost.

Verse 7, Jehoshua's eternal glory as God's Son was declared with power at His resurrection and subsequent ascension when He was exalted as King  (Acts 13:32-33; Hebrews 1:5-6; Romans 1:4).

Verse 8, the Father willed that Christ intercede for His redeemed, so that they will become His inheritance and possession. "Heathen...uttermost". Christ will save people from all nations (Psalm 22:7, 72:8,11: Daniel 7:14).

Verse 9, Jehoshua either conquers by grace or force. He should deal severely with those who, in unbelief refuse to submit to Him (Matthew 21:44).

Verse 12, "kiss" an expression of honor and submission. This is an appeal to all peoples to submit to the Messiah who is the Son of God.

Zechariah 6:9-15 (ASV)

9And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,10Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, whither they are come from Babylon;11yea, take [of them] silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest;12and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah;

13even he shall build the temple of Jehovah; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.14And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Jehovah.15And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of Jehovah; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of Jehovah your God.

The coronation ceremony was an actual enactment to be a picture prophecy of the priestly and Kingly offices of the coming Messiah, the only one in whom these offices could unite. After the object lesson, Joshua had to vacate the throne.

Verse 11, "crowns" a magnificently splendid crown. The Hebrew uses the plural to intensify.

Verse 12, the Branch, a Messianic title, "he shall grow up. Literally, "he will sprout", the same root as Branch. Jesus was to begin to build the temple of Jehovah at His first advent as He had told Peter (Matthew 16:13-20). Jesus has been building His Father's temple ever since. Those who repent and are born again are little stones added to the temple of Jehovah.

Verse 13, Zechariah repeats that Jesus the coming Christ will build the temple of Jehovah. This was to begin being fufilled in Christ at His first advent and will continue until His second advent.
 "rule...be a priest. Uniquely fufilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is a Priest and King at the same time ruling on the throne of David. "Between them both", the counsel of peace is between Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ who sits at His right hand as the King.

Verse 14, after the symbolic coronation,  the crown was taken away from Joshua and kept in the temple as a reminder of the promised Royal Priest. It is noteworthy that the name Joshua, shortened form of Jehoshua, is the equivalent of Jesus. Remember, that Jesus is the promised seed of David to inherit the Kingdom and throne. The crown was taken away from Joshua after the symbolic coronation and laid in the temple awaiting the eternal King which would be Joshua's namesake "Jesus (Jehoshua) Christ".

Verse 15, Zechariah's conclusion to his first message (ch.5). Widespread work on and completion of the temple would confirm his prophetic authority.