The King Is Coming

STUDY NOTES THE KING IS COMING BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES Yesterday, May 6, 2023, Charles III was crowned King of the United Kingdom An event which has not occurred for 70 years when his mother was crowned Which could not occur again until the death of his mother It was an event that was filled with expectation and excitement for many throughout the world For days some people had been camped near Buckingham Palace waiting for his appearance They picked positions along the way to make sure they got a good view of his procession Thousands lined the streets hoping to get a glimpse of the newly crowned king as he passed by The news Media reported that millions of eyes were on the coronation of King Charles Throughout the world people were watching with excitement the crowning of the king The news Media presented many points that we can compare to the “Coming of the King” The day is coming when the King who is already King of Kings will come, Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. When He comes every eye shall see Him, Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Every eye will not see Him because the News Media has covered His coming as they did Charles III It will be His Glory that will catch the eye of all of creation, Mat 24:30 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. Every eye will not be looking for Jesus to come because many don’t believe that He is coming again The world will not be watching for His return, they mock the thought of His coming, 2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, The “last days” are an unspecified period-of time between the first and second coming of Jesus “Days” that had their beginning with the coming of the Messiah, Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Days that will end with the “Coming of the King of Kings,” 1Co 15:24 Then cometh 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. “Scoffers” are those who mock the return of Christ to the earth and make fun of those who believe it Scoffers must deny the Word of God because of their way of life, walking after their own lusts Jude agrees with Peter, Jud 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. Peter tells us what the scoffers will be saying, 2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Read 2 Peter 3 and you will find that the scoffers have a question, and they have an answer to the question Peter proclaims and presents the evidence that they are wrong in their thinking and their theology Peter takes them from the creation of all things to the time of the creation of the new heaven and earth Which will take place because “The King Is Coming” According to scripture Jesus is already “King of Kings,” and will always be “King of Kings” The nation of Israel rejected God as their King and demanded Samuel give them an earthly king, 1Sa 8:20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. Over time Israel had many earthly kings who reigned, some good and some evil Page 1 of 5 All along God was working His eternal plan, not just for Israel, but for all people of the world From eternity past God has promised the “Coming of the King” who will “be ruler in Israel,” Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (God promised, “He shall come forth,” the One who has existed forever) There will be no doubt concerning who He is, his birth will be unique, the only one of its kind The way that He shall come forth identifies him beyond any question, He is the only virgin born child Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (The name “Immanuel” means “God with us”) In Isaiah 9:6 we have the truth of the humanity of Jesus and the deity of Christ in One Person, Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Jesus was King when He was born, Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Isaiah takes us from the birth of Jesus and His first coming to the time of His second coming Jesus will be King when He returns, “The government shall be upon His shoulder” Which presents the ability, authority, and power of King Jesus, the King of Kings The news stated that even though he is king, King Charles III will not have much power or authority Prophecy concerning the King of Kings will be fulfilled, Isa 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Zechariah says, the “LORD” will be King, Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. In “that day,” when the government shall be upon His shoulder, He will be the one and only Lord None other will be known as Lord or worshipped as Lord, His name will be unique A person’s name specifically identifies a person, identifying with a person’s character and reputation Isaiah describes for us the Person and Work of the Messiah through the names found in Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah is not saying that He would be called by all these names, but they each reveal who He is The point is that Jesus would fulfill the meaning of these names in His earthly life and ministry Jesus would earn and deserve the titles of Isaiah 9:6 by His person and work as Messiah The ultimate fulfillment will be when Jesus returns, “The King Is Coming” The “King” who is going to come is “The Mighty God” In the context of Isa. 9:6 the nation of Israel was in a time of suffering, as the world is today We read of their time of darkness, despair, and gloom, yet Isaiah gives them hope The child to be born of the virgin is the Coming King, who will be “the mighty God” A very popular song contains the words, “what a mighty God we serve” And here is a verse that backs it up, how true those words are, and we must believe them We walk now through difficult days of discouragement, but the God we serve is mighty We may be walking through sickness and suffering, but the God we serve is mighty We may face trials, troubles, and persecution, but the God we serve is mighty Nothing we will ever face is greater than our God or more powerful than our “Mighty God,” Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (Not even the problems we face) Our problem is we too often fail to totally trust Him, to place it all in His hands, 1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (The King cares for His Kingdom) Turn it over to Him and leave it with Him, turn it loose in prayer and don’t pick it back up Those who truly know the truth of God will not throw in the towel, they will not give up Christian, be strong, stand strong, we serve a “Mighty God,” who can stand against Him? Page 2 of 5 The “child born” is the all-conquering Christ, the world has closed many gates before Him When He returns as the “King of Glory” there will be no closed gates, Psa 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Every foe will be defeated, and the cry will be, “He is the King of Glory” Everyone will know the answer to the question, Psa 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle (“He is forever the Lord strong and mighty”) Verse 9 is a repetition of verse 7, Psa 24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. The emphasis is upon the identity of the King, He is “the King of Glory” who “shall come in” The question of verse 8 is repeated for emphasis, Psa 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. “Selah” is a musical term and scholars are not sure of the exact meaning of the word But they are sure that it has to do with the playing of musical instruments and singing So, we will interpret it that way, it is time to sing praises to the King who is Coming Yesterday praise was bestowed upon Charles III because of his coronation as king He came forth in a golden carriage, the Diamond Jubilee State Coach pulled by white horses The King of Kings will come forth riding a white horse, Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. Yesterday those who came to praise King Charles III was not able to be with him after the coronation There will be a Heavenly Host accompany the King of Kings when He comes, Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. All Christians have the assurance of being with the King of Kings forever, 1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Christians have the assurance of the words of Jesus, He is the “King of Kings” The gospel accounts answer the question concerning Jesus, “are you the King of the Jews?” Mat 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. Mar 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. The King of Kings is the King of the Kingdom, which is not of this world, but of the Heavenly Kingdom The basic meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words translated “kingdom” is rule, reign, dominion The kingdom is the people or things over which someone has authority or control The kingdom speaks of the sovereign rule of God, witnessed and initiated by Christ’s earthly ministry And which will be completed at the “Coming of the King” Page 3 of 5 The time of the completed Kingdom is explained in, Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Read Matthew 13, Jesus presented the truth of the Kingdom in parables There is the truth of the present Kingdom which is entered through spiritual birth, Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water (physical birth) and of the Spirit, (Spiritual birth) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Apart from the spiritual birth there is no life with God for the present or for eternity, Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. At the time of new birth Jesus comes to dwell within the believer The believer is in the kingdom because the King is in the believer The N.T. uses many terms to identify the reality of the kingdom, eternal life, salvation, righteousness, etc Paul identified the kingdom of God, Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. N.T. believers now dwell within the Kingdom of God, Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Christians have entered-into a kingdom which cannot be moved, Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Today is the day to serve Him, we will be held accountable for our service, 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Christians are to watch for the return of Christ, Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. To “watch” means to be spiritually alert and is the opposite of being spiritually asleep It means “to be on guard,” being vigilant concerning the things of God Giving full attention to the Word of God and living by faith according-to God’s Word We are to watch because the “King Is Coming,” to establish a visible earthly Kingdom There are many areas of the coronation of Charles III as King that we could consider (not enough time) And compare them with truths related to the Coming King of Kings, “Yes, The King is Coming” Following the coronation of King Charles III there will be a number of celebrations The news announced that tonight there will be a “coronation concert” on the East Lawn of the Castle King Charles III has requested the writing, playing and singing of certain Greek orthodox music The song has already been written which Heavens Choir will sing when the King comes forth, Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. The book contains the details of the redemption of all things that belong to God The King Is Coming to fulfill every detail of the “Seven Sealed Scroll” which is in the hand of God Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (All of which has been written and ready to be fulfilled by the King of Kings) All prophecy will be fulfilled, Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Page 4 of 5 You can be blessed, Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Live for Jesus today because The King Is Coming some day)Sunday, May 7, 2023 Page 5 of 5