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King David in Kingdom Age

By June 1, 1998November 9th, 2022No Comments

Q.

During the Kingdom Age, will King David literally sit upon the throne as a risen being in Jerusalem assisting Jesus?

A.
A number of Scripture references speak of David as a regent during the Millennium. Please look up the following: Isaiah 55:3, 4; Jeremiah 30:9; 33:15, 17; Ezekiel 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25; Hosea 3:5; and Amos 9:11. Knowing that Scripture states that Christ Himself is the one to rightfully reign in the millennial Kingdom, we must answer the question of what the passages about David mean.

One view considers David as used figuratively to represent Christ! Christ is called the Son of David, and we’ve noted already that Christ will sit on David’s throne. Problems with this view, however, are that Scripture never actually refers to Christ as David and that the Old Testament passages above clearly differentiate Christ from David. If these passages meant Christ, no distinction would be necessary.

A second view holds that “David” refers to a literal descendant of David. Proponents of this view use Jeremiah 33 (see verses 15–21) as a primary passage indicating that a son will fulfill this office. The problem is that no living Jew is able to trace his family lineage after the destruction of Jerusalem and thereby prove his right to the throne—except Christ. Also, we have the problem of someone’s coming after Christ, when Christ is the fulfillment of the Davidic promises. Further the view goes against literal interpretation, the belief that David means exactly what it says.

So the third view is that “David” means the historical David, leaving the golden rule of interpretation intact: Don’t seek another meaning when the plain sense makes good sense. David alone could well sit as regent in the Millennium in harmony with Old Testament prophecy. Keep in mind that God’s
resurrected saints will have positions of responsibility. David’s role could be that of a prince, ministering under the authority of Christ. Remember Christ’s title “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16); it suggests He is sovereign over subordinate lords, or rulers (see Mathew 19:28). This is in keeping with the Davidic covenant made with David and his posterity (2 Samuel 7; 22:51): The covenant averred that David and those succeeding him would be the ruling dynasty of Israel from then on. It took place, for David’s son Solomon and then Rehoboam ruled Israel. And Rehoboam through Jehoiachin ruled Judah. But the covenant also attested that David’s house would rule in Christ’s millennial Kingdom.

In essence, David will rule Israel while Jesus will rule the whole earth, which includes Israel. Some Scripture passages to study are Ezekiel 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25; and Jeremiah 30:9. The latter reads, “But they shall serve the Loan their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.”

This article appeared in the “Q & A” column of the Baptist Bulletin (June 1998) by Norman A. Olson. 

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