"He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written,
King of kings and Lord of lords."—Rev. 19:16
The person who thus gloriously appears is beyond doubt
the blessed Jesus. Throughout the context He is indubitably manifest. The
names and attributes belong exclusively to Him. From this magnificent array
let happy thought now select the royal state, and meekly bow before the
King. The title shows the highest dignity, the loftiest supremacy, the most
extensive power, the most exalted seat among the sons of men.
Absolute right to all sway, and all homage, is
unquestionably our Lord's due; but still He magnifies not Himself to be
styled King. The Father speaks, Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; Hear
O sons of men. The heavenly proclamation sounds, "Yet have I set My King
upon My holy hill of Zion." (Psa. 2:6) The mediatorial throne is thus
assigned to Him. "The government shall be upon His shoulders." "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 forever." (Isa. 9:6, 7)
None can subvert a kingdom resting upon such foundations.
None can demolish supremacy thus fixed by the right hand of omnipotence!
Doubtless foes, many and mighty, have assailed it. They have invaded it with
consummate skill and with inveterate hate. They have brought against it
weapons of prodigious metal, and plied them with incessant fury. But it
would be far easier to pluck the sun from the high firmament, or to drive
back the ocean rolling in its might, than to dethrone this King, "How
awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth." (Psa.
47:2) The arch-enemy who still conducts this warfare is mighty in himself,
and aided by a legion formidable in power. He commenced his enmity with the
birth of man, and never has he laid down his arms, or remitted his attacks.
Often has he seemed to approach victory; but yet the kingdom stands
impregnable.
Let faith now gather profit from viewing some usual
SYMBOLS OF ROYALTY.
I. Crown. Earthly sovereigns display a
crown, as emblem of their people's homage. On Jesus' head are "many crowns."
(Rev. 19:13) The Father crowns Him, as co-equal ruler of the universe, as
fellow-worker in the wonders of creation. All voices cry aloud, "You have
created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created." (Rev.
4:11) He is crowned with a bridal diadem. "Go forth, O daughters of Zion,
and behold King Solomon with the crown with which His mother crowned Him in
the day of His espousals, and in the day of the gladness of His heart."
(Song 3:11) Believers delight to place on His brow the crown of their
redemption. This work is wholly managed by His might. To Him the glory must
be wholly given. He wears, also, the crown of victory. He ransomed His
people on the battle-field. He won them in garments dipped in blood. His
brow is entitled to the emblem of hard-won conquest. All His ransomed
possess crowns, as made kings and priests unto God by Him. These crowns they
cast at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
II. Scepter. This staff is the common
emblem of dominion. The sovereignty of Judah's tribe is thus portrayed. "The
scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
until Shiloh comes." (Gen. 49:10) The Holy Spirit hence places a scepter in
our King's hand. "The scepter of Your kingdom is a righteous scepter." (Psa.
45:6) Earthly rulers are often swayed by ungodly passions. Injustice,
oppression, cruelty, and tyranny rage in their hearts. Their laws are often
framed in hardness, and enforced by unrelenting might. Their subjects groan
under hard bondage, and are the slaves of wanton caprice. Homes are the
scene of trembling, and prisons resound with sighs. How different is the
rule of the King of kings. "With righteousness shall He judge the poor, and
reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. Righteousness shall be the
belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His reins." (Isa. 11:4, 5)
All His enactments tend to promote harmony alone. Obedience to His laws is
heaven begun. Hearts subdued to His sway are the sweet abodes of peace. His
scepter crushes every ungodly passion. His empire is unbroken righteousness.
III. Throne. As on His head are many
crowns, so He is enthroned on many thrones. He sits high on the throne of
all power, majesty, and supremacy. His voice proclaims, "To him who
overcomes I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I
overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Rev. 3:21) From this
royal seat all events are ordered by Him, and the whole course of providence
receives direction. He speaks, and it is done. He commands, and the whole
universe submits. It is a blessed word, "All power is given to Me in heaven
and in earth." (Matt. 28:18) And therefore the result is sure, "All things
work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called,
according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)
His seat is sweetly styled, also, a throne of grace.
(Heb. 4:16) Here free favor is dispensed. To this His people have access at
all times. A ready smile awaits them. Their prayers are heard. Their needs
are bountifully supplied. Their sins receive the seal of pardon. They obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Favored subjects are constant
as suppliants at this throne. Their privilege exceeds all thought. The King
sits to bless them with all blessings.
Another throne demands especial notice. It is the
throne of glory. "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all
the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory,
and before Him shall be gathered all nations." (Matt. 25:31) It is wisdom's
exercise often to forecast the proceedings which then shall be transacted.
The day is surely coming. Each moment brings it nearer. We must meet it.
"Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." (Rev. 1:7)
Shall we then lift up our heads with joy, and shout, "This is our God; we
have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited
for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." (Isa. 25:9) Those
who frequent the throne of grace move onward to the throne of glory. "You
are the King of glory, O Christ."
IV. Kings are attended by royal retinue.
When they appear, guards in splendid attire precede and follow. All the holy
angels bend before this King. Countless is the number of this throng. "And I
beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the
beasts, and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten
thousand, and thousands of thousands." (Rev. 5:11) These attendants
announced His first coming, and proclaimed His birth. In the wilderness, in
His exhausted state, they came and ministered to Him. In the garden, when in
the bitterness of His agony He sank to the earth, "there appeared an angel
to Him from heaven, strengthening Him." On the resurrection-morn, an angel
rolled back the stone which closed the rocky tomb. When He ascended, two
angels told His sure return. On His appearance, the whole of the angelic
host shall bear Him company. Not one shall be absent from the glorious
procession. Such are the attendants of the King of kings.
V. Kings were inaugurated by oil poured upon their
heads. Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it upon the head of Saul,
and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you to be
captain over His inheritance?" (1 Sam. 10:1) Again, "Samuel took the horn of
oil, and anointed David in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the
Lord came upon him from that day forward." (1 Sam. 16:13) Jesus, also, is
anointed to be His people's King. "God, Your God, has anointed You with the
oil of gladness above Your fellows." (Psa. 45:7) His reign is a reign of
gladness. For the joy set before Him, the joy of ruling in His people and
for His people, He endured the cross, despising the shame. Similar is the
testimony of His lips, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; because the Lord
has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the meek." (Isa. 651:1) "The
Father gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him." David, also, speaking of
the things which he had made touching the King, declared "Grace is poured
into Your lips." (Psa. 65:2) Thus His government is inaugurated by the
unction of the Spirit. His name Christ proclaims Him as the anointed One.
VI. Kings are announced by proclamation.
Many voices at diverse times proclaimed our King. Hear the prophet's cry,
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem, behold
your King comes to you." (Zech. 9:9) Angels cry aloud, "To you is born, in
the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) At His
baptism, a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased." (Matt. 3:17) Again, at His transfiguration, "This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." (Matt. 17:5) With
what lowly reverence should we bow the head and pay allegiance to our
constituted King!
VII. Subjects. There is no kingdom without
subjects. The sway of Jesus rules an innumerable multitude of all nations
and kindreds, and people and tongues. "He shall have dominion also from sea
to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth." (Psa. 72:8) The
blessed company was given to our King in everlasting counsels. "They were
Yours, and You gave them to Me." (John 17:6) He loves them with everlasting
love, and has inscribed their names upon His heart. He has received them as
the jewels of His crown, the signet ring upon His right hand. He delights
over them as a bridegroom over his spouse. He knew that another master had
obtained usurped dominion over them; He encountered this foe, and rescued
them from his cruel grasp. So they became His by conquest. He found them
poor and wretched and naked, and He wrought out a glorious robe of
righteousness to adorn them for His palace. He knew that their debts were
many. He laid down His life and shed His blood to satisfy each demand. He
found their hearts estranged from Him, and their affections given to the
poor baubles of this fleeting world. He sent His Holy Spirit to create new
hearts within them, to win their love, to lead them to choose Him as their
all forever. Thus they became His by voluntary surrender. He accepts their
offered hearts. He endows them with all He is and all He has. His every
perfection is for their enrichment. His wisdom is theirs to guide and teach.
His power is theirs to defend. His grace is theirs to beautify. His
righteousness is theirs to clothe. His life is theirs that they may live
forever. His death is theirs that they may never die. His heaven is theirs
as their eternal home. His angels are theirs as their ministering guards. He
renders them great and noble in time, great and noble throughout eternity.
Thus His people are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God." (1 Pet. 2:9) In His kingdom every subject is a
priest and king—a priest to offer up spiritual sacrifice to God, a king to
rule over unruly passions and desires.
Well might Moses sing, "Happy are you, O Israel: who is
like you, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and who is
the sword of your excellency! and your enemies shall be found liars to you;
and you shall tread upon their high places." (Deut. 33:29) The words of
Sheba's Queen only faintly shadow the blessedness of His subjects. "Happy
are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before
you, and that hear your wisdom." (1 Sam. 10:8)
Though all honor and glory belong to Jesus, as King of
kings and Lord of lords, "we see not yet all things put under Him." But we
wait with longing desire, and constant prayer, and eager expectation, for
the day when He shall openly take to Himself His great power and reign.
"When the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of
His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." We sigh, Why tarry the
wheels of His chariot! We cry, Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly. Even so.
Amen.