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Dominion and Power belong to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (see Jude 1.25 and Revelation 5.13-14). This means that this descriptive phrase is applicable "…Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1.25). In the human experience we have not, yea cannot, know of a comparable kingdom or King.

Our mortal existence mandates that rulers vacate their offices and that they be replaced by another, if for no other reason due to death. The kingdom in which our Lord reigns is not such a kingdom nor will He ever vacate His throne. There are several implications to the fact that Jesus will never vacate His throne and they are all connected to the fact that He has Dominion and Power, forever and ever. This message and the remaining two messages regarding Jude’s Doxology will address these implications.

First, if Jesus will never vacate His throne, it must be located somewhere other than this earth. This earth is destined for destruction; it is not the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed and cannot therefore be the location of Christ’s throne. Peter plainly predicted that this earth and everything in it will be burned up (2 Peter 3.10). To further show that this earth cannot be the dwelling place of the redeemed, Jesus told His disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for them and that He would come again to receive them unto Himself so that they might be with Him (see John 14.1-4). Where is the throne upon and from which Jesus rules? Peter answered this question in the first gospel sermon!

Hear Peter’s testimony: "Therefore, [David] being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2.30-36). Notice that the promise regarding David’s throne and his descendant sitting on it was fulfilled in Christ. Further, note that it was fulfilled by the Father when the Son ascended into the heavens and was exalted to the "…right hand of God." There can be no mistaking the intent of Peter’s words or of David’s inasmuch as we now have an "inspired commentary" on their meaning! Jesus Christ was exalted to David’s throne at the right hand of God at the time Peter preached the first gospel sermon!

The everlasting gospel declared Jesus to be in heaven sitting on David’s throne! If the everlasting gospel is everlasting, He is still there! To Him belong Dominion and Power. (Continued)

Questions:

1. How much of the earth will remain after it and all the works in it are burned up?

2. According to John 14.1-4, Jesus was going away. Where did He go?

3. David foresaw his descendant sitting on his throne. Who was that descendant? Did God fulfill that promise? If yes, where and how (see Acts 2.30-36)?

4. What does the fact that Jesus reigns from heaven have to do with the nature of His kingdom?

Focus Text: Jude 1.25

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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