“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16)
The Book of Judges ends this way (21:25): “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” The very next book–Ruth–ends this way (4:22): “And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” In other words, life looked bleak for Israel when she had no king and no righteousness, but wondrously hopeful when King David arrived. Was King David perfect? No, but he foreshadowed a perfect King!
Matthew 1 catalogs “the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David...” (1:1). As impressive as the genealogy is, it shows the names but not the exploits of those in the family tree from Abraham to Jesus. Only as we follow the narrative of the New Testament do we see Christ’s great exploits (doing wonders, teaching as no one else ever has, and showing both perfect compassion and perfect authority in his interactions with people from every walk of life). While Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection are spectacular, the end of the Bible–the Book of the Revelation–gives a glimpse of the supernatural, heavenly King Jesus. Revelation 19 portrays a dazzling, almighty Jesus instead of the suffering Servant.
Israel hit rock bottom several times in the Old Testament. Her history of disobedience, idolatry, stubbornness, and childishness are on display for all to see. As we read God’s Word, we wonder if Israel will ever repent of her waywardness. It’s often true of the church in the New Testament, and, sadly, true of modern churches and individual Christians, too. What hope we see in the vision of Jesus in Revelation 19:16! He is not Jesus, meek and mild, but the majestic, reigning, conquering King. From his mouth goes “a sharp sword” with which he should “smite the nations” (19:15).
We move from no king (Judges 21) to King David (Ruth 4) to King Jesus (Matthew 1 and Revelation 19). Let Israel, let the church, let everyone from every land bow and reverence the one who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
And let it begin with me.
