Heavenly Throne-

                    

                      The King of Heaven

“Because God created peoples, places and things, and because sin has corrupted peoples, places and things, God intends to redeem peoples, places and things.”
                      Tullian Tchividjian

    In Heavenly Citizenship, we thought about who the inhabitants of Heaven will actually be; we saw that Heaven is God’s own property which he is preparing for his people. Most importantly, we saw that all the people of Heaven have been bought there by and through the Lord Jesus Christ (there is no back entrance, hidden passageway or parachute drop into Heaven),
   But can we learn more about our Heavenly ruler? In fact, do we even know what type of government we can expect? Many people regard anarchy as the most natural and gratifying form of leadership- is that the way to go? Or can we expect elections in Heaven? Who will be the candidates? Will they be paid expenses?!
   Well, of course we all know that no form of human government can really suffice for Heaven! Neither anarchy nor democracy holds the key. 
   In the Bible we can see, prophetically, what Heaven’s governance is like:

The Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.

   Countless other biblical references refer to Jesus as being our Heavenly Monarch.
   Here in the United Kingdom, we tend to view our Royal Family with a sense of wariness- what will they do or say to embarrass us next?! However, as I understand it, in the USA-  a former colony of Britain which revolted against the rule of a dictatorial and mad King- a fresh surge of appreciation for the British Royals has begun! This, of course, is mainly thanks to the marriage of our favourite prince to the glamorous Kate Middleton (who’s humble background is a big inspiration to common people everywhere!)
    The Kingship of Christ, however, is extremely different to the British Royals. Firstly, while the Windsor family’s claim to rule could be subjected to scrutiny (especially if they started to demand the use of their powers), the Kingly claim of the Lord Jesus is faultless. He created us in his image, he won us in  battle, he bought us at the cost of his own blood and he has conquered our hearts. His claim is fourfold. Not only this, but the Duchies, the Earldoms, the counties and the towns of his Kingdom were all designed and built by his very own hand, for his own pleasure and are brilliant in every way. As for his laws and decrees, the Psalmist tells us of them:

    The law of the LORD is perfect,
        reviving the soul;
    the testimony of the LORD is sure,
        making wise the simple;
    the precepts of the LORD are right,
        rejoicing the heart;
    the commandment of the LORD is pure,
        enlightening the eyes…(Psalm 19:7-8 ESV)

    Obviously this King must be mighty and glorious; however, when we turn to the book of Revelation, the images of Jesus reigning in Heaven are, frankly, strange.
    Picture the scene: John is standing in Heaven (in his divine vision- described to us in Revelation). He has in front of him a scroll- sealed and secure. The cry goes forth “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But “no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” But then John is told of one- a conqueror- who is worthy to open the scroll. He is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David”, this man is pictured as a lion, Messianic son of the warrior King. Then John sees the person…

  And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…
(Revelation 5:6 ESV)

   Our Saviour is pictured as a Lion, a Warrior King and…. a slain lamb. That is quite a contradiction in our terms. The powerful Lord of all creation became as a slain lamb.
    I have heard it said that “the only man-made thing in Heaven will be the nail prints in the hands and feet of Jesus.” It is true. In Heaven we will look on our King- the Lion, the Rock, the Fortress- and will be reminded that he died on a cross, crucified by his own subjects, because he loved us so very, very much.
  One writer, who’s work I particularly enjoy, puts it like this:

“Since the dawn of time, there has never been a moment when the Lord hasn’t reigned over all he has made. But God’s reign was demonstrated in new and dramatic ways when Jesus bought it from heaven to earth in a paradigm-shattering manner.” 

     Although we live in enemy-occupied land, we can be sure that our King has already won the ultimate victory. Peter tells us that Jesus is patient and is waiting to reclaim his Kingdom. Why does he wait? Because “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 
   In the final instalment of the ‘Heavenly…’ series I want to try and learn what it means to be a Citizen of Heaven here and now, to discover what Jesus’ Kingship is like in our lives and churches today. But, without wanting to steal my own thunder, can I leave you with the thought that, until Jesus returns, we must not be living with what has been described as ‘eternal amnesia’. Instead we should live each day eager and excited for Jesus’ return, acting under his loving grace and wise government, sharing his desire to welcome new citizens into Heaven!

• Heavenly Citizenship-     The inhabitants of Heaven