TWO THRONES AND TWO KINGDOMS

Listen to what the Lord Jesus says: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21. Of the present position of the Saviour, read again: “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens.” “Is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 8:1; 12:2, and others.FEE 102.4

While he is on the throne of his Father in Heaven he is a priest; a priest-king, after the order of Melchisedec. But note this important point: in his priesthood he has no genealogy. See the argument in Hebrews, chapter five to seven. He is a priest after the order of Melchisedec, whose genealogy is not recorded.FEE 102.5

But the priesthood will have an end. He will leave that position on the throne of his Father. When he comes to take vengeance on his foes, he will no longer plead the power of his blood in their behalf. When the great day of his wrath is come he will no longer be an advocate. His Father called him to sit at his right hand until his enemies are put under his feet. Psalm 110:1. And so the apostle writes: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” Hebrews 10:12, 13.FEE 103.1

With these scriptures before us it is easy to correct an error into which many have fallen, namely, that one great object, if not the great object, of the reign of Christ, is to subdue his enemies, or put them under his own feet. That is a work that Christ will never do. 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, is often quoted to uphold that view, whereas it teaches the very opposite of that. It reads thus:—FEE 103.2

“Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that did put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”FEE 103.3

This scripture clearly shows that Christ possesses a kingdom which he will sometime resign. The time is located at or near his coming. Then he will have delivered up the kingdom; he will have left the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens, where he is now sitting as a kingly priest. Verse 28 says: “And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” The Son does not subdue all things unto himself; he does not put all things under his own feet. If he did, how could he become subject to him that put all things under him? The Father said: “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” And 1 Corinthians 15:27 says: “But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him.”FEE 103.4

Wrong ideas on this text are easily imbibed from overlooking the manner in which the pronouns are applied. “For he [the Son] must reign until he [the Father] hath put all things under his [the Son’s] feet.” This is not arbitrary; it is necessary. See again: “And when all things shall be subdued unto him [the Son] then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him [the Father] that did put all things under him [the Son], that God may be all in all.” Notice the several events here brought to view:—FEE 104.1

1 The coming of Christ.FEE 104.2

2. Then comes the end.FEE 104.3

3. Then he shall have delivered up the kingdom to the Father.FEE 104.4

4. He must reign until all things are put under his feet by the Father.FEE 104.5

5. When all things are put under him, he himself becomes subject to the Father,—he resigns that throne, and delivers up that kingdom.FEE 104.6

6. The Father then becomes all in all; sole occupant of that throne in the Heavens.FEE 104.7

This is the kingdom—that is the throne which he will deliver up at the end of his priestly work. Then probation will have ended; then the saints will have been sealed unto full redemption; and they that are unjust must remain unjust still. Revelation 22:11, 12. Then will the Son break his enemies with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.FEE 104.8

Then the day of the wrath of the Lamb will have come, the image will be smitten on the feet, and all the dominions of the earth be destroyed.FEE 105.1

What has here been stated concerning the throne of the Father in Heaven is well known, and will be readily admitted by all. Let us briefly examine some of the facts of Scripture concerningFEE 105.2