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" When He shall have delivered up the kingdom "
(1 Cor. 15: 24-28)
Let us look a little closely into the wording of this passage, endeavouring by the grace
of God to keep out our own thoughts, and to just implicitly follow the leading of the
inspired Word. Many questions present themselves for consideration. What is "the end"
here spoken of? Is there any scriptural teaching to tell us "when" the Lord Jesus will give
up the kingdom? What kingdom is here in view? What is meant by "all rule, and all
authority and power"? What is meant by the destruction of death as a last enemy? What
is meant by the Son Himself being subject? What is involved by the words, "that God
may be all in all"?
Regarding the kingdom of the Lord, we must keep one or two passages of Scripture
before us, so that our conclusions may be of such a character that they will allow room
for all Scripture. In Luke 1: 31-33 we read:--
"Thou. . . . shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the son
of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David.
And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever (eis tous aiġnas, `unto the ages'), and
of His kingdom there shall be no end."
We must beware of going beyond what is written. The reign over the house of Jacob
is "unto the ages," but not necessarily (unless revealed elsewhere) throughout the ages.
The words employed convey no more than that this reign leads unto "the ages." What
these ages are must be discovered from other Scriptures. While it does not say that the
reign over the house of Jacob is for ever, it does say of that kingdom that there shall be no
end. Consequently we must always allow room in our conception of the final state (even
the new heavens and the new earth) for this kingdom connected with the throne of David.
Other spheres will necessarily be involved that do not come within the scope of the
Davidic rule, yet not to the exclusion of David's kingdom. This simple statement, duly
acknowledged, will preserve us from hasty conclusions relative to the last chapter of
Revelation and parallel passages.
Heb. 1: 8 is another passage of note in this connection:--
"But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is unto the age of the age" (eis ton aiġna tou aiġnas).
We have here a different title, a different throne, and a different period. Not "Jesus,"
nor "the son of the Highest," but "God"; not the "throne of David," but simply "Thy
throne"; not "unto the ages," but "unto the age of the age." The passage is a quotation
from Psa. 45: The context is a safer guide than any theories which we may have. We
are asked the questions, "Is this referring to the new heavens and the new earth?" "Is the
sceptre of this Psalm and of Hebrew 1: different from the rod of iron of Psalm 2: and
Revelation?" Psa. 45: is written "touching the king" by the sons of Korah. Unless told
to the contrary it seems only natural that the Davidic kingdom would be very prominent.
The words:--