Who is Jesus? The way we answer this questions identifies who or what we follow. As God’s people we are commanded to follow Jesus! John recounts in Revelation 1:5-6, 12-13a, 16a, 20,

“and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen… Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the lamp stands one like a son of man… In his right hand he held seven stars… ‘As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands, the seven starts are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.'”

JESUS IS GIVEN GLORY AND DOMINION FOREVER AND EVER

Jesus is in the midst of his church always. He lovingly pursues and protects his people. He knows their pain. He knows their need. His glory and dominion are forever! The churches addressed in Revelation needed such a reminder. Our churches today need the same type of encouragement. The King controls his kingdom. We are his kingdom. Daniel 7:13-14a opens,

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;”

HIS KINGDOM IS UNIVERSAL

Christ’s universal kingdom should not be confused with universalism. The only way into the kingdom is Jesus (John 14:6), but his kingdom is universal in that it was never meant to be limited to a specific geographical region or a subset of people. Paul reminded the early church, “For he himself [Jesus Christ] is our peace, who made us both one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility… So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:14, 19). Paul encouraged the Gentiles that they shared the same spiritual heritage as the Jews. Revelation reminds us that each person regardless of color, creed, background, etc. who follows Jesus and endures to the end will have a heritage among the King and his kingdom (Rev. 21:1-7), but those who refuse to follow will spend eternity in torment apart from him (Rev. 21:8). This vivid reality is why we’re commissioned to share Jesus Christ among the nations (Matt. 24:14; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Daniel 7:14b closes,

“his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

HIS KINGDOM IS UNENDING

The finite can hardly grasp the infinite. Eternity is mind-blowing! In contrast to earthly rule which has a beginning and an end, God’s kingdom has none. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-16). Luke 1:30-33 reads, “And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Matthew 1:1-17 traces Christ’s genealogy from Abraham to David to his earthly father, Joseph! Jesus perfectly fulfills the promises of God to his people. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His dominion, or rule, will endure to the end and so can we (Dan. 7:14b; Heb. 13:14). This is the God we serve. This is the Savior we trust. Will you follow him today? Romans 10:9, 13 declares,

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved… For ‘everyone who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”

Restoration is here. His name is Jesus! Join the kingdom today.

#RestorationIsHere #JESUSis

• Written by: Dean Ross (12/1/20)
• This blog is part 7 of 7 based on the “Jesus Is…” series by Family Church NOLA. For more resources visit: http://www.JoinTheFamily.Church
• All scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (Crossway)