Progressive Dispensationalism In Depth

Is Jesus Seated on the Throne of David?

Copyright © Tim Warner

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One key unresolved question within progressive

dispensationalism is the interpretation of the Davidic
Covenant. Some progressive dispensationalists believe the
Davidic Covenant is partially fulfilled by Christ's being
seated in heaven at the right hand of the Father. Other
progressives hold that Christ's being seated on David's
throne is exclusively reserved for the Millennium, (as do
traditional dispensationalists). The urgency of resolving this
issue should not be underestimated. The issue itself is not
central to the overall PD theological system. There is room
for disagreement on this point within the PD camp without
doing damage to the whole system. However, the partial
fulfillment concept held by Blaising and Bock has become
the "whipping boy" for traditional dispensationalists who
seek to paint progressive dispensationalism as unorthodox,
and leaning toward a-millennialism. Progressive
dispensationalism is solidly pre-millennial. But the
perceived similarity of a partially fulfilled Davidic
Covenant to the a-mill view (which sees the Davidic
Covenant as completely fulfilled with Christ's present
reign from heaven) lends itself to emotional charges that
are really rooted in fear. Yes, those attacking progressive
dispensationalism are afraid that support for the pre-trib
rapture is being seriously erroded by progressive
dispensationalism. This fear may be well founded! But, the
reactionary smear campaign, painting progressives as
leaning toward a-millennialism, is absolutely false.
Progressive dispensationalism is totally incompatible with a-
millennialism. Progressives are firmly devoted to a
historical-grammatical (literal) method of interpretation
that makes the a-mill view completely unacceptable.

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The purpose of this article is to show that Jesus is not yet
seated on the Davidic throne. This is reserved for the
Millennium.

Isa 9:6-7

6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and

the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name
will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the increase of His
government and peace there will be no end, upon the
throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and
establish it with judgment and justice from that time
forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.(NKJ)

Luke 1:31-33

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring

forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.32 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:33 And he shall reign over the house of
Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no
end.(KJV)

The covenant God made with King David, that from David's
seed a righteous King would sit on the Throne of Israel and
reign over Israel forever, was specifically applied to Jesus
by Gabriel. The question is, When? In Peter's first sermon
in Acts 2, he interpreted the Davidic Covenant in such a
way that leads some to conclude it is fulfilled now, by
Christ's being seated in heaven at the Father's right hand.

However, that is not exactly what Peter said. When we

examine this passage in its historical setting, something
entirely different appears. Peter's goal in this sermon was
NOT to show that that Old Testament prophecies of
Messiah's reigning on David's throne were presently
fulfilled. Such an idea would flow counter to the Millennial
hopes of the Jews to whom he was preaching, and would
invoke an immediate negative reaction. They did not even

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believe at this point that Jesus was any more than an
executed criminal. To now imply that He was already
reigning in some mystical way in heaven, while the Jews
fully expected an earthly reign, would certainly be greeted
with scorn.

Rather, Peter intended to establish Jesus' identity as "the

Christ" (Messiah - King of Israel) prophesied in the Old
Testament who WILL physically reign over Israel as "King
of the Jews." He was preaching to a crowd of Jews from the
Diaspora who had come to Jerusalem to worship on the
feast days. Most of them were not residents of Jerusalem or
Israel. They had traveled to Jerusalem from foreign lands
where they lived to attend Passover seven weeks earlier,
and had either stayed until Pentecost, or had returned.
They had heard about all the commotion surrounding the
arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Some of them may
even have joined in with the crowds who cried "away with
Him, give us Barabas." Yet, they were not privy to His three
years of teachings or witnesses of His miracles, although
they no doubt heard the rumors of miraculous healings.
They had also apparently heard the rumors of His
resurrection, which the Temple leadership were trying to
squelch.

Peter began his sermon by appealing to Joel 2, the

prophecy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel. He
claimed that the miracle of speaking in foreign tongues
they had just witnessed was the fulfillment of this prophecy.
This no doubt got their attention immediately, because it
showed that long awaited prophecy was being fulfilled -
God was visiting His ancient people. Next, Peter connected
the fulfillmet of this prophecy with the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thereby, showing that Jesus
was indeed the promised Messiah, whom the Jews expected
would accompany the fulfillment of Joel.

Acts 2:22-24

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you by miracles and

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wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of
you, as ye yourselves also know:23 Him, being delivered
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye
have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains
of death: because it was not possible that he should be
holden of it.(KJV)

Peter then launched into a series of Davidic kingly

prophecies from the Psalms to prove that Jesus was the
subject of their fulfillment, not David himself.

Acts 2:25-36

25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord

always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I
should not be moved:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice,
and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest
in hope:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.28
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt
make me full of joy with thy countenance.29 Men and
brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch
David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is
with us unto this day.30 Therefore being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of
the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise
up Christ to sit on his throne;31 He seeing this before
spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not
left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.32 This
Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and
having received of the Father the promise of the Holy
Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and
hear.34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he
saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my
right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that
God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ.(KJV)

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Notice Peter did NOT say that Jesus presently occupied the
throne of David. "knowing that God had sworn with an oath
to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh,
he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne." He showed
that David was not speaking of himself, but someone from
"the fruit of his loins." Then he applied this principle to
another Psalm, "He seeing this before spake of the
resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell,
neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God
raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." In other words,
the prophecy of his soul not being left in hell, or seeing
corruption was not referring to David, but to the one
prophesied who would sit on David's throne. Peter then said
Jesus was presently seated at the right hand of God after
being raised from the dead. He quoted another Psalm to
prove that such was prophesied of Messiah PRIOR to His
reigning on David's throne. "For David is not ascended into
the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my
Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy
footstool." Notice that being seated on the right hand of the
Father is for the purpose of WAITING until His enemies
are made his footstool. In short, Peter was saying that
Jesus is presently fulfilling prophecy while awaiting His
position of King of Israel on David's throne. That this is
what Peter meant, is clear from his second sermon.

Acts 3:19-21

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins

may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord;20 And he shall send
Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:21
Whom the heaven must receive UNTIL the times of
restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by
the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world
began.(KJV)

Clearly, Peter was placing Christ's present place beside the

Father as a period of WAITING for the time when the
prophecies of the earthly Kingdom will be fulfilled. Other
passages support this "waiting period" concept.

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Heb 10:12-13

12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time,
sat down at the right hand of God,13 waiting from that
time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His
feet.(NASB)

Old and New Testament passages clearly connect the

assumption of the Throne of David with the full restoration
of Israel to their land.

Jer 23:5-8

5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise
unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and
prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the
earth.6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel
shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall
be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that
they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up
the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led
the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country,
and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they
shall dwell in their own land.(KJV)

Matt 19:28

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That
ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when
the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye
also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes
of Israel. (KJV)

Matt 25:31

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and

all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon
the throne of his glory:(KJV)

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The word "Christ" (Heb. - Messiah) means "anointed one,"
and is used elsewhere to describe the ones "anointed" as
Kings of Israel. Yet, being the "anointed one" does NOT
necessarily guarantee assuming the position and duties of
KING immediately. David was "anointed" king of Israel by
Samuel. Yet, there was a long time of Saul's pursuing
David, and David's having to WAIT until his throne was
established, by the removal of Saul! I believe the situation
is the same with Jesus. He was "anointed" Messiah and
King at His first coming, yet He must WAIT until His
enemies are made His footstool before assuming His role as
"King of Israel." This waiting is accomplished at the Father's
right hand. There is one thing that keeps Jesus from fully
exercising His place as King of Israel, and that is Israel's
repentance and national salvation.

On Palm Sunday, many of the Jews were willing to accept

Jesus as their King. But, the nation as a whole rejected Him
as King of Israel. The last days of Jesus life speak a great
deal to the question of His being the King of Israel
promised to sit on David's throne.

Matt 21:99 And the multitudes that went before, and that
followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David:
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest.(KJV)

Matt 21:15

15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the

wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the
temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they
were sore displeased,(KJV)

Matt 22:41-46

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus

asked them,42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son
is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.43 He saith
unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord,
saying,44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my
right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?45 If

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David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither
durst any man from that day forth ask him any more
questions.(KJV)

Jesus then gave his scathing denouncement of the

leadership of Israel. He followed this with this lament.

Matt 23:36-39

36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon
this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto
thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her
wings, and ye would not!38 Behold, your house is left unto
you desolate.39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me
henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord.(KJV)

Jesus implied that His taking His seat as King of Israel as

the "Son of David" was being postponed UNTIL Israel
repents nationally. Paul says this will occur when the
"fullness of the gentiles" come in [Rom. 11]. This in no way
diminishes His being the King! It is just that Israel will NOT
benefit from His being their King UNTIL they repent. Once
national repentance takes place, Jesus will take His seat on
the "glorious throne" [Matt. 19:28, Matt. 25:31].

Jesus is King, and His kingdom is present in the remnant of

believers. But, the Davidic covenant specifically speaks of a
political throne of Messiah. Jesus is the rightful king, just as
David was the rightful King after Samuel anointed him.
However, he had to await Saul's removal. Likewise, Jesus is
now WAITING in heaven for His enemies to be made His
footstool. Let's look at John's account of Jesus' trial before
Pilate.

John 18:36-37

36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My

kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so

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that I should not be delivered to the Jews; bu tNOW My
kingdom is not from here."37 Pilate therefore said to Him,
"Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly
that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this
cause I have come into the world, that I should bear
witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My
voice."(NKJV)

The word 'now' implies that Jesus' kingdom at present is

not "of this world," but will be in the future. This is clearly
what the disciples expected when they asked Jesus about
when He might "restore the Kingdom to Israel."

Acts 1:6-8

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked

Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the
kingdom to Israel?"7 And He said to them, "It is not for you
to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His
own authority.8 "But you shall receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses
to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the end of the earth." (NKJV)

The implication here is that the restoration of Israel's

throne will be AFTER the gospel is taken to the nations.

Jesus is now seated with His Father in HIS throne. He is

NOT seated on HIS throne. Upon His coming He will sit on
HIS OWN throne, the place of King of Israel under the
Davidic Covenant.

Rev 3:21

21 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.(KJV)

There is clearly a distinction made here between the

present 'throne' Jesus occupies and the future 'throne.' One
is said to be His Father's throne, and the other is said to be
Jesus' throne.

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It is clear then that Jesus' present place at the Father's side
is a place of WAITING. And according to Revelation 3:21,
Jesus does NOT consider being seated at the Father's side
as occupying "HIS THRONE." Likewise, several passages
say that He will sit on HIS own throne at His second
coming, [Matt. 19:28 & Matt. 25:31].

The term "throne of David" is a synonym for "King of

Israel." Other kings of Israel were said to be seated on
"David's throne," [I Kings 2:12,24, Jer. 22:2,4, Jer. 36:30].

Based on this, it seems that being "seated on David's

throne" strongly implies ruling over Israel in a political
sense. In fact, this is exactly what Gabriel promised to Mary
- "he will rule over the house of Israel forever, and of His
kingdom there shall be no end."

Until Jesus returns, and actually takes his place as "King of

Israel," He cannot be considered seated on David's throne
in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. Granted, it is well
established in Scripture that Jesus is that King. And even
that He presently rules in the hearts of the faithful
remnant. But, His kingdom now is limited to the hearts of
the redeemed. As yet it is not a political Kingdom, ruling
the earth with Israel as head of the nations.

Rev 12:5

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up
unto God, and to his throne.(KJV)

There is clearly a distinction made here between Jesus'

place in heaven now, and His future place as ruling the
nations with a rod of iron. His ruling in this manner begins
when He returns as "King of kings and Lord of lords."

Rev 19:11-16

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse;

and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness he doth judge and make war.12 His eyes

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were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many
crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but
he himself.13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in
blood: and his name is called The Word of God.14 And the
armies which were in heaven followed him upon white
horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.15 And out of
his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite
the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:
and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath
of Almighty God.16 And he hath on his vesture and on his
thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS.
(KJV)

……………….

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