Is Jesus Presently Seated on David’s Throne?

The purpose of this blog is to evaluate whether or not Jesus is presently reigning from the Davidic throne. As a Dispensationalist (Revisionist/Progressive) I take the approach that Jesus is not presently residing on the Davidic throne, but that he is presently residing at the Father’s Right Hand (which is not to be confused with Davidic throne).

What is the Davidic Covenant?

The first thing we need to do is to define covenant. A covenant is:

Paul R. Williamson: “a solemn commitment, guaranteeing promises or obligations agreed by one or both parties, sealed with an oath.”¹

The Davidic covenant is a solemn commitment made by God to David, that guarantees the outcome of the promises made by God, sealed with an oath. There are no stipulations (obligations) that would come with this covenantal promise, thus the covenantal promises made to David were unconditional. The first mention of the Davidic Covenant comes in 2 Samuel 7:8-17 by means of Nathan the prophet. Let’s look at the passages:

2 Samuel 7:8-17 NASB
“Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10 I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the [b]wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 12 When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your [c]descendant after you, who will come forth from [d]you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [e]Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

What are the promises of the Davidic Covenant?

1. God reaffirms the land promises that he made with Israel (which are emphatically tied back to the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants).

2 Samuel 7:10 NASB
I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the [b]wicked afflict them any more as formerly,

2. God then promises that David’s Son (Solomon) will succeed him as King of Israel and that Solomon (not David) would be in charge of building the temple.

2 Samuel 7:12-13 NASB
When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. [13]4 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

3. God then shifts focus from Solomon’s temporary reign on the throne to a throne and kingdom that would last forever (v.13). There is clearly one that would come that would permanently rule the throne of David that was an offspring of David. We understand this offspring of David to be Jesus.

Luke 1:32 NASB
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

Summary:

1. God promises land
2. God promises a house and a throne
3. God promises that one will rule from that throne forever

Is David’s Throne in Heaven or on Earth?

At this point we need to be quite clear. There are some that believe that this earthly throne, which was promised to the descendants of David, is situated in heaven where Jesus is presently ruling from. This is patently false, in light of the biblical data. The throne of David was always ruled in Israel, over Israel and Judah. There is no exception to this. The function of the throne was that one would reign from it and the location was on earth, more specifically Israel.

2 Samuel 3:10 NASB
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, bfrom Dan even to Beersheba.”

2 Samuel 5:2-5 NASB
Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.'” [3] So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron,and King David made a covenant with them before the LORD at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel. [4] David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. [5] At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah

1 Kings 9:5 NASB
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, [2] ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

Jeremiah 13:13 NASB
then say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land-the kings that sit for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem-with drunkenness!

Jeremiah 17:25 NASB
then there will come in through the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.

The throne of David is clearly fixed to a geographical location and never is it said to be situated in heaven. Nowhere does the bible move the throne from earth to heaven. The expectation is that the Messiah will likewise rule and reign from this same throne from in Jerusalem.

Michael J. Vlach: “On multiple occasions, the throne of David is linked geographically with Jerusalem and Israel. Second Samuel 3:10 speaks of “the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.” With 1 Kings 9:5 God told Solomon, “then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’” Jeremiah 17:25 links the throne of David with “Judah” and “Jerusalem.” On nine occasions David’s throne is called the “throne of Israel” (1 Kings 2:4; 8:20, 25; 9:5; 10:9; 2 Kings 10:30; 15:12; 2 Chron 6:10, 16), emphasizing that this throne is earthly in location.”²

Did David’s Throne Have a Beginning?

The throne clearly had a beginning. This isn’t the throne of God the Father which has always been and will be forevermore. The throne of David had a clear beginning (as stipulated in the Covenantal blessings and promises).

2 Samuel 3:10 NASB
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

If Jesus is not presently ruling from David’s throne then where is it?

This is a question that often comes up. One needs to look at what happened during the kingly reign to see what happened to the throne of David.

Jeremiah 22:30 NASB
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Write this man down childless, A man who will not prosper in his days; For no man of his descendants will prosper Sitting on the throne of David Or ruling again in Judah.’”

I like what Thomas Constable says on the passage:

Thomas Constable: “The Lord promised that none of Coniah’s sons would sit on Judah”s throne. It was a shame and a disgrace for a king to have no son to succeed him. Coniah had seven sons ( 1 Chronicles 3:17-18; Matthew 1:12), but none of them ruled as Davidic kings. Zerubbabel, his grandson ( 1 Chronicles 3:19), returned to the land as one of the foremost leaders of the restoration community (cf. Ezra 1-6), but he was not a king.”³

It is clear that the Lord promised that none of Coniah’s sons would ever sit on Judah’s throne (David’s throne). It is clear that no one after Coniah’s sons sat on the throne of David. Ezekiel provides further insight:

Ezekiel 21:27 NASB
A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’

Ezekiel very clearly tells us that the throne was to become a ruin and that no more would rule from it, until it is given to “Him”. I wonder who the “Him” is? It is the rightful heir to the throne, Jesus Christ.

When will Jesus rule from this throne?

The immediate question that arises is: “When will Jesus rule from this throne”? The bible is very clear that Jesus will rule from this throne at his second coming:

Matthew 25:31 NASB
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

The adverb (τότε) clearly tells us that it isn’t until his coming that he will sit on His glorious throne.

If Jesus is not presently sitting on His throne, what is the Right-Hand of God?

This is the climax of all the questions and is often where most confusion arises. It appears that most Covenant Theologians believe that Jesus is presently ruling and reigning from David’s Throne (in heaven). As it was demonstrated, we know the throne has and always will be an earthly throne that the Messiah will rule from. There is also clearly no transference to the throne in heaven. So, the question must be asked. Is there any scriptural evidence that distinguishes between David’s Throne (i.e. Jesus’ Throne), and the Father’s Throne (i.e. the Location of the Right-Hand)? The answer might surprise you, but it is, yes!

Revelation 3:21 NASB
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

There you have it, plain as day. Jesus says in Rev. 3:21 that there are two thrones. Let’s break this down:

1st Throne – I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne
2nd Throne – as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne

Let’s further break this down:

Jesus’ Throne – “sit down with ME on MY throne”
Father’s Throne – “sat down with MY Father on HIS throne”

Clearly, then we can understand that there is a distinction between the thrones. Jesus is saying that the ones that overcome will sit down with him on his throne. We saw early that Jesus doesn’t sit on his throne right now, but at the time of his second coming. Jesus is also saying that he is presently sitting down with his Father on the Father’s Throne.

Gerhard von Rad: “…sits as viceroy side by side with Jahweh himself: he does not sit upon his own throne, but upon that of Jahweh [cf. 1 Chron. 28:5; 29:23; 2 Chron. 9:8; cf. also Jer. 3:17].”⁴

What role is Jesus then fulfilling at the Right-Hand of God?

We understand the “right-hand of God” as a place of Messianic Authority. The right-hand of God confirms that Jesus is in the place of equal standing with the Father: “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:21).

Jesus makes the declaration to the high-priest that they will see him seated at the right-hand, and the high-priest tears his clothes knowing that Jesus made himself out to be God (as his equal).

Mark 14:61-64 NASB
But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” [62] And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” [63] Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? [64] You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

When Jesus declared that he was the one to fulfill Daniel 7 it was obvious to the high-priest that Jesus was declaring that he was equal with God. To the high priest this was blasphemy and it was deserving of death. This was the same reason the Jews picked up stones to stone him in John 10.

John 10:31-33 NASB
The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. [32] Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” [33] The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”

The other question that we can ask; “Is Jesus fulfilling the role of King”? Oftentimes people confuse Christ’s Mediatorial Kingdom with the Universal Kingdom. Let’s define both:

Universal Kingdom

Alva J. McClain: “This universal kingdom is something which has always existed. Thus we read that Jehovah is “King forever and ever” (Ps 10:16). Again, describing the progress of a storm sweeping in from the sea across the land, breaking down the cedars of Lebanon, the Psalmist declares that God is in this violence of nature sitting as “King forever” (Ps 29:10). As a precious comfort in the midst of desolations brought by judgment, the Old Testament saint could say, “God is my King of old” (Ps 74:12). And the prophet Jeremiah bears a like testimony to the everlasting character of the divine rule, affirming that “The Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king” (Jer 10:10). And in the midst of his lamentations the same prophet finds a kingdom of God grounded in the eternal nature of God himself, saying, “Thou, O Lord, remainest forever; thy throne from generation to generation” (Lam 5:19).”⁵

Mediatorial Kingdom

Alva J. McClain: “The mediatorial kingdom may be defined tentatively as the rule of God through a divinely chosen representative who not only speaks and acts for God but also represents the people before God; a rule which has especial reference to the human race (although it finally embraces the universe); and its mediatorial ruler is always a member of the human race.”⁶

These two terms are helpful in understanding the extent of the Kingdom program. Jesus has and always will be King, but that does not mean that he is currently fulfilling the office of King. Hebrews 10:11-13 says that Jesus is waiting (at this present time) for his enemies to be placed under his feet, which means he must be fulfilling another office.

Hebrews 10:11-13 NASB
Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; [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.

What does all this mean? Jesus is presently waiting for the time when he can enact the mediatorial kingdom here on earth. He is waiting for the Father to give him the go-ahead. The establishment of the Kingdom on earth is a fact of the Old Testament. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom on earth at his first coming, but the mediatorial kingdom will be consummated when the King reigns from the throne. This is the time that is fixed by the Father.

Acts 1:6-7 NASB
So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” [7] He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

Acts 3:21 NASB
whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

Jesus is presently fulfilling the office of high-priest as he mediates on behalf of the saints, and will begin his kingly duties when he comes back to reign on the earth for 1,000 years.

Conclusion

1. There is absolutely no indication that Jesus is presently reigning from David’s Throne, at this present time.
2. There is no indication that Jesus is sitting on his own throne as we saw in Revelation 3:21 and that this awaits a future period when the Lord comes back (Matthew 25:31)
3. Jesus is clearly portrayed as sitting on the Father’s Throne, at his right-hand.
4. The Father’s Throne is not to be conflated and confused with the Davidic Throne.

We have conclusively demonstrated that Jesus is seated on the Father’s Throne and we await his return to sit down on his own throne.

H. Wayne House and Thomas Ice: “Some believe the present reign of Christ in His Father’s throne is the fulfillment of Jesus to sit on David’s throne. Sitting on the Father’s throne in heaven in no way fulfills the literal reign predicted in the Old Testament nor is it in agreement with Jesus’ own words. In Matt. 25:31-32, Jesus indicates that this reign on David’s throne to rule the nations occurs only in His second coming: “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him.”⁷

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References

1. Paul R. Williamson, Sealed with an Oath: A Biblical Theology of Covenant (Downers Grove, Il, Intervarsity Press, 2007), 43.
2. Michael J. Vlach, Is Jesus Currently on David’s Throne?: Peter’s Use of Psalm 132:11 in Acts 2:30.
3. Thomas Constable, Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable, Commentary on Jeremiah 22:30.
4. Gerhard von Rad, Old Testament Theology, vol.1 (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1962), 3.
5. Alva J. McClain on The Greatness of the Kingdom – Part 1: The Universal and Mediatorial Kingdoms of God. Website: https://lifecoach4god.life/2013/07/09/alva-j-mcclain-on-the-greatness-of-the-kingdom-part-1/
6. Ibid.
7. H. Wayne House and Thomas Ice, Dominion Theology: Blessing or Curse? (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1988), 26.