Scripture Reading: Isa. 16:5; 24:23; Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:32; Col. 1:13
Ⅰ
The all-inclusive Christ is the King reigning in the tent of David—Isa. 16:5; 24:23:
A
Christ will reign as the King in the tent of David in the coming age during the restoration of the nation of Israel:
１
In the Old Testament, when the tent of David was set up and David's kingdom was fully established, that was a great consolation and joy to the Israelites—1 Chron. 11:1-3; 12:38-40; 2 Sam. 8:15.
２
In the coming age, when Christ reigns in the tent of David, that will be a greater consolation to Israel—Acts 15:16-18.
３
When Christ reigns in the tent of David in the age of restoration, it will be Jehovah of hosts reigning because Christ is Jehovah of hosts—Isa. 24:23.
B
In the age of grace, the new testament age, we can enjoy Christ as the reigning One in the tent of David:
１
According to Hebrews 6:5, the age of grace is a miniature of the coming age, and the coming age is the consummation of the age of grace.
２
In the miniature of the coming age of the kingdom, we are enjoying a foretaste of the coming kingdom in the age of restoration.
３
As ones who are saved by grace, we are enjoying Christ as the miniature of the coming age.
C
The Gospels reveal that Christ is intimately related to David—Matt. 1:1; 12:1-4; Luke 1:32.
D
As our King, Christ reigns not only in our hearts but also in the tent of David:
１
Christ reigning in the tent of David signifies consolation, encouragement, and restoration—cf. 2 Cor. 1:3-5.
２
Isaiah 16:5 reveals that with Christ there is lovingkindness, truthfulness, faithfulness, justice, and righteousness:
ａ
Christ's throne will be established in lovingkindness, that is, in tender affection.
ｂ
Christ sits upon His throne in truthfulness and faithfulness.
ｃ
As the One sitting upon the throne, Christ, the real David, pursues justice and hastens righteousness.
ｄ
If we are under Christ's reigning, His ruling, we will be the same as He is in these virtues.
E
For Christ to reign in the tent of David means that He reigns in us with a kingdom—Luke 17:20-21.
Ⅱ
The Father has "delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love"—Col. 1:13:
A
God has delivered us out of Satan's authority of darkness into God's marvelous light—1 Pet. 2:9:
１
The authority of darkness denotes the authority of Satan—Matt. 12:26.
２
Darkness is Satan as death; light is God as life—1 John 1:5-6.
３
To be delivered out of the authority of darkness is to be delivered from the devil, who has the might of death—Heb. 2:14; John 17:15.
４
We have been delivered from the devil, Satan, by the death of Christ and by the life of Christ in resurrection—Col. 2:14-15; John 5:24.
B
God has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love—Col. 1:13:
１
The kingdom of the Son is the authority of Christ—Rev. 11:15; 12:10.
２
The Son of God is the embodiment and expression of the divine life; therefore, the kingdom of the Son is a realm of life—1 John 5:11-12:
ａ
To be transferred into the kingdom of the Son of the Father's love is to be transferred into the Son, who is life to us—Col. 3:4.
ｂ
The Son in resurrection is now the life-giving Spirit, and He rules us in His resurrection life with His love—1 Pet. 1:3; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 15:45b.
ｃ
When we live by the Son as our life in resurrection, we are living in His kingdom, enjoying Him in the Father's love—John 6:57.
３
The fact that we have been transferred into the kingdom of the Son of God's love indicates that this realm of life is in love, not in fear—Col. 1:13:
ａ
The kingdom in which we find ourselves today is a realm full of life, light, and love—1 John 1:1-2, 5, 7; 4:8, 16.
ｂ
The Son as the object of the divine love becomes to us the embodiment of the divine life in the divine love with the authority of resurrection; this is the kingdom of the Son of God's love.
ｃ
The Father has transferred us into a realm where we are ruled in love with life:
⑴
Here, under the heavenly ruling and restriction, we have genuine freedom in love, with life, and under light—Matt. 7:13-14.
⑵
Here in this kingdom we enjoy Christ and have the church life—Col. 1:12; 4:15-16.
C
In the kingdom of the Son of God's love, the will of God is carried out—Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:9; 4:12:
１
The Father's eternal will is to build up the church upon Christ the Son as the rock— Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 4:16.
２
The will of God is to obtain a Body for Christ to be His fullness, His expression— Rom. 12:2, 5; Eph. 1:5, 9, 11, 22-23.
３
The kingdom is absolutely a matter of God's will and completely fulfills His will; in fact, the kingdom is God's will—Matt. 6:10.