The resurrection was Christ's enthronement

[EarlyActs]

It appears I have tried to declare this theme before with "All theology must stop in here". But I have a proposition which I have a hard time classifying in any of the categories. It could be in eschatology, but that is so often treated as OUR future, instead of as the thinking of the 1st readers of the NT and their future.

It could be in Messianics, but people tend to think that is for Jewish Christians to deal with.

It could be in Dispensationalism, that is, if the reader is aware of objections to that system.

IIt could be in apologetics, because it deals with what exactly was being said in early Acts, and how it was defended, and what it was rejected. But people seem to be quite busy with their own questions about defending the faith, and 'the faith' usually means their system, and so there are all the categories here about reformed and freewill and catholic. The apostles doctrine was spoken to Judaism, so it's shape was meant to answer things Judaism said.

It could be in Amillenialism, but that term actually means a-(against)-Dispensational-millenialism and thus the title is a bit unfair from the start. There might be another definition of the millenium than that which the D'ists have and "Amillenialism" does not then deal with that other definition and is not a productive study.

My proposition is that the resurrection is the enthronement of Jesus Christ. This is meant in the sense of Acts 2-4, Rom 1, Eph 1, Phil 2, and Heb 1.

The grammar of Acts 2:30 is that David foresaw the resurrection. He did not foresee a reign of the Christ apart from the resurrection. There was no mysterious form introduced even though it is not 'the news' yet as it will be in the NHNE. At one point, the Christians were accused of referring to a king other than Caesar. We simply need to unpack what nuance was intended here.

What he meant was that the reign of Christ was imperative; that which every person should obey. This is from Ps 2 and 110, the most often quoted psalms as the apostles got started, because they were taught completely during the 40 days. The Son is to be honored for what he has accomplished, and failure to do so is a huge risk; "lest He be angry and smash you."

It is treated this way in Acts 2-4; v30, of course; then, 'God has made Jesus Lord and Christ'.
In ch 3, Christ is the guest of heaven's reception until God will deal with His enemies. He gets to sit and his enemies will be made a footrest for Him. In ch 4, Ps 2 is actually prayed as the reality of the opposition to it sinks in to the apostles; why do (our current rulers) rage against Christ? They realize this has been allowed, yet still pray that it will cease. At the end of the superlative letter to Hebrews, we are mere thoughts away from the entire heavenly host and mountain and kingdom of God in Christ, and should never ignore it nor consider it distant.

The 'reception' business in ch 3 is quite striking because in 2 Cor 10, Paul used the same term to ridicule the zealots of Judaism who went around bothering his fellowship groups. He said that they were 'welcomed/made reception guests' in place of Christ, and himself, at these fellowships and this was despicable. It sounds very much to me like we should be keeping an honorary reception for Christ fresh and alive.

The resurrection was the enthronement of Christ; it was an award given to the Hero of the universe who did what was needed to repair all things. We are in the difficult phase where we must decide to bow the knee in the face of opposition and ridicule, before the end when all creation will bow the knee to Christ and God.

 

[Josheb]

The resurrection was the enthronement of Christ....

...and the fulfillment of God's promise to seat one of David's descendants. Good op.

The grammar of Acts 2:30 is that David foresaw the resurrection. He did not foresee a reign of the Christ apart from the resurrection. There was no mysterious form introduced even though it is not 'the news' yet as it will be in the NHNE. At one point, the Christians were accused of referring to a king other than Caesar. We simply need to unpack what nuance was intended here.

I am not sure how much David understood and we, therefore, should be cautious when attributing understanding to OT saints. However, given David's understanding of life after death found elsewhere in scripture it is reasonable to infer he understood something of the resurrection and its intersection with the promises of 2 Samuel 7. The fact David changed the words of God's promises when he told Solomon about them, and attempted to build the temple on his own (through Solomon), however, is an indication David's knowledge and understanding was incomplete.

2 Samuel 7:9-16
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. 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 wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 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. 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. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 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, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.

• God would build His temple.
• A son of God's would build the temple.
• A descendant of David's would build the temple.

Logic dictates either three individuals would build the temple together, or one individual possessing all three attributes. The latter would have been very difficult to fathom given the state of Judaic theology at that point in time (when the Sadducean pov was predominant). David understood God had said "When your days are complete....." but David persisted in trying to build from a work of flesh. The notion that God Himself would live in David, inside any sinful person, would have been challenging in his day. He should have known a child from an adulterous relationship would not be the one to build God's temple (so should every Jew who lived thereafter). The New Testament, of course, decided the matter. Jesus, who is God, the Son of God, and descendant of David built the temple of God, the temple NOT built by human hands. God does not dwell in houses built by human hands.

Acts 7:44-50
Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?"

See also

We are God's temple, the temple that God built.

Acts 2:29-36
"Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. "And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."' Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified."

• He spoke of the resurrection of the Christ.
• He spoke of the Christ's not being abandoned in the grave.
• He spoke of the Christ's body not seeing decay in the grave.

Prophecy fulfilled. To whatever degree David understood it, the matter was further revealed and clarified by Peter at Pentecost.




(This, btw, precludes all premillennialist eschatologies)
.

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings EarlyActs and Josheb,

My proposition is that the resurrection is the enthronement of Jesus Christ.

...and the fulfillment of God's promise to seat one of David's descendants.

The Throne of David is not in heaven. The Throne of David will be in the future when Jesus sits upon the Temple Throne of David in Jerusalem for the 1000 years.
Isaiah 2:1–4 (KJV): 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

After the resurrection Jesus was exalted to sit at the right hand of God the Father, in God the Father's Throne. Jesus is yet to return to sit upon his own throne, the throne of David.
Revelation 3:21–22 (KJV): 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. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Matthew 19:28 (KJV): 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.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[Josheb]

Greetings EarlyActs and Josheb,

The Throne of David is not in heaven.

Relevance? Neither @EarlyActs nor I claimed David's throne is in heaven so go back and re-read what we posted and re-read it as many times as it takes to understand what's posted correctly.

The Throne of David will be in the future when Jesus sits upon the Temple Throne of David in Jerusalem for the 1000 years.
Isaiah 2:1–4 (KJV): 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

After the resurrection Jesus was exalted to sit at the right hand of God the Father, in God the Father's Throne. Jesus is yet to return to sit upon his own throne, the throne of David.
Revelation 3:21–22 (KJV): 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. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Matthew 19:28 (KJV): 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.

Kind regards
Trevor

What is the specified subject of this opening post? The resurrection was Christ's enthronement. That is the topic specified for discussion of this thread. Acts 2:30 explicitly states that when God promised David a descendant of his would be raised up who would establish God's kingdom and David, being a prophet, spoke of the resurrection.

Please stick to the specified topic or I will report your posts.

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings again Josheb,

the resurrection is the enthronement of Jesus Christ

...and the fulfillment of God's promise to seat one of David's descendants.

The Throne of David is not in heaven.

Relevance? Neither @EarlyActs nor I claimed David's throne is in heaven so go back and re-read what we posted and re-read it as many times as it takes to understand what's posted correctly.

The enthronement mentioned in Acts 2 is David's Throne. The resurrection of Jesus was necessary for him to eventually receive this role.

Acts 2:29–30 (KJV): 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;

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[Josheb]

Greetings again Josheb,




The enthronement mentioned in Acts 2 is David's Throne. The resurrection of Jesus was necessary for him to eventually receive this role.

Acts 2:29–30 (KJV): 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;

Kind regards
Trevor

Put it all together and do not add to what is stated.

• God promised to seat someone on David's throne.
• That person is Jesus.
• When God made that promise He was speaking of the resurrection.

The resurrection is the throne. Modern futurism denies what is plainly, explicitly, specifically stated in the text. Modern futurism Judaizes the text and makes it about a monarchy God never wanted (see 1 Samuel 8), a kingdom lesser than the one He already has, and about a chair.

 

[TrevorL]

Greetings again Josheb,

Put it all together and do not add to what is stated.

• God promised to seat someone on David's throne.
• That person is Jesus.
• When God made that promise He was speaking of the resurrection.

The resurrection is the throne.

Peter's audience knew what was the Throne of David and where this will be located when the Messiah sits upon this Throne. In order that this could be fulfilled necessitated the resurrection of Christ, and David foresaw this resurrection when he spake of the Messiah's resurrection in the following terms:

Acts 2:22–32 (KJV): 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and 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. 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.

Kind regards
Trevor

 

[Josheb]

Greetings again Josheb,

Peter's audience knew what was the Throne of David and where this will be located when the Messiah sits upon this Throne. In order that this could be fulfilled necessitated the resurrection of Christ, and David foresaw this resurrection when he spake of the Messiah's resurrection in the following terms:

Acts 2:22–32 (KJV): 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and 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. 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.

Kind regards
Trevor

Please stop trying to avoid and/or change what is plainly stated in God's word. The text of Acts 2:30-31 explicitly states David was speaking of the resurrection of the Christ when he prophesied about God's promises (oaths).

Acts 2:30-31 ESV
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that He would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

• David was a prophet.
• David knew God had promised him He would seat one of his descendants on his throne.
• Knowing that..... David spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that he would not be abandoned or see decay in the grave.

That is what is actually, factually, explicitly stated. The interpretation you're asserting removes all correlation between God's promise and the resurrection. God promised David a descendant on the throne. Big whoop. David spoke of the resurrection. Big whoop. The two are not connected.

No, that is NOT what the original Pentecost audience would have understood.

The Jews had already previously thought Jesus was going to sit on the throne and establish a new kingdom on earth. They were all mistaken. Psalm 110 explicitly states the Lord (Jesus) will remain seated at the LORD's right hand until the LORD (not the Lord) defeats all the Lord's enemies. That verse is cited repeatedly throughout the New Testament. That is what the first century Christian was taught. That is what they understood. Modern futurism came along in the 19th century and defiled scripture by teaching Jesus was NOT going to remain seated while his Father defeated all his enemies.

The simple fact is this: Revelation NEVER explicitly states Jesus is physically on the earth until chapters 21-22. EVERYTHING that goes on the book of Revelation before then is commanded from heaven. Whether the effects of those commands i in heaven or on earth, it all comes from a heavenly enthroned Jesus, not an earthly enthroned one.

Test me on this. Set the rest of today aside and read through the book of Revelation, actively, consciously, conscientiously looking with all the prejudice you can muster and LOOK for an actual explicit statement reporting Jesus is physically on the earth prior to chapter 21. Do not look for implied inferences assumed to say a thing that is not actually stated. Look for what is plainly stated.

Then come back to this thread and report your findings.