Chapter 5: God’s Unbreakable Covenant About David’s Throne

Westminster Abbey in London, England, holds the bones of the men and women who once ruled from the British throne. The abbey is a memorial to the British belief that a good king or queen can only be made through understanding the history of the throne. A walk through Westminster makes history come alive. No other nation on Earth has such a monument! No other nation has such a precious view of history.

But today, this history is written only in the memorial, not in the minds of the British people.

The key of David vision teaches us a similar belief. To be a good king or queen for God, we must understand the history of David’s throne—and its prophecy.

The world and many British themselves wonder why Britain has clung to its throne through the generations. The amazing answer to that question can only be understood by God’s people: Jesus Christ kept the British throne alive.

Many people, including God’s people, wonder why the Philadelphia Church of God is so successful. Many wonder how we are operating on such a royal level. There is only one reason: Jesus Christ is behind the pcg.

How real is this truth for God’s Philadelphians? Do we see the royal Christ behind us?

How well do we know the history and prophecy of David’s throne? We should know the details of this throne intimately. After all, God’s very elect are destined to share this throne with Jesus Christ.

An Unbreakable Promise

2 Samuel 7 shows David in Jerusalem after bringing the ark of the covenant there, a symbol of God’s presence. David lived in a beautiful palace, and he realized that something was wrong: He needed to honor God by building a house for Him and for the ark! This was an inspired thought. David truly loved God and wanted to give all he could to honor Him.

God was pleased with David’s desire, although He wouldn’t let David build that house because of his bloody history. But God responded by making a covenant with David that would change history!

God promised: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. … And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (verses 12-13, 16). God established David’s throne to endure forever!

It is that throne that Jesus Christ will inherit when He comes to rule as King of kings. Isaiah 9:6-7 prophesy that in God’s coming Kingdom, Christ will rule “upon the throne of David … for ever.” Luke 1:31-33 prophesy that “the Lord God shall give unto him [Jesus] the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

An understanding of David’s throne unlocks eternity!

This throne is a family throne. It was passed from David to his son Solomon. Of Solomon, God said, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son” (2 Samuel 7:14). In Hebrews 1:5, the Apostle Paul quoted these words as God talking to Jesus Christ! God was talking to David just as He did to Christ.

Study the subject of David’s throne carefully and you see that God is building Father-son relationships with His Spirit-begotten children today. He is building His Family. We have a Father-son relationship with Him the same as Christ Himself has. If we repent now, we have the unparalleled opportunity to share God’s throne forever! God will not have kings who are not His sons—His Family.

We must cherish this message: God is building a family.

Understand the importance of God’s Family and this royal calling. The human family is a type of the God Family. Families and marriages are God-plane relationships. The marriage institution was created to bring us into the God Family. The firstfruits—those called out before Christ returns—are called to be Christ’s Bride. This is the highest calling God has for any human being!

What could be more important than getting your marriage and your family on the God plane? It worked for Hannah, and it certainly worked for Samuel and David.

Luke 1:32 says that God will give Jesus Christ “the throne of his father David.” It also says that Christ is the Son of “the Highest,” God the Father. So Christ was a son of David and also the Son of God the Father. This is a royal family throne. God is building a family government that will rule the universe forever! The space and time are staggering: the universe and eternity!

Son of David

The expression “Son of David” is used 16 times in the four Gospels. Fifteen of these refer directly to Jesus Christ. Matthew begins his Gospel, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David ….” Luke 3:23-38 list Jesus’s physical genealogy through His mother, Mary, back to David (verse 31). Matthew’s genealogy shows that Jesus’s stepfather, Joseph, was also a descendant of David (Matthew 1:6-16). Jesus was clearly of the physical house of David—a son of David.

Many people called Jesus “Son of David” (e.g. Matthew 9:27; 15:22; Luke 18:38-39). Why? They knew the Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah who would be a descendant of David and inherit the throne of David (see also John 7:42). The people who were looking to Christ for healing or mercy were calling him “Son of David” as a Messianic title. This outraged the Jewish religious leaders (Matthew 21:15).

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record a fascinating exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding this title. Here is Matthew’s account: “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David” (Matthew 22:41-42). These men were certainly familiar with those prophecies. But Christ then quoted an Old Testament passage—written by David himself—that adds a deeper dimension to this picture.

“He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?” (verses 43-44). Here Christ quoted Psalm 110. There David wrote, “The Lord said to my Lord” (verse 1). Who was David’s physical Lord? No one. His “Lord” was God Himself—who, in the Old Testament, was the Being who later became Jesus Christ. But in this extraordinary psalm, David is speaking of two God Beings—who later became Father and Son. David was describing the Father speaking to Christ, promising that He would sit at His (the Father’s) right hand at His throne in heaven, “until I make your enemies your footstool”—that is, until Christ becomes King of kings! In quoting this psalm, Jesus Christ was referencing the future time when He will rule the Earth.

The vision Christ was showing to these Pharisees is truly magnificent! Yes, the Messiah is a physical descendant of David. But here Christ was showing that He is more than that—since David himself called this Being “my Lord.”

Christ then asked these men, “If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” (Matthew 22:45). That is an important question, and Christ’s physical lineage tracing back to David is only part of the answer. Christ’s question was focused more on the spiritual. How can the King of kings be a son of David? To fully understand this question, we must include Christ’s spiritual genealogy as well.

Even while He walked the Earth, Jesus Christ’s primary concern was on the spiritual. His gospel message focused on the time when David’s spiritual family would govern the Earth and the universe.

The expression “Son of David” contains the most hope-filled vision in all the Bible! Why wasn’t Christ referred to as the son of Joseph? Because that would have concealed the truth about God’s plan for man.

Son of the Highest

Jesus Christ was a physical Jew. The Bible shows that He devoted His ministry to His fellow Jews. For 3½ years, He took God’s message to that one family.

More importantly, Jesus Christ is a spiritual Jew. He is destined to rule from David’s throne forever.

Read Luke 1:31-33 again. This passage describes Jesus Christ’s spiritual genealogy. Mary was to conceive a son through the power of God’s Holy Spirit (verse 35). Her son was to be the Son of the Highest—the King of the universe. Can you imagine how this must have impacted Mary’s mind?

The key of David vision has much to say about Jesus Christ’s relationship with God the Father.

Jesus Christ came to Earth to reveal the Father. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). Do we know God the Father? Jesus Christ’s express purpose on Earth was to reveal the Father. He is doing that same work even now—today. Otherwise it is not God’s Work! If we don’t have the Father revealed to us, then the family portrait is shattered! God the Father is the central figure in Christ’s message (John 1:18).

Jesus Christ didn’t come to exalt Himself—He came to reveal the Father. Christ is the Son of the Highest! God the Father is the living Head of the entire Family and will always be in charge, ruling over the God Family forever. Jesus Christ came to make this fact known.

We will never understand the key of David vision if we do not understand the role of the Father. (To learn more, request a free copy of my book The God Family Vision.) Pushing the Father out of the Family picture shows a serious government problem.

God wants to teach us family government. One man—the father—should always head the physical family. This is the structure of family government that will be in force for eternity! God will not use collegial government. He will not use a republic. He will not use a democracy. He will use family government. God the Father will rule over His Family forever. And that Family will rule the universe forever.

The truth that God is a Family is so clear in Scripture. Luke 3:21-22 show that when Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven saying, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Jesus was God’s beloved Son. Before Christ became a man, God the Father and Jesus Christ shared a perfect family-type relationship. When Jesus lived on Earth as a human, they shared a perfect Father-Son relationship. Christ always does those things that please the Father (John 8:29). Never forget that within God’s plan there is a Father, there is a Son, and there is Family. We must clearly grasp this point so we can remain in a close relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

The fact that Christ is a son of David and the Son of the Highest reaffirms that He is the one who gives us the key of David vision. The Father gave Him that responsibility.

King of Kings

The prophecy in Luke 1 shows that the Father, the Highest, will give Christ the throne of His father David. This is a throne on Earth today. Christ is not returning to a nonexistent throne!

The beauty of the prophecy in Luke 1 does not end with Christ. We must see that these verses are also prophecies about the greatest royal Family in the universe.

Our future is tied directly to Jesus Christ and David’s throne.

Revelation 17:14 describes Christ as being “Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” The familiarity of this scripture could cause us to overlook its deep, deep meaning. Jesus Christ is going to be King of the firstfruits, who will become kings under Him. He will be Lord of the firstfruit lords. This prophecy does not apply to just anybody; it is only for those who follow Christ before His Second Coming.

Envision Jesus Christ and the firstfruits ruling on the throne of David! In the World Tomorrow, the firstfruits will rule with Jesus Christ as kings and lords—governing both Church and state. We will rule it all! God the Father plans to give us awesome power because we will have a big job to do. This is the vision of the Bible.

Throne That Unites

In the near future, at Christ’s return, a momentous occasion will occur. “And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first” (Jeremiah 33:7). Before God can build, He must destroy. That is what modern business people would call creative destruction. After punishing Israel in the Tribulation, God will reunite all of Israel into one powerful nation.

Today, the physical nations of Israel are extremely divided. In fact, most nations of Israel have lost their identity.

Anciently, at the death of Saul, the nation of Israel was terribly divided and fell into civil war. David was crowned king in Hebron and ruled Judah from there for seven years. Yet he was finally able to unite the nation, and he moved the capital to Jerusalem. He ruled from Jerusalem for 33 years, making his reign 40 years in total.

That history foreshadows what Jesus Christ will accomplish as King. When His Kingdom is set up, He will reunite the nations of Israel as a first step to uniting the world. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness [Jesus Christ] to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land” (verses 14-15). This is God the Father speaking. He is the “I” in verse 15. He is establishing a family throne. He will use Christ, sitting on the throne of David, to shower blessing after blessing upon Israel.

As King, Christ will go to work immediately. “In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness” (verse 16). Judah will be saved. Jerusalem, the capital of ancient Israel and a biblical symbol of all Israel today, will dwell safely.

Can we see the wonderful parallels? David, a Jewish king, used his throne to unite all of Israel. Jesus Christ, the spiritual Jew, will take David’s throne and unite the whole world!

Christ will accomplish this unity globally by grafting all the Gentile nations into Israel. Paul wrote about this principle in his epistle to the Romans. He described how, when physical Israel stumbled, God opened up salvation to Gentiles. He compared the Gentiles to a “wild olive tree” that was grafted into the “olive tree” of Israel (Romans 11:17). Paul was applying this analogy to the Church—the spiritual nation of Israel (1 Peter 2:9). Christ’s Church is not just for natural-born Israelites, it is for all people whom God calls—no matter the nationality or race. All members of God’s Church are citizens of spiritual Israel.

What is happening in the Church today is a type of what will happen globally in the World Tomorrow. From David’s throne, Jesus Christ will start uniting the whole world beginning with the nations of Israel.

God focuses on Christ being a Son of David because of this truth. Jesus Christ, while sitting on the throne of David, will convert all men into spiritual Israelites. To be in God’s Family, all men must become spiritual Israel—one united spiritual Family.

This is the kind of unity only God can give—the unity God and the Word have had for all eternity! What a mind-opening time that will be for mankind. This glorious unity will expand into all nations and, later, into the limitless universe. What an incredible future lies just ahead!

What unites spiritual Israel today? It is the mind of Christ. Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). After His return, Christ’s mind will be extended to the whole world. That is how the world will be united. What fantastic unity!

A Second, Related Covenant

Jeremiah 33 goes on to describe not just the covenant God made to preserve David’s throne forever—but a second, related covenant. “For thus says the Lord, David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn cereal offerings, and to make sacrifices for ever” (verses 17-18; rsv).

These two verses reveal two distinct covenants concerning David’s throne. Verse 17 reiterates God’s phenomenal promise concerning David’s descendants on his throne: that David’s throne would exist perpetually. His throne exists even today.

Yet read verse 18 carefully: God also promised that there would always be one leading minister proclaiming His message about the eternal throne of David!

This Levitical or ministerial covenant is made with a man. Just as there is one man at a time sitting on David’s throne, there is one minister at a time with whom God covenants to teach about that throne. Of course, that minister urgently needs the help of God’s ministers and God’s people. The message cannot be delivered by one man alone. Nevertheless, the covenant here is made specifically with one man alone.

Certain as Day and Night

A covenant is an official agreement between two parties. When God makes a covenant with man, no man can change or stop what God plans to do.

“And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers” (Jeremiah 33:19-21). God tells us that we can rely on these two covenants—about David’s throne and about a minister who will always be there to proclaim the message about that throne. They are as certain as day and night. No one but God could change the day from being day or the night from being night. The same applies to God’s covenants concerning David’s throne and God’s leading minister.

It is vital that God’s physical leader remain focused on this vision, since it is to be preserved until Christ’s return. But look at what the Laodicean ministers have done to it. They have deemphasized the key of David vision. Some have removed it altogether. One Laodicean Church has written its own uninspired version of The United States and Britain in Prophecy. It has nowhere near the power of Mr. Armstrong’s version, which was inspired by God. Mr. Armstrong alone was the end-time Elijah to restore all things (Matthew 17:10-11). He alone was the end-time Zerubbabel with Christ’s authority (Zechariah 4:9-10).

All the Laodicean churches are in disarray. They all suffer from disunity. Satan has dealt them a blow that will be fatal unless they repent. Some are saying that Jesus Christ is working through all the wcg offshoot groups. But this passage in Jeremiah 33 says differently. God made two covenants, the second of which ensured that His message concerning the throne of David was taught. There is only one leading minister in each of the last two Church eras with whom God has made this covenant. Only one man in the Laodicean era has kept this perpetual covenant.

This is the means by which God ensures that the key of David vision is always taught!