The Crucified Messiah

The death and exaltation of Jesus are inextricably linked in the Book of Revelation . The Divine plan to redeem humanity and the Creation itself is unveiled in its visions, and the death, resurrection, and enthronement of the Son put this plan into action. His sovereignty is the result of his faithful obedience unto death. However, he is no tyrant. He does not subjugate his enemies through violence. Instead, he “ shepherds the nations ” and purchases men from every “ tribe and people and tongue ” through his shed blood.

The spiritually minded man understands that the proclamation of Christ Crucified is God’s power and wisdom .  Overused by both the Church and the surrounding society, the English term ‘spiritual’ has become meaningless. To some people, it is synonymous with the word  religion . To be  religious  is to be  spiritual . To others, it refers to things that are not of this physical universe, things and beings that are supernatural, otherworldly, noncorporeal, invisible, and timeless.

Jesus has reigned as Sovereign over the Earth since his Death and Resurrection, already he is seated on the Messianic Throne. Because of his obedience, he is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” Before his Ascension, he declared that God had bestowed all authority on him - “ In Heaven and on Earth .” Thus, his authority is without limits and a present reality.

The conspiracy by the Earth’s kings to unseat God’s Son is applied by the New Testament to the plot to kill Jesus . The Second Psalm is a key messianic passage applied to Jesus several times in the New Testament. But precisely when were its predictions fulfilled, and is the Messiah reigning now on David’s Throne? Or is the world still waiting for his accession to God’s Throne at a future date? What about the “ revolt ” of nations and kings against Yahweh’s “anointed one”? Is this a prediction of a future conflict between Jesus and the government of the Earth - (Psalm 2:1-6)?

Jesus performed miracles, exorcised demons, and taught with great authority, often attracting large crowds. Nevertheless, his contemporaries failed to recognize who he was despite displays of supernatural power. In the end, only the Roman centurion on duty at Golgotha perceived him to be the “ Son of God ” when the Nazarene breathed his last.

John saw Jesus as the sacrificial “ Lamb ” in the central vision of  Revelation , the one whose shed blood purchased men from every nation. Because he gave his life to redeem humanity, all Creation proclaimed him “ worthy ” to open the “ Sealed Scroll ” and receive absolute sovereignty. His reign began when the “ Lamb ” took possession of the Scroll and began to open its “ Seven Seals .”