The Shepherd King

The Lamb’s reign commenced following his Death and Resurrection. Since then, he has been shepherding the nations toward New Jerusalem.

The Book of Revelation assures the beleaguered congregations of Asia that Jesus reigns and has events firmly in hand despite appearances. His sovereignty is based on his past Death and Resurrection. It is absolute, extending even over “Death and Hades.” His Resurrection from the dead marked the start of his reign from the Messianic Throne.

The Messiah of Israel rules all nations and peoples from Mount Zion. However, he does so as the “Shepherd of the Nations” rather than the petty tyrant of a small country in the Middle East bent on revenge. He is the “King of kings” who guides nations and kings to life in his “Holy City.”

[Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash]

Since his Resurrection, the Kingdom of God has been progressing on Earth. As the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth,” Jesus possesses full authority over history, life, and death. However, the manner of his rule does not correspond with human expectations - (Revelation 1:17-18).

The Second Psalm is applied to him several times in Revelation, especially its promise that the “nations” would be “shepherded” by the Messianic “Son”:

• (Psalm 2:2-9) – “The kings of the earth take their station, and grave men have met by appointment together, against Yahweh and his Anointed One… Yet I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain… You are My son. I, this day, have begotten you. Ask of me and let me give nations as your inheritance and as your possession, the ends of the earth. You shall shepherd them with a scepter of iron, as a potter’s vessel shall you dash them in pieces.”

He is the “Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” He gave “faithful testimony” in his Death and became the “Firstborn of the Dead” through his Resurrection – (Revelation 1:4-6, 14:1-5).

Because his shed blood “loosed us from our sins,” we are now a “Kingdom of Priests.” We participate in his reign, carrying out “priestly” functions for his Kingdom. Because we “overcame as he did,” we are seated with him on his “Throne.” We participate in his rule in the same manner as him - Through faithful witness even “until death” if need be - (Revelation 3:21, 5:6-10, 12:11).

When the “Sealed Scroll” appeared, John wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open it. But he was commanded to cease weeping since the “Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, overcame to open the scroll and its seals.”

However, when John looked, instead of a “lion” he saw a “Lamb.” Jesus is the “Lion of Judah,” but he fulfills that role as the sacrificial “Lamb.” He did not come to slay his enemies but to redeem as many as he could, and his authority extends to the “ends of the Earth” as promised in the Second Psalm - (Revelation 6:1-8).

The same passage is applied to Jesus in the vision of the “Woman clothed with the Sun.” He was the “son, the male” born from the Woman who, according to the Psalmist, was destined to “shepherd the nations”:

• (Revelation 12:2-5) – “And she brought forth a son, a male child, who was about to shepherd all the nations with a scepter of iron; and her child was caught away unto God and to his throne.”

He is the one “who shepherds the nations.” The Book of Revelation follows the text of the Greek Septuagint version of the Second Psalm by translating the Hebrew verb for “rule” or “break in pieces” with the Greek term for “shepherd.” Something other than the forced subjugation of the nations is underway.

THE REIGNING LAMB

In Chapter 12, the “Son” was “caught up to God and his Throne” before the “Dragon” could devour him. The same reality is portrayed in Chapter 5 when the “Lamb” appeared before the “Throne” after his death. The “Dragon” failed to stop his enthronement, and a great voice declared, “Now is come the salvation, the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down.”

The “Dragon” was defeated by the Death and Resurrection of the “Son,” therefore, there is no limit to the authority of Jesus. For example, the “Beast” could not launch its “war” against the “saints” until it was authorized to do so - (Revelation 13:5-7).

In the vision of the “Rider on a White Horse,” the Messianic figure rides forth brandishing “the sharp sword that proceeds from his mouth with which he smites the nations. He will shepherd them with a rod of iron.” The same words from the Second Psalm are applied, and once more, the term “break in pieces” from the original Hebrew psalm is changed to “shepherd.”

John saw “New Jerusalem” descending to Earth, and the “nations” and the “Kings of the Earth” were found in it. Revelation does not teach a form of “universalism.” Not all men find themselves in the “Holy City.” Those whose names were “not written in the Book of Life” were cast into the “Lake of Fire,” the group identified as the “Inhabitants of the Earth” elsewhere, men irredeemably hostile to the “Lamb” who refuse to repent despite being given every opportunity to do so.

Nevertheless, the dimensions of “New Jerusalem” are enormous since it will be inhabited by the “Innumerable Multitude” of men and women redeemed from “every nation, people, tribe and tongue.”

All this raises the question:  How will the “Kings” and “nations” gain entrance to the “Holy City” since so often they seem hostile to the “Lamb?” Their inclusion results from the “Lamb shepherding of the nations.”

Countless men and women will worship before him in “New Jerusalem” since his priestly envoys will persevere in the “Testimony of Jesus” before the courts of this world. They “overcame the Dragon through the word of their testimony” – (Revelation 12:11).

Jesus is the King who “shepherds” the nations from the Messianic Throne of David. His only “weapon” is the “sword” that proceeds out of his mouth, the “Word of God.” With it, he defeats his enemies. He also “purchases by his blood” men, women, and children from every “nation, people, tribe, and tongue.”

The “sword” of the “Rider on the White Horse” represents the proclamation of the Gospel by Christ’s royal priests to the “nations of the Earth.” This is how he “shepherds the nations” along their way to the “City of New Jerusalem.” Paradoxical? Yes, but then, Jesus the Messiah is the “slain Lamb” rather than the roaring “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” or the tyrant who breaks the nations to pieces.

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SEE ALSO:

• His Present Reign - (The PRESENT reign of Jesus began with his exaltation to the messianic Throne following his death and resurrection – Psalms 110:1)

• Reigning from Zion - (Following his resurrection, Jesus began his reign from the Messianic Throne as prophesied by David – Psalm 2:6-9)

• Ruler of Kings - (The faithful witness, Jesus, now reigns supreme over the Kings of the Earth and even over his enemies, and he is shepherding the nations)