The Unoccupied Davidic Throne
It is common for those who fight against Premillennialism to claim
that Jesus is currently sitting on David’s throne. This is primarily done by
arguing that Jesus’ exaltation at the right hand of God (e.g., Acts 2:33)
somehow equals him occupying the Davidic throne. Such a claim totally lacks any
exegetical support. Indeed, it is clear that this exaltation results in Jesus
currently residing at the right hand of God’s throne (Heb 12:2). This event was
a fulfillment of Psalm 110, which itself makes no mention of David’s throne.
The very fact that verse 1 teaches that the Messiah will sit on this throne for
a limited period means that it cannot possibly be about the Davidic rule, which
is eternal. This Psalm describes just what the premillennialist should expect.
Jesus is to sit beside his Father until it is time to crush the governments of
man and inaugurate the Davidic Kingdom (Ps 110:1–2, 5–6; Matt 22:44). In
quoting Amos 9:11–12, James said that the tabernacle of David was yet to be
rebuilt from its ruins (Acts 15:15–16). It is clear that James did not believe
that Jesus’ earlier ascension had restored the tabernacle of David, i.e., the
rule of his line.
Even more damaging to the non-premillennialist is that God’s word makes
it perfectly clear that the Davidic throne, or reign of David’s heir, must be
on the earth in Jerusalem. There are many passages that prove this. One of the
most useful is Psalm 132:11–14:
The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. If your sons keep my
covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever
shall sit on your throne.” For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for
his dwelling place: This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I
have desired it.
The student of Scripture does not have to be especially perspicacious
to notice that God is serious about fulfilling his promise to David. David’s
descendants occupied his throne in Jerusalem. God desired the city as his
dwelling place and not just for a particular period of time. The LORD equated
the throne being occupied forever with him dwelling in Jerusalem forever. The
final descendant is he who obeyed the statutes perfectly (Matt 5:17), the horn
of David (Ps 132:17), the God-man Jesus. God will most certainly be dwelling in
Jerusalem as it will be Jesus who sits on David’s throne.
Further evidence of an earthly location includes the need to enter
through the gates of Jerusalem to access the throne of David (Jer 17:25). The
throne is said to be in Jerusalem in Judah (Jer 22:30), not a vague heavenly
location. The reign of the Messiah on David’s throne is for the purpose of
ruling over all of the earth and executing judgment upon it (Jer 23:5–6; cf.
Zech 14:9). Because the Messiah’s rule from David’s throne is from Jerusalem on
earth, the reign cannot currently be taking place. Jesus even said that man is
not in a position to know when the kingdom would be restored to Israel (Acts
1:6–7).
While this evidence should more than suffice to prove that Jesus is
yet to sit on the Davidic throne, one final passage should remove any lingering
doubt. Revelation 3:21:
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as
I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
The Messiah was clearly speaking of two distinct thrones. Jesus
referred to the throne that those who conquer are to share with him in the
future as my throne. This is in contrast to the Father’s throne that Jesus sat
down on after he conquered. Surely the later throne is to be associated with
the exaltation of Christ (cf. Acts 2:33; Heb 12:2) and not the former. Consider
that if the two thrones being spoken of are one in the same then that would
mean that the Davidic throne was established before David was even created.
This cannot be the case as God promised David that the throne would be (future
tense) established (2 Sam 7:16).
The described earthly throne in the promise to David currently has no
occupant. As such, it can be asserted that there is one yet to come. The King
who is to rule forever is Jesus Christ. After Gabriel informed Mary that she
was to bear a son to be named Jesus, she is told the following in Luke 1:32–
33:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the
Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign
over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
The proper biblical concept of the kingdom necessarily includes Jesus
reigning from David’s throne. David being referred to as Jesus’ father is
especially telling. Jesus identified himself as the Messiah by connecting it to
him being the Son of David (e.g., Mark 12:35–37). Many people did not hesitate
to call Jesus the Son of David out of recognition that he was the Messiah
(e.g., Matt 1:1; 15:22; 20:30; Mark 10:47). When the Pharisees heard Jesus
being honored in this manner they became indignant (Matt 21:15). What they all
understood was that the title Son of David referred to the one who would
establish David’s throne forever (2 Sam 7:16).
All true Christians, by definition, confess that Jesus is the Messiah
in reference to him being God and Savior (e.g., Rom 10:9). Surely then, other
definitions regarding the full person of the Messiah should also be accepted.
Jesus is the Son of David and therefore must fulfill the prophecies that are
inherent to that title. Jesus will literally reign on David’s throne in
Jerusalem during the Millennium and will continue to do so forevermore in the
Eternal State. (Matthew Bryce Ervin, One Thousand Years with Jesus: The
Coming Messianic Kingdom [Eugene, Oreg.: Resource Publications, 2017], 16-18)
