Question received:
Hi Pearl, I was reading a really interesting post in Reddit where they were talking about the talk where we can trust ‘our kings’. They brought out that the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witness Bible, inserted the words ‘as kings’ in Rev 20:4 and Rev.20:6. I had never noticed that before. I had always referred to the anointed as ‘kings and priests’ because that was what I was taught; But according to those verses, the anointed rule as priests and as Isaiah 32:1-2 brings out, as princes.
Are there other scriptures which refer to the anointed as kings, or is that a false teaching to bolster the Governing Body’s power?
I know that in the days of Israel kings were anointed but the only scriptures I can find about the anointed refer to them as ruling as priests. It is so hard when you realise that so much of what you think is true is part of wormwood’s teachings and you don’t realise how much you still have to unlearn.
My Reply:
I am wondering what their motive is, in adding "kings" to those verses. I suspect it is so that more subjection to the governing body can be invoked, and referring to them as presently being kings, firms up that idea.
I also find it interesting that the contrast between a current kingship, and those not currently reigning, is described in prophecy (Rev.17:9,12-13). The governing body is rightly associated with the heads of the beast, who have already received their kingdom in this world. These prominent governing 7 rulers/mountains/kings/heads (Rev.17:9; Matt.5:14YLT) who direct and control the body of the Beast/organization below them, stand in contrast to the 10 horns of the beast, who are kings that "have not yet received their kingdom" (Rev.17:12-13). As horns, they are used in the aggressive power exerted by the heads.
To see that the anointed are indeed designated as kings as well as priests...
Rev.1:5-6 reads: "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (See NKJV version: LINK)
-- Jesus is identified to have an anointing as High Priest of God's spiritual temple (Heb.4:14; 9:11; 8:1-2; Eph.2:20-22; 1Pet.2:5). This position as a priest does not nullify his position as king (Heb.6:20; 7:1; Gen.14:18; Rev.19:16; Luke 1:32). Neither does it nullify the position of king, to the priests under the high priest...
As Rev.5:10 reads;
"10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and *they will reign* on the earth.”
At no time did the usual anointing into the priesthood, include the capacity to reign. Priests are referred to as ministers
(Jer.33:21NKJV; Ex.39:41; Isa.61:6; Joel 1:9; Heb.8:1-2; 2Cor.3:6; 6:4; Rom.15:16; etc.).
Priests should not reign. Kings reign.
When the Bible does make a single reference to priests ruling (Jer.5:31); it is referring to a time of apostasy. This situation refers to when God's genuine priests are forcefully replaced by a non-anointed, not chosen nor accepted by God, counterfeit priesthood.
That situation is what fulfills Mark 13:14 and Matt.24:15. The holy place, is God's priesthood (1Cor.3:16-17; 1Pet.2:5; Eph.2:20-22). Trespass into that position by anyone else, is an abomination (2Chron.23:6; Eze.44:6-7NKJV; Mark 13:14; Matt.24:15).
(Dan.11:31; Eze.44:6-9; 2Chron.13:9; 2Thess.2:3-4; Eze.28:9-10).
[More information: (https://should-jw-elders-replace-gods-anointed.html)
Your verse at Rev.20:4 tells us that the kings that rule with Jesus DURING the 1,000 years, NEVER worshiped the beast or its image and had "not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands" (LINK). That unfaithful option to commit idolatry, arises after Satan's release, after the 1,000 years end, and after Satan creates and releases the great tribulation/test. (https://the-greatest-tribulation-what?-why?.html)
At that point, the 1,000 years have ended (Rev.20:7), and the reign of the "first resurrected"-144000 who reign "with Christ" is then over (Rev.20:6,4)<end of verse 4. -- If Rev.20:4 tells us that the 144000 "reign with Christ for the thousand years"; is it being asserted on Reddit that during the thousand years, Jesus is not reigning as a king? If he is, then the 144000 are reigning with him
(Col.1:13; Eph.5:5; Ps.2:6-7; Rev.14:1; Dan.7:13-14) (Dan.7:21-22,18,27; James 2:5; 2Tim.4:18; Eph.2:6; Rev.3:21).
Rev.20:4 also describes these as being given authority to judge. That power was started in the first century, which can be seen at John 20:22-23 and 1Cor.6:1-2,3.
Notice that in these references (Rev.20:4; 11:16; 4:4), it qualifies these kings and their authority, by mentioning that they sit on thrones. That is not a material throne, but that symbol points to their qualification (Rev.3:21; 1John5:4) in imitation of their teacher (John16:33).
-- Jesus also gave his apostles the example of washing their feet, to demonstrate how to behave toward other members of the Body of Christ, even while reigning. At one point, James and John, right after seeing the vision recorded at Matt.17:1-3, requested that they could fulfill the positions it depicted (Mark10:37).
Jesus counseled James and John, at Mark10:42-45.
The reign depicted by the organization, is a reflection of Satan's governments (Luke 4:5-6). No attempt is made to hide that, when using the title "Governing" Body.
At Mark 10:42-43,44-45, Jesus forbade that some anointed should rule in a worldly way, over their anointed brothers, OR over Gentiles who would be used to dominate and trample their anointed brothers. Obviously, that sort of domination would NOT be the kind of reign exercised by the kings over which Jesus himself reigns (Rev.19:16; 1:5; Rev.5:10NKJV).
-- So then, what kind of authority and power is exercised by anointed kings under Christ? He is always our exemplar (John 13:15). He refused to accept the type of reign he forbade at Mark 10:42-45 cited above (John 6:15).
The kind of power and authority that Jesus exercised, is the same sort exercised by his under-kings (Luke 22:29). He described that authority and power at Luke 10:19 and John 18:36-37.
-- Luke 19 reads; "37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice *for all the mighty works they had seen,* 38 saying:
“ ‘Blessed is *the King* who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' ”
-- The royal, "mighty works" the disciples had seen, was their king's ability to raise the dead, cure the sick, and teach the light of truth. Christ offered God's grace of repentance and life to God's nation (John 1:11-13; Gal.3:26; Ps.82:6; 2Pet.1:4) and the promised inheritance of Abraham would be given to those who accepted Christ (John 1:14; 17:22,2; Gal.3:29; Luke 4:16-17,18-19,20-21; Gen.22:18; Gal.3:29). Jesus foretold that the kings under him, would do similar works (John 14:12; Matt.10:7-8), but in a greater way (John 6:63).
The "king of kings" has outlined the nature of a righteous, spiritual reign by his own example (Rev.19:16). Those kings who remain under the kingdom of Christ, reign as he reigned. He was always submissive to his own King, the Father. We faithful anointed must also, employ our authority and power into submissive service to God and Christ (Rev.4:4,10-11; 22:1-2,3; John 1:51; Gen.28:12,14; Heb.1:6; 2:5,16; Gal.3:29).
Those who do not recognize "the kings of the earth" as anointed (Rev.1:5), but rather as governments within Satan's world, do not realize that Satan (not Jesus) is ruler over the world and it's governments (1John5:19; Luke 4:5-6). Jesus refused to be a part of the world (John 17:16; 1John2:15-17; James 4:4; John 18:36). To believe that Jesus is a ruler of this world's governments, is error. That erroneous belief prevents an accurate interpretation or understanding of Revelation's prophecies.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As regards your reference to Isa.32:1-2...
As you can see by the translation being used on this page (and others), "princes" can be translated as "Rulers". Jesus himself, who we have already proven is a king, was also referred to as a Prince, at Isa.9:6-7.
Why?
Our idea of a prince conveys the thought that he is under his father who is the actual king (Isa.32:1NKJV).
That is true of both Christ (1Cor.15:24-25,26-27,28) and his fellow kings (Rev.19:16; 5:12-14; Gal.1:3-5).
Yet each assigned king, when found faithful with their use of royal authority and power, will receive their own dominion *(Luke 19:15,17), over which, is the dominion of a greater king.
[More information: *(https://two-appointments.html)
------------- Thank you for your good question!
-- For any question that arises for any reader, please leave a comment below, or contact me via the form on right side of this page. If you leave a comment, it will not show up immediately, but only after I post it.
