As a part of God's great earth-plan, it was designed that Adam, the crowning glory of Creation, should be ruler over all the earth; under God, he was to occupy the throne of the world. Thus the Scriptures read: "One in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels: Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." Heb. 2:6-8. At the very beginning the word was, "Let them have dominion." Gen. 1:26.
But Adam failed. Sin entered, and sin meant subjection. "For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19. From Adam the dominion passed to another, even to Satan, the prince of fallen spirits, the ruler of the darkness of this world. And so we read (Heb. 2:8), "But now we see not yet all things put under Him."
But the entrance of sin could not thwart God's plan. The original purpose must be carried out. Man had been created and ordained to rule and, logically, only man could rule. The one man created to rule had become a sinner and so was incapacitated. A new Man, therefore, must be created, be put on trial, prove Himself master of the situation and, having done all that was required, take possession of the throne which had been abdicated by His predecessor and usurped by His bitterest enemy.
The Second Adam.
The Man chosen to restore man's rightful rule and under Jehovah to carry out His great and sovereign design was the "last Adam," "the Man Christ Jesus." After calling attention to the fact that at present man is no longer able to rule according to God's first appointment (See again Heb. 2:6-8), Inspiration states, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels." Verse 9. Yes, Jesus was the One; and please do not forget that like the first Adam, He, too, was made "lower than the angels." In order that the restoration might be accomplished in harmony with strictest justice, the second Adam placed Himself in the fallen Adam's position and condition. He would win back the throne not by force, but by love; and thus convince a watching universe that God's ways are right and wise, worthy of the loyal support of all. "For it became Him [Jesus], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect thru sufferings." Heb. 2:10. By the way of suffering and death the throne of the world to come would be put in subjection to Him. Verse 5.
Thruout all the Bible, reference is made to the time when the kingdom of God shall be established upon earth, when the great Creation-idea shall be realized. Patriarch, prophet, and apostle all wrote of the glorious day when the kingdom should be given back and dominion restored to man. And, carefully studied, it will be seen that all testify to this one truth; namely, that humanity is to be exalted, that fallen man is to be lifted up and given the right to rule.
It was to David, perhaps, that this plan of God's choosing was first specifically and directly stated. To him the Lord's message was, "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 establish the throne of his kingdom forever." 2 Sam. 7:12, 13; Ps. 132:11. Read also Ps. 89:3, 4, 35, 36.
From the time that David received this wonderful promise and onward, the throne of the world to come, of the earth restored, is known as "the throne of David." Isaiah prophesied of the Son that should be born and who should sit "upon the throne of David." Isa. 9:6, 7. Jeremiah speaks likewise. Jer. 17:25. And when Gabriel announced to Mary the birth of the Child, whose name should be called Jesus, he added, "And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:31-33.
There can be no doubt, then, that the "throne of David" is but the glory-throne of the second Adam, the Man Christ Jesus, who shall reign over the house of Israel forever; and that the place of that throne will be the same as that of the first Adam—the earthly Paradise restored.
A Brother-Born.
But the most wonderful feature of this wonderful plan of restoring to man his lost dominion is that Jesus Christ laid aside His glory and took upon Himself fallen human nature with all its liabilities and risks. He was therefore born "of the seed of David according to the flesh" (Rom. 1:3), staking His right to the throne of David, the throne of earth-dominion, upon His ability as a mere man of faith to gain the mastery over self. As man thru loss of self-control had lost the dominion of the world to the enemy, so, as man, He would regain self-control and win back all to God.
"It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah." Heb. 7:14. As "the Son of David" (Matt. 22:42) Jesus Christ was heir to the eternal throne. How utterly incomprehensible is this! But, as we have seen, it is only as the "Son of Man," taking the place of the man who fell, that He will rule. He became the Son of Man, and the Son of Man He will ever continue to be. As heir to the throne He is now a Man-Priest upon the throne of the Father. In that position He will continue until God's power has brought all enemies under. Acts 2:34, 35. That day is near at hand. And when it shall dawn, then the Son of Man will come in His glory, and will be seated upon "the throne of David," His own throne by right of inheritance and by right of conquest.
Thank God, brother, sister, for such a Son of Man. Let us elect Him our Ruler both for time and eternity. He who wills so to do can know His power, be made "more than conqueror" in the warfare against self, and so have an everlasting assurance of entering into the blessed rule of that kingdom which shall have no end.