In this post I will employ the 2013 revised edition of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition) to show that Christ’s possesses an indestructible kingdom which can never be supplanted or replaced.

The Hebrew Bible attests that God made an irrevocable covenant with David where he swore that he would place one of the latter’s physical descendants upon God’s throne in order to rule upon it forever:

“… Moreover, I tell you, ‘Jehovah will build a house for you.’ When your days come to an end and you go to be with your forefathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your sons, and I will firmly establish his kingship. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will firmly establish his throne forever. I will become his father, and he will become my son. I will not remove my loyal love from him the way I removed it from the one who was prior to you. I will cause him to stand in my house and in my kingship forever, and his throne will last forever.” 1 Chronicles 17:10b-14

“However, the gloom will not be as when the land had distress, as in former times when the land of Zebʹu·lun and the land of Naphʹta·li were treated with contempt. But at a later time He will cause it to be honored—the way by the sea, in the region of the Jordan, Galʹi·lee of the nations. The people who were walking in the darkness Have seen a great light. As for those dwelling in the land of deep shadow, Light has shone on them… For a child has been born to us, A son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. To the increase of his rulership And to peace, there will be no end, On the throne of David and on his kingdom In order to establish it firmly and to sustain it Through justice and righteousness, From now on and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.” Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

According to the Christian Scriptures, that physical seed of David who was destined to reign forever is Jesus Christ. The inspired NT writings even cite the aforementioned texts and apply them directly to Jesus:

“Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galʹi·lee. Further, after leaving Nazʹa·reth, he came and took up residence in Ca·perʹna·um beside the sea in the districts of Zebʹu·lun and Naphʹta·li, so as to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, who said: ‘O land of Zebʹu·lun and land of Naphʹta·li, along the road of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galʹi·lee of the nations! The people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and as for those sitting in a region of deathly shadow, light rose on them.’ From that time on, Jesus began preaching and saying: ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” Matthew 4:12-17

“In her sixth month, the angel Gaʹbri·el was sent from God to a city of Galʹi·lee named Nazʹa·reth, to a virgin promised in marriage to a man named Joseph of David’s house, and the name of the virgin was Mary. And coming in, the angel said to her: ‘Greetings, you highly favored one, Jehovah is with you.’ But she was deeply disturbed at his words and tried to understand what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel said to her: ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And look! you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as King over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his Kingdom.’” Luke 1:26-33

“Men, brothers, it is permissible to speak with freeness of speech to you about the family head David, that he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one of his offspring on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in the Grave nor did his flesh see corruption. God resurrected this Jesus, and of this we are all witnesses. Therefore, because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you see and hear. For David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”’ Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you executed on a stake.” Acts 2:29-36

“After removing him, he raised up for them David as king, about whom he bore witness and said: ‘I have found David the son of Jesʹse a man agreeable to my heart; he will do all the things I desire.’ According to his promise, from the offspring of this man, God has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus… So we are declaring to you the good news about the promise made to the forefathers. God has completely fulfilled it to us, their children, by resurrecting Jesus; just as it is written in the second psalm: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ And the fact that He resurrected him from the dead never again to return to corruption, He has stated in this way: ‘I will give you the expressions of loyal love promised to David, which are faithful.’  So it also says in another psalm: ‘You will not allow your loyal one to see corruption.’ David, on the one hand, rendered service to God in his own generation, fell asleep in death, was laid with his forefathers, and did see corruption. On the other hand, the one whom God raised up did not see corruption.” Acts 13:22-23, 32-37

“concerning his Son, who came to be from the offspring of David according to the flesh, but who with power was declared God’s Son according to the spirit of holiness by means of resurrection from the dead—yes, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 1:3-4

“Remember that Jesus Christ was raised up from the dead and was David’s offspring, according to the good news I preach,” 2 Timothy 2:8

“I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by HIS manifestation and HIS Kingdom… From this time on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day, yet not to me only, but also to all those who have loved HIS manifestation… The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work and will save me for HIS heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:1, 8, 18

“For example, to which one of the angels did God ever say: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father’? And again: ‘I will become his father, and he will become my son’?” Hebrews 1:5

“I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you about these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16

The book of Daniel is another prophetic writing which speaks of the Messiah’s rule lasting forever:

“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever,” Daniel 2:44

“I kept watching in the visions of the night, and look! with the clouds of the heavens, someone like a son of man was coming; and he gained access to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him up close before that One. And to him there were given rulership, honor, and a kingdom, that the peoples, nations, and language groups should all serve him. His rulership is an everlasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

The NT identifies the Son of Man whom Daniel saw coming with the clouds of heaven as the Incarnate Son of God:  

“But he kept silent and made no reply at all. Again the high priest began to question him and said to him: ‘Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed One?’ Then Jesus said: ‘I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” Mark 14:61-62

“For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each one according to his behavior. Truly I say to you that there are some of those standing here who will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom.” Matthew 16:27-28

“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.’” Matthew 25:31-34

“For just as lightning flashes from one part of heaven to another part of heaven, so the Son of man will be in his day. First, however, he must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by this generation.” Luke 17:24-25

“And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory… Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that must occur and in standing before the Son of man.” Luke 21:27, 36

“But he, being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand, and he said: ‘Look! I see the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.’” Acts 7:55-56

“Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him. Yes, Amen. ‘I am the Alʹpha and the O·meʹga,’ says Jehovah God, ‘the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.’… I turned to see who was speaking with me, and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands someone like a son of man, clothed in a garment that reached down to the feet and wearing a golden sash around his chest. Moreover, his head and his hair were white as white wool, as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame, and his feet were like fine copper when glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth a sharp, long, two-edged sword was protruding, and his countenance was like the sun when it shines at its brightest. When I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. And he laid his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the living one, and I became dead, but look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of the Grave.’” Revelation 1:7-8, 12-18

“Then I saw, and look! a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel emerged from the temple sanctuary, calling with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: ‘Put your sickle in and reap, because the hour has come to reap, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.’ And the one seated on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth, and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:14-16

Thus, Jesus as the Danielic Son of Man is an eternal king whose kingdom can never be destroyed and whom all the nations shall serve forever.

This helps us appreciate the repeated NT emphasis that after his physical bodily resurrection, Christ ascended far above the heavens to reign with the Father and is now exalted far above every authority and dominion not only in this age, but in the age to come:

“and how surpassing the greatness of his power is toward us believers. It is according to the operation of the mightiness of his strength, which he exercised toward Christ when he raised him up from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE EVERY government and authority and power and lordship and EVERY NAME that is named, not only in this system of things but also in that to come. He also subjected all things under his feet and made him head over all things with regard to the congregation, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills up all things in all.” Ephesians 1:19-23

“For you know this, recognizing it for yourselves, that no sexually immoral person or unclean person or greedy person, which means being an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of the Christ and of God.” Ephesians 5:5

“because it is in him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily. So you have acquired a fullness by means of him, the one who is the head of all government and authority… If, however, you were raised up with the Christ, go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 2:9-10; 3:1

“Baptism, which corresponds to this, is also now saving you (not by the removing of the filth of the flesh, but by the request to God for a good conscience), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is at God’s right hand, for he went to heaven, and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him.” 1 Peter 3:21-22

And yet the age to come is the time when death shall be abolished and a new heavens and earth shall be ushered in.

To put it simply. The inspired NT proclamation is that Christ now possesses an everlasting kingdom where he reigns supreme over the entire creation, and does so throughout all ages:

“But about the Son, he says: ‘God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your companions.’” Hebrews 1:8-9

“In fact, in this way you will be richly granted entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11

“The seventh angel blew his trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.’” Revelation 11:15

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’ And the One seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’ Also he says: ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ And he said to me: ‘They have come to pass! I am the Alʹpha and the O·meʹga, the beginning and the end. To anyone thirsting I will give from the spring of the water of life free. Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death.’… I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb is. And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp was the Lamb. And the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will not be closed at all by day, for night will not exist there. And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But anything defiled and anyone who does what is disgusting and deceitful will in no way enter into it; only those written in the Lamb’s scroll of life will enter.” Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27

“And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the THRONE of God AND OF the Lamb down the middle of its main street. On both sides of the river were trees of life producing 12 crops of fruit, yielding their fruit each month. And the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. And there will no longer be any curse. But the THRONE of God AND OF the Lamb will be in the city, and his slaves will offer him sacred service; and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Also, night will be no more, and they have no need of lamplight or sunlight, for Jehovah God will shed light upon them, and they will rule as kings forever and ever.” Revelation 22:1-5 – Cf. 21:1-8

What makes this astonishing is that Christ’s rule is described in the same way that the Hebrew Bible depicts the reign of Jehovah.

For instance, it is Jehovah alone who is exalted far above all creatures, including over all the other gods:

“For you, O Jehovah, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all other gods.” Psalm 97:9

“Let them praise the name of Jehovah, For his name ALONE is unreachably high. His majesty is above earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:13

It is Jehovah whose kingdom is eternal and who reigns forever:

“Your kingship is an eternal kingship, And your dominion endures throughout all generations.” Psalm 145:13

“As for you, O Jehovah, you sit enthroned forever. Your throne is for generation after generation.” Lamentations 5:19

And it is Jehovah alone that sits enthroned in the heavens above, since he does not share his heavenly dominion with anyone:

“As for the heavens, they belong to Jehovah, But the earth he has given to the sons of men.” Psalm 115:16

And yet Jesus is seated on high along with the Father:

And “He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power. And after he had made a purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (hypselois).” Hebrews 1:3

Now contrast this with the following OT passage as I cite from the English rendering of both the Hebrew and Greek versions of this text:

“Who is like Jehovah our God, The one who dwells on high? He stoops down to look on heaven and earth,” Psalm 113:5-6

“Who is as the Lord our God? who dwells in the high places (hypselois),” Psalm112:5 LXX

Hebrews employs the same Greek term that the foregoing OT text used to highlight the fact of Christ reigning from the highest position imaginable, a position which the Psalmist ascribed to Jehovah alone!

In light of all this, could the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ very own Bible (per)version be any clearer that Jesus is Jehovah Almighty in the flesh, even though he is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, which is why he reigns from a position which the Hebrew Scriptures ascribe to Jehovah alone?

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