Psalm 2:6 “Yet [nevertheless; notwithstanding] have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”

The Father’s prophecy—In this verse God the Father, who “calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17), prophesied of the glorious thousand year reign of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:2-6) when—after his second coming back to earth to “judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11), the kingdoms of this world will become “the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ” (Revelation 11:15). Then Jesus will sit “upon the throne of David” (Isaiah 9:6-7) as “a great King over all the earth.” (Psalm 47:2) He “shall reign in righteousness” (Isaiah 32:1); “he shall judge the world in righteousness, [and] he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.” (Psalm 9:8; Acts 17:31; Revelation 19:11)

Salvation is according to God’s mercy—At his first coming the Son of God came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) by dying on the cross for all and by rising again from the dead (2Corinthians 5:14-15; 1Corinthians 15:3-4). It is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5), “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Regardless of the rage and vain imaginations of the heathen against him, according to his great mercy (Titus 3:5), God sent his Son into the world “that the world [the heathen] through him might be saved” (John 3:17)!

            The LORD’S king—God’s king is his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) The “Lamb…is Lord of lords, and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14; 1Timothy 6:14-15). At the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, on his vesture will be written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16) At that time “the kingdoms of this world” will become “the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

            The LORD’S holy hill of Zion—This is “mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2), which is “Jerusalem” (Matthew 5:35) When Pilate asked Jesus if he was a king, “Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) Upon “the mountains of Zion…the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psalm 133:3). It was in Jerusalem when the Lord Jesus told the Jews: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24; 3:16; 7:37-38)

THE SON DECLARES THE FATHER’S DECREE

Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree [predetermined purpose of God]…

The Father’s pure and incorruptible decree—It is imperative [essential] to understand that the only sure word of truth in “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4) is the Holy Bible. In his prayer for his disciples, Jesus said to his Father: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) Since God’s word is “incorruptible” (1Peter 1:23), it is the only “record” (1John 5:10) and “report” (Isaiah 53:1; John 12:38) which you can trust “with all thine heart” (Proverbs 30:5; 2Peter 1:19-21). David wrote: “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:6-7) See the blog post HOLY BIBLE under BIBLE (billpierce.org) for a more thorough study of God’s word.

RESURRECTION REVELATION

Psalm 2:7 “…the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”

Definition of begotten—Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary gives the following definition: ‘BEGET, v.t. pret. begot, begat; pp. begot, begotten: To procreate, as a father or sire; to generate; as, to beget a son.’ And to further clarify, Webster’s definition of ‘PROCREATE [L. procreo; pro and creo, to create] is: ‘To beget; to generate and produce; to engender; used properly of animals.’

Raised from the dead—By “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Corinthians 2:12-13), Bible believers may be confident that when God the Father said, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psalm 2:7), that he was not speaking about his Son’s physical conception and birth into this world, but of his Son’s physical resurrection from the dead (1Corinthians 15:3-4). We can be sure of this, because the apostle Paul declared unto those in the synagogue at Antioch “glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” (Acts 13:32-33; Hebrews 1:5-8) Perhaps the Father spoke these words when the Son entered into the holy place to obtain “eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12).

            He will never die again—The Lord Jesus Christ is the first—and until this time, February 2021, he is the only man to physically rise from the dead never to die again. After his glorious resurrection from the dead the Lord Jesus declared: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:18; 2:8). According to the word of God, we know “that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” (Romans 6:9) “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

His resurrection is essential—The salvation of men would be impossible had not the Lord Jesus Christ risen physically from the dead! For the “glorious gospel of Christ”—“how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3-4), “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) God’s word declares to all men [heathen]: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

            Faith without resurrection is vain—In 1Corinthians chapter fifteen the apostle declares the gospel (1Corinthians 15:3-4); and in the same chapter the absolute necessity of the resurrection is emphasized: “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1Corinthians 15:13-17)

            The light and glory of the resurrection—We know that “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” (2Corinthians 4:3-4) is the resurrection, because Isaiah prophesied of the Lord’s resurrection when he wrote: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (Isaiah 60:1-3). The new testament answers: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9-12) The apostle John wrote: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten [from the dead] of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) When the Lord Jesus comes back the second time, “every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7); and “When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” (Psalm 102:16)

            Hope and assurance by the resurrection—The apostle Peter wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1Peter 1:3-5) When the apostle Paul preached the gospel to the heathen men of Athens, he told them that God “now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

                        Old Testament believers—David said: “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17:15). Job said: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27)

ADDITIONAL TITLES FOR THE RESURRECTED SON

            First begotten of the dead—Jesus Christ “is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5). The apostle Paul testified before king Agrippa that he was “saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:22-23)

            Firstborn from the dead—The Son of God “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:15-18)

            Firstfruits of them that slept—The scripture declares: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man [“the man Christ Jesus” (1Timothy 2:5-6)] came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” (1Corinthians 15:20-23)

                        The church of the firstborn—All that are “in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) God “did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29) His brethren are members of his “body, the church” (Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 12:22-23). The Lord Jesus is “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18), and by the word of God we know that at the time of “the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14; Acts 24:15)—also called “the resurrection of life” (John 5:29); “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1Corinthians 15:51-53) This glorious resurrection will fulfill the prophecies of the apostle, who wrote: “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.” (1Corinthians 6:14); and, “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.” (2Corinthians 4:14) The apostle John declared: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1John 3:2).

The LORD is incomparable—With respect to the natural sons of men, the scriptures use the words “begat” and “begotten” many times (Genesis 5:3-4) But there is no comparison between the Creator and the creature! The Son’s “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) The scriptures declare: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:3); and: “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5) After his resurrection Jesus came and spoke to his disciples, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) Moses told Pharaoh, “there is none like unto the LORD our God” (Exodus 8:10) Moses said that the LORD was sending his plagues, “that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:13-14; Isaiah 46:9) David declared: “Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” (2Samuel 7:22; Psalm 86:8; Jeremiah 10:6-7) According to the word of God “the Son of God,” who appeared to Abraham as Melchisedec, has “neither beginning of days, nor end of life” (Hebrews 7:1-3); and By the Son of God “were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17) The psalmist declared: “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:1-2)

            Therefore, according to the scriptures God’s eternal Son was never procreated or generated! He “was God” (John 1:1)—“the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28): “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1Timothy 3:16; John 1:14)

            When the Son of God came into this world, he said to the Father, “Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me” (Hebrews 10:5). The physical body of the Son of God was conceived in Mary “of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:20-21) and prepared in her womb. At his first coming the Son “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7): “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (Hebrews 2:16) It is also written that God’s “Son Jesus Christ our Lord…was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:3-4).

The corrupted words of men—In his second letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul wrote: “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” (2Corinthians 2:17) Confusion will always result when men turn from the words of God to the words of men. For example, when any man turns to the Greek language to better understand God’s word, he reveals that he does not really believe that the King James Bible is the pure and preserved word of the LORD in the English language (Psalm 12:6-7). He does not believe that the LORD perfectly translated and defined all the words in the Greek Textus Receptus with pure English words in the King James Bible. It is vain for any man to seek clarification of God’s truth in Greek language dictionaries and lexicons in which many of the definitions are those given by Plato, Aristotle, and other heathen. So when men change the words of God in the King James Bible they produce corrupted heathenized bibles! They produce corrupt bibles with private interpretations contrary to the word of God which proclaims, “that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2Peter 1:20)! Such bible correctors appear to overlook God’s many serious warnings to men who would add or take away words from the Holy Bible (Revelation 22:18-19; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 3:5-6).

            The Lord Jesus said unto the Pharisees and scribes: “Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men…Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:6-13) For example the New American Standard Bible 1995/1997 reads: ‘No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him’ (John 1:18). ‘The [Nicene] Creed affirms that the Son possesses deity by being eternally “begotten” of the Father’ (The Only Begotten God, Credo.com). Both of these examples are ridiculous nonsense! Therefore the LORD commands, “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” (Isaiah 2:22); for “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5) “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” (Psalm 118:8; Proverbs 3:5-6) If you have not been “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8), then I pray that you will trust in “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13): “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).