THE INHERITANCE OF THE SON

Psalm 2:8 “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”

Ask—As the Father said to his Son, “Ask of me,” so the Son also said unto his disciples: “Ask, and it shall be given you…how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:7-8, 11; 21:22) God promises each and every 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…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS—The Son will inherit the heathen at his second coming, but there are two major things which must take place before the Son comes to conquer and rule the world as “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1Timothy 6:15).

            The first resurrection (Revelation 20:5-6)—Born again believers are “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13). We are looking for “the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14), when the Lord will come soon to catch his church up to meet him in the air (1Thessalonians 4:16-18; 1Corinthians 15:51-53).

            The time of Jacob’s trouble—Then, after a brief unspecified time, the “man of sin…the son of perdition” (2Thessalonians 2:3) will be revealed. He will confirm Israel’s covenant with death and with hell (Isaiah 28:15-18) “with many for one week [seven years]” (Daniel 9:27).

                        Billions of heathen will die!—The Lord Jesus spoke of this devastating week of years, called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Jesus said: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake [the people of Israel (Isaiah 45:4; 65:9, 22)] those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22) During this most terrible time of all world history one half of the world’s total population will die: first a fourth will be killed by Death and Hell, “with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8). And after that a third of the remainder of men will be killed by supernatural horsemen and horses (Revelation 9:13-21).

            The second coming of Christ—The “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) will come to an abrupt and surprising end when “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2Thessalonians 1:7-10) After the Son’s complete victory over all the nations [heathen] of the world, the seventh angel will sound, and voices in heaven will announce: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

            Satan blinds the heathen—At this present time, 2021, Satan, “the god of this world” (2Corinthians 4:4), has prospered many deceived men with the carnal and short lived temporal things of this world: fame, fortunes, power, riches, and many other things. By his lies Satan has “blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2Corinthians 4:3-4)

THE INHERITANCE OF BELIEVERS

Incorruptible—The apostle Peter declared that God the Father, “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)!

Eternal—The Lord Jesus made our inheritance incorruptible and eternal, because, “by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us…And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:12-15) We who have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) know that it was “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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)

            God’s adopted heirs—God has predestinated all believers in Christ Jesus “unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5) The word of God declares a universal and an “eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15) for all of God’s children: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7); and again: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God…” (Romans 8:14-17) James asked, “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5) Daniel prophesied: “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)

            Joint heirs with Christ—Paul also declared a conditional inheritance which will only be received by faithful saints [those saints who in this life, “suffer for righteousness’ sake” (1Peter 3:14)]. These saints will be made “…joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:17; Luke 22:24-30; 2Timothy 3:12; Philippians 1:29-30; Colossians 3:23-24)

DURING THE SON’S THOUSAND YEAR REIGN

Psalm 2:9 “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Fulfilled at the second coming of the Son—This prophecy will come to pass when the Son shall come with “all the saints” with him (Zechariah 14:5), “with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 1:14; 1Thessalonians 4:14): “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” (Revelation 19:14). The Lord Jesus will come to “judge and make war…And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16; 12:5)

            Joint rule—The Lord will make the “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) “kings and priests unto God and his Father” (Revelation 1:6), “and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10) In his letter to the church at Thyatira, the Lord Jesus said: “And he that overcometh [All born again believers “are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)], and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” (Revelation 2:26-27; 20:6)

GOD’S MERCIFUL COUNSEL TO THE HEATHEN

Psalm 2:10 “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Wise men hear God’s counsel—“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” (Proverbs 1:5; 12:15; 19:20) Wise men will fear the LORD, for “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7): “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” (Proverbs 15:33)

Psalm 2:11 “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

Fear and great joy—When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulchre on the first day of the week, the “angel of the Lord…said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen…And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.” (Matthew 28:1-8) Even though we have not yet seen the Lord Jesus Christ, we still believe and “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1Peter 1:1-8)

PEACE WITH GOD

Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.

Kiss the Son—In former days, and still among some societies, according to Adam Clarke the kiss is a ‘token of subjection and friendship…the ancient mode of showing respect for one of superior rank…of doing homage or allegiance to a king’ (1Samuel 10:1). According to Albert Barnes, ‘The meaning here is that they should express their allegiance to the Son of God…recognize him as their authorized King with suitable expression of submission and allegiance; that they should receive him as King, and submit to his reign…that they should embrace him as their Saviour.’

            The terrifying alternative—In other words this verse commands the heathen to, ‘Kiss the Son, for fear that he be angry and ye perish.’ When some of the people told Jesus how Pilate had shed the blood of the Galilaeans, he said unto them: “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:1-5) The unbelieving heathen “is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18-19) Against the good and merciful will of God (2Peter 3:9), the heathen who refuse to repent and believe “shall utterly perish in their own corruption” (2Peter 2:9-12). They “shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2Thessalonians 1:9)!

Only one way of peace—God’s only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ declared to his disciple Thomas: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) The Son is also called, “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and “the dayspring from on high [who] hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:76-79): “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

            The heathen have no peace—“The way of peace they [the unbelieving heathen] know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” (Isaiah 59:4-8). Therefore, “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21): “And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)

TRUST AND BE BLESSED FOR EVER

Psalm 2:12 “…Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

The everlasting blessing of trust (Psalm 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; Jeremiah 17:7)—I was once a heathen man who was blinded by the “god of this world” to “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” (2Corinthians 4:3-4). But one rainy day in June of 1979, when I was forty one years of age, as I read the four gospels, the Lord called me by “the word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:5; 2Thessalonians 2:13-14; Ephesians 4:4); “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). On that very same day the entrance of God’s words brought light to my spirit and soul (Psalm 119:130), and according to his mercy God saved me (Titus 3:5). On that greatest day of my life, by the love, grace, mercy, and power of the Lord, I “passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24; 1John 3:14) I “trusted in Christ” after I read and believed the gospel of Christ. Then I was “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:12-14) The Lord has raised me up out of the dust; he has lifted me “out of the dunghill” (Psalm 113:7-8), and he has made me to “inherit the throne of glory” (1Samuel 2:8). “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” (Psalm 40:2) Because the Lord is “not willing that any [heathen] should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9), he “now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

            “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).