Our Immortal King

This past week, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died after reigning over the United Kingdom and several other nations for just over 70 years. The British monarch as sovereign over several nations or as head of the British Commonwealth is over roughly one-third of the world’s population. As a history buff, I’ve long been fascinated with the British royal family—after all, much of our own nation’s history is wrapped up with British royalty and a great deal of the United States Constitution is in response to the British royal family; of course, those days are long past, but still. . . .

We don’t do royalty in this country, and the United Kingdom’s system of government is so foreign to us. Yet, you and I have a King, a King who is immortal and shall never die.

• “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Is 9:7).
• “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Dan 7:14).
• “Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth” (Rev 1:5).
• “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev 17:14).
• “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev 19:16).

King Jesus isn’t going to die (cf. 1 Tim 1:17). He did—he died an excruciatingly painful death—but he came forth from the tomb and destroyed death once for all. Jesus “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim 1:10). Our King reigns forever and ever in our hearts and in his church. The BBC and British politicians keep referring to Queen Elizabeth II as “our longest reigning monarch;” she may have been the longest reigning human monarch in British history, but we have a Monarch who reigned long before Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was ever born and who shall reign until he comes again and returns the kingdom to the Father (1 Cor 15:24-28).

Praise God for a King whom we can serve forever and ever!

This article was originally written by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., for the weekly newsletter at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.