It was now the morning of the fortieth day since his slumber in the tomb of the Arimathean had ended and Jesus had arisen to remove the death napkin from his face, to fold it and place it carefully upon the stone bench. The stone fitted into the slot of the door had been rolled aside by the two messengers, and as he prepared to walk from the sepulcher, they entered, and after saluting him took their respective places where he had lain, one at the head, the other at the feet. Since that day he had been with his followers, showing himself alive with frequent undeniable proofs. Often he had enjoyed intimate association with just a few of them, but upon the occasion in Galilee more than five hundred had assembled to look upon him and listen to him.
Now the work he had come to do was almost finished. The sleepless nights, the weary marches, the hunger and thirst, the prick of thorns, the agony of the cross, all of these, were behind him. These things he had endured while despising the shame, for he was confident of the joy that awaited. And today that joy would be his. He would leave the earth which he entered as a babe, from the summit of favored Olivet. As they walked toward it, he gave his final instructions to the little group whom he called so many months ago. Little did they know what the future held for them, but all things work together for good to those who love the Lord.
At last they stood at the place. Before them lay Jerusalem, the inhabitants not dreaming of the drama unfolding just outside their gates. He lifted his hands in benediction, and blessed them, and as he did he felt the transformation. Slowly he began to rise from their midst and as he ascended he could see their upturned faces, with mingled emotions written upon their features. His form grew smaller to their gaze and a cloud enveloped him. As he went upward the two messengers speeding earthward passed him, and he knew they would reassure the apostles.
Of a sudden he was met with the twenty thousand chariots of heaven, and surrounded by thousands upon thousands of the messengers. He had gone forth upon the announcement of Gabriel as a helpless babe, his birth signaled by the choir of messengers to humble shepherds. Now he was returning as a conqueror, the keys of death and Hades in his grasp. Long generations ago, he whose throne would now be occupied, moved by the Holy Spirit, had sung of this occasion "With mighty chariots, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place. Thou didst ascend the high mount, leading captives in thy train, and receiving gifts from men" (Psalm 68:17,18).
As the triumphant processional approached the gates of the city of the Eternal One, the mighty host burst into a reverberating chant, "Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in." The thousands of messengers inside, as if in challenge to such a bold demand, responded in unison, demanding identification, "Who is the King of glory?" The host accompanying him in joyful acclaim cried out, "The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the king of glory may come in!" Once again came the challenge, "Who is this king of glory!" The response followed, "The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!" The gates swung wide and the procession entered (Psalm 24:7-10).
"Thrones were placed and one that
was ancient of days took his seat;
his raiment was white as snow, and
the hair of his head was like pure wool;
His throne was fiery flames, its
wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued and came
forth from before him;
A thousand thousands served
him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him...
And behold, with the clouds of
heaven
there came one like a son of
man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him" (Daniel 7:9-13).
The fullness of glory was manifest. In the
midst of the city of the Eternal One stood the throne with the
vacant place at the right hand of the Ancient of Days. Around the
throne was the rainbow that looked like an emerald. There were
twenty-four additional thrones, and upon these were seated the
twenty-four elders, dressed in shining white, and with golden
crowns on their heads. Before the throne was as it were a sea of
glass, like crystal. Round the throne, on each side were the four
living creatures, each with six wings, and full of eyes all round
and within, chanting without cessation "Holy, holy, holy, is the
Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" With the
ascription of praise by the living creatures, the elders would
prostrate themselves before the throne, and removing their crowns
would cast them before the throne, while chanting,
"Worthy art thou, our Lord and
God,
to receive glory and honor and
power, for thou didst create all things,
and by thy will they existed and
were created" (Rev. 4).
It was such a scene as greeted the Son of man when he was presented before the Ancient of Days for the coronation ceremony. The inaugural address was made by the Father in the audience "of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands." To these waiting thousands he made his proclamation "Let all God's angels worship him." In this one sentence the hierarchy of celestial messengers--principalities, powers, dominions--all were made subject to the Prince of peace.
Turning to the Son, the Father said, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades. Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool. The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes! The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.' Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end."
Anointed with the oil of gladness, wearing the diadem of grace, the Son sat down with the Father on his throne. The Reign of the Messiah was now a fact.