1520. Christ, the Heir of All Things
Christ, the Heir of All Things
"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds" (Heb_1:2).
There are five things in the 1st chapter of Hebrews that are vitally connected with our Lord's Return.
We will notice them one at a time.
1. Christ, the appointed Heir. Far back in the purposes of God, the Lord Jesus Christ was made the heir of all things. Since "all things were created by Him, and for Him, * * and by Him all things consist," therefore the Lord Jesus Christ should be acknowledged heir of all things.
The fact remains, however, that satan has usurped the place of authority, and seeks to retain possession of the kingdoms of this world.
In the 20th chapter of Luke, the story is told of the vineyard being let out to husbandmen. When the lord of the vineyard sent his beloved son, they said, "This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours" (Luk_20:14). "So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him" (Luk_20:15). This is just what satan did with Christ, he slew Him, and claims the inheritance. However, God has decreed that Jesus Christ shall yet be heir of all things.
2. Christ planning the ages. Our key text says, "By Whom also He made the worlds;" the marginal rendering is, "planned the ages."
We are living now in the sixth dispensation, or age of man. There is another dispensation, The Thousand Years, which lies just ahead. Beyond that, there are "the ages to come." These ages were all mapped out by the Lord Jesus, and they carry us into that consummation of glory which awaits the people of God.
3. Christ's Second Advent. In Heb_1:6, we read, "And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the inhabited earth (A. S. V., marg.), He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him." This passage has definite reference to the Second Coming. He will come "again," and He will come as the "firstbegotten," that is, as the One who was "raised from the dead." Neither of these words could be said of the first coming.
The Second Coming is the message of Hebrews, and it is the "confession of the hope" held by the saints.
4. Christ, the Son, enthroned. Heb_1:8, following upon the return of Christ into the inhabited earth, says: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy Kingdom." This passage is a quotation from the 45th Psalm. The Psalm begins: "My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the King." It is clearly a Psalm of the Messianic Kingdom. Thus, Jesus Christ, in Hebrews, is the destined King of kings, and Lord of lords.
5. Christ, temporarily, at the Father's right hand. Chapter 1 concludes with the Father saying unto the Son, "Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." The passage affirms that the Lord Jesus is not to remain at the Father's right hand; He is to come forth, to enter upon His heirship. In the meanwhile His angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who are the heirs of salvation.
Summing up the 1st chapter, we have: (1) Jesus Christ, the Heir; (2) Jesus Christ, planning the ages; (3) Jesus Christ returning to the inhabited earth; (4) Jesus Christ taking His throne; and (5)
Jesus Christ, sitting at the Father's right hand, until the time for His return has come.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR