Coachlight Bible Study

 

Solomon – Type of Christ’s Millennial Reign

 

The reign of Solomon is one of the most glorious in the entire history of Israel. Certainly his dominion and wealth were the greatest ever and rulers of many nations came to see his splendour and listen to his wisdom. If ever there was an imperfect type of Jesus’ perfect millennium reign, this was it. There are a number of similarities between Solomon’s reign and the one for which we all wait and we will see some of them in this lesson.

 

I. We Can See Solomon’s Reign Beginning With Judgement

 

I Kings 2:25  And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

I Kings 2:26  And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. {worthy…: Heb. a man of death}

 

I Kings 2:32  And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

I Kings 2:33  Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.

I Kings 2:34  So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

 

I Kings 2:44  The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

I Kings 2:45  And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

I Kings 2:46  So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.


A. The first thing that we should notice is that the reign of Solomon began with judgement.

1. Men who had lived through the entire reign of David and had got away with many hideous crimes

2. But now got their fair punishment.

 

B. This same thing happens at the start of Christ’s millennial reign on earth

1. People in our age commit great sins against both God and man and for the time being, do not seem to be judged for their actions.

2. God in His mercy and patience allows them time to repent

3. But He has set aside a day when he will judge the world.

4. When Solomon’s reign began, judgement was pronounced on wicked men.

5. So it is with the return and reign of Jesus – it begins with judgement.

 

Matthew 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Matthew 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

 

I Corinthians 4:5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 

II. We Can See The Wisdom of God

 

I Kings 3:5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

I Kings 3:6  And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. {mercy: or, bounty}

I Kings 3:7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

I Kings 3:8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

I Kings 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? {understanding: Heb. hearing}

I Kings 3:10  And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

I Kings 3:11  And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; {long life: Heb. many days} {discern: Heb. hear}

I Kings 3:12  Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

I Kings 3:13  And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. {shall…: or, hath not been}

 

A. God was pleased with Solomon’s request

1. He said I will give you a wise and discerning heart

2. There never has been anyone like you, and never will be

3. Except the One Who already is

4. The One in whom Solomon’s reign was just a shadow.

5. Of all the men that had lived, Solomon was the wisest there had ever been.

a. He judged righteously and many came from all over just to hear his wisdom.

b. But even Solomon cannot compare with the soon coming rule of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

 

Isaiah 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isaiah 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isaiah 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: {quick…: Heb. scent or, smell}

Isaiah 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. {reprove: or, argue}

Isaiah 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

 

B. Wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and counsel are all parts of the millennial rule of Christ.

1. In this age we struggle to discern correctly, not knowing others hearts.

2. Not so when Jesus reigns.

a. True justice will be applied in every situation

b. Nothing can escape the limitless understanding of the God-Man


I Kings 4:29  And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

I Kings 4:30  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

I Kings 4:31  For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

I Kings 4:32  And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

I Kings 4:33  And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

I Kings 4:34  And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

The last line of this quote says ‘Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.’ How true this is of Jesus’ reign. We know from prophecy that

 

Isaiah 2:1  The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:2  And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. {established: or, prepared}

Isaiah 2:3  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:4  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. {pruninghooks: or, scythes}

Isaiah 2:5  O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

 

C. How great this is going to be

D. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

 

III. We Can See The Prince of Peace

 

I Chronicles 22:6  Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.

I Chronicles 22:7  And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:

I Chronicles 22:8  But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

I Chronicles 22:9  Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. {Solomon: that is, Peaceable}

 

A. This verse says that one of the main characteristics of Solomon’s reign was peace.

1. King David had not been allowed to build the temple because he had been a man of war

2. Instead this was granted to his son Solomon

a. A man of ‘peace and rest’ whom

b. God would grant him rest from all his enemies on every side.

B. There is no better picture of the reign of Christ

1. The name of Solomon even means ‘peace’

2. The following verses speak of the peace in coming kingdom of Jesus Christ.

 

Isaiah 2:3  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:4  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. {pruninghooks: or, scythes}

 

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:8  The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

 

Isaiah 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 11:8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. {cockatrice’: or, adder’s}

Isaiah 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.


IV. We Can See The Rebuilding of the Temple

 

I Kings 6:1  And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. {began…: Heb. built}

I Kings 6:14  So Solomon built the house, and finished it.

 

A. Solomon built the house, and finished it.

B. Like Solomon, Jesus will build the temple in His Kingdom.

1. This is the temple that has been described in Ezekiel Chapters 40-46 that has not yet been constructed.

2. It has been written in Zechariah that the Messiah will do this.

 

Zechariah 6:11  Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

Zechariah 6:12  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: {grow…: or, branch up from under him}

Zechariah 6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

 

C. The title of the Branch is a known name given to the Messiah.

D. The crowning of Joshua in this passage foreshadowed the crowning of the Messiah

1. Who, at His second coming,

2. Would build the temple

3. Unite the offices of King and Priest in one person

4. Like Melchizedek did

 

Genesis 14:18  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Genesis 14:19  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Genesis 14:20  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.


E. In this present age, each member of the church is the temple of God

 

I Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 

1. An habitation for God himself to dwell.

2. Jesus has also been the builder of this temple as he declared to Peter

 

Matthew 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. {Peter: this name signifies a rock}

 

V. We Can See The Ark and the Glory Return

 

I Kings 8:6  And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

I Kings 8:7  For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

I Kings 8:8  And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day. {ends: Heb. heads} {holy…: or, ark}

I Kings 8:9  There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. {when the: or, where the}

I Kings 8:10  And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

I Kings 8:11  So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

 

A. Now the temple is completed and the ark of God is returned to the Holy of Holies

1. God showed His pleasure in all that had been done

2. He filled the temple with His presence and glory.

B. The ark of God is a type of Christ Himself

1. He is the manifest presence and power of God.

2. The same glory that filled the temple will, in the Kingdom to come, be visible for the world to see.


Isaiah 24:23  Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. {before…: or, there shall be glory before his ancients}

 

Isaiah 40: 5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

 

Isaiah 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. {shine…: or, be enlightened; for thy light cometh}

Isaiah 60:2  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.

Isaiah 60:3  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

 

VI. We Can See The Exaltation Of Israel

 

I Kings 10:4  And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built,

I Kings 10:5  And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. {attendance: Heb. standing} {cupbearers: or, butlers}

I Kings 10:6  And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. {report: Heb. word} {acts: or, sayings}

I Kings 10:7  Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. {thy…: Heb. thou hast added wisdom and goodness to}

I Kings 10:8  Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

I Kings 10:9  Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

 

1 Kings 10:23  So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

1 Kings 10:24  And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. {sought to: Heb. sought the face of}

1 Kings 10:25  And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1 Kings 10:26  And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.

1 Kings 10:27  And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. {made: Heb. gave}


A. The last characteristic of Solomon’s reign was the exalted position that Israel held among the nations.

1. When the Queen of Sheba came

a. she was ‘overwhelmed’

b. She ascribed all that she saw and heard to the LORD’s eternal love for Israel.

2. Solomon’s reign was a wonderful influence among the Gentile nations,

a. There were many sending representatives to bow and pay homage at the footstool of his throne.

b. Israel was praised among the nations and peace reigned.

B. The millennial kingdom also displays the pre-eminence of Israel as out of her will come the Word and glory of the Lord.

 

Micah 4:2  And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

 

Zechariah 8: 20  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:

Zechariah 8:21  And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. {speedily: or, continually: Heb. going} {to pray…: Heb. to entreat the face of}

Zechariah 8:22  Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. {to pray…: Heb. to entreat the face of}

Zechariah 8:23  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

 

C. In this present age, the Jew is still bearing the effects of having forsaken God

1. For the last 2000 years

a. Israel has faced more persecution than any other people in the world

b. Israel has faced more trials than any other people in the world.

2. Just as in Solomon’s day - Israel was exalted and supreme

D. The day is coming when God again shall fulfil His promises to His chosen nation

1. Her glory and splendour shall be restored.

2. Gentiles will take the hand of the Jew knowing that God is with them

3. Jesus himself will rule from Jerusalem for it is written

 

Isaiah 24:23  Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. {before…: or, there shall be glory before his ancients}

 

Zechariah 14:8  And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. {former: or, eastern}

Zechariah 14:9  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Zechariah 14:10  All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses. {turned: or, compassed} {inhabited: or, shall abide}

Zechariah 14:11  And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. {shall be: or, shall abide}

Zechariah 14:12  And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Zechariah 14:13  And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

Zechariah 14:14  And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. {Judah…: or, thou also, O Judah shalt} {at: or, against}

Zechariah 14:15  And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

Zechariah 14:16  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.


Solomon – A Type Of Christ’s Millennial Reign

Solomon’s Reign

Christ’s Millennial Reign

Solomon’s Reign Began With Judgment – I Kings 2:25-34; I Kings 2:44-46

Christ’s Reign Will Begin With Judgment – Matthew 25:31-32; I Corinthians 4:5

The Wisdom Of God Was Present In Solomon’s Reign – I Kings 3:5-13; I Kings 4:29-34

Christ Is The Wisdom Of God – Isaiah 11:1-5; Isaiah 2:1-5

Solomon Is A Shadow Of The Prince Of Peace – I Chronicles 22:6-9

Christ Is The Prince Of Peace – Isaiah 2:3-4; Isaiah 9:6-8; Isaiah 11:6-9

Solomon Built The Temple Of God – I Kings 6:11-13

Christ will Reign With His Bride, Each Member Being The Temple Of God – Genesis 14:18-20; Matthew 16:16-18; I Corinthians 6:19

The Ark Of The Covenant And The Glory Of God Returned With Solomon’s Reign – I Kings 8:6-11

Christ Is The Glory Of God And  His Glory Will Be Revealed During His Reign – Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 60:1-3

The Nation Of Israel Was Exalted During Solomon’s Reign – I Kings 10:4-9; I Kings 10:23-27

All Nations Will Seek The Lord When He Rules From Jerusalem – Micah 4:2; Zechariah 8:20-23; Isaiah 24:23; Zechariah 14:8-16