Jesus – Monarch or Figurehead
Sovereign Ruler or Cultural Icon
I was in Cuba in about the year 2000. Fidel Castro was still in power. The Christians there were wonderful people. They had occasional freedom. However, once in a while a church building would be bulldozed to the ground just to remind everyone “who was in control”.
Centuries ago leaders of some European nations exercised total control which began to erode. In particular, the British throne slowly became a figurehead until it devolved into a cultural icon. In theory, the throne still holds some power today but mainly it is a reminder of a bygone era of an empire of great importance and authority. A few years ago someone said,
“The Queen is to act only on the advice of her ministers, who these days hold elected office.”
Has Jesus slowly changed from Sovereign Ruler to cultural icon? Has His influence changed from Monarch to impractical figurehead? If so, this is because of “ministers” and policy makers who encroach on His rightful place and establish their “theology” as dominant.
For instance, Jesus would make a poor prophecy teacher by comparison to today's teachers. His chart would not look like anyone else. But what if Jesus knew what He was talking about? What if His teaching on end-time events was correct and everyone else was inventing a scenario that was false? How many would vote for Jesus and turn their backs on the others? I'm afraid that Jesus would not get honorable mention. We use His name, for instance, in “Christianity”. We compare Him to other world religions and boast of the superiority of our Icon. We read the New Testament and daydream of the glorious olden days when our Figurehead took on the religious leaders of His day and took them apart publicly. But what about what He said?
Well, that's for the Jews. That was a figure of speech. That was a metaphor. That was a prophecy. That was one of the mysterious things of God we're not supposed to understand yet.
Why do we ignore most of what Jesus taught? Because of His self-appointed cabinet of ministers. Jesus said that ...the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence...(Matt 11:12). The Kingdom of God does not suffer violence (Luke 16:16). An earthly, political, temporary “kingdom” endures the ambition of willful men. By contrast, the Kingdom of God does not allow such desire of headstrong men. Which Kingdom do you understand yourself to be in? The Kingdom that men are building or the Kingdom where Christ alone is the final Word?
Jesus gave us the most detailed instructions about His return. Most Bible prophecy teachers say, Nah, it doesn't matter. Things will happen when they happen. By sharp contrast, Jesus said Watch! Be ready! Remember Lot's wife! Jesus said that we do not know the exact moment of His return. Therefore, because of that, Be Ready! Prophecy teachers today say, We don't know when Jesus will return so...forget about it. Nothing could be so opposite.
How can we tell who is true and who is false? It's very simple. Men who agree with Jesus' teaching are true emissaries of Christ. Men who teach us to ignore Him are false, though they may not be intentionally doing so.
Are we going to ignore Jesus, the symbolic royalty, and listen to the self-appointed cabinet members?
Or
Are we going to listen to the Teacher and future World Dictator Jesus the Christ?
We have to decide now. It really will make all the difference in the world.
Aug 3, 2025