In the sermon 'The Ascension' by Pastor Grant Brown, Psalm 2 is presented as a prophetic scripture concerning the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Pastor Brown emphasizes that Psalm 2, as quoted in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Hebrews, illustrates the fulfillment of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, climaxing with His ascension to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. The sermon elaborates on the significance of Jesus' ascension, highlighting its role in the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham, which include blessings to all nations through the seed of Abraham, identified as Christ. Pastor Brown argues that Jesus' ascension establishes Him as King of Kings, granting Him authority over the nations and enabling the church to proclaim the Gospel. This authority, as depicted in Psalm 2 and reinforced through the book of Revelation, is seen as Jesus' rule through His church, where believers are called to share the Gospel, inviting all to seek refuge in Him. The sermon concludes by urging individuals and nations to worship Jesus as the sovereign ruler who has redeemed the world through His sacrifice.

A couple questions to very briefly review. Who is Psalm 2 all about? The Lord Jesus Christ. And what is Psalm 2 all about? The death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts chapter 4 tells us that Psalm 2 verses 1 through 3 are prophecies concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, prophecies fulfilled 2, 000 years ago as Jesus cried out, it is finished. And Acts chapter 13 tells you that verse 7 of Psalm 2 is a prophecy concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the first begotten of the dead, and the prophecy of Psalm 2 verse 7 was fulfilled three days after the fulfillment of verses 1 through 3 of Psalm 2, 2, 000 years ago. So you've got verses one through three fulfilled 2, 000 years ago, and you got verse seven of Psalm 2 fulfilled three days later, 2, 000 years ago. So that what you have in Psalm 2 is you have the rulers and the kings of the earth, you got Pilate and Herod, you have the Gentiles and Jews, and you have them taking counsel together against the Lord's anointed, against Jesus to put him to death.

And what do they do? They do just that. They nail Jesus to a cross and he dies. And he's put in a tomb, verses 1 through 3. The next verse you have in Psalm two is you have God laughing, divine laughter.

Why? Because the rulers of the age crucified the Lord of glory, which was precisely what God had purposed to be done before the foundations of the world had been laid. In the covenant of redemption this was God's way to redeem the world and so God laughs. They fell for it. This was exactly what God had purpose to do to redeem the world.

And then after the divine laughter, you have the resurrection in verse seven, which comes on the heels of what God says in verse six, I have installed my king on Mount Zion. So we've talked through all this the last two Lord's days. Now we're getting to that verse. I've installed my king upon Mount Zion. Now where is Mount Zion?

Well Mount Zion Hebrews 12 22. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 12 22 tells you that Mount Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem, which is exactly where Jesus goes after his ascension. Do you remember Ephesians chapter 1 verse 20? God the Father rose Jesus Christ his son from the dead and he seated him at his right hand into heavenly places.

That's Mount Zion. That's where Jesus ascends to after his resurrection. So you put Ephesians 1 20 and Hebrews 12 22 together and what do you get? You get Psalm 2 verse 6. Jesus Christ installed at the right hand of God as the King of Kings on Mount Zion after his ascension.

It's what you get. But are we sure? Are you sure about that? I'm going to adjust this. I don't know what's up, Matthew.

Oh, something with the connection maybe. What if I do this? Weird, isn't it? Okay maybe that fixed it something think it's better? Think it's better?

It's not better I don't get it okay So are we sure? Are we sure that Psalm 2 is describing not just the crucifixion of Jesus, not just the resurrection of Jesus, but also the ascension of Jesus Christ? Are you sure that Psalm 2 is describing things? Yikes. They'll preach from this.

Is Psalm 2 describing the essential? That's what I've been trying to say. Okay, well you have to ask the same question that you've been asking for the past few weeks. Does the New Testament quote from Psalm 2 and tell you how to interpret? Does The New Testament tell you that verse 6 and verses 8 and 9 are about the ascension.

If the New Testament were to tell you that, that would sure be helpful, wouldn't it? Give you some kind of indication. Well, we saw that the New Testament already has quoted lots of this song. We saw this in Acts 4 and Acts 13. But now we're going to go to the book of Hebrews.

Turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 1. We're answering the question right now, is Psalm 2 referring to the ascension of Jesus Christ? Is Psalm 2 referring to the ascension of Jesus Christ? Hebrews chapter 1, look at verses 3 through 5. Hebrews 1 beginning in verse 3, and he, that is Jesus Christ, he is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature.

And he upholds all things by the word of his power. Now listen to this part. When he made purification of sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, and having become as much better than the angels as he has inherited a more excellent name than they, for to which of the angels did he ever say, You are my son, today I have begotten you? Now did you see Psalm 2 in Hebrews 1 verse 5? You see that there?

Hebrews 1 verse 5 quotes Psalm 2 verse 7 directly. And we already know that Psalm 2 verse 7 is talking about what? It starts with an R and ends with exon. Resurrection. So what's going on here in Hebrews chapter one then?

So you need to listen carefully. Please listen carefully. You have the author of Hebrews in verse three saying Jesus made purification for sins. How? That was at the cross.

That was Psalm 2 verses 1 through 3. Purification for sins. And after he made the purification for sins, what did he do? Look at the end of verse 3. He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

So Hebrews 1 verse 3 said he made purification for sins. He did what the first part of Psalm 2 was all about. Keep going in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3. And then he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. That's verse 3 of Hebrews 1.

And what did he become when he sat down at the right hand of God the Father? Look at verse 4. Having become as much better than the angels, so he's Superior over angels as a result of what verse 3 Jesus made purification for sins He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high and verse 4. He became superior to the angels Okay, so how did he make purification for sins? Jesus Christ hung on a cross for you sinner.

He bled and died to take away your sins, to atone for your sins. That's awesome! But He didn't stop there. He then sat down at the right hand of God. That's the ascension, is it not?

Becoming superior to the angels, that's the ascension. Then verse 5 answers the question, how did he become superior to angels? How did that happen? Because of what happened in Psalm 2 verse 7. That's what the Hebrew writer says.

Made purification for sins. Sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. He became superior to angels. How on earth did he become all of that? What is the foundation for all of that?

Hebrews 1 5 says Psalm 2 7 That's the foundation for all of that the author of Hebrews tells you What Psalm 2 verse 7 is about the resurrection is completely tied to Jesus ascending into heaven and sitting at God's right hand So I hope you're getting this Verse three of Hebrews 1 he made purification for sins He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high verse 4 he became superior to angels how so verse 5 because of what happened in Psalm 2 verse 7 because of the resurrection he was raised from the dead and because he was raised Hebrews 1 3 says he ascended and he sat down the right hand of the Majesty on high. And again, Ephesians 1.20 uses the exact same language. God raised him from the dead and seated him in his right hand in the heavenly places. So What is the author of Hebrews telling you in Hebrews chapter 1? He's saying Psalm 2 is about the ascension.

The author of Hebrews, you can't get past Hebrews 1 without saying on some level, the author of Hebrews wants you to connect Psalm 2 to the ascension because he does that. You see that? How does verse 3 happen? Because Psalm 2-7 happened. So Psalm 2-7 is about the ascension of Jesus Christ.

The author of Hebrews wants you to read Psalm 2. And he wants you to think of what? He wants you to think of the death of Christ and the purification of sins. He wants you to think of the resurrection of Christ. He wants you to think of the ascension of Christ.

Will you read Psalm 2? But that's not the only thing that the author of Hebrews says. He keeps going in chapter 5. If you return to the right just a couple pages you would go to Hebrews 5. He quotes Psalm 2 again.

Hebrews chapter 5. This chapter is all about the priesthood. The high priest was appointed by God. So what about the great high priest, Jesus? Hebrews 5 verse 5.

So also Christ did not glorify himself so as to become a high priest, but he who said to him, you are my son, today I have begotten you. So how is Jesus Christ, your Savior, qualified to be your great high priest? How is he qualified? He is the Son of God and because God the Father declared it so He raised His Son from the dead. He did.

Psalm 2 verse 7. That's what makes Him qualified to be your great High Priest. The author of Hebrews says the ultimate qualification for Jesus Christ being the great High Priest is Psalm chapter 2. Psalm chapter 2 verse 7. He was the Son of God, the first begotten from the dead.

Now get this, the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The only way you can be the great high priest is if you get raised from the dead, firstborn from the dead. That's the only way you can be the great high priest. You defeat death.

You defeat the wages of sin So that you can enter into the holy of holy see the the holy place you can enter into mountain Zion You can be ascended on high and You're without sin because you defeated You're unblemished Not only are you unblemished though? Sin The wages of it conquered through your work. That's how you get to become the great high priest. And that's exactly what Jesus is. He was the son of God, first begotten of the dead, and now he's doing Romans chapter eight verses 34 for you Christian.

Christ Jesus is he who died, yes, rather he who was raised who was at the right hand of God, and what's he doing? He's receding for you. He's receding for you Christian at the right hand of God, which means what? To be the great high priest, he had to ascend into heaven. He had to get to the right hand of God.

He had to defeat death. Hebrews 5 says that's what Psalm 2 is talking about. When you get to Psalm 2, you have to remember that the New Testament would tell you, you're supposed to think of the ascension as well when you think about Psalm chapter 2. The author of Hebrews wants you to know that what was prophesied in Psalm 2 was fulfilled two thousand years ago, not just in the death of Christ, not just in the resurrection of Christ, but very much in the ascension of Jesus Christ, your Lord, superior to angels and your great high priest. So if all that I said is true, and I just showed you it is, If Psalm 2 verse 6 is talking about the ascension, and it is, then let's see what verses 8 and 9 mean in light of what we now know.

The ascension of the King of Kings, This is glorious stuff. So go back with me to Psalm 2. Go back with me to Psalm 2. Read verses 8 and 9 with me once more. God the Father says to Jesus' son, who he's installed as king on Mount Zion.

Here's what God the Father says to his son, installed on Mount Zion, verse eight. Ask of me, and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance. And the very ends of the earth is your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall shatter them like earthenware So here's what you have in Psalm 2 one review really quick the death of Jesus Christ in verses 1 through 3 the laughter of God in verse 4 The resurrection of Christ his son in verse 7.

Now you have the ascension of his son in verse 6 as the king upon Mount Zion and beginning in verse 8 God the Father Tells King Jesus installed upon Mount Zion installed upon his throne Ask me for the nations Ask me for the nations and I will surely give them to you as your inheritance. Ask me for the nations and I'll give them to you. Now, does that dialogue in verse 8 seem odd to you? I think anybody that's honest will say, yeah, The death of Christ, I get that. He died for my sins, according to the Scriptures.

He was raised up for my justification, according to the Scriptures. And He was ascended. Oh wait, wait, what's the importance about the ascension again? What did that do? I get the death, I get the resurrection, but the ascension?

And then not only did he ascend, but in verse 8, God the Father tells his ascended son, go ahead and ask me for the nations. Why? What does Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, ascended and seated at the right hand of God the Father, what does that have to do with verse 8 of Psalm 2? Ask of me and I'll surely give the nations as your inheritance. What do the nations have to do with the ascension of Jesus Christ?

That's the question. I'm glad you asked that question. So turn with me to Genesis Genesis chapter 12 gonna be all over our Bible this morning Genesis chapter 12 this is glorious This is glorious. Genesis 12, And look at verse 3. In Genesis 12 you have God making covenant promises to Abram.

And in chapter 12 verse 3 the living God promises a blessing. Verse 3. And I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. So what does God promise? It's really just one word God promises blessing and particularly a blessing to who look at the end of the verse all the families of the earth now when you read all the families of the year you know what that means in Hebrew all the families of the earth just wanted to make sure you knew that So now turn with me to Genesis 22.

So in Genesis 12 you have God the Father blessing Abram. All the families of the earth will get my blessing that's coming through you Abram, blessing to all the earth. And now we get to Genesis chapter 22, look at verse 18. Genesis 22, 18. Again, God is promising something to Abraham now and in Genesis 22 18 it says this in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

Okay so according to God's promise to Abram, according to God's promise to Abraham, what's coming? A seed from Abraham who will bring blessing blessing to who to all the nations of the earth to all the families of the earth you see that not not not hard to see so we'll go to Genesis 12 Genesis 22 God is promising blessing to all the families of the earth to all the nations of the earth through what through the seed of Abraham blessings all the earth all the nations, through the seed of Abraham. You see that? Who is that seed? Write it in your notes.

Galatians 3.16 tells you that that seed is the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me quote it for you, Galatians 3.16. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed and he does not say and to seeds as referring to many but rather to one and to your seed that is Christ." Paul made it really clear, didn't he? The seed is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the promised blessing.

Jesus is the promised seed. Jesus Christ is the promised seed and blessing promised to Abraham. Jesus Christ is the promised seed of blessing promised to Noah. Jesus Christ is the promised seed of blessing promised to Adam in the garden after the fall, the one who will come to crush the serpent under his feet and bless the world. Jesus is the promised seed of blessing.

And what is it that Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 are all about? The promised seed of blessing. You might say, how on earth are you getting that? How does Psalm 1 start? How blessed is the man?

Psalm 1 begins with the blessed man. How does Psalm 2 end? How blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 2 ends with the blessed man. So you've got Psalm 1 begins with the blessed man.

Blessing. Psalm 2 ends with the blessing what's all one and song to about the blessing and who is it that promised the blessed man who is it who is who is it that was promised his blessed man Abraham was Adam was and who is that promise blessed who is that promise seed Jesus Christ. He is the Lord's anointed. Crucified in Psalm 2 verses 1 through 3. He is the Lord's anointed, raised up in Psalm 2 verse 7.

And He is the Lord's anointed, installed upon Mount Zion as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in verse 6 of Psalm 2. He is Jesus Christ. That's who the promised seed of blessings is. And who did that promised seed of blessing come for? Genesis 12, Genesis 22, He came for all the earth.

He came for the nations. He came to make good on the promise given to Abraham, a blessing to the world. Does it make sense then why Psalm 2 verse 8 would be about the nations? Because the Lord Jesus of Psalm 1 and the Lord Jesus of Psalm 2 is the promise seed of blessing because the Lord Jesus came to win the world. To bless all the families of the earth.

And how would he bless all the families of the earth? Through his death, his resurrection, and his ascension. What does Psalm two verse eight have to do with the ascension of Jesus Christ? What does ruling over the nations have to do with the ascension of Jesus Christ? In a word, everything.

The seed of blessing comes. The seed of blessing takes on flesh. He is born of the woman according to the promise that the seed will come from the woman in Genesis 3. He comes from the line of Abraham according to the promise that God that Abraham seed will bless the nations in Genesis 12 and 22 And that seed is the Son of God Jesus according to Galatians 3 16 You get that? Here's where it gets really good right after his baptism that seed comes that promise seed comes and right after his baptism where does that promise seed go Where does the Son of God go?

We read in Matthew chapter 4, right after his baptism Jesus is sent into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Three times Satan tempts the Lord Jesus Christ. If you're the Son of God, turn these stones into bread. If you're the Son of God, throw yourself down from this temple and the angels will catch you. But the last temptation is different.

In the third temptation, do you remember what Satan does? He takes Jesus up on top of a very high mountain the text emphasizes that a very high mountain this isn't like a weak sauce mountain this is a it's a big sauce mountain a very high mountain And what does Satan on that high mountain do? Satan shows Jesus all the nations of the world. He shows, the text says in Matthew 4, Satan shows Jesus all the nations of the world, all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And Satan says to Jesus, all these things, all these kingdoms, all these nations, I'll give them to you if you but fall down and worship me you see the nation's Jesus you see these kingdoms Jesus they're mine they're mine they're under my dominion but you know what I'm a nice guy Jesus You just fall down and worship me, I'll give them to you.

Something like that. And what does Jesus say to this tempter? What does Jesus say to Satan? Two words. Be gone.

Shut up. Grant translation. You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only Satan. He turns Satan down. Why?

Why does Jesus turn Satan down? There's a lot of answers. Well, because it's Satan, and Jesus is God. But here's another answer. He turned Satan down at Satan's offer to give Jesus the nations because Jesus didn't come to bargain with Satan for the nations.

No, Jesus came to crush Satan by purchasing those nations for himself through the price of his perfect blood. He came to win those nations to himself as the promised seed of blessing. Amen. What happens? That precious blood is shed.

That purchase price is given. And at that crucifixion, at the moment where Psalm 2 verses 1 through 3 reach their climax and Jesus gives up his spirit, crucified on the cross in the place of sinners for the sins of the world. Who is it in that moment that speaks? Mark chapter 15 verse 39, a centurion, a representative of the nations, a representative of the kingdoms of the world, once under the demean of Satan, a Roman centurion, a representative of the same kingdoms that Satan had taken Jesus up to see on that mountain. This pagan representative, upon seeing Jesus breathe his last, cries out, truly this man was the son of God.

Do you get the significance of that moment? A pagan representative of the nations is seeing who Jesus is. A pagan, a representative of the nations is seeing the promised blessing, promised all the way back to Abraham, Promised in Psalm 1 and Psalm 2, a seed that will bless the world. And God says to you, through the words of this pagan in Mark 15, 39, that promised blessing has begun that promised blessing has begun and Then God raises Jesus his son up from the grave and if Jesus ascends into heaven, what is it that he tells his disciples? Matthew 28 all authority all authority in heaven and on earth is mine all authority in heaven and on earth is mine.

All authority in heaven and on earth is mine. So go into the world, go into the nations and make disciples. Why? Why, Jesus? Why should we do that?

Because they're mine. Go and get what I've already won with my blood. Go and pick up what I've already purchased with my shed blood for the sins of the world. Go and get what I've bought with my blood. What do the nations, what does the world have to do with the ascension of Jesus Christ?

What does Psalm 2 verse 8, Jesus asking for the nations have to do with the ascension? Everything. The ascension of Jesus Christ is actually a fulfillment of Daniel chapter 7. That prophecy in Daniel 7 says the Son of Man will come up to the ancient of days. That's ascension language.

The son of man would come up to the ancient of days, God the son would come up to God the father, and to the son was given what? Dominion, glory, and a kingdom that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve him." This is very similar language to what we see in Psalm 2. Similar language to what we see in Matthew 28. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. How so?

Because He's ascended on high, He's installed on Mount Zion as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Glory! Hallelujah! Anybody know that song? I almost sang it.

I didn't know if you would know it. It's a good song. Daniel chapter 7 was fulfilled at the ascension of Jesus Christ. Daniel chapter 7 was fulfilled at the ascension of Jesus Christ. How?

How so? Because Psalm 2 verse 6 happened. The King of Kings was installed on Mount Zion. And with his blood he bought the world and with his resurrection the deed was signed. With his blood he bought the world with his resurrection the deed was signed so I want you just to picture this I think this little picture is such a sweet gift from God to you and to me.

This illustration that God gives is so precious, I think. Picture this with me. Where did Satan bring Jesus to during the temptations? I was, I always found it interesting as we were, as I'm reading through the Gospels, that the text wants to make it clear that it's like a really high mountain. I brought that up just a few minutes ago.

It's not a weak sauce mountain. It's a high mountain. And on this very high mountain Satan shows Jesus the nations of the world that are in darkness right Satan shows off hey look at all my kingdoms look at all these that are in subjection and blinded by me I've deceived all the nations haha check out all that's mine Satan shows Jesus all of the nations that belong to him in Matthew chapter 4 Compare that to Psalm 2 So in Matthew 4 they're up on a very high mountain, right? In Psalm 2, what do you have in Psalm 2 verse 6? You have an even higher mountain You actually have the highest mountain Mount Zion where Jesus is now installed as king, and the nations have seen a great life.

All that mountain language, I think it's as if God is illustrating the trump card that he's just played on Satan. I think it's part of the divine laughter. It's the trump card that he's just played on Satan in his crushed head. God laughs. Why?

Well, because what God promised, sorry, what Satan promised on top of an earthly mountain, God just accomplished himself in raising his son Jesus and installing his son Jesus upon the greatest mountain, Mount Zion in heaven, where his son rules over the world. Maybe you think that's just coincidence. I don't think so. Two mountains. And as a down payment of Jesus Christ winning the world to himself, as a guarantee that the world has been won, even before the ascension has happened, if Jesus has only yielded up his spirit at this point as a down payment on the on the promise, as a guarantee that the world's been won even before the ascension of pagan centurion.

A representative of the nations cries out, that's the son of God. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. Why? Because the seed of blessing has come. Because Psalm 2, all of it, is fulfilled in the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus Christ.

So that's why you have the Lord Jesus, the anointed one, installed on Mount Zion as king. And God the Father says, now ask me for the nations. That's why that's going on. Ask me for the nations because you've won them, because they're yours, because Satan's grip has been broken upon them because the world's been redeemed and that's why Jesus sends you out into it. That's why he says the gates of hell will not be able to prevail.

Why? Because I crushed the serpent's head. Because the nations are mine. And So my church will prevail. Go and get what I've won.

Psalm one, Psalm two, it's all about blessing. Psalm one, Psalm two are all about Jesus. And Psalm two, verses eight and nine, are all about Jesus being that blessing to all the nations. Fulfilling God's promise to Abraham of a seed that will bless the earth. So the question you have maybe is so just shoot me straight pastor is the prophecy of Psalm 2 verse 8 fulfilled?

Did Jesus the Son obey God the Father and ask for the nations. Verse eight, Psalm two, God the Father says to his son, ask of me and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as your possession. Did Jesus do that? Did Jesus ask for the nations? And did Jesus get them?

Well the answer to that question is the same answer to all the other questions. Was Jesus crucified? Was Jesus raised from the dead? Did Jesus ascend? Did Jesus sit down at the right hand of God the Father in the heavenly places?

Was he installed upon Mount Zion? Was Jesus given all authority in heaven and on earth? The answer to all those questions is a hearty yes and amen. An emphatic yes. And so too the answer did Jesus ask for and receive from the Father the nations of the world.

Yes! He bought them with His blood. How many of them? All of them. Psalm 2 verse 8 is a prophecy fulfilled.

It was fulfilled at the ascension of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords over every lord and every king and every nation, including this one, America. And verse 9 describes what that rule, his rule, looks like. So look at verse 9. What does the rule of King Jesus, who ascended as the one with all authority, What does his rule over the nations look like?

Verse 9. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall shatter them like earth and wear. What does verse 9 mean? Well just as before, we look at the New Testament.

Does the same spirit that inspired David to write Psalm 2 verse 9 might he have inspired a New Testament writer to quote it and to give you a clue about how to understand it wouldn't it be great if he did he did In fact the Holy Spirit inspired John to quote it three times in the book of Revelation. I'll give you all three times but we'll only get to one of these. Revelation 12 5, Revelation 19 15, and 16, and Revelation chapter 2, 26, and 27. So three times Psalm 2 verse 9 is quoted here. Revelation 12-5, Revelation 19, 15, and 16, and Revelation chapter 2.

And it's that final quotation in Revelation chapter 2 that I want to take us to this morning as we think through what is this imagery of the rod of iron used in Psalm 2 verse 9. What does it mean? So turn with me to Revelation chapter 2. Revelation chapter 2 verses 26 and 27. Revelation chapter 2 beginning Revelation chapter 2 beginning in verse 26.

So these verses here, they're found in the midst of addresses to the seven churches. And who is it that is speaking? Who is it that's speaking? If you have a color coded Bible, you'll notice all the text is in red so who's speaking Jesus here's what he says Revelation 2 26 he who overcomes and he who keeps my deeds until the end To him I will give authority over the nations who's speaking All right, Jesus speaking he's saying To the church is saying to this particular church he overcomes and he who keeps my deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from my Father." Jesus is speaking here, and He's quoting from Psalm 2 verse 9.

Who is He talking to? He who overcomes and he who keeps my deeds to him, I will give authority over the nations. Who is Jesus talking to? The church. He's talking to the church.

These verses are addressed to the church. He's talking to you, dear saints of Crossroad. Jesus is telling you, he who overcomes, he who keeps my deeds until the end, to him I will give authority. Through him, through the church, I will make Psalm 2 verse 9 a reality. Now we're trying to understand what verse nine of Psalm 2 means.

How will Jesus Christ reign over the nations with a rod of iron? What's the answer? Least in part, you have to agree with me, through his church, through the ransom church of God, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ the Word may flesh So hear this Jesus Christ will reign from heaven through His hands and feet is church. Jesus Christ will reign through those He has made as kings and priests unto God to reign with him. That's Revelation 1 6 and Revelation 5 10.

He has made us the church, kings and priests to reign with the Son. So when Jesus asked for the nations in Psalm 2 verse 8, How will he rule over those nations? In verse 9, through his church proclaiming his almighty gospel of Jesus Christ. And what is that gospel of Jesus Christ? Reconciliation with God through repentance and faith, a repudiation of sin, and a joyful, glad surrender and trust to King Jesus as Lord and Savior.

How will King Jesus rule over the nations? Through his church proclaiming his Almighty Gospel of Jesus Christ, repent or perish. Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ or he will crush you forever in hell. He rules the nations through his church as they pick up the sword and they follow their savior Jesus into the world with the Lord Jesus riding at their head, riding on a horse with a sword coming out of his mouth. That sword out of his mouth is this Bible.

It's this gospel. And his mission is to build his church. And beloved, the gates of hell will not be able to prevail. Why? Because the world belongs to this King of Kings, Jesus, because he bought it with his blood and he's not giving it back.

So the rod of iron in Psalm 2 verse 9 is at least a picture that demonstrates the completeness of his rule. His scepter will not be broken. You're not breaking a rod of iron. His scepter will not be broken. No, He will break the scepters of all those who oppose him.

So what should you do? What should you do? You should bow down to King Jesus. You should obey him. You should trust his gospel.

You must repent and believe upon his name and be saved from your sin and his holy wrath toward your sin. Kiss the son, lest ye perish." That's what you should do. That's what you should do this morning. And that's precisely what David says as he concludes Psalm 2. Look once more at Psalm 2.

We won't go anywhere else in our Bibles. Psalm 2. Look at the end of the song, beginning in verse 10. Now therefore, O King, show discernment. Take warning, O judges of the earth.

Worship the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son that he not become angry, and you perish in the way. For his wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him. The command for rulers everywhere including America and China and England, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, all the kings of the earth.

The command from King Jesus is that you worship Him. Take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Who is the Lord? Jesus.

So worship Him. Worship Jesus. Worship the Son of God. Bow down to King Jesus. Why?

Because 2, 000 years ago, He redeemed the world. And your nation, King, your nation ruler belongs to him. He is king of kings. He's Lord of Lords He is your Lord and if you will not submit to him as Lord Will tremble then with fear? For his wrath will soon be kindled, and you will be crushed in hell forever.

You will not stand, you will not ultimately prosper, you will actually be the death of not just you, but of your people. So do not waste another moment bow the knee in subjection to the Son of God. As Pastor Doug Wilson says, think on this, think of the laughter of God. I want you to think of this, this is really good. Think of the laughter of God in verse four of Psalm two.

Just think about it for a second, the laughter of God. If the laughter of God can accomplish such great and terrible things like conquering the world. If that's what the laughter of God can do, what will his wrath be like? If the wrath of God can accomplish such great and terrible things like the conquering of the world, then what will His wrath be like? Pay homage to the Son.

Kiss the Son. Trust and obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you don't, His wrath will soon be kindled. And you will perish, you and your people. That's the command for everyone in this room.

Children, that's the command for you this morning. Jesus says to you, repent and believe upon my name, trust me, and then come to the water and be baptized. It's a call to you children. And children, some of you aren't taking me serious. You're not taking me serious.

Psalm 2 is serious. Take it serious. Go home and talk to your parents, mom and dad. I want to take Psalm 2 serious. I want to kiss the son.

And parents, you be ready to encourage them to come. Come to the sun. Believe upon the sun. How blessed are all who to intern. The blessing for your children, the promises for you and your household.

Don't hold that away from your children. Children, if you do come, you'll be marked out as those who have kissed the Son through your water baptism. So come and be welcome. Come and be welcome to those who purchase with His blood. Come and be welcome to Jesus Christ.

If you trust Him, the wrath due to your sin has been paid for at the cross. If you believe upon His name, the condemnation... Christian, listen to this. If you sin, and that's all of you, listen to this. The condemnation that Satan will try to hang over you, if you believe upon the name of Jesus, that condemnation has been torn in two, just like the temple veil.

Through his resurrection from the dead. This is for you, 11. This is for every ruler of every nation and this is also for every individual of every nation. But it is for all the rulers. For every governor, for every mayor, for every state official, for every president, legislator, judge in America, the command is really simple.

Worship Jesus. And some of you this morning might have the complaint I don't I hope you don't have this complaint but you might you might say oh pastor What about the separation of church and state? You on thin ice right now, Pastor B. Pastor Brown, Pastor Grant, you're on thin ice. I mean, you're crossing a line here, Pastor.

Separation of church and state. Not crossing the line. We've got nothing as a church against the separation of church and state. God has ordained both of those spheres with their own separate sovereign authorities. Right?

The state exercises a different kind of sword than the church does. We've got different authorities. But what the Bible tells you, what Psalm 2 states without reservation, is that though you can absolutely have a separation of church and state in some way, you may not separate God and state. There can be no separation of Jesus and state. No, the state must bow the knee to Jesus.

Why? Because he's king on Mount Zion. Because he bought this world with his blood. Because he has bound the strong man, Satan, and he's not plundering that strong man's house. Because he was crucified, raised, and ascended into heaven with all authority in heaven and on earth.

And he asked the Father for all the nations, and the Father gave all the nations to his Son, every single one of them. And all who oppose him will perish. Every individual and every nation who opposes the Lord Jesus will perish. And that should make you tremble if you've not repented. That should terrify you if you are right now not bowing the knee of your heart to Christ, because you're not right with God.

But for all who turn, for all who repent away from their sin and run to the Son Jesus, and they kiss the Son by faith, for all who turn to Jesus the Christ, He is their refuge, Psalm 2 says. He is their strength. There is no qualification here. There's no qualification as long as you haven't done that bad of stuff. No, it's come ye sinner, poor and weary, weak and wounded, sick and sore.

Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love, and power. How much power? All of it. You come to Jesus, He is a refuge, He will be your strength, He is the vine, and the redeemed will be his branches. So that you could be like a tree planted by streams of living water.

Because the blessed man came. And the blessed man won you. So that Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 could be true for you. If you come to Jesus, He's in the business of taking what once belonged to sin and what once belonged to Satan and making them His own. How blessed are all who to Him turn.

This is the word of our God. Let's pray. Father, thank you for this, your word. Thank you for the promise that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and righteous to forgive us and to cleanse us. Thank you for the glorious truth that there is no power of hell.

There is no scheme of men that can pluck those whom you've bought with your blood out of your hand. We give you glory, we give you praise, cause us Lord to go forth from here into this world with confidence, boldness, because Jesus he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords glory and so we can say with all our hearts to our neighbors to our children alleluia we thank you in Jesus name