With the passing of Prince Philip, I offer my condolences to the British empire. Politics aside- God rules in the kingdoms of mankind, and He raises up and tears down the nations and their leaders. True, the Queen reigns as monarch, however a void in the power structure is still created with Prince Philip’s death. I hope the best for British people and pray peace will prevail for them. This event brings to mind that, as citizens of a Heavenly Kingdom, our Prince will never die…again.
Jesus is our prophesied, promised, and prevailing Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9.6). God sent Him to earth to establish a Kingdom with no end (Isaiah 9.7). Jesus established a Kingdom that is not of this world (John 18.36). We are called to be citizens of that Kingdom. Philippians 3.20-21 reads, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Nothing can shake our Kingdom and our Prince, having been raised from the dead, will reign forever and ever.
Jesus’ royalty was recognized in His death, unwittingly (or perhaps sarcastically) by His murderer. Having placed an inscription on the cross that said, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”, Pilate was petitioned to change it. His reply was, “What I have written I have written.” (John 19.19-22)
We also read of another prince in scripture. Having cast out demons Jesus’ power is attributed to our adversary. The Gospels record the scribes saying, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons”. Jesus then points out their logic is counterintuitive. Jesus works by power that far exceeds that of the adversary, that of the Almighty God. It is written that God “raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1.20-21) That leadership will never end. We should be grateful, thankful, worshipful toward a God who is willing to take on the prince of the power of the air for our souls. He knows what a Prince and Savior ought to be (He knows what a Prince and Savior ought to be).
