Explaining the Right Hand of God

Understanding the Right Hand of God

From the Mecca
This is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. LONG
I’m your host Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion.

This show is dedicated to our friend Tammy. I am also in debt to Brother Kel for his knowledge of the Word of God.
Show 35L Explaining the Right Hand of God
Taped May 30th 2021
Aired June 1st 2021

What do you imagine when you hear that Jesus is at the right hand of God? Because of the presuppositional teachings of the Trinity and the Mormon explanation of God and Jesus as separate persons, most people see something that is physical and actual – that Jesus is at the physical right hand of the person God his father. Our work through the Word on this subject should clarify a couple of important things not only relative to the right hand but also of the problems with the Trinity. We will also see along the way that Jesus of Nazareth, God’s only Son, was deified and was given power by the One God, Yahweh, his Father and God. And one way that the One God gave His Son Jesus power was that He raised him from the dead and seated Him at his “right hand.”

Meaning of the Right Hand

What does the right hand of God mean? To “sit down at the right hand of God?” Hebrews chapter 1 goes a long way to set the record straight – along with a number of other illuminating verses. We will get to them but first, did you know that Psalm 110 is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the Apostolic Record. And did you know that this passage is key to understanding so much of what we are going to talk about now. In that passage, Psalm 110:1 King David says,

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool at thy feet.

I want to read that again with EMPHASIS as King David wrote,

“The LORD said to my Lord, Sit THOU at MY right hand UNTIL I make thine enemies thy footstool at thy feet.”

Some things for us to observe. The first LORD here, in all CAPS is YHWH – the proper noun name of the One True God who is the Father of Jesus Christ. The second Lord in lower case is not YHWH but Adonai, the name for any Lord in heaven or earth, meaning of someone who reigns and rules. The third thing I want to point out is that there is a time limit on this statement from David –

“The LORD (YHWH) said to my Lord (Jesus), Sit THOU at MY right hand UNTIL . . . I make thine enemies thy footstool at thy feet.”

So we know that God’s seating of Jesus as his right hand (and we will discover what this means in a minute) is temporary. Now this passage has been called David’s Riddle because Jesus, when talking to the Pharisees, asked them, “who do you say that Christ is?” And they said, “David’s son.” And then Jesus cites this passage from Psalm 110:1 and asks them, in essence, “how can it be that David would call his son (the Messiah) his Lord?” In other words, “if the Messiah was the Son of David as they say he is, how and why did David call this Son His Lord? His Adonai?” And they could not answer His question. It was a puzzle to them.

Scriptural References and Interpretations

The Bible explicitly gives us the answer to the riddle – which we will see. But let’s first look at some of the passages that reference this sitting down of the Lord after His Father resurrects Him from the dead. Jesus said to the religious rulers trying him unjustly in Matthew 26:64:

“Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

And Mark 16:19 reads, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”

And Luke 22:69, Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

All of these references were said at his unlawful trial. Then Peter, in Acts 5:31, said:

“Him (Jesus) has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

Who exalted Jesus? God. Plain as day. And note that here God exalted him WITH HIS RIGHT HAND. That’s a little bit different, isn’t it?

Exaltation of Jesus

Then Hebrews 1:3 reads, speaking of Jesus…

Jesus at the Right Hand of God

he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; There we have reference to him sitting at “the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Hebrews 8:1 we read:

“We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

So we have scripture talking about God seating Jesus at the right hand of his power, His majesty and now of His Throne! I would suggest that the throne is an emblem of “the presence, power, glory and authority of the Living God.”

Listen to Hebrews 12:2 which says:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Significance of the Throne

What is the message or meaning of a throne? It is a symbol of a King or a Queens authority. All the authority and power and might that the King or Queen possesses. A throne is a metonym, a symbol or icon for authority, power, might and right.

In England, the Throne is a synecdoche, Representing monarchic authority, powers, and the whole of the King or Queens bequeathed presence. So go with me to Acts chapter two where Peter literally answers David’s riddle that Jesus posed to the Pharisees when he quoted David words in Psalm 110. We know that this was the day of Pentecost and Jesus has been raised from the dead by God His Father. And the Holy Spirit was poured out fifty days later and chapter 2 describes what happened. And Peter stands up before 3000 plus Jews and listen to what he says:

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this, which you now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Jesus Made Lord and Christ

Let me reread that last line – ready – listen! “Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Isn’t the clear delineation of God and Jesus made plain here? In any case, How did God make Jesus Lord? It tells us right here! He did it by exalting Him to His right hand after He raised him from the grave!

We read of this same idea throughout the scripture. God YHWH raises Jesus from the dead and seating him at His right hand is how God made Him Lord! Lord over what? Over everything except Himself.

This is what Jesus speaks to at Matthew 28:18 when he said, post resurrection: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and in earth.” Given to him? I thought he was co-equal. No. All things were given to him in heaven and earth by who? God His father, who made Him Lord – of both the living and the dead.

Do you remember when Jesus said at Matthew 22:32 that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. But Jesus is Lord of the living and the dead by and through overcoming mortal deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.. Having victory over death.

Now David, Peter points out, whom Jesus the Messiah was a Son, was dead. But here “David’s Son” (meaning the Messiah) was made Lord of the Living and the Dead by His Father, the Only True and Living God. This is how Jesus was David’s Lord! And so here in Acts 2 Peter makes this clear.

Note again that Jesus said in Matthew 28:18: “All authority has been GIVEN ME in heaven and on earth.”

Authority Over All

Listen to how Peter describes this (and Jesus himself) in 1st Peter 3:21-22 Jesus . . . “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” This is how “all authority in heaven and earth” (LISTEN) were “made subject to Him.” When all heavenly powers – angels, authorities, powers – were made SUBJECTED to Him. At that time!

Jesus' Position Above Angels

Victory over sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., death and the grave. “Made subject!” Here he was given the power of the throne of God completely. At this point, Hebrews 1 becomes ever so clear when we read how Jesus became (and was not made originally) superior to the angels.

Hebrews chapter 2:7 tells us that Jesus was made “lower than the angels” but once he rose from the dead God “seated Him at His right hand of the power of His throne and majesty," and in this way, he became superior to the angels as Hebrews 1:13 makes plain when it says: “But to which of the angels said God ever say, "Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?” None. Ever. But God to the man Jesus does say to Jesus, sit at my right hand, and the writer explains that Jesus is therefore superior to the angels because post his life, death, and resurrection, God seated him at the right hand of his throne, majesty, power, and glory.

Authority of the Throne

And so he is forevermore in a position higher than the angels. Therefore, when we read in Hebrews 1:6: “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him,” we see that the angels, authorities, and powers in heaven have been subjected to Him. Jesus became superior to the angels WHEN he sat at the right hand of the power, majesty, authority, and glory of the throne of God.

Jesus in the Heavenly Economy

Now some of you may read Hebrews 1:6 as speaking of Jesus' birth when it reads in English, “And again, when he (God) bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” But the term translated “world” there is "oikomena," and it does not describe this earth or world when Jesus was born but better speaks of an economy or age AFTER His resurrection when God brings Jesus into heaven.

For it was then that Jesus, after His victory over sin, death, and the Law, was seated (by God) at His right hand, and this was when even the angels in heaven, to whom he was made a little lower than, worshipped Him. They submitted to Him, as we would to a human king.

Now listen to what Paul writes to the church at Ephesus chapter 1:20-21 because it clearly and truly explains best what this “sitting at the right hand of God” means. Ready? It begins by speaking of God Jesus Father and says:

Ephesians 1:20 Which he (God) wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and (he) set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that age which is to come.

LISTEN – Jesus became Lord of everything. Lord over everything – everything in creation. That is why in Revelation chapter five all creation is bowing down to Jesus WHY? Because GOD had given Him all authority in heaven and in earth in His name, in His power, in His authority, by the command of His throne. That is what scripture says!

Listen to the language of Philippians 2:9 where Paul says, speaking of Jesus:

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (who did this? God) 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God gave all of this to this deified human being. As what? “As Lord of all things in heaven and earth. Lord of all creation. Not God of all creation, but Lord – His full and complete representative.

Hebrews 1 speaks of Jesus “inheriting a better name” than the angels as Lord of all creation. To sit at the One God the creator’s right hand means to have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Over all spiritual principalities, over all things – why? How? Because God gave this authority to His Son, and this is the exact contextual biblical meaning of Jesus being at the right hand of God.

He is above everybody and everything – listen – except God Himself.

Exploring the Preeminence of Jesus

Colossians 1:16 “for in him was the universe created, things in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; by him and for him all have been created; (in the new age post His death and resurrection) 17 and HE IS before all, and in him all things subsist. 18 He is the head of his Body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, in order that in all things he may become preeminent.

Authority and Subjection to Jesus

Now add in 1st Corinthians 15:24-28 and what it plainly says. Here Paul is speaking of the resurrection and says 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 "For God (Who? God.) has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is obvious that God is the exception who put all things under him. 28 And once all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

So, everything except the Father was put in subjection to Jesus. Let me give you an old testament picture of this in the man Joseph. Remember when Joseph found favor in Pharaoh? This was a picture and type of what God did with His only Son in putting everything into subjection to him but himself. Listen to what Pharaoh said, speaking of Joseph:

Genesis 41:38 Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

Superior Yet Subject

Only in the THRONE would Pharaoh be greater than Joseph! The idea between Pharaoh and Joseph is the same as what goes on between God and David and God and Jesus. Let me ask you something? Was Joseph ever Pharaoh Himself or instead was Joseph executing all the power and authority of Pharaoh?

The latter right? So, it was with God putting all things into subjection of His only human Son who would be over all things in heaven and earth by the power and authority of His throne!

To speak to the Son was to speak to the Father for the Son was given all the power of His Father and the only thing that was superior to the Son was His Father in heaven and earth just like Pharaoh said, “only in the throne will I be greater than thee.”

One last set of passages for clarification. Hebrews 2:5-9.

Hebrews 2:5 For unto the angels he (God) had not put in subjection the economy to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Most people think that verse six is speaking of the human race, but it’s not. It speaking of Yeshua. We can see this when the writer of Hebrews continues and says:

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering

The Authority of Jesus Christ

God did all of these things to and through His only human Son. And then God gave His victorious Son all the power and authority over heaven and earth because of His obedience to Him, the Law out of love. The imagery is not one bit different than Pharoah being pleased with Joseph and putting him in a place of ultimate power, too. But in that type, we see that Joseph was not Pharoah, nor did Joseph have perfect equality with Pharoah. Pharoah gave Him his place, authority, and power.

To be at the right hand of God, who Jesus himself says is spirit and not a man, is to clearly teach us that the resurrected and deified human being called Jesus of Nazareth was given a place of authority over all things in heaven and earth by His father, the living invisible God. It is not about physical proximity. It is about power and authority. But here is the final catch, which most Christians do not pay much attention to. That position of authority was purposeful BUT temporary.

Scriptural Confirmation

Remember what the scripture says, what even David said: “The LORD (YWWH) said to my Lord (YEHOVAH), Sit THOU at MY right hand UNTIL I make thine enemies thy footstool at thy feet.” A passage that clearly delineates the difference in power and authority between God and His Son. Then in harmony with this passage, Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 15, speaking of the resurrection and then His second comingChrist’s return, fulfilled in 70 A.D., ending the old covenant—not the world.:

23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
(And if Jesus has come – listen to what Paul describes as happening next)

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 "For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is obvious that God is the exception who put all things under him.
28 And once all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Conclusion

I suggest to you that today, and for almost 2000 years, that God has been all in all, that the until has occurred, there is One on the throne and that John the beloved describes him in Revelation. That at that day, Jesus the Lord Almighty stepped from the right hand of the throne of God Almighty, and being completely God in His deified body, sat on the one throne and was at that day called The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. That there is not a right-hand relationship any longer; the victory has been fully had, the end has come. Death has been swallowed up and that we reached the UNTIL that scripture has described for thousands of years.

I hope this helps Tammy – and the rest who seek Him in Spirit and truth.

And we will see you next week here on heart of the matter.