The Return of King David?

The Lord made several promises to David (through the prophet Nathan). Some of these promises include:

• The Lord will make David’s name great.
• Israel will have a permanent home.
• The Messiah will come from David’s seed.
• His throne and kingdom will be set up forever.

“(9) And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. (10) Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, (11) And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. (12) And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. (13) He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. (14) I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: (15) But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. (16) And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. (17) According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” (2 Samuel 7:9-17)

Did you know that the Bible suggests that David may return to rule Israel in the future? In this article, I will give you an overview of the passages that show that David will return.

David’s Future Reign

Ezekiel 37:22-25 suggests that David will be the ruler of Israel when the people of Israel will be obedient to God and will dwell in the land of Israel:

“(22) And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: (23) Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. (24) And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (25) And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.” (Ezekiel 37:22-25)

Hosea 3:4-5 and Jeremiah 30:8-10 give us a clearer idea of when David may assume the role as ruler of Israel. David will assume the role as ruler of Israel:

• After the people of Israel scattered across the world return to the land of Israel
• After the defeat of the nations that oppressed Israel in the war of Armageddon:

“(4) For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: (5) Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” (Hosea 3:4-5)

“(8) For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: (9) But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. (10) Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.” (Jeremiah 30:8-10)

Christ Will Rank Above David

Even though David will be ruler of Israel, he will be subservient to God/Christ, who will rule the whole world, including Israel (Psalm 2). Ezekiel 34:22-24 summarizes the relationship between David and God/Christ:

“(22) Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. (23) And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. (24) And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.” (Ezekiel 34:22-24)

To summarize, David will return to rule Israel after Armageddon, but He will be under Christ’s authority. Christ will rule over all the nations of the world.