Jesus and Government: What Does It Mean: “It’ll Rest Upon His Shoulders?”
Bible Study
(Verse 6) This study will delve into Jesus and Government and the meaning of “the government shall be upon His shoulders.”
Look closely. Do you notice anything about this verse? While it might seem unusual, it’s actually quite common as prophets spoke the word of God throughout scripture.
Look at the first two lines of the verse and then compare it to the remainder of the verse. Do you notice it now? The first two lines point to a specific time period in the future (the first coming of Christ).
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,” (Isaiah 9:6)
Then the remainder of the verse points to a future time period well beyond the coming of Christ.
“and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
This time period we call the Messianic Kingdom, Millennial Kingdom or the 1000 year reign of Christ upon this earth that we’re on today.
This one single verse points to two separate time periods. We know that Christ died just over 2000 years ago. And if the rapture occurred today, it would in turn trigger the seven year Tribulation Period. This means that the Second Coming of Christ would happen in seven years. Because, He’s going to return after the completion of God’s wrath upon a sinful world which points to the end of the Tribulation.
This would then begin the Messianic kingdom.
So we know that these two time periods, as of today are at least 2007 years apart.
The Prophetic Perfect Tense
What we just looked at in this verse is called the “prophetic perfect” or “prophetic tense.” In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the “prophetic perfect tense” describes a grammatical and stylistic feature where a prophet speaks of a future event as if it has already happened—using a past tense verb form to convey the certainty of its fulfillment. This blends a sense of completed action with something that will take place in the future.
In biblical interpretation, this effect can also occur when a verse transitions from describing something in the past (historical) to something in the future (prophetic or eschatological), giving a sense of continuity and certainty about God’s unfolding plan.
This is seen often throughout the Old Testament. Examining the prophetic perfect tense helps us to understand that when God speaks of judgment upon a nation, it’s not the end of the story. God’s plans have continuity. He also most often speaks of restoration for those who turn away from their sins and return to Him.
We see this most clearly in His free gift of salvation and the Son He gave to us to provide a way back to Him. Through Christ’ perfect fulfillment of the will of His Father, He opened a door for us to walk through. This door leads us to be reunited with our heavenly Father.
All it takes is that we renounce our sinful ways. We turn to Christ for forgiveness of our sins and accept Him into our lives as our Lord and Savior.
Jesus and the Government He Will Establish
In verse 6, we see the prophetic perfect tense go from the future period of Jesus’ birth and then suddenly jump up to the Millennium, 1000 year reign of Christ. This is the period that will come upon Jesus’ Second Coming. This will take place at the end of the seven year Tribulation.
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.” (Isaiah 9:6)
How Do We Know Jesus and His Government Points to the Millennium?
How do we know that the mention of the “government will be on His shoulders” points to the Millennium?
Christ first came as a child. He began His short three year ministry as a humble servant with just one gift to offer. The free gift of salvation. He was not there to carry the weight of any government on His shoulders. He did not come as a king or lord. This would be a title He would be given at the time He’s to inherit all creation. He would then be called the King of kings and Lord of lords. And He would rule over all the nations.
This is the future Millennium, 1000 year reign of Christ. At this time, Christ will be the government. It’ll be on His shoulders.
In other words, the days of human flesh involved in governing the nations of the world will be over when the Millennium begins. The only flesh that will enter the Millennium after the seven year Tribulation will be those who managed to survive the worse judgment the world has ever experienced. This will include the Jewish Remnant who will all be saved upon Christ’ return to earth.
All these people will need a king. Christ will be that King. He will be the One to set up His 1000 year reign on earth.
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:13-16)
Who Is Jesus’ Government Made Up Of?
Do you see the mention of the armies that follow Jesus in Revelation 19:14? Among these is the church. Those believers who’ll be raptured before the Tribulation. They will return with Christ at the Second Coming.
It’s the church of believers who have spent the past seven years (Tribulation) with Christ who will also make up Jesus’ government that He’ll establish at the beginning of His 1000 year reign.
There will no longer be human presidents, mayors, kings and other ruling leaders from the former age. That was tried and it failed miserably. Thus the seven year Tribulation and God’s wrath upon a sinful and depraved world.
We Shall Rule With Him
This time, Christ is in charge and the believers will be a part of that government of Christ. How do we know this?
“if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;” (2 Timothy 2:12)
“ To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.” (Revelation 2:26-27)
“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4)
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5)
Jesus Himself promises us that we shall rule with Him. We don’t know exactly what that’ll look like. But according to Revelation 2:26-27, authority will be given to us to rule with Christ.
Christ the King
Jesus has many titles and wears many crowns. Here in Revelation 21, He’s given four specific titles that will be applicable to His reign over the earth for 1000 years.
The first is Wonderful Counselor. Some translations have a comma between these two words. It essentially holds the same meaning. It’ll be the believers who are ruling with Christ who will likely seek Jesus’ counsel on matters concerning the nations and the people of the earth. Jesus’ counsel will be perfect. It’ll be final and it’ll most certainly be wonderful. There will be no need for further deliberations and the need to seek additional counsel.
The next title given to Jesus is Mighty God. He will have the full power and authority of God. He will be God and He will rule with a mighty scepter.
Next, He’ll be called the Everlasting Father. We who are believers who will then rule with Christ will be called children of God. He will be our everlasting Father. He’ll be our Father then and in the age to come on the new earth and new heaven.
He’ll also be called the Prince of Peace. The Tribulation will be a time of wars across the globe. It’ll be a time like no other. Wars will rage between nations and even between families. This will all come to an end when Christ comes to set up His Messianic Kingdom, 1000 year reign.
This 1000 reign of Christ will be a time of no wars. There will be peace across the earth. Christ will be the Prince of Peace. His rule will maintain peace or else nations will be broken with the iron scepter.
Jesus and the Government of the Millennium Will Never End
(Verse 7) The 1000 year reign of Christ will end. But the greatness of His government and peace will never end. It’ll continue on into the age of the new heaven and new earth.
Christ will be the rightful owner of the throne of King David. His kingdom will be established and upheld in justice and righteousness and it will never end.
Then Isaiah ends this short look at the 1000 year reign of Christ with, “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
In other words, God is fervently passionate about accomplishing His promise. The promise to place His enemies under the feet of Christ. Give Him the inheritance of all creation and make Him the King of kings and Lord of lords.
“The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” (Psalm 110:1)