The Shadow Kingdom

The Bible is filled with spiritual shadows. Shadows or previews of things that are coming in the future. For example, all the articles of worship in the Tabernacle were spiritual shadows of Jesus.

• Tabernacle’s single entrance-Jesus is the only way to approach God the Father

• Laver or wash basin-Jesus and baptism for cleansing

• Bronze Altar-Jesus is the blood sacrifice, the Lamb of God

• Shewbread-Jesus is the Bread of Life

• Lampstand-Jesus is the Light of the world.

• Altar of Incense-Jesus intercedes for us before the Father

• Veil to the Most Holy Place-Jesus tore that veil down at the cross

• The Mercy Seat-Jesus is the mercy of God

• The Jar of Manna-Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven.

• The Two Stone Tablets, Jesus is the Word of God

• Aaron's staff that budded and produced fruit-Jesus died on a tree and came back to life and produced fruit of the Spirit

The Old Testament shadows were all fulfilled in Christ

Colossians 2:17 (NLT)

17  For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

Does the Bible also reveal a shadow kingdom? Yes! The final verses of Revelation reveal that Jesus is the fulfillment of the shadow kingdom on earth.

Revelation 22:16 (NLT)

16  “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

King David is a shadow of King Jesus, but the ultimate throne of David in Jerusalem belongs to King Jesus.

David was not the first King of Israel; Saul was the first king. Saul allowed pride to fill his heart, and God took the kingdom away from him and gave it to David. What if Saul is a spiritual shadow of Satan and David is a spiritual shadow of Jesus?

What if the spirit war on earth during the church age is actually a battle between the shadow kingdom of antichrist (under Satan) and the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ?

What if this spirit war is directly connected to the battles between Saul and David?

David was anointed by God as King of Israel some 20 years before he actually took possession of the throne. David was a king in waiting, and Saul, living under the power of a tormenting spirit, tried to stop David from taking possession of the throne.

Today, Jesus is our king in waiting, and the spirit of antichrist is also at war, trying to stop Jesus from taking the throne of David and fulfilling Revelation 22:16. Saul couldn’t stop David, and Satan cannot stop Jesus. The spirit war is real, and this is why the Apostle Paul told us to put on the full armor of God while we wait for the arrival of our King Jesus.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)

10  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Terry Cooper

Lead Pastor