Did Jesus "Reign" for 3 Years?

Jesus Reigns FOREVER

Today we're going to take a look at a teaching concerning a prophetical King David and a spiritual 40-year reign. If you prefer to watch the video's click here for long form (32 min) and click here for short form (5 min).

With every subject we analyze we will break it into 4 parts. 

number one: what is the teaching regarding King David prophecy and the 40-year reign.

number two: what is the origin of this teaching 

number three: what does the Bible say in regards to the King David prophecy 

number four: Our conclusion. In short this article will prove that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy perfectly in His first coming and nothing else needs to be fulfilled. But don’t just take my word for it, look into it yourself and come to your own conclusion.

A quick word to those who are inevitably going to splice and edit this article to try and debunk it for their members or to those who are going to resort to all the other “prophecies” instead of understanding what I am trying to say. I want to challenge you to just stick with the related subject, and don't bounce all over the place to a bunch of different things. We will go over a lot of topics in the coming articles so just hang tight.

Now what is the teaching of the WMSCOG concerning King David and what is the big deal of the 40 year prophecy. I am going to give a brief summary from my sermon book for the sake of time. I am not going to read the verses during this time as we will dive into them in depth later in the article. 

The WMSCOG teaching is basically this. They say

“The Bible is full of mysterious secrets and among them is a prophecy concerning the 2nd coming of Christ who comes as prophetical King David. 

Let's see

Hosea 3:5

We should seek King David in the last days who comes in secret to receive our salvation.

Then who is the King David prophetically 

Isa 9:6-7

Which shows that there is going to be a son or child who will be born and will receive the throne of David. 

Lk 1:31-32

Jesus is the prophetical King David that Isaiah prophesied about and receives the throne of David. They also make a connection that King David’s life is a shadow of what Jesus will fulfill later.

Then what specifically about David’s life?

2 Sam 5:4

David anointed King at age 30 and reigned for 40 years. This means that Jesus must be anointed at age 30 and also reign for 40 years.

Lk 3:21-23

Jesus was baptized at age 30. Fulfilling receiving the throne. Then the duration of King David's reign should match Jesus' ministry meaning He should reign for 40 years. However Jesus was crucified after 3 years of ministry, meaning Jesus must come back in the flesh to finish the remaining 37 years.

Heb 9:28

Christ will appear a second time to bring salvation. Therefore unless Christ comes again in the flesh to fulfill 37 years after being baptized at 30 we can't be saved because that is the way to recognize Christ.

What is the sign of the prophetic David?

Isa 55:3

God makes an everlasting covenant which is the sign of David. What is the everlasting covenant?

Heb 13:20

It is the blood of the eternal covenant. Jesus blood specifically, which is represented by the bread and wine that Jesus gave, the New Covenant Passover ultimately. However Passover was abolished in 325 a.d. Therefore the one who comes as King David in the last days must come in the flesh, be baptized at age 30, preach 37 years and bring the Passover bread and wine that had not been kept for over 1600 years. They say Ahnsahnghong fulfilled the prophecy making him King David and second coming Christ.

That is a very short but precise version of the WMSCOG doctrine concerning King David.

Now where did this teaching originate? I found a book that was published in 1977 contains the same teachings as was just described. The title of the book is “God in the Flesh” and the pages I am specifically referencing are pages 18-23. For the sake of time I won't read it but the link is in the description, it's in Korean. If you translate it you can clearly see this teaching first appeared in this book in 1977. Guess who it was written by? If you read it and translate it you will know who the author is and it will probably shock you. Again the link will be in the description.

Now compare it to the book written in 1980 by Ahnsahnghong called “Mystery of God and the Spring of the Water of Life” chapter 21 in the original Korean. It would be chapter 19 in the heavily edited and redacted English version. I will also post the links to the original Korean book in the description. If you take the time to translate them and read them you will find some compelling similarities. I won’t go into too much detail about these books because they basically say the same thing and use the same verses that we went over briefly. 

Now that the origin of the teaching is out of the way let's look at it and examine through the scriptures to confirm if this is what the Bible really teaches.

Let's see the first verse.

Hosea 3:5 

“ Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.”

Here it indeed does indicate that in the last days the Israelites must seek a prophetical King David in the last days. My argument is not that the Bible says this, but what does the last days indicate? Let's look at what the Apostles considered the last days. For time's sake we are just goin to see one.

Acts 2:14-17

“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“ ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Was Pentecost a fulfillment of Joel 2 or not? Of course. It would seem that the Apostles believed that they were living in the last days. I would conclude then that Hosea 3:5 was fulfilled by the first coming of Jesus. Just like what we just read, Peter seemed to think that he was living in the last days. But let's continue to make sure we don't overlook everything.

Isa 9:6-7

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

We see a son being born, he will be called Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace etc. He will reign on David's throne, over his kingdom, establishing it, upholding it forever. Here is where a problem arises. When the son is given the kingdom he reigns on it from that time and for how long? Forever. Let's take a look at the word “forever”. In Hebrew the word used is ō·w·lām. Now there are many different meanings for this word depending on the context. But I'm this case it is referring to Messianic dynasty and King , especially of his reign or dynasty. Link in description. Then whoever receives this throne reigns forever right? 

Lk 1:31-33

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Here we read verse 33 as well confirming that Jesus reigns forever and his kingdom never ends. Now of course this is referring to a spiritual reign as Jesus was never a physical King. We also see the Greek word αἰῶνας or aiōnas (ages) which in the case of Luke 1:32-33 indicating as long as time shall be, eternity or endless future. Meaning simply put forever or eternity in this context. Link will be in the description. For both Hebrew and Greek.

Now lets see

2 Sam 5:4-5

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

Here we see the duration of David’s reign, however looking at verse 5 he reigned 7 years and 6 months in Hebron and then 33 years in Jerusalem. So technically 40 years and 6 months. Also 7 years and 33 years don't match 3 years and 37 years does it?. Also Jesus' reign was forever and his kingdom doesn't end because He is God and has an indestructible life. Which is why He is able to serve as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek FOREVER because of the indestructible life

Lk 3:21-23

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,

the son of Heli, 

Jesus was baptized at about 30. Not exactly 30, important to note. We don't need to add to it. However it is curious that he waited until age 30 to begin his ministry. Then let's speculate, why shall we? I am open to the possibility that it was related to David’s throne. However, there is not a direct prophecy or scriptural evidence to support that it is such. Another possibility is that according to Jewish custom at the time it was common for Rabbi’s or teachers of the law to begin their public ministry at 30. Also I would like to add that the other Gospels do not specify how old Jesus was when he was baptized. So make of that what you might. 

Is there another rational reason Jesus was 30? Yes there is. 30 years old was customary for the Rabbi’s or teachers to begin their ministry, why? Because in the old testament 30 was about the age people were considered mature and could do priestly duties. Some examples of this are Genesis 41:46, Numbers 4:3 and 1 Chronicles 23:3-5.

Let's continue.

Heb 9:25-28

Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Here we read a few verses before so we can better understand the context. Now we will discuss the 2nd coming in greater detail and focus on different points in future articles but let's stay in line with the current subject.

The argument is that Jesus needs to come and fulfill the prophecy of King David by showing Heb 9:28. However it doesn't say that, it says when Christ comes a second time he will bring salvation in the context of the verse. Now verse 26 seems to indicate that Christ appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin. 

Think about it, the bible says just as people die once and then face judgement, Jesus Christ died once and then appears later to bring salvation. Meaning Christ too only dies once, just like people mentioned in the metaphor. Not twice, otherwise why would the writer of Hebrews make that analogy? It wouldn’t fit. Lets also see another verse.

Romans 6: 8-10

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

This mirrors Hebrews chapter 9. Death cannot have mastery over Him again. He can not die again. Jesus died once and with that death He paid for the sins of mankind. That should be it, cased closed. But let's continue to make sure we are not missing anything by going back to Hebrews.

Also in Hebrew 9:28 if Christ comes in secret as King David there age going to be people waiting for Him. Then I have one question. Who are those waiting for him? How can you wait for someone who a. You don't know he exists and b. You don't know he is coming to you. 

Another thing I would like to add. How long is Jesus' ministry? According to Mathew, Mark appears in 1 year ministry due to only one record of Passover. However the book of John records 3 Passovers John 2:13, 6:3 & 13:1 which would imply at least 3 years. If you interpret the man as Jesus in Luke 13:6-7 you also get 3 years. Some historians argue that Jesus' ministry was at least 3-8 years. 

If you read the books Against Heresy written approximately 179-188 a.d. by Irenaeus who was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of the Apostle John, you will find that he argued that Jesus was around 50 when He was crucified. Irenaeus was allegedly told that directly from Polycarp who heard it from the Apostles themselves. My point is basically this, we don't know for sure how long Jesus' ministry was. No one does. 

Everything from Jesus' birth and death are approximations based on a number of variables, there is no verse in the bible that specifically speaks of his full length of ministry. Which seems to imply a lack of importance, I mean if the length of his ministry is a sign of Christ or a secret coming, then I would think the writers of the Bible would be precise about it, considering when the Apostles asked Jesus about the sign of His coming, Jesus told them directly.

But yet this whole prophecy in question hangs on Jesus ministry being a definitive 3 years which unfortunately is only based on estimates and not definitive. My point is that the length of physical ministry is not what the Bible considers important like the WMSCOG does, the Bible focuses more on what He did during his ministry on earth.

Moving on. 

Isa 55:1-13.

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;

listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.

See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,

a ruler and commander of the peoples.

Surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations you do not know will come running to you,

because of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure forever.”

Who is God making an everlasting covenant with at this time? People of Israel and not David, David has been dead for quite some time. You can also reference Jeremiah 31 for the same covenant mentioned here. However Isaiah 55 does seem to indicate a Messianic David in verses 4, 5. Also Isa 55:13 seems to indicate the sign of that covenant. The same characters for “forever” and “everlasting” ō·w·lām is used. In this context meaning everlasting covenant.

Then if the sign given for the covenant in Isa 55 is instead of thornbush you will have juniper and instead of briers you will have myrtle. Then I would like to ask the WMSCOG. What does this have to do with Passover?

As far as I have read God makes an everlasting covenant with Israel, the sign of the covenant is instead of thornbush you will have juniper and instead of briers you will have myrtle. Please explain the correlation between the sign involving junipers and myrtles and how that means Passover.

Last point on this. I have found no evidence biblically that David kept the Passover. In fact 2 Chronicles 30:5, 15, 26 & 2 Kings 18:5-6 Indicate that Hezekiah was the first one to technically keep the Passover in a very long time, in fact his sacrifices were said to rival Solomons.

Though it was in the second month and not the proper Passover hence why Hezekiah prayed for it to be accepted. Also 2 Kings 23:21-23, 25 & 2 Chronicles 35:1, 17-19 indicates Josiah kept the Passover properly in accordance with the in accordance with all the law of Moses and that it had not been kept since the days of Samuel nor had the Kings before him kept Passover according to the law.

Also if you want to see the promise God gave to David directly you find it in 2 Samuel 7, Psalm 132.

But for times sake let's see through the words of David himself.

Psalms 89:3-4

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

I have sworn to David my servant,

‘I will establish your line forever

and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ”

And in verse 24-29, 35-37 it says.

My faithful love will be with him,

and through my name his horn will be exalted.

I will set his hand over the sea,

his right hand over the rivers.

He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,

my God, the Rock my Savior.’

And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,

the most exalted of the kings of the earth.

I will maintain my love to him forever,

and my covenant with him will never fail.

I will establish his line forever,

his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—

and I will not lie to David—

that his line will continue forever

and his throne endure before me like the sun;

it will be established forever like the moon,

the faithful witness in the sky.”

It appears that the covenant God made with David is that his lineage and throne will last forever and in fact this is why Jesus is literally of the lineage of David as you can clearly confirm in Mt 1 and Luke 3. We can see so clearly from the scriptures that the covenant God made with David is the throne and literally speaking one of David's descendants will receive it. We don't need to add or take away.

Moving on now from the actual covenant God made with David, what is the everlasting covenant that God made?

Heb 13:20

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

The Everlasting covenant here is referring to Jesus' blood. Not wine. If the wine itself was the covenant should it not say through the wine of the eternal covenant? Also let's see one more verse.

Mt 26:27-28, Lk 22:20

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Here, yes the wine symbolizes his blood and the bread his body that is 100% fact. However the wine itself is not the covenant. Throughout the whole New Testament the only thing that can take away our sins is ONLY the precious blood of Christ. We saw this principle earlier in the book of Hebrews. The only thing described as the eternal or New covenant is the blood of Christ.

The wine is merely a representation of His blood. Unless of course you believe in the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation, meaning you literally believe that the wine becomes Jesus literal blood and the bread literally becomes Jesus flesh. You can’t have it both ways. To say the wine itself is the forgiveness of sins is nullifying Jesus' blood shed on the cross. 

Let me be perfectly clear, I am not saying that we shouldn’t participate in the bread and wine. I am also not saying that the bread and wine are not important. Of course we should participate and it is important, Jesus clearly said do this in remembrance of me. The argument I am making is that the New Covenant is Jesus' actual blood not the Passover that the WMSCOG teaches. I will have more articles on the Passover, Law of Moses and Law of Christ so we will go in depth on those later.

Also if Passover bread and wine of the New Covenant is the eternal covenant that God made. Then the alleged 325 a.d. abolishment of the Passover is a big problem, meaning the covenant is in fact NOT everlasting or eternal in that case. Otherwise how could it be abolished and everlasting at the same time?

If the words describing eternal or forever are invalid please correct me. .

The main point here is that there is no biblical evidence that David kept the Passover in the Old Testament, thus it does not make sense that the sign of David is the Passover much less the bread and wine ceremony that Jesus instituted. On the contrary it seems that there is more evidence to prove David did not keep Passover. From the biblical perspective the throne is a greater sign of a Messianic David. 

Now Jesus did say that He had baptism to undergo. Let's see the verse.

Lk 12:50

But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!51

Here we see that Jesus refers to a baptism that is yet to happen that He is distressed until it is accomplished. In the NLT it is written “I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished”.  It is important to note that Jesus says these words before He is crucified. Now let's see more verses to bring in more context.

Mk 10:35-38

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

 “What do you want me to do for you?”he asked.

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

 “You don’t know what you are asking,”Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

Jesus asks James and John “Can you drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Let's see another verse.

Mt 20:20-23.

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

 “What is it you want?”he asked.

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

 “You don’t know what you are asking,”Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

Here see a mention of the drinking from the cup and no mention of baptism anywhere. Then where do we see the fulfillment of this cup? Let's read a few verses. 

Lk 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

 Mat 26:42

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

 Jn 18:11

Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

 Mk 14:36

“Abba,  Father,”he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

We can clearly see that the baptism and cup Jesus is referring to is the suffering He was about to endure. You can see this prophesied in Isaiah 51:22.  It is not some secret water baptism in the future that the WMSCOG teaches. Let's go back to Mark.

Mk 10:38-39

 “You don’t know what you are asking,”Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

Here we see Jesus confirms to James and John “yes, you will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with”. Indirectly saying that the apostles will surely suffer because of following Christ to the end. Jesus references a few times in the Gospels about what the Apostles will have to endure to follow Him to the end. 

If the baptism referenced in Luke 12:50 is about some secret water baptism in the future, wouldn't this baptism also apply to James and John as well then, since Jesus says they will be baptized with the same baptism as Jesus?

I find no scriptural evidence that they were baptized again in the N.T. Did they resurrect and were baptized with Ahnsahnghong in 1948? Of course not because that is not what it means, at all. 

Also it is important to note that this meaning of cup of suffering and the meaning of baptism is used in the N.T. again. 

Even the apostle Paul literally confirms the meaning of the baptism in conjunction with Jesus' death and suffering.

Ro 6:2-4

 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Let's also see verses about the cup of suffering. 

Phillipians 2:17

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

2 Tim 4:6

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 

So clearly the bible indicates that the cup of suffering and the baptism is metaphorical not literal. If you are still not sure that baptism can be metaphorical please read Acts 1:5 where Jesus tells His disciples that they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Last point. There is an article that was published on March 18th 1981. Some insist that  Ahnsahnghong fulfilled the prophecy and that the Jesus he was referring to was himself. They say since Ahnsahnghong was born 1918, baptized age 30 in 1948 after which he then began his ministry, preached for 37 years and passed away according to prophecy in 1985, thus he is the prophetical King David or 2nd Coming Christ. 

 I would like to bring up is that the article does not mention any of those dates. Not 1918, 1948 or 1985.

When did Ahnsahnghong say his ministry started? I will post a handwritten note on the screen allegedly written by Ahnsahnghong himself stating that he did not consider his ministry started until 1951 and that his first 3 years of faith were inadequate. 

 If you read the original book of Mystery of God and the Spring of the Water of Life. The original chapter 1 “Restoration of Jerusalem and the 40 year prophecy” Ahnsahnghong predicts the world will end in 1988. He considered that 1948 was the fulfillment of Fig Tree and interpreted that the generation to pass away was 40 years. Also matching the prophecy of Jonah where Jonah told the Ninevites that destruction was coming in 40 days. In the bible a day is likened to a year making 40 days equal to 40 years. 1948 + 40 years being 1988.

 In the original Mystery of God and the Spring of the Water of Life. The original chapter 36 “I will send Elijah” talks about Elijah coming first and preparing the way for Second Coming Jesus, then Elijah ascends with the 144,000.

Then what is my conclusion of the article posted by Ahnsahnghong in 1981?

If the King David referred to is Ahnsahnghong himself. According to his own writings it means that the 37 years began in 1951, hence why he wrote that Elijah will ascend with the 144,000 in 1988 with second coming Jesus 40 years after 1948 fulfilling the 40 year generation interpretation. Making him 70 in 1988. 

Is it important to note that after his death they began to teach that he did ascend even though he died. The church continues to celebrate his death as Ascension to this day.

The conclusion. I fully believe Jesus fulfilled King David's prophecy through His first coming alone. Which is why if you read John chapter 19 verses 20-38, Jesus says “it is finished”. Meaning everything He was supposed to accomplish. However you don't have to take my word for it. Look into your through the scriptures.

However, despite all the facts and evidence we have discussed in this article, if you want to continue to believe that Ahnsahnghong is the King David and the Second Coming Christ then that is your God given right and God bless you. You at least now know everything and can make an informed decision on what to believe and how to proceed.

But as for me and my family we will proclaim Jesus and worship Jesus because He fulfilled all the prophecies perfectly, just as He was supposed to.

That's all I got for you guys on this one. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe and I sincerely appreciate you spending time with me today. Whether you love me or hate me I hope God blesses you and your family and we will see you on the next one.