“…God, the blessed and only Ruler, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed him vaguely circling around us slowly.  Here I sat on a bench outside the University Religious Center of the University of Southern California, the dream school of my youth, where all those great football players attended.  It was my first trip to Los Angeles in 40 years, and boy, was it long overdue!  So here I was talking with a colleague about international student ministry at USC, and this circling individual approached us.  Dressed from head to toe in black — shirt, pants, shoes, jacket, even his satchel and hair — he wore a large gold chain and a heavy gold ring.  With a Lebanese accent he asked us about contacting a science professor because he was on a mission to bring peace to the world.  Him?  As the conversation turned toward identifying his credentials for such a mission, he said he was “king of kings and lord of lords.”  What?!  How did he know that?  He said he’d prove it.  Out of his satchel he pulled a sleeveless ‘robe’ made out of a white bed sheet.  On one side on the front was his name, Sarkus.  I only remember it because it reminded me of “circus” (not too far from the truth).  On the back was embroidered “King of kings and Lord of lords.”  He also said he knew the “number” on Jesus’ robe in Revelation 19:12 that no one knew!  Of course, the text says name, not number, not the only time this guy was wrong.  But he could prove that too (you can’t make this stuff up; my colleague is a witness).  He showed me a photo of a California license plate with the number in the middle: 888.  For a fleeting second I was torn between wanting to help this poor guy — he seemed totally sincere — or quickly scramble away from what I thought might be an impending lightning strike. Sarkus, Lord of lords?  Not a chance.

So if Sarkus isn’t the Lord of lords, who is?  Need we ask?  This title can be found five times in Scripture.  The first is in Deuteronomy 10:16.  The immediate context begins in verse 12, where God reviews the two great commands of the law for this second generation that left Egypt through the Red Sea.  He warns them not to be “stiff-necked” like their parents and elders were, the ones they buried in the wilderness.  Wandering in the desert for 40 stinking years was not exactly the Promised Land.  And here is why they should obey: “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome…” (v. 16).  In other words, no one is higher, greater, stronger, smarter, or has more power, grace, mercy, kindness or forgiveness.  No one does the “awesome wonders” (v. 21) he does.  Got that right.

The second appearance of Lord of lords is Psalm 136:3.  Here it is used by way of introduction of the exploits of “the God of gods” and “Lord of lords” (vs. 2-3).  In this psalm he did “great wonders” (v. 4) of creation and preservation of his people, when he “spread out the earth…made great lights…struck down the firstborn of Egypt…brought out Israel…divided the Red Sea…lead his people through the desert… struck down great kings…gave their land…remembered us in our low estate…freed us from our enemies… and gave food to every creature”.

We find appearance number three in 1 Timothy 6:15.  In a pastoral letter to Timothy Paul turns to his young understudy for some final directions (vs. 11-14).  The gist of his remarks encourages Tim toward godliness, perseverance and diligence in all things pure.  Like Christ before Pilate, Tim also made a good confession (vs. 12-13).  Thus, this Lord of lords will bring Jesus back “in his own time”.  We find out here that he “is immortal and…lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (v. 16).

The last two times we find Lord of lords is in Revelation.  Both (17:14, 19:16) refer to Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon, the global end-time conflict resulting in victory for the One that cannot be defeated.   Two thoughts cross my mind at this point.  One: this may be his last awesome wonder, putting down and wiping out an entire planet bent on senseless, hopeless and utter rebellion.  This is the perfect end frame for him who rules on high.  Two: I wonder how the cults explain away this title, attributed to both God (the Father) in Timothy (“whom no one can see”) and Jesus (Revelation)?  It is in itself a statement of deity.

What is the proper response to such a Lord of lords?  Obedience and praise (Deuteronomy), giving of thanks (Psalms), purifying diligence (Timothy) and submission (Revelation).  It requires what one British preacher said: “Before we can pray, ‘Your kingdom come’, I must be willing to pray, ‘My kingdom go’”.  Is your kingdom coming or going?