In 1 Timothy 6:15 Jesus is called “he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords…” This description of Christ is used several times in the New Testament and refers to His 2nd coming when he will return to earth to set up His eternal Kingdom. It appears twice in the book of Revelation. The first time is in 17:14, “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” But Paul in his letter to Timothy and John in his writing down as instructed his visions of the future did not make up this title. It’s part of the prophetic message of the Old Testament regarding the coming accomplishments of the Messiah. I believe these passages is what led the Jews, to a large degree, expect a military Messiah who would destroy Rome and it’s legions on their behalf. I believe the misunderstood the nature of the battle. It’s in Ezekiel that the prophets says that God will come against the enemies of God’s people “the kings of Tyre and Babylon.” God will send (Ezekiel 26:7), “the king of kings, with horses and chariots and a host of many soldiers.” The Psalmist sang songs about this sovereign king. Psalm 136:2-3 says, “Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever.” In the book of Daniel 2:37, Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar “King of Kings.” But, as Yarbrough points out in his commentary, “… in the same verse he continues: ‘The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory.’ There are earthly potentates like Nebuchadnezzar. And then there is God over all. Later in the same conversation Nebuchadnezzar exclaims to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings’ (Dan 2:47). Other OT passages call God ‘Lord of lords’ (Deut 10:17; Ps 136:3).”1
That Jesus is the one being referred to in these Old Testament is clarified for us in the New Testament. As the “Blessed and only Sovereign.” King of Kings and Lord of Lords is actually his name. Revelation 19:15-16 says we’ll all see and everyone will acknowledge this when he returns. It says, “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Don’t be like the Jewish people and misunderstand what Jesus came for! Yes, indeed, Jesus came to defeat our enemies but as Paul tells the Ephesians in 6:12, “…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Don’t look at Jesus as an instrument of temporal salvation! He has not come to make you rich! He has not come to wipe out all your earthly enemies, he has not come to make life a prosperous or pleasure filled venture for you — he has come and he offers himself to you and to me as the King of kings and Lord of Lords, who has come to save us from our sins! And that is what really matters in the long run. He’s the key to knowledge, the wellspring of wisdom, the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace and the roadway to righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness and the gateway to glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of heroes and the leader of legislators and the governor of the governors. He’s the prince of princes, the king of kings, and the lord of lords. We can trust him. His office is manifold, his promise is sure. His name is matchless, his goodness is limitless, his mercy is everlasting, his love never changes: it endures forever, his word is enough, his grace is sufficient, his reign is righteous, his yoke is easy, his burden is light. And I want you to know – we can trust Him!
1 Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 331.