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Will Jesus Establish An Earthly Kingdom?

by Steven Harper

The number of people who teach a coming millennial kingdom, established and ruled by Jesus Christ, seems to grow daily. There is a lengthy series of books (Left Behind) based loosely on this concept that is very popular at this time, but there are literally thousands of other books on the subject, too. It is almost impossible to turn on one of the religious television programs and not hear some reference to Christ's coming, when He supposedly will first “rapture up” the saved, leave the unsaved here on earth for a short period of time, and then return again (a third visit to earth) to set up His earthly kingdom. According to these stories, at the end of 1000 years (hence the term “millennial”) there will be a great battle between the forces of good and evil, good will prevail, and Satan will be thrown into everlasting punishment and mankind will face the eternal division at Judgment. Those who follow this eschatological (end times) doctrine are often called “premillennialists” because they believe we are now in the period just before (pre-) the 1000 (-millennial) year reign of Christ on earth.

There is just one problem with this doctrine: It is not taught in the Bible!

When Jesus stood before Pilate, the governor asked Him if He was a king, and Jesus asked him if this question was from the Jews or of himself. Pilate then replied that it was the Jews who had brought Him to be tried and asked what Jesus had done (John 18:33-35). To this Jesus then said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (verse 36).

Did you catch that? Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world! If His kingdom had been of this world, His followers would have fought against those who had brought Him to Pilate and the battle would have already begun. But they did not fight. Not that some did not want to fight, though (cf. verses 10-11)! To Peter, Jesus commanded that the sword be put away, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). If there was going to be a battle between Christ's people and those who opposed Him, then would have been “the shot heard around the world” (so to speak), but Jesus Himself prevented it. There was a reason!

Once, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. To them He answered, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation: nor will they say ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). Once again, Jesus says plainly that the nature of the kingdom of God was not what men expected it to be. Man was, and is, looking for something he could see and touch, much like the earthly kingdoms that existed then and even up to our time, but Jesus explained that such was not the nature of His kingdom. It was not something someone could point to and say, “Look! There it is – over there!” It was not something whose coming would make the political news because it usurped or overthrew some earthly kingdom.

What we should note from these few words of Jesus is clear: His kingdom is not like earthly kingdoms! There will be no physical borders as earthly kingdoms have; there will be no literal throne on which He sits; there will be no literal crown that sits upon His head; there will be no castles or palaces that are the center of His rule and power. Jesus plainly said “the kingdom of God is within you.” That is its nature!

Do you remember the parable of the minas? It is very similar to the parable of the talents, but there is an important point we should note here that we may otherwise ignore or overlook. In telling this parable, Jesus began by saying, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom for himself and to return” (Luke 19:12). Now, before we get any further into explaining this, may I ask you: What is this parable about? Is it not about Jesus Himself, and how He left this earth to go to heaven, and left His servants certain responsibilities to which they would be accountable upon His return? Is this not the story of Jesus Himself and the final Judgment? Of course it is! He even concluded the parable by telling how the nobleman would say, “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me” (verse 27).

If this parable is about Jesus' return and the final Judgment, what of the words of Jesus here, who said that He left “to receive a kingdom for himself”? What is the “far country” but heaven itself? What is the final scene speaking of but the condemnation of those who would not obey Jesus Christ and His word (cf. John 12:47-48)? Clearly, this parable denies – and exposes as false – the claim of the premillennialist who would have Jesus establishing an earthly kingdom, for such claims deny He now reigns! He has already received the kingdom for Himself!

On the day of Pentecost, when the gospel message was first preached, Peter cited the words of David in the Psalms and explained that David was not speaking of himself, but the Christ whom God would raise up to sit on his throne (Acts 2:25-30). Peter then went on to say, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (verses 32-33). Peter plainly said that Jesus has already been exalted to His throne!

Note that Peter said that Jesus had “received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit.” What was that promise of the Holy Spirit? It was the promise the Holy Spirit made – through the words of David – that God would raise up the Christ to sit in his throne (verse 30)! Almost 2000 years ago – only 10 days after Jesus had ascended into heaven – Peter declared by the inspiration of God that Jesus was already sitting on a throne! Friends and brethren: Who sits on a throne but a King? Clearly, we must admit that Jesus is already reigning as King!

And finally, when Silas and the apostle Paul came to Thessalonica, they went into the synagogue, “and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ’” (Acts 17:2-3). Some of the Jews who were not persuaded became envious, stirred up trouble amongst the city rulers, and said of them, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king – Jesus” (verses 6-7).

Did you catch that? These men who opposed Paul and Silas and their teaching of Jesus as the Christ said they were teaching another as king: Jesus! Were they making this up, or was the charge true? Consider everything else they said of them: they had turned the world upside down (true); they had come here too (true); Jason had “harbored them” (true); and they taught things contrary to the decrees of Caesar (most likely true, since some considered themselves to be not only king but a god). The accusation that they were teaching Jesus as king was true!

This agrees with Paul's words to the Corinthians that when Christ comes again, the dead in Christ will be raised up and He (Christ) will deliver the kingdom to God the Father (I Corinthians 15:22-28). When this is done, the Son (Christ) will then subject Himself to the Father once again (verse 28). Can we note a couple of things here? First, one cannot deliver what one does not have; second, if Jesus “must reign” until death is finally defeated, then what “must” He be doing right now?

Friends and brethren, it should be clear from this study of God's word that Jesus is now reigning as King. The kingdom will not be established upon His return; it exists now! Knowing this, let us make sure we are a part of that kingdom, subject to Him in all things (Ephesians 5:24).

From: The Burns Park BEACON, a bulletin of the Burns Park Church of Christ, North Little Rock, Arkansas
Editor: Steven Harper [This article may also be found at http://bpcoc.iwonpages.com]

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