The Present Reign of Christ

One of the primary focuses of eschatological debates centers upon Christ’s office as King. For Dispensationalists, those who distinguish sharply between Israel and the Church, the realization of this office will occur during a future millennial age where the nation of Israel will be restored to its former glory. It is often argued from this perspective that Christ offered the Kingdom to Israel, but since they rejected their Messiah the Kingdom would have to be postponed. However, the Biblical depiction of Christ’s Kingdom is quite different from the expectations that Dispensationalists have.

To start, Christ did not offer a Kingdom, but proclaimed it. Through his earthly ministry the presence of the Kingdom was clearly manifested. After casting out a demon Christ taught, “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons then the Kingdom of God has come upon you” (Mt 12:28). Jesus often told parables about the nature of his Kingdom that shifted the Warrior-King paradigm that the Jews had. He even explicitly spoke against such militant expectations and professed to Pilate that his Kingdom “was not of this world” (Jn 18:36).

The Gospels do not depict an offer of a Kingdom. In fact, we see the opposite. After Jesus fed five thousand men (not to mention women and children), the people recognized that he was the one who was to come, as Moses promised (Jn 6:14 cf. Deut 18:18). In line with the Jewish expectations of their day, John tells us that they attempted to take him by force and make him King (Jn 6:15). However, Jesus responded by retreating to the mountain by himself. If Jesus came offering a Kingdom then he would have had a large enough gathering to instantiate a strong movement. This however was not a characteristic of the true nature of the Kingdom. For as we will see, a Kingdom without the cross would be no Kingdom at all. (Of course, Jesus' temptation in the wilderness by Satan to give him all the kingdoms of the world was a true temptation because it would avoid the sufferings of the cross).

In his very first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter spoke emphatically on the nature of the Kingdom in relation to Christ’s death on the cross. Peter declared that this event occurred “according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). We are not meant to think that the Kingdom failed in light of Christ’s death. On the contrary, Peter argues that the Kingdom continues because of the Resurrection. Quoting from Psalm 16, Peter makes special note of David’s words, which read, “You will not let your Holy One see corruption.” The fact of David’s death was certain and it was common knowledge as to where he was buried. Because of this, Peter reasoned that the “Holy One” who did not see corruption was Christ, not David. This was because of the Resurrection. Peter continues that David spoke in this way because he knew God promised him that one of his descendents would sit on his throne. The connection between the Davidic promise of a Kingdom and the Resurrection is tied to Christ’s heavenly session at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:31-33 cf. Eph 1:18-23, Heb 1:8-13). Christ is seated upon the true throne and reigns supreme as the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. Peter’s apologetic for the Kingdom is rooted in the Resurrection precisely because Christ was seated upon a throne much more supreme than the earthly throne of David.

The Apostle Paul also draws a connection between the Resurrection of Christ and his Kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives a great defense of Christ’s Resurrection and by extension our Resurrection. We have hope of our Resurrection because Christ was raised as the “first fruits” (1 Cor 15:23). When he returns those who belong to Christ will be raised and as he says, “then comes the end” (1 Cor 15:24). Interestingly, he did not say, “then starts the millennium.” Paul’s chronological timeline of eschatology clearly goes from Second Advent to Eternal State. It is a simple “this age,” “age to come” model. The former characterized by the temporal, and the later characterized by the eternal. When the end comes, as Paul says, Christ will give the Kingdom to the Father. Therefore, at the present time he must be in control of this Kingdom in order to submit it to the Father. In fact, Paul goes on to say that before he gives the Kingdom to the Father he must reign until he has “destroyed every rule, authority and power” (1 Cor 15:24 cf. 1 Pet 3:22). Simply put, Paul is teaching that this process of putting things under the submission of Christ is a current process. The last of these enemies to be submitted will be death (1 Cor 15:25). Indeed, when the perishable puts on the imperishable in the “twinkling of an eye,” Paul says that “Death will be swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor 15:54-55). The end of death is the end of the temporal age. Paul is not depicting a future millennial reign, but the current process of consigning all enemies to be Christ’s footstool (Ps 110:1 cf. Heb 10:12-13). After all enemies are destroyed, Christ will submit the Kingdom to the Father so that God may be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).

The imagery of the Kingdom is all over the New Testament. To deny Christ his rightful throne is to gut the Gospel of its current authority in the world. As dead hearts are transformed by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, they are transferred from the realm of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ (Col 1:13). The Kingdom’s power secures the believer because it is an unshakable Kingdom (Heb 12:28). The true believer will never falter from faith as long as the Sovereign King cries out on his behalf, “Mine!”

Undoubtedly this area of Eschatology is a heated issue. Certainly, most Dispensationalists would disagree with this entry because of a commitment to “literal” fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. However, the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture. Therefore, let us turn and embrace this King who reigns supreme as the preeminent head of the Church. Let us wait with eager longing for the Blessed Hope of the Church; the eschatological joy that awaits those who place their trust in this King!