The Kingdom of The King

One of the questions being asked more frequently today is this:
 
Does the Bible teach that Christians are supposed to rule and reign over the earth now, bringing the Kingdom of God through our own efforts while placing heaven and Christ’s return somewhere in the background?
 
Closely connected to that question is another:
 
Are believers supposed to rule and reign now in preparation for a future reign with Christ?
 
The Bible certainly teaches that believers have authority in Christ.
 
Jesus said:
 
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.”
— Luke 10:19
 
Before His ascension He declared:
 
“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.”
— Acts 1:8
 
Believers are not powerless.
 
We are called to preach the Gospel, make disciples, resist the devil, minister to the hurting, and faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us.
 
Yet authority is not the same thing as dominion.
 
Jesus taught His disciples to pray:
 
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
— Matthew 6:10
 
If the Kingdom had already arrived in its fullness, there would be no need to pray for its coming.
 
The prayer itself acknowledges that something greater still lies ahead.
 
Paul wrote:
 
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Philippians 3:20
 
Peter wrote:
 
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
— 2 Peter 3:13
 
Titus calls believers to be:
 
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
— Titus 2:13
 
Notice the direction of their hope.
 
They were looking for Christ.
 
Looking for His appearing.
 
Looking for His Kingdom.
 
Not celebrating its completion through their own efforts.
 
I do believe the Lord is preparing His people.
 
Faithfulness matters.
 
Stewardship matters.
 
Obedience matters.
 
We are learning to walk with Him now so that we may serve Him well in the age to come.
 
Yet preparation is not the same as possession.
 
Jesus said:
 
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
— Luke 12:32
 
A kingdom that is given is different from a kingdom we build.
 
Paul wrote:
 
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”
— 2 Timothy 2:12
 
And Revelation declares:
 
“They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
— Revelation 20:4
 
Notice that the reign of believers is always connected to Christ Himself.
 
His throne.
 
His authority.
 
His Kingdom.
 
A prince may spend years learning wisdom, discipline, faithfulness, and responsibility before inheriting a throne.
 
His training is real.
 
But he has not yet entered the fullness of his reign.
 
Likewise, believers are learning obedience, stewardship, endurance, and faithfulness now.
 
We are being prepared now for future participation in Christ’s reign.
 
But preparation is not possession.
 
Training is not enthronement.
 
The earth itself testifies that the Kingdom has not yet arrived in its fullness.
 
Paul writes:
 
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
— Romans 8:22
 
Creation is not reigning.
 
Creation is groaning.
 
The world remains under the effects of the curse.
 
Death continues.
 
Wars continue.
 
Sickness continues.
 
Creation waits for redemption.
 
This is why our hope is not in what mankind can build.
 
It is in what God has promised to do.
 
Isaiah records the promise:
 
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth.”
— Isaiah 65:17
 
Again:
 
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD.”
— Isaiah 66:22
 
Notice who is acting.
 
God says:
 
“I create.”
 
God says:
 
“I will make.”
 
The Creator remains the Creator.
 
The Redeemer remains the Redeemer.
 
Peter echoes the same promise:
 
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
— 2 Peter 3:13
 
Notice that believers are not creating it.
 
We are looking for it.
 
Waiting for it.
 
Expecting it.
 
Then John records:
 
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth.”
— Revelation 21:1
 
And immediately afterward:
 
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.”
— Revelation 21:2
 
The movement is not earth ascending to heaven.
 
It is heaven descending to earth.
 
The city comes from God.
 
The Kingdom comes from God.
 
The restoration comes from God.
 
Then the voice from the throne declares:
 
“Behold, I make all things new.”
— Revelation 21:5
 
Not the Church.
 
Not governments.
 
Not human civilization.
 
Christ Himself says:
 
“I make all things new.”
 
The Church has a glorious calling.
 
We are ambassadors.
 
We are witnesses.
 
We are laborers together with God.
 
We are salt and light in the earth.
 
But we are not the redeemers of creation.
 
We do not establish the final Kingdom.
 
The New Heaven and New Earth are not the finished product of Christian achievement.
 
They are the work of Christ.
 
The Christian hope is not that the Church will become the King.
 
The Christian hope is that the King will return.
 
Until then we preach.
 
We pray.
 
We disciple.
 
We serve.
 
We endure.
 
We occupy until He comes.
 
For the Church prepares the way.
 
But the King establishes the Kingdom.
 
And the New Heaven and New Earth will forever testify that redemption belongs to the Lord.
 
JD Sanges