WHERE WILL THE KINGDOM BE?

By Charles N. Spence, Jr.

My intention in writing this article is not to misrepresent the ideas of those who would ask the title question. The question, due to its nature, causes me to make an inherent presumption. When asked, "Where will the kingdom be" I believe there is an implication that the kingdom is not yet. I will proceed to answer and discuss the question from this point.

Some people believe the dispensational view that Jesus is going to set up an earthly kingdom based upon the events of Revelation 20. This kingdom is to last 1000 years. People understand this to be the “Millennium.” This view stems from the position that when Jesus came to the earth, the nation of Israel rejected His kingdom offer. Consequently, Jesus withdrew His offer until another time. Parenthetically, He established the Church in place of the kingdom. Many other thoughts go into dispensational thinking. Due to lack of space, the previous thoughts will suffice this study.

One of the major elements of millennial theory is that Jesus will reign upon the earth in Jerusalem sitting on David's throne. The major problem with that is Jeremiah 22:30. “Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” Contextually, this was a curse delivered upon the lineage of Jehoiachin, the seed of David. From that point on in Jewish history, none of David's seed prospered nor sat upon his throne in Judah. Consider Matthew's genealogy of Jesus in Chapter 1:1-17. Jehoiachin (Jechonias-KJV) had no descendants that ruled or prospered. Jesus descended from Jehoiachin.

"How, then, could Jesus be the Christ?" One could ask another question "How could the Messiah ever come?" These questions take into account that the Messiah would come from the loins of King David. According to 2 Samuel 7:4-17, God had promised that such would be the case. Notice verses 12 and 13. “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” Because of the apparent wickedness of Judah and Jehoiachin, the promise to David appears to be in jeopardy due to the curse. Yet, the promise to David was unconditional. Solomon is not the true fulfillment of the promise. The throne and kingdom would be forever.

How, then, could Jesus be the Christ? Jesus, through many infallible proofs, demonstrated himself to be the Christ. Though the Jews rejected Him as such, they did not base it on the genealogical record. This shows there was no question to Jesus' being an heir to the throne of David. “But what about the curse on Jehoiachin?" This, no doubt, would have presented a serious problem for Jesus being the Christ. However, Luke records a different variation of Jesus' genealogy. Luke 4:31 also indicates that Jesus' lineage is traced back through David. Yet, verse 31 has Jesus' lineage traced to David through his son Nathan. Matthew, in 1:6, traces Jesus' lineage to David through Solomon. In this way Jesus by-passed the curse. The Jews of Jesus' day looked for the Christ to rule upon the earth in a physical kingdom. They would not have a basis to denounce Jesus’ genealogical ascent to David's throne.

Having the advantage of hindsight, we can easily see that the kingdom of God was not of this world (John 18:36). Only those of a spiritual nature can see or enter it, John 3:3-6. The kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. Another element involved in Jesus’ ability to reign upon David's throne is He rules from Heaven. According to the curse, there would be no rule in Judah upon David's throne. Jesus rules from Heaven upon David's throne metaphorical. (The throne is really Christ’s). Psalm 110:1-2 says, “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou, at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” One can see that Jesus' rule could not be an earthly one. He rules from the Father's side. This is further established by the fact of His High Priesthood being tied into His Kingship (Psalm 110:4). Hebrews 8:4 says “For if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.” Since Jesus is our High Priest NOW, He is most certainly King NOW, ruling from His father's side. He reigns within the hearts of men (1 Pet. 3:15).

One can find additional evidence for the kingdom's existence in Mark 9:1. Jesus was speaking to his disciples who were with Him at the time. He told them “There are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” Is anyone ready to defend the belief that disciples with whom Jesus walked are alive today? We must be prepared to concede that what Jesus said has happened. Also, add to the fact that God had been translating people into the kingdom of our Lord (Col. 1:13). In addition, John was a partaker with the saints in the kingdom (Rev. 1:9).

Where is the Kingdom NOW? Jesus says that no one can see with the naked, physical eye, but with an eye of faith (Luke 17:20-21). From His father's throne, Jesus reigns as King. His territory of rule is the hearts of men. The kingdom is the church and the church is the kingdom.

“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom of God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:24-26). Revelation 20 mentions no earthly reign of Christ; especially since it is not scripturally supported. To deny Jesus' rule and the existence of His kingdom is to deny there is atonement for sins and salvation for souls.