By Earl Robertson
In the synagogue in Thessalonica, Paul and Silas preached “there is another king, one Jesus” (Acts 17:7). It was not then difficult to prove that Jesus was king, but it was difficult to cause men to believe it. The same is true today. Many who claim to be Christians deny the kingship of Jesus! The doctrine of premillennialism denies that Christ is king-and many denominations are, in teaching, premillennial to the core.
Denominations talk about the “church age.” They believe the Old Testament kingdom prophecies were not fulfilled when Jesus came. This, they say, was because the Jews rejected Him. Because of this rejection, He could not then do what He came to do-establish His kingdom; so, as a substitute for the kingdom, He built the church. Some ,. call the church a “contingent” (accident, emergency, liability). The theory of premillennialism makes the church a mere emergency measure resulting from a promissory default and a prophetical fiasco. If Christ now has no kingdom, He is not now king! It is absurd to think of Jesus being king but having no kingdom. The church and the kingdom are one and the same people.
Ezekiel, speaking of the one nation that would be made of all nations under the rule of Jesus, said, “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: They shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them” (Ezek 37:24). Ezekiel was not speaking of David himself, bur of his seed. David was dead when the prophet said this and has remained so. “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day” (Acts 2:29). Ezekiel was restating the same promise regarding David’s posterity that God told David would happen: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shaft 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 an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam. 7:12, 13). David had to be dead when God would do with his posterity the things promised!
Jesus is king and has a kingdom-His kingdom (Col. 1:13). He went to heaven to receive it (Dan. 7:13, 14; Lk. 19:12-15; Heb. 12:28; Acts 1 and 2). He is king of kings and lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15), premillennialism to the contrary, notwithstanding.
Truth Magazine XXII: 9, p. 149
March 2, 1978