By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #89 ~
What does this world need? Individual people need a Savior to save them from their sins. That’s why, about 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to this earth. But what do the cities, states and countries of this world need? They need a king! Look around the world and you see all kinds of rulers and leaders, some good, some bad, and some wicked, but none are perfect. There are still crimes, conflicts and corruption, and problems in every part of this planet; and only one person can solve them all, and that too, is Jesus Christ. That’s why Christ is coming again, to be the perfect King, to take over this world and make everything right, to rule and to reign, and bring peace to this earth.
A long time ago, God promised that He would send His Son to be the King of this world: “A child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of His peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” Isaiah 9:6-7
Part of this promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born in that little town of Bethlehem. Thirty years later, at the start of His ministry, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Then after three years of crisscrossing the nation of Israel, preaching to the people and making disciples, Jesus died on a cross to pay for the sins of all those who repent and believe in Him. But most of the Jews rejected Jesus as their Savior, and therefore rejected Him as their King.
But the Jews’ rejection of Jesus did not negate His victory over sin, death and the devil. In fact, just before His death, Jesus declared, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:31). Jesus Christ was lifted up on a cross, dying for sinners and providing the means for their salvation. But His death and resurrection also resulted in the defeat of the devil, and the outworking of that defeat is continually seen in the lives of Christians, and in the churches on this earth. At Calvary, Jesus Christ paid the purchase price to reign over a redeemed people and a redeemed world (Colossians 2:14-15).
The day will soon come when the devil, the ruler of this world, will be completely cast out of this world, and Christ will reign as King over this earth. Verse after verse speaks of this glorious victory. In Psalm 2:6, God says, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” The prophet tells us, “The Lord will be King over all the earth; in that day, the Lord will be the only One, and His name the only One” (Zechariah 14:9). We read, “Sing praises to our King… for God is the King of all the earth” (Psalm 47:7). Psalm 22:28 also makes it clear, “The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.”
It won’t be long before the return and reign of Christ. You see, we are living at the end of this church age, for the Jews are back in their land, and Israel, once again, is a nation. But that impostor of a king, that most wicked man, the Antichrist, must come first, and rule this world, but only for a very short while (Revelation 13). His devilish dictatorship will suddenly be interrupted by the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Then comes the Day of the Lord, God’s righteous and punishing wrath being poured out upon the unsuspecting and evil unbelievers still living on this earth. Revelation 5-9
Finally, it’s the end of Daniel’s 70th week, and loud voices in heaven will triumphantly proclaim, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Shortly after that, in one of the most dramatic and breathtaking scenes you could ever imagine, Christ returns to earth, “I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True… and on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ ” Revelation 19:11-16
For exactly one thousand years, Jesus Christ will reign on this earth, and all glorified believers will be joyfully reigning with Him (Revelation 3:21, 5:10, 20:6). I can’t wait for this to happen, for I get so tired of this evil age and sinful world! To know that we will soon see Jesus perfectly governing this planet should bring great joy and hope to our hearts. As King of the world, He will possess all authority, power and wisdom, resulting in justice, righteousness and peace on this earth. Here is God’s promise to Mary, and to all believers: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:32-33
P.S. The truth about the future reign of Christ is one of the most encouraging things you need to know, for it gives you hope, and gives you a reason for living for the Lord during your time on earth. The Return of the King is the article that tells us why Christ is coming back. You will be amazed and encouraged when you read all the reasons for His return.