Jesus Will Reign and Rule

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, CSB)

The second coming of Jesus Christ will be a personal, visible, and physical return. This Jesus is the  same one who was born in a manger, lived a holy life, suffered death on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. His return will have consequences. In short, He will return to reign as the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords. He will rule as the only sovereign potentate, for He is God in the flesh, the second member of the triune God forever incarnated in human form. This teaching is the second half of the sixth essential element of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  

For Jesus the Messiah to reign and rule, there are several things that will need to take place. Scripture and biblical eschatology has much, much more to say about this than I have space to deal with here. What I’m going to do is paint in broad strokes seven events that will occur after the second coming of the Messiah.  All of these events are brought about by Jesus. 

First, there will be a final judgment and Jesus the Messiah will be the judge. 

Jesus will judge us because all judgment has been given to him by God the Father. 

“Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:25–27, CSB)

As Jesus has the ability to raise the dead with the sound of his voice, He also has the right to judge. Jesus goes on to explain that he has this right to judge all men because he is the “Son of Man”. This “Son of Man” is a title making reference to the Christ or Messiah. This title is used in 1 Enoch and 4 Ezra, both of these are second temple literature in which a Jew, in the day of Jesus, would be very familiar as referencing the coming Messiah to judge the world and set up the Kingdom of God on earth. Daniel uses the term “son of man” as the one given an everlasting dominion and a kingdom that all people would serve him. 

“I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14, CSB)

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and used the impending event of having to stand before Jesus as supreme judge to both warn and encourage him in his ministry. 

“I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:1–2, CSB)

This is a warning. We will be held responsible for what we did with what we were given. This is also an encouragement. If we are faithful we will be rewarded. In short, there will be a reckoning of our lives and Jesus will be the one to do it. 

Second, people who did not trust Jesus as Messiah will be judged according to their deeds. 

The apostle Peter, in writing to believers warned them to live as obedient children under the Lord as Father, then he goes on to state: “If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.” (1 Peter 1:17, CSB)

Then we find at the great white throne judgment, those who did not believe in, nor trust in Jesus were judged according to their deeds they did while alive on earth.

 “And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—” (Hebrews 9:27, CSB)

“I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12–13, CSB)

Third, people who trusted Jesus as Messiah will be rewarded for deeds they did in His name. 

These people will not be judged for unrighteousness as the others because they accepted the relied upon the substitutionary atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus paid their sin debt. Their home is with Jesus and they are given a reward for their labors done out of a loving motivation for the name and fame of Jesus.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24, CSB)

As far as rewards, here are a few biblical references on believer’s rewards. 

“And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ—truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41, CSB)

“But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.” (Luke 6:35, CSB)

“Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.” (2 John 8, CSB)

In Jesus’ parable of the talents, he let his followers know that if they were faithful to Jesus in what they had in this life, then He would reward them with greater things in the next. 

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’” (Matthew 25:21, CSB)

Actually, all of Matthew 25 is about faithful living in reflection of having to answer to Jesus for our lives. 

Fourth, the rebellious angels will be judged according to their deeds. 

This will include Satan, other fallen angels, and demons. They are not redeemable. Their nature is fixed. Their judgment awaits. 

“And the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day.” (Jude 6, CSB)

Jesus dies for people, not angels. “For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.” (Hebrews 2:16, CSB). This may sound harsh, but the angels who rebelled against God and followed Satan did so with full knowledge. The cross of Jesus is not meant for their salvation, but for their condemnation. They are and still are, and forever will be in full rebellion against God. 

The apostle Paul wrote describing what the cross of Jesus Christ meant to these spiritual forces of darkness. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15, CSB)

Fifth, all whose names are not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.

They will be sent to their final place for all eternity, which is the lake of fire. This includes Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and any person whose name is not found in the book of life. 

“But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” (Revelation 19:20, CSB)

“The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10, CSB)

“Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14–15, CSB)

Those who didn’t choose Christ will have to answer for their own sins before a holy and righteous God. The judgment will be fair, accurate, and exact. Every detail and motivation of their lives will be considered by an all-knowing, all-present and all-powerful God. God has a record of it all.

There are none too great to be exempt or too small to be overlooked. It doesn’t matter where or how they died. It doesn’t matter where they were buried. All of these will stand before God and answer for the life they lived and the choices they made. 

However, those whose names are in the book of life have chosen to receive God’s grace. The judgment, which they deserved for their sin, was paid by Jesus the Messiah through His substitutionary death on the cross. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, God’s justice was satisfied and forgiveness of sin was granted. Even more, through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, those who believe in Him are given new life. Their names will never be erased out of the Book of Life!

Sixth, Jesus will renovate creation into a new heavens and a new earth. 

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”” (Revelation 21:1–5, CSB)

God moves His throne to be with His transformed people; His human family. What was done in part and in symbol with the tabernacle in the wilderness and the temple in Jerusalem, and our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit becomes a full-on explosion of reality. At present all of creation is waiting on Jesus to come and rescue us from this decaying existence. 

“For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:19–23, CSB)

I’ve included huge chunks of Scripture in this number six, but nothing describes it better than Scripture itself. Once this renovation of creation and the complete redemption of believers bodies and their freedom from sinful decay is accomplished, it now paves the way for the final state of all things. At long last, the reality of the complete and sovereign rule of Jesus the Messiah over things. 

Seventh, all kingdoms will come under the eternal reign and sovereign rule of king Jesus forever. 

“The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, 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, CSB) 

I cannot read these words without thinking of George Handel’s Hallelujah chorus from “Messiah.” 

According to popular musical history, Handel composed “Messiah” during a very difficult period in his life. He was deeply in debt and several of his previous compositions received poor reviews.

Handel locked himself in his room and began writing the score. He finished it in a remarkable 24 days. While composing, he went without food or sleep for days at a time. 

After completing the Hallelujah Chorus, the personal comment by Handel was: “I did think I saw heaven open, and saw the very face of God.” 

However, what I reflect on the most is the tradition of audiences standing during the beginning of the “Hallelujah Chorus”. While I do not have actual evidence for this, it is said that it started at the very first performance of "Messiah". King George II was present and when the chorus began, it is said that he was enthralled by the music and these words:

“For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of kings and Lord of lords. Forever, Hallelujah! ” 

King George II was so overwhelmed that he stood in honor of Christ. When the king stands, everyone stands. And so they did. And so they have ever since. 

One day, and I pray it is soon. The King of kings and Lord of lords will stand. All of creation will come to attention. All will be made new. 

Jesus Will Return

The return of Jesus Christ is part of the sixth essential element of the Gospel of the Kingdom. 

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1–3, CSB)

The above passage immediately came to mind after I had accepted the news of my dad’s passing. It was an immediate comfort in a time of loss. I was 24 years old at the time. My dad was just 56 when he died. I felt a huge void. It wasn’t because we were especially close. It was because I knew he was there. I knew that if I needed help of any kind I could always turn to him. Now that source of comfort is gone. 

While that source was gone, I was reminded that another source would always be there. I believed in God the Father and I believed in Jesus. I knew that He would not only take care of my dad, but He would take care of me. 

Jesus has promised His people His immediate and current presence through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I was comforted by that fact on the day of my dad’s passing but also many, many times since then. My experience demonstrated the truth of what Jesus promised his disciples that he would send another Helper or Counselor. He told them this:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” (John 14:16, CSB)

He did just that, about 10 days after his ascension into heaven. It happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). All believers present were filled with the Holy Spirit. The good news is that we who believe in and follow Jesus the Messiah have the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit with us always. As we surrender to His lordship, we will receive power for living. 

But this good news gets better. Jesus himself will return. This is the great hope of believers everywhere. Without the return of Jesus Christ to earth, all the prophecies would be for nothing. There would be no hope for a better future. No hope for justice and righteousness to triumph without the return of Jesus Christ. Yet this was the promise from the angels on the day the Lord ascended to heaven.

“They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away.” (Acts 1:11–12, CSB)

In this promise we are told the manner in which the victorious Jesus Christ will return. But there are also other promises from Jesus and from other places in Scripture where the Messiah will further claim his own, judge the rebellious and restore the universe to righteousness. 

The return of Jesus Christ is the one end-time teaching that all Christians everywhere agree on. When and under what circumstances He returns is not in universal agreement. In this blog I’m going to share the manner in which the Lord Jesus Christ will return. In my next blog I will attempt to give some understanding of His reign and rule. 

From the Book of Acts 1:11 and other Scriptures we find that there are at least seven aspects of how the Lord Jesus Christ will return. 

First, He will return personally. It is this same Jesus who was born under the law, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary atoning death and rose again who will come back. It will not be a prophet, someone else, or even an angel. It will be this same Jesus himself who will return. 

Second, Jesus will return bodily. His return will not be a vision. It will not be a symbol. Jesus will return in his resurrected body. The same body that he ascended to heaven and to His throne. It is the same body he will be in, and always be in at his return. 

Third, Jesus will return suddenly. “Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.” “Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” (Mark 13:33, 36–37, CSB) I believe that when the Lord does appear, it will be in a manner that will leave no time for anyone to make any changes. It will be sudden and it will be in fullness. We don’t know the “when”, but we do know the “how.” It will be sudden. 

Fourth, His return will be with the clouds. “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen.” (Revelation 1:7, CSB) What does this mean? In the Old Testament, the cloud was depicted as the powerful presence of God. There was the cloud that guided and protected the Israelites by day as they made their way through the wilderness journey to the promised land. In the Psalms, Yahweh makes the clouds His chariot. This is God moving to war against his enemies. So, the Lord Jesus coming with the clouds is both protecting and guiding his people, but at the same time, making war against his enemies. 

Fifth, Jesus will return with the angels. “This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels,” (2 Thessalonians 1:7, CSB) Jude quotes from the Book of Enoch when he wrote: “It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones” (Jude 14, CSB) These angels are part of the army of the Lord. They will gather his elect from all over the earth. 

Sixth, the Lord Jesus will return with His saints. “May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.” (1 Thessalonians 3:13, CSB) Paul additionally wrote this promise, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4, CSB) 

Last, Jesus will return to the same place he left. This place is the Mount of Olives. “Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south.” (Zechariah 14:3–4, CSB) This is the very place where Jesus suffered in the garden of Gethsemane and also the place where he went up to heaven. This is the place where the two angels told the disciples that Jesus would return. This is where Jesus touches down on earth. 

The return of our Lord Jesus Christ is our hope and comfort. It is a further fulfillment of the promises of God, of which he has kept them all! Knowing that Jesus will return should not make us slack in our witness or the holiness in our lives. It should encourage us to do better. There will come a day, and perhaps soon where we will stand before Him. I pray He will say these words to us all. “His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.” (Matthew 25:21, CSB)

Jesus Suffered and Rose from the Dead

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,” (Luke 24:45–46, ESV)

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, died, and was buried;

He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.- The Apostle’s Creed, lines 6-9

For many, including me, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the bedrock of the Christian faith. That Jesus suffered and rose from the dead is the fifth essential element of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Let me outline some reasons for this belief and how it is so central to the good news of the kingdom of God. 

First, let’s look at Jesus’ suffering. Jesus’ life and teachings challenged the religious and political authorities of his time. They challenge us in our time as well. It seemed like at some place and time every religious, economic, social, and political faction wanted either to co-opt Jesus or to do away with Him.  He spoke of love, forgiveness, and a coming Kingdom of God that was open to all who would receive Him. These teachings encouraged the masses of people, but also upset the status quo. 

As Jesus’ ministry gained popularity and traction with the crowds He would periodically remove himself from them. As His popularity grew, so did his exposure. Jesus didn’t want to come out publicly too soon. He foretold his disciples that he would have to suffer and die. The first occurrence of this was when Jesus and the disciples were in the region of Caesarea Phillipi and Jesus asked who they believed He was. After the confession of Peter that Jesus was the Messiah, was when Jesus began to tell them about His suffering, death and subsequent resurrection. 

“From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.” (Matthew 16:21, CSB)

Luke shorten’s Matthew's account. Jesus reminds them of this at least three more times (Mark 9:30-32; Matthew 20:17-19; and Matthew 26:1-2) just before the religious leaders enacted their plot to eliminate Jesus. Yet each time the disciples’ reaction was one of confusion or fear. 

When Jesus met at night with Nicodemus, as described in the Gospel of John, He told Nicodemus that “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14–16, CSB)

So it was not a surprise to Jesus that he would suffer and die. He tried to make it an “open secret” with the apostles, but they could not comprehend it, yet. Even the powers of darkness could not see this plan of God. As Pau wrote: “None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8, CSB)

Second, let’s look at Jesus' death. The Scripture says that Jesus was crucified. His death by crucifixion is well attested by both Scripture and valid non-Christian sources. I don’t want to get bogged down into an apologetic, but here are just a few of the extra-biblical authors who reference the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth outside of Jerusalem. 

• Tacitus: A Roman historian writing around 110 AD, Tacitus mentions the execution of Jesus by Pontius Pilate in his work "Annals" [Tacitus Annals]. This is considered a strong confirmation of the crucifixion by a non-Christian source.

• Josephus: A Jewish historian from the 1st century AD, Josephus mentions Jesus in two passages in his works, "Antiquities of the Jews" and "Jewish Wars" [Josephus Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus Jewish Wars]. The authenticity of these passages, particularly the longer one, is debated by scholars, but they do offer some information about Jesus from a Jewish perspective.

• Pliny the Younger: A Roman governor, Pliny the Younger, wrote letters to Emperor Trajan around 112 AD. In one, he discusses how to deal with Christians, mentioning their belief in a man named Christ who was executed [Pliny the Younger Letters].

In fact, the crucifixion is easily one of the most secure historical facts of the New Testament. As important as the question of Jesus’ death is, a question of greater importance is, “Why did Jesus need to suffer and die?” 

Third, let’s look at the meaning of the suffering and death of Jesus. The suffering of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross is seen as a sacrifice. It is actually viewed as the complete, one and only sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. The biblical teaching is that humanity is inherently flawed by sin and therefore separated from the holy creator God. Jesus, through his sinless life, willingly took on the burden of humanities sin, enduring immense physical, emotional and spiritual pain reconciling us to God.

Jesus is the only one who could do this. He is the Son, the second person of the triune God. He took on flesh and lived the life of a sinless man and therefore was able to become the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity. As the Scriptures say:

“He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, CSB)

This is theologically called the penal substitutionary death of Christ. God is holy, righteous and love. There are moral principles that are inherent in the framework of reality that come from God Himself. Justice is one of these. 

God could not just forgive sins, there had to be a payment. The scales of justice needed to be balanced. If humanity were to pay, if each of us were to pay for our own sins before a holy, just and yes, loving God, we would be banished to hell. Hell is what we would deserve. Friends, hell is what we deserve. But God, rich in mercy and love, sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that He might live and die for us in our place. That is the substitutionary part. John the Baptist called Him “The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, CSB). Jesus took the punishment for sin in our place. That is the penal part. Jesus’ suffering and death acts as a bridge, allowing for reconciliation and a restored relationship with God. 

But, how do we know that the suffering and death of Jesus actually satisfied the justice of God? How do we know we truly can be forgiven? Well, we wouldn’t if Jesus had stayed dead in the grave. The Apostle Paul stated that himself when he wrote “If Christ is dead, you are still in your sins.” But Paul went on to say, “But as it is, Christ is raised from the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:17, 20). 

Last, let’s look at what the resurrection of Jesus means to us as believers. The resurrection of Jesus Christ assures us that death is not the end. It offers the hope that through faith in Jesus Christ, believers can experience eternal life with God. We can have a new beginning, to live free from the failures and regrets of the past and to look forward into the future. No longer are you estranged from God. Through Christ you are adopted into his family and made a child of God. Nothing can ever take that away. 

This passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is so helpful and hopeful. Please take a moment to read and to really let it get into your heart.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:4–10, CSB)

This is what God has done with you when you believe and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. You are saved by grace as a gift from God. You are to then live your life as a gift back to Him. Your life has meaning and purpose both now and for eternity. 

So when you think of the tremendous sacrifice of Christ, think of what it has done for you. This will cause your heart to swell with gratitude and love. For God loves you yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. The resurrection is proof positive that He will keep his word.