The Millennial Kingdom

A commonly mistaken view of the millennial kingdom is that Christ will one day return and set up a kingdom on earth. At that time he supposedly rules in Mt. Zion, on the literal throne of David.

That Christ was promised the throne of David is evident from 2 Samuel 7:11, 12, Isaiah 9:6, 7 and Luke 1: 31, 32. Yet, it seems that many are confused on the Bible teaching of Christ's rule and reign from Mt. Zion. These extreme ideas of literalism are foreign to the scriptures.

It is important to note that God reigned over Israel originally from his throne in heaven. There were no intermediary kings who represented him on earth. During the time of the judges, Israel complained and desired an earthly king like all the nations who were around them. God viewed this as a rejection of his reign over Israel.

"Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. No make us a king to judge us like all the nations...Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. (1 Samuel 8:5-7).

Thus, God viewed an earthly king as a rejected of his divine sovereignty over Israel, a lesson which many in Christendom have yet to learn.

The Millennial Kingdom and the Priesthood in the Old Covenant

It is important to understand d that at that time, the priesthood and the regal sovereignty of Israel were separate. God forbade kings to usurp the authority of the priesthood. It stands to reason that if kings could not be priests, then priests could not be kings. Thus it was God's divine purpose for the time that those roles be separate.

Saul, Israel's first king, not content with God's arrangement sought to act as priest in Samuel's apparent absence, which in reality was only a delay of his arrival to Gilgal. Saul requested a burnt offering and peace offering be brought to him which he offered upon the altar. His rationale was not a commandment from God, but he felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.

Samuel charged Saul with having done a foolish act in disobeying the commandment of God. The consequence of which was God's refusal to establish his kingdom in Israel forever. 1 Samuel 13:8-14.

So, it is very obvious that God did not command that the two roles be mixed particularly under the Old Covenant. The checkered lives and reigns of the kings led to the casting off of the ten northern tribes under the reign of Jeroboam, king of Israel. The kings of Judah also suffered havoc in their reigns with the exception of a few. Only about four were commendable.

The Millennial Kingdom and God's Promise "No More Earthly Kings"

Jeconiah's reign ended with God's promise that no man of his descendants would prosper, sitting on the throne of David and ruling anymore in Judah. Hence, once and for all God cutoff any expectation and hope that a king would reign on earth in Judah/Jerusalem sitting on the throne of David.

God's anger was at its boiling point with human kings. Over and over again they failed him until he said, it was enough. Hosea writes expressive of God's desire to have the kingdom restored to its rightful place in heaven.

"I will be your king; Where is any other, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges to whom you said, Give me a king and princes? I gave you a king in My anger and took him away in My wrath. (Hosea 13:10, 11).

Yet today, many want their earthly kingdom. Many want to see a king on earth ruling in Jerusalem and Judah. If it made God angry then, why wouldn't it do so now? If having such a king rejected God's reign then, why not now?

Thus, one of the flaws with the millennial kingdom on earth theorists is the history of God's wrath for earthly kings. Millennialists who advocate a kingdom on earth ignore God's abhorrence of such notions. See our next article in our series on the Millennial reign of Christ, "Just Say No To Jewish Hopes of an Earthly Kingdom."