Jesus... Times Seven— Part III.

Jesus’ work at the macro-level, at the cosmic level overshadowing the Earth, is one of subduing the nations, subjecting the nations of the Earth to His rule, His reign, and His Kingdom.  There are a couple of key passages here, one of which is Psalm 110 {cf.}.

This image of Jesus as the coming Judge, the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” {Rev. 5:5b}, is the central focus of something vital and absolutely non-negotiable to sound, ‘orthodox’ theology: that there is a Day of Wrath approaching, a Day of judgment coming on the nations of the Earth, in which the King and Creator will set His world right once and for all.  This theme, known to the Prophets of Israel as the “Day of the Lord,” is repeated over and over throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, then picked up and clarified further in the New.  In Hebrew prophecy and in the Hebrew mind, there are essentially two Ages: there is the “present Age,” which is utterly and irrevocably evil; and there is the “Age to Come,” which is entirely good, holy, beautiful and abundant.  In between the two is the Day of the Lord, the Day when Yahweh would personally and powerfully intervene for His People on planet Earth, destroying His enemies {and the enemies of the Jewish nation}, setting right all wrongs, and inaugurating His everlasting Kingdom.  This is what the Hebrews thought of in the phrase the ‘Day of the Lord.’

It might be good to remind ourselves that throughout the Scriptures God’s coming judgment is something to be celebrated, longed for, deeply desired by those who belong to Him.  Now think about this, especially in an election year.  In a world of systematic injustice, a world of brutality, violence, and oppression of human freedom, the firmly founded belief that there will come a Day when the wicked are put permanently in their place and the poor and defenseless are given power and protection is grand and glorious news!  Listen carefully.  Faced with a world in rebellion against His rule, a world filled with exploitation and wickedness, a good and righteous God must be a God of judgment and justice— cf. Psalm 2.  Must!

When the image of the “Son of Man” from Daniel 7 who “was given authority, glory, and sovereign power” and “all peoples, nations, and men of every language worshiped Him,” whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and” whose “Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” {v. 14}, is transposed to the New Testament, we find Jesus fulfilling the role of the Son of Man.  The early Church, in accordance with the revelation they were given, understood full well Jesus is the One through whom God will set the world aright.

“So, how do I play a part in this?”  You can play a part in this, first of all, by offering the Gospel of Grace freely and openly and generously to any who don’t have it.  You can expand the boundaries of the Royal Empire one soul at a time!  And secondly, you can train Disciples to train other Disciples, you can teach other Followers to teach other Followers, and slowly, sometimes imperceptibly, but surely you can lead human hearts to surrender themselves and their lives to His will, His purpose and His plan for them.  That’s how you can help Jesus subdue the nations beneath Him; that’s how we can labor for the Kingdom, both in its present form and its future form.  Two things in closing here.  [i] We are not called in this Age to subject persons or nations violently or militarily to Jesus’ rule and reign.  There’ll be a time for this, but that part comes later: at the Return of the King of Kings to tread down the winepress of Abba’s wrath and judgment {Isa. 63:1-6; Rev. 14:18-20; 19:11-21}.  [ii] The Church’s warfare is spiritual, not national!  Nowhere in Scripture are we told to convert anybody, anywhere, by force.  Nowhere.  And don’t forget it.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
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