Disciples Digital Library

Why do church leaders excuse lying, adultery, extortion, and even worse acts when they are committed by their political allies? Early in my Christian life, I was taught to pursue holiness in every area of life, and as a disciple of Jesus, I must separate myself from the ways and ideologies of this sinful world. Not physically, but spiritually and morally. Holiness before God and conformity to the life and teachings of Jesus are not optional:

Jesus summoned his disciples to proclaim the Good News to every nation, and to give complete allegiance to him and his kingdom . The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about reforming society or taking over governments. The man from Nazareth summons all men to repent and join a radically new social order and political reality, the Kingdom of God. His message is contrary to the beliefs and practices of the present world order, and it subverts all human philosophies and political ideologies.

The sovereignty of Jesus began with his exaltation to the Messianic Throne following his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension – Psalms 110:1. The New Testament connects the enthronement of Jesus to his Resurrection and Ascension by applying key prophetic texts to his life. The Son of God qualified to reign from God’s “ right hand ” because of his “ obedience unto death ,” this was confirmed when God raised him from the dead, and he therefore reigns over the Cosmos with a crown of thorns, so to speak.

The disciples of Jesus reign with him as priestly kings who mediate His light and proclaim His Good News to the world . At Mount Sinai, Yahweh summoned Israel to become His priestly kingdom that would reflect His light and holiness before the nations of the Earth. If the Nation of Israel kept God’s covenant, she would become “ my own possession  from among all peoples, for all the earth is mine. And you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation ” - (Exodus 19:5).

Jesus triumphed over Satan and Sin through his Death and Resurrection, therefore, he now reigns from the Messianic Throne . Jesus triumphed over his enemies on the Cross and began his reign as the promised Messianic King following his Death and Resurrection. He is not waiting for some future event before he receives his sovereignty over the nations. Unlike the political powers of this age, he conquered through his sacrificial death rather than tyranny, lies, political manipulation, or violence.  It is the Crucified One who now reigns on Mount Zion!

The Empire’s propagandists encourage men and women to give allegiance and veneration to the Emperor, the Beast from the Sea . The “ False Prophet ” as described in the  Book of Revelation  uses religious symbolism and economic control to coax the Inhabitants of the Empire   to pay homage to the Imperial Throne. Whether force or persuasion is employed, the goal is the same. Men who refuse to venerate the “ Beast from the Sea ” are excluded from economic activity and impoverished.

The New Testament applies messianic and royal promises from the Psalms to Christ’s present reign. He alone is, present tense, Lord and Messiah! Since his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus has reigned as absolute Lord over the Earth. He is seated on the Messianic Throne where he reigns supreme from “ Mount Zion ” as promised by the God of Israel. Because of his “ obedience until death ,” Christ is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” who possesses “ all authority in Heaven and on Earth .” His sovereignty knows no bounds.

The message of Jesus is centered on the Kingdom of God, a political reality that bears little resemblance to the systems and ideologies of this age . Political efforts by churches and “Christian” organizations too often are barely distinguishable from the politicians and ideologies of this world’s kingdoms, and this is especially so in Western-style democracies. It seems believers must emulate the ways of this fallen age to achieve real change in society. However, this common way of practicing Christianity differs radically from the teachings and example of Jesus.

True greatness in Christ’s Kingdom is found in self-sacrificial service for others, not in exercising political power over them . Too many Christians have exchanged the proclamation of the Gospel for the pursuit of one political agenda or another, especially in North America. Rather than calling men and women to repent and believe the same Gospel preached by Jesus and his Apostles, they prefer imposing their views and visions via the corrupt political systems of this fallen age. However, this is not the way of discipleship exemplified in the words and deeds of Jesus.

In explaining the resurrection, Paul lists key events that will precede or coincide with the arrival of Jesus at the close of the present age . Paul outlined the events that will occur at or shortly before the “ arrival ” of Jesus in  1 Corinthians . The Greek noun ‘ Parousia ’ or “ arrival ” is one of several terms Paul applies to the future coming of the Lord in his letters. Regardless of which term is used, the Apostle always refers to one “ coming ,” one “ appearance ,” one “ revelation ” and one “ appearance ” of the Son of God, not two or more.

‘Christendom’ is an idolatrous term used often to invoke Divine support of national and political institutions, agendas, and ideologies . In popular usage, the English term ‘Christendom’ refers to “that part of the world in which Christianity prevails,” either because the majority of a nation’s citizens claim to be Christian, or because a specific sect or denomination is recognized by the State as the country’s official religion.

Did Jesus triumph through his Death and Resurrection, or is he still waiting for some future event for his reign to begin? Was Jesus victorious over God’s enemies on the Cross, and did he begin to rule as the Davidic King following his Death and Resurrection? Most Christians would answer, “Well, yes! Of course!” Nevertheless, many popular interpretations effectively if not openly deny this present reality when they claim his reign over the Earth will not commence until his return in glory or some other future date or event.

After his baptism, the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness where he was tested by the Devil. The Messiah succeeded where Israel failed . After his baptism in the Jordan by John, the Spirit “ drove Jesus into the wilderness .” Like Moses and Israel, the Messiah was tempted while he was alone in the Judean desert. His only guide was the Word of God. Like Israel, he was “ tested .” Unlike the Hebrew nation, he overcame every temptation and emerged victorious and “ full of the Holy Spirit. ”

Redemption and God's Kingdom arrived in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, starting with his baptism by John – Mark 1:1-3. The Gospel of Mark opens with a declaration that combines passages from the Old Testament to provide the scriptural basis for the ministry of John the Baptist , and to set the stage for Christ’s mission . Mark begins with a note of fulfillment.

Disciples of Jesus are summoned to self-sacrificial service for others just as Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many . After predicting his death, two disciples began jockeying for positions of high status in Christ’s coming Kingdom. Thinking according to the ways of this world, they did not comprehend what kind of Messiah Jesus was, and therefore, what it meant to follow him. However, in Jerusalem, he would demonstrate exactly how one becomes “Great” in the Kingdom of God.

In his Letter to the Philippians , Paul points to the obedience of Jesus as the model of proper conduct by his disciples and the self-denying mindset they must adopt. His willingness to die at the hands of the World Empire and the enemy of Israel becomes the paradigm for how believers must live if they wish to follow him, an act that stands in stark contrast to the rulers and political systems of this evil age.

Too often, political efforts by churches and “Christian” organizations are barely distinguishable from the politicians and parties of this world’s kingdoms, especially in “Western-style” democracies. It seems believers must emulate the ways of this fallen age to achieve real change in society. But this common approach differs markedly from the teachings and example of Jesus.

The first paragraph of Daniel introduces its key theme - God reigns supreme over the kingdoms of the Earth . This proposition is presented in explicit statements and demonstrated by the accurate predictions of the Prophet to pagan rulers. The Book begins by announcing the overthrow of Judah and the removal of the golden vessels from the “ House of God ” to the “ Land of Shinar .”

The reign of Jesus Christ from the Messianic Throne began following his Death, Resurrection, and Exaltation - Psalm 110:1. The New Testament is clear. God made Jesus of Nazareth Lord and Messiah, and there is no other. His reign began when God exalted Christ following his resurrection. “ God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah! ” – (Acts 2:36).

The Parable of the Sower provides the key to understanding the parables of Jesus. The story’s point is that the Kingdom of God began to invade the present age starting with the proclamation of the Gospel by the “ Son of Man .” That process commenced with his announcement of the Good News when he was in “ Galilee of the Nations .” Ever since then, the Kingdom has been advancing across the Earth though largely unnoticed by humanity and even by many of his followers.