Many Premillennial scholars tell us that, because the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, God postponed the Kingdom, and for nearly 2000 years we still await its establishment at Christ’s Second Coming. When Jesus does finally return, so they say, he will set up his literal Kingdom at literal Jerusalem and physically reign from there for 1000 years. Notice what theologian and author Dr. John Phillips says:
“The times of the Gentiles” will be terminated upon the personal return of Christ at Armageddon, at which point He will set up the millennial kingdom centered in Jerusalem. That Kingdom is now officially postponed by Christ because of Jewish unbelief… Because the Jews had now rejected their King, all plans for the immediate visible manifestation of the kingdom were postponed. That postponement has already lasted nearly two thousand years. (emphasis mine) [1]
According to Dr. Phillips God had to postpone establishing the Kingdom of God because the Jews rejected Jesus as their King. Now consider what Dr. Thomas Ice, another premillennial theologian and author claims:
“An earthly kingdom with a physical presence and rule by the Messiah-King is foretold throughout the pages of the Bible. This promise was not fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus Christ, because, though offered, the kingdom was rejected by Israel.”[2]
Again we are told that an earthly and physical kingdom was offered to the Jews by Jesus in the first century AD, but because he was rejected by Israel, that kingdom was postponed. Finally, let’s consider another of Dr. Ice’s statements in a book recording his debate with Dr. Kenneth Gentry, a Reformed theologian and postmillennialist:
“I believe the Scriptures teach that Israel could have obtained her much sought after Messianic kingdom by recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. We all know the sad reality—the Jews rejected Jesus. As a result, the kingdom is no longer near but postponed, awaiting Jewish belief, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation.” [3] (emphasis mine)
Once more we see the premillennial point of view that the Kingdom of God, once near, is now postponed due to the Jews’ rejection of Jesus as their King, the Messiah, but is this an accurate interpretation of what we find in the Gospel narratives?
I believe the problem is in one’s interpretation of the nature of Jesus’ coming and in the nature of the Kingdom of God. Luke tells us that the Kingdom of God cannot be seen with our eyes, that is, one couldn’t point to it over there or offer directions to it down the road (Luke 17:20-21). In other words, it is not a physical kingdom! If this is true, what would it look like, if Jesus returned in power in his Kingdom (Mark 9:1)?
An interesting consideration is found in chapter six of John’s Gospel. After seeing the miracle Jesus performed with the loaves and fish, the Jews decided to declare Jesus King (John 6:14-15), but Jesus rejected their offer (John 6:15). It was Jesus who rejected their offer of a physical kingdom. In other words, what they looked for was NOT promised by God. Jesus came into the world as a Servant to the Jews for the sake of the truth, so that what God had promised the Jews through the fathers could be fulfilled (Romans 15:8). Had a physical kingdom been among those promises, why would Jesus have rejected the offer of the Jews to make him King? It doesn’t make sense that Jesus would reject the Messianic throne, if the Messianic throne was a physical one.
It is the nature of the Kingdom that is in view here. If the Kingdom is physical, Jesus should have accepted their offer, according to Romans 15:8. However, since Jesus rejected their offer to make him King, the nature of the Kingdom must be spiritual. Therefore, Jesus’ coming into the Kingdom would also be spiritual. The tragedy is, we continue to “look” for Jesus to physically return as a militaristic King and establish his physical Kingdom at physical Jerusalem (which is what the Jews wanted, but Jesus rejected). In all actuality Jesus did return cir. 70 AD, through the Roman armies that devastated Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, just as he promise he would do (Matthew 26:64).
The Kingdom of God is spiritual and cannot be seen with our physical eyes (Luke 17:20-21). Therefore, we are able to say Jesus kept his promise and returned in judgment against the Jews who rejected him, and he rewarded his disciples (Jews and gentiles) for their faithfulness, and he established his Kingdom with them. From that point onward God has dealt with the world, not through the nation of the Jews, but through the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-3), the Church.
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[1] Dr. John Phillips; Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary, (Kregel Publications; Grand Rapids, Michigan) 241
[2] Thomas Ice, Prophecy Watch, (Eugene, Oregon, Harvest House, 1998), 231
[3] Thomas Ice & Kenneth Gentry, The Great Tribulation: Past or Future?, (Grand Rapids; Kregel, 1999), 106
Smoodock's Blog 
4 responses to “Premillennialism–Kingdom Postponed”
More and more I am seeing this view as accurate. I wonder what Martin Luther believed, considering he was 300 years preceding Darby? Also, it is amazing how God still deals with his church in Grace, and its a good thing he does considering we do so many things in the church that do not please him.
Thanks Dave for reading. I’m not certain what Martin Luther’s belief was, but some of the reformers held a postmillennial belief I think, not holding to a literal 1000 years.
Concerning grace, yes, the Lord does deal with all of us with grace. I must keep telling myself that, because I am tempted to believe so many simply reject the truth. Nevertheless, I also know–and know that I know–that doctrines, including my eschatology, never saved a soul. Only Jesus saves. So, I leave the judging to him, and I accept his grace for myself and believe it goes out to all.
Lord bless you, Dave.
I think the problem with convincing others that all is fulfilled, the Kingdom has come, is that we all pretty much agree that this world stinks. It’s only getting worse. If the New Jerusalem shined brighter in the darkness, if the church leaders over the centuries had followed God and not done so much evil in the name of Christ, if it was one ray of sunshine in a dark world that was attracting seekers and giving hope, then it would be easier to look at the church and say, “There is the Kingdom!”. But all this theory seems to offer is the Hope of it being better when we are dead. Which as far as I know, they all do. I find myself looking sadly about looking for my King if this is the Kingdom. What is there to hope for with this?
I don’t know. When I was a kid, this theory would have pleased me because I feared end time Prophecy and didn’t want Jesus to come before I had my chance to live, have kids and grow old. But I was optimistic then about making the world a better place. Now I think unless Jesus comes and makes the world anew, I only see things getting worse and worse.
Hi Shari, and thank your for reading my study and for your comment and questions. It all shows you have compassion for mankind and love toward God and a desire for his Kingdom to succeed. So, what can we say about what you have written?
While the world, indeed, stinks, I’m not certain I can agree that it is getting worse. Certainly, things today seem to be going downhill from what they were when we were children. However, if we compare conditions today with what they were like in the 1st century AD, I believe you would find we are in a much better state today. For example, I don’t have to sell myself into slavery or one of my children in order to save my family from starvation. Who changed that? Christians did. According to accounts in the 2nd century AD, critics of Christianity were saying, if you didn’t want to care for your parents or the sick in your family cast them into the streets, the Christians would take care of them. Others claimed if you weren’t working or didn’t want to work (the latter being a misunderstanding on the part of the critic), join the Christian community, and they’ll take care of you. Who changed the world’s compassion for one another? We did! We changed the worldview of a person’s value. Think about places that Christianity hasn’t gained much of a foothold. How do they value their people?
While I agree it is worse today than when we were children, I don’t believe that is a correct analysis of our ministry to the Lord as a whole. It is better when we enlarge our vision to the whole of our history. So, what’s going on? Personally, I believe Jesus has or will begin a revolution in the Church, a return to core values, as it were. Revival! In the past that has always changed the direction, not only of what the church was doing at the time, but of the world. The world must go as Christianity goes. Christianity has a lot of corruption in it today, so the world, as a whole cannot improve; it can only become more corrupt. When we rise up, so will the world. That’s the power of the Gospel. Jesus claimed the gates of hell (the grave) would never overtake his church. So, I must believe we have life, and sooner or later that life will be seen and heard.
What’s the alternative? Futurism is a bad tree. It cannot bear good fruit. Look at the fruit it has already borne. People predicting the coming of Jesus has defamed Jesus and the word of God, making it seem as though God cannot keep his word, and Jesus doesn’t or is unable to keep his promises. Wicked men get rich and their names are enlarged at the expense of the name of Jesus. What do they claim is in the future? Some claim people will be forced to obey God. Others claim God will completely wipe out the wicked and destroy the universe. What kind of future is that? While it may be good for you and me (heaven being the goal), it is a terrible outlook for everyone else. The fact is, some folks, believers and unbelievers alike, commit suicide whenever predictions are made about the terrible events that will soon come upon the world. I’ll say it again, futurism is a bad tree!
Anyway, the bottom line is, there is hope. Jesus is King, and I trust in his ability to manage the outcome of the things we see. Lord bless you, Shari.