The Old Testament frequently predicted the coming of the Messiah who would reign as king over his kingdom.
Jews throughout history have looked for the coming of this Messiah. But many Christians deny that Jesus has established His kingdom. They say that Christ must establish an earthly, literal, civil kingdom like David's before there is a Kingdom. Since this does not now exist, Jesus is not King.
While there is much variety among those who hold such views, in some form this doctrine is taught by nearly every fundamentalist group including most Baptists, the Adventists, Pentecostals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God, and some "Churches of Christ."
Below you will find some writers quotations stating their doctrine.
"David's son, the Lord Jesus Christ, must return to the earth, bodily and literally, in order to reign over David's covenanted kingdom. The allegation that Christ is seated on the Father's throne reigning over a spiritual kingdom, the church, simply does not fulfill the promises of the covenant ... A literal earthly kingdom must be constituted over which the returned Messiah reigns" - Pentecost, Things to Come, pp. 114,115 (via Miller, p. 98).
"Had the people received Him, He would have fulfilled the kingly prophecies in their day in addition to the ones regarding the suffering Messiah. But when the Jewish nation as a whole rejected Christ, the fulfillment of His kingship was postponed until the final culmination of world history" - Lindsey, There's a New World Coming, p. 30 (via McGuiggan & Jordan, slide #188).
"...even though Christ has the right to rule the earth, He isn't exercising this authority over kings and kingdoms at this time" - Hal Lindsey, There's a New World Coming, p. 206 (via McGuiggan and Jordan, slide #206).
I hope to show from scripture that He came to earth to establish His kingdom and has been reigning as King since that time. To say that Jesus is not now reigning as King would be to deny or belittle many major Bible truths. In particular, it belittles Jesus' pre-eminence as King.
To understand the Bible teaching, consider the following:
A. Teaching of the Gospels At Jesus' birth
Luke 1:31-33 -
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
The angel promised to Mary that her Son Jesus would receive the throne of David, reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom would have no end. Surely this was promised to Mary because Jesus would do this the first time He came to earth when He was born as Mary's son.
Matthew 2:2 -
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
The wise men said Jesus was born King of the Jews. But He was born the first time He came, and will not be born the second time. It was His first coming that would result in His being King.
B. Teaching of the Gospels At Jesus' earthly ministry
John 1:49 - 50 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
Early in Jesus' ministry, Nathanael said to Him, "You are the King of Israel." Jesus did not deny it or rebuke him but rather says..."He believes".
In Luke 19 people called Jesus King as he rode into town. The Pharisees not liking this asked Jesus to rebuke the people for these statements. Jesus refused but instead defended the people as you will read below.
Luke.....19:38-40
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
C. After Jesus' resurrection
Matthew 28:18-20 -
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus claimed He had all authority in heaven and on earth, so all nations must be taught to obey all His commands. By definition "king" means: "sovereign or monarch; a man who holds the chief authority over a country and people ... a person or thing pre-eminent in its class".
If Jesus now has all authority, by definition He is a King! How could Jesus ever have greater authority on earth than He has now? To affirm that He will someday have a higher earthly position is to belittle His present authority!
Further the Great Commission, by which we are saved from sin, is based on Jesus' present authority. To belittle His position is to undermine the validity of the basis of our salvation!
D. The Teaching of the Book of Acts fulfilling the Old Testament
Read the Old Testament passages below that telling of the coming King.
2 Samuel 7:12,13 -
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
Psalm 132:11;
The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Psalm 110:1-4 -
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Please notice that these words of the Old Testament were fulfilled in Acts 2 at the resurrection
Acts 2
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
We clearly see that David spoke of the resurrection of Jesus. The prophecy of Christ on David's throne was fulfilled in Jesus' resurrection, not at the second coming!
To deny this is to deny Jesus as God.