Kingdom

Is the Messianic Kingdom political or spiritual in nature?

The Messianic Kingdom, as revealed in the Scriptures, is made up of political and spiritual elements. The Messianic Kingdom is a spiritual/political kingdom.

One side is the political side. When Jesus returns, He will be the absolute ruler of the planet, a benevolent King who will rule with a “rod of iron” (Psalm 2:9, Rev. 19:15). Jesus will have to rule in this benevolent but firm manner because there will still be sin in the Kingdom. Sin will be greatly reduced because the one who heats sin to a rolling boil, Satan, will be confined, but sin will still be present. Sin will be totally eradicated after the final rebellion and the institution of the eternal state (Rev. 20 and 21). Other political features of the Messianic Kingdom are:

  1. Israel will be the capital country of the planet
  2. Jerusalem will be the capital city of the planet
  3. Jesus will rule the planet
  4. Resurrected King David will rule Israel
  5. All Jewish people will be regathered and live in the land of Israel.

That is a short summary of a few of the many political features of the Messianic Kingdom.

Some spiritual features of the Messianic Kingdom include:

  1. The visible manifestation of God’s presence,
  2. The Shekinah Glory appearing in a number of ways
    • In the Holy of Holies of the Messianic Temple
    • Over Jerusalem
    • Over all of Israel
    • In the form of the Messianic King (Jesus).
  3. The knowledge of God filling the earth as the waters fill the sea.
  4. All nations sending representatives to Israel to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles
  5. The Messianic Temple on top of Mt. Zion.

There is much, much more which could be said about the characteristics of the Kingdom; however, this short list will give you an idea about the spiritual and political elements that will be present.

Why will there be sacrifice in the Kingdom if Yeshua is the ultimate sacrifice?

  1. Yeshua being the ultimate sacrifice does not eliminate lesser sacrifices, either before or after His experience of sacrifice.
  2. There will still be sin in the Messianic Kingdom (although greatly reduced). Therefore it will have to be dealt with and forgiveness provided. The basis of salvation will still be the work of the Messiah. The means of salvation will still be faith. However, the content of faith changes, the practical outworking of your faith varies from dispensation to dispensation. True, living, internal faith has to express itself outwardly (faith without works is dead - James 2:17). For the OT Believer the content of faith was the Mosaic sacrificial system. For the NT Believer today - you and I - the content of our faith is the Law of Messiah (Galatians 6:2, Romans 8:2). We are to obey every applicable command in the NT (and there are over 600 commands in the NT). For the Believer in the Kingdom the content or practical expression of faith will be adherence to Millennial Law. Millennial Law will include a sacrificial system.

    The Millennial system will work exactly like the Mosaic system. Like the Mosaic system, the Millennial sacrifices will not provide salvation, they will provide education. They will look back as a memorial to the Ultimate Sacrifice of Yeshua (The same way that Memorial Day looks back to the sacrifice of those who died in our nation's service.) The Mosaic sacrifices looked forward to the Ultimate Sacrifice of Yeshua and taught that it was coming and the significance of it. The Millennial Sacrifices look back at what has come and teach the significance of it.

    Those born in the Messianic Kingdom will still have a sin nature and still need salvation and education regarding the Gospel. They will need to hear the Gospel and respond to it. They will need to be taught Biblical truth. The Millennial Sacrifices will provide that for them. Participating in the system will be one of the ways that they will practically express their faith and obedience.

    To put it another way, the Millenial system will be a mirror-image of the Mosaic system.