Featured The Rod of Iron Rule....when is it? How does it work?

Remarkably, this securing of “the nations” is the very task the Messiah assigns to his followers in the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19a; see discussion below). He will rule over them with his rod and dash in pieces those who refuse to submit (Ps 2:9). This he does through his mighty word and under his controlling providence (Heb 1:3, 8–13; e.g., Mt 21:43–44). Because of this ultimate hope, the raging nations receive warning: “Therefore, you kings, be wise; / be warned, you rulers of the earth. / Serve the LORD with fear / and rejoice with trembling. / Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, / for his wrath can flare up in a moment. / Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Ps 2:10–12). This psalm gloriously develops the redemptive-historical theme of struggle and victory which begins with the protoevangelium. It throbs with historical optimism and serves virtually as a postmillennial tract urging confidence in God’s people.
Psalm 22 Psalm 22 prophesies that “all the ends of the earth will remember32 and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee” (v 27). Interestingly, like Psalm 2 this psalm refers to 33 Christ’s suffering. In fact, evangelicals universally recognize Psalm 22:1–21 is prophesying the crucifixion. Verse 1 is uttered by Christ in his agony on the cross (Mt 27:46); verse 18 is also fulfilled at the cross (Jn 19:2). Yet his suffering quickly gives way to his glorious dominion (vv 22–31), as per the pattern of the New Testament: suffering then glory (Lk 24:26; Php 2:6–11; 1Pe 1:11). After his suffering men will declare his praise in the church (Ps 22:22; Heb 2:12). That praise includes the church (“great assembly,” Heb 12:23) proclaiming his victory (Ps 22:27ff). The reason he will save the earth is that the earth is his by right (Ps 22:28); he creates the material earth for his glory. And he displays his glory through worldwide redemption.
Ken Gentry...He Shall Have Dominion pg241

pg242;
The prophets greatly expand the Messianic victory theme. I will highlight several prophetic pronouncements regarding his victory.41
Isaiah 2:1–4 In Isaiah 2 we learn that the “last days” will experience a universal attractive influence to divine worship and an international dispersion and influence of Christianity. This will result in righteous living on the personal level and social peace on the international level: He shall judge between the nations, / And shall rebuke many people; / They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks. (Isa 2:4a) Isaiah indicates the “last days” will be the era that witnesses these things — not some era after these last days. The “last days” begin with the 42 coming of Christ. Isaiah’s younger contemporary, Micah, repeats this 43 prophecy almost verbatim (Mic 4:1–3). Here “Judah and Jerusalem” stand for God’s people, as “Israel and Judah” do in Jeremiah 31:31, which the New Testament specifically
41. For fuller helpful exposition see: Hengstenberg, Christology of the Old Testament; Alexander, Isaiah. 42. Kim Riddlebarger stumbles when he complains against postmillennialists regarding Isa 2:2–4: “This leaves open the possibility of interpreting those passages which speak of a new heaven and earth as applying to the present age (i.e., Isa. 2:2–4).” Riddlebarger, A Case for Amillennialism, 240. We apply this passage to “the present age” because Isaiah states that it will be “in the last days,” i.e., during the last days. 43. That is, in the times initiated by Christ at his First Advent, Ac 2:16, 17, 24; 1Co 10:11; Gal 4:4; Heb 1:1, 2; 9:26; Jas 5:3; 1Pe 1:20; 1Jn 2:18; Jude 18. For a discussion of “the last days,” see ch. 13 “Eschatological Time-Frames” below.

 

ibid;
Christ’s reign over his kingdom begins at his first coming and will 59 be “progressive and perpetual.” In prophecy Christ appears as the son 60 or branch of David (Jer 23:5; 33:13), or as David himself (Jer 30:9; Eze 34:23, 23; 37:24; Hos 3:5). After his resurrection he ascends to David’s throne (Ac 2:30–31), which represents God’s throne (1Ch 28:5; 29:23). His reign brings peace, for he is the “Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6). This peace grows incrementally through history: Christ “extends its boundaries far
and wide, and then preserves and carries it forward in uninterrupted progression to eternity.” 61
Isaiah 11:9 Isaiah 11:1–10 speaks gloriously of the eschatological hope beginning with Adam, flowing through Noah, and expanding with Abraham. The preceding context contrasts with the collapse of David’s house and of the Jewish government to Assyria (Isa 10). Though the nearly extinct house of David is but a stump, it still has life and will bud with a branch. That branch is Christ: he restores David’s house in the New Testament, hence 62 the emphasis in the New Testament on his genealogy from David (Mt 1:1–17; Lk 3:23–38 ). 63 Christ comes in the first century as a stem or branch (Isa 11:1). The Holy Spirit richly indwells him (11:2) ; he will judge his adversaries (v 4, 64 particularly first-century Israel, Mt 3:1–12; 21:43–45; 23:33–38; 24:2–34). And once again, righteousness and peace flow in his wake. Isaiah describes the peace between men as a removal of the enmity between wolf and lamb, bear and cow, lion and calf, leopard and kid, serpent and child (vv 6–8). God’s grace will transform their warring nature (cf. Eph 65 2:1–4). Because of his coming, earth’s future is glorious: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9). This unfolds gradually, beginning “in that day” when the “root of Jesse” shall stand as a banner (signal, place of rendezvous ) to the Gentiles (v 10) 67 followed by the conversion of the Jews (v 11). The first century calling of the Gentiles certainly shows the fulfillment of verse 10 is underway; that calling continues even to this very day (Ro 15:4–12, see especially v 12). The future conversion of the Jews will conclude the fulfillment (Ro 11:12–25). 68 We learn later in Isaiah that God will heal even his arch-enemies Egypt and Assyria and will place them on an equal footing worship with Israel: And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth. (Isa 19:22–24) The God of the Bible is the Healer of the nations.

62. Mt 1:17,18; Mk 11:10; Ac 2:34–36; 13:34; 15:16. 63. See also: Lk 1:27, 32, 69; 2:4; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30–31; 21:9, 15; Ro 1:3; Rev 3:7; 5:5; 22:16. 64. Mt 3:16–4:1; 12:17–21; Lk 4:14–21; Jn 3:34; Ac 10:38. 65. Several of these dangerous creatures are compared to Satan and sinners elsewhere: wolves (Eze 22:27; Zep 3:3; Mt 7:15; 10:16), bears (Pr 28:15; Lam 3:10; Da 7:5; Rev 13:2), serpents (Ps 140:3; 2Co 11:3; Rev 12:9ff), leopards (Jer 13:23; Da 7:6; Rev 13:2), and lions (Jer 12:8; Eze 22:25; Da 7:4; 1Pe 5:8; Rev 13:2). Three of them converge in the Dal 7 and Rev 13 image of wicked rulers, perhaps suggesting that Isaiah speaks of the pacification of rulers through conversion. 66. The future tense in the first clause (“they shall not hurt or destroy”) and a preterit in the second clause (“the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” suggests that peace will follow the initial spread of righteousness through faith.
249C

 

Messiah’s ascension and session will guarantee world dominion: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before Him. Then to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Da 7:13–14). We must note that Daniel 7:13–14 speaks of Christ’s ascension to the Ancient of Days, not his return to the earth at the second advent. After his ascension to God’s right hand he will gain universal dominion, which will eventually result in days of prosperity, peace, and righteousness. Particularly in Isaiah and Ezekiel

71. Ps 22:27; 46:8–10; 47:3; 66:4; 67:4; 86:9; 67:2; 72:11, 17; 82:8; 86:9; 102:15; Isa 2:2–3; 25:6–7; 40:5; 49:6, 22–23; 52:15; 55:5; 60:1–7, 10–14; 61:11; 66:19–20; Jer 3:17; 4:2; Da 7:14; Am 9:11–15; Mic 4:1–3; 5:2–4, 16–17; 7:16–17; Hab 2:14–20; Hag 2:7ff; Zep 3:10; Zec 2:11; 8:22–23; 9:9–10; 14:16; Mal 1:11; 3:1–12.

 

Hello AG.

In the ot.....was a millennium promised,
Or was it a promised Kingdom?
Only in Rev.20 is the term 1000yrs mentioned.
The difference being the promise of a coming Kingdom was announced and initiated in the gospels.

 

AG.....In post 52 there is a solid list of verses that speak of the kingdom spreading worldwide. ...list all the things they speak of and observe they seem to speak of it happening in the midst of oposition.... but turning gradually to submit to the King of Kings.

 

agedman

Where did i say anything to give you that impression.?..men are totally depraved.

Not since gen 1:31

Yes...and the question remains ...what if we are indeed in the Kingdom now?

I see those judgments as descriptive of what came upon covenant breaking Israel.

I understand you think these judgments are yet future, but let me ask you AG...when do you think the cursing of Deut. comes upon national Israel?

I can see what you mean if I read the newspapers...but the bible indicates a kingdom spreading;
72 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

Yes...this is true...but God gives sinners a new heart.

yes...because the church does not obey the great Commission as much as it should, it is too busy entertaining itself.

You used to be wicked and corrupt, but not now.God saves one sinner at a time...."Things" are not going to get better, but as the gospel spreads sinners are going to be changed , and this regeneration is what is going to make a difference.

As the Spirit converts more and more sinners...it will have an effect on society because there will be majority Christians ,
It is not about getting goats to "act like christians"...or christianize the world....it is about salvation and conversion changing hearts and minds from an internal spring of grace.