David spoke about the coming of the Lord's reign on earth.
PSALM 96:13
13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Has it happened? Or did it fail to happen? Or is it somehow happening? Or has it been delayed/postponed? And is it yet to happen literally in the future?
Let's have a look at Young's Literal Translation of the verse, taking particular note of the tenses:
13 Before Jehovah, for He hath come, For He hath come to judge the earth. He judgeth the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness!
Israel had already seen many instances of the Lord coming in judgement on their behalf, and David regarded it as part of God's character to intervene in judgement - and he regarded this aspect of God's character as a cause of rejoicing seeing there would no doubt be future instances of it.
One such instance was the return to Israel from captivity. God rebuked many strong nations in the process, fulfilling prophecy.
The greatest instance of God coming in judgement and reigning in Israel, was through the cross, and the preaching of the Gospel to Israel by John the Baptist, the Lord and the Apostles - and then the inclusion of the Gentiles, through the ongoing work of the Gospel, all of this fulfilling prophecy.
There are also lesser judgements which God executes in the earth in this day and age, all of which are in keeping with the reality that Bible promises and prophecies have been fulfilled, and in keeping with the principles which govern the experience of that reality.
But the final judgement will be eternal judgement. According to the Gospel God's judgement and reign shall culminate in the visible return of the Lord when even death shall be destroyed, which is the last enemy to be put under His feet. But for now, God is giving sinners space to repent, not willing that any should perish.
God shall indeed restore again a visible kingdom to Israel; the saints shall indeed judge the world, and we shall reign upon the earth. But there shall first be a sifting out of all who offend, whether Gentile or Jew - for no unrighteousness shall inherit the kingdom of God. It's the believers in Jesus - His Church - both Jew and Gentile - who shall inherit the kingdom prepared for them since before the foundation of the earth. Our reign shall be in new heavens and a new earth, which God has prepared for them that love Him. Not in the earthly Jerusalem, but the heavenly.
That's the message of the cross - the message of the whole Bible. It's good news.
Israel had already seen many instances of the Lord coming in judgement on their behalf, and David regarded it as part of God's character to intervene in judgement - and he regarded this aspect of God's character as a cause of rejoicing seeing there would no doubt be future instances of it.
One such instance was the return to Israel from captivity. God rebuked many strong nations in the process, fulfilling prophecy.
The greatest instance of God coming in judgement and reigning in Israel, was through the cross, and the preaching of the Gospel to Israel by John the Baptist, the Lord and the Apostles - and then the inclusion of the Gentiles, through the ongoing work of the Gospel, all of this fulfilling prophecy.
There are also lesser judgements which God executes in the earth in this day and age, all of which are in keeping with the reality that Bible promises and prophecies have been fulfilled, and in keeping with the principles which govern the experience of that reality.
But the final judgement will be eternal judgement. According to the Gospel God's judgement and reign shall culminate in the visible return of the Lord when even death shall be destroyed, which is the last enemy to be put under His feet. But for now, God is giving sinners space to repent, not willing that any should perish.
God shall indeed restore again a visible kingdom to Israel; the saints shall indeed judge the world, and we shall reign upon the earth. But there shall first be a sifting out of all who offend, whether Gentile or Jew - for no unrighteousness shall inherit the kingdom of God. It's the believers in Jesus - His Church - both Jew and Gentile - who shall inherit the kingdom prepared for them since before the foundation of the earth. Our reign shall be in new heavens and a new earth, which God has prepared for them that love Him. Not in the earthly Jerusalem, but the heavenly.
That's the message of the cross - the message of the whole Bible. It's good news.
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