Chapter 2: A New Government for a New World
“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).
The prophet Zechariah reveals that when Christ returns, “in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west” (Zechariah 14:4).
Imagine—a half-mile-high (more than 800 meters) mountain splitting straight down the middle! This will be yet another incredible display of the sheer power of Christ (verse 5).
It’s significant that Christ’s feet will touch the Mount of Olives first because this was the very location from which He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:4-12).
The beginning of a new world
His arrival in Jerusalem commences a new era of history, closing the era of the “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4) and ushering in “the world to come” (Hebrews 2:5).
Acts 3:19-21 describes this transition from today’s era under Satan to tomorrow’s era under Christ:
“So that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
What do the phrases times of refreshing and restoration of all things tell us about this future age?
“Times of refreshing” signifies a time of healing and relief from the suffering and anxiety that precedes it. The Greek word translated refreshing means “a refreshing coolness after heat” (Greek Dictionary, BillMounce.com). Christ will usher in a new era of calm and relief—like cool, refreshing water.
“Restoration” in the original Greek means “a restitution of a thing to its former state” (The Complete Word Study New Testament, p. 890). This refers to when Adam and Eve lived in perfect tranquility and peace in the Garden of Eden in God’s presence and under His guidance. That state quickly ended with their fateful decision to reject God’s rule and follow the deceptive serpent (Genesis 3).
By choosing to eat the forbidden fruit—choosing sin—they lost the close access they had originally had to God and “the tree of life,” which represented access to God’s Spirit and the gift of eternal life (verses 23- 24). Based on their choice, God stepped back and has allowed Satan, for the time being, to be “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Under his awful rule, people have continually eaten “the fruit of their own way” (Proverbs 1:31).
But God has always had restoration in mind, and upon Christ’s return, He will begin the process of fully reestablishing God’s direct rule over the entire earth.
What does the Bible tell us about this new world government?
Jesus Christ: the King of Kings
Heading this government will be Jesus Christ, the undisputed sovereign of the entire earth, the “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14; see also 19:16).
Lord means master—Jesus will be Master over all other masters. King is a term of royal dominion—Jesus will be King over all other kings.
This element of Jesus Christ’s identity is not often emphasized. Many basically view Him as a Savior who came to die for our sins, which is certainly true. But He will not return as a suffering Servant. Rather, He will come as a ruler, the Lord God Almighty.
Christ inherited this authority when He was resurrected from the dead. He is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He [God] put all things under His feet” (Ephesians 1:21-22).
Even though Christ has inherited all authority, He won’t fully exercise that authority over “all things” until He returns to earth (Hebrews 2:8).
One remarkable prophecy about Jesus’ future role as “King of kings” is found in Isaiah 9:6-7:
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Christ’s rule will continue to increase and expand, bringing peace, judgment and justice to everyone under it.
The Kingdom of God will rule over the earth
Christ will fulfill hundreds of prophecies about His Kingdom being established on earth.
Notice this beautiful prophecy Isaiah recorded:
“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it” (Isaiah 2:2).
The Bible often uses mountains to symbolize governments. The “mountain of the LORD’s house”—the Kingdom of God under the rule of Jesus Christ—will command the obedience of all the other mountains and hills, which symbolize the large and small nations of the earth.
Zechariah wrote that “His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth’” and that “the LORD shall be King over all the earth” (Zechariah 9:10; 14:9).
Another striking prophecy is found in Daniel 7:14:
“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.”
This is echoed in Revelation 11:15. The “kingdoms of this world” will “become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Interestingly, these prophecies show that national identities will continue in some form during His reign.
Once reestablished, His governing dominion will last forever (Daniel 4:34). Unlike all the kingdoms of men, which rise and fall, Christ’s Kingdom will “stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).
Given its importance, Jesus stressed to His followers that the coming of the Kingdom of God must be their central hope and focus. When He walked the earth 2,000 years ago, His primary message centered on the gospel—the good news—of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:23; 9:35; Mark 1:14-15). He urged us to regularly pray, “Your kingdom come,” and to seek it first, above all other things (Matthew 6:10, 33).
Jerusalem—the capital city of the “world to come”
The seat of Christ’s government will be in Jerusalem, a name meaning “city of peace” or “established in peace.” Though many glorious events of Israel’s past transpired there, the city has also experienced terrible tragedy and bloodshed during its long history. Today Jerusalem is a divided city, characterized by disputes and hostility. When Christ resides in and rules from there, it will truly become the city of peace.
Jeremiah underscored Jerusalem’s future glory by foretelling, “At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 3:17).
Jerusalem will also be called “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 33:16) and “the City of Truth, the Mountain of the LORD of hosts, the Holy Mountain” (Zechariah 8:3). These names reveal beautiful truths about Jerusalem’s future.
Joel wrote: “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, and no aliens shall ever pass through her again” (Joel 3:17). This doesn’t mean non-Israelites will be forbidden from entering the city (we’ll see later that people of all nations will visit Jerusalem), but that it will not be attacked by hostile foreign armies.
Jerusalem, under the watchful care and rule of Jesus Christ, will become a secure and peaceful city.
The “kings and priests” under Christ
Jesus Christ will not be ruling alone, though. Governing with Him will be a team made up of those who were resurrected and transformed into spirit at His return.
As Daniel wrote, “But the saints of the Most High”—God’s faithful servants through the ages—“shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever” (Daniel 7:18).
A few verses later, he elaborated: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (verse 27).
So the Kingdom of God will include Jesus Christ and the saints, His spiritual brothers and sisters.
Not only will they inherit eternal life and be in God’s family, the saints will also play an integral role in the government of the Millennium.
Revelation 5:10 contains a song that summarizes their destiny: “And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
So God’s family will serve as “kings and priests,” reigning and teaching God’s way of life.
The parable of the minas and God’s Kingdom
Jesus gave some insight into the Kingdom’s structure in His parable of the minas, recorded in Luke 19.
In this story, a “certain nobleman” (picturing Jesus Christ) went to a far country to receive a kingdom. He called 10 servants together and gave each of them a mina (a large sum of money) and instructed them to “do business till I come” (verses 12-13). This represents God calling and working with people in this age, giving them His Holy Spirit to empower them to grow in righteous character.
When the nobleman returned, he summoned the servants for an accounting. They were rewarded with rulership over cities according to how much they had increased the nobleman’s investment (verses 16-19). But one servant who didn’t increase it at all was rewarded with nothing (verses 20-24). The parable’s lesson is that Christ will reward people based on how much they used His Spirit to grow and produce spiritual fruit throughout their lives.
The most important qualification for being given responsibilities in His Kingdom (such as ruling cities) won’t be political skill, technical expertise or intelligence, but growth in godly spiritual character.
Jeremiah referred to God’s future ruling family as “shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). The knowledge and understanding that people will be taught in the world tomorrow must be first learned and practiced in life today. That’s why it’s so essential for Christians to continually strive to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Isaiah described this future government this way: “Behold, a king [Jesus Christ] will reign in righteousness, and princes [His family, the saints] will rule with justice” (Isaiah 32:1).
This life is a training ground in which faithful Christians can prepare to be the “kings and priests,” “princes” and “shepherds” of the world tomorrow by growing in knowledge, understanding, justice, grace and righteousness today. These principles are so desperately needed to transform the world.
Jesus said He was going to “prepare a place for you”
Jesus said on the last night of His physical life: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).
Right now, Jesus is preparing a place for each person He is working with. Based on the parable of the minas, we conclude that during the Millennium, that “place” may be teaching and guiding people in a city, or a group of cities, or perhaps helping individuals in ways that our experiences and growth would specifically qualify us to serve.
Some responsibilities already chosen
Scripture shows that a few of the major leadership responsibilities have already been determined.
Under Christ, the governmental structure over the nation of Israel has already been announced. The nation will be governed by the resurrected King David.
“But they [the people of Israel] shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them” (Jeremiah 30:9). King David, Israel’s greatest king, will be resurrected at Christ’s return and restored to his position as king over the 12 tribes of Israel.
God also stated this through Ezekiel: “I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them” (Ezekiel 34:23-24).
A few chapters later, God proclaimed, “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them . . . and My servant David shall be their prince forever” (Ezekiel 37:24-25).
Note that David is called both “king” and “prince.” He will be a king over those he leads, but a prince under Christ, the King of Kings.
Jesus revealed another element of His future government structure. When Peter asked what the 12 disciples would have for following Him, Jesus answered: “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).
So David will lead the entire nation, while the resurrected apostles will lead the individual tribes of the restored Israel.
This leads us to consider it likely that all nations will be similarly structured—a king over the nation, assisted by local leaders over regions and cities. Though we don’t know the specifics, it’s logical that other faithful servants described in the Bible will also assume prominent governing roles.
It’s fascinating to imagine what great men like Abraham, Joseph, Moses and Elijah may be responsible for in the Kingdom. Will they be given duties that relate to what they accomplished in their lives? Will Joseph oversee food reserves and distribution? Will Moses oversee a new justice system? Will Elijah be responsible for spiritual education?
Whatever responsibilities people are assigned, leadership in God’s government will always be based on service and care for those being led (Luke 22:24-27). Those who have developed God’s heart of love and concern for others will be those most qualified for the highest positions of service in His government!