What Is Kingdom Theology?

Q: What is Kingdom Theology? I know some people believe in the extreme view of Kingdom Now. A friend told me that Jesus is ruling and reigning now in heaven and that the Church carries out His will. How should I understand this?

A: Jesus is ruling and reigning right now, but this is just what we insist. As far as I know, our amillennialist brothers and sisters would agree that there will be a future aspect, a future time when the kingdom, when the reign of Jesus, is more realized than it is right now. I believe in what is known as the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is going to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in a literal sense over a literal earth after His glorious return. However, I don't believe that that's when Jesus starts reigning. He reigns right now and He will reign after the thousand years are over, as it says in Revelation, 'The Messiah, He shall reign forever and ever.'

In a true and real sense, Jesus is reigning now, but there are aspects of His reign that He will not and has not imposed upon humanity or the earth. Instead, He is waiting for people to respond and to work His sovereign power and will through human response. It won't always be like that, but in this age of grace, that's what it's like. Kingdom Now theology is often associated with postmillennialism, the idea that we're in the millennium and that it's the Church's responsibility to redeem the institutions of society. I think that's an error. I just don't think that that's how the Bible lays it out.

Kingdom Now theology has also been used to refer to the idea that everything on earth should be as it is in heaven right now. For example, there are no sick people in heaven, so there should be no sick people on earth. Therefore, if you're a believer and you're sick, you're out of God's will. It's God's will to heal every believer and to make every believer rich. However, this is a faulty equivalence. In our understanding of the millennium, it's Jesus who brings that renewed and perfect earth. In Kingdom Now theology, it's the responsibility of Christians to bring that to pass.