One of the cool things about being a pastor is that you get called a lot of names through the years. Not clerical titles, mind you, "names." Some of them are pretty old school, like the time I was called a Bible thumper. I could not help but think that from somewhere, the 1980s were calling, wanting their insult back. Others are pretty vile, to such a degree that I would never print or say any of them. Recently, though, I was tagged with a brand new one: Christian nationalist.
Up until a year or so ago, I had never heard that term; it seems to be a fairly recent creation. I first came across it on X (Twitter) when I saw a battle brewing over it between a few men who don't seem to get along too well. It does not appear to be very clearly defined as yet, but it seems to center on the question of whether or not we produce the kingdom for the King, or the King sets up his kingdom among us. In theological terms, it seems to be a debate between premillennialism and postmillennialism.
For the uninitiated on those terms, premillennialism, in a very basic sense, means that Christ will return to a violently troubled world, set up his kingdom and rule everyone in righteousness for 1,000 years. Postmillennialism, in a very basic sense, means that through the efforts of Christians, the world will gradually get better and better until it is so good that Christ decides to come back and rule over it.
If you are not sure which view is more likely to be correct, go sit down and watch the news for a few hours; I think that will likely clear it up for you.
Christians have been engaging in the Great Commission for 2,000 years now, winning souls, baptizing converts and instructing disciples. And while that has inarguably changed the world for the better in many ways and changed some nations for the drastically better, the world as a whole is getting darker and more violent by the day — and we have not even reached the rapture or the tribulation period yet. We have had 2,000 years of best efforts to win the world to Christ, and it has not come to be.
Mind you, this does not mean that we have failed. Every soul saved is the ultimate and eternal win. Every Bible-believing church planted is a win. Every life directed by Scripture is a win. Every culture changed to be more reflective of God's expectations is a win. But without the King, there will never be a kingdom.
Both the King and the kingdom are coming, though.
The next time the world sees Jesus, it will look like this. Revelation 19:11-16: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
And here is what will come from his arrival. Revelation 20:1-4: And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
This is the millennial reign, the coming 1,000-year period when Christ returns and rules over every nation and individual on Earth. It is described in Scripture both as a stern time (he will rule with a rod of iron) and a glorious time. The curse on nature will be removed, and the world will get to experience an Earth as magnificent as the one Adam and Eve were given. And even though there will be a mixture not only of saved and lost but even of immortal and mortal during that time, there will be no outward strife or rebellion.
There will also be no elections, campaign ads, political conventions, backroom deals, bribery or favoritism. No one will have to sit on pins and needles late into the night waiting for results to come in and wondering if they were fair when they do. There will be no wars, invasions or pandemics. There will be no files sealed for 75 years to hide things those in power have done until they are long gone.
Everyone on Earth will behave because no one will get them off the hook if they don't, and nothing they do will be able to be concealed.
And the King will cause it all.
Tune in to the column next week, and I may tell you what happens after that.
Bo Wagner is pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, North Carolina, a widely traveled evangelist and the author of several books available on Amazon and at wordofhismouth.com. Email him at 2knowhim@cbc-web.org.
Pastor Bo Wagner
