Through the years Premillennialists have differed on many points. However, they all agree on one major theme. They all deny that the establishment of the church fulfilled the kingdom prophecies of the Old Testament. This denial of the fulfillment of the kingdom prophecies has in turn spawned the myriad of complex false doctrines held by all varieties of Premillennialists.
It is important to recognize that (1) Old Testament prophecies harmonize. They do not contradict one another. (2) We must accept the New Testament interpretation of prophecy. (3) We must not interpret prophecies, which are not directly interpreted in the New Testament, so as to contradict any New Testament teaching.
Premillennialists teach that Christ came to earth the first time for the express purpose of setting up an earthly kingdom in Jerusalem to reign on David’s throne. They claim that when the Jews did not accept Him as their earthly king, He then as an emergency strategy established the church, for the interim, until He returns the second time to set up a literal earthly kingdom.
This position could not be further from the truth for God said, “My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah. (Ps 89:34-37 NAS). If Christ did not establish the kingdom during His first advent then (1) God did alter what went out of His lips. (2) God did lie to David, and (3) God’s promise to David that his kingdom would be “be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful” failed! Should we not be afraid to call God or His word a failure?
The Kingdom/Church To Be Established While David Sleeps
God informed David through the prophet Nathan, “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” (2 Sam 7:12-13 KJV). This does not refer only to Solomon and his earthly kingdom, for that part of it was fulfilled in Solomon’s Day (I Kgs. 2:12; I Kgs. 8:20). Notice that the kingdom the prophets saw was to come into existence when “thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.” This completely destroys premillennialism, for their theory has the kingdom of 2 Sam. 7:12-13 being established after the resurrection of the saints, after David and his fathers are raised from the dead. This position completely denies the prophecy that the kingdom/church would be established when David “shalt sleep with thy fathers.”
The fulfillment of 2 Sam. 7:12-13 is interpreted by Peter when he said, “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:29-33 KJV). Therefore, one can easily see that Christ began His reign while David was still sleeping with his fathers.
Zechariah and Jeremiah affirm that the Branch of David, the seed of David would sit and rule as a priest upon His throne. But, Christ now reigns as priest over God’s house (Heb. 10:21). The “kingdom that cannot be shaken” had been received (Heb. 10:28). The priesthood of Christ cannot be separated from the kingdom/church the prophets saw (Zech. 6:12-13; Jer. 23:5-6; Heb. 10:21; Col. 1:18).
The Time of the Kingdom
The prophet Daniel, writing some 580 B.C. foretold the establishment of God’s kingdom. As Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he revealed that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would be followed by three great, but lesser, kingdoms. History has proven Daniel’s word to be true. Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, Babylon, was followed by the Medo-Persian, the Macedonian and the Roman Empires. Daniel revealed that in the days of the fourth (Roman) empire, God would set up a kingdom. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan 2: 44 KJV).
John and Christ came on the scene declaring that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Matt. 3:2; Lk. 10:9). Jesus taught that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mk. 1:15). The time of the establishment of the kingdom was on Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-47; 11:15). It is very significant that though the kingdom was established the Lord added those being saved to the church (Acts 2:41, 47), thus showing that the church and kingdom are the same institution (Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28). Therefore, the Premillennialists find themselves in the very unenviable position of disputing and denying the fulfillment of prophecies made by Daniel, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ.
Jesus also said, “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1 KJV). Before ascending into heaven Jesus commanded His apostles, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 KJV). In Acts 2:1-4, that promise was fulfilled as the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and received inspiration and power. So the kingdom was to come with power (Mk. 9:1). The power came on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The church came into existence on Pentecost (Acts 2:47). Hence, the church is the kingdom and the kingdom is the church! Therefore, Premillennialists are wrong regarding the promise and also the establishment of the kingdom.