7. The Mission of the Messiah

 

To have faith in Jesus as our Messiah goes beyond believing in his identity. Jesus’ prayer is that we may know Yahweh as the true God, and Jesus the Messiah whom God has sent. (Jn 17:3) Believing Jesus is the Messiah is not enough, but we must come to “know” Jesus as our Messiah, the one sent on mission by Yahweh. Jesus addresses the true God as “Father” 6 times in his prayer (vv. 1, 5, 11, 21, 24, 25). Jesus came as the Messiah to reveal his Father, the only true God. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). Father Yahweh is the central focus of Jesus’ Messianic mission. [1]

Most Christians have not truly accepted Jesus as their Messiah due to a lack of understanding his Messianic mission. We need to grasp the full scope of Jesus’ Messianic role as it lays the foundation of how we relate to him, and how we actively participate in Yahweh’s plan of salvation through him. The deeper we understand the mission of the Messiah, the more we experience the radical transformation that comes from relating to Jesus as our Messiah.

On the road to the village Emmaus, about 11 km west of Jerusalem, Cleopas and another disciple were discussing about the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion. The risen Jesus drew near and walked with them. You would have thought the two disciples could recognize the Messiah Jesus, but “their eyes were kept from recognizing him”, and they saw him as a stranger. (Lk 24:16) Cleopas said to Jesus, “Are you the only one living near Jerusalem and not knowing the things that have happened in it in these days?” (v.18) Cleopas’ question exposed his ignorance as he thought he knew Jesus. While talking to Jesus, he did not even recognize that the Messiah Jesus was standing in front of him.

Like the two disciples, we have heard about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but we do not truly “know” him. As a result, the Messiah Jesus remains a stranger to us throughout our lives. We may have a lot of knowledge about Jesus, but we lack the transforming experience of relating to him as our Messiah.

Despite the blindness of the two disciples, Jesus patiently drew them into the conversation and interpreted Scripture to them “concerning himself” (v.27). Jesus explained how the Messianic prophecies from Scripture pointed specifically to himself. But even after hearing all the exposition beginning with Moses and continuing through the prophets, the two disciples still did not recognize the one speaking to them was the Messiah. What about us? Whether we are Jews or Christians, perhaps we have the Emmaus syndrome. Even after studying the Scripture, we are still blind in understanding Jesus’ true identity.

And when the two disciples drew near to Emmaus, Jesus “acted as if he were going farther” (v.28). They urged him to stay with them because it was already getting late in the evening (v.29). Little did they know that this earnest invitation would lead to a dramatic encounter with Jesus when he broke bread with them (v.30). “Their eyes were opened” and they recognized the Messiah Jesus (v.31). They then recalled how their hearts were burning when Jesus opened the Scriptures to them (v.32).

There are ongoing debates and theological dialogues among the Jews, Christians, and Muslims regarding the Messiah. It is not enough merely to listen to the explanations regarding the Messiah and his mission. Everyone needs a personal encounter with the risen Messiah Jesus, like that of the two disciples. Jesus “was made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (HCSB, Lk 24:35). Do you truly recognize Jesus as your Messiah? Perhaps, the Messiah Jesus may surprise you with an Emmaus visit. Open your heart and let the word of God set your inner man on fire for God’s Kingdom.

Today, many Jews are still awaiting for the Messiah to come to bring redemption to the world. Most Christians believe that the Messiah had already come and gone. Many people ask me, “If the Messiah has already come, why are we still here?” “Why is it necessary to have a second coming of the Messiah?” “Does the Messiah come once or twice?” I wonder how Jesus would answer these queries about his Messiahship.

Yahweh God has explained who the Messiah is and the nature of the Messiah’s mission in the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus of Nazareth explained in person that he is the Messiah prophesied and promised in the Scripture. Jesus himself stands as the greatest testimony, the Messiah appointed and approved by Yahweh.

1. The Messiah as the suffering servant (on earth)
2. The Messiah as the exalted Lord           (in heaven)
3. The Messiah as the King of Israel         (on earth)

God’s plan of salvation through the Messiah will reach its culmination at the conclusion of the third stage. Unfortunately, the faith of most Christians has stopped at the first stage of Jesus’ salvific mission. Most Christians are only familiar with the first stage when Jesus lived on earth for about 33 years. The Messiah’s work is not yet complete as Jesus is continuing his Messianic mission today in heaven. To take Jesus as our Messiah, we must get involved with the present work of the Messiah in his second stage. Most Christians anticipate the future return of the Messiah, but they fail to grasp what Jesus the Messiah is presently doing and his call for Christians to get involved in his ongoing mission. Today, the Church has turned totally non-Messianic as Christians do not know how to get involved with the entire mission of the Messiah. The salvation of the Church is at stake.

Jesus as the Messiah in heaven is still on mission today to establish God’s eternal Kingdom, overcoming the forces of evil and darkness. Since he is now in heaven, his mission continues through the Messiah’s people, the anointed ones on earth.

The Greek verb for “anointed” is χρίω (chriō). Chriō is the verb for the noun Christ (Χριστὸς). Through baptism, Christians are anointed by God’s Spirit, signifying that we are the anointed ones in the body of Christ.

Just as Christ is “the Anointed One” appointed by Yahweh to be the Messiah, Christians are “the anointed ones” set apart by Yahweh, the Holy One. Today, Christians have totally neglected and lost their messianic calling. Will we fail in our calling? And what consequence will it have for the Church?

The nation of Israel failed in her mission to be the light to the nations. Consequently, the Gentiles have been grafted into the olive tree to take part in this mission with the Messiah (Rom 11). The Gentiles have not replaced the Jewish tree. There is only one olive tree, not two. The Gentiles share in the same heritage as the Jews. Let’s esteem the root which supports the branches. (Rom 11:18)

To Israel, God said: “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod 19:6). Israel’s identity as a kingdom of priests is now given to the Church: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1Pet 2:9) As God’s anointed ones, we are the living sign of God’s presence to save Israel and the nations.

The anointed Church is given the same mission as that of Israel. Will we succeed? We will fail miserably if we do not take heed to our calling as God’s anointed ones. Do we have a clear vision of what the exalted Lord Messiah is doing through the anointing Church? Christians are now anointed in the Spirit to actively participate with the Messiah in his mission for the Church. Ultimately, the Messiah Jesus is preparing the Church for her future role in the coming Kingdom when he returns to earth in the third stage of his mission. Will you get involved?

(1) Yahweh God is personally involved in each stage of the Messiah’s mission. The first stage of the mission of the Messiah started at the very beginning of his birth.

Yahweh sent an angel from heaven to announce that Jesus was God’s appointed Messiah. The message of Jesus as the Messiah goes as far back as to his birth. The Messiah has now been born into the world, and the Messiah is here to be the Deliverer or Savior for the redemption of the world. The glory of Yahweh (kavad YHWH) shone around the shepherds, confirming the great joy of the good news (vv. 9, 10). The plan of God’s salvation was gloriously set in motion at the birth of Jesus.

How were the shepherds supposed to know that the baby born was the appointed Messiah? “This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough” (v.12). This humble setting underscored the Messiah’s willingness to enter the world in an unassuming circumstance. And there was a great joy of celebration in heaven as a multitude of the heavenly host and the angel broke out in praise to Yahweh God:

This was no ordinary birth. The arrival of the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior and Lord (v.11) represented the pivotal moment in human history when Yahweh’s plan of redemption was unfolding both in heaven and on earth. Glory to our God Yahweh! Yahweh was with Jesus from the beginning of his birth to carry out the ministry of peace in God’s power. There will be peace on earth for those on whom Yahweh’s blessings rest.

Often times, at Christmas, we focus so much on the baby Jesus that we undermine the gracious way in which Yahweh chose to dwell among humanity through the birth of the Messiah — an event of cosmic significance, made known first to a group of lowly shepherds. Rather than being born in a palace to the rich and powerful, the king Messiah was found lying in a feeding trough, a sign of humility and identification with the poor and the lowly by God’s design. Yahweh came to walk humbly among men in the person of the Messiah Jesus to bring salvation to the world. How? The Messiah is the beginning of the new creation in God’s plan of salvation. Through the new creation in the Messiah, believers can enter into a living relationship with Yahweh God and become part of His family, with Jesus as the firstborn.

(2) Jesus’ baptism was a significant event by which Yahweh affirmed Jesus’ role as the Messiah.

The proclamation from Yahweh God confirmed Jesus’ identity: i) the beloved Son in fulfilling Psalm 2 as the Messianic king; ii) the chosen Servant of God in whom God’s soul delighted and He put His Spirit upon him (cf. Isa 42:1). Sonship and servanthood are the two interrelated roles that define Jesus’ identity in the first stage of his Messianic mission.

(3) Knowing his calling as the eventual Messianic king to reign in God’s Kingdom, Jesus focuses his teaching on the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is the central focus of Jesus’ preaching ministry. Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Mt 4:23; 9:35). He taught and spoke many parables about His Father and His coming kingdom.

He revealed himself as God’s anointed king to proclaim the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to give sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Lk 4:18-19 cf. Isa 61:1-2). The time of God’s grace, redemption and deliverance was at hand in Jesus’ ministry.

As God’s Messiah, he performed signs and wonders by the authority of God. The Father’s kingdom had indeed come near through Jesus. To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor points to the ultimate Jubilee year when the Messiah will establish the kingdom that belongs to God. The kingdom is coming near, thus we are called to repent (Mt 4:17) and to earnestly pray, “Your kingdom come” (Mt 6:10).

(4) Before the Messiah Jesus rules as king, he had to first atone for the sins of the world. After Peter’s profound declaration that Jesus was “the Christ, the son of the living God”, Jesus began instructing his disciples about the nature of his Messiahship. This pivotal moment marked a turning point in Jesus’ ministry and the disciples’ understanding of his identity and mission.

“The son of man” is a Messianic title. Jesus spelt out clearly that the Messiah must suffer many things, be rejected by the religious leaders, be killed, and then rise again on the third day. Later on, Jesus shared again with his disciples regarding the path of suffering and death he would need to take as the Messiah. (Mk 9:31) The notion that the Messiah’s death was essential to his mission was a concept too radical for the disciples to grasp. They had difficulties reconciling the vision of a suffering Messiah with their own aspirations and expectations of the Messiah. The paradoxical truth was that the triumph of the Messiah will come through his suffering and death on the cross.

The spiritual principle that the Messiah would give his life as a ransom was a stunning revelation. This revolutionary teaching required the disciples to rethink the true nature of Jesus’ Messianic mission. Jesus came as a suffering servant to serve. “I am among you as the one who serves” (Lk 22:27). He would be the servant-king. No longer was Jesus the conquering hero they might have imagined, but a suffering servant who would lay down his life as a ransom to set people free from the power and bondage of sin.

The apostle Peter preached the same message regarding the suffering Messiah. “His Messiah” refers to “God’s Messiah” as he belongs to Yahweh. God is all the time behind Jesus’ Messianic mission for it is God’s mission. In the Old Testament, Yahweh had all along laid the foundation that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was not a failure or defeat, but the path by which he would accomplish his Messianic mission.

(5) The prophecy from Isaiah provides crucial insights into the nature of the Messiah’s identity and mission. Isaiah wrote four prophetic servant songs describing the mission of the servant of the Lord in all three stages (Isa 42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-11; 52:13-53:12). God calls the Messiah “my servant” (Isa 42:1; 43:10; 52:13 etc.). The Messiah is characterized not as a conquering king, but a humble servant of Yahweh.

The Messiah as a servant has a unique intimate relationship with Yahweh, one whom God beholds, in whom God delights, and upon whom God’s Spirit dwells. The servant does not act independently. Under the empowering of Yahweh’s anointing Spirit, he brings forth justice to the nations.

The title “my servant” is not exclusively assigned to the Messiah. “My servant” is also used of Israel as a whole (Isa 41:8; 44:1; 49:3; Jer 46:27 etc.). But Israel was blind and deaf, “Who is blind but my servant?” (Isa 42:19) “He sees many things but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear” (v.20). Israel as God’s servant was rejected because Israel failed. It was her calling to be a light to the Gentiles, which was to be the glory of Israel. Since Israel failed her mission miserably, the Messiah was given the mission to be the light to the nations (Isa 49:6), and to establish justice throughout the earth (Isa 42:1-4). “I am Yahweh; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations” (Isa 42:6).

(6) When Jesus was on earth, he knew he was fulfilling the prophecies in Isaiah which he often quoted:

Jesus healed many people. The scope of his mission extended far beyond the covenant people of Israel, encompassing the Gentile nations as well. He will proclaim justice, express the tenderness of God for all humanity, liberate the suffering, bind the broken-hearted (Isa 61:1), and guide the thirsty to water (Isa 12:3; 41:17-18; 44:3).

(7) The portrayal of the Messiah as the suffering servant is powerfully depicted in the prophecies of Isaiah 52:13–53:12. He will be led as a lamb to the slaughter, to take our sorrows, infirmities, and bear the punishment for sin. The servant figure will be disfigured, despised, and rejected. He is to be pierced for our transgressions to nullify the power of sin. All this is done in the will of Yahweh.

Yahweh will be with the suffering servant to accomplish the salvation for mankind. Even though the servant will be greatly afflicted and shamed to death, he will walk in the confidence of Yahweh. The love of Yahweh goes out to this suffering servant, for he stands with God against evil. God will be with the Messiah to give him victory to accomplish His will.

The “I” refers to God the Father, and “the man” refers to the Messiah. Yahweh God declares what He will do in response to the Messiah’s sacrificial suffering and death. Yahweh promises that the Messiah will be victorious through his humiliating death. The Messiah will be granted a share in the spoils of victory, like a triumphant warrior. The Messiah will then “divide the spoil with the strong”, meaning that his victory will not be for himself alone, but he will share the rewards of his conquest with those who put their faith in him.

(8) Jesus explained to the two disciples on the Emmaus Road that “the Messiah should suffer” before entering into his glory (Lk 24:26). Later on, Jesus reinforced the same message again to the rest of the disciples that “the Messiah should suffer”.

Jesus was fully aware of this first phase of his Messianic role as the suffering servant. This period of suffering culminated in his death on the cross for the sins of the world. Yahweh God worked in Jesus’ life such that through his atoning sacrificial death, the path of salvation is open for all to receive forgiveness of sins through repentance.

(9) The Messiah Jesus endured torturous suffering on the cross for our redemption. Words cannot convey the oppressive weight of sins he bore on the cross. He did not just bear the sins of a few individuals but the collective weight of all human sin and rebellion against God. The sheer magnitude and gravity of evil he shouldered was beyond human comprehension. I can only catch a little glimpse through the eyes of faith into Christ’s suffering. The spiritual anguish, physical torture, emotional trauma, and cosmic burden of sin that Christ willingly took upon himself was truly staggering. He bore the full weight of judgment and condemnation that the law rightly pronounces upon sin. He who had no sin became a curse for us (cf. 2Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13). This intense suffering of God’s wrath against sin was necessary as there was no other way for evil to be defeated. In his sacrificial life and death, Jesus secured the ultimate victory over the powers of sin, death, and Satan. In order to secure our salvation, he willingly entered into the darkest realms of spiritual conflict and overcame victoriously by the indwelling of Yahweh.

(10) When Jesus was on the cross, Yahweh God suffered with him. Yahweh was actively involved when the transgressions of humanity were placed upon Christ on the cross. God was not merely allowing the suffering to happen but actively participating in it with the Messiah. God had already foretold this sentiment through the prophet Zechariah.

This prophecy spoken by Yahweh was literally fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ (cf. Jn 19:37). The usage of the first-person pronoun, “when they look to me whom they pierced”, indicates a startling truth: Yahweh Himself, the sovereign Lord of the universe, suffered the agony of the cross when the Messiah bore our sins on the cross. The parallel between Yahweh’s suffering and the servant’s suffering is striking, as Yahweh fully identified Himself in the servant Messiah. Our Father Yahweh suffered with Christ enduring the pain on the cross. Yahweh was not a detached observer of the Messiah’s suffering from afar, but He was deeply engaged in the pain and agony of Christ.

In Yahweh’s statement, notice the transition from the first-person to the third-person pronoun as people will mourn “over him” like a father grieving over the death of an only child or a firstborn. The piercing resulted in death. As the time came for Jesus to breathe his last, Yahweh had to leave him alone to die on his own. In those final moments, Jesus experienced a separation from his Father. Jesus cried out with a loud voice in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” In English, the phrase is: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34) Jesus felt abandoned by God. Oh! What anguish! What pain! The truth is that God is immortal and cannot die, so in this sense Jesus had to die alone on the cross to complete the atoning sacrifice for our salvation. Yahweh God was there listening to Jesus. Jesus said, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). He declared that his atoning work of accomplishing the Father’s will was complete. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Lk 23:46) These were Jesus’ final words, expressing his unwavering trust in his Father until his last breath. The Father heard him. We must spend time to meditate on the 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross.[2] In all of Jesus’ suffering, Yahweh suffered with him. In all of Jesus’ affliction, Yahweh was afflicted.

There is yet a future fulfilment of this messianic prophecy of Zechariah 12:10 when Jesus returns.

I am preparing myself for this moment to behold the Messiah when he appears on clouds! Who can stand on that glorious day? There will be no doubt, and no argument as to who the Messiah is. All eyes are going to see him clearly, even the ones who pierced him (cf. Jn 19:37), and all the tribes of the earth will wail “beating their breasts” (cf. Lk 23:48). Yahweh promised that He will pour a spirit of grace and pleas of mercy onto His people (Zech 12:10a). Underlying this promise is God’s righteous judgment and abundant mercy in drawing people to repentance.

(10) Jesus the Messiah as the suffering servant has applications to God’s people. God also called some individuals “my servant” such as Abraham (Gen 26:24); Moses (Num 12:7); Caleb (Num 14:24); David (2Sam 3:18); Job (Job 1:8); Eliakim (Isa 22:20); Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 25:9) and Zerubbabel (Hag 2:23). Most succeeded as God’s servant, while Nebuchadnezzar failed in his assignment as God’s servant. As followers of the Messiah, we too are his servants, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (Jn 12:26) The suffering servant redeems us and has given us an example to follow on this path of humility of servanthood. When we accept Jesus as our Messiah, we also follow his footsteps to walk on the path of servanthood in suffering. The third servant’s song (Isa 50:4-11) explains how we get perfected through suffering in our unwavering obedience to God. “Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of Yahweh and rely on his God.” (Isa 50:10)

Conclusion: The first stage of Jesus’ Messianic mission has to do with his life and ministry on earth. One of the offences of this phase is the delay of the coming of God’s kingdom. The faith of many impatient people collapsed here. In this first phase, God’s Kingdom was brought near through the person Jesus, but it had not arrived on earth yet.

Please keep in mind the following significant points in his earthly Messianic mission: (1) Jesus was fully aware of his role as the Messiah. Already at his birth, Yahweh God announced that Jesus is the promised Messianic king to sit on the throne of David forever. (2) Knowing that he was the promised king of Israel, he proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God during his entire earthly ministry. The Kingdom of Yahweh is the central message of salvation. (3) Before the Kingdom arrives on earth, it was first necessary for him to atone for the sins of the world as the suffering servant. Yahweh God fully identified Himself with the Messiah and strengthened him in all his suffering. (4) The path of salvation is now open to all, and many will enter the kingdom through many tribulations (Acts 14:22). Just as the Messiah suffered, we too must suffer on this narrow path to eternal life. (5) The Kingdom has already come near to us through the sacrificial life of the servant Messiah. (6) Jesus never functioned as the king of Israel in this first stage, but he will be the active king when he ushers in God’s Kingdom in the third stage. Everyone should listen to Jesus and believe in his words, for he does the Father’s will. His Father will send him back to earth to fulfill his ultimate kingly role on earth.

Jesus’ mission as the Messiah did not stop at Calvary. Most Christians are not aware of the fact that Jesus is still carrying on his Messianic mission. Somehow, the faith of most Christians stopped at the cross. There’s much more to Jesus’ mission after he died on the cross! After he completed his earthly ministry, he was raised from the dead, exalted, and seated at the right hand of God. The resurrection by the Father confirms his appointed role to rule for God as Lord and King. The good news of the Gospel continues. The Messiah is still actively doing God’s work. I hope to get you excited so that you know how to participate as the Gospel does not stop at Calvary but continues after the resurrection and ascension. The following Bible verses give us details of Jesus’ present mission in his exalted position.

(1) Psalm 110 presents a grand vision that finds its ultimate fulfilment in the person and mission of the Messiah Jesus. Psalm 110:1 is the most quoted verse in the New Testament, cited more than 20 times. In the ancient biblical texts, there were no formal chapter and verse divisions. When the opening line of a Psalm was quoted, the speaker was alluding to the entire Psalm. To fully capture the vision of Psalm 110, we need to consider the Psalm in its entirety rather than focusing solely on the first verse. All the vivid imageries serve as a catalyst to help us meditate deeply on God’s grand vision for the Messiah. The detailed poetic descriptions are not incidental but essential for us to fully grasp what the Messiah is currently doing, and how we can actively participate with him before his return.

(2) Jesus quoted Psalm 110 in his discussion with the Pharisees, asking them how the Messiah could be both the lord of David and the son of David (Mt 22:41-46; Mk 12:35-37; Lk 20:41-44). The apostle Peter alluded to this Psalm in his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:25). Right after mentioning Jesus’ exaltation to the right hand of God, Peter drew everyone’s attention to the fact that God has made Jesus as Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:34-36). The enthronement of the Messiah at his Father’s right hand fulfilled the promises God made to David and his heirs (Acts 2:29-30). The early church clearly understood Jesus’ identity and mission through the lens of Psalm 110.

(3) Psalm 110 is attributed to David as the writer. Jesus commented that David spoke the words of Psalm 110 in the Holy Spirit (Mk 12:36). David may have been documenting his coronation ceremony and a military triumph. Psalm 110 is prophetic, as it contains clear allusions to the promised Messiah and his unique role and offices. There are three key figures in Psalm 110: David, Yahweh (יהוה YHWH) and my Lord (אֲדֹנִ֗י adoni)

(4) “Yahweh says to my Lord.” Who is David’s Lord? The Hebrew word for my “Lord” (אֲדֹנִ֗י adoni) refers to a human master. David is referring to someone who is superior to him. God promised to David that one of his offspring would reign from David’s throne forever (2Sam 7:12-13). This heir will surpass all the kings, so David addressed him “my lord”, the promised king Messiah who will sit on his throne forever.

(5) David heard Yahweh speaking directly to his Lord (the Messiah): “Sit at my right hand”. In the heavenly court, Yahweh extended an invitation to the Messiah to sit with Him. Jesus could not put himself in this position. To be able to sit at God’s right hand was an action done by Yahweh as He wanted to share His authority with the Messiah. Why sit? Why not stand? The Messiah sat down for he has completed the first phase of the redemptive work in his earthly ministry. The writer to the Hebrews tells us, “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3, 13).

(6) Jesus is now the enthroned Messiah, the royal human viceroy, empowered to act and rule on God’s behalf. He is given the task to subdue his foes in the power of Yahweh, for “I will make your enemies your footstool” (Psa 110:1b). A royal footstool figuratively signifies a king’s power to conquer and subjugate all his adversaries. The enemies will not simply be defeated but they will also be subjected to the authority of the Messiah.

(7) In Psalm 110:2-3, Yahweh is no longer the speaker as He is now referred to in the third person, “Yahweh sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter”. These words are addressed to the one sitting at the right hand of God. The “mighty scepter” is prophesied in Balaam’s oracle, “A scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Num 24:17). “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” (Gen 49:10) The blessing and promise regarding the scepter from Judah find their ultimate fulfilment in Jesus the Messiah. The Messianic scepter will be sent forth from Zion, commissioned by Yahweh with royal authority to “rule in the midst of your enemies” (Psa 110:2). God has given the Messiah all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18). He is actively engaged in spiritual conflicts, overcoming all oppositions. God will gradually put all the enemies under the Messiah’s feet (cf. Gen 3:15).

(8) Psalm 110:3 depicts a vivid picture of a group of people who “willingly offer themselves” to submit to the Messiah’s rule. “The day of your power” can span from the Messiah’s initial enthronement to his eventual ultimate victory. The Messiah goes forth in conquest, but he does not go alone but with his faithful followers. He would have an army to conquer the enemies together. Are you in his army? Who is qualified? Those who adorn themselves in “holy garments”, living a life of purity, righteousness, set apart and dedicated to the Messiah’s purposes. Holiness is required to fight the battle of evil. Today, many Christians say they are followers of the Messiah, but they are disobedient; nor are they holy. We are living in times of widespread apostasy, as more and more Christians are found having a form of godliness but lacking the inner righteousness. Paul warns us to avoid these people. (2Tim 3:1-5) They know how to talk in the church but they lack spiritual power. “Your people” refers explicitly to the small group of the righteous remnant who live under the rule of the Messiah. Only the few who persevere in righteousness will have a share in the Messiah’s victory.

(9) “From the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours” is poetically rich in symbolic meaning. The womb represents the origin of life; the morning points to freshness and new beginnings; the dew speaks of rejuvenation; and youth connotes prime strength and energy.

The Messiah is described as “the dew of your youth”. Just as the morning dew abundantly refreshes the earth, the Messiah sustains his army with perpetual vitality, freshness, and vigor in the battle against evil. The dew is a symbol of God’s provision. “Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man.” (Mic 5:7) The remnant motif suggests that the majority will fall away in apostasy. The few that remain are like dew from Yahweh. How precious are these words! Evidently, the picture before us is that the remnant are the ones who play a crucial role in coworking with the Messiah in these last days. The Lord has given me these words to meditate on: Be like dew from Yahweh! How precious is our calling! Go out and watch the early morning dew just before sunrise. The dew is like “showers on the grass” symbolizing a life-giving and refreshing influence “in the midst of many peoples”. Let’s respond to Yahweh before it is too late for such a blessing of the Lord’s movement does not tarry nor does He wait for the children of man.

(10) In Psalm 110:4, Yahweh declares an unchangeable oath to the coronated Messiah: You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. This remarkable proclamation asserts that the king is also a priest. Jesus was born from the tribe of Judah and not from Levi, so how could he be a priest? Jesus does not come from the Aaronic priesthood, but the enduring priesthood after the order of Melchizedek (“the king of Salem and a priest of Yahweh, God Most High” Gen 14:18). This is not an ordinary priesthood that serves temporarily for a few years. Instead, the Messianic king is appointed as a priest who will serve permanently (Heb 7:24). Priests and high priests must be appointed by Yahweh God. Having been made perfect through his obedience, Jesus became a priest after the order of Melchizedek (5:8-10). As the high priest forever, he has gone as a forerunner on our behalf (6:20).

(11) Jesus holds the dual offices of king and priest, which were the two primary appointed leadership roles in the Old Testament. A royal priest will come to establish God’s rule on earth. Jesus is not a passive onlooker in heaven, but he takes on an active role presently as the royal priest for God.

Right now, through the Church, the Messiah is building “a royal priesthood” (1Pet 2:9). Oh, this is the high calling of the Church! Thank you Father, for giving such a high honor for Christians to take part in your royal priesthood. Let’s respond to our Messiah as he is presently building up a people to be “priests to his God and Father” for the coming Kingdom (Rev 1:6). Alas, how many of us are worthy? The calling to be a royal priesthood (mamleket kōhănîm) has its origins in God’s covenantal relationship with the nation of Israel (Exo 19:6). The Israelites repeatedly failed to live up to this high calling. The Messiah is now declared to be the ultimate royal priest for God. Through his death and resurrection, Christ has inaugurated a new era in which all who are united in him by faith have the privilege to share in his mission. Christ, the head of the Church, is preparing a new order of priests and kings for God’s coming Kingdom. Let’s capture the vision. The royal priesthood is being built up and established within the context of the Church, rather than apart from it.

(12) Psalm 110:5-7 depicts an awe-inspiring vision of how Yahweh God works through the Messiah as the warrior-king in the final eschatological battles for our salvation. The Messiah acts as a vice-regent to execute God’s judgment on the nations and their rulers.

“The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.” (Psa 110:5). Who is “the Lord” here? Is “the Lord” the same as “my lord” in verse 1? If you depend on the English translation, you may not see the difference. Two different Hebrew words are used for these two words. The Lord in verse 5 is Adonai (אֲדֹנָ֥י). My lord (אֲדֹנִ֗י adoni) in verse 1 is a human lord. The title Adonai refers to Yahweh God and never to the Messiah. Yahweh is at the right hand of the Messiah as He is empowering the Messiah to fully act in His authority to shatter kings.

Why is Yahweh at the right hand of the Messiah? The preceding Psalm ends with these last words: “I will give thanks to Yahweh exceedingly with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him, for he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those judging his life.” (LEB; Psa 109:30-31). Yahweh stands at the right hand to give protection and deliverance to His people. In another Messianic Psalm, Yahweh is portrayed as being at the “right hand” to give divine assurance. “I have set Yahweh always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken” (Psa 16:8). Yahweh is there beside His people to give them unshakable confidence and victory.

What a great encouragement this is for the Messiah to know that Yahweh is at his right hand to shatter kings. The Messiah, even in his glorious state as man, still needs to depend on his Father for everything. Yahweh will vindicate for his Messiah to subjugate all of his adversaries in due time. Despite all the suffering that he needs to endure from his hostile enemies, the Messiah is assured of final victory because of the Father’s unwavering commitment.

The right hand imagery emphasizes God’s nearness and His readiness to act for His people. “Yahweh is your keeper; Yahweh is your shade on your right hand” (Psa 121:5). As God’s anointed ones, we can be confident of God’s vindication. Fear not and do not be dismayed for God says, “I am with you, I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa 41:10) All the enemies who rage against us will be ashamed and disgraced. They will be reduced to nothing and will perish. Those who attack us will come to nothing, for “I Yahweh your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’” (Isa 41:13). Picture the scene of God’s righteous right hand holding onto your right hand. Meditate deeply on this scene and let the picture of God’s action sink into your heart. Indeed, how great is God’s steadfast love towards His Messiah and His anointed ones. He always stands with us to sustain us in all our needy circumstances. He is our strength, our very present help in times of trouble. (Psa 46:1)

In the context of Psalm 110, Yahweh accomplishes His salvation plan through the Messiah and his people (v. 3ff). Those who are united to the Messiah by faith will also share in the ultimate victory. Together, they form a victorious army in the power of Yahweh God, marching forth under His banner to accomplish God’s salvation plan in the days to come.

(13) Yahweh will empower the Messiah to shatter kings on the day of His wrath (Psa 110:5). Yahweh will strengthen the Messiah to “execute judgments among the nations, filling them with corpses” (v.6). The judgement will result in the death of the enemies. Yahweh will grant victory to the Messiah to shatter “heads רֹ֝֗אשׁ (rosh) over the wide earth” (v.6). All the supreme rulers of evil forces will be demolished. “The head רֹ֔אשׁ (rosh)” of the serpent will finally be bruised as prophesied in Gen 3:15. The scope of the Messiah’s reign will extend to all the nations as he will exercise worldwide dominion with God’s full authority for our final salvation.

(14) Psalm 110:7 ends with an imagery of the final victorious military campaign: “He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.” Is the “he” referring to God or to the Messiah? Obviously, God doesn’t need to drink from the brook, but the Messiah does. The humanity of the Messiah is fully revealed here. He is not battle-weary and will not become exhausted in pursuing all the enemies. In the ancient world, the ability to access and drink water was crucial for armies on the march. Securing reliable water sources was a matter of life and death in military campaigns. Stopping by to drink from a brook is necessary for sustenance and energy to continue the battle. Also, the brook (נַחַל nachal) is a metaphor of God’s provision and sustenance. During the famine, God provided the brook (נַחַל nachal) for Elijah, and he drank from the brook (1Ki 17:4,6). The brook is God’s provision and refreshment for the Messiah. Truly great is our God in His attentiveness to the physical needs of the Messiah. In the final victory, the refreshed Messiah will “lift up his head” in triumph and honor. This imagery portrays the Messiah as one who is sustained by God’s provision, undaunted by obstacles, and assured of ultimate victory over all his enemies. “You, O YHWH, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Psa 3:3). Amen and Amen!

Isaiah is prophesying about the Messiah in his exalted position. As a servant, the Messiah acts in wisdom with perfect obedience to do the Father’s will. The phrase “high and lifted up” denotes a sense of ultimate triumph and glorification. Through his sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus is exalted to the highest position of honor and authority. What all this means is that the exalted Lord Messiah is highly praised and glorified by his Father. We can now draw near in full assurance of faith to the throne of grace, to experience God’s presence, and have direct communion with Yahweh. (cf. Heb 4:16; 10:19, 22)

(1) Paul is fully aware that our Messiah Jesus is continuing his mission in the heavenly places. Hallelujah! Yahweh “raised” him and “seated” him right next to Him. In close proximity, Yahweh is actively working through the Messiah to exercise His authority in both ages: this age and the age to come when he returns to earth.

(2) Sitting at God’s right hand in the heavenly places does not mean that Jesus is equal to Yahweh, but that Jesus is given a new status as God’s emissary to rule with power and dominion under God’s orders.

(3) The fact that the Messiah is in the heavenly places does not turn him to become “God” either. He is not replacing Yahweh as he is seated at the right hand of Yahweh. There are not two Gods in heaven. The eternal principle that “there is only one God and there are no other gods beside Him” remains true in the heavenly places, even after the exaltation of the Messiah.

(4) The resurrected Messiah Jesus is still a human, but a glorified man sitting at the right hand of God. The one sitting beside God is not a spirit, but a man in his “glorious body” (Phil 3:21). It is a resurrected body that is different from his earthly one. The new body is a glorious physical body because it is imperishable and immortal (1Cor 15:53). He can still eat and drink in this new body, for the disciples “ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41). The risen Lord cooked breakfast for the disciples and invited them to “come and have breakfast” with him (Jn 21:12). At another time, the disciples gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate before them. (Lk 24:42-43)

The Messiah has been exalted by Yahweh to the highest position, “far above all rule and authority”, surpassing even the angels. Though for a short time made lower than the angels, the Messiah has been “crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death” (Heb 2:7, 9; Psa 8:5). The crowning with glory refers to his exaltation and enthronement at the Father’s right hand. Angels never occupy a place on the divine throne, nor do they participate in God’s rule. They are present in the heavenly throne room, offering worship and service to God. Even the most exalted angels are there to serve God, and they are not granted the privilege to rule for God. The Messiah has inherited a name from his Father that surpasses any names given to the angels. The identity of the Messiah is unparalleled and supreme.

The fact that the Messiah is at God’s right hand has a significant impact on Christians. We are to seek the things that are above as our Messiah is there. There are too many Christians whose minds are fully occupied with the fleeting things of this world. Paul urges us to set our minds on things that are above and not on earth. (v.2). For having been buried and raised with him, our life is hidden with the Messiah in Yahweh (v.3). Our Christian walk is closely knitted to the Messiah and Yahweh God. What a beautiful picture! God desires us to be united, identified, and aligned with the Messiah Jesus. How the Messiah thinks, we think. We are to have “the mind of the Messiah” (1Cor 2:16; Phil 2:5). As we obey his teaching daily, we become more Christ-like. To put our faith in the Messiah is to be more Messiah-like.

Just as God raised Jesus up and seated him at His right hand, God saves us so that we too can be raised up to be seated with the Messiah in the heavenly places. This is incredible, isn’t it? Can you stretch your imagination to meditate on what it is like to be seated with the Messiah in the heavenly places right now? You need to be united with the Messiah in your Christian faith every day. Do not live in the past. There are many things the Messiah wants to reveal to us about God’s plan in heaven and on earth. God wants to bless us now in the Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph 1:3).

Jesus our Messiah, seated at the right hand of God, is interceding on behalf of the Church. Today, most Christians think that Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand answering their prayers. The Messiah is actively praying to the Father interceding for us. This brings tears to my eyes because our Messiah is so concerned for us that he makes pleas to God on our behalf. At the present time, this is one of his chief ministries as our high priest. Jesus always “lives to make intercession for us” (Heb 7:25). This present book could not have been a reality without his intercession.

With the Messiah sitting at God’s right hand (v.20), Yahweh God made the Messiah head over all things for the benefit of the Church. The Father appointed the Messiah as the head of the Church. “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into the Messiah.” (Eph 4:15; cf. 5:23; Col 1:18) The second phase of Jesus’ Messiahship has been going on in the last 2000 years, which is the age of the Church. The mission of the Messiah continues through the Church now as we fulfill our role to manifest God’s glory to the nations.

The Church is a foreshadow of the Kingdom of God but not the Kingdom itself. The Church is called the body of the Messiah, not the Kingdom of God. Through the indwelling of God’s spirit in the body, we are given a foretaste of the coming Kingdom. With Jesus as the head, we can experience the power of the Kingdom in the body life.

The Church must always stay connected to the head, so that every member of the body works together in perfect harmony under the leadership of the head. As followers of the Messiah, we are deeply connected to Jesus’ present mission as he establishes the Church for God’s glory. Christ is now carrying out his Messianic mission through the Church. The collective body is to reflect the head, thus we are called to be Christlike through the empowering of the Spirit to manifest the glory of God.

Alas, is today’s Church manifesting God’s glory to the watching world? Jesus has already warned us about the spiritual decline of churches in the 1^st Century in Revelation 2-3. Are we any better today in the 21^st Century? Out of seven churches, five churches were called to repent and only two (Smyrna & Philadelphia) were faithful. God is looking for faithful remnants in His Church to work with the Messiah Jesus today. Like the Sardis Church, many churches today “have the reputation of being alive but are dead” (Rev 3:1). Our churches need to wake up from our sleep of death. Let’s “strengthen what remains and is about to die” (v. 2). There is hope! There is a remnant! “A few names in Sardis” have not soiled their garments and walk with the Messiah in white. Only they are worthy (v. 4). God always preserves a remnant to complete His work. Jesus warns us that only a few remain in the narrow road for eternal life (Mt 7:14). The unpalatable truth is that only a faithful minority remain devoted to Yahweh and His Messiah in the midst of apostasy, compromise and spiritual decline in the end times. The Old Testament always speaks of a “holy remnant” that would be preserved by Yahweh, even when the majority of His people have fallen into idolatry. We can have confidence that God always preserves a faithful remnant in the darkest spiritual times to carry the final torch to cowork with Jesus, the head of the Church. This is the time to arise and shine! “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you.” (Isa 60:1)

Conclusion: God’s remnant has a significant role to play in the last days before the close of the age.

Before the Messiah returns, Yahweh will do a mighty work and raise His house to the highest of the mountains. What a stunning picture for the faithful Church to capture as we are now reaching the climax of this present age. Let this vision burn in our hearts. Many people shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” (Isa 2:3; cf. Mic 4:2) People are searching for the people who have the word of Yahweh to show them His ways.

Zechariah also has similar prophecies: The inhabitants of one city will go to another city, saying, “Let us go immediately to entreat the favor of Yahweh, to seek Yahweh of hosts — I also will go!” (Zech 8:21) The prophecies of Zechariah contain visions about end time events leading into the third phase of Jesus’ Messianic mission.

“Yahweh will be one” affirms that Yahweh is the one true God. Only one Name, and He is Yahweh. We are living in a momentous time that is rapidly progressing towards the climactic conclusion of the present age. For those of us who have been given the great privilege to know Yahweh as the only true God, we are entrusted with an awesome assignment: “In those days ten men from all the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew[3], saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!’” (Zech 8:23) If Yahweh is your God, people will be compelled by the glorious presence of God in you that they want to hold onto you. They want to find God to entreat His favor (v. 22). Ten people following one person. A 10 to 1 ratio is an effective model for disciple making. Let us take up this task as we cross over to the millennium era. In the millennium, this discipleship pattern continues under the reign of our Messiah as he brings all nations to the one true God Yahweh. On that day, Yahweh will be one and His Name one.

The third phase of Jesus’ Messianic mission will begin at his second coming. The King Messiah will inaugurate the Kingdom of God on earth. A series of exciting and glorious events will take place on this momentous day.

The King Messiah, the son of man, will return to earth with power and glory.

These words are spoken by Jesus, and he often likes to refer to himself as “the son of man”. Even when talking about his exalted position, he uses the title “the son of man”, for he is man, the representative of man. When Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, he called him “the son of man” (Acts 7:55-56). He could have said “the son of God”, but he didn’t. All this shows that the exalted man in heaven is still man, a glorious man. Notice that Jesus is in a standing position and not in a seating position here. The Messiah will return to earth as the glorified man on clouds of heaven with power and glory, and everyone will visibly see him. (cf. Rev 1:7)

The resurrection of the dead will take place when the King Messiah returns on clouds of heaven. Believers who have died are waiting for this moment “to hear the voice of the son of God” (Jn 5:25). Paul gives a more detailed explanation of how the dead come to life.

“The Lord” here refers to the King Messiah Jesus. We will look at four things: the summoning of the dead, the status of the dead, the dead in Christ, and those who are caught up to meet the Lord.

1. Jesus will descend from heaven accompanied by a commanding cry to call the dead and the living. There will be the voice of an archangel with the sound of God’s trumpet. Everyone is going to see this momentous dramatic scene. God is going to raise the dead in Christ.
2. The Bible says that the dead are presently asleep (v.13). When people die, they enter into “the sleep of death” (Psa 13:3). When our beloved ones die, they are dead and sleeping. Today, some Christians do not like to hear the words “die, dead, death”, as if death is something disgraceful. Our bodies will decay and die. The grave is not the end. The combination of the words (die, death, grave) occurs 953 times in the Bible. The Bible does not avoid this subject matter at all. Do the dead go straight to heaven when they die? David never ascended to the heavens. (Acts 2:34) Everyone who dies goes into a long sleep. No activities take place during this time but to wait for the call of resurrection. Judgment needs to take place to decide whether the person receives eternal life.
3. “The dead in Christ” will rise first. The dead include all the Old Testament saints who trusted in God’s promise, for by faith they, too, looked forward to God’s promises in Christ. At the sound of the trumpet, these faithful believers in the old and new covenant shall rise, and be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye into the new body. “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (1Cor 15:52) They will receive the gift of immortal bodies. “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.” (v.53). This immortal body will never again die and decay, as death will not have power over them. They will rise to meet the Messiah in the air. Those who are alive in Christ will be caught up together to meet him in the air, and return with the Messiah to earth. This is what Paul means when “they will always be with the Lord.” (1Thess 4:17)
4. Today, most Christians have a mistaken notion that they will be “raptured to heaven” when Jesus returns. Jesus is not taking anyone to heaven but returning to earth as He is on his way to earth to fulfill the final stage of his Messianic mission. His focus is on establishing God’s Kingdom on earth and he will rule as King to bring all nations to submit to God’s rule. We need to be clear of the destination we are going for our final salvation. You don’t want to head in the wrong direction. The final redemption of our salvation will take place on earth.

When the Messiah reaches the earth, he will inaugurate the Kingdom and sit on his glorious throne as Judge and King.

God has fixed a specific day when He will judge the world with righteousness. In our thinking, we would expect God to execute judgment. Paul reveals to us that the appointed agent through whom God will carry out judgment is a man. Isn’t this surprising? This man is the Messiah Jesus. Jesus knew his role as judge, for he had said, “the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the son” (Jn 5:22). How is it possible that this man can be the judge? God raised him from the dead and gave all authority to the risen Lord Jesus to take on this judicial role as the judge of all. The glorified man Messiah will carry out God’s righteous judgment.

The one taking his seat on the glorious throne is “the son of man”. The glorious throne is the Davidic throne in Jerusalem as prophesied by Jeremiah, “At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of Yahweh, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of Yahweh in Jerusalem.” (Jer 3:17)

On the Davidic throne, the King Messiah will separate the sheep from the goats in the presence of Yahweh. “Those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (Jn 5: 28, 29). Judgment always begins with the house of God. (1Pet 4:17) When the Messiah sits on the glorious throne, the Christians will be judged first. True Christians will be separated from the false. The sheep will be rewarded: “Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Mt 25:34). The goal of salvation is to ultimately inherit the kingdom that Yahweh had prepared for us, long before we were born. While the sheep are the righteous ones (v. 37), the goats are cursed (v. 41) and cast into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (v.46). Like the wheat and darnel, the angel will separate the sons of the kingdom from the sons of the evil one. Presently, true and false Christians are intermingled in the Church, but when harvest comes at the end of the age, the darnel are gathered and burnt in the fire. The darnel looks like wheat on the outside, but they are not wheat. Whereas the wheat are the righteous ones and they will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Mt 13:24-30; 36-43).

The King Messiah will set up God’s Kingdom to rule all the nations worldwide, and crush all the enemies of Israel to ensure peace forever (Psa 110:2, 6; Zech 9:10). All eyes will see this kingdom for it is not invisible, but is manifested physically as well as politically, ruled by God’s law of justice and righteousness. This is the kingdom of Yahweh and of his Messiah.

The King Messiah will take over the rule of the entire world. It is a universal kingdom with the headquarter in Jerusalem. News will be broadcasted everyday throughout the world. True peace will reign to stop all wars and suffering. As prophesied in Daniel, the Messiah king will reign forever in this kingdom, as this kingdom will crush all the other kingdoms on earth.

This Kingdom is described like that of a stone cut by no human hand. What it means is that this stone is not man-made, but cut out by Yahweh God. The stone is going to become a great mountain and fill the whole earth (v.35).

Notice that this stone is supernaturally cut from a mountain by God. We do not know how big the stone is, but it will become a great mountain.

This kingdom will not collapse like previous kingdoms, but will stand forever permanently filling the whole earth. When the Messiah returns, the world will not cease to exist. Rather, life will continue with its normal, everyday affairs. The King Messiah will be given dominion and glory, and rule all the people, nations, and languages. This international government will be on his shoulder, and of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. He will establish justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. (Isa 9:6,7). The Messiah “will sit in faithfulness in the tent of the David as one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.” (Isa 16:5).

What a glorious moment indeed for the Messiah as he executes justice all over the earth. The world will enjoy a new order of a successful government that will bring peace to end all suffering. Exciting things are in store for those who love the appearance of the Messiah. The Messiah’s reign will triumph over all earthly powers. It will be a new era of abundance, peace and righteousness forever.

The King Messiah will not reign alone but with his saints to bring all nations to worship the one God Yahweh. This was prophesied in Isaiah 32:1, “Behold a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.” The Messiah is the righteous king. Princes will rule under him with justice. Some will rule over ten cities, and others five. (Lk 19:17, 19)

This third phase of the Messiah will require 1000 years to accomplish, thus it is called the millennium. Those who reign with the Messiah are called priests of God and of the Messiah. They are given immortal bodies in this first resurrection. There will be two kinds of people on earth: immortal men and mortal men. The immortal men are those with resurrected bodies that never die. The mortal men include those who do not get raptured when Christ returns, and everyone born during the millennial years.

Jesus invites us to eat and drink at his table and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus said these exciting words to his disciples on the night of the last supper. Their ultimate calling was to take part in this future Messianic Kingdom to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. This royal privilege is also granted to the Church as he said to the Laodiceans, “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne” (Rev 3:21). If we overcome, we, too, can eat and drink in the presence of Jesus at his table! How exciting! We need to prepare ourselves for such awesome privileges.

During the millennial reign, the Messiah will restore the kingdom to Israel. “Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6b) The restoration has to do with re-establishing the kingdom on earth. The holy prophets gave many detailed events regarding the restoration of the kingdom where the Messiah will bring universal peace to the whole world.

Yahweh God needs to first restore the judges and the counselors to righteous governance and wise counsel. Then, Zion will be known as the city of righteousness and faithfulness.

Under the Messiah’s leadership, this restored kingdom will bring such powerful peace that will even impact the animal world. Perfect harmony will come upon the animal world. Picture the astounding scene of a lion grazing with a lamb. The lion is not going to eat up the lamb. The goat will not be harmed by the leopard. The calf will not be threatened by the lion. All ferocious wild beasts will even submit to a little child. The nursing child can play safely near the hole of a cobra. A toddler can put his hands in the nests of the deadly snakes without harm. (Isa 11:6-8; 65:25) Everything is safe. The earth is sick today and is groaning in pain (Rom 8:22), but one day, it will be renewed under the rule of the king Messiah when all creation will be put in good order. The final salvation is also linked to the renewal of the earth.

The Messiah Jesus must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet, with death as the last enemy to be destroyed. (1Cor 15:25-26; cf. Rev 20:14) Satan will be crushed under his feet. (Rom 16:20; cf. Rev 20:1-3) The prophecy of the “seed of the woman” will be fulfilled at this time when the Messiah crushes the serpent. (Gen 3:15) Yahweh God is going to accomplish this final plan of salvation through the Messiah (Psa 8:6; Eph 1:22; Heb 2:8; 1Cor 15:27). At the end of the millennial years, the Messiah will hand the Kingdom over to God the Father.

The Messiah himself will be subjected to God, that God be all in all (1Cor 15:28). In this final phase, the Kingdom will be completely under God’s Kingship. There will be a new heaven and the new earth, the eternal dwelling place of God our King, and of the Messiah Jesus, and all his saints.

Knowing the three stages of the mission of the Messiah can help us see ever more clearly what Jesus the Messiah has done, what he is doing now, and what he will be doing. His mission as God’s Messiah is very much related to the final coming Kingdom. He first came as a suffering servant to proclaim the nearness of the Kingdom. We are now actively involved in the second phase of his mission where he is the head and Lord of the Church. Finally, the King-Messiah will return to set up the God’s Kingdom on earth to rule as King. As we put our faith in the Messiah Jesus, let us not sit back passively, but actively engage with the Messiah and his work.

It is interesting that in Revelation 5:5-6, Jesus is portrayed as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah”, “the Root of David”, and “the Lamb”. The appointed Messiah fulfills all these roles. The key of Revelation is “The Lamb”, with 29 occurrences, the highest frequency of all the books of the Bible.[4] Jesus was first the suffering Messiah as a Lamb slain. The Lamb now sits on the right hand of the Father. And in the final phase of his mission, he is the conquering King Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, seated on David’s throne to establish peace and righteousness over the entire earth.

Have you ever wondered why we are called “Christians”? The fact that the word “Christ” is embedded in the word “Christians” should alert us that we are people of the Messiah. But today, the word “Christians” has been downplayed to being churchgoers on Sundays. There are a lot of “Churchians”, but not Christians. Let’s be true Christians and live up to our messianic name.

Christians are people of Christ, people of the Messiah. As Christ-followers, we are Messiah-followers. We follow the Messiah and we engage ourselves in his mission. As people of the Messiah, we must get involved in what the Messiah is doing and eagerly await for his Kingdom to come. Christians have heard about “reigning with Jesus Christ” but they haven’t a clue what it means, nor are they excited about such possibilities and royal privileges. Are you preparing yourself for such a glorious future assignment in the coming Kingdom?