Why Future-Only Thinking Disarms the Church
It sounds spiritual. It even echoes the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). But what happens when the Church prays this as if Christ’s Kingdom hasn’t already come in power?
This is not a small issue. It’s the very heartbeat of the victorious Christian life. To believe the Kingdom of Christ is only future is to deny the present reign of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. And with that denial, many believers unknowingly forfeit the power and authority they have now in Him.
The Popular Teaching: A Delayed Kingdom
Adrian Rogers, one of the most influential American preachers of the 20th century, taught that “His kingdom has not come yet on earth. His will is not being done on earth, but it will be.” He summarized the Kingdom as a future reality of grace, goodness, and glory. He taught that one day the world will know the Lord and His glory will cover the earth, but not yet.
That sounds good, even biblical—until you compare it with the actual declarations of Scripture.
What the Bible Actually Says:
1. The Kingdom Has Already Come
- “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).
- “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).
We are not waiting to be translated into the Kingdom. That has already happened for every blood-washed believer.
2. Jesus is Reigning Now
- “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” (Psalm 110:1–2).
- “He is Lord of lords, and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14).
- “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him” (1 Peter 3:22).
The Lord Jesus is not waiting to be enthroned. He is already seated on the throne of the universe. He is already reigning in the midst of His enemies. His rule is not postponed until some distant millennium—it is active and present, just as He promised.
3. The Believer Shares in That Reign Now
- “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).
- “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever” (Revelation 1:6).
To deny Christ’s present Kingship is to deny our present authority as believers. If the King is not ruling, the kingdom is not functioning—and we are left spiritually weaponless.
The Consequences of Postponing the Kingdom
What happens when believers absorb this “not yet” theology?
- They create a powerless form of godliness. They talk about victory but walk in defeat. They speak of truth but explain away the supernatural. They believe in Jesus but live as if He were absent.
- They go blind to the real enemy. Because they don’t see Christ ruling, they don’t take the powers of darkness seriously either. They mock deliverance. They call demonization mental illness. They cut out Mark 16:17–18 and other uncomfortable verses. They end up debating theology while real enemies oppress real people.
- They build religious systems instead of walking in authority. Without a reigning King, the Church becomes a spiritual orphanage. It relies on tradition, programs, and psychological coping methods. The armor of God hangs unused.
Christ’s Kingdom Is Now, and It’s Spiritual
Christ Himself said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation… the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20–21). His Kingdom is not of this world, but it has invaded this world through His Spirit, His Word, and His Body—the Church.
To deny this Kingdom is to deny our spiritual inheritance. To delay it is to disarm ourselves in the fight of faith.
Yes, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth one day in full glory. But that glory is already breaking forth now, wherever Christ is truly Lord. He is ruling. He is reigning. And we overcome by abiding in Him today.
So we ask:
Are you living in the reality of a reigning Christ? Or are you waiting for a throne He already occupies?