One of the most widespread doctrines among evangelicals is that of premillennialism, that is, (among other things) that Jesus is going to return to this earth to establish a physical kingdom and sit on David’s throne. Is this so?
Today’s chapter contains a specific reference to Jesus sitting on David’s throne. But more than that, it defines what it means.
After quoting David and his statement about not having his soul left in hell or his flesh see corruption, Peter turns his audience’s attention to David’s current state: dead and buried and the location of his bones known to all (v 29).
Moving from there, Peter identifies David’s statements as a prophet, namely, that God would “raise up the Christ to sit on his throne” (v 30). Peter then identifies exactly what David meant, “he, foreseeing this,” (Christ sitting on his throne – TC), “spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption” (v 31). Why then is there so much pointless speculation and erroneous teaching on this matter? Peter could not have been clearer.
There are also a host of other problems with the idea that Jesus is coming back to earth to establish an earthly kingdom. Among them is the testimony of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 22:24-30 we see the prophecy against Coniah. In this prophecy is the express statement that “none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah” (v 30).
When one reads the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, he will see in verse 11 that Coniah, identified here as Jeconiah, is from the direct line of Jesus’ ancestors. Therefore, it would be a violation of this express text for Jesus to rule in Judah, sitting on David’s throne.
Finally, is Jesus’ own statement to Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world, for if it were, His servants would fight to keep him from being delivered to the Jews (John 18). Jesus Himself hid Himself from the people to prevent them from making him a king (John 6).
The church is the kingdom of Christ (Matt 16:16-19). Jesus is king and reigns now.
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