The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great— and for destroying those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:15, 18, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Had the “kingdom of the world…become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” the first time He came, the dead would be judged but there would be no saints to reward. Sin had to be paid for. That is why Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36, NIV 1984). Not now. But later…
He could have begun His “reign for ever and ever” after the resurrection. But He is waiting “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And [for] all Israel [to] be saved.” (Romans 11:25–26, NIV 1984). So, we wait. Some wondering if He will ever keep His promise to return, or if He is just slow. But “the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with [us], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [So], in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:9, 13, NIV 1984). When the “kingdom of the world [will] become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.”
My Advice – The Lord said to Abraham, “‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So, shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5–6, NIV 1984). To become a legitimate “offspring” of Abraham, Jew or Gentile, we too must believe in order to be credited to as righteous before the LORD. To become one of the “full number” or “all Israel.”
The Brew Is A Musing 