Jesus does not Return to Establish Kingdom

When Jesus ascended into heaven he received the place in all creation.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name (Phil 2:9).

God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Eph 1:19-20).

The scriptures teach that he must stay there until all his enemies are defeated.

He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool (Heb 10:12,13).

He does not return to defeat his enemies. He waits in heaven until the church and the Holy Spirit have defeated them. The Bible promises that in a short time we will crush Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20). Jesus returns when his enemies are defeated to bring in the end of the age.

Jesus return does not establish the kingdom. He actually hands over to the Father a Kingdom that has already been established by his follows.

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet (1 Cor 15:24-25).

Jesus hands over the kingdom to God the Father. He reigns in heaven until all his enemies are defeated. When he returns, Jesus will receive the kingdom from the church, and hand it back to our Father.

Jesus warned his followers that the kingdom would come slowly, like yeast permeates a loaf of bread. It does not come in one dramatic manifestation.

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).

Jesus was warning his disciples not to expect the Kingdom to come instantly in a visible way. It comes gradually as the Spirit works in the hearts of men.

This doctrine that Jesus will return to establish the Kingdom is Satan’s best lie. He has used this lie to successfully cripple the church, by fooling us into believing that the church will not come during this season. He has fooled us into believing that we can sit back and wait, because Jesus will come and so it for us. Unfortunately, that is a false hope.

The second coming of Jesus does not destroy forces of evil. Seeing Jesus will not be enough. Many people saw Jesus when he lived on earth, but continued to reject him. Those who teach a "millennium" after the second coming often imply that Jesus will establish the Kingdom by force. It is hard to imagine how Jesus would do this.