The messianic age, also known as the messianic kingdom, refers to a future period of time on earth when Jesus Christ will reign over all nations. The concept of a messianic age originated in Judaism and is found in the Hebrew Bible. The New Testament develops this idea further, portraying Jesus as the promised Messiah who will one day return to establish God’s kingdom on earth.
The messianic age is anticipated as a time of universal peace, righteousness, justice and prosperity. Governmental authority will rest upon the shoulders of the Messiah, the descendant of King David. Jesus Christ is identified in the New Testament as this long-awaited Messiah-King. Passages such as Isaiah 9:6-7 and 11:1-9 describe the conditions of the messianic kingdom in glowing and poetic terms.
There is some debate amongst Bible scholars regarding the precise nature and timing of the messianic age. Some believe Jesus inaugurated the messianic age at His first coming, while others contend that the full realization awaits His second coming. Despite differences in eschatological views, most Christians affirm that the messianic hopes found in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Old Testament Basis
The foundation for belief in a future messianic age is found in several Old Testament passages. God established a covenant with King David recorded in 2 Samuel 7, promising that his throne would be established forever through one of his descendants. This descendant would rule over an everlasting kingdom. Many passages in the Psalms and prophets look ahead to this Davidic ruler who would mediate God’s justice and righteousness on the earth (Psalm 2, 22, 45, 72, 110; Isaiah 9:1-7; 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6).
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a Messiah-King reigning on David’s throne who would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Under His rule, “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). The messianic kingdom would be characterized by peace, justice and righteousness for all nations (Isaiah 2:4, 42:1-4). The Messiah would bring salvation and restoration for both Jews and Gentiles (Isaiah 49:6).
The book of Daniel refers to a final kingdom established by “one like a son of man” that will replace the world’s kingdoms and will itself endure forever (Daniel 7:13-14). Ezekiel envisions a restoration of the Davidic monarchy with God’s servant David ruling as prince over Israel (Ezekiel 34:23-24, 37:24-25). Although the Old Testament focuses primarily on the blessings of the messianic age for Israel, many prophecies hint at the inclusion of Gentiles as well (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6; Amos 9:11-12).
New Testament Fulfillment in Jesus
The New Testament unambiguously identifies Jesus of Nazareth as the prophesied Davidic Messiah who will establish God’s kingdom. Jesus claimed to be the long-awaited Christ (Messiah) whose coming was foretold (Matthew 16:16-17; Mark 14:61-62; John 4:25-26). The angel Gabriel announced His birth as the fulfillment of God’s promise to David to raise up a Savior-King descended from him (Luke 1:32-33). Throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated that He was inaugurating the kingdom of God through His preaching, miracles and actions (Matthew 4:17, 23; 9:35; 10:7-8).
However, Jesus’ contemporaries expected the Messiah to overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s national sovereignty. When Jesus failed to meet their misguided political expectations, many rejected His claim to messiahship. But the nature of Jesus’ messianic kingdom centered on spiritual redemption from sin, not political liberation from Rome (John 18:36). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus atoned for sins and established the spiritual kingdom of God that would spread across the earth (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:29-36).
The New Testament writers present Jesus as the promised descendant of David qualifying Him to sit on that royal throne forever (Matthew 1:1; Romans 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:8; Revelation 22:16). Passages like Matthew 19:28 and 25:31 connect Jesus with the messianic kingdom promised to David’s Son. Yet Jesus declared before His ascension that the timing of the future messianic kingdom was known only to the Father (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:6-7). In the meantime, Jesus reigns from heaven and rules invisibly in the hearts of believers who trust in Him (Luke 17:20-21).
Second Coming of Christ
Most Christians believe the messianic kingdom will be fully realized at Jesus Christ’s second coming based on New Testament passages about His future return. Matthew 24-25, Mark 13 and Luke 21 all record Jesus’ teachings about His second coming to establish the fullness of God’s kingdom on earth. The book of Revelation portrays Jesus returning as King of kings to defeat evil and rule over all the earth from His throne in Jerusalem.
Paul writes that Jesus will return bodily from heaven as the conquering Messiah to subdue all enemies and hand the kingdom over to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Peter preached that Jesus would remain in heaven until the time of future “restoration of all things” associated with His messianic reign (Acts 3:20-21). The book of Revelation confirms Jesus’ second coming to earth to reign forever as the Messianic King (Revelation 11:15; 20:1-6).
The timing of Jesus’ return and establishment of His earthly messianic kingdom remains a mystery. Jesus repeatedly warns in Scripture that the date cannot be predicted but that His return will be sudden and unexpected (Matthew 24:36-44; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:40). Every generation of believers lives in anticipation of the Messiah’s return but without knowing the precise time.
Characteristics of the Messianic Age
Although opinions vary, the Bible provides a general portrait of societal and ecological conditions during the future messianic kingdom under Christ’s millennial reign on earth. Some key features include:
- Universally acknowledged authority and rule of Jesus over all nations (Isaiah 2:4, 42:1-4)
- Worldwide knowledge of God and His truth (Habakkuk 2:14; Isaiah 11:9)
- Just and righteous leadership by King Jesus (Isaiah 11:3-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6)
- International peace and cessation of war (Isaiah 2:4; Hosea 2:18)
- Removal of sickness, disease and disability (Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6)
- Harmony in the animal kingdom and nature (Isaiah 11:6-9)
- Joy, gladness and thanksgiving (Isaiah 51:3, 11)
- Comfort and prosperity for Israel (Amos 9:13-15)
- Inclusion of Gentiles in worship and service (Zechariah 8:20-23)
- Release from the curse upon the earth (Isaiah 11:7-9)
- Longevity and population growth (Zechariah 8:4-5)
This messianic kingdom will be centered at Jerusalem where Jesus will reign on David’s throne (Jeremiah 3:17). Nations will make pilgrimages there to worship God during the annual Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-19). The resurrected and raptured saints will join Christ in ruling the nations with justice and righteousness (Daniel 7:18, 22, 27; Revelation 5:9-10; 20:4-6).
Amillennial and Postmillennial Views
Some Christians do not interpret the messianic kingdom as a literal 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth (Revelation 20:1-7). Amillennialists view the kingdom as already present in the rule and authority of Christ in the church age. They interpret Revelation 20 symbolically or allegorically rather than as a literal future period. Postmillennialists also deny a future thousand-year messianic reign but believe the kingdom is being expanded now through the gospel’s influence in society.
However, the passages about the second coming of Christ and His victorious reign over the nations point to a future fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions of the messianic kingdom. The book of Revelation depicts a transitional period between Jesus’ return and final judgment during which He will reign on earth with His saints. This best fits the premillennial belief in Jesus’ literal thousand-year reign on earth between His second coming and final defeat of Satan.
Eternal Messianic Kingdom
The millennial messianic kingdom will itself transition into the final, eternal kingdom of God referred to as the “new heavens and new earth” (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-2). After Jesus defeats a final rebellion by Satan at the end of the thousand years (Revelation 20:7-10), all enemies will be judged before God’s throne (Revelation 20:11-15). At that point, Jesus will hand the kingdom over to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24). God will then recreate the heavens and the earth to make all things new for eternity (Revelation 21:5).
The apostle John describes the descent of the New Jerusalem to the renewed earth as the everlasting dwelling place of God and the Lamb (Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-5). In this eternal kingdom, there will be no more sadness, suffering, pain, evil or death. Believers will worship God face-to-face and serve Him forever in intimate fellowship. The messianic hopes kindled in Old Testament saints will find everlasting fulfillment and joy in the presence of the Messiah-King.
The messianic kingdom has been inaugurated through Jesus Christ but awaits final fulfillment at His second coming. As the heir to David’s throne, Jesus is the long-promised Messiah-King who will defeat evil and reign in power and glory. All creation eagerly anticipates the consummation of His kingdom! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
