King In Fact And Act
Jesus has all authority and is exercising it now. "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth, said he to the apostles in Galilee. He is King in both "fact and act."
The teachers of premillennialism agree that Jesus is King in fact, but deny that he is King in act; they agree he has all authority, but deny that he is exercising it now; they claim he will not exercise it until he returns to Jerusalem to rule for a thousand years on David's throne. There are three departments of authority (and only three) in every government—legislative, judicial and executive. Is Jesus exercising legislative, judicial and executive authority now?
Is Jesus exercising legislative authority now? He is the author of every legislative enactment in the New Testament, and his law—the New Testament—is in force now (Heb. 9:16, 17). If Jesus is not exercising legislative authority now, one of two things is true: either he is not the author of the New Testament, or the New Testament is not in force now, and will not be in force till Jesus returns to Jerusalem. To contend that the New Testament is not in force now, or to contend that Jesus is not the author of the statutes in it is to vitiate every legislative enactment in it. And yet some claim that the theories of premillennialism do not vitiate the gospel of Christ!
Is Jesus exercising judicial authority in his kingdom now? The Father "hath given all judgment unto the Son" (Jno. 5:22). Jesus is the author of the New Testament. The New Testament contains many decisions and judicial decrees for the kingdom of God now. Are these judicial decrees and decisions in force now? If so, Jesus is exercising judicial authority in his kingdom now. If not, then every decree of the divine court contained in the New Testament is null and void, and will be until Jesus returns to Jerusalem. And yet some claim that the theories of premillennialism do not vitiate the gospel of Christ.
Is Jesus exercising executive authority now? It is the power of the executive authority to enforce the law—to inflict punishment on the violator. Somebody executed Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) and old King Herod (Acts 12:23). Who did it? Pardoning power belongs to the executive branch of government. Any one who is exercising pardoning power now is exercising executive authority now. Is Jesus exercising the authority to pardon now? If so, he is exercising executive authority now. If not, then we will be compelled to wait until he returns to Jerusalem before we can receive pardon from our sins. The theory that Jesus is not King in ACT—that he is not exercising authority now—strikes at the pardoning power of the Christ. And yet some claim that premillennialism does not vitiate the gospel of Christ!!