He Shall Have Dominion

Venema continues this line of critique by noting that the passages
that “speak of Christ’s kingship refer to the entire present age
subsequent to Christ’s ascension and prior to his return at the end of the
age.” He then cites Philippians 2:9–11 and comments: “This description
of Christ’s exaltation defines his present glory, not one that is reserved
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to the future in any new or distinguishable sense.” I agree. The personal
glory of Christ himself does not change over time. Postmillennialism
never suggests that it does.
But we are talking about eschatology, not Christology. And as a matter
of fact, the manifestation of his rule on the earth through time does develop.
Does not Christ himself refer to his kingdom as a mustard seed that “is
smaller than all other seeds” only to note that “when it is full grown, it
is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree” (Mt 13:32)? This
requires us to reflect on its growth and development. Does this not require
us to conceive of his kingdom as small and insignificant in its beginning
and large and dominant in its later development? And does not he
compare it to leaven which works in meal “until it was all leavened” (Mt
13:33)?
Strimple claims that postmillennialism contradicts itself in equating
the millennial era with the church age kingdom: “If the ‘Millennium’ in
the Bible refers to the entire Christian era, the ‘millennial conditions’ that
must prevail before Christ returns would seem to be those conditions
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that prevail now.” Well, yes and no. That is, the “millennium” certainly
prevails now. And “millennial conditions” are present — but only in seed
form. Much like we as individuals are presently sanctified on earth (1Co
1:2; 6:11; Heb 10:14), are being progressively sanctified in history (Jn
17:19; Heb 12:14), and will ultimately be perfectly sanctified in heaven
(Ac 20:32; 26:18). If we can be sanctified while growing in sanctification
(Ep 5:26; 1Th 5:23; 1Pe 2:2), why cannot “millennial conditions” be
present while growing in influence? As I note above, the kingdom develops
over time; consequently, the “millennial conditions” will mature over
time. This is why the Lord commands his disciples: “go therefore and
make disciples of all the nations,” for he promises: “I will build My
church” (Mt 16:18).
Venema surmises that the developing glory that postmillennialism
expects implies some additional “intervening” age in the outworking of
29. Venema, Promise of the Future, 343.
30. Strimple in Bock, Three Views of the Millennium and Beyond, 71.