AbleBodiedMan:
My thoughts on Psalm 110:1, 2 are partly in agreement with you.
Speaking of Jesus, the anonymous writer of Hebrews states:
- (Hebrews 10:12, 13) . . .But this [man] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet. (See also Hebrews 1:3) The writer is, of course, referring to how he undrstands the fulfillment of Psalm 110:1.
He speaks of Jesus as already sitting at God's right hand and awaiting until his enemies are subdued. The writer places the "sacrifice for sins" as a past event, and the 'sitting down at God's right hand' as an already ongoing event. So we are in agreement on this much.
Here is where we differ:
- (Hebrews 2:5-9) . . .For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But a certain witness has given proof somewhere, saying: “What is man that you keep him in mind, or [the] son of man that you take care of him? 7 You made him a little lower than angels; with glory and honor you crowned him, and appointed him over the works of your hands. 8 All things you subjected under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him [God] left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him; 9 but we behold Jesus, who has been made a little lower than angels, crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, that he by God’s undeserved kindness might taste death for every [man].
The writer of Hebrews understood Jesus to be already "crowned." His 'sitting at God's right hand' is as ruler of God's Kingdom. But the writer also points out (in verse 8) that this is prior to "all things [being] in subjection to him."
Similarly, the writer of Colossians (Paul) writes:
- (Colossians 1:13) . . .He [God] delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,
Paul saw Jesus as already having a kingdom that people could be "transferred" into.
And referring again to Psalm 110, the writer of Corinthians says:
- (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) . . .Next, the end, when he [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. 25 For he [Jesus] must rule as king until [God] has put all enemies under his feet. 26 As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing.
So compare:
- (Hebrews 10:12, 13) . . .But this [man] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.
with
- (1 Corinthians 15:25) For he [Jesus] must rule as king until [God] has put all enemies under his feet.
The 1 Corinthians text replaces "sitting at God's right hand" with "rule as king."
These lead me to believe that Jesus began ruling shortly after he returned to heaven. And that he continues to do so until sometime after the last enemy "death" is subdued, which, based on Revelation 21:1-4 and observation of the current human condition, is sometime yet in the future. Based on that, there are no "turning points" for Jesus between the start of his rule, after returning to heaven (c. 33 C.E.), and the end of it (sometime in the future), when he has conquered all his enemies, only a continuous string of victories.
The Revelation text (12:12), which refers to a time when it would be said, ". . .Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ. . .," would have to correspond with when Jesus recieved his "authority."
If I remember correctly, he told his disciples that he had received "all authority in heaven and on the earth" shortly after being resurrected. (Matthew 28:18) This would match up nicely with Paul's idea that Jesus was already 'ruling as king' while he awaits for all his enemies to be subdued.
Satan's ouster from heaven, depicted in Revelation 12, happening shortly after Jesus returned there (compare Revelation 12:5), would also correspond nicely with the fact that Jesus, while on earth, said that would be an event then soon to take place, and linked it with his death:
- (John 12:31, 32) . . . Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And yet I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw men of all sorts to me.
Also note that Satan's ouster from heaven is connected to his having been an "accuser of our brothers." (Revelation 12:10) This post cites several verses by Paul indicating that no one then was in a position to "accuse" Christians. This makes a lot of sense if Satan has already been cast out of heaven in the 1st century, as described in Revelation 12:7-12.
At any rate, that, and the links at the bottom of my original post, forms my current 'opinion' on this topic.
Take Care (and sorry for the length of the post)
