1. The act of making Christ’s enemies into His footstool can be called, “Operation: Footstool.” This is a somewhat elaborate and military-type term for when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth (at His Second Coming – the Second Advent) where He establishes His kingdom and personally removes satan and all the fallen angels. When Christ returns in glory, satan’s rulership of the world is terminated and satan and his followers are incarcerated for a thousand years during Christ’s reign over all the earth (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:13; 10:13). By the way, believers will reign with Him. We pray that you will be a part of that, unbeliever.
2. Israel no longer represents God as a client nation on earth (Leviticus 26:27-39), and has not filled that roll since the beginning of the church age (our present age), which began in 70 A.D, at Pentecost.
- Israel was replaced by the Church during the church age (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4;4-5; 5:23,24; 5:30-32; Colossians 1:18,24; 2:19).
- Because of the session (Christ seated at the right hand of the Father), the angelic conflict has intensified during the Church Age (Ephesians 6:11-13).
3. The Body of Christ, the church, is being formed and prepared on earth by means of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, in which every born-again believer (John 3:3,5,7) is entered into union with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Colossians 2:10-12).
4. When the Body of Christ is completed, it will be removed from the devil’s world by means of the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
5. After the Rapture, the Church becomes the “bride of Christ” (Revelation 19:7). This has nothing to do with marriage.
6. Once in Heaven, the bride is prepared for the wedding supper, which occurs at the Second Advent (second coming) of Christ (Revelation 19:8-9).
- The “bride,” consisting of all believers since Pentecost, enters into ultimate sanctification by receiving a resurrection body like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:1-2).
- The “bride” (church-age believers), receives a body like Christ’s body, no longer possessing a fleshly sin nature (Philippians 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). This is the believer’s ultimate victory (glorification). Note: The sin nature is in the flesh, and when the soul leaves the body, the sin nature remains in the flesh of corruption.
- The “bride” is cleansed from all human good (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Human-good works for salvation was rejected at the cross.
7. The “bride” returns with Christ at the Second Advent (1 Thessalonians 3:13; Revelation 19: 11-16).
8. Then follows the climatic Operation: Footstool – Victory.
- First is the triumphal procession, in which all fallen angels are disarmed (power removed) by Jesus Christ and publicly displayed as losers (Colossians 2:15).
- Satan is imprisoned by Christ (literally tossed into prison by Christ) for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3).
- Church-age believers literally cast fallen angels into prison (Zechariah 13:2; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25; Colossians 2:15).
9. The removal of satan, fallen angels, and all unbelievers, plus the rulership of Christ here on earth from Jerusalem, will literally change the environment of the earth. The millennial reign of Christ will begin with only believers. Are you a believer? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
In closing, think on these things: God’s righteous and justified wrath is executed on all unbelieving scoffers – sinners who never humbled themselves to receive Christ (John 1:12). The only sin that is unforgivable is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which is refusal to believe in Christ/Messiah.
Christ died for you! God the Father gave His Son to save all mankind from His righteous and justified wrath. Every person ever born since the first man (Adam), has the same opportunity as Adam to obey God. Will you obey and believe?
Open your Bible and read several times the following verses: John 3:15-18,36; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Romans 5:8.
Happy Studying in Fields of Grace.