Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  9000 Last things  »  9100 Aspects of the last things  »  9145 Messianic age

In the OT, writers look forward to the era that will be inaugurated by God's decisive intervention in human history, in order to establish his eternal kingdom under the Messiah. The Messianic age is characterised by righteousness, justice and peace, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and by the restoration and renewal of God's people and of creation. In the NT, the idea appears in a developed form as the “kingdom of God”, inaugurated by the first coming of Jesus Christ and to be consummated at his return.

The victory of God's kingdom foreseen

Daniel 2:37-44 See also Zechariah 14:9

The victory of God's Messiah

Psalm 45:3-6 This psalm came to be applied to the Messiah. See also Psalm 110:5-6 This psalm was also applied to the Messiah in the OT times; Isaiah 9:3-5; Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 59:17-19

The Messiah's universal reign

Daniel 7:13-14

Psalms traditionally taken as referring to the Messiah:

Psalm 2:8-9; Psalm 72:8-11

Restoration in the Messianic age

Restoration of harmony in creation

Isaiah 11:6-9 pp Isaiah 65:25

Restoration of the land's prosperity

Amos 9:13-15 See also Psalm 72:3; Isaiah 4:2; Joel 3:18

Restoration and renewal of God's people

Jeremiah 3:18; Micah 4:6-8 See also Isaiah 60:1-3; Joel 3:16-17; Amos 9:11; Ob 17-21; Acts 1:6; Zechariah 3:9

God's people seek him in repentance:

Hosea 3:5; Jeremiah 50:4-5; Ezekiel 11:19-20 pp Ezekiel 36:28

Characteristics of the Messianic age

Righteousness and justice

Isaiah 32:1 See also Psalm 72:2,12-13; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 11:3-5; Isaiah 32:16; Jeremiah 23:5-6 pp Jeremiah 33:15-16

Peace and security

Isaiah 32:17-18 See also Micah 4:3-4 pp Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 65:20-23; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Jeremiah 33:15-16; Ezekiel 34:25-29; Zechariah 9:9-10

Universal acknowledgment of the LORD

Jeremiah 3:17 See also Isaiah 2:2-3 pp Micah 4:1-2; Isaiah 19:23-25; Zechariah 14:16

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Joel 2:28-29 See also Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 32:15; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 59:21; Ezekiel 36:27

The kingdom of God in the NT

Inaugurated at Jesus Christ's first coming

Matthew 12:28 pp Luke 11:20 See also Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43

Includes the restoration of all things

Acts 3:21 See also Revelation 21:1-4

Consummated at Jesus Christ's return

Revelation 11:15 See also Matthew 24:30-31 pp Mark 13:26-27; Revelation 12:10

See also

2230  Messiah, coming of
2312  Christ as king
2345  Christ, kingdom of
2375  kingdom of God
2565  Christ, second coming
5359  justice
6700  peace
8154  righteousness
9105  last things
9140  last days
9150  Messianic banquet
9220  day of the LORD