Yeshua’s first words to the question by His disciples regarding the last days were, “Take heed that no one deceives you!”. ‘No one’ can be human, angelic, or demonic. (2Cor 11:1-15; Gal 1:8)
One of the clearly false teachings of these days (although not a new teaching) goes by the name of “Dominion Theology”, or “Kingdom Now”, or some such variant of the idea. The main thrust is that Christians — and a special elite group at that — are to rule over the world before Jesus returns, if He returns at all. These will be the manifest sons of God, some special ‘Joel’s Army’ that is more than willing to bring down fire from heaven on those who do not “walk with us”. Yeshua rebuked His apostles who considered that an option. (Lk 9:51-56) Notice that this took place as Yeshua set His face to go to Jerusalem, knowing His time was coming to be crucified in His love for His Father first of all. This fire from heaven that even some of His closest fellows wanted to call down in emulation of the power of Elijah is not the same fire that Jesus will baptize us with. (Mt 3:11) How is it that the gospel is going to bring forth a huge harvest of living saints to present the Kingdom of God to the returning King of kings and Lord of lords, when the Lord Himself says that unless He returns, no flesh would be left alive?! (Mt 24:21-25; Rev 6:9-11)
We know that Yeshua was the Son of God/Son of Man before He was born and took on flesh and blood. He is God with us, the express image of the invisible God. Yet, it was by His resurrection that He was declared with power to be the Son of God! (Rom 1:4; Ps 2:7)
So will it be for us. The revelation of the sons of God for which the whole creation groans and waits will be manifested at the first resurrection. Those who are holy and blessed to have part in that resurrection will be declared with power to be the brothers and sisters of Jesus, who hear the Word of God and do it, and have overcome through repentance and faith to be the Bride of Messiah, who will sit with her Husband on His throne to rule and reign with Yeshua for 1000 years over Israel and the other nations. (Rom 8; Rev 20:6; Lk 8:21; Rev 3:20-22)
Many of those caught up knowingly or not in this aberrant teaching think that God is going to culminate His great plan of redemption in them. The U.S. — or the “victorious” Church in the U.S. — seems to still hold the prominent place in their thinking, therefore replacing Israel as God’s chosen nation destined to become the head when they finally accept Jesus/Yeshua as Lord and Messiah. This is just another manifestation of replacement theology, even though many of these deceived Christians who are deceiving others are supporters of Israel! (2Tim 3:13) I thank God for all those who stand with Israel from God-fearing motives, but ‘Israel’ is (mis-)understood in all manner of ways by all manner of believers and unbelievers. The strength of deception is that, if we are, we do not know it. We do have a present responsibility to be overcomers in the face of the wiles of the devil, doing what is possible now to promote righteousness, even as we anticipate with longing for that blessed hope of the Lord’s return.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews helps us see our place in God’s sovereign plan of redemptive history: “And all these [great cloud of witnesses], having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” (emphasis added Heb 11:39-40)
God is creating one new man in Messiah Yeshua. It is a corporate thing, a body thing, made up of countless individual living stones who have put their hope in the promises of YHVH God throughout history. Those who are that by His marvelous grace will inherit together whatever God has planned for the next 1000 years or so, when He completes His purposes for this very good creation in anticipation for that which is perfect to come.
We certainly do need a revival within the Body of Christ — not to have a military spiritual coup, but to get right with Jesus, and demonstrate that we are sons and daughters of God His Father.