What does "until he has put all his enemies under his feet" mean exactly?

[Marston]

Thanks.

 

1 Corinthians 15:25 ESV 

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

[other one]

9 hours ago, Marston said:

Thanks.

 

1 Corinthians 15:25 ESV 

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

It would take a book to get to all the details of how it started and how did we get to where we are now, but the very short story is that sometime way past God created a being that is referred to as Lucifer/Devil/Satan and other things.  This being was about the greatest thing that was created and was so good he got full of himself and decided not to be subject to the Father. (another book as to who/what The Father is).  The father had Yahweh build the universe and create mankind who would ultimately judge the angels who followed this Satan guy.  Interestingly he created mankind no having the quality of being able to judge between good an evil and let this Satan fellow give that qualification to mankind.    As things went along all these people except Noah and his family went the same way as the angels who followed Satan.   So he killed everything but one set of breathing things and Noah's family.   

After the flood instead of spreading out and filling the earth with God fearing people, they congregated around one area and started building a tower to get to where they thought heaven was as a rebellion to the Godhead (Godhead is another book)

So Yahweh came down and messed with the people giving them different languages so they would split up and fill the earth as they were told to do. The people were dived up as to a number of the sons of God (another book to describe who that is) but are angels.  It seems that each of these groups set up their own systems and still did not follow the Godhead, but some even followed the watcher angels as gods and some set up their own kingdoms.   

God decided on letting the decedents of Abraham to be his group and he put them in Egypt until they grew into a large enough people to be a nation, then miraculously moved them toward the land he promised Abraham they would have.   Now we have Gods people moving to the promised land and when they got there they did not have the faith to enter it because of the evil people who Satan had planted there to stop them.    God let those over 21 or so die in the desert and moved their children into the promised land.    After several cycles of his people coming to him and leaving him he finally drove them out of the promised land.

Jesus came about this same time and though perfect in every way died to cover the sins of those who would follow him.  He started creating his kingdom by having people declare him as Lord and believing who he was and what happened to him.   And as history has proved, the other kingdoms that exist due to different groups and angels falling away over the decades have pretty much remained in power across the world.

Soon Jesus will return and take over all kingdoms, lock up Satan so he can't tempt mankind for a thousand years then turn him loose again to deceive mankind again.    In the end, Satan and all the evil folks will be done away with (another book) and Jesus's kingdom will be what's left.     

Jesus when he was in the form of God (Yahweh) was given all authority over everything except the Father.   He set that position aside to become a man and die for our sins (another book).   After his resurrection he was given the authority back until things all play out and when he comes back and totally defeats all Satan's kingdoms, Jesus will then subject himself to the Father as it should be.

 

It's taking so long for in the process of all this, he is building up his kingdom with folks that have been tried and grown to trust him no matter what.   We will not turn on him later, and it's important for we will not die so he need to be sure about us as much as we are sure about him.

That's why I can say he is my Lord.    He is also my savior, my brother and my friend.     Most important to me personally I don't consider him some kind of fire insurance to keep me out of hell.  I look through all this history and realize I can't do what's expected without him.

[truth7t7]

11 hours ago, Marston said:

Thanks.

 

1 Corinthians 15:25 ESV 

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Scripture is very clear and simple to understand in context, when Jesus returns in the second coming the resurrection takes place, mortal turns into immortal as death is swallowed up in victory, death and hell are cast into the lake of fire (Then Cometh The End)

1 Corinthians 15:23-26 & 54KJV

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

 

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

 

Revelation 20:14-15KJV

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Edited February 18 by truth7t7

[Marston]

Thanks but exactly does it mean to put one "under his feet"?  

Someone explained to me that, in those days, rulers sat on elevated thrones and so all of their servants were literally "under their feet". Therefore, as it was explained, this verse means that Jesus's enemies will be serving Jesus. 

Is that explanation accurate or not, please?

[Marilyn C]

18 hours ago, Marston said:

Thanks.

 

1 Corinthians 15:25 ESV 

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Hi Marston,

Interesting question.

Let`s just back up a few verses -

`But each in his own order. Christ the first-fruits, afterwards those who are Christ`s at His coming, then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He has put an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.` (1 Cor. 15: 23 - 25)

1. Christ the first-fruits. Jesus ascended to the Father and sat at His right hand on His Father`s throne. (Heb. 1: 3) There He is building the Body of Christ till He has brought it to maturity in Him. (Eph. 4: 13)

2. Those at Christ`s coming. The Father will then send His Son to gather His Body and bring them to the third heaven where he will be crowned upon His own throne. (Acts 3: 20 & 21) That is the beginning of the restoration of all things, starting first with rulership.(Rev. 4: 2_

3. Then comes the end... The Greek meaning is `setting out for a goal.` And the goal there is for Christ to put down all rule, authority and power. (1 Cor. 15: 24) This Christ will do throughout the tribulation and on into the millennium. He will rule with a rod of iron. (Ps. 2: 9) When evil has come to a head in the tribulation then Christ will judge the Global Government and all those who follow the Anti-Christ. (Rev. 17 & 18 & 19: 11 - 21.  20: 1 - 3) In the millennium Christ will judge through Israel the nations of the world. (Micah 4: 1- 3) After the millennium Satan will gather the nations against Jerusalem, God will send fire down from heaven and consume them. (Rev. 20: 7 - 10)

4. Under His feet. This refers to the Lord having control over them and judging them as seen in the tribulation and millennium and after. 

 

Hope that is helpful, Marilyn. 

[Marston]

2 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Under His feet. This refers to the Lord having control over them and judging them as seen in the tribulation and millennium and after. 

Thanks but has not God/Jesus always had "control"? 

[Marston]

As we can read here, God will make Jesus's enemies serve him. 

 

Psalm 110

110 The Lord says to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

[Marston]

It seems that Psalms 110 and 1 Corinthians 15:25 are parallel verses saying the same thing, which is that Jesus's enemies will eventually serve him.

Am I misunderstanding?

[Michael37]

47 minutes ago, Marston said:

It seems that Psalms 110 and 1 Corinthians 15:25 are parallel verses saying the same thing, which is that Jesus's enemies will eventually serve him.

Am I misunderstanding?

There are numerous passages in the NT that quote, parallel, or allude to ones in the OT. Before computers I would devote a whole day to tracing cross-references in the Bible page by page. The Thompson Chain Reference was my favourite. I loved to do this then, and now with ultra-fast fibre and all the resources of the Internet, Whoopee. A day's cross-referencing in 30 seconds. Click on a live link to a Bible verse and up it comes. Likewise all the Dictionaries and Commentaries one could want and desire.

I went to Copilot and got this simple summary:

In Christian theology, the concept of Christ ruling until everything is under His feet comes from passages like 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 and Ephesians 1:22. 

Christ's rule is seen as a period in which He exercises authority over all things, defeating all enemies, including death. This period culminates when He has achieved complete victory, symbolized by everything being placed under His feet.

After this, Christ will hand over the kingdom to God the Father. This act signifies the completion of His redemptive work. Then, God will be "all in all," establishing an eternal state where God's presence and rule are fully realized without opposition.

These passages emphasize themes of victory, restoration, and the ultimate unity of creation with God.

Another thought is this: In the afterlife with Christ will our worship of the Lamb that was slain perpetually remind us of the sin of mankind for which He died?

[Marilyn C]

1 hour ago, Marston said:

It seems that Psalms 110 and 1 Corinthians 15:25 are parallel verses saying the same thing, which is that Jesus's enemies will eventually serve him.

Am I misunderstanding?

Hi Marston,

They do sound the same however there is a difference.

 

Ps. 110: 1 `The LORD (Father) said to my Lord (Jesus, "Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool." 

There we read that the Father is making the enemies Jesus` footstool. (ready for judgment) And this is now, in our time. Jesus is at the Father`s right hand building and maturing the Body of Christ.

 

1 Cor. 15: 25 For He (Jesus) must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.` 

Notice there that it will be Jesus who is doing the reigning over the enemies. That is when Jesus will take His own throne, (Rev. 3: 21  &  4: 2) with His Body and begins to rule and reign in the tribulation and millennium.