Grammatically, “not only” should be followed by “but also” — they go together. The Apostle Paul links them when writing on how God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavens — “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, NOT ONLY in this age BUT ALSO in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21).
Why did not Paul simply point out that Jesus will have this status in “the age which is to come” — and leave it at that? The “not only” refers to NOW! We believe that Jesus reigns now as Lord over his Church and will in a far greater way over the nations after his return to earth.
However, many do not see that his future reign over the nations will be an “also” extension – a far greater one, of course — of his current total authority in both heaven and on earth”.(Matthew 28:18) Why on earth not?
The Lord’s authority flows from his exalted position at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:21), which is “far above all principality (government) and power, and might, and dominion. and every name that is named — or as the Williams NT puts it — “far above every title that can be conferred” — NOT ONLY in this world BUT ALSO in the world to come!
We live in the “age” to which Paul referred — the Church Age. The coming age will be the “thousand-year” long Millennial Age, during which Jesus will rule as King over all nations. Yet Paul writes of the Lord’s authority in that coming age as an extension of the authority he has and exerts on earth NOW.
Christ’s authority in heaven is much greater than that which he demonstrated during his ministry. God granted him “authority on earth to forgive sins”; however, after his resurrection and his ascension into heaven, God granted him “all authority in heaven AND on earth”! The Church has exercised this authority, through the Name of Jesus, since the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
Which means that we should not only live in expectancy for the Lord’s future authority, but that we are to demonstrate the present reality of that authority! Some may question, “If Jesus really does have all authority in earth, why are we not seeing it demonstrated?” Who says that it is not?
Due to the deceptive and lying world media, we see little or nothing of our Lord’s worldwide authority at work in the world. Not just as a hidden influence behind world affairs and in current events but in direct interventions in the form of judgements upon nations and their leaders.
Some might ask, “Why do we not see more of this authority at work in the church?” Good question. I’ll answer it with one: “Are you cooperating as a well-connected and fully functioning member of a local church in your community, a church body in which you play an active part?
The scope of the future reign of Jesus will far exceed that which is now visible, but why wait for that authority when you can exercise it now?
Those who claim that the Lord’s authority is limited to answering the prayers of his people. Or that it is exercised through priestly rites and rituals. Or, that visible expressions of our Lord’s authority in the form of miracles of provision, or physical healings, ceased when the Apostle John died. All that I can say is that signs do not follow unbelievers! We receive what we believe. If you believe that “signs” no longer follow believers, then you are selective, that your Gospel is a quarter one or a half one, or a three quarter one.
I preach and teach the Full Gospel! The “ALL YOU CAN EAT!” one! Some teach that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places but we’ll have to wait for the Lord’s return for them to be enjoyed on earth. However, as an effective Aussie preacher once put it, “Heaven will be great! But I’ll have some steak on my plate while I wait.”