WHY "EVERY KNEE WILL BOW" AT JESUS' RETURN - The second coming of Jesus will happen at a time unknown to us - we should be living righteous lives, modeling how we love and live after Jesus’ life. It will be a glorious and humbling moment when each of us comes before Jesus, and in awe and reverence, will kneel before him and confess with our mouths that He is our Lord and Savior. Believers need to be ready when every knee will bow before Jesus and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. We have been entrusted with the message of hope that everyone needs to hear, and it is our responsibility to evangelize and witness to a world that is lost and broken - The Apostle Paul wrote this joy-filled epistle to the church of Philippa when he was imprisoned. In the midst of Paul’s exhortations to the church of Philippa, we find a verse stating that every knee will bow to Jesus. It begs the question as to why all heavenly beings and humanity will bow before Jesus. This verse is speaking of a future time, specifically, when the second coming of Jesus happens. This timeline adds understanding as to why every knee will bow. When Jesus returns, this visible coming will force all to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. There will be no doubt, no debate, and no question when Jesus comes a second time that he truly is who he said he was. No one will be able to deny who Jesus is once he returns. Therefore, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is indeed the Lord of all.

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Why "Every Knee Will Bow" at Jesus' Return

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The second coming of Jesus will happen at a time unknown to us - we should be living righteous lives, modeling how we love and live after Jesus’ life. It will be a glorious and humbling moment when each of us comes before Jesus, and in awe and reverence, will kneel before him and confess with our mouths that He is our Lord and Savior. Believers need to be ready when every knee will bow before Jesus and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. We have been entrusted with the message of hope that everyone needs to hear, and it is our responsibility to evangelize and witness to a world that is lost and broken

Pamela Palmer

Author

 

There are a few verses in the Bible that use the phrase “every knee will bow.”

Perhaps you’ve read this verse yourself or heard someone else reference it.

You may have been left wondering what exactly that means.

Has this already happened?

Who will everyone bow before?

Is this forced or a willing gesture? What will cause every knee to bow?

The phrase in question can be found in the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippa.

 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” - (Philippians 2:9-11).

As believers, we want to better understand the Bible and how it impacts our faith and guides our life.

When we look at the verse itself and take into consideration its context, what emerges is a clearer picture of what it means that every knee will bow and how this phrase effects believers today.

What Is the Context of This Verse?

The Apostle Paul wrote this joy-filled epistle to the church of Philippa when he was imprisoned.

The recipients of this letter were Gentiles that he had evangelized during an earlier missionary journey (see: Acts 16:12-40).

Paul wrote to this church with gratitude and encouragement, and the overall theme seems to emphasize that believers can and should find joy in their suffering.

A message such as that was very appropriate given that Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter.

Truly, he lived by the words he wrote. Though he was wrongly imprisoned, he continued to encourage and care for the churches he evangelized.

Paul began his letter to the Philippians advising them to live in a way that was worthy of being followers of Christ.

In the second chapter of the epistle to the Philippians, Paul called the church of Philippa to be more humble.

To demonstrate the significance of humility, Paul wrote about Jesus’ humility as an example they could follow.

He urged the church to be in unity with one another and obedient to God.

He instructed them on faithful behavior and obedience to God.

He encouraged them to treat each other in honoring ways because they were followers of Jesus.

As Paul narrowed in on the topic of Jesus, he explained that although Jesus became a man when he entered the world as an incredible act of humility, he had been restored to the highest place – seated at the right hand of the Father.

Even Jesus’ name is greater than any other name (see Philippians 2:9).

Paul went on to establish the exaltation of Jesus by including that in fact every knee will bow at the name of Jesus and that all will acknowledge with their tongues that Jesus is Lord.

Why Will Every Knee Bow?

In the midst of Paul’s exhortations to the church of Philippa, we find a verse stating that every knee will bow to Jesus.

It begs the question as to why all heavenly beings and humanity will bow before Jesus.

This verse is speaking of a future time, specifically, when the second coming of Jesus happens.

This timeline adds understanding as to why every knee will bow.

When Jesus returns, this visible coming will force all to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.

There will be no doubt, no debate, and no question when Jesus comes a second time that he truly is who he said he was.

Although there are people of every generation who have doubted who Jesus was, or rejected the Gospel message, when Jesus returns, there will be no disputing who Jesus is.

No one will be able to deny who Jesus is once he returns. Therefore, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is indeed the Lord of all.

Who Does This Verse Include, and Why?

These verses declare that, “those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth” (verse 10) will kneel before Jesus and profess he is Lord.

Those in heaven refers to the heavenly and angelic beings.

Those on earth refers to humanity.

Those under the earth most likely refers to demonic beings.

Essentially, this part of the verse conveys in the most comprehensive way possible that all will bow to Jesus, not just human beings.

To be clear, this passage is not conveying that all people will come to be saved.

On the contrary, it affirms that even those who chose to not make Jesus their Lord will one day kneel before him and acknowledge who Jesus is.

Ultimately, whether saved or not, all will recognize upon Christ’s return that he is the only Lord and Savior.

What Does This Verse Mean for...

Believers 

For those who believe, this verse means we anticipate the day when Jesus returns and that we will affirm our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

This moment when believers kneel before Jesus and confess that he is Lord will be a culmination of their faith.

Believers will do this as a form of adoration and an acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord of all.

Believers will bow before their King who died for them and saved them. This will be a glorious and humbling moment for believers.

Non-Believers

For those who rejected the Gospel and did not accept Jesus as their Savior – those we consider non-believers – this will be a moment where they will face the reality of who Jesus is.

It will be a moment when they realize their grave error in not choosing to repent and turn to Jesus.

It will be the incredibly sobering moment when they realize they were wrong about who Jesus is. 

There is no escaping the truth about Jesus and the reverence he is due as Lord.

Non-believers will bow before the King whose salvation they chose to deny.

What Does This Verse Mean for Us Today?

This undeniable truth about Jesus being our Lord and Savior is why the Bible instructs and urges believers to be ready for the return of Jesus, which will come unexpectedly (see Matthew 24:42).

The second coming of Jesus will happen at a time unknown to us, so it is imperative that we live each day as though it will be the day Jesus returns.

We should be living righteous lives, modeling how we love and live after Jesus’ life.

Believers need to be ready at all times because the day is approaching when every knee will bow before Jesus and every tongue will confess that he is Lord.

This verse is a reminder that believers have been commissioned to go and share the Gospel message with all people and nations so that others will repent and put their faith in Jesus.

We have been entrusted with the message of hope that everyone needs to hear, and it is our responsibility, given to us by Jesus, to evangelize and witness to a world that is lost and broken.

Jesus’ Divinity and Majesty

Though Jesus left his throne in heaven and came to earth as a man who went on to die for our sins and resurrect, we can rest assured that Jesus is once again seated at the right hand of the Father.

This verse affirms the divinity of Jesus and the majesty of Jesus.

It reminds us to draw closer to God so that we are ready for this day, and to continue sharing the Gospel to those who have not yet received salvation.

We can excitedly await Jesus’ second coming.

For it will be a glorious and humbling moment when each of us comes before Jesus, and in awe and reverence, will kneel before him and confess with our mouths that he is our Lord and Savior.

Pamela Palmer is a writer, chaplain, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces weekly devotionals and faith resource articles to inspire keeping faith at the center of it all. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of many people, being a small piece of each journey. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com and you can follow her at upheldlife.com, or on Facebook.com/upheldlife.https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-every-knee-will-bow-at-jesus-return.html?utm_source=jeeng

IF WE BOW DOWN AND HONOR GOD, HE WILL RAISE US UP - Tough times call for greater faith in God, not nationalistic sloganeering. The wonder of biblical Christianity is that God can be known personally. The essence of biblical faith is to believe in the One who identifies as: "I AM, the only self-existent, noncontingent being in the universe." When we find Him, then we find the meaning of life; government cannot satisfy. And He promises to deliver us from our enemies. What must we do? Our shepherds must re-establish the Word in the pulpits. Then they will put in motion the Word to advance from the pulpit, to the pews and to the public square. To the watching world, Americans hold God's name in contempt. Our official motto, "In God We Trust," testifies of a piety we no longer practice. When God looks for faith, what will he find? Secularism, a strange god of lifeless lips and unkept promises, expedited the collapse of the vision and mission of America's Christian Founders. God now calls out, "Come let us reason together," moving us to think about our past, present and future. How did we, a nation founded "For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith," arrive at this moment? He will act decisively and in a timely fashion, but "timely" is a matter of His own wisdom and plans. Because Christians refuse to submit to His lordship, God appears to be losing in America. "He is waiting for us to be holy as He is holy.”

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If We Bow Down and Honor God, He Will Raise Us Up

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Tough times call for greater faith in God, not nationalistic sloganeering. The wonder of biblical Christianity is that God can be known personally. The essence of biblical faith is to believe in the One who identifies as: "I AM, the only self-existent, noncontingent being in the universe." When we find Him, then we find the meaning of life; government cannot satisfy. And He promises to deliver us from our enemies. What must we do? Our shepherds must re-establish the Word in the pulpits. Then they will put in motion the Word to advance from the pulpit, to the pews and to the public square.

DAVID LANE 

AMERICAN RENEWAL PROJECT

To the watching world, Americans hold God's name in contempt.

Our official motto, "In God We Trust," testifies of a piety we no longer practice.

When God looks for faith, what will he find?

Secularism, a strange god of lifeless lips and unkept promises, expedited the collapse of the vision and mission of America's Christian Founders.

God now calls out, "Come let us reason together," moving us to think about our past, present and future.

How did we, a nation founded "For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith," arrive at this moment?

Certainly, God does not need an entourage of supporters, carrying Him around shouting, "You da champ, You da champ," in order for Him to deliver a knock-out blow to secularism.

He will act decisively and in a timely fashion, but "timely" is a matter of His own wisdom and plans.

As one Bible teacher puts it: "If any carrying is to be done, He will carry us. Many think it's useful to have God on their side. In a way they want to honor God. They will go to church. They will say prayers. They will ask a pastor to bless a marriage or their home. The kind of God they want is simply a God who will help them get their own way and win their own battles. They want God to be a servant to help them get things done, but at the same time they want to have their own views and live their own lives."

Because Christians refuse to submit to His lordship, God appears to be losing in America.

"He is waiting for us to be holy as He is holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

“So instead of blaming the church for being anemic, lethargic and irrelevant, perhaps we should blame ourselves."

Unfortunately, in American Christianity, "We want our God to be casual and easygoing. He is 'the man upstairs' rather than the Lord of Hosts, chummy rather than holy. We want God to be the co-pilot, and we get worried when He wants to fly the plane. But God wants us to bow before His holiness with respect and reverence. God's power deserves our great awe. There is a danger in being in the presence of the Lord of Hosts, especially when we come into His presence with arrogance or apathy. We must come before His presence with quiet humility and brokenness."

Certainly, "arrogance" describes our coming into God's presence with this false notion of American Exceptionalism.

Our nation has never been "exceptional" in and of itself.

All blessing flow from God alone, the One who Daniel described as: "It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who know understanding" (Daniel 2:21).

And we should note, Daniel wrote those words as an exile during the Babylonian captivity, a time when God allowed His people to be ripped from their homeland for 70 years.

Tough times call for greater faith in God, not nationalistic sloganeering.

The wonder of biblical Christianity is that God can be known personally.

The essence of biblical faith is to believe in the One who identifies as: "I AM, the only self-existent, noncontingent being in the universe."

When we find Him, then we find the meaning of life; government cannot satisfy.

And He promises to deliver us from our enemies.

Yes, secularism is our enemy, but we can be thankful His Word guarantees, "Certainly, the hand of the Lord is not so short that it cannot save, nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear" (Isaiah 59:1).

Our rallying cry to restore America to her Judeo-Christian heritage and re-establish a biblically based culture is not hopeless.

Since God promises that His arm is not too short to save, what could be possibly holding up His deliverance from pagan secularism in America?

Why are Christians powerless in the civil government arena?

It has to be that His "promises are being prevented from being kept by one thing only: flagrant sin."

Franklin Graham wrote a powerful reminder of the power of God over all earthly kingdoms and rulers. Do we still believe this theology? We should. No, we must.

"2500 years ago, Iraq was in the 'headlines.' It was known as the Babylonian empire and had the largest military in the world at that time. Its king, Belshazzar, was having a big party drinking and boasting [about Babylonian Exceptionalism] with his wives, his mistresses, and his nobles. While they were partying, the hand of God appeared and wrote a message on the wall, terrifying everyone including King Belshazzar. His face grew pale and his knees went weak. Daniel is called in to interpret the handwriting which says three things: 'Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

“Daniel warns Belshazzar that he is guilty of worshiping false gods. He said, ‘you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life’(Daniel 5:23).

“That very night the king was slain and the kingdom was lost to their enemies."

“What's the writing on the wall for America? As a nation we are found lacking because of sin and disobedience to God's Holy Word. We have not honored Him. If we don't turn back to God, I fear that our end will be near." 

What must we do? Our shepherds must re-establish the Word in the pulpits.

Then they will put in motion the Word to advance from the pulpit, to the pews and to the public square.

Here's a promise for those willing to stand, "For the eyes of the Lord move about on all the earth to strengthen the heart that is completely toward Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Two examples should suffice.

EXHIBIT #1: The Idaho legislature and the Hollister, Missouri, students are leading the way! Idaho Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Bible in Public Schools

EXHIBIT #2: See the Bold Way Public School Students Are Reacting to Atheists' Demand That a Pastor Stop Leading Lunchtime Prayers

We simply need a Gideon or Rahab to stand. 

David Lane is the founder of American Renewal Project.

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/renewing-america/56332-if-we-bow-down-and-honor-god-he-will-raise-us-up