Doctrinal Summary of Operation Footstool-The Church's Role in Christ's Victory Procession

In Colossians 2:15 Paul identifies that God has triumphed over Satan & Company through Christ.

“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”

The word “triumphed” is translated from the Koine Greek word θριαμβεύσας (“thri-am-beu-sas”) which literally means, “performing the action in a point in time as a matter of principle to lead soldiers in a victory procession which celebrates the defeat and capture of the enemy being marched to execution, based on His own initiation.” The victory procession marches the defeated enemy through the kingdom putting them on display for all to see. The destination of this procession is the execution of judgment (typically death) upon the enemy. Those who lead the enemy are the soldiers and commanding officers of the victorious army. Through Christ, the Commanding Officer of God’s army, God has defeated Satan & Company in their attack against Him. Consequently, Satan & Company will be rounded up and marched to their execution in a procession that celebrates their defeat and capture.

Presently, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father where He awaits the Father’s command to go get the church and prepare for the millennial reign. Hebrews 10:13 makes it clear that He is waiting “until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet” before the victory procession begins.

“But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.”

The word “footstool” is translated from the Koine Greek word ὑποπόδιον (“hoo-po-po-di-on”) which literally means, “that which is under one’s foot, being a tool or instrument used to accomplish something.” However, it is used idiomatically in Hebrews 10:13 to refer to an enemy who has been subjugated under the control of his conqueror. An example of a similar subjugation can be found in Joshua 10:24 where the five kings of the Amorites (cf. Josh. 10:5) were brought to Joshua who called upon the chiefs of the men of war to put their feet on the necks of the kings and strike them to death.

It is from this idiom applied to Jesus that the title “Operation Footstool” is derived. In Christ this is a reality that is secured, but in the historical timeline the actual procession has not yet taken place. It will take place sometime during the Second Advent of Christ, either immediately preceding the judgment of the nations (cf. Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:1-3) at the beginning of the millennial reign or at the end of the millennial reign prior to the Great White Throne Judgment (cf. Rev. 20:10; Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4; Matt. 25:41). In any case the reality that this victory procession has not yet taken place in history is evident when Hebrews 10:12-13 is taken into consideration.

Satan & Company have been defeated by Jesus’ work on the cross but have not yet been made Christ’s footstool. Church Age Believers will play a role in Operation Footstool having been made victorious over Satan & Company in Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 15:57) and presiding as judges over angels (cf. 1 Cor. 6:3). The victory procession described in Colossians is Roman in nature. The Roman custom was for one soldier to march one captive to his execution. This indicates that each Church Age believer will be assigned to one enemy for the victory procession. Because there is a one-to-one ratio of Church Age believers to fallen angels the rapture cannot occur until, at least, the last Church Age believer trusts Christ as Savior.