War and Peace

The Kingdom of Heaven works violence in the physical world. It will remain this way until the King Himself comes and sets up His physical kingdom on earth. From that point, there will be peace in the physical, but not in the hearts of all men.

I'm reminded of 3 primary verses:
Mat 11:12 MKJV
(12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven is taken by violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 10:34-35 MKJV
(34) Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword.
(35) For I have come to set a man against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Eph 6:12 MKJV
(12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The Gospel of the Kingdom creates division. The intent is to bring Heaven to earth, yes, but to also call out those who belong to the Kingdom. We were always called out, to be set apart - sanctified. Different. Not in order to appear superior, but to distinguish between who are the Lord's and who are the world's. When mom heeds the call, and dad does not, there is no peace in the home. This was all modeled by Israel, sanctified and set apart from the rest of the world. They warred, much.

This is not unlike the Word of God, an instrument of peace, yes, but also violence.
Heb 4:12 MKJV
(12) For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Why did the Lord create a nation of kings and priests? What are kings for if not for protection? The job of the priest is mediation and intercession between Heaven and earth. The king has authority in the physical realm, the priest in the heavenly. These are positions of violent authority - not simple figureheads. Our kingship and priesthood are tools given to us - necessary for warring in the physical and in the spiritual for the purpose of taking heaven and earth for the Kingdom of God. Without these offices, we have no real authority in either realm.

In a kingdom of perfect peace, there is no need for either office. God rules, everyone else abides peacefully. Therefore these offices were not created for use in the post-millennial utopia, although they may still exist. They were made for NOW.