The Missing Kingdom In Our Gospel
There is something new afoot in my brain regarding biblical truth lately. Apparently, God has a physical Kingdom with a capital city; and not only that, he likes to talk about it a lot. Furthermore, he thinks enough of it that he made his Son king over his kingdom and bankrupted Heaven [temporarily] to make a way for us to dwell with him in his kingdom forever. If this is in-fact true, and it sure looks that way to me, where is all of the teaching in regard to a literal kingdom of God? Really, it makes me want to cry “foul!” At this time, I don’t know what all this means and what all the significance is, but I have a few hunches.
First of all, let’s talk about the gospel. That’s pretty significant. The gospel is the “good news.” Teachers like Michael Horton have much to say about the “good news” and how it is often distorted in contemporary church culture. He’s written, what, about 200 books on the “good news” by now? So, what is the good news? Throughout Scripture, like, almost everywhere, it’s the good news about the kingdom AND Jesus Christ. I’m not going to wear-out my keyboard citing Scriptures that state this specifically and in context, but I will cite a few. And while I’m at it, why not eliminate a bunch of nonsense by preemptively citing quotations from the *Apostle to the gentiles* at the pinnacle of his ministry:
Acts 20:25
And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
Acts 28:31
proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Acts 28:23
When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
By the way, just as an aside, for those who teach that the New Testament interprets the Old in regard to Jesus Christ and the gospel, Paul sure didn’t have any problem convincing people about Jesus Christ from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets [Acts 28:23 cited above]. Something to think about, but my main point is the fact that the good news is not only about Christ, but also the kingdom. “And,” is a coordinating conjunction. Throughout Scripture, the “good news” is described with both of these phrases put together and sometimes with only the kingdom stated, as in Acts 20:25. Yes, yes, I know: “Christ is the gospel and the gospel is the kingdom, it’s all the same thing.” No it isn’t. That’s a stupid idea. Here is only one of the many reasons why: The resurrected Christ appeared to his disciples and here is what the Holy Spirit says about it;
Acts 1:3
He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
After it was all said and done, here is the question the disciples presented to Jesus:
Acts 1:6
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Christ acknowledged the validity of their question with the following answer:
“He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth [Acts 1:7,8].’”
Here, in fact, is the good news: God will replace this present world order with his Kingdom of righteousness. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and we will serve him and worship him in joy forever. His Son, and our Lord, will rule the nations in righteousness forever. We will rule with him as kings and priest in various roles, and this service to him will fulfill the desires of our heart because we will serve him and please him with all perfection. We were born into this present kingdom of darkness. The Son left his kingdom in Heaven and came to earth as a man to purchase us from the bondage of sin through his death, burial, and resurrection. He translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. We were bought with a price [like bond slaves were purchased in that day] and do not belong to ourselves. We now belong to our master and Lord, Jesus Christ. We are presently aliens and ambassadors in this dark kingdom and are to live with that reality in mind. One day, our glorious king will appear with the army of our kingdom. He will destroy this kingdom of darkness and put all of his enemies under his feet. He will eradicate the earth and Heaven from all memory of evil and his kingdom will dwell on earth in all righteousness forever. All evil and it’s abode will be destroyed forever in a lake of fire. Therefore, we exhort men everywhere, BE RECONCILED TO GOD!!!!!!
That’s the good news. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ to purchase us for the kingdom of God is not the whole gospel, and who are we to make the whole gospel whatever we want it to be for whatever reason? Especially if the reason happens to be anti-Semitism. Pray tell, why did John the Apostle weep bitterly in Heaven when there appeared to be no one worthy to open the title deed to the earth? He knew he was going to get his and he was already getting a grand tour of Heaven, so what was the big deal? Perhaps the new song that was sung when Christ was found worthy to open the scroll will lend some understanding:
“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’”
That’s the good news. Christ ransomed us to make us a righteous, literal kingdom on earth for God, and we will rein with him forever. It’s the good news of the kingdom and Jesus Christ, and there’s a bunch of folks that need to get over it.
So, what’s the significance? Well, it’s funny. As I write this post in a coffee shop [I confess, it’s Starbucks], a gentleman that has observed my Bible asked the following question: “What does the Bible say is going to happen?” Let me answer that with half of the good news: “Well sir, you don’t need to be concerned with what’s going to happen, you only need to be concerned with the fact that you are a sinner and Christ died for your sin.” Here is how I approached the opportunity instead: “Here is exactly what the Bible says is going to happen: ‘The Son of God is going to come down and destroy all of the kingdoms of this world and establish his own righteous kingdom that will be forever. Why do you think he would want to do that?’” Need I say more? I think you know where the conversation might have gone from there, and it did. A concept of the good news that doesn’t mirror scripture; does not offer the natural doors that God uses to approach people with the truth of his gospel, the women at the well and many other examples should come to mind. Furthermore, where is the significance of the kingdom in the Church ordinances? Christ said he would not drink of the cup again till he did it anew with us in the kingdom. When was the last time you heard that emphasized? What about baptism? We find this about Phillip in the book of Acts:
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Baptism not only had the death, burial, and resurrection in mind, it was also significant in regard to belief in the kingdom of God. Something to think about.
I also strongly suspect the missing kingdom in our gospel has led to a vacuum filled with many over-emphasized endeavors. For some time, I have been disenchanted with the reformed counseling culture that is ever more prevalent in today’s Church, but unable to put my finger on the why. I now wonder if reformed theology has created, to some degree, the problem it now attempts to fix through it‘s counseling culture; due to allegorizing large portions of God’s counsel. I wonder how much counsel is needed in a marriage where both spouses are focused on all of the future and present ramifications of God’s kingdom. How much counsel is needed for those focused on the imminent return of Jesus Christ? I don’t know for sure, but I can tell you this: both concepts are all but vacant from Christian mentality these days. However, on the other hand, there is no shortage of campaigns such as making sure Christians know that God is a happy God, with hordes of Christians following behind fawning over the profundity of it all. Other spiritual endeavors that look like floating twigs on the ocean, next to the Queen Mary when compared to the kingdom, are in no wise in short supply as we speak.
paul
A City Built By God: Revelation 21 And 22
In Hebrews 11:8-10, we read the following:
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
Abraham knew the promised land was just a pre-fillment of a better promise from God, so he lived there “as” an alien would. As Christians, what are we ultimately looking for in God’s plan for the end times? This may surprise you, but it’s not the rapture. We read the following in 1Peter 3:13;
“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Both Peter and Abraham pointed to a singular promise. Abraham called it a city, Peter called it a “new heavens and new earth.” Peter also said to live in this present age as “sojourners and pilgrims [1Peter 2:11].”
Now we read the following in Revelation 21:1,2;
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
There it is. Two men who lived 4000 years apart looking for the same city, a city built by God. People ask, “what will Heaven be like?” Really, it’s the wrong question. The right question that can be answered within the confines of God’s revelation to us is “what will God’s city be like?” Revelation 21continues in verse 3:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Furthermore, Revelation 21: 22 says the following;
“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”
“Noooooowwwwww wait a minute here Paul, that’s clearly all allegory!” Oh really? You sure about that? Let me give my literal understanding of this passage and then we will consider an allegorical approach:
1] There is going to be a “new” heavens [plural] and “new” earth [singular]. This city built by God comes down from Heaven and is on earth. Weird, but that’s what it says.
2] This is when all sin and all suffering is forever eliminated: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away[vs 4].” This is opposed to the previous age of the Millennial Kingdom that will be bliss compared to this age, but will be occupied with mortals. That is why Christ will have to rule it with a “rod of iron.” The second coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation Period [which precedes the Millennial Kingdom] and the putting down of the rebellion at the end of the earthly, 1000 year rein of Christ from David’s throne [the Millennial Kingdom] are clearly two separate events [compare 20:7-1 and 19:11-16].
3] Verses 10-14 of chapter 21 give an overview of the city and then 21:15-22:1-5 give the specific details, a strange grammatical structure for an allegorical approach. It is called the holy city of Jerusalem and comes “down” to earth “out” of Heaven “from” God. So in other words, it’s already up there and the Holy Spirit goes out of his way to make it clear that God is coming down from Heaven to dwell with mankind. The Holy Spirit states it three different ways: Down to earth, out of Heaven, and from God. It’s deliberately redundant so nobody misses the point.
The angel takes the author, the Apostle John, on a great high mountain to get a big picture of the city coming down from heaven. It has the glory of God and the brilliance of many jewels, a great high wall, and 12 gates guarded by angels. The gates also have the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. John also specifies that there are 3 gates on each of the 4 sides. So far, the city is named “holy Jerusalem” and we have 12 gates named after the 12 tribes of Israel, not a pretty picture for reformed theologians.
Also, apart from the wall being very high, it has 12 foundations underneath it and each one has the name of either one, or all twelve Apostles.
Starting in verse 15, we begin to get some of the details from an angel who’s doing the measurements.
4] The city is 1,380 miles high, 1,380 miles wide, and 1,380 miles long.
5] The wall is measured in cubits, an ancient measurement from a man’s elbow to the tip of his middle finger. John mentions that it is the same for angels as it is for man, indicating a strong resemblance in build between the two and clarification concerning the fact that the cubit would be the same. Again, why would that be important in regard to allegory? But I digress, 144 cubits is about 2,500 feet or about the same height as a 250 story building. Ever been to the Sears building in Chicago? More than twice that high. Any questions? This is probably not including the 12 foundations underneath the walls.
6] The wall and foundations are built with several kinds of rare stones which are named specifically. The wall is of one kind of jewel but the foundation is of various sorts of brilliant, colorful stones.
7] The street [singular as well as interesting] and buildings of the city are built of pure gold which is also transparent like glass. Nothing in that city needs to be covered up. One will be able to see all of the activity from one end of the city to the other.
8] Each gate is cut from a solid pearl and the gates remain open at all times.
9] There is no temple in the city. The temple is God and Christ. Neither is there any night. The light of the new heavens and new earth is supplied by the glory of God and the Lamb.
10] There will be kings and nations that will bring honor and glory into the city. All subjects are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
11] Moving into chapter 22, there is a river of life flowing from God’s throne through the middle of the one street and it is some pretty good look’in water.
12] Somehow, the tree of life is on both sides of the river that flows through the middle of the one street in this 2 million square miles of city. The tree has 12 different types of fruit.
Seriously, if that’s all allegory, what would it mean? The theologians of our day cannot even articulate
what our role is in the sanctification process and how it’s experienced, much less all of that. Besides, what are you going to do with the tree of life spoken of in 22:2,3? If that’s not allegory, why would the rest, being in the same context, ie, the city, be allegory? If the tree here is allegory, what about the tree in the garden?, is that allegory? Why would a tree in a garden be any more or less allegorical than a tree in a city? And if it is, then what was the real sin that Adam and Eve committed? And if it wasn’t as stated, ie, eating from the tree, why wouldn’t God plainly state what the sin was?, especially since he specifically ask Adam later if that’s what he did! Did God ask Adam an allegorical question concerning his allegorical sin?
In our present day, I sense a great disconnect in the understanding of how end times truth empowers us for sanctified living. The Scriptures allude to this often, and I must confess, I am seeking for God to open my eyes more to the understanding of it. If ALL scripture is “profitable” to equip for every good work, then there must be a vital connection between end times knowledge and sanctification that pleases God. Some estimate that eschatology is 25% of scripture. Is today’s church only utilizing three fourths of the Bible to equip the saints? Paul said he did not fail to teach the “whole counsel of God.”
Where is our earnest expectation of a sudden and unexpected return of Christ? The Apostles and Christ
seem to emphasize such a mentality. Is our focus on a city built by God, or a house built by Drees in the suburbs?
The other night, I was watching a cable network show called “Gangland.” As I watched, the show seemed to glorify gangs while presenting a hopeless picture in regard to controlling them. As the show continued to delve deeper and deeper into their evil and proud exploits, I thought about that city where evil will be vanguished. Perhaps gang members need to hear more about that glorious city lit by the glory of the Lamb as compared to the city they live in and the difference in fate regarding the dwellers thereof.
Jesus also says there will be no more suffering in that city. Are these some pieces that may lead to understanding? Is the answer our focus and a willingness to confront evil and embrace suffering? Does that enhance our earnest expectation for the city built by God? I think that’s some of it. I also believe this: How the story of redemptive history ends is objective and not open to nebulous endeavors, for our wonderful lord spoke these words to John in regard to the truth about his city: “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [Revelation 21:5]
paul
Why I’m Pre-Tribulation: 2 Times, 2 Expectations, 2 Resurrections
After many years of in-depth study, I still hold to a pre-tribulation view. I believe God will come for his children unexpectedly before a time period of great tribulation that will precede his visible second coming. I believe this because there are two time periods and two expectations which can be seen in Matthew 24.
If you want to know the scoop on the return of Christ, sit in on the teaching that he gave the disciples in response to a question:
3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Note that Jesus did not have the same attitude toward last things like many teachers today. The response to this one question is a massive teaching. Not only that, he follows up with three parables in chapter 25 that show an important relationship between sanctification and eschatology. Some estimate that last things are 25% of all scripture, but you wouldn’t know it today.
Jesus begins by explaining one of the time periods in Matthew 24:4-8:
4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
This time will begin and will be marked with people being alarmed by quickly changing events. Jesus says the end is not yet, these are like birth pangs that gradually intensify into a major tribulation:
9″Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved.
Jesus then says the following in regard to the signs he explained:
32″From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
Whatever time this is, it precedes His visible coming to the earth. If those days are not cut short, no flesh will survive [verse 21]. Also, when these signs all come together, His arrival is at the “very gates.” In other words, his arrival is to be expected in the very short term when these signs are present.
Now Christ moves on to explain a different time period:
36″No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42″Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
This is obviously a time period of business as usual as opposed to the other time period. They are drastically different. It is also a time when Christ is not expected to come but will. One expectation has no sign, it is imminent, we are to be ready at all times. The other expectation intensifies and increases as the severe elements of tribulation also increase. Two times, two expectations.
But what is expected? If it is a return of Christ, it is glorification or for all practical purposes, a resurrection. Let’s read 2Thessalonians 2:1-5;
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
Please not that in regard to what Paul had taught them in the past, The Thessalonians believed that there was a resurrection that they could miss and still be alive. Therefore, there are 2 resurrections in the mix.
Unless that’s true, this passage makes no sense if you read it carefully. The phony letter was probably sent in regard to some persecution they were suffering at the time. Paul writes them and says the present time does not match what he specifically taught them, especially in regard to the antichrist. But does this necessarily mean that Christians will not be in the Tribulation period? Yes, I think it does. Each resurrection has it’s own expectations and they thought they missed the first one. The one that has no signs, other than being a time when we don’t expect it, is obviously the first resurrection that they thought they missed in regards to Paul’s teachings.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Let me close with some sanctified speculation out of Luke 17: 26-34”
26″Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28″It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30″It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot’s wife! 33Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”
I think Noah and Lot represent the first resurrection, or when we are suddenly raptured up to be with the Lord whether dead or alive. I think lot’s wife represents those left behind. If they loose their life, they will gain it. If they hang on to their life [she looked back], they will loose it. Also remember what Christ said to those who are found waiting in Luke 21: 34-36:
34″Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Christ also had this cryptic but encouraging promise for the faithful church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:10;
10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
paul
How To Poke God In The Eye
So whats up with “Supercessionism?” That’s the belief that God has no future for Israel, that Israel has been replaced by the Church and all the promises made to Israel transferred to the Church accordingly. The promises made to Israel for the future are massive in the Bible. The only possible way to make “Israel” the “Church” in all the hundreds of Old Testament promises to Israel is to approach the Scriptures with a particular method of interpretation that yields the result you prefer. Obviously, not a literal interpretation. The following is only one example:
“In the latter days you will understand this. At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people” (Jere 30:24-31:1).
Or how about this:
“Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: If this fixed order departs From before Me,” declares the LORD, “Then the offspring of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever.”Thus says the LORD, “If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done,” declares the LORD” (Jere 31:35-37).
Bottom line, if we can’t take that at face value, how do we even know that John 3:16 means what it says?
Furthermore, Supercessionism for the most part, comes out of Reformed Theology and to a large degree, New Covenant Theology. Both have a strong element of “election.” In the Bible, Isreal is called God’s “elect” ( Dt 7:6, Isa 45:4). They agree with everyone else being called elect in the Bible and use a literal interpretation accordingly, but when it comes to Israel, they implement the Redemptive Historical hermeneutic. This is plainly unacceptable. Also, a “new covenant” is only mentioned once in the Bible and is even set against the older covenant in the same context, but the “new covenant” is specifically promised to Israel!! GOOD GRIEF. By the way, God’s chosen people have always been Israel and will always be Israel. God told the woman at the well, “salvation is of the Jew’s.” The Church was initially a Jewish church and God had to do dramatic things to convince the Jews that he wanted the Gentiles in there (Acts Chapters 10 and 11). As a matter of fact, the baptism of the Spirit at Pentecost was a set-up to convince the Jews when the time was right (Acts 11:15-18). God only saved the Gentiles to make Israel jealous (Rom 11:13). The Gentiles are the ugly step children of salvation and it is high time reformed theologians get over it. For sobering warnings from God concerning wrong attitudes toward Israel, read Romans 11 for yourself.
I don’t know much about John Hagee, but I know he said this: “I believe all true Christians have a soft place in their hearts for Israel.” Why not? If we have God’s heart, certainly this should be true, especially if slighting the Jews is poking God in the eye. He (Hagee) also said this: “God told Abraham that he would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him. If you go to a church where the leaders believe in Supercessionism, you do not go to a church that God is going to bless.” Yep, I agree. Denying what God has promised to the Jews is taking away from the word of God. In the book of Revelation, God says all of the curses in that book await those who do so. Would Supercessionism be in this category? I don’t know, but it’s kinda like what Ronald Reagan said about work: ” hard work never killed anybody, but why take the chance?”
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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