the kingdom what is it? - and - why should we christians concern ourselves about it? kim gray brian...

The KingdomWhat is it?

- and -

Why should we Christians concern ourselves about it?

Kim Gray Brian Utermahlen

However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.

The KINGDOM

… but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.'"

He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until

the establishment of the kingdom of Persia

While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you”

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the

kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

… thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may

not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no

inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

The KINGDOM

“The Bible speaks with absolute certainty of the coming of the Kingdom. From beginning to end it is packed full of promises

that the Kingdom will be established.”

“The message of The Kingdom Promises gives revelation on the POWER you possess as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ.”

- two quotes from the internet

Future?

Present?

WHAT DO WE PROPOSE TO DO IN THIS STUDY ABOUT KINGDOM ?

- Define the term as used by the Old Testament and New Testament writers

- Study and understand the KINGDOM from differing theological perspectives staying within the WCF - Introduce some basic interpretive (hermeneutical) principles (including using a free Biblical tool called eSword)

- Investigate how the understanding of KINGDOM influences the historical Christian Faith, > present Christian conduct in This Age and > future expectations (eschatology) in The Age to Come

What is THE

KINGDOM?

What first comes to your mind when someone mentions THE KINGDOM?

If someone asked you to define KINGDOM, what would you tell them?

[ Group Discussion Questions ]

KINGDOM?

An inward power that lays hold of the individual soul – some basic religious truths universally applicable

A wholly “other” - in the person of Jesus Christ

An apocalyptic realm initiated at the end of human history

The CHURCH is the kingdom of God

An ideal pattern for the governance of the world– not concerned primarily with individual salvation but with bringing order to the social problems of the world

Some say:

So What?But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

What is THE

KINGDOM?

What first comes to your mind when someone mentions THE KINGDOM?

If someone asked you to define KINGDOM, what would you tell them?

Approximately how many times does the Bible use the term KINGDOM?

Is the concept of KINGDOM the same in both Testaments – or - is the concept different between OT and NT?

Is the Biblical concept of Kingdom universally agreed upon within Christianity?

[ Group Discussion Questions ]

Recommended Reading

Written by one of the foremost spokesmen of the Historical (Classical)

Pre- Millennial Position…

much of his explanation of the “Already but Not Yet ” aspect of God’s

Kingdom will be familiar to and find agreement among those from a

Reformed background

This is a book very relevant to today's church, overviewing Israel's history and

showing why the Israelites didn't understand Jesus' teaching about the

Kingdom of God.

Bright’s focus in mainly Old Testament while Ladd’s focus is mainly New

Testament.

These two books together make a perfect set and provide coverage of the concept of

the KINGDOM in both Testaments.

Bright was Professor Emeritus of Hebrew and the interpretation of the Old Testament at Union Theological Seminary. He has a vast understanding of the Old Testament and of the historical context of the time.

What is THE

KINGDOM?The KINGDOM OF GOD?

The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?

The KINGDOM OF CHRIST?

YES

Some people differentiate between –

The KINGDOM OF GOD The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Because the Lord used the terms "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God" interchangeably in places in the four Gospels, most Christians think they are one and the same. However:

The Bible is about the struggle for a Kingdom; the Kingdom of Heaven, a Kingdom with its Capital City (Jerusalem) on this Earth.

The spiritual Kingdom of God is within you as a believer but a literal political Kingdom ruled by Christ (Kingdom of Heaven) will one day come on the Earth.

The thinking goes like this:

No (gentile) Christian is or ever will be in the Kingdom of Heaven.

NOTE: In general, Reformed believers do not make this distinction

Ramifications of this Distinction

A distinction between OT & NT

A total discontinuity between OT & NT

Two different “people of God” - Ethnic Israel and the Church

Two different destinies for the two different “people of God” - earthly destiny and ‘kingdom realm’ for Jews - heavenly destiny and ‘kingdom realm’ for Gentile church

The Kingdom of Heaven,

a Kingdom with its Capital City (Jerusalem) on this Earth.

What is THE KINGDOM?

We must set aside the modern idiom and look to the original intent and definitions in order to understand Biblical terminology and meaning

The exclusive application of either of these two ideas to the Biblical teaching of the Kingdom leads us astray from a correct understanding of Biblical truth

1. A realm over which a king exercises his authority

2. The people belonging to a given realm.

(modern Western idiom)


The primary meaning of both the Hebrew word mamlakah in the Old Testament

and the Greek word basileia in the New Testament is:

the rank, authority, and sovereignty exercised by a king.

mamlakah basileia (malkuth)





Biblically, a kingdom is first and foremost the authority to rule – the sovereignty of the king.

mamlakah basileia





When these words are used referring to God’s Kingdom, they always refer to:

His reign, His rule, His sovereignty… NOT to the realm in which it is exercised

Biblically, a kingdom is first and foremost the authority to rule – the sovereignty of the king.

mamlakah basileia


The Kingdom of God is:

His KINGSHIP

His RULE

His AUTHORITY

The KINGDOM OF GOD is basically the RULE of God.

It is GOD’S REIGN, the Divine Sovereignty in action.

HOWEVER – a REIGN without a REALM in which it is exercised is meaningless

THUS – the KINGDOM of GOD is ALSO (secondarily) the realm in which GOD’S REIGN may be experienced.

Let’s look at a familiar and illustrative passage:

John 18

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?“ 36Jesus answered,

"My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.“ (ESV)

Revised Standard Version [36] Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world."

basileia ( bas-il-i'-ah )

from 935

1)royal power, kingship, dominion, rule1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather theright or authority to rule over a kingdom1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in theMessiah's kingdom2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah from 935; properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively):-kingdom,

Kingdom (932)


Is the Kingdom …

PAST?

PRESENT?... or …

FUTURE?


THE THREEFOLD DILEMMA

1. Some passages refer to God’s KINGDOM as His REIGN

2. Some passages refer to God’s KINGDOM as a PRESENT REALM into

which we may now enter to experience the blessings of His REIGN

3. Some passages refer to God’s KINGDOM as a FUTURE REALM

which will come with the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, a realm which we

will then enter and finally experience the fullness of His REIGN


The KINGDOM OF GOD is a present spiritual reality

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit

Hebrews 6:4-5 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, and then…

Galatians 1:3-4 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,



The KINGDOM OF GOD is a future inheritance God will bestow on His people when Christ returns in Glory.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:31-34



The KINGDOM OF GOD is an inheritance God will bestow on His people when Christ returns in Glory.

The KINGDOM OF GOD is a present realm into which the followers of Christ have already entered

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Colossians 1:13

“The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.”

Luke 16:16



The KINGDOM OF GOD is a future inheritance God will bestow on His people when Christ returns in Glory.

The KINGDOM OF GOD is a present realm into which the followers of Christ have already entered

The KINGDOM OF GOD is a future realm into which followers of Christ must enter when Christ returns

Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior,Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.

II Peter 1:10-11

I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 8:11


The KINGDOM OF GOD is:

- a present spiritual reality

- a future inheritance God will bestow on His people when Christ returns in Glory

- a present realm into which the followers of Christ have already entered

- a future realm into which followers of Christ must enter when Christ returns


The KINGDOM OF GOD is:

- a present spiritual reality

- a future inheritance God will bestow on His people when Christ returns in Glory

- a present realm into which the followers of Christ have already entered

- a future realm into which followers of Christ must enter when Christ returns

The KINGDOM is: ALREADY but NOT YET

The KINGDOM OF GOD

The Presence of the Future

THIS AGE &

THE AGE TO COME

This Age The Age to ComeC

C - Creation

This AGE and the AGE TO COME

(Already) (Not Yet)

The Bible distinguishes between

This Age and The Age to Come



1 Cor 1:20 - Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Matt 12:32 - And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Luke 18:29-30 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."

Eph. 1:20-21 …that He worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

(all from ESV)

C - Creation

(Already) (Not Yet)


P

R

C - Creation

R - Resurrection of the Dead (Lk 20:34-36)

P - Parousia (Return of Christ in Glory) (Mt 24:3-31)


(Already) (Not Yet)

This Age is separated from The Age to Come by two events:

1. the Return of Christ – Parousia (coming and staying) - P

2. the Resurrection of the Dead (both the Righteous and Unrighteous) - R

Parousia (coming) is derived from Pareimi .

The connotation of coming is “coming and being at hand, coming and staying. It is not coming and going and coming again some time later..

Strong's Number: 3952 coming; being present Browse Lexicon

Definition

1.presence 2.the coming, arrival, advent

a.the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God

Pareimi Strong's Number: 3918 to have arrived; to be at hand

Strong's Number: 3918 Browse Lexicon

Definition

1.to be by, be at hand, to have arrived, to be present 2.to be ready, in store, at command

Original Word Word Origin

parousiva from the present participle of (3918)

Transliterated Word TDNT Entry

Parousia 5:858,791


Paredreuvw from (3844) and (1510) (including its various forms)


Pareimi 5:858,791


P

R


- The character of This Age is (religious) darkness… but there is some light…

- A glimpse of the glory of the Kingdom – “the kingdom is among you” - Lk 17:20-21


P

R



- A glimpse of the glory of the Kingdom – “the kingdom is among you”

- The Kingdom is ‘difficult to understand’ - Matt 13:10-17

Parables of the Kingdom

- Sower * - Wheat & Tares - Mustard Seed * - Hidden Treasure - Pearl of Great Price - Great Net - Householder

* Parables also found in Mark 4


P

R



- A glimpse of the fullness of the Kingdom – “the kingdom is among you”

- The Kingdom is ‘difficult to understand’ (parables of the Kingdom)

- ALREADY but NOT YET (the Kingdom is here already, but not yet in its fullness)

- In God’s sovereign purpose, the ‘god of this age’ (Satan) has been permitted a great measure of authority and power in This Age.

II Cor. 4:3-4

:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. :4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (ESV)

:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. :4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (NIV)


P

R


Mark 10:29-30 (NASB)Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.


P

R


Mark 10:29-30 (NASB)Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

- The fullness of the Kingdom belongs to the Age to Come

- In This Age there is death – in the Age to Come there is eternal life (death is dead)

- In This Age the righteous and the wicked are mixed together – in the Age to Come, all wickedness and sin are destroyed, leaving only the righteous.

- In This Age, Satan is viewed as ‘the god of this world (age) – in the Age to Come, the Kingdom of God (His kingship, His rule, His sovereign authority) will reign without any opposition having destroyed Satan and Death (Rev. 20:10,14)

-Righteousness will have displaced all evil, wickedness and rebellion against God

The Age to Come will witness the FULLNESS of God’s Kingdom (the consummation)

The AGE TO COME is on a much higher level than THIS PRESENT AGE.


P

R


CThis Age

Parousia

The Age to Come

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (ESV)

1 Cor. 15

(the FULLNESS of the Kingdom)



P

R


CThis Age

Parousia

The Age to Come

C

The Age to Come

This Age

Parousia (the FULLNESS of the Kingdom)





Parousia

C


Mt 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the

kingdom of God has come upon you.

Lk 17:20-21 Now at one point the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, so he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For

indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

The kingdom of God has already manifested itself in Christ

and has intruded into

This AGE

This Age

The Age to Come


Parousia

C



Lk 17:20-21 Now at one point the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, so he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For

indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Mt 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the

kingdom of God has come upon you.



This AGE

This Age

The Age to Come


Parousia

CThis Age



(a)

RC

1st A

dven

t

The transition from This Age to the Age To Comeis not a single point in time

There is an overlap between the two Ages

(a) The advent of Christ and His Spiritual Reign-and –

(b) The time between His 2nd Coming and the destruction of Satan and Death



This AGE1st Advent – birth of Christ

RC – Resurrection of Christ

(a) Christ’s Spiritual Reign [Church Age] 2nd Advent – return of Christ

(b) Christ’s Earthly Reign in the “Millennium”

A/P Pre

(b)

The Age to Come

WHAT ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM?

PAROUSIA

RC This Age

The Age to ComeA-mi

l?

Post-mil?

Pre-mil?

PAROUSIA

RC This Age

The Age to Come

RR RU

(The “Millennium”)*

RC – Resurrection of Christ

RR – Resurrection of the Righteous (1 Thess 4:13-17)

The “Millennium” (Rev. 20:1-7) - *4 Views of the Millennium

RU – Resurrection of the Unrighteous (Rev. 20:11-15)

(Church Age)


AmillennialismPost-millennialism

Historic Pre- millennialismDispensational Pre- millennialism

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:1-10 ESV)

PAROUSIA

RC This Age

The Age to Come

RR RU


(Church Age)


AmillennialismPost-millennialism

Historic Pre- millennialismDispensational Pre- millennialism

The millennium is a difficult issue that has yielded three main interpretations:

(1)the millennium will be an earthly reign of believers with Christ after he returns to claim them and before the new heavens and the new earth;

(2)it is a period of time before the second coming of Christ when the church will enjoy an earthly reign;

(3)it is a symbolic account of what has been happening ever since Christ broke Satan’s power at the cross and empty tomb—a picture of how believers are already reigning with Christ.

Recommended Reading

A compilation of noted writers explaining their own Millennial Position, with

comment on each by the other three citing areas of disagreement and why.

In one volume, all four positions explained by noted proponents with points of agreement and disagreement fully

explored by others schooled in their own and the other Millennial views.

Four Views of the Millennium explored:

Historic / Classical Pre-MillennialismPost-Millennialism

A-MillennialismDispensational Pre-Millennialism

What are the ESSENTIALS of

the CHRISTIAN FAITH?

… what must one RIGHTLY believe to be within

the boundaries of CHRISTIAN ORTHODOXY ?

“The major point is that Satan will finally be defeated, and that even before that time God takes care of His saints and blesses them through His triumphant rule.”

- R.C. Sproul Introductory notes to Revelation Reformation Study Bible

NOTE: there is no mention of ESCHATOLOGY as an Essential of the Faith

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY….

Kingdom

Eschatology

Prophesy

Idealist (Spiritualist)

Futurist (Historicist)

Preterist (Full; Partial)

Millennium

Pre-Millennial (Historic; Dispensational)

Post-Millennial

A-Milliennial

Kingdom - The KINGDOM OF GOD is basically the RULE of God. - It is GOD’S REIGN, the Divine Sovereignty in action. - a present spiritual reality - a future inheritance God will bestow on His people when Christ returns in Glory - a present realm into which the followers of Christ have already entered - a future realm into which followers of Christ must enter when Christ returns

Eschatology

- a theological term that designates the study of what will happen at the end of human / world history (the eschaton), particularly the event known as the SECOND COMING of Christ.

Prophesy

- The discourse of a prophet. - A prophet mainly tells forth the word of God. - Often (though not always) the prophet’s message also foretells the future. - The utterance of a prophet is called an oracle—a message from God, ordinarily through the mediation of a prophet.

ESCHATOMANIAemphasis on teaching and preaching Revelation in preference to Theology

practice of taking much of Revelation’s characters as “literal” (prima facie) or seeing manifestations of symbols in current nations, events, organizations and personages (i.e., the UN, European Union, the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church, World Bank,…)

speculative / obsessive reading the LEFT BEHIND series, The Late Great Planet Earth, etc.; prominence and proliferation of “End Times” Charts, especially Clarence Larkin

frequent preaching on eschatology; frequent teaching of eschatology in Sunday School and small group studies; “prophesy conferences”

ESCHATOPHOBIA - avoidance of certain passages and books in Scripture

skip the Book of the Revelation – “all of Revelation already fulfilled except the last chapter”

reduce the study of eschatology to adherence to the belief in the 2nd Coming

“the study of eschatology creates divisions (unnecessarily) in the body of Christ”

“Revelation is in a genre entirely different than anything in the rest of the Bible and cannot be interpreted using Biblical hermeneutic principles used in the rest of Scripture”

- polemic & divisive – eschatology used as test of “orthodoxy’

AVOID EXTREMES

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY….

Kingdom

Eschatology

Prophesy


Futurist

Historicist


Millennium


Post-Millennial

A-Milliennial

The Idealists (Spiritualists)

The Futurists

The Preterists (Full- and Partial-) - assumes Revelation was written before 70 A.D.

The Idealist view, also known as the spiritual view teaches that chapters 4-22 of Revelation are not literal events, but symbolic imagery that represents the ongoing struggle throughout history between God and Satan.

Futurists view predictive prophesy (Daniel, Revelation) as literal, physical, apocalyptic and global.

The Preterist view comes from the Latin word Preter, which means “past.”

They believe that Revelation chapters 1-19 were already fulfilled by 70 A.D. with the fall of Jerusalem.

Those with the full preterist view also include Revelation chapters 20-22 as also having been fulfilled by 70 A.D. as well.

Those with a partial preterist view believe that Revelation 20-22 describes future events such as the second coming of Christ.

The Historicist view teaches that Revelation is a symbolic representation of actual events that occur through several thousand years. This includes major historic events that involve the Roman Empire, the Papacy, Israel, the Protestant Reformation, the French Revolution, and culminates in the eschaton.

The Historicists

Themes Throughout Scripture

Grace Redemption

Covenant Election

Remnant Law

Kingdom

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY….Kingdom

Eschatology

Prophesy


Futurist

(Historicist)


Millennium

Post-Millennial

A-Milliennial


Millennium

The “thousand year” period mentioned in connection with the return of Christ.

During the Millennium Satan will be bound andthe faithful will rule with Christ

All views of the Millennium (except for theFull Preterist approach) agree that the 2nd Advent

of Christ is yet future and He will return personally, visibly, and in great glory

Historic PreMillenialism

Post Millenialism AmillenialismDispensational PreMillenialism

When was this view most strongly held?

Earliest view of the end times, emerging at the end of 1st century

May have been popular as early as AD300 (4th century). Less popular today following 20th century conflicts

Credited to Augustine and popularized in early 5th century

Became popular in mid-19th century and has grown in popularity in 20th century America

Will Jesus return physically? Yes Yes Yes Yes

Do the Rapture and the 2nd coming of Christ occur at the same time?

Yes YesYes

Except Full Preterists

NO, they are events separated by 7 years of

tribulation

Will there be a Great Tribulation? Yes

The tribulation is the conflict between good and evil since Jesus' death and resurrection

The tribulation occurs any time Christians are persecuted or wars and disasters occur.

Yes

BUT a different definition

Will Christians suffer during the tribulation?

YES - Christians will go through the tribulation and endure suffering persecution for the cause of Christ

YES - Christians are called to share the Gospel; tribulation will occur when the Gospel is opposed.

YES - Christians will suffer and endure persecution until Jesus returns; persecution will increase in the end.

NO - Christians will be raptured and taken out of the world before the ‘7 year tribulation’

Will there be a literal 1000-year millennium?

No No No Yes

Is the modern state of Israel relevant to the prophesies in Revelation?

No No No Yes

Who are/were the most prominent people holding

this view?

Justin Martyr (100-165); Irenaeus (130-200); John Warwick Montgomery; Robert Gundry; George E. Ladd

Jonathan Edwards(?); C. H. Spurgeon, Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield, Loraine Boettner,

Augustine; Martin Luther;John Calvin; Abraham Kuyper; G.C. Bercouwer, J.I. Packer, R.C. SproulAnthony Hoekema

J.Nelson Darby, C.I. Schofield, John Walvoord, H.A. Ironside, Gleason Archer, Charles Stanley, Tim LaHaye, John MacArthur.

Historical (“Classical”) Pre-Millennialism

2nd Coming of Christ for earthly rule and reign happens before the Millennium. - does not hold to an actual, literal thousand years - sees the Rapture of the Church coinciding with the 2nd Coming of Christ

Post-Millennialism

Views preaching and teaching as bringing about gradual world improvement leading to Christianity’s filling the world and ushering in Christ’s return

A-Millennialism (“Realized” / “Inaugurated” Millennialism)

The millennium refers only to Christ’s spiritual rule from heaven in the hearts of believers. Christ’s kingdom is solely spiritual and not earthly in any way.

Dispensational Pre-Millennialism

2nd Coming of Christ for earthly rule and reign happens before the Millennium. - holds to an actual, literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth - sees the return of Christ for believers happening “pre-Tribulation”

Post-Millennialism


POST MILLENNIALISM Salient Points - Loraine Boettner

The millennium is a current golden age of increasing spiritual prosperity

The 2nd coming of Christ will be followed by the general resurrection of all the dead, the general judgment, the introduction of heaven and hell in their fullness.

The millennium is characterized by the uplifted social, economic, political and cultural life of the great majority of mankind in response to acceptance of Christ.

Christ will return to a truly ‘Christianized” world.

Emphasizes the Great Commission – not just the formal, external call, but effective evangelization that transforms hearts and minds – social emphasis

Looks to a ‘golden age’ not essentially different than current state – this age gradually merges into the Millennium as more people convert to Christianity

Social, economic and educational problems will remain but their undesirable features diminish and desirable features are heightened. Christianity is standard

Sets forth a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men

Observations/Objections – other millennial proponents – Ladd, Hoekema, Hoyt

Little or no Scriptural basis – empirical observations two-edged

No definitive time / definition when ‘this age’ becomes the ‘millennial age’

Does not address Revelation 20:1-10 – the ‘thousand years’; the ‘apostasy’ or ‘falling away’; the ‘great tribulation”; the Anti-Christ; Lk. 18:8

The lesson of history is that that the church has not been effective in executing the Great Commission in the 1st through the 20th centuries – some exceptions

This position is based on extensive spiritualizing / allegorizing Scripture

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (Luke 18:6-7 ESV)

I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8 ESV)

The Four MAIN Views / Schools on Eschatology

-

Interpretive School Basic Approach to Eschatology

Preterist Believe that the events Matthew 24 and Revelation were fulfilled either in full - or in part (partial preterism) in the AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Historicist View the book of Revelation as an overview of church history through the ages describing various times of tribulation, persecution, and blessing

Idealist View the book of Revelation symbolically (allegorically), as a non-literal depiction of the battle between God and Satan – Good and the forces of Evil throughout history.

Futurist Understand Matthew 24 and Revelation 4-22 presented in the apocalyptic genre as a prophetic account of actual future events, specifically focused on the end of the Church Age.

from THE LAST DAYS ACCORDING TO JESUS by RC Sproul

The Three VIEWS of the MILLENNIUM

Interpretive School Basic Understanding of the Millennial Kingdom

Amillenialism The prefix “a-” means a simple negation, or “no-”; simply “No Millenium.” The Millennial Kingdom is not a future literal thousand year kingdom on Earth literally ruled by Christ. It is a spiritual kingdom referring to the spiritual rule of Christ in the hearts of believers since His Resurrection and Ascension. The 1000 years of Revelation 20 is not a literal thousand years but a long and unspecific length of time until His return (Parousia, 2nd Coming.)

Postmillennialism Through the influence of individual Christians and the Church, society will be influenced positively and will continue to improve until it reaches a state of perfection suitable for Christ. Thus, Christians will usher in the Millennial Kingdom and Christ will return after this period of peace has been established.

Premillennialism The Millennial Kingdom is a future, physical kingdom on Earth that Christ will establish at His return. The Kingdom will be centered in Jerusalem, will last for a literal 1000 years, after which the world will be destroyed and replaced by the New Earth.

Rapture Positions

Post-Millennialism




Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36 ESV)

AMILLENNIALISM - Salient Points - Anthony A. Hoekema

Teaches both ‘inaugurated’ eschatology and ‘future’ eschatology1. We are in the millennium now2. Christ has already won the decisive victory over sin, death, and Satan is ‘bound’3. The Kingdom of God is both present and future4. The last day is yet future, but we are in the last days

a. The “signs of the times” have both present and future relevanceb. The 2nd coming of Christ will be a single eventc. At the 2nd coming there will be a general resurrection – believers and unbelieversd. After resurrections, believers still alive will be transformed and glorifiede. Then, the rapture of all believers takes placef. Then, the final judgment of unbelievers takes placeg. After the final judgment, the final state comes – new earth merged with heavenh. Revelation 20 is a recapitulation of Rev. 19

Implications The OT and NT are unified by the Covenant of Grace The kingdom of God is central in human history – present reality and future hope Jesus Christ is the lord of human history

All of history is moving toward the goal of total redemption of the universe

Amillenialism claims to be a position of sober or realistic optismism

Observations/Objections – other millennial proponents – Ladd, Boettner, Hoyt

Ladd – Historic Pre-millennial General agreement except with exegesis of Revelation 20:5, 6 / recapitulation

Hoyt – Dispensational Pre-millennial More literal interpretation requiredDismisses progressive parallelism** as unwarranted and unsound hermeneuticDisagrees with the binding of Satan in Chap 20 as happening at the cross

Boettner – Post-millenialRev 19 does not describe the second coming of Christ but rather the progress of the church between the 1st and 2nd Advents

** Progressive parallelism The book of Revelation is organized as seven ‘parallel’ series of judgments/histories –the book of Revelation consists of seven sections which run parallel to each other, each of which depicts the church and the world from the time of Christ’s first coming to the time of his second.

The 7 sections are: (1) chps. 1-3; (2) chps. 4-7; (3) chps. 8-11; (4) chps. 12-14; (5) chps. 15-16; (6) chps. 17-19; (7) chps. 20-22. Therefore, according to this view Revelation 20:1 is not to be thought of as following in chronological order chapter 19 (which describes the Second Coming of Christ). Rather, it takes us back once again to the beginning of the NT era and recapitulates the entire present age.


2nd Coming of Christ for earthly rule and reign happens before the Millennium. - sees the Rapture of the Church coinciding with the 2nd Coming of Christ - does not hold to an actual, literal thousand years

Salient Points - George E. Ladd

Most “natural” reading of Rev. 20:1-6; most closely coincides with Matt 24 & 25

Rev. 19 pictures the return of Christ; Rev 20 pictures the binding of Satan following; Christ’s victorious return and victory over all his enemies

Old Testament prophesies are interpreted in light of the New Testament fulfillment

Therefore, the NT church is ‘spiritual Israel’, but this doesn’t invalidate ethnic Israel

The millennial reign of Christ is the visible manifestation of Christ as Lord over all

Revelation portrays the consummation of Christ’s redemptive work

The victory over Satan occurs in two stages

There is no “general resurrection”- resurrection of the dead believers (1 Thess 4:13-17) is separate from the resurrection of dead unbelievers (Rev. 20:11-15).

Historic Pre-Millennialism


“Rapture" is derived from Middle French rapture, which derives from the Latin raptus ("a carrying off")

Greek

The Koine Greek of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 uses the verb form ἁρπαγησόμεθα (harpagisometha), which means "we shall be caught up" or "taken away", with the connotation that this is a sudden event. The dictionary form of this Greek verb is harpazō (ἁρπάζω)

Rapture is a term in Christian eschatology which refers to the "being caught up" discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be "caught up in the clouds" to meet "the Lord ".

The concept of the Rapture, in connection with PreMillenialism was expressed by the 17th-century American Puritan father and son, Increase and Cotton Mather. They held to the idea that believers would be caught up in the air, followed by judgments on the Earth, and then the Millennium. The term rapture was used by Philip Doddridge and John Gill in their commentaries, with the idea that believers would be caught up prior to judgment on the Earth and Jesus‘ second coming.

Rapture Positions

Historic PreMillenialism Dispensational PreMillenialism

When was this view most strongly held?

Earliest view of the end times, emerging at the end of 1st century

Became popular in mid-19th century and has grown in popularity in 20th century America

Will Jesus return physically? Yes Yes

Do the Rapture and the 2nd coming of Christ occur at the same time?

Yes NO, they are events separated by 7 years of tribulation

Will there be a Great Tribulation? Yes

Yes

BUT a different definition

Will Christians suffer during the tribulation?

YES - Christians will go through the tribulation and endure suffering persecution for the cause of Christ

NO - Christians will be raptured and taken out of the world before the ‘7 year tribulation’

Will there be a literal 1000-year millennium?

No Yes

Is the modern state of Israel relevant to the prophesies in Revelation?

No Yes

Who are/were the most prominent people holding

this view?

Justin Martyr (100-165); Irenaeus (130-200); John Warwick Montgomery; Robert Gundry; George E. Ladd

J.Nelson Darby, C.I. Schofield, John Walvoord, Dwight Pentecost H.A. Ironside, Gleason Archer, Charles Stanley, Tim LaHaye, John MacArthur.

Observations/Objections to Historic Pre-Millennialism

Does not take Old Testament prophesies “literally” (literalistically) - Hoyt

HPM posits a Millennial Kingdom in which there is a semi-heavenly and semi-earthly kingdom in which is mingled ‘glorified saints’ and ordinary mortals in the flesh.

Disagrees that “all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:26) speaks of ethnic Israel - Boettner

Differs with the interpretation of Rev 20:1-6, particularly the definition of the Greek work ‘ezesan’ as meaning “came to life” is not decisive - Hoekema

Historic Pre-Millennialism


Salient Points - Herman A. Hoyt

God is progressively moving history toward some good end

The Bible must be taken in its literal, normal sense and not ‘spiritualized’

Scripture was given to men in a simple straight-forward way they would understand, and Interpretation of the Bible must take that into account

OT prophesies cannot be regarded as having been literally fulfilled in This Age

The millennial kingdom will be an actual, literal, earthly mediatorial kingdom

The TRIBULATION is a 7 year period synonymous with ‘the 70th week of Daniel, designed to purge/cleanse ethnic Israel of the sin of rebellion against Christ

The Church will be raptured prior to the 7 year ‘Tribulation’ (because after Rev 3, the church is not mentioned)

Observations/Objections to Dispensational Pre-Millennialism

DPM claims to exclusivity of its view as “Biblical”

Misses the central message of the Gospels when DPM claims “the eschatological kingdom is no different than that revealed in the OT”

The Old Testament temple and sacrificial system is not needed – Heb 8:13 - Ladd

There is no place for ethnic Israel in the eschatological ‘kingdom’ – the Old Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant

“When Christ comes again, He will not come to establish a kingdom” – He will not come to fight his enemies – they have already been vanquished - Boettner

DPM is not based on sound hermeneutics / methods of interpretation

Posits two distinct ‘people of God’ with two distinct eschatological destinies

Disagrees the ‘mediatorial kingdom’ is only future - Hoekema

Recommended Reading

Written by one of the foremost spokesmenof the Historical (Classical) Pre- MillennialPosition… much of his explanation of the

“Already but Not Yet” aspect of God’sKingdom will be familiar to and find

agreement among Amillennialists and those from a Reformed background

This is a book very relevant to today's church, overviewing Israel's history and

showing why the Israelites didn't understand Jesus' teaching about the

Kingdom of God.

Bright’s focus in mainly Old Testament while Ladd’s focus is mainly New

Testament. These two books together make a perfect set and provide coverage of the

concept of the KINGDOM in both Testaments.

Bright was Professor Emeritus of Hebrew and the interpretation of the Old Testament at Union Theological Seminary. He has a vast understanding of the Old Testament and of the historical context of the time.

What Bright is calling for isn't outward reform, but an inward change of heart.

Recommended Reading

Written by an adherent to Dispensation Pre-Millennialism.

This book is an abridged version of Dr. MacArthur's two-volume

Revelation commentary.

In this book, he takes a verse-by-verse exegetical walkthrough of the book of Revelation using consistent contextual-literal hermeneutics one would expect from Dr. MacArthur.

John MacArthur’s underlying issue: "How would the original audience have understood the passage as

taken at face value?"

Recommended Reading

An in-depth and thoroughly readable exposition comparing Full Preterism and

Partial Preterism, primarily using the vehicle of the Olivet Discourse.

Sproul answers the skeptics’ charges of error in Jesus’ prophetic teaching as well as providing an in-depth explanation and

comparison of the two Preterist positions.

"Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation"

by Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry

A doctoral dissertation seeking to demonstrate that Revelation was

written prior to the destruction of the Jewish Temple in AD 70 and that it

was prophesying that event.

It attempts to prove this early date for Revelation by providing both internal evidence from within Revelation and

external evidence from Church history and tradition. It provides much

exposition of the text of Revelation.

A large part of the argument deals with the identity of the beast (666) as

Nero Caesar, the first imperial prosecutor of the Church.

can be downloaded from the internet in .pdf format.

Recommended Reading

An excellent read on the Amillenial position for the proponent as well as the

skeptic of this position.

Riddlebarger is pastor of Christ Reformed Church and one of the members of the “White Horse Inn” crew heard weekly.

He does a reasonably good job describing the four Millennial positions, but his best

writing is in his explanation of Biblical hermeneutics, exegesis of Romans 9-11,

and his summary of the “two age” model in which he is essentially in agreement with

George E. Ladd.

Riddlebarger is able to devote more time and space to developing the A-Mill

position this book than Hoekema could in The Meaning of the Millenium -

Four Views

Recommended Reading

Written by a converted Jew who long held the Dispensational Pre-Tribulation Pre-Millenial position but changed (at great personal cost) two decades ago.

Rosenthal’s hermeneutic is typical of Messianic Jews, his being more literal

(prima facie) than most Reformed believers, but he brings to this book an

in-depth understanding of Jewishness that we gentile believers lack.

This book is much more focused on the RAPTURE than on the MILLENIUM, but it

is clear he is Pre-Millenial… whether Dispensational or Historical/Classical is

not all that easy for me to discern.

Millennium

Pre-Millennial (Historical; Dispensational)

Post-Millennial

A-Milliennial

The thousand year period mentioned in connection with the return of Christ. During the Millennium Satan will be bound and the faithful will rule over the earth with Christ.

2nd Coming of Christ for earthly rule and reign happens before the Millennium. Historical pre-Millennialism does not hold to an actual, literal thousand years Dispensationalism holds to an actual, literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth and sees the earthly fulfillment of Abrahamic Covenant after parousia of Christ.



Post-Millennialism


2nd Coming of Christ for earthly rule and reign happens before the Millennium. - sees the Rapture of the Church coinciding with the 2nd Coming of Christ - does not hold to an actual, literal thousand years

KINGDOM OF GOD – New Testament – 67 references

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – New Testament – 31 references

KINGDOM – New Testament – 131 usages (108 times in the Gospels)

Hermeneutic

- Grammatico – Historic-Word definitions/grammar-Context

- Literal-Prima Facie (‘Plain Sense’)-Sensus Literalis (literature type)

- Analogy of Faith (Analogia Scriptura)

The Hermeneutic Approach for Prophetic or Apocalyptic Literature*

Remains the Same as all other Scripture

VerseWord studyGrammar

Immediate Context

Major Section - Genre

‘ Literary’ Flow

Book

Historical Context

Testament

Bible as a Whole

Passage as Part of WholeTestament

Passage as Part of WholeBible

Theology(‘Theological System’ ) *

Literary Prima Facie – Limits playing Language (Word) Games

Gives first indication of context

Places the passage within intent of author and within Sensus Literalis

Adds Historical Context - compares w/other Scripture

Places passage in context of OT / NT – apply parallelsPlaces passage in context of entire Bible –apply parallels

Places passage / verse in contextof Systematic Theology 1Historical Context

- Authorship- Date written - Addressees- Purpose / Reason- Contemporary authors- Contemporary events

Hermeneutic - Grammatico – Historic

-Word definitions / grammar-Historical Context1

- Literal-Prima Facie (‘Plain Sense’)-Sensus Literalis (literature type)

- Analogy of Faith (Analogia Scriptura)

Deductive

Inductive 2 3 4 5 6 7If the Inductive answeris not aligned with your‘Theological System’ *,discern if the ‘System’ oryour application of Hermeneutics is wrong

Bible Study Methodology - InductiveInductive and DeductiveDeductive Hermeneutics

* Theological System – Covenant Theology, Dispensationalism, New Covenant Theology, other?

Passage - Genre

rev. 2 – 3/21/09

Analogia Scriptura

Apocalyptic Literature*

apocalypse; apocalyptic writing; apocalyptic vision.

Literally the word apocalypse means “unveiling” or “revelation.” Apocalyptic writing is:

a branch of visionary writing that specifically portrays the end of history and the eternity that succeeds that end.

Events portrayed in apocalyptic writing often embody universal principles (such as a conflict between good and evil or the sovereignty of God over history) that are true at any point in history. Specific motifs in apocalyptic writing include:

- dualism (the universe envisioned as divided into good and evil); - spiritism (angels and demons as characters); - judgment against evil; - messianic focus; - animal symbolism; - color symbolism; - number symbolism; - cataclysmic imagery; - cosmic stage of action; - forces of nature as “characters” in the story.

Daniel 7–12 and the book of Revelation are the main (but not the only) examples of this genre in the Bible.

Parousia (coming) is derived from Pareimi .

The connotation of coming is “coming and being at hand, coming and staying. It is not coming and going and coming again some time later..

Strong's Number: 3952 coming; being present Browse Lexicon

Definition

1.presence 2.the coming, arrival, advent

a.the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God

Pareimi Strong's Number: 3918 to have arrived; to be at hand

Strong's Number: 3918 Browse Lexicon

Definition

1.to be by, be at hand, to have arrived, to be present 2.to be ready, in store, at command


parousiva from the present participle of (3918)


Parousia 5:858,791


Paredreuvw from (3844) and (1510) (including its various forms)


Pareimi 5:858,791

1. New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:29-34 - New Covenant (Luke 22:20; 2 Cor.3:6; Heb.8:13) - Better covenant (Heb.7:22) - Better promises (Heb.8:6; 2Cor.1:20; 2Pet.1:4) - Better sacrifice (Heb.9:23-28; 10:19-22) - Better priesthood (Heb.7:23-25) - Finality (Heb.10:12) - Sign ?? - Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) - Intercessor (Rom.8:34; Heb.8:1-2) - Abiding presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17) 2. Two Great Commandments (Mark 12:28-31) - love God - love people 3. The Gospel – Our Salvation - Ultimate reality check - Christ’s “double imputation” ~ imputing our sins to Him (Col.2:13-14; 2 Cor.5:19) ~ imputing His righteousness to us (2 Cor.5:21; Rom.3:22; 4:5) - “One new man” -- the true Israel (Eph.2:11-22)

7. Ethics of Christ - Regeneration - Being over doing - Role of His church (worship, nurture, show mercy) - Two simple ordinances - Deny self, pick up my cross daily, follow Him 8. Context – Love 9. Temple location - How will it all end? ~ a redeemed, separated people ~ a return for judgment (John 17:1-9; 1 Cor.15:22-26) - The Temple (Rev.21:22-27) The Law of Christ – the consummation of all history and the restoration of a perfected creation.

Law of Christ - – the consummation of all history and the restoration of a perfected creation.

4. Ethics of Christ - Regeneration - Being over doing - Role of His church (worship, nurture, show mercy) - Two simple ordinances - Deny self, pick up my cross daily, follow Him 5. Context – Love 6. Temple location - How will it all end? ~ a redeemed, separated people ~ a return for judgment (John 17:1-9; 1 Cor.15:22-26) - The Temple (Rev.21:22-27)

The Law of Christ – the consummation of all history and the restoration of a perfected creation.

Mat 25:31 The Judgment - who enters the Millennial Kingdom

"When32 the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

All33 the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He34 will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.‘

Then the righteous will answer him,35 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When36 did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?

When37 did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

And the king will answer them,38 'I tell you the truth,39 just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters40 of mine, you did it for me.'

"Then he will say41 to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.

I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

Then they too will answer,42 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?'

Then he will answer them,43 'I tell you the truth,44 just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.'

And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

the kingdom what is it? - and - why should we christians concern ourselves about it? kim gray brian...

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