The Kingdom Of God. The Confusion Of Saints.
The Kingdom Of God. The Confusion Of Saints.
For the majority of my time as a Christian there has been an area of study that has brought me much confusion. The end times. The theological word used in this field is called "eschatology", derived from the word "eschaton" (meaning the end of the world; or the end of time; or the last things). Which means the word eschatology is the study or a theology of the end times. The end times is talked about many times in the Bible, so it's not an area where we don't have much information or have to make too many guesses... generally. Which is one of the reasons I was often frustrated when trying to understand the events, as explained by many in my circles, because it just didn't make much sense to me the way it was taught. But I accepted, begrudgingly, the general explanation given and tried to makes sense of it the best I could, figuring it was my mind not comprehending something that those much more scholarly did. In my reflections here I am not going to take time explaining the common teachings on the topic, but rather, I am going to briefly explain a position that finally seemed logical. Not simple or something I preferred, but logical. It fit what I had read throughout the Bible and didn't take forming a new system of thought in order to make sense of it.
A New View On The End Times
No. I am not going to propose a new thought on the end times and blow your mind. If you didn't know this already, that (first part) is what was attempted by the major view held in America today. It's called Dispensational Premillennialism. The thought is only a couple of hundred years old and wasn't held by the historical church for the past two millennia. Unfortunately, I didn't know this for the majority of the time that I was trying to learn and understand this topic. That would have got me asking a lot more questions sooner, like, what was the common view of the early church fathers? What were people's understanding in the time Jesus walked the earth and before? What were Jesus' followers understanding when he explained it to them? I had assumed that what I had learned and was taught in the Bible belt I grew up in was the historical understanding. It wasn't.
Essentially, a dispensation is the way of ordering things into a system or a form of management. Classically, there were seven dispensations taught, but there have been a range of as few as three to as many as thirty-seven proposed dispensations. They are a grouping and separating of defined periods or ages to which God has allotted distinctive administrative principles. Do you see how this can quickly get confusing without even beginning to mention the different periods or dispensations?
The word 'millennium' means a period of a thousand years. In the Bible, that 1,000 years is usually referred to when talking about the thousand year reign of Christ or the "millennial kingdom". In dispensational premillennialism the millennial kingdom (understood to be a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth) is during the seventh/final dispensation. The majority of Dispensational Premillennialists understand the Kingdom of God or the reign of Christ on earth to be a future event that has not yet come. Or you'll hear the confounding phrase, "here, but not yet...". Basically, since the Kingdom of God is a defined dispensation of the thousand year period where Jesus reigns on earth in his Kingdom... it must logically be a future event that has not yet occurred. Dispensationalism essentially teaches that the Kingdom of God is not here, that Jesus did not bring his kingdom as he and the prophets said. People holding this view generally understand this to be a problematic claim to navigate.
Within this view you get more differing views on where the "tribulation" fits in relation to the second coming of Christ. Before, during, after? In the middle? There's a period where Jesus followers suffer this incredible persecution... right?
Here are just a few problems: 1) The big one. If Jesus didn't bring his kingdom then he's a false prophet, along with the Jewish prophets preceding him, and Christians are wasting their life following him. This is one of the big reasons Jews don't believe Jesus is the Messiah. They believe the Messiah was coming to bring an earthly rule and thought he didn't. But he did. Although, this isn't taught by most evangelicals today. 2) If Jesus' earthly authority, kingship, and reign is a future event and not today, Christians don't have any right to be going out as the prophetic voice of God into the world and telling people to kneel to this non-reigning king. He died and rose... sure... but he doesn't have any earthly authority yet. You can't claim he does nor call other people to subjection to his rule. 3) The classic view teaches the world is going to be overcome by evil. Things are going to become worst and worst until Jesus comes, in secret the first time, to rescue his Church from the corruption and persecution of this dying world. As is a common objection to this worldview, "Why polish brass on a sinking ship?". It causes lethargy on the part of the Christian and the work in engaging in and transforming the world to Christ because they think Christianity will decrease and lawlessness increase until everything gets so bad that the end will come...
A New View Of A Rapture
An essential part of dispensationalism is the secret rapture of the church. Jesus' second coming... well his prequel to his second coming... is when he comes again without anyone seeing him and takes his followers away with him. Here is one of the most common texts used to defend this "secret rapture"—like dispensationalism, this "rapture" of the church to snatch her away to heaven is also a newer idea.
"For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." - Matthew 24:37-42
A very plain reading of this text brings your memory to the story Jesus references: Noah's ark and the flood. Quick question: who was taken away and who remained in this text? Noah and his family remained and the wicked people receiving God's judgement were swept away. They drowned to death. It takes no exegeting of this text to understand the judgement Jesus is talking about is going to be swift, and those judged (taken) are not going to a nice place. Dispensationalism teaches those taken, as referred to in this passage, are the church!!!
To date, the best evidence for a rapture I've seen is a lack of information in the Bible. The claim is made that the church is not mentioned by name from Revelation chapters 4-19. So... rapture! Even if that were true, we don't make doctrines from a lack of information.
Here's a simple explanation for the rapture of the church: there isn't one. At least not in any way you've likely been taught. The word “rapture” in Scripture is taken from the Latin “rapio” for the two words “caught up” used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This passage does not say we are going anywhere. It says we're going to be caught up in the air with Jesus. Again, the simple fact remains that being caught up in the air with Jesus says absolutely nothing about leaving to go somewhere else.
A Historical View Of The End Times
What if that's all wrong? What if Jesus did bring his kingdom like he said he was and like those before him foretold? What if these last days were understood more simply as revealed in the Scriptures? This was my transition into what was a refreshingly coherent and biblically sound explanation of the Kingdom of God in these last days. It's called postmillennialism. In my remaining paragraphs I don't intend to systematically defend and teach this view (or the complimentary amillennial view), but rather show a few key points that really solidified this teaching in my mind.
The common phrase you'll hear when debating someone who holds to dispensational premillennialism is that they "take the Bible literally". I totally respect that. So let's do it.
Do we take Jesus literally when he says in Matthew 10:23 that his disciples won't finish going to all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes? Do we take Jesus literally when he says in Matthew 16:28 that there are people standing before him that won't die before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom? Who was Jesus talking to in Matthew 23:35 when he said that on YOU will come all the righteous blood that was shed on the earth? We should affirm the approach to take the Bible literally. I just think it's use of an argument is often shallow and even condescending. Everyone takes some things literally and others figuratively in their hermeneutic... because some things are literal and some things are figurative in the Bible! When Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father but through him, that literally means he is the only way to be saved and be with him forever... but when he describes it in other passages, he describes himself as a door that we must go through!
There are two primary areas Jesus talks about when referring to the end times. In some places he speaks of the "end of the age", which is the end of the old covenant era with Israel. There are other times that are referring to the end of the world and the finishing of all the work God has planned. What has happened is so many people in our current generation have abandoned so much of the Bible that comes before the book of Matthew. If we understand the language and context of the entire revealed story of God and who is being spoken to and when, we can use the Bible to interpret the Bible. But if you become estranged to the old covenant Law of God, the new covenant texts can be skewed and interpreted to say whatever creative thoughts come to the mind of the reader and teacher. My below example of language of judgement used in the Bible is just one critical area.
The Prophets spoke of the Kingdom
When Luke documented the foretelling of Jesus' birth, he referenced Isaiahs prophecy in Isaiah 9:7:
"Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."
Also in Jeremiah 23:5:
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a Righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land."
Again in Daniel 2:44:
"In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever."
Jesus brought his Kingdom
You know something that I find ironic and quite intriguing in all of this? Many Jews of Jesus' day didn't believe he was the promised King spoken of by their prophets because he didn't sit in some chair and take control over everyone like a typical earthly king would. Dispensationalism is derived from the same mindset. Jesus isn't the king some thought, so we made up a worldview that explains it. Yes, it's a strong sentiment, but no, it's not fallacious. So many have been confused for decades on the topic because a movement arose that began redefining basic terminology in the Bible.
A simple hermeneutical test
In Isaiah 13, Isaiah gives a prophecy of the judgement of Babylon:
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near;
as destruction from the Almighty it will come!
7 Therefore all hands will be feeble,
and every human heart will melt.
8 They will be dismayed:
pangs and agony will seize them;
they will be in anguish like a woman in labor.
They will look aghast at one another;
their faces will be aflame.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes,
cruel, with wrath and fierce anger,
to make the land a desolation
and to destroy its sinners from it.
10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations
will not give their light;
the sun will be dark at its rising,
and the moon will not shed its light.
11 I will punish the world for its evil,
and the wicked for their iniquity;
I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant,
and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. (emphasis added)
Did judgement come upon Babylon? It sure did. Was the sun darkened and stars not give light? Listen to the language used again here...
In Isaiah 19, he prophesies of the judgement of Egypt:
1 Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud
and comes to Egypt;
and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence,
and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians,
and they will fight, each against another
and each against his neighbor,
city against city, kingdom against kingdom;
3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out,
and I will confound their counsel;
and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers,
and the mediums and the necromancers;
4 and I will give over the Egyptians
into the hand of a hard master,
and a fierce king will rule over them,
declares the Lord God of hosts.
5 And the waters of the sea will be dried up,
and the river will be dry and parched,
6 and its canals will become foul,
and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up,
reeds and rushes will rot away. (emphasis added)
There's that use of severe language again... Did hearts literally melt within these people? How many faces were set on fire!?
In Matthew 24, we get the same treatment:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then tall the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
How many were looking for Jesus riding on a cloud. How many were looking for stars falling from heaven? You wouldn't if you read and understood old covenant language. Was Babylon judged? Yes. Was Egypt judged? Yes. Was Israel judged?! She sure was.
Many of the passages that address the judgment that Jesus brought for Israel are used out of context and applied to propagate some new future rapture and judgement.
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. - Matthew 21:43
This is Jesus talking to the covenant breaking nation of Israel. Jesus brought judgement to Israel. That's one of the reasons all the religious leaders kept getting all up tight. When he talked about coming in the clouds and such, they knew the way he was speaking. Jesus was plain with his followers too. Cursing the fig tree (Mark 11:12-25) is a clear indicator that the tree (Israel) will never bear fruit again. It is being cut off. The kingdom is given to another people.
Did a king replace David or is a king going to replace David one day?
If Jesus didn't and isn't reigning as king... then he's not and won't be. Jesus looked at people face-to-face, in his presence, and said: "there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:28). If those people all died before he brought his kingdom then he is reduced to the title of false prophet. But here are just a few passages that speak so plainly:
"But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." - Matthew 12:28
"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" - Matthew 4:17
"But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” - Luke 22:69
"And saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'" - Mark 1:15
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17
But here's a passage that really challenges the idea of a future millennial kingdom: "Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." - Luke 17:20-21. If Jesus shows up in a cloud in the sky for all to see and then establishes a thrown and physical dominion over the earth... it's observed. Jesus said it won't be like that.
There are so many passages that speak of this Kingdom of God, and if read plainly, can clearly be seen that Jesus came to bring it. And he did!
Why It Matters
Why was this new position thought up and taught within our churches? Why did people start to believe it and live accordingly? Why did it become so popular!? We should acknowledge that there are a lot of awesome, God-fearing, Bible-believing Christians who hold this view. I am always in fellowship with some of them. There are a lot of confusing teachings out there. But this isn't a point of contention that should divide us within the church.
The purpose of this article is to encourage others to see the simple truth our understanding of the Kingdom of God has great implications for us today. Jesus came to judge Israel. That's evident in the context of the synoptic gospels. It's evident in the prophecies in the old covenant. Much more can be written on the topic... But this is meant to wet your appetite and stimulate your thinking to the simple truth. What truth?
Jesus did bring his Kingdom like he said (Luke 11:20). He did judge Israel like he said he would (70 A.D.). Jesus really is reigning with authority over this world like he proclaimed he had (Matthew 28:18-20). And he is currently using his Church to go forward with the gospel and conquer the world for himself. What does this mean for you as a follower and ambassador of this King?
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent - Acts 17:30
Evangelize from a position that demands the knowledge of the existence of God and his Kingship (Romans 1:19). Prophetically speak to the magistrates of our day that must obey the presently reigning King or parish (Psalm 2:12). Live your life knowing that God has predetermined your purpose (Ephesians 1:5). Your successes and failures are his divine plan, not you thwarting it... It is for your eternal good. Embrace the life God has intricately planned for you and live it out to his glory. He is conquering the nations, he is reigning as King today, and when he comes for his Church... we won't be leaving this place! Live like this is your inheritance. Care for it. Make it beautiful. Make it new. Jesus is conquering this world. Preach with boldness and expectancy for the gospel to go forth with power. It is. He asserted all power and authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18-20) and based on that authority, he says, go.
Soli Deo Gloria.