Recently we've been reconsidering many of the things we thought we understood regarding doctrine and faith. We have begun to question certain beliefs, church structures, and practices of the western church. Too often we have discovered what we think are unbiblical doctrines and activities. This causes us concern. We have deemed this our “Rethink.” Our questions include, how did we arrive at our doctrines? Does the Bible really teach what we think it teaches? Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched?
It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were too lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.
Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.
We should note that there is more than one way to interpret doctrine, more than one way to think about the faith, and more than one way to read the Scriptures. We would not suggest that our way is the only way, or the right way; we are not Bible scholars. But we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to rightly divide the Word of God.
It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were too lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.
Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.
We should note that there is more than one way to interpret doctrine, more than one way to think about the faith, and more than one way to read the Scriptures. We would not suggest that our way is the only way, or the right way; we are not Bible scholars. But we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to rightly divide the Word of God.
Introduction
The nature of God's kingdom has been debated for centuries. We would not be so arrogant to suggest that we have the final answer, but we think we might have some insight.
First, we don't want to make the mistake of thinking that God conforms to linear timelines. He is not subject to time, so it is entirely possible to assert that something exists but doesn't yet exist. We should resist the urge to make God subject to His creation. Also, He mustn't be made subject to our logical, linear thought as though we possessed the capability to systemize Him.
Second, the manifestation of things on earth do not speak to their beginning. So when Jesus said, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Mt. 4:17), this does not mean that the kingdom doesn't yet exist. His is an eternal kingdom (Da. 4:3, He. 1:8, 2Pe. 1:11). There's always been a king ruling from heaven.
Third, we notice the varying language the Bible uses about the kingdom; It's near, it's here, and it is coming.
The Kingdom is near:
Mk. 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mt. 12:28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
The Kingdom is within:
Lk. 17:20-21 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, `Here it is,’ or `There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”
The Kingdom comes:
Mk. 9:1 And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
Ac. 2:33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Ac. 1:8 "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.”
The kingdom manifests in various ways and in various places, so we need to be careful about what manifestation of the kingdom we are discussing. It seems to take different forms depending on the context, so we should not expect linear timelines.
Expectations
The Jewish people were looking for the son of David to ascend to the throne:
Mt. 12:23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
Mt. 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” [Psalm 118:26] “Hosanna in the highest!”
Mk. 15:32 Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”
Jn. 7:52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”
Jn. 19:12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
Ac. 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
It's certainly true that Jesus is king:
Lk. 1:32-33 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.”
His kingship was misconstrued as being an earthly kingdom. However, His Kingship was and is as the ruler of heaven and earth. But He did something very unusual for a king.
Emptied and Exalted - The Mystery
The King came to earth as a servant, lowly and of no account:
Ph. 2:6-9 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name...
Jesus' mission was to reconcile man to God (Ep. 1:10), and that meant giving His life as a ransom for many (Mt. 20:28). This is the mystery to which Paul referred (Col. 1:26) and what the prophets longed to see (Mt. 13:17, 1Pe. 1:10).
The purpose of God was hidden in Christ, which was why few recognized Him. The whole plan for mankind is summed up in this mystery:
1Ti. 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
This glory is the glory of the ascended King:
Lk. 22:69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
Ac. 7:56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
1Pe. 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
The right hand is the position of power, (Exodus 15:6), salvation (Ps. 17:7), judgment (Ps. 21:8-9), and authority (Revelation 5:1). He is the King of kings (Re. 17:14).
It is interesting to us that the pre-incarnate, eternal Word of God is never referred to as King. Though part of the trinity, we don't find his kingship mentioned except in the prophetic sense.
Ps. 10:16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
Ps. 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Lk. 1:32-33 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end.”
Though we want to resist the idea that God must conform to a linear timeline, it seems that THE LORD (Yahweh) raised up Jesus and exalted Him to the throne at His resurrection. Before that His title was The Word, and sometimes the Angel of the LORD, The fact that He will be called the Son of the Most High suggests that perhaps He wasn't always the Son of the Most High, but was known as something else before His incarnation.
Future Kingdom
It seems clear that the Kingdom is not static. It is a growing, expanding thing:
Is. 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness.
Mt. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
We might attempt to parse the nature of the Kingdom with human understanding. Were we to do this we might suggest that the heavenly Kingdom did not have full sway on earth prior to Jesus' ascension. In fact, His kingdom still doesn't have its full expression today. But rather than appealing to the passage of time we would prefer to consider the advancing Kingdom as manifestations of power:
- King David was established as the lineage of kings of the eternal Kingdom, and his kingship was characterized by power.
- When Jesus came to earth the Kingdom was marked by an advance in power:
Lk. 7:22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
Lk. 11:20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
Lk. 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, `The kingdom of God is near you.’
- Jesus' resurrection was the next power event:
Ro. 1:3-4 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
He. 1:1-4 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
- Pentecost was yet another advancement of the Kingdom, manifested with power:
Mk. 9:1 And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
Ac. 1:6-8 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.”
- There yet awaits a future expression of the Kingdom greater than what is now. The Kingdom shall advance during the time Jesus awaits the final defeat of His enemies:
He. 1:13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? [Psalm 110:1]
1Co. 15:24-25 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
This is the forceful advance of the Kingdom as marked by power. Which leads us to consider the period of time from Pentecost to the Day of the Lord, which are called the Last Days. These are the days in which we, The Church, live.
Present Kingdom
We are living during a time between power events; technically, we are living in a period of time that should be at a particular manifestation of advancing power in the Church. But the Church is largely powerless. In fact, there are great numbers of Christians who believe this is the correct status. But if the Kingdom continues to advance with power, we ought to be seeing this power in today's church.
1Co. 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
The Kingdom is come in power. The King did not ascend to heaven and take His power with Him, He intends his Church to be powerful. That is the purpose of the Paraklete (Jn. 14:16). But for some reason we have forfeited our power, probably due to lack of faith, worldliness, and intellectualism.
Conclusion
Let's revisit a verse:
Mt. 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
"Forceful" is biázō – properly, to use POWER to forcibly seize, laying hold of something with positive aggressiveness.
This is important: The Kingdom continues to advance. It's increase will have no end. It advances with force, the exerting of power (biázō). Men exert this power to take hold of the Kingdom. If the Church is powerless, it cannot lay hold of the Kingdom.
The Church has largely forsaken the command to eagerly seek the greater gifts. Many reject the idea of healing, miracles, and wonders. That is, many in effect reject the Kingdom, because the Kingdom is power.
We think that the Church needs to return to the Apostle's teaching (Ac. 2:42), to agree with the Bible's commands (Jn. 14:15), to keep in step with the Spirit (Ga. 5:25). The church needs to be humble (Mt. 18:4), repentant (Mk. 1:15), prayerful (1Th. 5:17), and obedient (Jn. 14:23). In these last days there will be trying times (Jn. 16:33), and powerless Christianity will not be sufficient.
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