The Kingdom is already here. It came at Pentecost. I know you don’t agree - let me explain.
The US invaded Iraq to defeat Saddam Hussein. One Day one, we controlled a little territory, after 3 months, a significant amount, and after 6 months, the whole country, but there were meanwhile still opposition. During this phase (what military type call pacification), the enemy did everything he could do to cause hurt, pain and suffering.....but at some point, the war is *over*.
We are in the “pacification” phase of the Kingdom of God. Jesus has won the victory, and the end is in sight, but meanwhile the enemy has his strongholds. Yes, they are very strong, and in most cases the enemy can gain back territory.
BUT - Jesus himself will come back and finish the battle here on earth in last days.
Just because we have not yet complete victory does not mean this is not the Kingdom.
Recall, Satan’s dominion is the earth. Jesus’s death and resurrection made it possible for a believe to go from being a subject of the dark forces to a subject of the Light of the world.
Scripture is perfect. Our understanding is not.
1. Do I understand that your reference to the Iraq Conflict is a mere analogy - and that you are not saying that any recent events in the Middle East - like the Iraq Conflict, the formation of the modern state of Israel, etc. - can be viewed as "markers" for the advent of Christ's Kingdom?
2. You say that the "Kingdom of God" has already come (but with the restriction that we are still in a so-called "Pacification Stage"), right?
QUESTION: What, specifically, marked the actual beginning of Christ's Kingdom, as he meant it in Matthew 16:28? When, looking back, can we now recognize as the day on which "the Son of Man, etc."?
What proportion of Christ's listeners "there" in that room at the time of the pronouncement of Matthew 16:28 had not yet tasted of Death when the Son of Man came into his Kingdom? Was it six weeks later? Six months? Six years? Six decades? Six centuries? Please be as concrete as you can.
Now, given an event of such magnitude of which you have personal (secret) knowledge, would you use that formulation ("some of you right here will not have tasted of Death" before that event occurs) to explain to your listeners when that event will happen?
Would you, as a listener, have heard that and thought, "Oh, He probably means that He will come into his Kingdom in one month!"?
If you knew that that event would take place within one month, would you have formulated it in that way? "Not all of you will be dead by the time that happens."
Or does Christ's formulation rather strongly suggests that, in all probability, decades would transpire before the event of which He was speaking would transpire?
Very much looking forward to your reply!
Regards,
Nice explanation!
Our pastor likens it to Normandy. At that point the war was won - and even the Germans knew it. Although the Germans (as does Satan) knew the war was lost, they did their worst in the meantime.