How does this reference to the kingdom tie in since it is written to the church?
You asked — How does this reference to the kingdom tie in since it is written to the church?
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One author, J. Dwight Pentecost, wrote regarding “The Relationship of the Church to the Kingdom of God”
http://www.pre-trib.org/data/pdf/Pentecost-TheRelationshipoftheC.pdf
A partial quote (below) will give you some idea. The idea, is that God’s rule is absolute and is through all ages, and He sets up His rule in certain ways through all those ages (as is explained in Dispensationalism). That rule takes up different forms during the different ages.
We first started on the discussion about God’s kingdom in reference to the “sheep and goat judgment of the nations” (an event that happens at Christ’s return to set up the Millennial Kingdom) and the “wheat and tares parable” about separating out the tares (the culmination and end-point of this parable comes about at the end of the age, when the Millennial Kingdom is being set up).
These pertain to the coming kingdom of God, on this earth, a literal kingdom, with Christ on the Throne of David, ruling and reigning over all the nations of the world, for that 1,000 years (and then, of course, the continuation of God’s rule, with the Great White Throne Judgment and afterwards, a new heavens and a new earth, and eternity after — yet another “absolute rule” of God over all of creation).
Then you were asking about a kingdom relationship. And then I prefaced my comments to say that what we were, of course, talking about in the Rapture Caucus was related to all those things that were together — which is the Rapture, the Tribulation and the Kingdom of God on this earth during the 1,000 year reign of Christ.
I pointed out that others did “spiritualize away” those things (especially Christ’s Millennial Kingdom on earth) in connection with the Rapture (i.e., the Tribulation and the coming literal kingdom of God on this earth, with Jesus, the Messiah of Israel ruling and reigning over all the nations).
And, I said that I did know about people being saved “now” (in our present age and, thus, being under God’s rule now), and being a new creature in Christ and of having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each Christian.
When you go outside of the realm of what Jesus was saying about the coming kingdom of God, that 1,000 year reign here on earth, on the Throne of David, in Israel — to — God’s rule over all of creation from the beginning to now... you’re covering a wide subject, then.
And thus, that’s why I suggest J. Dwight Pentecost’s little writing here. He does attempt to briefly cover God’s rule, in terms of His Kingdom through all ages.
But, mind you..., you’re talking about a topic area which is voluminous and goes far beyond just what is coming up, per Jesus’ Olivet discourse, and the coming kingdom of God on this earth, with Jesus ruling and reigning over all the nations of the world, on the Throne of David, for that 1,000 years.
So, you can dive into it here... :-)
What is the major theme or purpose that encompasses God’s overall master plan? Dr Pentecost believes that the drama of history revolves around the kingdom of God. This theme is traced from Genesis to Revelation, illustrating God’s right to rule and the form that His kingdom takes through the various epochs of history. Anyone interested in the study of Bible prophecy has to deal with the vital issue of the role of the kingdom of God and how this important theme is developed throughout the Bible.
God is sovereign, and as Sovereign He rules eternally in a kingdom in which He is the absolute authority. In order to understand the biblical concept of “kingdom,” we must recognize that it includes several ideas: the right to rule, a realm in which ruling authority is exercised, and the reality of that authority actually being exercised.
The Kingdom in Eternity
Concerning God’s kingdom, the Bible presents two aspects: the eternal aspect and the temporal aspect. The eternal kingdom is characterized by four essential truths: 1) It is timeless; 2) it is univer-sal; 3) it is providential; 4) it is miraculous.
In eternity past, before the creation of the angels, the earth, and man, a kingdom existed in the sphere of “the heavenlies” because of the relationship among the members of the Trinity. God the Father was sovereign. God the Son, although equal in person, was subordinate to the Father. God the Holy Spirit was the active executor of the will of the Father (Gen. 1:2-3). Thus in eternity past there was a kingdom, involving the right to rule, as well as the sphere in which the right operated and the rule was exercised. Indeed, all the elements essential to a kingdom were present. This kingdom arises from the character of God and reaches from eternity to eternity.
God’s kingdom was displayed in the angelic realm before it was developed on the earth. The created angelic hosts in that kingdom were subject to the Sovereign, and they worshiped Him and obeyed Him. This continued until the fall of Lucifer and the angels who followed him in rebellion.
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With the call of Abraham, God introduced a new form of the-ocratic administration. He instituted the Abrahamic Covenant that promised Abraham a land, seed, and blessing. Throughout the Old Testament-through that expanding covenant
program-God administered His theocracy here on earth.
The kingdom program was then developed with the nation Israel through the covenants God made with them: the Abrahamic (Gen. 15:18), the Davidic (2 Sam. 7:14), the New (Jer. 31:31-34), and the Palestinian (Deut. 28-30). These eternal, unconditional, irrevocable covenants determined the ultimate form of the kingdom of the God of heaven on earth.
While the covenants promised a kingdom here on earth, it was the prophets who described the glories of that kingdom. The prophets of the Old Testament had proclaimed a message of hope that caused Israel to eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of God’s covenants and promises to them. David’s son the Messiah would come to bring peace, righteousness, and prosperity to the nation. He would come as a Savior to redeem and as a Sovereign to reign. The nations which had persecuted Israel would be subjugated to Him, and Israel would know the promised peace which the Prince of Peace would bring. Her accumulated sins would be put away and she would experience forgiveness and life in righteousness. Such was the hope of Israel.
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In light of all this, the following questions arise. What happens to God’s kingdom, of which the Davidic millennial kingdom is only an earthly form, in this present age when the millennial kingdom has been postponed? What form does the kingdom take in this present age? What are the essential characteristics or features of God’s kingdom in this present age?
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It must be noted that, though reference is made to Israel’s covenants in writing epistles to believers in the church, it does not mean that the church becomes Israel or deprives Israel of a future fulfillment of the covenants made with that nation.
Whenever “Israel” is used in the Scripture, whether in reference to an individual (Rom. 11:1) or a nation (9:4), without exception it refers to those who are physical descendants of Abraham. Paul makes this clear when he defines an Israelite as “a descendent of Abraham” in 11:1. Gentiles, by faith in Christ and by virtue of their relationship to Christ, who is a descendant of Abraham, are called the seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:29). The covenants were made with the physical descendants of Abraham. Those related to Abraham by faith may receive benefits from the covenants God gave that people, but they do not supplant the nation as recipients of the covenants.
The covenants did provide for universal blessings, which are applicable to Gentiles and to the church. Universal blessing was part of the Abrahamic promises (Gen. 12:3), which are fulfilled through Christ as Abraham’s seed. Universal blessings are promised through the Davidic covenant, for Gentiles will be a part of the kingdom ruled over by David’s son (Luke 2:10). These blessings come on the Gentiles who participate in Messiah’s earthly rule. Universal blessings are promised through the new covenant (Joel 2:28-32). These blessings will be experienced by Gentiles when the Spirit is poured out on all flesh, so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (v. 32). However, the enjoyment of these blessings that flow from Israel’s covenants does not mean that the nation will not eventually enjoy the fullness of those blessings into which we enter by faith today.
And on it goes...
But, in connection with this Rapture Caucus, we can see that from the Rapture, comes the Tribulation (because there are going to be people still here and Revelation describes what is happening), and because of the Tribulation, there is a Kingdom of God, set up here on earth, with the Messiah of Israel, ruling and reigning over the nations of the world (because there are people still alive on earth when He returns and hence, the Millennial Kingdom, as briefly described in Revelation, but also described in various places in the Old Testament).
In describing the God’s earthly kingdom rule — as promised to the nation of Israel, and to be fulfilled in that Millennial Kingdom, that naturally follows from the Rapture, the Tribulation and then the Millennial Kingdom, as they are all tied together. It would be impossible to have the one without the others, as it is described. That’s why it’s been part of the Rapture Caucus.
But, to go into the wide range of God’s rule over all of His creation, in the various ages, which would be essential (I would think) to understand what is meant by the kingdom, in terms of God’s absolute and authoritative rule over everything, and over all time — that would probably be another thread, too.
I just covered a bit of it here briefly. But, in another thread, perhaps it could be discussed in more depth, then. However, one would also find (in another thread) — a *whole lot* of dissenters and probably a whole lot in the way of big-time arguments. It’s nice to be able to discuss things like the Rapture here, and the accompanying things that go along with it, in a nice and comfortable manner — but I don’t think you’ll find the same thing going on in another thread with this subject that you’re talking about ... :-)