Understanding the Kingdom of God

Class Outline

1. The Debate2. The Old Testament

Hope3. A False Premise4. Fulfillment without

Consummation5. God’s Reign 16. God’s Reign 27. The mystery of the

Kingdom8. The Kingdom and the

Church9. The Kingdom and

Ethics10.The End11.The Kingdom without a

King

Central to Jesus’ teaching

• 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

• 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23

• 31 [Paul] proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28:31

Two usages

#1: Future reality (not yet)#2: Present reality (already)

Two usages (not yet)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:21-23

Two usages (not yet)

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” … 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:16, 23-24

Two usages (not yet)

47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. Mark 9:27

Two usages (already)17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any

kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Luke 11:17-20

Two usages (already)

20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20-21

Two views“Realized Eschatology” “Consistent Eschatology”PresentProcess of historyWork of churchPrimarily ethical

FutureCataclysmicWork of GodNot ethical, just get in

What are the ethical demands of the kingdom?What can we do to bring the values and benefits of the kingdom now?

When will the Kingdom come?What will the age be like?Who will get in?

Issues with the two views

A few problems with pure “realized eschatology”• Doesn’t take into account Jesus’ apocalyptic teaching• Places man as the primary agent of the kingdom• Tends to focus on benefits of the kingdom, instead of the

KingA few problems with pure “consistent eschatology”• Focuses too much on the “when”• Devalues the ethical implications• Leads to a desire to just wait, instead of enjoying present

benefits

Can the views be reconciled?(A Preview of where we are going)

1. Kingdom language is complex2. The Kingdom is the active reign of God3. The Kingdom has a King: the Messiah4. Jesus’ very presence itself is the coming of the

Kingdom5. The Kingdom came when Jesus came to earth, but it

came as a mystery6. The Kingdom is still active through the working of

the Spirit7. The Kingdom will be fully realized when Jesus

returns