Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Historic & Scriptural Baptist Position Concerning the Kingdom of God – PART THREE of NINE
August 5, 2019
Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Historic & Scriptural Baptist Position Concerning the Kingdom of God
PART THREE
There are three aspects to the Kingdom of God
When we understand the kingdom of God, we must understand the three aspects of it. Scriptural references are obvious to which aspect being spoken of according to context. There is the present aspect, the coming aspect of the Millennial Kingdom in its fullness, and finally, the aspect of the time following the Millennial where all will be concluded unto the Father with a new earth and new heaven.
The Present Kingdom
The Kingdom of God was prophesied and understood to begin with the (first) coming of the Messiah. The first mention was in Genesis 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come: ..” The scepter is the symbol of the kings. This scepter would not depart from Judah until Shiloh come. There has been no king in Judah since the Lord came. This is one of many Scriptures that reveal that the Lord’s kingdom was set up in his earthly ministry. It is in effect now, awaiting its fullness when He returns.
This truth was also laid down clearly in Daniel 2, when the prophet Daniel explained the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. There were five kingdoms that were illustrated by the parts of the image of gold, silver, brass, iron and clay. Daniel 2:44 says: “And in the days of these kings shall God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” It is clear in this passage that the God of heaven will set up a kingdom in the days of these kings; NOT sometime after they are gone. Those kingdoms were defined in the text as Persia, Media, Greece, Rome and a residue with Rome. The kingdom of heaven would be set up while one of these is in power. As we know, the Lord came in the days of Rome. The text goes on to say in Daniel 2:45: “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” That stone that was cut out without hands was the rock of Himself, on which the Lord Jesus Christ built His church. (MT 16:18).
(PRESENT KINGDOM to be continued)
Thomas E. Kresal from: “The Mystical Invisible Universal Church” by Les Potter, Chapter 3 pg. 25-33
Book is available at a very reasonable price : www.localchurchbiblepublishers.com
NOTE from Tom: This is a nine part series and I would ask that you please read every segment before you attack the Biblical, age old doctrine held by Baptists through the centuries. Many a Baptist has unwittingly been taught Protestant theology (including yours truly) and I understand the desire to defend your position (been there done that). Please keep in mind “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (Proverbs 18:13)
Recent Comments