Present Age, Millennium or Eternal State? Isaiah and Daniel – Part 2

ISAIAH Isaiah contains far more millennial passages than any other book in Scripture, including some of the most descriptive and comprehensive.  Following the classic depiction of the Millennium in Isaiah 11:6-9, is the instructive 11:10-12: In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his […]

Present Age, Millennium or Eternal State? Torah and Psalms – Part 1

Passages on the Millennium are found regularly throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.  Many fail to recognize this because a given writer did not explicitly mention a thousand year reign of the Messiah.  This is not a problem, as the specificity of the thousand years in Revelation 20 is a product of progressive revelation.  However, […]

A Biblical Survey of the Kingdom: A Light to the World – Part 6

After pleading with his Jewish brother to come to Jesus so that He may bring the kingdom (Acts 3:17-21), Peter referenced the Torah in Acts 3:22-23: Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.  And it shall be that […]

A Biblical Survey of the Kingdom: Not Yet – Part 5

There is a popular theory on the Kingdom of God, first developed in the early 20th century by Geerhardus Vos, known as already but not yet.  The notion holds that the saints are currently partaking in the kingdom, while at the same time awaiting its arrival in a fuller and more glorious expression.  There are […]

A Biblical Survey of the Kingdom: Still Coming – Part 4

That the kingdom did not come in the gospel accounts is vindicated with the apostles’ question and Jesus’ response in Acts 1:6-7: So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has […]

A Biblical Survey of the Kingdom: the Gospel of the Kingdom – Part 3

The theme of Matthew’s Gospel is Jesus Christ as King and the Kingdom of God.  Matthew wrote of the offer of the King and the kingdom He brings, mysteries and parables about the kingdom and Israel’s rejection of the King and thus the kingdom.  The Jews were expecting a literal, earthly and Davidic kingdom, fulfilling […]

A Biblical Survey of the Kingdom: Kingdom of Priests – Part 2

Though promises were made to Abraham and his descendants through Jacob, the Israelites were not part of a kingdom for over four centuries.  After the Exodus from Egypt, the people came to Mount Sinai.  It was there where the LORD told Moses to tell the house of Jacob the following in Exodus 19:4-6: You yourselves […]

A Biblical Survey of the Kingdom: Kingdom at Creation – Part 1

Narratives on the Kingdom of God literally bookend the Bible.  The kingdom’s loss and expectation of its restoration is the very saga of the Scriptures.  This is the theme of the Bible and the overall story it tells.  The kingdom was active at creation, in the Garden of Eden, with God, Adam and Eve.  We […]

The Kingdom According to the Prophet Daniel

A GREAT IMAGE The clearest explanation of the Kingdom of God comes from the Book of Daniel, especially in chapters two and seven.  In chapter two, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has a dream of a great and frightening image with a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a core and thighs […]

Calvin Said That the Apostle’s Question in Acts 1:6 Was Foolish. Was it?

John Calvin was a theologian par excellence and a brother in Christ that this author deeply admires.  However, like anyone else, Calvin was not free from bias when interpreting Scripture. So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6 (ESV) As part of Calvin’s […]