KINGDOM - OLOGY 1

Nothing has done more for my understanding of the whole Bible than the insights I received when I discovered that the Kingdom thoroughly runs the whole gamut of the Bible from page 1 to the end of Revelation. I will endeavor to help all those who will follow with these articles that I know will make verses come to an understanding of what they actually meant in the plan that God had before the world was even created.

THE CHRONOLOGY OF'THE MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM OF GOD

            Any serious student of the Word of God must admit that Dr. John Bright was right in his observation that "the Kingdom of God involves, in a real sense, the total message of the Bible." The word kingdom itself appears more than 450 times in the Bible. Of this number approximately two hundred make reference to a divine kingdom. But the theme is not limited to the word kingdom (Heb. malkutt'l Greek basileia), for the idea is woven into the very warp and woof of the Scriptures. Old Testament and New Testament are joined together in the presentation of one great drama. Act I is set forth in the Old Testament and points forward to the conclusion in Act II. Act II is set forth in the New Testament and brings the drama to its grand consummation. Dr. John Bright gives a brilliant description:

“The two Testaments are organically linked to each other. The relationship between them is neither one of upward development nor of contrast; it is one of beginning and completion, of hope and fulfillment. And the bond that binds them together is the dynamic concept of the rule of God. There is indeed a 'new thing' in the New Testament, but it lies precisely here. The Old Testament is illumined with the hope of the coming kingdom, and that same Kingdom lies at the heart of the New Testament as well. But the New Testament has introduced what we might call a tremendously significant change of tense. To the Old Testament the fruition and victory of God's Kingdom was always a future, indeed an eschatological thing, and must always be spoken of in the future tense: 'Behold, the days are coming'; 'It shall come to pass in those days'. But in the New Testament we encounter a change: the tense is a resounding present indicative—the Kingdom is here. It is here in the sense that the central aspect of that Kingdom has arrived in the person of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Mark puts it in his gospel: 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). The good news centering in this new thing is that the King has arrived on the scene. What the ages have to see is now here in this Jesus (Luke 10:23-24). In him the old order has ended and the new order is now in procession.”

            But at this point a word of caution must be sounded. This grows out of the fact that the concept of the Kingdom of God moves in two great spheres. The average reader could therefore be very easily confused as he confronts both. One has to do with a kingdom of God that is immediate and universal. This kingdom has existed from the beginning and is providential in its operation. The Scripture is abundant in testimony to the existence of this kingdom. “The Lord is King forever and ever” (Psa. 10:16). “The Lord sitteth King forever" (Psa. 29:10). He is "King of old" (Ps. 74:12). "He is the living God, and an everlasting king" (Jer. 10:10). “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all" Psa. 103:19). For "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (Dan. 4:18, 25, 32).

             This aspect of the kingdom is not the subject of this series of articles.

            The second aspect of the kingdom of God for discussion in this series of messages is the Mediatorial Kingdom. This is future and eschatological. It was in the plan and purpose of God for mankind from all eternity. Its progressive development can be traced from the moment of creation to its final and complete establishment in the eternal state. It was anticipated in Adam. In lower form it was inaugurated in miniature with Moses. There was decline and withdrawal of the historical form. A mystery form of the kingdom is in operation today. At Christ's second coming the first phase of realization will be initiated. At the completion of a thousand years there will be ideal realization and induction into the eternal state.

            This is the Mediatorial Kingdom that constitutes the great message of the Scriptures and is being progressively realized through the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ among the sons of men. This is the theocratic, Messianic kingdom planned for establishment in the earth. It will be: the rule of God through a divinely chosen representative who speaks and acts for God; a rule which has especial reference to the human race, although it finally embraces the universe; and its Mediatorial ruler is always a member of the human race. The first phase of realization and achievement will take place during the millennial reign of Christ during which He will progressively bring every enemy into subjection to His rule, the last enemy being death (1 Cor. 15:25-26). The final, complete, and everlasting phase will be in the eternal state (1 Cor. 15:24, 27-28; Rev. 21 and 22).

            This subject will constitute the substance of the four lectures in this series of studies. The subject matter will be arranged under the following four heads:

I. THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM

III. THE CONTINGENCY OF THE MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM

IV. THE CONTINUATION OF THE MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM