Kingdom Confusion Abounds

Among Bible teachers there are various views of the kingdom that was predicted by the Old Testament prophets. For example, the amillennial view claims that we are living in that promised kingdom today. But when you compare the promises in the Old Testament about the kingdom with the conditions on earth today, it does not seem possible that we are living in that predicted kingdom. Floyd Hamilton (amillennialist) conceded, “Now we must frankly admit that a literal interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies gives us just such a picture of an earthly reign of the Messiah as the premillennialist pictures. That was the kind of Messianic Kingdom that the Jews of the time of Christ were looking for, on the basis of a literal kingdom interpretation of the Old Testament promises.” Another amillennialist, Oswald Allis, admits that “the Old Testament prophecies if literally interpreted cannot be regarded as having been yet fulfilled or as being capable of fulfillment in this present age.” In order to get us into the kingdom today, the amillennialist must abandon the tried-and-true literal interpretation of prophecy.

Other theologians say that we are living in an “already / not yet” form of that promised kingdom. They claim that Jesus is sitting on David’s throne in heaven, and we are living in an inaugurated type of the millennial kingdom. However, nowhere does Scripture say that Jesus is currently sitting on David’s throne in heaven. According to the Book of Revelation, Satan will be bound with a chain during the millennial Kingdom. If we are in the Kingdom today and he is bound, then he must be on a very long chain.

Today confusion abounds in Christendom regarding the millennial Kingdom. Therefore, our biblical resources group decided that we need to right a position paper on this topic. As we began that project, we realized that it would be better to do a two-part series entitled The Coming Millennial Kingdom. In part one, we will cover:

1. The Battle for the Theocratic Kingdom.
2. Some Views of the Millennial Kingdom.
3. Some Consequences of Erroneous Views.

In part two, we will examine some difficult passages of Scripture relating to The Coming Millennial Kingdom.

Your prayers are much appreciated as we tackle this writing project.

Blessings,

Bob

***

Literal Interpretation

About the time of the End, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation in the midst of much clamor and opposition. —Sir Isaac Newton

What Is Justification?

The book of Zechariah has an interesting account of a high priest named Joshua. He was “standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him (3:1).” It is no wonder that Satan, the accuser of the brethren, was ready to indict this high priest. We are told that “Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel (3:3).” Those standing near Joshua were told, “Remove the filthy garments from him (3:4).” Then Joshua was told, “I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes (3:4).”

This is a beautiful picture of what happened the moment that we trusted Christ as our Savior. Our sins were removed, and we were clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

Paul explained it like this, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (1 Cor. 5:21).” Some have called this “The Great Exchange.” Jesus, the Sinless One, took our sin upon Himself and gave us the righteousness of God.

This “Great Exchange” is the doctrine of “justification.” Some have said that justification means “just as if I had never sinned.” But that is only half the story. When a person trusts Christ for salvation their sins are removed (expiation) and they have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them (imputation). Justification has a two-fold aspect. We could say that justification equals expiation plus imputation.

Expiation is the negative aspect of justification. It is the principle of subtraction. Dr. Ryrie wrote, “Expiation is the removal of impersonal wrath, sin, or guilt.”

Imputation is the positive aspect of justification. It is the principle of addition. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). We were guilty of sin, and we owed a debt of sin. When we were justified through faith in Christ’s death on the cross, God not only wiped out that debt of sin (expiation), He also added the righteousness of Christ to our account. Dr. Ryrie explains, “The remedy for … sin is the imputed righteousness of Christ. The moment anyone believes, Christ’s righteousness is reckoned or imputed to that individual. As … believers are in Christ, and being in Him means that His righteousness is ours.” It is that basis upon which we are “accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6).”

Blessings,

Bob

***

Accepted in the Beloved

by C.H. Mackintosh

All believers, are accepted—perfectly and forever accepted—in the Beloved. God sees them in Christ, and as Christ. He thinks of them as He thinks of Him; loves them as He loves Him. They are ever before Him, in perfect acceptance in the blessed Son of His love, nor can anything, or anyone, ever interfere with this their high and glorious position, which rests on the eternal stability of the grace of God, the accomplished work of His Son, and attested by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.