Introduction
It is universally acknowledged that we live in a period of great declention where low spiritual & moral conditions abound. Perhaps this is understandable among the "unsaved", but we speak of the elect! Could the reason for this terrible state be a wrong understanding of the Scripture? Granted that the current state of affairs is indicative of last days (2 Ti 3:1), but we believe that wrong doctrine always leads to bad practices, and perhaps the sloth that has set in is also because of a wrong understanding of the "whole counsel of God".
Sola scriptura was one of the five rallying cries of the "Protestant Reformation" movement, Martin Luther being its point man. No doubt, we are greatly indebted to him and others who brought us out of the spiritual "Dark Ages"; and yet, it was Luther himself who wrote,"...St. James' Epistle is really an epistle of straw". Over the years, we have relegated many portions of Scripture to a second tier simply because they do not conform to our "Theology". We treat a major portion of the first three Gospels as "Jewish" - having no instruction for us. Not only have we developed a diminished appreciation of the Gospels but also the Epistles of Peter, James and Jude, the Epistle to the Hebrews and the book of Revelation. We ask the question, "...but should it be so?" Nowhere is the confusion as great as in the "Kingdom" passages. Consider these questions -
- What is the kingdom of God?
- Is the kingdom of God the same as the kingdom of heaven?
- When did the kingdom start and when will it end?
- Is the kingdom spiritual or literal or both?
- Is the kingdom a reward to be won through faithful living or is it a guaranteed reality to all believers, irrespective of their works?
- How does the kingdom relate to Dispensational teaching?
- Is the kingdom "heaven" or something else?
- Does the "gospel of the kingdom" apply to Jews only or is it also for the Church?
- Does salvation relate to kingdom teaching and if so, how?
If these questions have ever crossed your mind, then you are not alone. Many Christians have wrestled with these and other such inquiries regarding the kingdom of Christ. On the other hand, some have not given the subject much thought. Wherever you find yourself, one thing is clear—the kingdom is a major theme throughout Scripture and, therefore, demands the attention of all God's children.
This site is designed with the goal of aiding God's people into a true and balanced understanding of God's kingdom. We do not pretend to have all the answers, nor do we suppose a "corner market" on the truth. We simply desire to be our "brother's keeper" and share with you, our reader, what we believe to be God's mind on the matter.
One final thought. Many Christians are familiar with the fact that the Bereans were deemed "noble-minded" because they viewed the Scriptures as their final authority. (Acts 17:11) But many forget that they examined the Word in light of what an apostle taught. What do we learn from this? Even the most trusted and honored teachers need to be evaluated in the light of Scripture.
May our most cherished convictions drop to the ground if Scripture does not support them.
"And this
Inquire of the Former Age by G. H. Lang
It has been remarked above that the enemy of all truth has always studied to confuse good men upon the two great subjects of the church of God and the return of the Lord. As to the latter matter the Lord very specially warned us that false prophets would seek to lead astray the very elect, and Paul warned the Thessalonian believers against this attempt by spirit agents (Matthew 24:11; Luke 21:8; 2 Thes. 2:2). It was therefore to be expected that an attack would be launched against that fresh search into prophecy a century ago.
It soon transpired that two of the most learned and powerful men in that notable group (J. N. Darby and B. W. Newton) held divergent views. They agreed upon such major matters as that the kingdom of God could not be established on earth until the return of the King; that His return to the earth would be preceded by the rise and reign of the Antichrist and the persecution of the godly by him; that his destruction, the deliverance of the godly, the overthrow of Gentile world rule, the reinstatement of the Jewish people as the chief nation on earth - would all attend this descent of Christ to the earth. And they both expected that the descent of the Lord would effect a resurrection of dead saints and be accompanied by a rapture of the living.