038. Coming, The Second, and the Kingdom

038. Coming, The Second, and the Kingdom

38 THE SECOND COMING AND THE KINGDOM

INTRODUCTION A close connection between these two; the understanding depends on scripture teachings; scripture teaching depends on ourinterpretation of it.

I. THE TWO KINDS OF BIBLICAL LANGUAGE 1. Plain , simple, literal statements .

2. Figurative or symbolic statements.

3. One class claims to take everything literal and accuses the other of "spiritualizing."

4. The other accuses the one of "literalizing."

5. Who shall determine which application to make?

II. IS THE KINGDOM HERE NOW?

1. Some say no.

(a) That Christ has not yet received a kingdom. (b) That he is not on his throne now. (c) That he is on his Father’s throne now. (d) His kingdom will be given to him when he comes.

2. Others say kingdom is now here.

(a) That it began on Pentecost. (b) Christ is now reignin g. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28.) (c) He is now on David’s throne. (Acts 2:29-36.) (d) His kingdom will continue unchanged until final judgment. (e) Will then deliver it back to God. lll. NATURE OF THE KINGDOM 1. Some kingdom now in existence.

(a) If not Christ’s then God’s. (b) If not Christ’s, then this must cease or else two here at same time. (c) What is the relation of this one to that one? Their mission?

2. Some say it will be a material kingdom.

(a) That Christ came to earth at first to establish an earthly one. (b) That the Jews rejected him, hence the delay of his kingdom.

3. It is a spiritual kingdom.

(a) It is not of this world . (John 18:36.) (b) Not an outward but an inward kingdom. (Luke 17:20-21; Romans 14:17.) (c) Christ to rule as Lord in the heart. (1 Peter 3:15.) IV. CHURCH AND KINGDOM IDENTICAL 1. Admitted that some kingdom now here .

(a) Then th at one the same as the church . (b) Or God ha s two-church and the kingdom.

2. New Testament declares them to be the same.

(a) Chri st. (Matthew 16:18-19.) (b) Paul. (Colossians 1:13.)