2.07. Some Closing Thoughts on the Kingdom

Chapter Seven:

Some Closing Thoughts on the Kingdom

What does all this mean? It seems to me that the following points can be concluded from the teachings on the kingdom in Matthew’s gospel:

1. The kingdom of God in Matthew is unified and holistic. All at the same time, it is spiritual, material, ethical, social, political, physical and ecclesiastical.

2. At the same time, the kingdom has temporal components.

3. The kingdom’s nearness was tied to the first phase of Jesus’s earthly ministry. In proclaiming that the kingdom was “near,” Jesus suggested “not that the kingdom has arrived in fullness but that signs of its initial stages have come.”124

4. The kingdom began to arrive with Jesus’s ministry (Phase 1). It was present in the person of the King and the dynamic power that He exercised over demons, disease and death.

5. The kingdom advanced, and continues to advance, in its mystery phase (Phase II) during the inter-advent age. It is played out through the work of kingdom citizens during this present age. The Sermon on the Mount and other standards of kingdom living articulated by Jesus apply completely and directly to kingdom citizens in this inter-advent age.

6. The consummation of the kingdom of God on earth in the form of a thousand year millennial reign (Phase III) is the ultimate goal in biblical history. This event ushers in the final eternal state.125 Several additional observations are also required.

First, this “already - not yet” framework, described above, is a dispensational framework. It does not lead to amillennialism or historic premillennialism. Indeed, dispensationalism has always been an evolving system, continually correcting weaknesses exposed through the criticism of others. This is one of its strengths.126

Second, many revised dispensationalists implicitly adopt an “already - not yet” approach but refuse to use the terminology, presumably, out of fear of being associated with George Ladd. But as Bock stated in Israel, Dispensationalism and the Church: “One should not fear ‘already and not yet’ terminology since all Bible students accept its presence in soteriology: ‘I am saved (i.e., justified) already—but I am not yet saved (i.e., glorified) is good theology.”127

Third, Matthew does not directly address the issue of whether Phase II of the eschatological kingdom is a Davidic phase or something less. Revised dispensationalists affirm that the “mystery form” of the kingdom is spiritual in nature. However, they are not willing to say that it is the same as the eschatological kingdom to come. In contrast, progressive dispensationalists hold that Jesus is already inaugurated as the Davidic king and is now reigning on the throne of David.128 This is probably the principal distinguishing point between the two forms of dispensationalism.129 However, resolution of this issue can only come from an exegetical study of Acts.

Fourth, there appears to be a clear link between the coming of Phase II of the kingdom and the eschatological coming of the Holy Spirit. This needs to be studied in more detail. The debates over the nature of the kingdom of God will continue. However, a careful, exegetical study of the use of the kingdom in Matthew provides at least a framework for continued study. The kingdom came in the presence of Jesus Christ as King. It advances through the lives of kingdom citizens in the present age. It will come fully and completely with the second advent of Jesus Christ. Come, Lord Jesus.

1 Herman Ridderbos, The Coming of the Kingdom (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1962), p. xi.

2 Robert L. Saucy, The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993), p. 81.

3 John Bright, The Kingdom of God (New York: Abingdon Press, 1953), pp. 7, 197, quoted in Herman A. Hoyt, "Dispensational Premillennialism" in The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views, ed. Robert G. Clouse (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1977), p. 64.

4 D. A. Carson, Matthew, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995), p. 101.

5 See Darrell L. Bock, "The Reign of the Lord Christ" in Blaising & Bock, ed., Dispensationalism, Israel, and the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992); Darrell L. Bock, Luke, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994-1996).

6 George Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, revised, Donald Hagner, ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1993, reprinted 1997), p. 55; Ridderbos, p. xii.

7 Millard Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1983-1985), p. 1157.

8 Ibid.

9 Ridderbos, p. xiv.

10 Erickson, p. 1158.

11 Ladd, p. 55; Ridderbos, p. xix.

12 Ladd, p. 56; Ridderbos, p. xxxi.

13 I use this term to describe those dispensationalists who followed and modified the system of Darby, Scofield and Chafer. Revised dispensationalists wrote primarily from the 1950s through the late 1970s (though some are active into the present). Their numbers include John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, and J. Dwight Pentecost. See Craig A. Blaising and Darrrell L. Bock, Progressive Dispensationalism (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), p. 22.

14 Charles Ryrie, Dispensationalism (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1995), p. 148.

15 John F. Walvoord, Major Bible Prophecies (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1991), p. 218.

16 Walvoord, Major Bible Prophecies, p. 207. See also Herman A. Hoyt, "Dispensational Premillennialism," in The Meaning of the Millennium, p. 85-90.

17 Charles Ryrie, Dispensationalism, p. 97.

18 Ibid.

19 Ibid, quoting Mark Saucy, "The Kingdom of God Sayings in Matthew, Bibliotheca Sacra, 151 (April-June 1994): 196.

20 John F. Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1974), p. 9.

21 Ibid, p. 13.

22 Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology vol. II (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, reprinted 1995), p. 604-05.

23 D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1959-1960, reprinted 1997), p. 16.

24 New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1995), note on Matthew 3:2 "kingdom of heaven."

25 Ibid.

26 "The Kingdom of God" in Ibid, p. 1638.

27 See generally, Herman Ridderbos, The Coming of the Kingdom (Philadelphia, PA: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1962); George Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, revised, Donald Hagner, ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1993, reprinted 1997).

28 Richard Gaffin, "A Cessationist View" in Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views, Wayne A. Grudem, ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), p. 29.

29 Bock, "The Reign of the Lord Christ," p. 46.

30 Ibid.

31 See Darrell L. Bock, Luke, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994-1996). The companion volume on Acts is forthcoming.

32 Carson, p. 101.

33 J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1958), p. 427.

34 Ibid, p. 427-28.

35 G.E. Ladd, "Kingdom of Christ, God, Heaven" in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1984), p. 607.

36 Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 30; W.E. Vine, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985), s.v. ’Kingdom’, reproduced in Biblesoft, PC Study Bible [CD-ROM] (Seattle Wash. 1992-1996).

37 E.g., Ed Glasscock, Matthew, Moody Gospel Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1997), p. 70; Carson, p. 100; Ladd, "Kingdom of Christ, God, Heaven," p. 607; Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged in One Volume, ed. Geoffry Bromiley (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1985, reprinted 1992), s.v. "basileia."

38 Alva McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom - Part I" Bibliotheca Sacra 112, no. 145 (1955) (republished on CD-ROM by Logos Research Systems, Oak Harbor, WA, 1997).

39 See, e.g., G.E. Ladd, "Kingdom of Christ, God, Heaven," p. 608.

40 W.E. Vine, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (republished on CD-ROM by Logos Research Systems, Oak Harbor, WA, 1997), s.v. "basileia."

41 Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon (republished on CD-ROM by Logos Research Systems, Oak Harbor, WA, 1997), s.v. "basileia."

42 Bauer, Walter, Gingrich, F. Wilbur, and Danker, Frederick W., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979, republished on CD-ROM by Logos Research Systems, Oak Harbor, WA, 1997), s.v. "basileia.".

43 Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 428-432; McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom - Part I" Bibliotheca Sacra, 112, no. 445 (1955).

44 Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 433-445; McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom - Part I" Bibliotheca Sacra, 112, no. 445 (1955).

45 McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom - Part I" Bibliotheca Sacra, 112, no. 445 (1955).

46 Paul Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), p. 35.

47 Craig A. Blaising and Darrell L. Bock, Progressive Dispensationalism (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), p. 217.

48 McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom - Part I."

49 Ibid.

50 Ibid.

51 Ibid.

52 Blaising and Bock, Progressive Dispensationalism, p. 220.

53 McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom - Part I." See also Herman A. Hoyt, "Dispensational Premillennialism," in The Meaning of the Millennium, p. 82-84.

54 Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 30.

55 R.T. France, Matthew, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1985), p. 90.

56 Carson, p. 100.

57 McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom - Part III" Bibliotheca Sacra, 112, no. 447 (1955).

58 Ladd, "Kingdom of Christ, God, Heaven," p. 609.

59 Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 30.

60 Ibid, p. 38.

61 Carson, p. 117.

62 France, p. 90-91.

63 Carson, p. 117.

64 Glasscock, p. 70.

65 Bauer, Gingrich, and Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, s.v. "basileia."

66 Ibid, s.v. "eggizo."

67 Bock, "The Reign of the Lord Christ," p. 40.

68 Saucy, The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism, p. 83.

69 Ibid, p. 83-84.

70 Ibid, p. 87; Blaising and Bock, Progressive Dispensationalism, p. 241.

71 Saucy, p. 86.

72 Carson, p. 245.

73 France, p. 194; Carson, p. 265.

74 Carson, p. 266.

75 Ibid.

76 Ibid, p. 267 77 Ibid, p. 266.

78 France, p. 196.

79 Robert Saucy, "The Presence of the Kingdom and the Life in the Church," Bibliotheca Sacra, vol. 145, issue 577 (1988) (republished on CD-ROM by Logos Research Systems, Oak Harbor, WA, 1997).

80 Ibid, p. 289. See also Blaising and Bock, Progressive Dispensationalism, p. 249.

81 France, p. 209.

82 Glasscock, p. 270.

83 Blaising and Bock, p. 248.

84 Ibid, p. 251.

85 J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981), p. 206.

86 Bauer, Walter, Gingrich, F. Wilbur, and Danker, Frederick W., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press) 1979, republished on CD-ROM by Logos Research Systems, Oak Harbor, WA, 1997), s.v. "phthano."

87 Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Abridged in One Volume, ed. Geoffry Bromiley (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1985, reprinted 1992), s.v. "phthano."

88 Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981), p. 367. See also Hoyt, p. 85-90.

89 Ernest C. Reisinger, Lord & Christ (Phillipsburgh, NJ: P&R, 1994), p. 22.

90 Kenneth L. Barker, "The Scope and Center of Old and New Testament Theology and Hope" in Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church, p. 315 n.50.

91 Walvoord, Major Bible Prophecies, p. 207.

92 Merrill Unger, New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1988), s.v. ’Messiah’, reproduced in Biblesoft, PC Study Bible [CD-ROM] (Seattle Wash. 1992-1996).

93 Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 30-31.

94 Carson, p. 419.

95 E.g., Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 126.

96 Carson, p. 380.

97 Ibid, p. 382.

98 Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 97.

99 Ibid, p. 96.

100 Carson, p. 304.

101 Ibid, p. 101.

102 Ibid, p. 307.

103 Blaising and Bock, p. 254.

104 Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 99.

105 Carson, p. 317.

106 Ibid, p. 318.

107 Ibid, p. 328-29.

108 France, p. 231.

109 Blaising and Bock, p. 254.

110 In fact, this was the view of L.S. Chafer and the original Scofield Bible. See Charles Ryrie, Dispensationalism (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1995), p. 99.

111 Ibid, p. 100. See also Walvoord, Matthew - Thy Kingdom Come, p. 44-45.

112 France, p. 106.

113 Lloyd-Jones, p. 16.

114 Carson, p. 132.

115 Ibid, p. 170.

116 Ibid.

117 Ibid, p. 181-82.

118 Carson, p. 101.

119 Glasscock, p. 393.

120 Glasscock, p. 464.

121 See generally Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 275-280.

122 Glasscock, p. 490.

123 Carson, p. 539.

124 Bock, "The Reign of the Lord Christ," p. 40.

125 Robert Saucy, p. 81.

126 See Craig A. Blaising, "Development of Dispensationalism by Contemporary Dispensationalists," Bibliotheca Sacra, vol. 145, issue 579 (1988).

127 Bock, "The Reign of the Lord Christ," p. 46.

128 See Blaising & Bock, Progressive Dispensationalism, pp. 174-194.

129 See Ryrie, Dispensationalism, pp. 167-170.