The popular conception that there will be certain “signs” that precede the coming of Jesus distracts the church from its proper focus and instead encourages a way of thinking that is antithetical, and shall I say harmful, and even destructive, to the work of the Gospel. Learning a lesson from history The panic of Covid-19 is only the latest stir to arouse the conviction that indeed these are the “last days.” Now, it is worth noting that we can learn... Read more
Holy Week typically presents an occasion for which most Christians, including evangelicals, use to reflect on what Christ “has done for us.” Though this is great, I do think it misses a vital point. One of the primary elements of Holy Week is the fact that Christ has brought us redemption! As the Gospel of Mark notes, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark... Read more
Amidst the fervor of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting chaos that many societies are experiencing, there are always some who are using this as an opportunity to cry out that the end of the world is coming! According to some, and I am relieved that it has only been a few, Covid-19 is proof that the plagues of the book of Revelation, in particular the seven Seals of Revelation 6:1-8:1, are happening and the imminent return of Jesus is... Read more
The kingdom of God stands in radical opposition to the kingdoms of the world because it operates by way of love Another point of confusion for many is that the kingdom of God is often referred to in the NT as “above.” As I noted earlier, Paul tells the Colossians to, “Set your minds on things above” (Col 3:2; cf 3:1-4). If we think of this in terms of an Epicurean dualism, mentioned at the outset of this series of... Read more
Another key to understanding the nature of the kingdom of God is to discern that the kingdom of God refers to that which will last forever, while the kingdoms of the world are passing away. This means that, since love is eternal (1 Cor 13:13), anytime we love (i.e., unconditional, sacrificial love and not a self-gratifying lust) we are living in accord with the kingdom of God. In order to understand fully the nature of the kingdom of God it... Read more
As Covid-19 sweep across the world the question is: Is this an act of God in judgment on the world? Many Christians wrestle with the depictions of the love of God and His wrath (and if they don’t wrestle with such things they should). The Old Testament certainly appears to present God as inflicting suffering and wrath upon the nations. He floods the Earth. He punishes Egypt with a series of plagues—including the slaughtering of the firstborn sons of Egypt.... Read more
Instead of receiving authority over the kingdoms of the world at the behest of Satan, Jesus has become the “king of kings” through His sacrificial death and resurrection. The rulers of the kingdoms Another means of distinguishing between the kingdoms of the world/the present age and the kingdom of God/the age to come is to note that each kingdom/age has its own ruler.Paul notes, in reference to Satan: “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the... Read more
That the kingdom of God is eternal is why we should store up our treasures there. Kingdom of God is eternal A key distinction between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God is that the kingdoms of the world are destined to perish, while the kingdom of God lasts forever. We see this in Jesus’ assertion that, “the harvest is the end of the age” (Matt 13:39). Similarly, Paul claims, “Yet we do speak wisdom among those... Read more
In the present time both the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of the world exist. One of the foundational differences between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of the world is in regards to time. The NT often refers to the two kingdoms in terms of the distinction between “this/the age,” (or the “present age”[1]: which represents the kingdoms of the world) and the “age to come”[2] (which represents the kingdom of God). Most Christians naturally assume that... Read more
Many wrongly assume that when the Bible refers to the kingdoms of the world it means the physical realm, and when it refers to the kingdom of God it means the spiritual realm. What is the kingdom of God? Simply put, the kingdom of God refers to the realm in which God reigns. In fact, it might be best in many instances to translate the phrase “the kingdom of God” as the “reign of God.”[1] This helps us to recognize... Read more
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