3 Anchored in Truth: Proclaiming the Biblical Gospel

One morning as I paced back and forth in the prayer room at the International
House of Prayer !ansas "ity the story of the #amaritan $oman $as on my mind% The Holy #pirit dropped a phrase into my heart: &I'm thirsty%( As )esus had gone to the #amaritan $oman and asked her for a drink no$ he $as thirsty for more lost human beings to gi*e him a drink of their li*es% I felt a slight impression that later that day I should go to do$nto$n !ansas "ity% That afternoon I dro*e to 3+th street in a $eak attempt to obey $hat I $as interpreting as an assignment from the ,ord% I $ent into a medical clinic but by the time I arri*ed it $as about to close% #o I decided to dri*e some more before heading home% As I dro*e past !ansas -ni*ersity Hospital I felt a small nudge to go into the hospital% I parked the car $alked into the hospital and sat do$n in the lobby not sure ho$ long I should $ait or $hy I $as there% I felt *ery a$k$ard% #hortly after I sat do$n t$o young ladies $ho $ere ob*iously friends $alked up to each other in front of me and began to talk $ithin my hearing% One of the young $omen told her friend that she $as *isiting the hospital because her brother had been hit o*er the head $ith the butt of a gun in a gang.related fight% Though he had been unconscious he $as no$ a$ake but still in great pain% Their mother and her boyfriend $ere up in the room and she $as getting ready to /oin them% 0hen I heard this I mustered up the courage to interrupt% I told the young $oman &I'm a follo$er of )esus% )esus lo*ed to heal the sick and he told his follo$ers to pray for the sick% 1o you mind if I go up to your brother's room $ith you to pray for him2( #he seemed accepting% &3es follo$ me%( I had forgotten my dri*er's license in the car and therefore should not ha*e been able to get through security% Ho$e*er because I $as $ith a family member I $as permitted entry% 0hen $e got to the room the young $oman simply told her mom that I $as there to pray for her brother% After introductions I e4plained the gospel to them% I then laid hands on the brother5$ho $as moaning as he lay on the bed5 and began to pray for him in )esus' name% After I prayed I asked him &Ho$ do you feel2( &It doesn't hurt as much ( he said looking surprised% His sister spoke up% &I'*e been ha*ing some shoulder pain ( she said% &It completely disappeared $hen you prayed%(

I hadn't been a$are she had been in pain% I $ent o*er to her and 6uietly spoke a fe$ $ords about God's lo*e that I felt she needed to hear% Tears began to flo$ do$n her face as the Holy #pirit ministered to her% 7o$ the mother chimed in% #he told us that some back pain she had been e4periencing 8of $hich I had been una$are9 had suddenly disappeared% The boyfriend /ust sat there trying to take e*erything in% I took the opportunity to elaborate on the gospel further and then e4tended an in*itation for them to respond% All four of them ga*e their li*es to )esus on the spot% )esus in turn took a deep drink% At the end of the age )esus $ill return to resurrect his people bodily5real flesh blood bones heart lungs fingers and toes5from the dead and to establish the kingdom of God on the earth for the purpose of restoring the creation he lo*es% As a sign and confirmation of that promise on that day in the hospital )esus touched real human bodies5a head a shoulder and a back5of people $ho had heard the $itness to the bodily resurrection to come%

0hat Is the Gospel2

0hat is the gospel2 Once God has connected us to unbelie*ers persons of peace or e*en potential apostles $hat is the message that he has commissioned us to communicate to them2 -nfortunately this fundamental 6uestion often goes unasked in the Body of :essiah today because of presumed familiarity% Those $ho ha*e gro$n up in churches influenced by 0estern culture are especially prone to o*erlook this basic 6uestion% 0ith so many sermons $orship "1s and Bibles floating around surely $e kno$ $hat the gospel is5 don't $e2 Ho$e*er $hen pressed to gi*e an ans$er many 8if not most9 in the "hurch find themsel*es scrambling to fit the many fragments of truth and catchphrases they ha*e accumulated o*er the years into a coherent presentation% The &mishmash( message that often does emerge is often distorted by unbiblical influences from the Hellenistic $orld*ie$ of the ancient Greeks% :uch of $hat $e call &the gospel( today $ould be hardly recogni;able to the biblical authors all of $hom understood and articulated the content of their message $ithin the matri4 of a Hebraic or )e$ish $orld*ie$% In this chapter I ha*e se*eral purposes% <irstly I $ant to briefly highlight some of the unbiblical $orld*ie$ assumptions of $hich the gospel message needs to be di*ested in order for the Body of :essiah to once again $alk in and testify to the fullness of &the faith that $as once for all entrusted to the saints( 8)d% 39% :any of these to4ic assumptions and ideas continue to e4ert influence on segments of God's people on an unconscious le*el% #econdly I $ill /u4tapose the Greek $orld*ie$ against the biblical Hebraic $orld*ie$% Thirdly I $ill briefly discuss the continuity of the gospel from Old Testament to 7e$% <ourthly I $ill categori;e the core content or kerygma of the message preached by the apostles in the Book of Acts% <inally I $ill briefly e4pound upon the biblically.defined relationship bet$een the gospel message and signs and $onders%

1eto4ifying the :essage

All human societies and cultures operate from a set of unconscious assumptions that together constitute $hat anthropologists call a &$orld*ie$%( "hristian anthropologist and missiologist "harles !raft defines $orld*ie$ as &the culturally structured assumptions *alues and commitments=allegiances underlying a people>s perception of reality and their responses to those perceptions%(? Included in these deep.le*el assumptions are ideals about the $ay life is supposed to $ork as $ell e4planations for $hy it does not actually $ork out that $ay% In other $ords one of the functions of $orld*ie$ is to make sense of the discrepancy $e obser*e and feel bet$een the good $e kno$ ought to be in the $orld and the horrendous mess $e actually see there% :ost cultures moreo*er pro*ide their constituents $ith some type of *ision solution or plan of &sal*ation( to reco*er that lost ideal and restore humanity to $holeness% A simple $ay of saying it is that most cultures ha*e some kind of $orld*ie$ categories for problem solution (salvation) and benefits of the solution% 0hate*er one's culture the human heart remembers a time $hen things $ere right bemoans the fact that they are no longer right and longs for the day $hen things might be made right once again% A $orld*ie$ helps to organi;e this heart dynamic into a coherent picture that pro*ides people $ith a $ay to cope $ith the difficulties they encounter in their daily e4istence% 0e percei*e reality through the spectacles of the $orld*ie$ $e inherit from our cultures% :ost of our li*es are spent looking through our $orld*ie$% @are are the moments that $e stop to consciously look at our o$n $orld*ie$% Of all cultural $orld*ie$s in human history the Hellenistic $orld*ie$ or the $orld*ie$ of the ancient Greeks has e4erted the greatest influence on 0estern societies% The philosopher Alfred 7orth 0hitehead once stated that &the safest general characteri;ation of the Auropean philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato%( B <rom classical Greece #ocrates Plato and their intellectual successors pushed the &sno$ball( of a particular line of thinking do$n the mountain of history that e*entually became transformed into an a*alanche of unpercei*ed and un6uestioned $orld*ie$ assumptions accepted more broadly on a societal le*el% 0hen Ale4ander the Great e4panded his empire throughout the $orld in the fourth century he brought Hellenistic *alues ideas and culture to the lands he con6uered% In the Agyptian city named after him Ale4andria he built the largest library in the ancient $orld% Ale4andria became the primary intellectual center from $hich Hellenistic ideas spread and gained acceptance among scholars and leaders throughout the ancient $orld% Once Hellenistic thinking gained a foothold in Aurope from there it spread to other parts of $hat is no$ kno$n as the &0estern $orld( during the eras of colonialism and imperialism% In the second century the city of Ale4andria began to e4ert great influence on the Body of :essiah% T$o "hristian theologians trained in Greek thought and philosophy5"lement 8c% ?CDEB??9 and Origen 8c% ?FBEBC?95founded a school in Ale4andria in an attempt to reconcile "hristianity $ith Greek philosophy% The

&allegorical approach( to biblical interpretation5$hereby the #criptures $ere to be mined for &deeper( and hidden &spiritual truths( beyond their straightfor$ard literal sense5$as born here% <rom this point on Hellenistic thinking began to seep more and more into "hristian theology influencing theologians such as Augustine $hose $ritings ha*e shaped the 0estern theological tradition more than those of any other single indi*idual: Though the Ale4andrian #chool $as challenged in its mission by the Antiochian #chool $hich espoused a common sense literal interpretation the &spiritual( interpretation of the Bible became pre*alent by the time "onstantine took o*er the @oman Ampire 83BG9 $hich ushered in the age of the synthesis bet$een church and state and sealed the Greek philosophical $orld*ie$ in the mind of the 0estern "hurch by creedal orthodo4y% The "hurch's greatest theologians of the :edie*al Ages such as Augustine 83CG.G3D9 Gregory the Great 8CGD.HDG9 and Thomas A6uinas 8?BBC.?BIG9 $ere thoroughly Hellenistic in their $orld*ie$ and Ale4andrian in their hermeneutic% 3 Through "hristian theologians $hose thinking $as shaped in the mold of Ale4andrian theology the sno$ball pushed do$n the hill by Plato ended up landing in church pe$s% This is true up to the present day e*en for the *ast ma/ority of "hristians $ho ha*e not gone to seminary but $ho ha*e ne*ertheless been taught $eek.in and $eek.out by those $ho ha*e% 0hether $e reali;e it or not Greek thinking has been set like cement in the "hurch's corporate consciousness since Augustine% G Typically the $orld*ie$ of e*ery culture usually consists both of elements that agree $ith biblical truth 8and thus are to be affirmed9 and those that do not agree $ith biblical truth 8and thus need to be changed from God's perspecti*e9% The problem $ith the $idespread infiltration of Greek thought into the "hurch is that so much of it is simply contrary to the Hebraic $orld*ie$ of the Bible% This is one of the reasons $hy so many in the Body of :essiah today do not kno$ ho$ to e4plain the gospel $hen put on the spot: it has been often obscured by unbiblical ideas do$n through the centuries% In order to understand the biblical *ie$ of the kingdom of God then $e must first identify and deto4ify oursel*es of the negati*e influence that Greek $orld*ie$ has e4erted on the "hurch for many centuries% To do this I $ill briefly compare the Greek $orld*ie$ and the biblical $orld*ie$ using the abo*e.mentioned categories of problem solution and benefits of solution%

The Greek 0orld*ie$: Platonic or :etaphysical 1ualism

According to the Greek $orld*ie$ reality 8that $hich e4ists or is real9 is structured on a t$o.fold basis as a dichotomy

bet$een t$o different &realms(: <irst set forth by #ocrates 8c%GID.3++ B"9 and Plato 8c%GBI.3GI B"9 the Hellenistic $orld*ie$ is a form of metaphysical dualism $hich di*ides e4istence into t$o distinct realms% <or Plato this dualism included the unchangeable perfect &intelligible $orld ( $hich is unseen and the corrupt fallen &perceptual $orld ( $hich $e see around us% The perceptual $orld consists of imperfect &copies( of the perfect and ideal intelligible &forms%( :etaphysical 1ualism
Soteriological Orientation Intelligible realm Heaven Supernatural realm

Perceptual realm

This basic split in reality is still the bedrock upon $hich the foundation of the 0estern $orld*ie$ rests% C According to this $orld*ie$ e*erything I see around me is a corrupt and defiled copy of an &ideal( floating around in an abstract place called the &ideal( or &intelligible( realm% <or e4ample $hen I dra$ a circle in the Greek mind that circle is a corrupt &copy( of an abstract &ideal( circle located in the non.material &ideal realm%( To use another e4ample a material apple is simply a corrupt and imperfect copy of the &ideal( apple located in the &ideal realm%( In the Greek $orld*ie$ furthermore the physical $orld around us or the &perceptual realm ( is e*il in itself and thus lies at the center of the problem of human e4istence% The physical material $orld of $hich $e are a part is corrupt in and of itself% #o for e4ample $hen someone commits a se4ual crime against another according to this $orld*ie$ the problem is not that someone used their $ill to indulge their se4ual desires in a $icked $ay% The problem is that the material $orld itself5including se4ual desire5is inherently corrupt and of a &lesser( and inferior 6uality than the postulated &ideal realm%( In the Greek $orld*ie$ the reason $hy life does not $ork as it should is because e*erything physical and material about the $orld $e can percei*e $ith our senses is intrinsically imperfect% Because the problem according to this $orld*ie$ is identified $ith the physical $orld the corresponding solution to the problem or &sal*ation ( is to escape from the corrupt material realm to the so.called perfect superior intelligible realm% Ho$ do $e escape2 Through death% In the Greek $orld*ie$ death is the means by $hich our soul escapes the corrupt material realm and goes home floating a$ay to the intelligible or ideal realm% :oreo*er because

death is the $ay $e achie*e sal*ation5the means by $hich our &souls( mo*e from the &corrupt( material $orld into the &perfect( &ideal realm(5death is understood as the friend of human beings% The benefit in this schema of sal*ation is that the human soul is no longer encumbered by the constraints and corruptions of the material realm% In the &churchy( language $ith $hich this kind of thinking e*entually became clothed $e $ould say that sal*ation means $e &escape( the &toils of this life( to the &bliss( of an abstract fu;;y spiritual realm called &hea*en ( $here $e spend eternity floating on an ethereal cloud playing a harp fore*er% 1eath moreo*er is the means by $hich $e achie*e sal*ation% As $e $ill see $hile it is true that $e are $ith the ,ord in a disembodied state before )esus returns the process of the soul's &hea*eni;ation( is not the focus of sal*ation in the biblical $orld*ie$% In many instances this kind of thinking often degenerated into the early heresy of Gnosticism% In the $ords of Tim 0arner The idea of a hea*enly destiny $as common in the first century among pagans schooled in Greek philosophy% It entered "hristianity gradually after the deaths of the Apostles through the incorporation of elements of Gnosticism% The Gnostics taught that matter $as e*il and the creation $as a mistake made by a lesser god $ho sought to imprison mankind in physical bodies and demand their $orship% "hristian Gnosticism held that )esus came from the supreme God to free mankind from this e*il physical realm in $hich he had been trapped by the lesser god $hom the )e$s $orshipped% )esus' mission $as to sho$ mankind the $ay to a higher hea*enly reality 8not atone for sins9% #al*ation $as attained through le*els of Jgnosis' 8the Greek $ord for Jkno$ledge'9% Through the attainment of supernatural kno$ledge of *arious mysteries con*erts $ere supposed to ad*ance through stages 8helped along the $ay by certain spirit guides9 until one reached the Jpleroma ' the Gnostics' *ersion of Jhea*en%' #ince the material $orld $as e*il Gnostics denied the resurrection of the body as $ell% Being freed from the bonds of earth and the material cosmos so they could soar into the hea*ens $as the hope of the Gnostics% H 0hen the Greek $orld*ie$ penetrated the "hurch the meaning of sal*ation shifted to the soul's escape to the &ideal( or &intelligible( realm% It $as a Platonic concept dressed up in biblical language% #al*ation became &going to hea*en ( escape from a material $orld that God does not really like any$ay and death became the friend by means of $hich $e get to hea*en% Augustine played an influential role in the "hurch's assimilation of this shift: Though generally a follo$er of Origen's allegorical interpretation 8cf% On Christian Doctrine Preface9 Augustine toned do$n the system to make it less ob/ectionable to orthodo4 "hristians 8see Phillip #chaff &Preface to Augustine's The "ity of God ( in The Post

Nicene Fathers Kol% B p%C9% On many points Augustine seems orthodo4 and though gi*ing lip.ser*ice to the resurrection of the body 8cf% City of od BD%H.?GL BB%C.B?L On Christian Doctrine ?:?+. B?9 he sees hea*en as the ultimate end of sal*ation 8cf% City of od ??%?L ?G%BFL ?+%?D.??L BD%?G.BI9 and thus assumes a heavenly resurrection 8cf% City of od ?3%BB.B3L BB%3.G9% Hea*en as the ultimate destiny of the saints is the staple of the amillennial *ie$ that gre$ out of Augustine's allegorical approach to #cripture% I As $e $ill see this is in contrast to the biblical $orld*ie$ for $hich sal*ation is not a heaven!ard movement of the soul that glorifies and immortali;es death but an earth!ard movement of restoration that condemns death and glorifies life on a rene$ed and regenerated earth under the leadership a righteous !ing% F

The Biblical 0orld*ie$: One Household 0orth #a*ing

In contrast to the Greek $orld*ie$ the Bible does not picture reality as split into t$o different realms but as a singular house go*erned by one so*ereign @uler part of $hich is *isible to the human eye in this age 8the earth9 and part of $hich is in*isible 8the hea*ens9% -nlike the Greek $orld*ie$ in $hich there is little if no interaction bet$een the material realm and the ideal realm the biblical $orld*ie$ allo$s dynamic interaction bet$een the hea*ens and the earth% Although the hea*ens are in*isible both are still part of the same house being go*erned by the same ruler God himself% As Genesis ?:? states &In the beginning God created the hea*ens and the earth%( It is like a big li*ing room di*ided only by a light curtain% Though people on both sides cannot see each other they can still interact dynamically 8chart+9: Biblical 0orld*ie$
Heaven Heaven Heaven Earth Visible Invisible

According to the biblical $orld*ie$ there is not an impassible high$ay bet$een hea*en and earth% 7or is the earth a corrupt realm that God $ants either us or himself to escape from% On the contrary God's goal in sal*ation is to repair the earth% He once d$elled here $ithout hindrance and longs to d$ell here $ith human beings in lo*ing fello$ship again:

I sa$ the Holy "ity the ne$ )erusalem coming do!n out of heaven 8earth$ard mo*ement9 from od 8to the earthM9 prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband% And I heard a loud *oice from the throne saying &No! the d!elling of od is !ith men 8on the earth9 and he !ill live !ith them 8on the earthM9% They $ill be his people and God himself $ill be $ith them and be their God%( 8@e*% B?:BE3 emphasis and parenthetical comments added9 0hen human beings rebelled against God in the Garden the presence of sin in them meant that they could no longer endure God's direct holy manifest presence $ithout being obliterated% In his mercy he temporarily $ithdre$ his immediate presence to the other side of the curtain 8the hea*ens9 of his &one house( or &li*ing room ( $here he could still interact redempti*ely $ith human beings $ithout them being destroyed through direct e4posure to his holiness% Ho$e*er $hen he mo*ed to the other side of the &li*ing room ( it $as $ith the promise that he $ould come back to fi4 the other side so that he could d$ell there $ith human beings fore*er% The biblical *ie$ therefore is not of a material $orld corrupt in itself and thus irreparable and $orthy of complete abandonmentL rather it is of a broken sinful creation that God still lo*es refuses to abandon and is deeply committed to fi4ing once and for all% In the meantime he still interacts $ith us dynamically through the other side of the curtain pleading for us to repent and belie*e in )esus $hile there is time so that $e can still li*e in the house $hen he comes to repair it% <rom beginning to end the Bible portrays the God $ho finds great /oy in his creation the One $ho fer*ently lo*es the $ork of his hands% Genesis opens $ith an unambiguous declaration of the goodness of God's creation in his sight: In the beginning God created the hea*ens and the earth N God sa$ all that he had made and it !as very good N Thus the hea*ens and the earth $ere completed in all their *ast array% 8Gen% ?:? 3? emphasis added9 Pro*erbs talks of the eternal 0ord of God as the craftsman $ho e4perienced great delight at the <ather's side as he spoke the uni*erse into e4istence: I $as there $hen he set the hea*ens in place $hen he marked out the hori;on on the face of the deep $hen he established the clouds abo*e and fi4ed securely the fountains of the deep $hen he ga*e the sea its boundary so the $aters $ould not o*erstep his command and $hen he marked out the foundations of the earth% Then I $as the craftsman at his side% " !as filled !ith delight day after day# re$oicing al!ays in his presence# re$oicing in his !hole !orld and delighting in mankind% 8Pr% F:BIE3? emphasis added9 God's lo*e for and commitment to the created order is deep and real% <ar from

seeing the physical uni*erse as corrupt beyond repair as the Greeks did and as many descendents of their $orld*ie$ still do today the reality is that God truly en/oys the $orks of his hands calls them good and $as so committed to fi4ing the earth that he sent his *ery o$n #on to the crossM This brings us to the real problem% If the reason $hy life does not $ork as it should is not the corruption of the created $orld itself as the Greeks asserted $hat is the problem $ith e4istence according to the Bible2 The ans$er is that beginning $ith Adam and A*e human beings ha*e continually risen up in pride and arrogance against God in their hearts and ha*e chosen to e4ercise their $ills in $ays that are hostile and rebellious to$ard God and detrimental to others% The center of the problem $ith e4istence on the earth is not found in the creation but in the $ay human beings manipulate and use the earth for our o$n self. interest self.indulgence and per*erse ends% In the Garden God $as enthroned as the !ing of the hea*ens and the earth and his kingdom $as perfectly at rest 8Gen% ?:? 3?EB:B9% <urthermore he created human beings in his image or likeness 8Gen% ?:BHEBI9% 0hat did this mean2 The eternal God e4ists fore*erL therefore man $ho $as made in the image of God $as created to li*e fore*er by being permitted continual access to the tree of life 8Gen% B:+ ?CE?IL 3:BBEBG9% God functions as a righteous !ing and @uler go*ernmentally o*er his creationL man $as created to rule the earth righteously in partnership $ith God 8Gen% B:BF9% God as the Trinity of <ather #on and Holy #pirit5three Persons subsisting in one indi*isible essence5 eternally e4periences lo*e fello$ship and intimacyL man $as created to $alk $ith God and e4perience intimacy $ith God fore*er% These $ere the blessings that God besto$ed on human beings as the cro$n of his creation% His one stipulation $as for us to humbly ackno$ledge his authority and so*ereignty by not eating the fruit of the tree of the kno$ledge of good and e*il% As long as $e ackno$ledged God's ultimate leadership o*er the hea*ens and earth by obeying this command all $ould be $ell% 0e $ould ne*er die and $e $ould rule and e4perience intimacy $ith Him fore*er% Of course Adam and A*e ate the fruit and $e ha*e been rebelling against God e*er since% The horrible conse6uence of our sin is death% -nlike the Greeks $ho *ie$ed death as the means of sal*ation by $hich $e escape the corrupt material $orld the Bible depicts death and &bondage to decay( 8@om% F:B?9 in the created order as a *ile enemy to be th$arted and o*erthro$n: The ,ord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Aden to $ork it and take care of it% And the ,ord God commanded the man &3ou are free to eat from any tree in the gardenL but you must not eat from the tree of the kno!ledge of good and evil 8rebellious e4ercise of $ill5disobedience9 for !hen you eat 8*iolate the command9 of it you !ill surely die( 8death of the body as conse6uence of *iolation9% 8Ge% B:?CE?I emphasis and parenthetical comments added9 <or he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet%

The last enemy to be destroyed is death% 8? "or% ?C:BCEBH emphasis added9 0here O death is your *ictory2 0here O death is your sting2 8? "or% ?C: CC9 The idea that death is our friend $ould ha*e been absolutely unthinkable to the prophets and apostles% 0hile it is true that those $ho die in :essiah find some kind of temporary respite in the ,ord's presence on &the other side of the curtain( 8see Php% ?:BDEBB9 and though God's use of death in this age is often mysterious 8see Is% CI:?EB9 the biblical hope is unambiguously not the soul's escape to an abstract cloud in hea*enL It is the resurrection of the body# real human flesh&bones# tissue# and ligaments&up from the dirt% As Paul says it our longing and yearning is for our ne$ resurrected bodies that God $ill gi*e to us at :essiah's return: 7o$ $e kno$ that if the earthly tent 8human body sub/ect to decay9 $e li*e in is destroyed 8through death9 $e ha*e a building 8resurrected body9 from God an eternal house in hea*en not built by human hands% :ean$hile $e groan longing to be clothed !ith our heavenly d!elling 8our resurrected body9 because $hen $e are clothed 8$ith our resurrected bodies9 $e $ill not be found naked 8as disembodied spirits9% <or $hile $e are in this tent $e groan and are burdened 8for death introduced at the Garden to be o*erturned cf% @om% F:B39 because $e do not $ish to be unclothed 8i%e% disembodied state of being9 but to be clothed $ith our hea*enly d$elling 8resurrected body not built $ith human hands9 so that !hat is mortal may be s!allo!ed up by life 8in the resurrection of the dead at :essiah's appearing9% 7o$ it is God $ho has made us for this *ery purpose and has gi*en us the #pirit as a deposit guaranteeing !hat is to come 8our o$n bodily resurrection $hen )esus returns cf% "ol% 3:3.GL @om% F:B3 etc%9% 8B "or% C:?EC emphasis and parenthetical comments added9 Brothers $e do not $ant you to be ignorant about those !ho fall asleep 8die9 or to grie*e like the rest of men $ho ha*e no hope% 0e belie*e that 'esus died and rose again 8as a firstfruits of the resurrection of the righteous cf% ? "or% ?C:BD9 and so $e belie*e that od !ill bring !ith 'esus those $ho ha*e fallen asleep in him 8resurrect )esus' follo$ers cf% "ol% 3:3EG9% According to the ,ord's o$n $ord $e tell you that $e $ho are still ali*e $ho are left till the coming of the ,ord $ill certainly not precede those $ho ha*e fallen asleep 8died9% <or the ,ord himself $ill come do$n from hea*en $ith a loud command $ith the *oice of the archangel and $ith the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ !ill rise first 8coming up from the dirt $ith ne$ bodies9% After that $e $ho are still ali*e and

are left $ill be caught up together $ith them in the clouds to meet the ,ord in the air 8in ne$ bodies9% And so $e $ill be $ith the ,ord fore*er 8on the earth purged of death in resurrected bodies9% Therefore encourage each other $ith these $ords 8? Th% G:?3E?F emphasis and parenthetical comments added9% At the center of the biblical hope therefore is the resurrection of the human body% )esus $as raised from the dead on the third day $ith a resurrected imperishable human body 8)n% BD:BI9% He is coming back to destroy death and purge it from our o$n bodies% The biblical hope is not the hea*eni;ation of the soul but the bodily &resurrection of the righteous( 8Ac% BG:?CL )n% C:BFEB+L @e*% BD:H9 by $hich means the saints take their place in the kingdom of God on the earth under )esus' leadership% Aarly church fathers like )ustin ?D Irenaus ?? and Tertullian?B5$ho predated Augustine by more than t$o centuries5$ere adamant passionate and une6ui*ocal on this point% On the tragic side those $ho do not submit to )esus $ill also ultimately recei*e imperishable resurrected bodies in the &resurrection of the $icked( 8Ac% BG:?CL )n% C:BFEB+L @e*% BD:??E ?C9 after $hich they $ill be thro$n into the lake of fire fore*er in an embodied state 8@e*% BD:?C9% This is $hat the Bible calls the &second death( 8@e*% B:?? BD:H9% The enemy of death ho$e*er presupposes another problem% 1eath did not come first but entered the creation through the door of another enemy: sin% 1eath $as the penalty or $ages of Adam and A*e's *iolation of God's statute 8@om% H:B39% To deal $ith the problem of death *ia the solution of resurrection the problem of sin5by $hich means death entered creation5first had to be sol*ed% The problem of sin of course $as dealt $ith through the death sacrifice and atonement of :essiah on the cross by $hich $e recei*e the forgi*eness of sins unto inclusion in the resurrection of the righteous and the kingdom of the :essiah% As the Apostle )ohn puts it )esus &has freed us from our sins by his blood( 8@e*% ?:C9 unto regaining our position in God's kingdom as kings $ho rule $ith Him go*ernmentally and priests $ho $alk $ith Him intimately fore*er 8@e*% ?:H9% Through restored access to the tree of life 8@e*% B:I BB:?G9 our bodies $ill perpetually self.regenerate in order that $e may li*e fore*er /ust as the God in $hose image $e are made li*es fore*er% Ha*ing returned to the beauty of the Garden of Aden life $ill finally be back to normal% In summary according to the biblical $orld*ie$ the basic problem $ith life on the earth is sin and death not the corruption of some so.called &perceptual realm%( The solution or sal*ation is the remo*al of sin through the blood atonement of the :essiah unto the benefit of being included in the resurrection of the righteous and the kingdom of God at )esus' coming% The follo$ing chart summari;es the differences bet$een the Greek and biblical $orld*ie$s:

Greek 0orld*ie$ 8)etaphysical or Platonic

Biblical 0orld*ie$
(*nified )etaphysical +tructure

"onstruc t of @eality

Dualism) T$o houses5&perceptible realm( and abstract &ideal realm(5separated by an impassible interstate no interaction bet$een the houses% The material realm that $e see $ith our eyes is corrupt# contemptible# and imperfect% The ideal realm to $hich the soul goes after death is perfect and incorrupt% The imperfection and corruption of the material $orld itself%

or Construct) One singular room or metaphysical construct $ith the *isible and in*isible dynamically interacting% God li*es in the house and $ill ultimately d$ell on a rene$ed earth $ith man% God lo*es his creation and calls it &good%( God is determined to fi4 the creation rather than to abandon it% #inful e4ercise of the human $ill 8pride and rebellion9 for self. indulgence and manipulation of the creation at the e4pense of others 8la$lessness9% 1eath is the tragic conse6uence of sin% The blood atonement of )esus for the forgi*eness of sins% #in o*erturned through )esus' sacrifice% 1eath o*erturned through the resurrection of the dead at :essiah's coming unto inclusion in :essiah's kingdom on the earth% 1eath is the enemy o*erthro$n by )esus $hen he resurrects those $ho are in him at his coming% @epentance and perse*erant faith in )esus as ,ord is are the means of accessing the solution% Inclusion in a real go*ernment called the kingdom of God on a restored earth% @esurrection of the body that li*es fore*er through restored access to the tree of life% @estored position of ruling $ith God o*er the earth go*ernmentally% A*oidance of resurrection of the $icked and being cast into the lake of fire in the second death%

Problem
1eath unto the immortal soul's &release( into the &ideal( or &intelligible realm%( In common church parlance the soul goes to an abstract abode called hea*en $hile God destroys the earth% 1eath is the means of accessing the solution therefore death is a friend%

#olution

Absence from the corrupt physical realm% Immortal soul li*ing in the ideal realm%

Benefits of solution

Any *ersion of the gospel that does not ha*e the resurrection of the human body

unto inclusion in the kingdom of od on a restored earth under the leadership of a real government led by )esus the :essiah is an aberrant distortion of the gospel and must be discarded by the Body of :essiah if $e are to realign oursel*es $holeheartedly $ith the biblical $orld*ie$%

The Biblical Hope: "ontinuity from Old to 7e$ Testament

-n6uestionably the message that )esus )ohn the Baptist Paul the other apostles and the early "hurch preached and taught $as the good ne$s of the &kingdom of God( 8see :t% 3:BL :k% ?:?CL Ac% F:?B BF:3? etc9% Ho$e*er in the 7e$ Testament $e ne*er find an e4plicit definition of the kingdom of God% 0hy is this2 The ans$er is that )esus the apostles and all of their )e$ish listeners already had a solid grasp $hat this term meant due to their kno$ledge of the Hebre$ #criptures or Old Testament% The 7e$ Testament in other $ords presupposes and assumes the same gospel as that of the Old Testament% <or e4ample in 1aniel B 1aniel prophesies about a day $hen the kingdom of God $ould crush all other earthly kingdoms: After you another kingdom $ill rise inferior to yours% 7e4t a third kingdom one of bron;e $ill rule o*er the $hole earth% <inally there $ill be a fourth kingdom strong as iron5for iron breaks and smashes e*erything5and as iron breaks things to pieces so it $ill crush and break all the others% )ust as you sa$ that the feet and toes $ere partly of baked clay and partly of iron so this $ill be a di*ided kingdomL yet it $ill ha*e some of the strength of iron in it e*en as you sa$ iron mi4ed $ith clay% As the toes $ere partly iron and partly clay so this kingdom $ill be partly strong and partly brittle% And /ust as you sa$ the iron mi4ed $ith baked clay so the people $ill be a mi4ture and $ill not remain united any more than iron mi4es $ith clay 8all earthly empires $ith earthly go*ernments9% &In the time of those kings the God of hea*en $ill set up a kingdom that !ill never be destroyed# nor $ill it be left to another people% "t !ill crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end# but it !ill itself endure forever% This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain# but not by human hands 5a rock that broke the iron# the bron,e# the clay# the silver and the gold to pieces% 81an% B:3+EGC emphasis and parenthetical comments added9 0hen )ohn the Baptist )esus Paul and others proclaimed the message of the kingdom of God in the first century their $ords $ould ha*e elicited passages like this one in the minds of their )e$ish audience% In the )e$ish mind and $ithin the biblical $orld*ie$ the phrase &kingdom of God( e4plicitly referred to God's appointed :essiah coming at the end of the age to crush all $icked go*ernments and to establish a righteous go*ernment5a real go*ernment $ith a real ruler

and real la$s5on the earth% This go*ernment $ould be based in Israel and )erusalem and $ould be the means by $hich the entire earth $ould be restored to its original glory% It is in the conte4t of this message of a coming earthly kingdom moreo*er that the :essianic mission as outlined in the Old Testament $as also understood% Beginning in Genesis the :essiah is identified and promised as God's di*inely.ordained instrument for issuing the fatal blo$ that $ould &crush the head( of #atan and purge his $icked influence from the created order fore*er 8Gen% 3:?G.?C9% This :essianic &#eed( $ould first suffer a minor $ound at the hands of the serpent but as God's con6ueror and champion this #eed $ould ultimately ha*e the final *ictory con6uering the e*il one and s6uelching mankind's rebellion and reinstating the glory of the Garden5the kingdom of God 5on the earth no$ cursed because of man's disobedience 8Gen% 3:?G.?CL cf% the military language of :ic% I:?I9%?3 The rest of the Old Testament simply paints the picture of this :essianic thesis of Genesis 3:?C5commonly called the &protoe*angelium( or &first gospel(?G5in more detail% 0ithout going into an e4hausti*e analysis of the :essianic concept in the Hebre$ #criptures ?C before $e e*er reach the 7e$ Testament $e learn that as part of his mission the :essiah $ould function as: As the :essianic #eed of #hem the means through $hich God $ould d$ell in the tents of #hem 8Gen% +:BCEBI9%?H As the :essianic #eed of Abraham 8cf% Gal% 3:?H9 $ho $ould restore the earth through the agency of God's di*inelyEappointed nation Israel 8Gen% ?BEBB9% -nder :essiah the righteous descendents of Abraham fashioned back into the image of God through an age of testing and trial ?I $ould inherit the land of Israel fore*er 8Gen% ?B:?GE?F9 $ould be included in the resurrection of the righteous 8Gen% ?C cf% Heb% H9 ?F and $ould lead many nations and peoples in righteousness 8Gn% ?IL cf% @om% G9% -nder :essiah the nation of Israel $ould become a blessing or a ser*ant nation 8the root for bless in Hebre$ means &to kneel(9 that $ould function as the go*ernmental instrument through $hich God $ould bless the Gentile nations and fi4 our broken planet 8Genesis ?B:?E3L cf% #er*ant #ongs of Is% G?ff9% Israel $ould function as the go*ernmental locus of God's kingdom on the earth from $hich the la$ and commands of :essiah $ould go forth unto the transformation of the nations 8see e%g% Is% B:BEC + ??9% As the :essianic #eed of 1a*id and #on of God God's anointed king% He $ould be the ultimate go*ernmental authority o*er the nations of the earth $hose go*ernance $ould &branch out( or e4tend from Oion to the entire earth 8see ? #am% B:?DL B #am% IL Ps% B F+ ??D ?3BL Is% B G ??L )er% B3L A;% ?I etc%9% As the ,ion of )udah he $ould recei*e the go*ernmental scepter of authority that $ould cause the nations of the earth $ould submit to God in full obedience 8Gen% G+:F.?B9% The go*ernment of God $ould rest on this king's shoulders fore*er 8Is% +:HE I9%

The &star( and &scepter( that God $ould use to militarily crush and con6uer Israel's Gentile enemies in an eschatological cataclysmic deli*erance of Israel 8see 7u% BG:?IE?+L cf% Is% ?DEB+L )oel 3L A;% 3FE 3+L Hab% ?E3L Oech% ?BE?G etc%9% &The Prophet ( $ho $ould come for the purpose of a mighty deli*erance on Israel's behalf% In a $ay e*en greater than :oses this Prophet $ould ha*e the *ery $ords and commands of God in his mouth and any in Israel $ho $ould not heed this Prophet's $ords $ould be cut off from Israel 81eut% ?F:?CE?+L cf% )n% ?:BCL Ac% 3:BBEB39% A mediator $ho $ould remo*e God's rod of $rath from the back of humanity 8)ob +:3BE3C9% An intercessor friend and ad*ocate to $hom God's people could plead and pour out their hearts 8)ob ?H:?+EB?9% A redeemer $ho $ould ultimately stand triumphant on the earth and restore the bodies of the righteous through the resurrection of the dead 8)ob ?+:BCEBI9% An &interpreter( and ransom.pro*ider% As one superior to the angels he $ould bring right perspecti*e and righteous interpretation to the tragedies of suffering in this age and $ould pro*ide a ransom that $ould make the resurrection from the dead possible 8)ob 33:BGEBF9% The Banner $ho $ould upon Israel's repentance gather the e4iles of Israel back to the land cleanse and purify Israel from her sin and establish an e*erlasting co*enant $ith Israel that enables her to legitimately inherit the land fore*er as a righteous nation 8see 1t% 3DL Is% G ?? CC H?L )er% 3?E33 CDL A;ek% ?H 3IL Oech% ?BE?GL :al% 3EG etc%9% A &faithful priest( $ho $ould carry out all the desires of God's heart $ho $ould minister before God al$ays and $hose house $ould be established by God 8see ? #am% B:3CL Ps% ??D9% The suffering ser*ant of God *indicated by God after suffering 8see Ps% BB Is% C39% God's appointed )udge the e4ecuter of his $rath against the $icked 8see Ps% ??D )oel 3 Is% H39% The re/ected 8by men9 and tested capstone or cornerstone on $hich God $ould build his house 8Ps% ??F:BBEB3L Is% BF:?H9% The belo*ed ser*ant of God on $hom the #pirit of God $ould restL $hose body $ould ne*er see decayL through $hom that same #pirit $ould be poured out on the descendants of IsraelL and through $hose $ord the order of death on the earth $ould be o*erturned 8see Ps% ?H HFL )oel BL Is% GB GG G+:+ ?+ H? etc%9%

Therefore $hen )ohn the Baptist )esus and the apostles came preaching the kingdom of God their first.century )e$ish hearers $ould ha*e understood something roughly appro4imate to the follo$ing: Through his appointed :essiah God $as getting ready to cleanse Israel of her $ickedness and sinL pour out his

Holy #pirit on the nationL deli*er )erusalem and Israel from their Gentile enemies and idol.$orshipping oppressors through a cataclysmic scenarioL resurrect the righteous unto inclusion in his kingdomL /udge and punish all $icked inhabitants go*ernments and rulers from the face of the earthL and establish the righteous go*ernmental.apparatus5based in Israel $ith )erusalem as the capital5by $hich means he $ould enforce God's la$s throughout the earth and thereby restore the planet to its original glory% In this $ay Israel $ould become the &light of the $orld( under the :essiah's leadership% -nfortunately a large number of belie*ers today because of the influence of the Platonic dualism of the Greek $orld*ie$ belie*e that )esus came to correct the &silly )e$s( and the &silly apostles( for belie*ing that God $as going to establish a &physical kingdom( instead of a &spiritual kingdom%( The te4t most commonly cited in this argument is Acts ?:HEF: #o $hen they met together they asked him &,ord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to "srael 8assuming that the kingdom $ill be restored to Israel as promised in OT92( He said to them: &"t is not for you to kno! the times or dates the Father has set by his o!n authority 8the times are set by the <ather% 7ot correction of their assumption of the kingdom's restoration to Israel9% But you $ill recei*e po$er $hen the Holy #pirit comes on youL and you $ill be my $itnesses in )erusalem and in all )udea and #amaria and to the ends of the earth%( 8Amphasis and parenthetical comments added9 Often this passage is interpreted to mean &Oh the nai*e apostles did not reali;e that they $ere asking the $rong 6uestion% They $ere still clinging on to that JOld Testament' notion of a literal Jphysical kingdom' on the earth $hereas )esus came and changed the $hole program to a Jspiritual kingdom' in hea*en%( -nfortunately nothing could be further from the truth% <irst of all $hen the disciples asked )esus this 6uestion they had /ust spent forty days being instructed and trained in detail concerning the kingdom of God by )esus himself no$ in a resurrected and glorified body 8Ac% ?:39M If they still $ere plagued by this high a le*el of misunderstanding after all that time being taught by the resurrected :essiah himself then $e today t$o thousand years remo*ed simply ha*e no chance at grasping the biblical message% The disciples $ere not stupidL they kne$ e4actly $hat they $ere asking )esus about% #econdly )esus does not disagree $ith or correct the apostles for their 6uestion but actually assumes it is the right one% 0hat he does ad/ust ho$e*er is their e4pectation of the timing in $hich the abo*e.mentioned e*ents $ould occur% -hen $ould God send )esus back to complete the rest of the :essianic mission2 The ans$er $as: at his second coming 8Ac% ?:?DE??9% -ltimately the claim that )esus $as someho$ replacing the apostles' hope in a &physical( earthly kingdom $ith a &spiritual( hea*enly kingdom glaringly betrays the dichotomy inherit in the Hellenistic mindset% -nfortunately many *ie$s of the kingdom of God propounded by the church since Augustine5

including Augustinianism 8kingdomP"hurch9 BD post.Anlightenment liberalism 8kingdomPmoral ethic9 B? inaugurated eschatology 8kingdomPdi*ine reign and already=not yet9 BB and dispensationalism 8kingdomPdichotomi;ation bet$een God's &hea*enly people( and &earthly people9 B35ha*e been tainted by Platonic dualism to *arying degrees%BG As stated abo*e in the biblical $orld*ie$ the &spiritual( and &physical(5or more appropriately the in*isible hea*ens 8presently9 and *isible earth5are not only deemed good in God's sight but are also dynamically interacti*e and linked in destiny as part of a singular metaphysical construct: his household% 0hat an ama;ing destiny for both the hea*ens and the earthM The primary 6uestion $ith $hich the disciples $ere concerned therefore $as $hen )esus $as coming back to establish his righteous go*ernment for the $ell.being of the earth and its inhabitants% They $anted their :aster back so that the $orld could be freed from its bondage to decay%

"ore "ontent of Apostolic Preaching 8.erygma9

7o$ $e come to the gospel as preached and declared by the apostles in the Book of Acts the content of $hich is simply incomprehensible $hen not interpreted $ithin the o*erall conte4t of the biblical $orld*ie$ and $hen not understood in light of the dynamic continuity bet$een the hope of the Old Testament and the hope of the ne$% Once these things are taken into account the core content of the gospel as preached by the apostles in the 7e$ Testament becomes easily discernable% On a broad le*el the kerygma can be classified into fi*e categories: ?% )essianic /ccreditation: This dimension of the kerygma focuses on the unprecedented beauty of )esus' life and ministry and ho$ God &built the case( for )esus' :essiahship by means of the incredible lo*e goodness compassion signs $onders and miracles that characteri;ed his ministry% Other factors also ser*ed to accredit )esus as the :essiah such as )ohn the Baptist's testimony and the firstfruits outpouring of the Holy #pirit at Pentecost $hich according to Old Testament e4pectation presupposed the :essiah's coming% B% )essianic +uffering: This dimension of the kerygma focuses on the death of )esus the :essiah on the cross as a blood sacrifice of atonement for the forgi*eness of sins% As $e $ill see in more depth in "hapter C this part of the kerygma formed part of the mystery of :essiah according to $hich God re*ealed in )esus a dimension of his plan of $orld redemption that most )e$s had not anticipated but $hich had ne*ertheless been prophesied% Before entering into the glory of his kingdom on the earth the :essiah had to come to Israel first as an atoning sacrifice for the forgi*eness of sins5as the antitype of the :osaic sacrificial system% The blood of bulls and goats could not $ash a$ay our sins% )esus' blood could% By means of this sacrifice repentance and the forgi*eness of sins $ould

be proclaimed to the $orld in )esus' name as an offer of mercy before the :essiah's second appearing $herein he $ould complete the :essianic mission and e4ecute /udgment on the $icked% 3% )essianic 0indication: This dimension of the kerygma focuses on )esus' resurrection and its manifold significance% <irst by means of )esus' resurrection God *indicated )esus /udicially as righteous in his sight and installed him as the promised :essianic !ing from the line of 1a*id% )esus had been innocent and un/ustly condemned to death% By dying on &a tree ( the cross the )esus had carried a curse on himself% Ho$e*er the resurrection demonstrated that it $as not his curse but ours that he bore% The implication $as that all $ho had condemned him to death had actually been the guilty ones and $ere thus in need of repentance% #econd )esus' resurrection on the third day $as a firstfruits guarantee and assurance that God $ould indeed fulfill his co*enant promise and resurrect the righteous at the end of the age% The #adducees $ho denied the resurrection had been sorely mistaken% As $e $ill see in "hapter C the :essiah's resurrection ahead of the rest of the righteous saints also $as an aspect of the mystery of :essiah that the apostles had been commissioned to share $ith their )e$ish audience% Third the resurrection of )esus ser*ed as God the <ather's final undeniable and dramatic accreditation of )esus as the prophesied Old.Testament :essiah through $hom the earth $ould be restored and reno*ated% 1eath had been the legal conse6uence fruit and punishment of sin% )esus had no sin and therefore death could maintain no legal grip on him% He $as therefore the promised :essianic #eed 8Gen% 3:?C9 $ho $ould re*erse the order of death on the earth% G% )essianic 'udgment and Coming .ingdom: This dimension of the kerygma focuses on the completion of the :essianic mission at )esus' second coming% As the author of life at the end of the age the :essiah $ill speak the $ord and resurrect the righteous and besto$ eternal re$ards on them% As ,ord and !ing he $ill establish the :essianic kingdom on the earth $ith its head6uarters in )erusalem% As the <ather's appointed /udge and military champion the :essiah $ill also e4ecute God's $rath trampling on $icked rulers and cleansing the $icked from the earth 8Ps% ??D9% A*entually the $icked $ill also be resurrected bodily from the dead and thro$n into the lake of fire% All nations and kingdoms of the earth belong to the ,ord% He is ,ord of all% He is determined to fi4 the earth that he lo*es% At :essiah's appearing the &restoration of all things( 8Ac% 3:B?9 $ill commence% C% )essianic Offer of )ercy and Forgiveness before that Day : This dimension of the kerygma highlights the means by $hich people access the forgi*eness of sins no$ made a*ailable through )esus' atonement: repentance and faith in )esus as ,ord and :essiah% Those $ith repentant

belie*ing hearts recei*e the Holy #pirit as a seal guaranteeing their inclusion in the resurrection of the righteous and the :essianic kingdom at :essiah's second coming% The initiatory rite of $ater baptism is also performed sacramentally as an out$ard sign of one's inclusion in :essiah's kingdom through the forgi*eness of sins and the deposit of grace thereby recei*ed 8@om% H9% <or more details of the kerygma please see the chart in Appendi4 " $hich highlights these core elements in some of Peter and Paul's messages as recorded in the book of Acts%

:iracles: #igns That "onfirm the :essage

Before ending this chapter it is $orth mentioning the purpose of signs $onders and miracles as taught in the 7e$ Testament% In :ark ?H )esus clearly states the intended function of signs and $onders: He said to them &Go into all the $orld and preach the good ne$s to all creation 8proclamation of the message9% 0hoe*er belie*es and is bapti;ed $ill be sa*ed 8included in resurrection of righteous and :essianic kingdom9 but $hoe*er does not belie*e $ill be condemned 8purged from the earth and thro$n in lake of fire9% And these signs 8by nature pointing to something beyond themsel*es9 $ill accompany those $ho belie*e: In my name they $ill dri*e out demons 8as a sign of $hen #atan $ill be dri*en from the earth by :essiah cf% Is% BG:B?EB3L @e*% BD:?E39L they $ill speak in ne$ tongues 8as a sign of unity of the nations around righteousness in :essianic kingdom i%e% re*ersal of curse of BabelL cf% Gen% ??L Is% B:GL @e*% I9L they $ill pick up snakes $ith their hands 8as a sign of hostility remo*ed from creation in :essianic kingdomL cf% Is% ??:HE +L Ac% BF:C9L and $hen they drink deadly poison 8possibly attempted murder of saints through persecution29 it $ill not hurt them at all 8if so as a sign that the saints $ill be *indicated and deli*ered at :essiah's appearingL cf% ? Th% G:?3E?FL :t% BG:3DE3?L @e*% BD:GEHL they $ill place their hands on sick people and they $ill get $ell 8as a sign of the day $hen :essiah $ill permanently fi4 their bodies in the resurrectionL cf% ? Th% G:?3E?FL ? "or% ?C9%( After the ,ord )esus had spoken to them he $as taken up into hea*en and he sat at the right hand of God 8to administer mercy and forgi*eness of sins until the day of the ,ordL cf% Ps% ??D9% Then the disciples $ent out and preached e*ery$here 8proclamation9 and the 1ord !orked !ith them and confirmed his !ord by the signs that accompanied it 8the purpose of the signs $as to confirm the message9% 8:k% ?H:?CEBD emphasis and parenthetical comments added9

Here $e see that signs $onders and miracles by their *ery nature and essence are clearly designed to point beyond themsel*es to the day $hen the :essiah comes to establish the kingdom of God on the earth% 0hen truck dri*ers come to a sign on the interstate that says &"hicago in BB :iles ( they are encouraged by the sign $hich tells them that they are on the right path% Ho$e*er they do not consider themsel*es to ha*e yet arri*ed in "hicago% #o it is $ith signs and miracles that accompany the gospel message% They are not ends in and of themsel*es but are intended to testify to the day $hen :essiah )esus $ill return to resurrect the righteous purge sickness and death once and for all and establish his kingdom% Tongues testify to the day $hen human beings from all nations $ill once again unite $ith common understanding this time for the purposes of righteousness 8Is% B:GL @e*% I9 as opposed to Babel $here the people used their common language for $ickedness 8Gn% ??9% Healing and raising the dead are intended to point beyond themsel*es to the day $hen God $ill permanently fi4 our bodies by means of resurrection 8? Th% G:?3E?F9% "asting out demons testifies to the day $hen the :essiah $ill bind and lock #atan in the Abyss and ultimately thro$ him into the lake of fire 8@e*% BD:?E3 ?D9% Gifts of prophesy point beyond themsel*es to the day $hen &God $ill /udge men's secrets through )esus "hrist as my gospel declares( 8@om% B:?HL cf% ? "or% ?G:BGEBC9% )esus' sign of changing the $ater into $ine 8)n% B:??9 functioned to accredit )esus 8Ac% B:BB9 as the :essiah $ho $ould ser*e a ban6uet of &the best meats and the finest of $ines( in the :essianic kingdom after the &shroud( of death that &co*ers all nations( $ill ha*e been destroyed in the resurrection 8Is% BC:HEF9% The sign of ,a;arus being raised from the dead pointed ahead to &the day of sal*ation( $hen the :essiah $ould speak the $ord and the saints $ould recei*e bodies that $ould never die 8)n% ??:G3L Is% G+:FE+L cf% )n% C:BCL ? Th% G:?3E?F9% )esus' transfiguration on the mountain $as a typological sign that did not fulfill the $ords of the Hebre$ prophets but made their promises concerning the glory of :essianic kingdom on the earth &more certain( 8B Pt% B:?HE?+9% The e4amples could go on and on% #igns are intended moreo*er to heighten the persuasi*eness of the message in order that unbelie*ers might take it all the more seriously: Therefore many of the )e$s $ho had come to *isit :ary and had seen !hat 'esus did 8$hen he raised ,a;arus from the dead **% G3EGG9 put their faith in him 8became con*inced and persuaded that he $as the :essiah9 8)n% ??:GC emphasis and parenthetical comments added9% Those $ho had been scattered preached the !ord 8proclamation of the message9 $here*er they $ent% Philip $ent do$n to a city in #amaria and proclaimed the Christ there% -hen the cro!ds heard Philip and sa! the miraculous signs he did they all paid close attention to !hat he said 8the signs ha*ing added $eight and increased persuasi*eness to the message9% 8Ac% F:GEH emphasis

and parenthetical comments added9 7o$ ,ord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your !ord !ith great boldness 8proclamation of the message9% #tretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and !onders through the name of your holy servant 'esus 8as a testimony to the truth of the message9% 8Ac% G:B+E3D emphasis and parenthetical comments added9 #o Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there speaking boldly for the ,ord !ho confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and !onders 8confirmation of the message the purpose of the signs and $onder9% 8Ac% ?G:3 emphasis and parenthetical comment added9 This salvation# !hich !as first announced by the 1ord 8the message first proclaimed by )esus9 $as confirmed to us by those !ho heard him 8the apostles9% od also testified to it by signs# !onders and various miracles# and gifts of the 2oly +pirit distributed according to his $ill 8God added to the $eight of the testimony through signs $onders and miracles9% 8Heb% B:3EG emphasis and parenthetical comments added9 Truly the Holy #pirit is more eager than $e are for the sal*ation of the multitudes of lost sheep $andering the face of the earth% He lo*es to back up the gospel $ith po$er% 0ithin the conte4t of the Body of :essiah signs are intended to encourage and spur the saints on to $holehearted lo*e obedience righteousness and perse*erance until the day to $hich the sign points finally arri*es and they recei*e their inheritance at their :essiah's appearing: I $ill not *enture to speak of anything e4cept $hat "hrist has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey od by $hat I ha*e said and done5by the po$er of signs and miracles through the po$er of the #pirit 8i%e% signs and $onders functioning to spur saints on to obedience gi*ing them assurance of the certainty of their hope9% 8@om% ?C:?FE?+ emphasis and parenthetical comment added9 In other $ords spiritual gifts are &distributed according to God's $ill( 8Heb% B:G9 $ithin the Body of :essiah for the purpose of strengthening and edifying the people $ho make up that Body 8? "or% ?G9 unto belie*ers becoming more and more mature stable in their faith perse*erant unified and grounded in the kno$ledge of the #on of God until the day $hen their hope is finally reali;ed at :essiah's return 8Aph% G9% That $e regain a biblical perspecti*e on signs and $onders today is

crucial if $e are to $alk in the fullness of the 7e$ Testament $itness% The Body of :essiah today fre6uently errs in either one of t$o directions on this issue% On the one hand there are parts of the Body $ho for *arious reasons5ranging from fear and bad teaching to abuses of the gifts and disappointments5ha*e little to no e4pectancy and in some cases e*en no desire for God to back up his $ord $ith real po$er% Though some on this side of the spectrum usually possess *aluable insights and at times ha*e understandable complaints 6uite ob*iously $e cannot go do$n this road if $e $ant to see the full reco*ery of a $itness of 7e$ Testament.6uality% On the other side of the spectrum are those in the Body $ho acti*ely culti*ate faith for signs and $onders and promote gro$th in the spiritual gifts but $ithout much consideration of their purpose as biblically defined% #igns and &re*i*al( become ends in themsel*es rather than pointers to our eschatological hope as they $ere for )esus the apostles and the early church% On a practical le*el in some cases this often results in disillusionment and condemnation: for e4ample $hen $e do not get healed but the person ne4t to us does% In other cases it can result in self.e4altation an elitist spirit and the unconscious de*elopment of a messianic comple4% 0e start thinking that !e are the ones called to establish the :essiah's kingdom% It is not $ith condemnation that I state these things% Personally I ha*e found myself considering all points of the spectrum at different times in my life and ha*e fallen into all of these traps 8and many more9 at one time or another% All of us are on a /ourney and thankfully )esus' ability to keep us on the narro$ path is greater than our capacity to $ander off from it% 0hen $e reali;e that the purpose of a sign and $onder is not the sign itself then $e are spared from many of these pitfalls% 7o doubt ,a;arus and his family $ere encouraged $hen )esus raised him from the dead% 7o doubt they felt God's lo*e for them% But ,a;arus still died% The crippled man healed at the gate called Beautiful 8Ac% 39 still died% The man born blind $ho $ashed his eyes in the Pool of #iloam and $as healed 8)n% +9 still died% 3very single person $ho e4perienced a miracle in the 7e$ Testament still died% The signs $ere ne*er the primary point but $ere designed to encourage the saints to li*e li*es of holiness $holehearted lo*e and righteousness before God $ho $ould re$ard them in the resurrection of the righteous $ith bodies that $ould never die or e4perience disease sickness or infirmity again% Through the miracles God is saying to the lost &Take this message *ery seriously because I don't $ant you in a lake of fire fore*er ( and to the sa*ed &1on't gi*e up stay faithful because I lo*e you so much that I $ill not abandon you to the gra*e%( At the end of the day I could raise hundreds of people from the dead but unless they are still ali*e $hen )esus returns 8? Th% G:?I9 they $ill still die% Only one man has the po$er to gi*e out resurrected imperishable bodies and I am not him% Only one man has the po$er authority discernment and competence to establish the kingdom of God and I am not him% God has appointed one man as his appointed :essiah% His name is )esus% 0e $ill not establish that :essiah's kingdomL he $ill establish his o$n kingdom at his coming% This is not a statement about &God doing it all( $ithout our partnership%

God certainly does re6uire us to play our part in the game% Ho$e*er it /ust means that our part of the partnership before )esus returns is not the establishment of the kingdom% Our part in this age is to pray fer*ently $ait patiently perse*ere in righteousness pursue $holehearted obedience and testify to the coming go*ernment that $ill literally supplant all other human go*ernments% 0hile it is true that )esus does delegate some measure of authority to his people in this age 8:k% 3:?C H:IL ,k% +:? ?D:?G9 this authority is ambassadorial in natureL it is thus gi*en for the purpose of offering mercy on )esus' behalf and calling people to repentance 8,k% BG:GHEGFL Ac% ?:FL B "or% C:BDL Aph% H:BDL Php% 3:BDL B Pt% 3:+9% The Bible is clear moreo*er that God's dominion and kingdom $ill be established on the earth by the :essiah only at the end of the age and through di*inely.empo$ered military means 8Ps% ??DL Is% H3:?EHL Oech% ?GL @e*% ??:?C ?B:?D ?+:??EB?9% ,ike$ise as Adam $as only commissioned to rule the earth $hile in a sinless state 8Gen% ?:BF9 so only after $e ha*e been raised from the dead at :essiah's appearing $ill $e be completely free of our sinful inclination to manipulate po$er to the detriment of others% Therefore only then $ill $e again be entrusted $ith any kind of dominionistic authority as literal kings and 6ueens 8Ps% ?G+L 1an% IL :t% ?+:BFL ,k% BB:3DL ? "or% H:39% -ntil then our corporate life together no$ as the "hurch is defined by the cross 8see "h% C9 and by staying faithful to )esus through persecutions until the time )esus *indicates us 81an% I:B?EBB BCEBI9% :oreo*er our mandate to care for the poor $ido$s orphans and lo*ing one another self.sacrificially 8:t% B3:B3L ,k% ??:GBL )am% ?:BI etc%9 is to function as a corporate sign pointing to the coming kingdom in $hich there $ill be no more poor people $ido$s orphans or self.indulgence at the e4pense of others% As the $orld looks upon the sign of this community presently made up of strangers and pilgrims $ho like Abraham ha*e not yet recei*ed their inheritance 8Heb% ??:+ ?3 3+EGDL ? Pt% ?:? ?I B:??9 God's desire is that as many people as possible $ill be pro*oked to repentance lest they be e4cluded eternally from the coming kingdom% As $e testify to that day through both $ord and deed God $ill confirm the truth of the gospel $ith signs and $onders in honor of his #on%

"onclusion
In the beginning God created the hea*ens and the earth as part of one single household o*er $hich he is ruler% He is ,ord !ing and Possessor of all creation and he deeply lo*es all the $orks of his hands% #ince Adam and A*e human beings from all nations ha*e defiled God's good creation through sin and rebellion against Him% Through sin death entered the $orld% God hates sin and death and is ;ealously committed to purging them from the earth and restoring the creation he lo*es to its original glory% His chosen instrument for accomplishing this task is the :essianic #eed first promised to Adam and A*e% In the first century God sent )esus the first time and accredited him as the Old Testament :essiah through a life full of compassion lo*e mercy signs miracles and $onders% In his mercy this :essiah took our curse upon him and

$ent to the cross $here he died as a sacrifice of atonement for the forgi*eness of sins% God *indicated his chosen :essiah on third day by resurrecting him from the dead as a firstfruits of the resurrection of the righteous% At the end of the age this :essiah is coming back a second time to resurrect the righteous cleanse the earth of all $ickedness and establish the kingdom of God on the earth% Those $ho repent of their sin and rebellion and ackno$ledge )esus' lordship by faith recei*e the forgi*eness of sins unto inclusion in that kingdom and in the resurrection of the righteous% Those $ho persist in their pride and rebellion $ill be purged from the earth in /udgment and e*entually included in the resurrection of the $icked and thro$n into the lake of fire fore*er% In this $ay God's household of the hea*ens and the earth $ill be restored% Once again $e $ill $alk $ith God in a Garden in the cool of the day% The d$elling of God $ill be $ith man fore*er%

Andnotes
?

"harles !raft /nthropology for Christian -itness 8:aryknoll 73: Orbis ?++H9 CB%
B

Alfred 7orth 0hitehead Process and 4eality5 /n 3ssay in Cosmology 8?+B+9L corrected edition ed% 1a*id @% Griffin and 1onald 0% #herburne 8<ree Press ?+I+9%
3

)ohn Harrigan &<i*e.fold 1e*elopment of the 0estern 0orld*ie$ ( 8lecture notes from course 6iblical Theology of )ission Apostolic :issions #chool International House of Prayer -ni*ersity <all BDDF9%
G

<or more on this I recommend starting $ith 1a*id Pa$son &1e.Greecing the "hurch ( 2e 6urns for )e# Qhttp:==$$$%heburnsforme%com=1a*idRPa$son%htmlS%
C

Ibid%

Tim 0arner &Origins of the Hea*enly 1estiny "oncept: Greek :ysticism and Gnosticism ( The Pristine Faith 4estoration +ociety# Qhttp:==$$$%pfrs%org=pd=DH%htmlS 8accessed 1ecember BDDF9%
I

Harrigan &<i*e.fold 1e*elopment%(

It is beyond the scope of this book to e4hausti*ely e4plore many of the intellectual intricacies of these issues concerning $hich a number of e4cellent and more thorough resources are already in e4istence% At the end of the day the gospel is *ery simple and easy to understand% Ho$e*er for readers interested in a more in.depth and detailed understanding about the history intellectual streams and influences behind *arious distortions of the gospel as $ell as a thorough e4amination of the gospel as outlined from Genesis to @e*elation I $ould like to highly recommend an e4cellent class taught in the #chool of :issions at the International House of Prayer -ni*ersity entitled 6iblical

Theology of )ission%
+

Harrigan &<i*e.fold 1e*elopment%(

?D

&:oreo*er I pointed out to you that some $ho are called "hristians but are godless impious heretics teach doctrines that are in e*ery $ay blasphemous atheistical and foolish% But that you may kno$ that I do not say this before you alone I shall dra$ up a statement so far as I can of all the arguments $hich ha*e passed bet$een usL in $hich I shall record myself as admitting the *ery same things $hich I admit to you% <or I choose to follo$ not men or men's doctrines but God and the doctrines 8deli*ered9 by Him% <or if you ha*e fallen in $ith some $ho are called "hristians but $ho do not admit this 8truth9 and *enture to blaspheme the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of )acobL $ho say there is no resurrection of the dead and that their souls $hen they die are taken to hea*enL %%% But I and others $ho are right.minded "hristians on all points are assured that there $ill be a resurrection of the dead and a thousand years in )erusalem $hich $ill then be built adorned and enlarged 8as9 the prophets A;ekiel and Isaiah and others declare%T 8)ustin 1ialogue $ith Trypho ,UUU9% V)ustin 6uoted in Tim 0arner &Origins of the Hea*enly 1estiny "oncept: Greek :ysticism and Gnosticism ( The Pristine Faith 4estoration +ociety Qhttp:==$$$%pfrs%org=pd=DH%htmlS 8accessed 1ecember BDDF9W%
??

&<or as it is God truly $ho raises up man so also does man truly rise from the dead and not allegorically as I ha*e sho$n repeatedly% And as he rises actually so also shall he be actually disciplined beforehand for incorruption and shall go for$ards and flourish in the times of the kingdom in order that he may be capable of recei*ing the glory of the <ather% Then $hen all things are made ne$ he shall truly d$ell in the city of God% <or it is said &He that sitteth on the throne said Behold I make all things ne$% And the ,ord says 0rite all thisL for these $ords are faithful and true% And He said to me They are done%( And this is the truth of the matter%T 8Irenaeus Against Heresies Bk% K% ch% UUUK9% VIrenaus 6uoted in 0arner &Origins of the Hea*enly 1estiny "oncept%(W
?B

&These are >the doctrines> of men and >of demons> produced for itching ears of the spirit of this $orld>s $isdom%%% Indeed heresies are themsel*es instigated by philosophy% <rom this source came the Aeons and I kno$n not $hat infinite forms and the trinity of man in the system of Kalentinus $ho $as of Plato>s school% <rom the same source came :arcion>s better god $ith all his tran6uilityL he came of the #toics% Then again the opinion that the soul dies is held by the ApicureansL $hile the denial of the restoration of the body is taken from the aggregate school of all the philosophersL also $hen matter is made e6ual to God then you ha*e the teaching of OenoL and $hen any doctrine is alleged touching a god of fire then Heraclitus comes in% The same sub/ect.matter is discussed o*er and o*er again by the heretics and the philosophersL the same

arguments are in*ol*ed%%% -nhappy AristotleM $ho in*ented for these men dialectics the art of building up and pulling do$nL an art so e*asi*e in its propositions so far.fetched in its con/ectures so harsh in its arguments so producti*e of contentions..embarrassing e*en to itself retracting e*erything and really treating of nothingM %%% 0hat indeed has Athens to do $ith )erusalem2 0hat concord is there bet$een the Academy and the "hurch2 0hat bet$een heretics and "hristians2 Our instruction comes from Jthe porch of #olomon ' $ho had himself taught that Jthe ,ord should be sought in simplicity of heart%' A$ay $ith all attempts to produce a mottled "hristianity of #toic Platonic and dialectic compositionM 0e $ant no curious disputation after possessing "hrist )esus no in6uisition after en/oying the gospelM 0ith our faith $e desire no further belief% <or this is our palmary faith that there is nothing $hich $e ought to belie*e besides%( VTertullian TPagan Philosophy the Parent of Heresies T Prescription /gainst 2eretics "hapter IL a*ailable from Qhttp:==$$$%tertullian%org=anf=anfD3=anfD3.BG%htmXP3BDFR??GFHHDSW%
?3

#ee 0alter !aiser's e4egesis of this passage% 0alter !aiser The )essiah in the Old Testament 8Grand @apids :I: Oonder*an ?++C9 3HEGBL also compare Gen% 3:?G.?C $ith the language of :icah I:?IL also see Alfred Adersheim The Temple# its )inistry and +ervices as They -ere at The Time of 'esus Christ 8Bellingham 0A: ,ogos @esearch #ystems Inc% BDD39 ?B3%
?G

!aiser The )essiah in the Old Testament 3I%

?C

<or a more thorough analysis I recommend !aiser The )essiah in the Old Testament%
?H

!aiser The )essiah in the Old Testament GBEGH%

?I

Throughout the #criptures it is stressed that $hile Israel o$ns the land by God's so*ereign choice her right to live in or possess the land her allotted inheritance is contingent upon her righteousness 8see e%g% 1eut% 3D )er% 3?E33 A;% 3H etc%9% The idea is implicit in the conte4t of God's call to Abraham to lea*e behind the land of the idol.forging Babylonians 8Gen% ??.?B9% -nlike the Babylonians $ho fashioned false images out of stone $ith their hands and sought to &make a name for themsel*es( 8Gen% ??:3EG9 God $ould use His hands to fashion or make 8cf% Is% B+:B3EBG C?:?EB9 Abraham's righteous descendants into a great nation blessed of God remade in His image and $hose &name( or go*ernmental character $ould be established by God 8Gen% ?B:?EB9%
?F

The author of Hebre$s interprets Gen% ?C as an anchor for our hope in the resurrection% In Genesis ?C:H Abraham is declared righteous% God then promises the land to Abraham himself not /ust to his descendants through historical succession 8Gen% *% I9% Abraham then has a crisis of faith: ho$ can I kno$ that " $ill gain possession of this land 8i%e% if I am deadM9 8*% F92 God assures Abraham

that he himself $ill inherit the land by confirming His co*enantal promise by fire 8*% ?BE?I%9% Therefore the fire ser*es as God's unilateral guarantee that those $ith the faith of Abraham $ill like him be righteous in God's sight and thereby included in the resurrection of the righteous unto inheriting the actual land of Israel 8cf% Heb% H:?3ff9% )esus taught that Abraham belie*ed in the resurrection of the dead 8:t% BB:3D.3B9%
?+

"ompare the phraseology of Is% G+:+ $ith )esus' $ords to ,a;arus in )ohn ??:G3L cf% also )ohn C:BCEBH%
BD

In Augustine's *ie$ the &hea*enly( kingdom 8i%e% the Greek &spiritual realm( cloaked in biblical parlance9 finds metaphysical substantiation and manifestation in the church and therefore the church 8not the :essiah at the end of the age as the Bible teaches9 establishes the dominion of God on the earth no$ ultimately to no a*ail since God e*entually scraps and annihilates the earth in the end any$ay 8thus reflecting the Greek assumption of the material $orld's inherent corruption9M The practical effect of this *ie$ is that it tends to breed arrogance and a messianic comple4 in the people of God% If $e are not careful $e begin to think that $e are the ones called to establish the kingdom% This is in contrast to the 7e$ Testament $hich emphatically teaches that God has appointed one man )esus the :essiah to establish the kingdom at the end of the age 8Ac% ?I:3?9% The &dominionism( pre*alent in much of the church today is rooted in the Augustinian *ie$% V<or more see Augustine City of od# a*ailable online at Qhttp:==$$$%ccel%org=ccel=schaff=npnf?DB%toc%html7W%
B?

After the Anlightenment many liberal theologians5scorning a high *ie$ of #cripture and orthodo4 doctrine and selecti*e in their use of the biblical te4t5 propagated a *ie$ of the kingdom as simply a personal religious e4perience $hereby God rules o*er the human soul through the ethical and moral teachings of )esus 8as typified by HarnackL see Adolf *on Harnack -hat "s Christianity8 V?+D?W trans% T% B% #aunders VAugsburg <ortress Publishers ?+FIW9% 0hile it is true that from the <ather's right hand )esus is in fact presently $ashing and circumcising the hearts of his people through his $ord and the #pirit 8@om% B:B+L ? "or% H:??L B "or% 3:3L Aph% C:BHL Php% 3:3L "ol% B:??L Tit% 3:C9 biblically this process al$ays has its moti*ational impetus in eschatology 8see "h% C9% Any attempt to se*er ethics from eschatology or a con*iction of the truth of the actual content of the gospel5as the liberal tradition does5is thoroughly unbiblical de*oid of real transformational po$er and humanistic in nature% <urthermore the moral ethic *ie$ as concei*ed in the liberal tradition still assumes hea*eni;ation and not a restored theocratic kingdom on the earth as the end of sal*ation%
BB

Perhaps the most popular *ie$ of the kingdom in e*angelical academic circles today is the &already=not yet( or &di*ine rule( eschatological schema the most $ell.kno$n proponent of $hich is George Aldon ,add 8see G% A% ,add / Theology of the Ne! Testament @e*ised ed% 1% A% Hagner ed% V0illiam B% Aerdmans Publishing ?++3W9% 0hile this *ie$ has strength in that its anchor is

embedded in an eschatological frame$ork and in that it ackno$ledges that $e are situated in the last days 8Heb% ?:B9L it ultimately errs by articulating the t$o. fold e4ecution of the :essianic mission in terms of the gradual &manifestation( of the kingdom instead of in terms of the mystery of :essiah as )esus and the apostles did 8see "h% C9% By confusing the signs of the kingdom 8postulated as the &already( or the &inauguration( of the kingdom9 $ith the eschatological kingdom 8postulated as the &not yet( or &consummation( of the kingdom9 to $hich those signs point 8for more on this point see the end of this chapter9 it is thought that the kingdom of God progressi*ely ad*ances on the earth through the agency of the church until )esus comes to consummate the kingdom at the end of the age% At the end of the day therefore the already=not yet *ie$ is in essence little more than a t$o.tiered *ersion of the Augustinian *ie$ 8see endnote BD9 $ith the e4ception that ,add lea*es room for the earthly rule of )esus on the earth in the millennium% -ltimately this *ie$ has the practical effect of keeping the saints from &setting their hope fully on the grace to be gi*en you $hen )esus "hrist is re*ealed( 8? Pt% ?:?3 emphasis added9% If $e are able to put our hope in a kingdom established no$ 8e*en if only to a limited degree9 ho$ can $e set our hope fully on the grace to be gi*en us then2
B3

#ee e%g% "harles "% @yrie Dispensationalism Today 8:oody ?+HC9% The strength of classical dispensationalism is its insistence on a non.allegorical and more literal hermeneutical approach to the interpretation of the Hebre$ #criptures% Israel means IsraelL )erusalem means )erusalemL and so forth% The main problems $ith dispensational pre.millennialism are: 8?9 the biblically unsubstantiated $ay it alters God's mode of interaction $ith human beings in different epochs of timeL and 8B9 its postulate that God has t$o peoples destined for t$o separate kingdoms% Israel is God's &earthly( people destined to inherit the kingdom of God on the earthL $hile the church is God's &hea*enly( people destined to inherit the &spiritual( kingdom of hea*en% :any people turn to the dispensational paradigm as a means of refuting replacement theology $hereby it is claimed5usually by @eformed theologians5that God no longer has a place for ethnic Israel in His plan and has replaced ethnic Israel $ith the 7e$ Testament church composed primarily of Gentiles% 0hile the errors of replacement theology absolutely do need to be confronted5the #criptures are clear that God still has important plans for ethnic Israel5dispensational theology in my opinion is not the most helpful ally unto this end% This is because 8?9 the dispensational *ie$ simply cannot be substantiated by a close and consistent reading of #criptureL and 8B9 it still e4udes residues of the Hellenistic $orld*ie$ in its postulation of a &hea*enly kingdom( and an &earthly kingdom%( @eformed theologians $rongly frame the con*ersation in terms of the church or ethnic Israel% 1ispensationalists reacting to this faulty frame$ork retort by claiming that $e must talk about both the church and ethnic Israel% As $e $ill see in "hapter C the 7e$ Testament position is that the church or assembly of :essiah is the fruit of the remnant of ethnic :essianic Israel% As such both :essianic )e$s and :essianic Gentiles together share in one co*enant5still authentically Israel's5 and in that co*enant form a single multinational Bride of :essianic Israelites $ho

$ill inherit the one and only kingdom of God on the earth at :essiah's return%
BG

<or more on this sub/ect see )ohn Harrigan &Go*ernmental Introduction to the !ingdom of God( 8lecture notes from course 6iblical Theology of )ission Apostolic :issions #chool International House of Prayer -ni*ersity <all BDDF9%