THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM

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THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM

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Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron & Clay

Inferiority

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The Stone Cut Without Hands

Divine Activity

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A Great Mountain

The Kingdom Of God

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The Significance Of A “Mountain”

• Isa. 13:4: “The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people! the noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts is mustering the host for the battle.”

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The Significance Of A “Mountain”

• Jer. 51:24-26: 24 “And I will repay Babylon And all the inhabitants of Chaldea For all the evil they have done In Zion in your sight,” says the Lord. 25

“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, Who destroys all the earth,” says the Lord. “And I will stretch out My hand against you, Roll you down from the rocks, And make you a burnt mountain.26 They shall not take from you a stone for a corner Nor a stone for a foundation, But you shall be desolate forever,” says the Lord.

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Dan. 2:35, 44-45

35…And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. …. 44“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45“Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold….

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Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron & Clay

Babylon

Media

Persia

GreeceLiberal Critical View

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Liberal Critical Arguments

• Babylon to be conquered by Medes (Isa. 13:17; Jer. 51:11)

• Babylon “divided” (partitioned) between Medes and Persians (Dan. 5:28)

• Darius the Mede vs. Cyrus the Persian

• Darius ruled before Cyrus (Dan. 6:28)

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Liberal Critical Arguments

• Second inferior kingdom fits the Medes

• Fourth kingdom fits Greece

• Kingdom of God not established until after four kingdoms

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Response

• Many nations involved in Babylon’s destruction (Isa. 21:2; Jer. 51:27-28)

• “Divided” means to break in two not necessarily partitioned (Dan. 5:28)

• Darius the Mede was bound by “law of the Medes and Persians” (Dan. 6:8, 12, 15)

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Response

• Ram represents “the kings of Media and Persia” (Dan. 8:20)

• Media and Persia connected together (Esth. 1:3, 14, 18-19; 10:2)

• Racial distinction does not prove independent Median kingdom

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Response

• No conclusive proof that Darius ruled before Cyrus

– Darius may have been subordinate ruler

– Darius may have been Cyrus

• Inferiority doesn’t necessarily refer to military might or size of empire

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Response

• Third kingdom “ruling over all the earth” (Dan. 2:39) “fits” Greeks better than Persians

• Fourth kingdom “fits” Rome

• Kingdom of God established “in the days of these kings” not afterward (Dan. 2:44)

• Prophesy failed

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Response

• Liberal Critics have anti-supernatural bias

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Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron & Clay

Babylon

Medo-Persia

Greece

SuccessorsStuart’s View

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Response

• Greek kingdom not two independent kingdoms

– Leopard = one animal with 4 heads (Dan. 7:6)

– He-Goat = one animal with 4 horns (Dan. 8:5-8)

– Four horns = 4 inferior kingdoms (Dan. 8:21-23)

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Response

• Fourth kingdom “break[ing] in pieces and crush[ing] all others” (Dan. 2:40) hardly “fits” the Seleucid kingdom

• Prophecy failed

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Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron & Clay

Babylon

Medo-Persia

Greece

Rome(Ancient & Revived)

Dispensational View

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Dispensational Arguments

• Stone striking image suggest catastrophic event

• Christianity did not “fill the whole earth”

• Ten toes = ten horns (Dan. 7:7, 20, 24) of Revived Roman Empire

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Response

• No hint of Revived Roman Empire

• Interpretation based on assumptions

– Image has ten toes

– Ten toes = ten horns

– Ten horns = ten kingdoms

• Does not harmonize with NT teaching

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Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron & Clay

Babylon

Medo-Persia

Greece

RomeTraditional View

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Arguments For Traditional View

• Accepted interpretation until 19th century

• Christianity born during time of Roman Empire

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Objections To Traditional View• Stone destroyed whole image

• Image destroyed suddenly & catastrophically

• Image destroyed before kingdom of God established

• All world monarchies would end with the establishment of God’s kingdom

• Stone didn’t fill the whole earth

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The Significance Of The Great Mountain

The Kingdom Of God

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The Sociological View

George E. Ladd: “The Kingdom of God is the ideal social order in which men learn to enjoy a relation to God as sons and to one another as brothers. It is humanity organized according to the will of God, the Christian transfiguration of the social order, the establishment of a community of righteousness in mankind. This new society of the Kingdom of God will be achieved by the reign of love. It is in short the recognition of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. …. The popular form of this view looks to the church to build the Kingdom of God on earth.” (“The Kingdom Of God And The Church,” Foundations: A Baptist Journal Of History And Theology, April, 1961, 4:2:167)

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The Eschatological ViewGeorge E. Ladd: “The Kingdom of God by

definition is the earthly Kingdom promised to Israel in the Old Testament in which the Jewish people will rule over the Gentile nations of earth. Jesus offered the Jews this Davidic Kingdom. When they rejected it, it was postponed and will be finally established as the millennial Kingdom of Christ at his Second Coming. In the parenthesis period between the rejection and the coming of the Kingdom, God is doing a new thing unforeseen in the Old Testament. He is creating the church, the body and bride of Christ. (“The Kingdom Of God And The Church,” Foundations: A Baptist Journal Of History And Theology, April, 1961, 4:2:165-166)

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The “Air Of Expectancy”

• Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel (Lk. 2:25)

• Anna was looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Lk. 2:38)

• The thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him when “You come into your kingdom” (Lk. 23:42)

• Joseph of Arimathaea was waiting for the kingdom of God (Mk. 15:42-43; Lk. 23:50-51)

• The apostles asked: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

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The Kingdom Was Near

• John the Baptist preached that the kingdom of God was "at hand" (Mt. 3:2)

• Jesus preached that the kingdom of God was "at hand" (Mt. 4:17)

• The apostles preached that the kingdom of God was "at hand" (Mt. 10:7)

• The seventy preached that the kingdom of God was "near" (Lk. 10:9, 11)

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The Time Is Fulfilled• Daniel: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven

will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Dan. 2:44)

• Jesus: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mk. 1:15)

If Daniel looked to the 21st century, then dispensationalists are right and Jesus was wrong!

If Daniel looked to the 1st century, then Jesus was right and dispensationalists are wrong!

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Mark 9:1And He said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.' Jesus was mistaken

Jesus lied

There’s some awfully old people walking around

The kingdom was established during the lifetime of Jesus' contemporaries

There is another explanation

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• Angels, authorities, and powers (1 Pet. 3:22)

• Principalities and powers (Col. 2:9-10, 14-15)

• Rule, authority, power, dominion, every name (Eph. 1:20-21)

• All things to the church (Eph. 1:22-23)• All flesh (Jn. 17:1-2)• All things (Jn. 13:3; 1 Cor. 15:27; Eph. 1:22)• Kings (1 Tim. 6:14-15; Rev. 1:5; 17:14; 19:15-

16)• Death and Hades (Rev. 1:18)

Christ Has All Authority(Mt. 28:18)

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The Kingdom Has Come

• Christ is reigning on David's throne (Acts 2:29-36; 5:31)

• Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 1:5; 17:14; 19:16)

• Philip preached the good news about the kingdom (Acts 8:12)

• Early Christians proclaimed Jesus as King (Acts 17:6-7)

• Paul preached the kingdom (Acts 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 30-31)

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The Kingdom Has Come

• The Colossians were translated into the kingdom (Col. 1:13-14)

• The Thessalonians were called into the kingdom (1 Th. 2:12)

• The Hebrew Christians received a kingdom (Heb. 12:28)

• John was a partaker in the kingdom (Rev. 1:6, 9)

• Men of every tribe and tongue were made a kingdom (Rev. 5:9-10)

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The Ecclesiological View

George E. Ladd: “The ecclesiological interpretation of the Kingdom in one way or another equates the Kingdom and the church. The Kingdom is composed of the people who are subject to the rule of God or who share his rule.” (“The Kingdom Of God And The Church,” Foundations, April, 1961, 4:2:164)

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Can The “Kingdom” Be The “Church” In These Passages?

• Mt. 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

• Mt. 11:11-12: 11“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

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• Mt. 12:28: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

• Mt. 13:19: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

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• Mt. 13:24, 38, 41: 24Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field…. 38“The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one…. 41“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,

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• Mt. 21:43: 43“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

• Mk. 10:15: 15“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

• Lk. 12:32: 32“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

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• Lk. 17:20-21: 20Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21“nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

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• Lk. 19:11-12, 15: 11Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. …. 15“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

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• Lk. 21:31: 31“So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

• Acts 1:6: 6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

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• 1 Cor. 4:20-21: 20For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

• 1 Cor. 15:50: 50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

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The Theological ViewGeorge E. Ladd: “The view which we believe

to be required by the New Testament data may be called the theological view, because it finds the fundamental meaning of the Kingdom of God not in the church nor in an eschatological order nor in an earthly social order but in the redemptive rule of God himself. One of the most valuable achievements of critical Biblical theology has been the discovery that the Kingdom of God is not primarily a people nor a realm nor a social order but the dynamic rule of God.” (“The Kingdom Of God And The Church,” Foundations: A Baptist Journal Of History And Theology, April, 1961, 4:2:168)

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The Kingdom Is Not The People

• Dan. 2:44: 44“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

• Dan. 7:18: 18‘But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’

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“Kingdom”(Basileia)

W. E. Vine: “is primarily an abstract noun, denoting sovereignty, royal power, dominion…. then, by metonymy, a concrete noun, denoting the territory or people over whom a king rules, e.g., Matt. 4:8; Mark 3:24.” (The Expanded Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 624)

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“Kingdom”(Basileia)

• BAGD: "1. kingship, royal power, royal rule, kingdom.... 2. kingdom, i.e. the territory ruled over by a king.... 3. esp. the royal reign or kingdom of God.…” (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, pp. 134-135)

• Joseph Thayer: "1. royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.... 2. a kingdom i.e. the territory subject to the rule of a king.…” (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, #932,

pp. 96-97)

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“Kingdom”

• H. L. Ellison: “Kingdom...is primarily ‘sovereignty’, kingly rule and power. It is something which has always existed, but in its fulness it is yet future. It entered the world in a new way with the coming of the King (Mk 1:15).... “There are a few passages where it is used more in our sense of the sphere in which God’s sovereignty is exercised. Even here, however, the stress on God’s sovereignty is normally prominent." (The

New Layman's Bible Commentary, p. 1189)

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The “Kingdom” InHebrew Parallelism

• 1 Chr. 29:11: Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.

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• Psa. 22:28: 28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.

• Psa. 103:19: The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

• Psa. 145:11: “They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power”

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• Psa. 145:13: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”

• Dan. 4:3: “How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.”

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• Dan. 4:34: “And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.”

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• Dan. 6:26: “I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.”

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• Dan. 7:14: “Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

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• Dan. 7:27: Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

• Lk. 1:33: 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

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The “Kingdom” AndAssociated Terms

• Mic. 4:8: “And you, O tower of the flock, The stronghold of the daughter of Zion, To you shall it come, Even the former dominion shall come, The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem."

• Mt. 6:13: And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

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• Acts 8:12: 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

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• 1 Cor. 15:24: “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.”

• Col. 1:13: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”

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• Rev. 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

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The “Kingdom” AndExplanatory Phrases

• Mt. 6:10: 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

• Lk. 11:2: 2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

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I AM NOT SAYING…

• The church was an afterthought (Eph. 3:10-11)

• The church was not prophesied of in the OT

• The church was not established on Pentecost

• The kingdom has not been established

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Isaiah 2

Kingdom

Church

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The Kingdom And The Church

Kingdom Church

Isa. 2:2-3 Common Origin Acts 2:1-47

Dan. 2:44 Identical Boundary Mk. 16:15

Jn. 18:36 Same Ownership Mt. 16:18

1 Tim. 6:15 Common Rulership Eph. 5:23

Isa. 2:3 Common Law Acts 2:38-47

Jn. 3:5 Same Entry Acts 2:38

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The Kingdom And The Church

Kingdom Church

Col. 1:13 Common Membership

Col. 1:2

Mt. 26:29 Same Memorial Meal 1 Cor. 11:20-27

Isa. 2:2-3 Identical Glory Eph. 3:21

Mt. 25:31-34 Same Reward 1 Cor. 15:58

1 Cor. 15:24 Same Deliverance 1 Th. 4:16-17

Idea from Colly Caldwell, Truth Commentaries: Ephesians, p. 123

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The HS And The Word

The Spirit The Word

1 Cor. 2:13 Teaches 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Neh. 9:20` Instructs 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Jn. 16:8 Convicts Tit. 1:9

Jn. 3:5 Begets 1 Cor. 4:15

Jn. 3:5-6, 8 Gives Birth 1 Pet. 1:23

Rom. 8:14 Leads Psa. 43:3

Jn. 6:63 Quickens Psa. 119:50, 93

Jn. 16:13 Guides 2 Tim. 3:16-17

2 Th. 2:13 Sanctifies Jn. 17:17

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The HS And The Word

The Spirit The Word

Tit. 3:5 Saves Jas. :21

1 Cor. 6:11 Washes Eph. 5:26

Acts 9:31 Comforts Rom. 15:4

Eph. 3:16 Strengthens Acts 20:32

Jn. 15:26 Witnesses Jn. 5:39

Rom. 5:5 Prompts Love 1 Jn. 2:5

1 Th. 1:6 Gives Joy Jn. 15:11

Rom. 15:13 Gives Hope Rom. 15:4

Gal. 5:22 Produces Faith Rom. 10:17

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The HS And The Word

The Spirit The Word

1 Cor. 6:11 Cleanses 1 Pet. 1:22

Acts 7:51 Be Resisted 2 Tim. 3:8

Rom. 15:13 Has Power Rom. 1:16-17

Gal. 5:22-23 Bears Fruit Col. 1:5-6

Mt. 12:31-32 Be Blasphemed Tit. 2:5

Gal. 5:16-18 Be Walked In 2 Jn. 4

Rom. 8:9 Dwells In Col. 3:16

Sword of the Spirit = Word of God (Eph. 6:17)

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Sometimes “Kingdom” Means…

Territory

“Their territory was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan, sixty cities;” (Josh. 13:30)

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People

“5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Ex. 19:5-6)

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Rule

“And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk. 1:33)

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Manifestation

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Mt. 12:28)

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HeavenlyKingdom

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! (2 Tim. 4:18)

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• Angels, authorities, and powers (1 Pet. 3:22)

• Principalities and powers (Col. 2:9-10, 14-15)

• Rule, authority, power, dominion, every name (Eph. 1:20-21)

• All things to the church (Eph. 1:22-23)• All flesh (Jn. 17:1-2)• All things (Jn. 13:3; 1 Cor. 15:27; Eph. 1:22)• Kings (1 Tim. 6:14-15; Rev. 1:5; 17:14; 19:15-

16)• Death and Hades (Rev. 1:18)

Christ Has All Authority(Mt. 28:18)

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My Old Concept

Kingdom/Church(Divine Institution)

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My New Concept

Church(People)

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The Little Red Wagon Concept

Church

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The Little Red Wagon Concept

Church

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85

Laodicea Sardis

Eunuch

Corinth

Smyrna

Philadelphia

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Laodicea Sardis

Eunuch

Corinth

Smyrna

Spirits of Just Men Made Perfect

Philadelphia

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The “Universal” Church

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Different Interpretations

• Mt. 6:10: Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

• Mt. 16:18: 18“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

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Different Interpretations

• Rom. 14:17: for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

• 1 Cor. 15:24: Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

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The “Church” In Acts

• Membership in “universal church” not mentioned in recorded sermons

• Little mention of “universal church” (Acts 2:47; 9:31)

• Only recorded instruction concerns “local church” (Acts 20:28)

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The “Kingdom” In Acts

• Jesus spoke with the apostles about “things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3)

• The apostles asked Jesus if this was the time when He would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6)

• Philip preached “things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12)

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The “Kingdom” In Acts

• Paul told early disciples that they “must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22)

• Paul preached “the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31)

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How The Church Came To Antioch?

• “Preaching the Lord Jesus” (Acts 11:20)

• “Turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:21)

• “Cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23)

• “Added unto the Lord” (Acts 11:24)

• “The disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26)

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Our Speech Betrays Us

• “I was raised Church of Christ”

• “I’m Church of Christ”

• “Is He a member of the Church?”

• “He brought shame and reproach on the Church”

• “He left the Church”

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• “He came back to the Church”

• “He’s a Church of Christ preacher”

• “The Church split over institutionalism back in the 1950’s”

• “The New Testament Church was restored during the 1800’s”

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• “I know when I see the name “Church of Christ” on the building, they’ll be preaching the truth inside”

• “What’s wrong with the Church of Christ?”

• “You have to be a member of the Church to be saved”

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Daniel 7:13-14

13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM