Monday 9 November 2015

Two Phase Gospel

I totally agree that Dispensationalism blurs the fact that God's promises and prophecies to Israel under the Old Covenant, have been fulfilled. Dispensationalism blurs the New Covenant. Couldn't agree more.

I also really like what someone said about the importance of the historical-critical method of interpreting prophecy. That's crucial for distinguishing between the Covenants.

But full-Preterism isn't the only option besides Dispensationalism. And Post-Millennialism's utopia isn't necessarily implied. 

I currently think clarity about the Covenants can be achieved without necessarily defining things like the Second Coming, the Judgment, the End of the World, and the New Earth as exclusively AD70 events.

I think Matthew 24 and Daniel make a distinction between events which were to happen within the Second Temple period (events related to the Temple), and the final end of the world (for which no timeframe was given). I think they even described what would happen in-between!

Saying that the Second Coming and end of the world are still future, in my mind is not because God's promises to Israel haven't been fulfilled yet. It's just because the Kingdom itself is a two-phase thing.

I think the Old Testament Prophets foresaw the two phases of the coming Kingdom, although they didn't fully understand that.

With New Testament understanding, we interpret the two phases of Kingdom-Prophecy to be the cross, and the still-future second coming - but nothing to do with a future Jewish Old Covenant style Dispensation.

I agree we've underestimated the glory that can happen in-between. We've underestimated the grace that is ours now in this time. And Dispensationalism is partly to blame. As is Cessationism. 

But I still think God Himself has set a parameter on what can be achieved this side of the Second Coming. And it's broader than just death.

We've received grace - but Peter spoke of grace that is yet to be received when Christ comes.

We've received new life - but Paul spoke of the resurrection which is yet to occur when He comes.

We've been saved - yet we're going to be saved in that Day.

Old things have indeed passed away, and all things have become new - yet it's going to happen physically too, when He comes.

Jesus is indeed coming to put down death in that Day - but He will also put down principalities and rulers which have resisted the Gospel and which have been allowed to remain despite persecuting the Church because God is patient and is giving more space to repent. It will be His eternal judgment at His coming that will perform that. 

The inauguration phase was the cross - the culmination phase is the Second Coming. AD70 fulfilled certain prophecies, but it didn't bring the ultimate culmination. AD70 was a tragedy. Jesus wept at the thought!

The Gospel didn't remove any of the Jews' privileges - it confirmed them and improved upon them - then included Gentiles in the same privileges.

'Dreaming with God', and 'understanding our inclusion in the Divine nature and body of Christ', are definite privileges provided for us all in the New Covenant - and I think there is much potential still to be realised in that. Right now in this present world. Very exciting! We've put too many limits on what that can achieve.

But I'm not convinced the New Covenant means that everybody's going to believe, and that all persecution shall cease, before the Second Coming.

I don't think it means eternal Judgment is a thing of the past. I think it's still valid to urge people to flee from the wrath to come. John did, and admittedly he was one of the last of the Old Covenant prophets - nevertheless he did have more than just AD70 in mind.

Biblical themes like fire, wrath, judgment, old things passing away, salvation, grace, all things being made new, new covenant, the second coming, resurrection, new heavens and a new earth, etc. each had a far more worldwide application and eternal meaning that just what happened in Jerusalem in AD70 alone.

We are still looking forward - not just to the Church's achievements in future history, but to the Second Coming and all that alone will bring.

In-between, there will always be persecution - but at the same time I'm sure there is far more grace, righteousness, rest, and potential than perhaps we've realised. 

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