"Prophetic Views on the Kingdom of Christ"
Purpose of this
Lesson
We hope to achieve two objectives by this lesson. We intend
to challenge some in whom a mixture of Arminianism and Dispensationalism has
developed an utterly inadequate and unworthy concept of Christ's Kingship. We
shall try to do so in love, but love that does not fear to expose faults and
unpleasant facts. We are never satisfied merely to reveal errors, however
needful or helpful that may be, so we hope to be used of God to give a clear
and challenging picture of Divine perfection in its finest dress, the splendour
of matchless majesty.
Before
starting our study proper we want you to answer five simple questions.
1. Was
there ever a time, a circumstance, or a situation in the physical universe in
respect to which Christ was less than absolute Sovereign? In other words, was
there ever anything, any person or any influence that Christ did not have under
His control?
2. Are
there some exceptions now to the "All things" of Romans 8:28, or
Hebrews 2:8? Have there been times, are there situations now, or will there
ever be "things" which Christ cannot or does not make "Work
together for good?" Does Ephesians 1:11 mean exactly what it says when it
declares that God "worketh ALL THINGS after the counsel of his own
will?"
3.
According to Hebrews 2:8b, are we in a good position to judge by sight as to
whether "all things" are under the control of Christ, the
Representative Man? Does the fact that we see evil men and devils ranting
around in circumscribed and Divinely controlled bounds, prove that Christ is
not in possession of the authority which He claimed to have and use in Matthew
28:18? If Christ does not now have and exercise "all authority in heaven
and in earth", what right have we to go in His name in witnessing, or pray
in His name in interceding? Indeed, if there is any limit to His authority now,
if there is any area or any circumstance in which He is less than absolute
Sovereign, how can I be sure I am safe in His keeping or care?
4. If
Christ is now "A King without a kingdom", as many claim. Who is now
on the throne and in control of the Universe, as it moves to its appointed end?
5. If the
Kingdom is still future, will Christ be more in control when here on earth than
He is now in heaven?
Please answer these questions at least in your
mind and then test your answers by the Scriptures we note as we go on to study
our subject.
We ask you to bear in mind that we are
considering prophecies which reveal the truth about the kingship of Christ.
Please remember that we need to distinguish between the fact of Christ's
kingship and the revelation or manifesting of the fact or the
evidence that confirms and demonstrates the fact. The reality of the present and
absolute sovereignty of Christ does not in any way depend upon our recognition
or acceptance of His kingship. Indeed, such is His control over everything,
near and remote, that there may be a thousand intermediate influences and
secondary causes between His hand and the results which we see where we are.
For instance, an earthquake may shock the coasts of Spain and cause tidal
convulsions that reach far out into the Atlantic. A ship away off on the
distant deep may shudder or even flounder in the billowing waves that lash it
as the result of the earthquake, which the ship's crew never heard of.
Likewise, the sovereign God moves often far behind the scenes and, by remote
control, He regulates a thousand series of circumstances which in turn
determine the conditions in which we live. Consequently, we see only the waves
which lash our ship, but fail to note that behind them all, and in them all,
the sovereign God is present and at work in complete command of every detail.
We shall
divide our lesson into two parts, prophetic views of Christ's Kingship as seen
from the Old Testament viewpoint, and further and fuller visions as viewed from
the vantage points which New Testament prophets held. We shall give scant
notice to the many, important statements which describe the past and present
exercise of the kingship of Christ, but we must never forget that He Who sat
King upon the flood, is the One Who "sitteth King forever". Ps.
29:10. The force of any and every prophetic forecast depends upon the present and
continuing ability of God to regulate and control every slightest determining
factor and influence.
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