Title: The Kingdom of God
1The Kingdom of God
- The Mediatorial Kingdom in Old Testament Prophecy
- Part I
2Last Week
- The Mediatorial Rulers from Moses to Saul
- The Monarchial Form of the Mediatorial Kingdom in
History - The Decline and End of the Mediatorial Kingdom in
History
3The Role of the Prophets During the Decline of
the Kingdom
Prophets
Northern Kingdom
722 BC
United King.
Southern Kingdom
586 BC
Prophets
4This Week
- Introduction The nature, interpretation, and
extent of kingdom prophecy. McClain calls OT
prophecy the largest and most important area of
investigation regarding the future mediatorial
kingdom. - The prophetic kingdom is related to history. Why
does McClain emphasize this? - The Mediatorial ruler in the prophetic kingdom.
5Introduction
- The Nature of Kingdom Prophecy
- Prophecy arises out of a definite historical
situation existing before the eyes of the
prophet there is always a connection with the
past. - Prophecy and Time events which appear together
in prophecy may in their fulfillment be widely
separated in time (e.g., the two comings of
Christ Isa 96-7, the 70 weeks of Daniel 9). The
sequence of events may also be reversed (e.g. new
heavens and new earth mentioned before millennial
conditions in Isa 6517-25). - The Interpretation of Kingdom Prophecy 3 major
schools - Literal according to the rules of grammar
(including figures of speech) and the facts in
history. (McClain allows for more typology here
than I would, e.g. when he says it is legitimate
for a preacher to take a prophecy concerning
Israel and apply it to the church p. 141). - Eclectical aka spiritual method. Originated
by Origen, who was a Platonist in philosophy. It
is eclectic in that it takes some things
literally and some not. - Critical denies the supernatural character of
Scripture, especially concerning prophecy. More
radical group says prophecy written after the
event moderates accept literal meaning, but say
there is no present validity. - The Extent of Kingdom Prophecy
- Begins with scattered references in the
Pentateuch, opens up clearly with the historical
books, grows in volume and brilliance as the
historical kingdom declines and comes to its
close in Malachi.
6The Prophetic Kingdom Is Related to History
- the Messianic Kingdom will not only be
established in future history but its roots are
anchored in history past (McClain, p. 147). - Its coming king will be related to history.
- He is related to historical persons such as Adam
and Eve (Gen 315), Abraham (Gen 178), the tribe
of Judah (Gen 4910), the family of Jesse (Isa
111), the line of David (Jer 235). - He is to be born in a historical place, Bethlehem
(Mic 52). - He will sit on the throne of David (Isa 97) and
execute judgment and righteousness in the land
(Jer. 3315). - Its establishment will be within the arena of
history. - It is a kingdom on the earth, headquartered at
Jerusalem in the land of Palestine, just as the
historical kingdom of the OT was.
7The Prophetic Kingdom Is Related to History
- Its favored nation will be the Israel of history.
- Gods covenant relationship with Israel is the
basis for this. The prophets contain both
punishment and hope of restoration in the last
days. Once restoration comes, it will never be
taken away. - This has been denied by 2 different hermeneutical
schemes - OT prophecies seen as fulfilled in Israels first
return to the land. What is wrong with this
conclusion? - Making the church the new Israel.
- It will destroy and supplant historical powers.
- Daniel 2 and 7. If the preceding human kingdoms
are on earth, so will be the kingdom of Messiah.
8Visions in Daniel 2 and 7
Picture taken from International Inductive Study
Bible, p. 1432.
9The Prophetic Kingdom Is Related to History
- Its beneficiaries will include nations of
history. - The nations will not be completely annihilated
but will instead become worshippers of the true
God (Isa 22-4). - Its covenant basis is grounded in history.
- Abrahamic
- Mosaic
- Davidic
- New
10Relationship Between the Covenants
NEW
DAVIDIC DEFINED KINGDOM
MOSAIC DEFINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD ISRAEL
ABRAHAMIC LAND, SEED, AND BLESSING
11Fulfillment of the Covenants in the Kingdom
12Continuity of the New Covenant with the Mosaic
Covenant
- It thus appears that the difference between the
old and the new covenants must be reduced to
this, that what was commanded and applied to the
heart in the old is given to the new, and the new
is but the completion of the old covenant. This
is, indeed, the true relation between them, as is
clearly shown by the fact, that the essential
element of the new covenant, I will be their
God, and they shall be my people, was set forth
as the object of the old cf. Lev. 2612 with Ex.
2945 (C.F. Keil, Jeremiah in Commentary on the
Old Testament, 282).
13Relationship of the New Covenant to the Previous
Covenants
- Jeremiahs vision for renewal corresponds with
the more comprehensive statements in Isaiah. The
earlier prophet merges the Davidic, Mosaic, and
Abrahamic covenants in the work of the servant.
Jeremiah locates the fulfillment of these
agreements at the initiation of the new covenant.
When the new covenant comes into effect, the
others will be gathered into it, fulfilled and
explained by it. Both prophets believe that a
new age will come when a cleansed, faithful
people of God inherit a glorious city in which
they worship the Lord under the leadership of a
Davidic descendant. Gods law will be obeyed,
and God will rule over subjects from Israel and
the nations (House, Old Testament Theology, 320).
14The Mediatorial Ruler in the Prophetic Kingdom
- The nature of the coming ruler
- Both human and divine in nature For a child
will be born to us, a son will be given to us
and the government will rest on His shoulders
and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isa
96). - The origin of the coming ruler
- Both natural and supernatural born of a woman,
but conceived by the Holy Spirit.
15The Mediatorial Ruler in the Prophetic Kingdom
- The character of the coming ruler
- Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. And
the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The
spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of
counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and
the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the
fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what
His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His
ears hear But with righteousness He will judge
the poor, and decide with fairness for the
afflicted of the earth And He will strike the
earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the
breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also
righteousness will be the belt about His loins,
And faithfulness the belt about His waist (Isa
111-5). - He will be the servant of Jehovah, revealing
in His character and leadership all the
perfections which were so sadly lacking in even
the best of former rulers in the historical
kingdom (McClain, p. 164). - The ability of the coming ruler
- Not only good and wise, but also strong and
capable, fully able to execute His will. He shall
not fail in His task!
16The Mediatorial Ruler in the Prophetic Kingdom
- The functions of the coming ruler
- Three functions of leadership in the historical
kingdom - King
- Priest
- Prophet
- OT prophecy anticipates the combination of these
3 offices into one. The Messiah will rule with
the authority of a king, speak Gods words as a
prophet, and mediate for Gods people as a
priest. - The mystery of the kings career
- Presented both as servant of Jehovah and a
suffering servant. - A man of sorrows and ill treatment, and at the
same time the good shepherd of Israel. - Comes as the long awaited Messiah the Prince,
but is cut off and left with nothing (Dan
925-26). - What was the expectation for the Messiah in
Jesus day and why?
17Next Week The Mediatorial Kingdom in Old
Testament ProphecyPart II
- The Coming and Establishment of the Prophetic
Kingdom