In the earthly hope, reflected in the churches of the Acts age, you have local bodies of believers spoken of in the picture of "eyes" and "ears," etc. These local bodies were made up of Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor 12:16-17). The ONE Body of the current age as revealed in Ephesians (Post Acts) has Christ alone as its head and is male in character (Eph 4:14-16).
The middle wall of partition (or "separation," Eph 2:14) between Jew and Gentile is now down (and not before; see Acts 15, 21, Romans, etc.). The prophetic scenario (revealed by “Moses and the Prophets”) concerns God’s plans for the earth.
Since Adam, the restoration of the earth was the hope; through Abraham the land and the Kingdom (through the Son of David). The current plan and hope is not earthly, it is heavenly.
In short, the guests at the wedding are Gentiles, but not Gentiles of the current age (Matthew did not see that which was revealed to Paul alone, Eph 3). These Gentiles were NOT invited to the wedding, but grafted into blessings “to make Israel jealous” (as Romans clearly states). Those gentiles, invited last, after Israel had been invited, are NOT the Bride, but merely guests.
Even among Israel, there are things to be earned by faith and faithfulness. Not all Israel is the Bride (pictured as the New Jerusalem in the Revelation as a reward). Some of Israel qualified as the Bride (rewarded "the city whose builder and make is God") and some as guests.
We note again, The New Jerusalem (“adorned as a Bride for her Bridegroom”) is a reward that comes down from heaven to earth. The city has the names of the twelve tribes and the twelve Apostles to the Circumcision. Not Paul’s name.
In short, the guests at the wedding are Gentiles, but not Gentiles of the current age (Matthew did not see that which was revealed to Paul alone, Eph 3). These Gentiles were NOT invited to the wedding, but grafted into blessings “to make Israel jealous” (as Romans clearly states). Those gentiles, invited last, after Israel had been invited, are NOT the Bride, but merely guests.
Even among Israel, there are things to be earned by faith and faithfulness. Not all Israel is the Bride (pictured as the New Jerusalem in the Revelation as a reward). Some of Israel qualified as the Bride (rewarded "the city whose builder and make is God") and some as guests.
By faith [Abraham] dwelt in the promised land, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise, for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
-Hebrews 11:9-10
We note again, The New Jerusalem (“adorned as a Bride for her Bridegroom”) is a reward that comes down from heaven to earth. The city has the names of the twelve tribes and the twelve Apostles to the Circumcision. Not Paul’s name.
Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
-Revelation 21:12-14
The Lord brings his reward with him to earth when he returns in the clouds. Those storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20) do not necessarily get their reward in heaven.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work..."
-Revelation 22:12
As for that very literal return:
“Men of Galilee, why stand looking toward heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you to heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
-Acts 1:11
He did not ascend "spiritually" and his return will be be "spiritual," but very literal.
Matthew is the Gospel of the King, John is the gospel of God. We have compare and contrast those two previously. You can refrence the post on the Parable of the Wedding feast linked above or consider this post.
The heavenly hope is very limited. ALL believers are part of God’s Kingdom, but there is a specific Kingdom that is earthly, ours is heavenly. The “restoration of the Kingdom in Israel” (Acts 1:6) is a very real, earthly Kingdom, fulfilling many promises and the New Covenant (which is for Israel).
Matthew is the Gospel of the King, John is the gospel of God. We have compare and contrast those two previously. You can refrence the post on the Parable of the Wedding feast linked above or consider this post.
The heavenly hope is very limited. ALL believers are part of God’s Kingdom, but there is a specific Kingdom that is earthly, ours is heavenly. The “restoration of the Kingdom in Israel” (Acts 1:6) is a very real, earthly Kingdom, fulfilling many promises and the New Covenant (which is for Israel).
We are not teaching "two kingdoms" here. Rather, there is the greater Kingdom of God (ruling over even principalities in the heavenly places) and the specific earthly Kingdom established in the promised land. This has been true since David sat on the throne in the united Kingdom. We would not call that period a "two kingdoms" doctrine. God was, is, and ever shall be King, yet he chose the line of David as the Kings in a kingdom within his kingdom.
What did the Lord mean when he spoke of the Kingdom being "within" his listeners?
The KJV lets us down here. The idea here is that the Kingdom was in their midst. There are a number of translations that use this language. The New KJV reflects the KJV, but it notes the wording "in your midst" as a proper rendering. Conversely, the NRSVA (quoted below) uses "is among you" while noting it can also be "within you."
What did the Lord mean when he spoke of the Kingdom being "within" his listeners?
When the Lord Jesus was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
-Luke 17:20-21
The KJV lets us down here. The idea here is that the Kingdom was in their midst. There are a number of translations that use this language. The New KJV reflects the KJV, but it notes the wording "in your midst" as a proper rendering. Conversely, the NRSVA (quoted below) uses "is among you" while noting it can also be "within you."
Nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (English Standard Version)
Nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.’ (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicized)
People won’t say ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘Look, over there!’ No: God’s kingdom is within your grasp.” (New Testament for Everyone)
The Greek word suggests both. The King was there, he was among them. The Kingdom was offered to Israel in the Lord’s earthly ministry, rejected, then offered again in the Acts (particularly in Acts 3, and cp Romans 9-11, etc.). The idea of the Kingdom being "within you" suggesting the Kingdom is purely spiritual does not hold up against the rest of the witness of scripture. In my opinion, it doesn't hold up in the least.
The coming of the Son of David, the King, to sit in the throne in an earthly kingdom was prophesied, but it had to all come to fruition. The Kingdom of heaven was indeed at-hand when the Lord walked in Israel.
We note again the commission of the twelve in Matthew 10. When they are sent to preach the Kingdom to Jews only, this is the message:
Back in Luke, when the Lord speaks of the budding of the fig tree, he tells them:
The Greek word is used of a number of things including the Passover being “at hand” or “near” in time. Paul says in Romans that “the day” is “at hand” (Romans 13:12). Salvation from sin was near? No, the prophesied “Day” was near. That is "the Day of the Lord" (rendered "the Lord's Day" in the Revelation).
This is why (as previously noted in other studies) Paul instructs young women its better they NOT marry and NOT bear children in that age. Not some local (hence meaningless outside the area) teaching, but because, specifically in 1 Cor 7 (during the Acts) because the age was "passing away":
The Lord echoed this back in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. He speaks of very real people, in very real places, seeing very real prophesied events. These are not "spiritual" places and things and activities. These are not generic conditions since the Lord's first coming. They speak of a literal tribulation coming to Israel. And when that day arrives, "woe to those who are with child." Hence, Paul instructs young women that is better to NOT bear children.
Won’t go through all of Matthew 24 & 25, but we have a very real return seen there.
Post Acts (the current age where this no distinction and the time is not “at hand”), Paul gives very different instructions.
Just a small, but very clear, practical difference.
Paul speaks of the last days in his last epistle (2 Tim). We must compare and contrast those with the last days in the Matthew 24 and the Acts. What I can tell from the warnings there and in Philippians (as seen in the case of Demas who abandoned Paul, 2 Tim 4:10), the religious persecution of the last day’s will come from fellow believers who will abandon Paul's revelation in Ephesians.
The coming of the Son of David, the King, to sit in the throne in an earthly kingdom was prophesied, but it had to all come to fruition. The Kingdom of heaven was indeed at-hand when the Lord walked in Israel.
We note again the commission of the twelve in Matthew 10. When they are sent to preach the Kingdom to Jews only, this is the message:
And as ye go [to Israel only], preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Back in Luke, when the Lord speaks of the budding of the fig tree, he tells them:
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.We could quote other verses along this line, but these will suffice.
The Greek word is used of a number of things including the Passover being “at hand” or “near” in time. Paul says in Romans that “the day” is “at hand” (Romans 13:12). Salvation from sin was near? No, the prophesied “Day” was near. That is "the Day of the Lord" (rendered "the Lord's Day" in the Revelation).
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
This is why (as previously noted in other studies) Paul instructs young women its better they NOT marry and NOT bear children in that age. Not some local (hence meaningless outside the area) teaching, but because, specifically in 1 Cor 7 (during the Acts) because the age was "passing away":
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remains, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this [age] passes away.
The Lord echoed this back in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. He speaks of very real people, in very real places, seeing very real prophesied events. These are not "spiritual" places and things and activities. These are not generic conditions since the Lord's first coming. They speak of a literal tribulation coming to Israel. And when that day arrives, "woe to those who are with child." Hence, Paul instructs young women that is better to NOT bear children.
“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. Let him who is in the field not return to take his clothes. Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse in those days! Pray that your escape will not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. For then will be great tribulation, such as has not happened since the beginning of the [ages] until now, no, nor ever shall be.
Won’t go through all of Matthew 24 & 25, but we have a very real return seen there.
Post Acts (the current age where this no distinction and the time is not “at hand”), Paul gives very different instructions.
Therefore I desire that the younger women marry, bear children, manage the house, and give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
-1 Timothy 5:14
Just a small, but very clear, practical difference.
Paul speaks of the last days in his last epistle (2 Tim). We must compare and contrast those with the last days in the Matthew 24 and the Acts. What I can tell from the warnings there and in Philippians (as seen in the case of Demas who abandoned Paul, 2 Tim 4:10), the religious persecution of the last day’s will come from fellow believers who will abandon Paul's revelation in Ephesians.
having a form of godliness, but denying its power
Brothers, become fellow imitators with me and observe those [believers] who walk according to our example. For many [other believers] are walking in such a way that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. I have told you of them often and tell you again, even weeping. Their destination is destruction, their god is their appetite, their glory is in their shame, their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our body of humiliation, so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working of His power even to subdue all things to Himself.
- OK for the Apostles to look for the restoration of the Kingdom in Israel on earth
- Not OK today to look for any kind of earthly blessings or hope or earthly kingdom
Many will depart from Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles, his teaching of unsearchable riches in the heavenly places (Ephesians), his warnings about earthly ordinances, and they will instead look to the earth for their blessings and hope.
Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me
If you then were raised with Christ, desire those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then you also shall appear [phaneróō ] with Him in glory.
phaneróō - the brightness, manifestation of his coming in the epiphenea, not in the parousia of the King to his Kingdom. The Greek parousia of the King disappears as a hope after Acts. It cannot be found in the Post Acts epistles.
Therefore let no one judge you regarding food, or drink, or in respect of a holy day [feast day] or new moon or sabbath days. These are shadows of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
-Colossians 2:16
"Things to come" in a future kingdom, in a future age. All the things concerning that earthly hope were revealed to Moses and the Prophets. In the Acts, Paul testified that he preached only what was in Moses and the Prophets (Acts 26:22). He witnessed to Israel only what was in Moses and the Prophets. What was revealed to Paul was not known before.
when you read it, you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel. Of this I [Paul] was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the incomprehensible [unsearchable] riches of Christ, and to reveal for all people what is the fellowship [dispensation] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ.
We are to follow Paul as he follows Christ. Always true for Gentiles (during and after the Acts age), now true for all in the current age.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
-1 Corinthians 11:1
