In a short article titled "The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament" the late John F. Walvoord (former President and Professor of Systematic Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary - SEE HERE), says several things that are worth citing and to which I would like to offer my "amen" and comments.
Wrote Walvoord (emphasis mine):
"The masterful chapter on “The Kingdom Concept in the Old Testament” by J. Dwight Pentecost in his work, Things to Come, sets forth in a comprehensive way the doctrine of the kingdom of God in the Old Testament. Unfortunately, in spite of the comprehensive presentation in this chapter, as well as numerous other books that set forth the doctrine of the kingdom in the Old Testament, amillenarians have repeatedly stated that the Bible nowhere teaches a future kingdom on earth. Rather than leave such statements unchallenged, it seems best to review briefly the specific contribution of the Old Testament to the premillennial interpretation of a future kingdom on earth."
Of course, with few exceptions, today's "Primitive Baptists" are Amillenial, and hold to the proposition that affirms "that the Bible nowhere teaches a future kingdom on earth." It is part of Premillenialism to affirm a "future kingdom on earth."
Wrote Walvoord:
"The problem is by no means simplistic. Many varying definitions of the kingdom of God are given. As Pentecost states, “Through this maze of interpretations it is almost impossible to make one’s way.”
Yes it is a "maze of interpretations," and this is certainly true when one looks at how the typical Hardshell Baptist "interprets" prophecy and the Book of Revelation. The persevering Bible student and honest seeker of truth will, however, make his way through it.
Wrote Walvoord:
"The question remains whether there is a future form of the kingdom that will also be theocratic, political, and on earth."
That is indeed the chief question! That the form of the promised Messianic kingdom will be "theocratic," having Messiah present on earth and ruling, and "political," having "the government upon his shoulders," when "the kingdoms of this world" become the possession "of our Lord and of his Christ." (Rev. 11: 15)
Wrote Walvoord:
"This is the point of tension between premillennial and amillennial interpretation. Obviously for an amillenarian to say summarily that no verse in the Bible teaches a future earthly kingdom is a dogmatic statement that needs to be examined. The purpose of this discussion is to refer primarily to what the Scriptures actually state and then raise the question as to the proper interpretation of these passages."
It not only "needs to be examined," but exposed and overthrown. Walvoord gives some of the evidence which overthrows the proposition of the Amillenialist which avers "that no verse in the Bible teaches a future earthly kingdom."
Walvoord begins with "The Prophecies of Isaiah," saying:
"As a casual reading of the Book of Isaiah demonstrates, the prophet Isaiah speaks repeatedly on the subject of a future earthly kingdom. In his book he predicts a future kingdom with Jerusalem as its capital and involving the tribe of Judah."
That is what Isaiah literally says! The question is, do we take Isaiah literally when he speaks of such a coming kingdom?
Walvoord then cites these words from the prophet Isaiah:
"In the last days, the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may walk in His paths. For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples, and they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war." (Isa 2:2-4, NASB)
He then says:
"This prophecy has had no literal fulfillment in the past, but a future kingdom on earth could fulfill precisely these predictions of Isaiah."
Who can deny that this prophecy has not had a literal fulfillment? What do the Amillenialists say? They say it has been fulfilled "spiritually," and that God never intended for people to take him literally. He was, say the Amillenialists, giving prophecy about spiritual events using figurative speech, and making use of symbols and metaphors. Thus we see how important it is to discover whether it is proper hermeneutics to interpret prophecy non-literally.
Walvoord continued:
"One of the better known of Isaiah’s pronouncements concerning the future kingdom is his prediction of Christ’s birth.
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. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this (9:6-7 ).
Again this passage refers to an earthly government. The child will be born on earth; the throne will be that of David; rule will be characterized by justice and righteousness; and it will be accomplished by the power of God rather than the power of men. His birth has been fulfilled, but the establishment of His earthly government has not."
Who can deny that the parts of the prophecy that have been fulfilled (by universal agreement), such as the birth and first coming of Christ, his death and resurrection, the gospel proclamation and Gentile ingathering, etc., have all been literally fulfilled? And, if this is granted, then does this not tell us that the other parts of the prophecy are also to be fulfilled literally? Yes! And, if the unfulfilled aspects of the prophecy, about the kingdom or reign of Christ on earth, are fulfilled literally, then they obviously yet wait a future fulfillment. All fulfilled prophecy has been literally fulfilled.
Wrote Walvoord:
"One of the most extensive passages by Isaiah refers to Christ’s coming and the characteristics of His reign on the earth:
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. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; their young will lie down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (11:1-9 ).
These characteristics of Christ’s reign obviously refer to earth. The righteousness of His rule, the destruction of the wicked, the accompanying tranquility in nature does not correspond to anything in history nor anything in the future in heaven, but refers to the earth. Verse 9 refers to “My holy mountain” and “the earth” being “full of the knowledge of the LORD.” To these prophecies Isaiah adds the graphic picture of judgment on earth in chapter 24 in connection with His earthly reign, He concludes, “Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His glory will be before His elders” (24:23 )."
Well, "amen" to that! More to come, the Lord willing.
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