Eschatology

Christ’s Parables in Matthew 13 Historical Context Christ’s parables in Matthew 13 addresses the same question. This question was raised by the historical situation in which Jesus and His disciples were in. The Jews thought about the coming of the kingdom as a deliverance from all their troubles. Political expectations permeated the Jews’ view of its coming    (John 6:15). Even those believing Jews (like John the Baptist) viewed its coming as involving the judgment of the wicked with irresistible might (Matthew 3:10). It was in this context that Jesus came preaching the nearness and then the actual coming of the kingdom (Matthew 4:17; 12:28, 29). John the Baptist embraced Jesus as the Messiah and as the one who would inaugurate God’s Kingdom. But when Jesus continued to preach the nearness of the kingdom and even preach the actual presence of the kingdom without the coming of the judgment of the wicked, John the Baptist began to have doubts. When John was arrested a...

Defining Kingdom The Kingdom of God is primarily God’s royal sovereignty (His reign). Reign, not realm, is the fundamental meaning of the kingdom. A throne, not a piece of real estate, is the proper analogy. Psalm 103:19 : “ The  Lord  has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all ” When psalmist says that “his kingdom rules over all”, the all means all his creatures. The whole universe is ruled by God. The word “kingdom” is used to show this sovereignty. By derivation the word does mean the realm or the sphere over which God reigns. The reign (or sovereignty) of God is exercised in various realms: 1.        God rules over the sphere of salvation. His sphere of salvation is kingdom of God Luke 18:24, 25 : “Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said,  “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God !     For it is easier for a camel to go through the ...