but now the rejected and absent Nobleman, exiled in heaven, seated not upon His own but upon His Father’s throne (Rev. 3:20). As to the future, He is the coming Judge and King, the desire of the nations, the Prince of Peace, the Potentate who is destined to rule the nations with a rod of iron from His established throne in Jeru salem. AS TO THEIR CHARACTER Both the Church and the Kingdom of our Lord have their material as well as their spiritual aspects. The Church in her spiritual aspect is now in the Kingdom, individuals having been translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son. Potentially the believer is in the Kingdom but incognito waiting to be revealed with her Lord (I John 3:1-2). “ Behold, what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us; that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall 'appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” The Church’s present position and relationship to the Kingdom might be compared to a provisional government set up in exile. Materially the Church has a local manifestation, “ called out,” separated, an organism living and witnessing as local assemblies. The Kingdom of Christ, spiritually considered, is now existing in mystery form as depicted by the Kingdom parables in Matthew thirteen. The material aspects of the Kingdom are in abeyance, yet to be set up upon the earth when Israel restored shall “ see Him whom they have pierced and mourn for Him a's one moumeth for an only son.” “ The idea that Christ is now ruling as a King over a great spiritual Kingdom composed of all saved — that his Kingdom ‘comes’ as the institution increases in num ber and power, and that eventually Christianity shall dominate the earth, is utterly false.” (Roy Mason). AS TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT The Church is an organism multiplied by growth. “The Lord added to the Church daily such as were being saved.” (Acts 2:47). The Kingdom is an organization to be “ set up” at His appearing, to be made up of both good and bad. Daniel 2:44: “ And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” AS TO THEIR DISCLOSURE The Church was a mystery in the Old Testament “hidden since the foundation of the world” but disclosed in the New (Romans 16:26; Ephesians 3:1-11). That the Gentiles were to be saved was no mystery in the Old Testament. The “new thing” undisclosed in the Old Testament was the fact that the Gentiles were to be on par “fellow heirs in the same body,” on equal basis, with out distinction “where there is neither Jew nor Gentile.” In contrast, we see the revelation in the Old Testament always gave Israel the primary place and the Gentiles a secondary and subjected position. In other words, the salvation promised to the Gentiles in the Old Testament was to flow through Israel to be received by the nations as they came up to Jerusalem to worship. In the Church, there is no difference, “members of the same body.” The Kingdom, a revelation in the Old Testament, takes a mystery form in the New Testament. When the Church shall have been raptured and Israel cleansed through
judgment during the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Kingdom of Christ will be manifested and once again Israel shall be the “Head,” (Deuteronomy 28:1) and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13) among the natioris. Then the Jews shall again take precedent over the nations. AS TO THEIR PERSONNEL Here let us consider the Kingdom first. The Kingdom as presented both in substance and shadow in the Old Testament is always composed of citizens in a visible nation, under law, ruled over by a visible King. In the coming manifestation of the Kingdom, the law will be written in their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:7-13). On the other hand, the Church is composed of sons, adopted and born, sharing the life of God in the family of God, under love, with a heavenly citizenship, awaiting His glory. The officers of a Kingdom are kings, judges, officers, generals. The officers of the church are “ and he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” These are quite differ ent, all must admit. Christ is nowhere called the King of the Church. He is only referred to as King in connection with Israel. The wise men inquired “ Sayings Where is he that is bom King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). The angel announced (Luke 1:31-33): “And, behold, thou shaft conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” To follow this cue saves one from much confusion. AS TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD The kingdom is to be received from the father (Daniel 7:13-14). “ I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and lan guages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Again Luke 19:11, 12, 15, “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return . . . And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the Kingdom, then he com manded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.” But the Kingdom is to be set up upon the earth. “ The kings of the earth set themselves . . . Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalms 2:2, 5, 6). “ And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15). In contrast to this, the Church “not of this world” (John 17:16), has a heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:20). In the world but not of the world. Assigned a specific mission of witnessing (Acts 1:8), characterized by a walk as strangers and pilgrims (I Peter 2:11) and com missioned as ambassadors (II Corinthians 5:20)'.
JULY, 1961
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