stonegatestandard.com

Most of our friends in the denominational world have been deceived by popular preachers who teach Jesus will return to the earth to establish a physical kingdom. They acknowledge that God intended to establish this kingdom when Jesus came the first time, as indicated by the prophets and very plainly by Jesus himself.

And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power,” (Mark 9:1).

But, we are told God’s plan was not fulfilled. J. Dwight Pentecost, in his influential book, Things to Come, said, “The theocratic kingdom offer [was] withdrawn and postponed after the rejection by Israel.” p.456. A careful Bible student will see that this distortion effectively denies the power of God, the integrity of His Word, the rule of Christ, the time of His kingdom, and the nature of that kingdom. This will become obvious when we ask the Premillenialists four questions.

(1) Why did an all knowing, all powerful God not foreknow and prepare for the Jewish rejection of Christ?

The answer is, He did! The rejection and crucifixion of Christ is central to the eternal plan of salvation!

Isaiah foresaw and foretold His rejection.

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him, (Isaiah 53:3)

Jesus is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8; cf. I Peter 1:17-21).

The answer is, they never had such power! David foretold that “the people” (Jews) would “take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed [Messiah], saying let us break Their bonds in pieces” (Psalm 2:1-3). But, he promised, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; ...He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.’” (verses 4-6). We know that the Lord, through the prophet, is speaking of His Son (verses 7, 12). By inspiration, the apostles applied this to the Jews’ rejection, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Acts 4:24-28; 13:33). Since we know the Apostles were guided by Holy Spirit into all truth, (Jn.16:13), we know the Apostle’s interpretation is correct. God’s purpose and its fulfillment was not deterred by the Jew’s rejection but was accomplished by Christ as planned.

(3) Is not “postponed” prophecy simply failed prophecy?

It was not just the kingdom but also the time when it would come that was prophesied. Daniel said God would set up His kingdom during the days of the fourth world empire, the Roman Empire (Daniel 2:44), and declared the prophecy “is certain, and its interpretation is sure” (verse 45). No, it wasn’t postponed. It was established during the Roman Empire, just as the Lord promised, before the death of those who stood before Christ, (Mk.9:1).

(4) If the kingdom is material, why did the Jews reject it, since that is what they wanted?

The truth is, premillenialists today reject Christ as King for the same reason the Jews did then - they want a material kingdom. But the kingdom of Christ “is not of this world” and it is not defended by armed might (John 18:36), “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). The Jewish rejection of Christ was central to the divine plan from eternity. The Lord God laughed at them and set the Christ on His throne as King of kings and Lord of lords. (Psalm 2:12)

Adapted from an article by Keith Sharp