This week in cyberspace, I was kept busy doing just that. In retrospect, a lot of opposition to the doctrine of solo-Scriptura (by Scripture alone) came at the hands of those who lay claim to the Reformers, ( particularly Martin Luther) who termed all the 'solas' in the first place. Now these Reformers are defending Tradition and putting it on equal par with God's Word. (See this week's discussions with Chris Rosebrough.)
On a blog I monitor, there was a post about all the suffering of believers and the need for intercession for our brothers and sisters who are hurting. I affirmed that, agreeing wholeheartedly that we need to pray for one another. Then I added my own lament, "This world needs the Lord to come and set up His Kingdom in Zion!"
An emergent blogger responded to me, "For years I've rejected the notion that The Kingdom is anything other than present because The King is inescapably present and we’re His subjects."
I chimed in, "...When Jesus rules from the Throne of David in Jerusalem – they’ll be no terrorists, no unsolved murders, no street crime, and even the animal kingdom will live in harmony,. Let’s see you do that! Until you can, you better keep on praying “'THY Kingdom Come.'"
Then a blogger who uses the moniker MLD (Martin Luther's Disciple) got in on the action, saying: "If you read St Peter in Acts 2 you will see that he clearly states that Jesus is already sitting on and ruling from David’s throne. How did you miss that?"
My response: "MLD – Keep reading – the next chapter Acts 3:19-21 — He sits on the throne in heaven until the time of restoration when He will then sit on His throne in Jerusalem. He rules in our hearts – not in the unbeliever’s heart – He will come back with His saints who will rule and reign together with Christ on the restored earth, ie “the time of restoration'"...
The emergent guy, still trying to straighten me out responded, "Apocalyptic language is metaphorical and not definitive. The figure is of Jesus continuing His present reign, one He clearly established during his pre ascension presence. If Jesus is not present King and we His present ambassadors and agents of redemption then you’re missing out on the glory of His Kingdom."
As you can see, I did not even refer to any Apocalyptic book, but to the book of Acts. Jesus certainly does rule in the hearts of the believer, His ambassadors, but the idea that that fulfills all the promises of Him setting up His earthly Millennial Kingdom, and we saints returning with Him to rule and reign with Him, is irrational.
This morning as I was reading the Bible (currently in the books of Psalms and Romans), this verse struck me as a confirmation that I used the right term when I said that Jesus would return and set up "His Kingdom in Zion."
"The Mighty One, God the LORD,
Has spoken and called the earth
From the rising of the sun to its going down.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God will shine forth.
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;
A fire shall devour before Him,
And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.
He shall call to the heavens from above,
And to the earth, that He may judge His people:"
-Ps. 50:1-4
This is not merely speaking of Christ's first coming since nothing very tempestuous was in the manger in Bethlehem. God confirmed His Word that it would indeed be "Out of Zion" that all the rest would be fulfilled. A-Mills, Preterists, and Kingdom-Now people cannot sway those of us who hear the Master's voice away from the promises in the Bible. We await the fulfillment of every jot and tittle.
Until then, keep your Ephesians armor on tight.
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph 6:11-12
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:19-21
"Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
But to the wicked God says:
'What right have you to declare My statutes,
Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Seeing you hate instruction
And cast My words behind you?'"
- Ps. 50:15-17
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