In my previous post I discussed the key text of 1 Corinthians 15 that pushed me over the edge into embracing Postmillennialism. Once I understood that text, and once I understood partial Preterism, the beauty and the extent of the growth of the Kingdom of God began to make sense and be plain to me.
Throughout the Scripture the Kingdom of God is described as something that grows, and grows into something big. Take for example two of Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13:
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
The Kingdom of Heaven is not one that will be small and diminished by the forces of the anti-christ in the last days. It is one, that since that time of Jesus, has continued to grow and will be massive. It started small, but has been given continual slow and steady growth throughout history. The descendants of Abraham will be as numerous as the sand on the seashore and the stars in the sky (and we understand the offspring of Abraham to be those who by sharing his faith are sons and daughters, not of the flesh).
One of my favorite texts on the subject is found in the beloved Christmas text of Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 7,
“Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Of the increase of his [Jesus Christ’s] government and of peace there will be no end. The rule and reign of Jesus Christ will, without end, continue to increase throughout the earth turning the nations unto Him so that they will flow to the mountain of God (Isaiah 2:2). Furthermore, with the increase of the rule of Christ comes the increase of peace, for Jesus is the Prince of Peace. I do not spiritualize this passage and the many like it, but take it to be something that actually happens in time and in history.
A common objection to this is that the world isn’t getting better – things are getting worse. I did not invent this response, but the answer is that you’re looking to closely at your present situation. Consider world history in 500 year increments and you will see how indeed the Kingdom of God has advanced and grown and is so doing. We must believe the many promises of victory in scripture such as Habakkuk 2:14,
“For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.”
Consider also Daniel 2:34-35 where the Kingdom of God is compared to a stone that becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth. We must believe these promises over what seems possible to man. If God has promised it, it will happen, no matter how unlikely it is to the flesh. Do we believe God is big enough, that His gospel is powerful enough, and that His Word is faithful enough to carry out what has been promised? I hope we do.
There is much more to be said here, but I will leave these verse and thoughts here for you meditation and consideration.
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