Understanding the Kingdom of God and Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom of God is Within You

Description: Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is not something to be observed externally but is within us. This internal kingdom calls for a transformation of the heart and mind, aligning our lives with God's will. It emphasizes a personal relationship with God and living out His principles daily. The Kingdom of God is not about grand external signs but about the quiet, profound work of God in our hearts. This understanding challenges us to seek God within and to cultivate a life that reflects His love and righteousness. [07:19]

Luke 17:20-21 (ESV): "Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.'"

Reflection: How can you cultivate an awareness of God's presence within you today? What specific actions can you take to align your heart and mind with His will?

Day 2: Readiness for Christ's Return

Description: Jesus' warnings about the suddenness of His return, likened to lightning and the days of Noah and Lot, highlight the importance of spiritual readiness. We must live each day in anticipation of His return, not clinging to worldly possessions or distractions. This readiness involves a continual commitment to faith and righteousness. The urgency of readiness calls us to examine our lives and ensure that we are living in a way that honors God and reflects our hope in His return. [08:07]

Matthew 24:42-44 (ESV): "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Reflection: What are some distractions or worldly possessions that might be hindering your readiness for Christ's return? How can you refocus your priorities to live in anticipation of His coming?

Day 3: The Present Reign of Christ

Description: The Kingdom of God was inaugurated through Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus is currently reigning as Lord, and His kingdom is expanding through the church. This reign will be fully manifested at His second coming, bringing ultimate justice and peace. Understanding Christ's present reign encourages us to participate in His mission, knowing that we are part of a kingdom that is already at work in the world. It also gives us hope that, despite the challenges we face, Christ is sovereign and His purposes will prevail. [12:08]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the expansion of Christ's kingdom in your community? What specific steps can you take to reflect His reign in your daily interactions?

Day 4: Eschatological Views and Their Implications

Description: Understanding different views of the millennium—premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism—helps us grasp the broader narrative of God's plan. Each view offers a unique perspective on the timing and nature of Christ's reign, influencing how we live out our faith and anticipate the future. These eschatological views shape our understanding of God's ultimate plan for creation and our role within it. By exploring these perspectives, we can deepen our faith and gain a more comprehensive understanding of God's redemptive work. [18:35]

Revelation 20:4-6 (ESV): "Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years."

Reflection: Which eschatological view resonates most with you, and why? How does this perspective influence your daily walk with Christ and your anticipation of the future?

Day 5: The Necessity of Cross-Bearing

Description: Contrary to postmillennial optimism, the New Testament emphasizes ongoing tribulation and the necessity of cross-bearing in the Christian life. True discipleship involves suffering and self-denial, reflecting Christ's own journey. This perspective keeps us grounded in the reality of spiritual warfare and the hope of ultimate victory in Christ. Embracing the necessity of cross-bearing helps us to understand that following Jesus means sharing in His sufferings and being willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. [46:55]

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"

Reflection: What does taking up your cross look like in your current circumstances? How can you embrace self-denial and sacrifice in your daily life to follow Jesus more closely?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In our study of Luke 17:20-37, we delved into the profound theme of the Kingdom of God. Jesus, when asked by the Pharisees about the coming of the Kingdom, emphasized that it does not come with observation but is within us. He warned against following false claims about His return, likening His coming to lightning that illuminates the sky. Jesus also drew parallels to the days of Noah and Lot, where people were caught unprepared despite warnings. He stressed the urgency of readiness and the futility of clinging to worldly possessions.

We explored the biblical narrative of the Kingdom, tracing its promise from the Old Testament through its inauguration in Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. The Kingdom of God, though present now, will only be fully manifested upon Jesus' return. This led us to discuss various eschatological views: premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism.

Premillennialism posits that Christ will return before a literal thousand-year reign. This view, popularized by dispensationalism, sees history divided into distinct dispensations, each testing humanity's faithfulness. Postmillennialism, on the other hand, envisions a future golden age brought about by the gospel's transformative power, culminating in Christ's return. Amillennialism, the view we espouse, interprets the thousand years symbolically, representing the current church age where Christ reigns spiritually, with His full reign to be revealed at His second coming.

We critiqued these views, particularly the optimistic outlook of postmillennialism, which anticipates a future era of peace and righteousness before Christ's return. This view, we argued, overlooks the New Testament's emphasis on ongoing tribulation and the necessity of cross-bearing in the Christian life. Amillennialism, in contrast, acknowledges the present reign of Christ and the ongoing spiritual battle, with ultimate victory and peace only realized at His return.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Bearing**: Contrary to postmillennial optimism, the New Testament emphasizes ongoing tribulation and the necessity of cross-bearing in the Christian life. True discipleship involves suffering and self-denial, reflecting Christ's own journey. This perspective keeps us grounded in the reality of spiritual warfare and the hope of ultimate victory in Christ. [46:55]
### [46:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:19] - The Kingdom of God is Within You
[08:07] - Readiness for Christ's Return
[09:02] - Parallels to Noah and Lot
[10:53] - Biblical Narrative of the Kingdom
[12:08] - Present Reign of Christ
[13:38] - Full Manifestation at Christ's Return
[15:42] - Revelation and the Thousand Years
[17:11] - Differing Eschatological Views
[18:35] - Premillennialism Explained
[21:35] - Dispensationalism Overview
[24:30] - Seven Dispensations
[26:01] - Postponed Kingdom
[27:49] - Future Tribulation and Millennium
[29:22] - Problems with Dispensationalism
[32:13] - Progressive Dispensationalism
[33:36] - Postmillennialism Explained
[35:09] - Historical Context of Postmillennialism
[36:41] - Theonomists and Reconstructionists
[38:11] - Optimistic View of the Great Commission
[39:37] - Critiques of Postmillennialism
[42:17] - When Does Christ Become King?
[43:49] - Binding of Satan
[45:21] - Future Peace and Righteousness
[46:55] - Necessity of Cross-Bearing
[49:42] - Fellowship in Suffering
[51:04] - Amillennialism Explained
[52:24] - Historical Development of Amillennialism
[55:19] - Challenges of Holding Amillennial Views
[56:42] - Importance of Eschatology
[58:12] - Differences Between Views
[60:52] - Spiritual Promises for the Church
[62:32] - Interpreting Scripture Christologically
[63:52] - One People of God
[65:23] - Prayer and Conclusion

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What did Jesus mean when He said, "The kingdom of God is within you"? ([07:19])
How did Jesus describe His return in Luke 17:24? ([08:07])
What were the people doing in the days of Noah and Lot that Jesus compared to His return? ([09:02])
What does Jesus warn against in Luke 17:31-32 regarding possessions? ([09:39])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to be "within you" and how does this affect our daily lives? ([07:19])
How should the suddenness of Jesus' return, as described in Luke 17:24, influence our spiritual readiness? ([08:07])
Why does Jesus draw parallels between His return and the days of Noah and Lot? What lessons can we learn from these comparisons? ([09:02])
How does the concept of not clinging to worldly possessions (Luke 17:31-32) challenge our current lifestyle and priorities? ([09:39])

Application Questions

Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within us. How can you cultivate a deeper personal relationship with God this week? ([07:19])
Reflect on your daily life. Are there any distractions or possessions that might be hindering your readiness for Christ's return? How can you address these? ([09:39])
Considering the suddenness of Jesus' return, what practical steps can you take to live each day in anticipation of His coming? ([08:07])
How can you incorporate the lessons from the days of Noah and Lot into your life to ensure you are spiritually prepared? ([09:02])
The sermon emphasized the necessity of cross-bearing in the Christian life. What are some ways you can embrace self-denial and suffering for Christ in your current circumstances? ([46:55])
How does understanding the present reign of Christ through His death, resurrection, and ascension impact your view of the church and its mission today? ([12:08])
Reflect on the different eschatological views discussed (premillennialism, postmillennialism, amillennialism). How does your understanding of these views influence your hope and anticipation for the future? ([18:35])

Sermon Clips

1. "God is king. Adam's sin and its consequences did not dethrone God, the God of the universe. With the fall of mankind into sin, the willing subjection of mankind, in fact, all of creation no longer existed in God's world. God continued to rule over rule, even in the presence of sin. And so God the Father continued to be the sovereign king or ruler over all history, but because of sin, nothing and no one acknowledged or submitted willingly to his authority." [09:39] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And the story of the Bible is God recovering and restoring all his creation to its willing submission and worship of God, the God of the universe. God, through a mediatorial kingdom, an intervening kingdom, which he brought to pass, brings to pass in history. And so in Adam's fall, paradise was lost, but through Christ, paradise is regained and restored. That's the story of the Bible." [10:53] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus Christ is presently Lord of lords and King of kings. The promised kingdom of the Old Testament was inaugurated. Jesus is Lord. And yet the kingdom of Jesus Christ will not be fully manifested until the return of Jesus." [12:08] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "To understand the purposes of God, the promises of God will ground you and strengthen you and affirm you as you have hope in what God has promised to do. And if you misunderstand these matters, or you're confused about these matters, will be to the degree that you cannot, you will not have the hope, the confidence, the assurance and peace that you could have had, had you understood these things rightly." [20:13] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The amillennialist believes that Jesus Christ is now ruling as the king over the kingdom of God, although his kingdom will be manifested before everyone to see it at the second coming when he puts down all rebellion. Every eye will see him. Every tongue will confess. Every knee bow. Confess Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father." [01:00:52] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The amillennialist understands the Old Testament prophets to be veiled as to their true meaning, and they can only be understood when one sees Christ proclaimed through them, even as the New Testament writer provide an inspired interpretation of the prophets. The dispensationalist claims they interpret the Old Testament prophets literally. The amillennialist argues that the Old Testament means what it says, but the New Testament says what it means. You interpret the Old Testament in the light of the New Testament." [01:02:32] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The Old Testament is filled with types, which give way to their anti-types in the New Testament. Just as the kingdom of God was promised in the Old Testament came to realization with the life and ministry of Christ, so the church too was promised in the Old Testament but came into realization with the coming of Christ." [01:03:52] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Jesus said of that Roman centurion many will come from the east and the west gentile lands and sit down together with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom one people of God is what the Lord Jesus taught." [01:03:52] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Jesus Christ you are lord of lords and king of kings and that although you were rejected it was the very means of your your your obedience on the death of the cross that resulted in the father highly exalting you giving you a name above every name you indeed are lord of lords and king of kings ruling over this glorious kingdom of god of which we are citizens of the kingdom of god and the kingdom of christ." [01:06:51] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Help us to understand these things clearly our god and live in the light of the truth of these give your people assurance and peace and confidence our god as we live in a very unsettled a difficult time in history may we look forward when confidence our god king jesus you were in on the throne and you were controlling the events of history taking place in the past even now bringing judgment upon your enemies but thankfully bringing salvation to your people the ones that the father had given you from eternity." [01:06:51] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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