The Advance of the KingdomThe Advance of the KingdomSeeing the Sequence and Significance of the Biblical StorySeeing the Sequence and Significance of the Biblical Story

““His kingdom is an everlasting His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures kingdom, and his dominion endures

from generation to generation.”from generation to generation.”~ Daniel 4:3b ~~ Daniel 4:3b ~

• The Covenant of Creation [pre-Fall]

• The Covenant of Salvation [post-Fall] – Adam [installation]………………….....the seed – Noah [preservation]………..…the greenhouse – Abraham [inauguration]…………..…the sprout – Moses [intensification]……………...…the stalk– David [coronation]…………………...the leaves – Christ [consummation]…………...the blossom

The Progression of God’s CovenantThe Progression of God’s Covenant

Conclusion: What Now?Conclusion: What Now? Three-fold Division of World-History:

I. The Anticipation of Christ’s Work

II. The Accomplishment of Christ’s Work

III. The Application of Christ’s Work

The The ApplicationApplication of Christ’s Work of Christ’s Work• What has already been accomplished “once for all” is

now being applied progressively by the Holy Spirit– “I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to

do.” John 17:4 [cf. John 19:30 & Hebrews 10:14]

– “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Psalm 110:1 [cf. Acts 2:34]

• The “End Days” started with Christ & the Apostles

– “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 [cf. Romans 13:11, Hebrews 1:2, James 5:3, etc.]

• The Ultimate End will arrive once God’s people from all nations have been gathered [“harvested”]

– “…for You were slain, and by your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation…” Revelation 5:9

– “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matt. 24:14

History of the End TimesHistory of the End Times• The Early Church [AD 30 – 300]

-- Chief Satanic Opposition = Persecution

-- Chief Gospel-Victory = Rapid Church Growth

• The Emerging Church [AD 300-600] --Chief Satanic Opposition = Doctrinal Confusion

--Chief Gospel-Victory = Doctrinal Formulation

• The Medieval Church [AD 600-1600] --Chief Satanic Opposition = Corruption

--Chief Gospel-Victory = Reformation

• The Modern Church [AD 1600-????]-- Chief Satanic Opposition = Division-- Chief Gospel-Victory = All Nations United in

Worship

History = The History = The AdvanceAdvance of the Kingdom of the Kingdom• History is not a series of blind-chance events!• Take just a glimpse at Providence in the Past:

– Rome’s Road-Network & The Initial Church Growth!– State-Church System & The Timely Church Councils!– The Advent of the Printing Press & The Reformation!– Exploration of the World & The Increase of Missions!

• Now, think about the present & future: – Modern Travel and Communication Technology… – Globalization and an emerging multi-lingual world…

“…The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and He

shall reign forever and ever!”~ Revelation 11:15 ~

Finishing the Great CommissionFinishing the Great Commission• A Task Destined to be Finished • The Task That Defines our Existence • The Task = To Proclaim & Portray the Gospel to All• A Challenging Task—6,000 + “UPG’s” [of 18,000?]• An Encouraging Task—12,000 “UPG’s” in 1970! • A Very Radical Task

“… ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of

the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you to the end of the age.’”

~ Matthew 28:18-20 ~

“Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does

not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

~ Matthew 10: 37-39 ~

One Word… “Worship!” One Word… “Worship!” • Missions = The “Overflow” of Worship • Worship = The Fuel & The Goal • Worship = The Heart of the Covenant

***Get Excited About the Gospel!***“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold the dwelling place of

God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God!”

~ Revelation 21:3 ~

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the

throne and before the Lamb…crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

~ Revelation 7:9-10 ~

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns!” ~ Revelation 19:6 ~