The "Kingdom" and The "Church".
This Is Appendix 113 From The Companion Bible.
From
Appendixes 112 and 114 it will be seen that, if each use of the term "kingdom" has its own special and particular meaning and must not be confused with others that differ, there must be still greater confusion if any one of them is identified with "the Church",
as is very commonly done: though which of the Kingdoms and which of the Churches
is never definitely pointed out.
The
following reasons may be given which will show that "the Kingdom" and "the
Church" cannot
thus be identified:-
-
The
subjects of the former are spoken of as "inheriting",
or as being "heirs of the Kingdom"; but we cannot speak
of inheriting or being heirs of "the
Church".
-
We
read of the possibility of "receiving the Kingdom", but in
no sense can any Church be spoken of as being received.
-
We
read of "the elders of the Churches", messengers or servants
of the Churches, but never of the elders, etc. of the Kingdom.
-
The
word basileia, translated "kingdom", occurs
162 times, and in the plural only in Matthew 4:8.
Luke 4:5.
Hebrews 11:33.
Revelation 11:15.
On the other hand, the word ekklesia occurs 115 times,
and of these 36 are in the plural and 79 in the singular, all rendered "church" except
in Acts 19:32,
39, 41, "assembly".
-
We
read of "the children (or sons) of the Kingdom", but the Bible
knows nothing of the sons of "the Church".
-
The
characteristics of each are distinct.
-
The
names and appellatives of "the Church" are never used of the
Kingdom (Ephesians 1:23;
2:21;
4:4, 16;
5:30.
Colossians 1:24. 1
Timothy 3:15).
-
The
privilege of "that Church" which consists of the partakers
of "a heavenly calling", Hebrews 3:1 (see Appendix
112. 4, 5); Revelation 20:4-6,
will be to reign with Christ over the earthly Kingdom, whereas
that Kingdom will be "under the whole heaven" (Daniel
7:27).
-
"The
Church" of the Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians)
is here and now, in the world, and is waiting for its exanastasis,
and its "heavenward call" (Philippians 3:11,
14);
whereas the Kingdom is not here, because the King is not here (Hebrews
2:8).
-
The
Kingdom is the one great subject of prophecy; whereas the Church (of
the Prison Epistles) is not the subject of prophecy, but, on the contrary,
was
kept secret, and hidden in God, until the time came for the secret to
be revealed. (see Appendix 112. 5).
It must be understood that this "secret" (Greek; musterion,
see Appendix 182) did not and could not refer to Jews
and Gentiles in future blessing, because this was never a secret,
but was part of the original promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3,
and was repeatedly spoken of throughout the Psalms and the Prophets. See
Deuteronomy 32:43.
Psalms 18:49;
117:1.
Isaiah 11:1, 10,
etc. Compare Romans 15:8-12,
and the quotations there given.
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