New Release

TRIUMPHANT RETURN

The Coming Kingdom of God

by Grant R. Jeffrey

CONTENTS

Introduction

1. The Importance of the Second Coming and the Kingdom of God
2. How Should We Understand Prophecy
3. What Did the Early Church Believe about the Second Coming?
4. Arguments and Evidence against Preterism
6. The Coming Millennial Kingdom of God
7. The Rapture: The Resurrection Prophecy
8. The Imminent Return of Christ for His Church
9. General Prophetic Signs of Christ's Second Coming
10. Unique Signs Pointing to the Second Coming
11. How Should We Respond to the Coming Kingdom of God?

Appendix:

Selected Bibliography

Introduction

Will Jesus Christ literally return from heaven in the last days? Will Christ defeat evil and set up His kingdom on earth? Does the Bible prophesy that Jesus will establish a thousand-year millennial kingdom? After waiting for almost two thousand years, why should we believe that our generation might see the fulfillment of these prophecies? How should we answer critics who claim that these prophecies were fulfilled almost two thousand years ago when Jerusalem was destroyed? What did the early Church believe about the Second Coming, the Millennium, and the Antichrist?

The answers to these important questions are revealed in the fascinating research that is presented in this book. The evidence presented in Triumphant Return provides compelling proof that the Scriptures clearly taught that Jesus will return to earth at the end of this age to set up His kingdom on earth. You will discover overwhelming evidence that those in the early Church who lived closest in time to the apostles longed for the literal and imminent return and universally believed in the millennial kingdom. Finally, this book will explore the astonishing events that are taking place around the world that are fulfillments of the precise prophecies that the Scriptures recorded that point to the nearness of Christ's return.

A vital struggle is taking place regarding the fundamental doctrines concerning the Second Coming and the establishment of the kingdom of God. This contest regarding the Lord's return is now being waged in seminaries, pulpits, Christian bookstores, and within the hearts of millions of faithful Christians. This issue has tremendous implication for all those who love Jesus Christ and who long for the ushering in of His prophesied kingdom of God. The mainline Protestant denominations gradually de-emphasized belief in the literal return of Christ to set up His millennial kingdom several generations ago. In contrast, Evangelical, Pentecostal, and charismatic churches have strongly affirmed the truth of second advent of Christ to set up His kingdom during the last century.

However, a powerful new attack upon this fundamental biblical doctrine is beginning to infiltrate the minds and spirits of many Christians in our day precisely as the New Testament warns us. The apostle Peter prophesied that in the last days an attack would arise within the Church against the Second Coming. Peter warned that many would say, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:4). Those who believe literally the prophecies of the Word of God are now engaged in an unprecedented battle for the truth of Christ's second coming. This doctrine of the Second Advent is critical to the effectiveness of our evangelism, as well as to our faithful walk in the faith. Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote, "It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).

Evangelical Christianity stands today at a historic crossroads concerning one of the most fundamental doctrines of our faith-the belief in the literal second coming of Christ and His final establishment of His millennial kingdom on earth. Next in importance to the fundamental doctrines regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Second Advent. The Second Coming is taught throughout the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. The apostolic Church powerfully affirmed this doctrine during the first few centuries following the birth of the Church.

Whether or not most Christians are aware of this doctrinal conflict, powerful forces are now being marshaled in our generation to attack the belief in the Second Coming and the doctrine of the future millennial kingdom of God. This book builds a compelling defense of the biblical doctrine concerning Christ's triumphant return as the King of kings and Lord of lords to establish His millennial kingdom. Triumphant Return will demonstrate, there is overwhelming evidence that the early Church taught and believed in this doctrine almost universally during the first three centuries following the resurrection of Christ.

The apostolic Church was clearly premillennial in its hope and waited expectantly for the imminent return of their Messiah. Many readers will be surprised and thrilled to see for the first time overwhelming evidence that those who were closest in time to the life of Jesus and His apostles held strongly to the very same prophetic beliefs that are held today by many Evangelical students of prophecy. Despite the often-repeated claim that modern prophetic beliefs are not supported or shared by the teachings of the early Church, this book will demonstrate powerful and compelling evidence that our prophetic beliefs were held by many of the great teachers in the early Church. To my knowledge, this evidence has seldom, if ever, been presented to the Church in modern times. There is an obvious and common-sense presumption in favor of the belief that those who lived and taught in close proximity in time to the apostles who knew Christ personally would naturally possess a more accurate understanding of the true teachings of the apostolic Church. Therefore, our understanding of their teaching about the imminent and literal second coming of Christ and the premillennial return of Christ to set up His kingdom will confirm the validity of our modern prophetic beliefs.

During the early centuries, faithful Christians throughout the Roman Empire greeted each other with the ancient Greek phrase "Maranatha!" ("The Lord cometh!"). Their deeply held faith in the literal return of Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom is a foundational Christian belief and an important doctrine that has tremendous implications for our daily walk, our witnessing to a lost world, and our hopes for the future. Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to be watchful and ready for the moment when He would triumphantly return, regardless of how long He might tarry. Despite the many centuries that have passed since He first gave the Church His promise, the prophecy of Christ's return for His followers is absolute and unshakable.

The Christians living in the first centuries longed for the Second Advent. This deeply held belief motivated and shaped their worship and their daily walk with God. It transformed their hopes for the future that they were willing to die as martyrs for their faith in Jesus as their coming King rather than deny their faith in His deity and His Second Coming.

It is virtually impossible to correctly understand the Lord's plan to redeem the earth and humanity from the curse of sin unless we study the biblical doctrine of the Second Coming. Our understanding of this critical doctrine will enhance our appreciation of the inspiration of the Scriptures and the unfolding purpose of God as revealed in both the prophecies as well as in the life and ministry of Christ. The promised kingdom is the focus of the various covenants that God has made with humanity. The German theologian, Dr. Christian Kling. declared the centrality of the kingdom of God: "The idea of the kingdom of God is the central idea of the entire dispensation of revelation; the kingdom of God is the end and motive of all heavenly revelation and institutions of the old and new covenants; yea, of the creation and promise from the beginning. The general foundation of this idea is the all-inclusive power and dominion of God."[Christian F. Kling, Herzog's Religious Encyclopedia article: "Kingdom of God.",1891.]

A careful analysis reveals that the Lord's prophecies concerning the kingdom of God form the largest single doctrine in His inspired revelation. A number of biblical scholars, including Dr. Pye Smith and Johann Peter Lange, have calculated that there are more Scriptural passages that teach about the kingdom than all other separate doctrines combined. This provides compelling evidence of the importance of the coming kingdom to the plan of God. Johann Peter Lange (1802-1884) acknowledged the fundamental importance of Christ's coming kingdom in his Commentary on the Scriptures: "The kingdom of heaven must form the central point of all theological learning."[Johann Peter Lange, Commentary, vol. 1, p. 254.]

The preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth, His disciples and apostles often dealt with the coming kingdom of God. This topic formed a major part of the message of the early Church during the first few centuries of the Christian era. The disciples continually questioned Jesus about His parables regarding the kingdom. They wanted to know when the kingdom would appear and what their future role would be in it. Significantly, the New Testament affirms that the message of Jesus is "the gospel of the kingdom." Matthew taught that Jesus began His ministry teaching about the kingdom: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people" (Matthew 4:23). Matthew recorded Christ's great prophecy that this doctrine will be preached by His Jewish witnesses to an unbelieving world during the Great Tribulation just before the return of the Messiah. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14).

The life, ministry, trial, and death of Christ are inextricably involved with the promised kingdom. Jesus declared that He is the promised King and that He will return to set up His prophesied kingdom. Jesus taught His followers to pray the Lord's Prayer, which specifically focuses on the coming kingdom of God: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. . . . For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" (Matthew 6:9-13). While the prophecy of our eternal home in heaven is the glorious promise of God to all those who place their faith and trust in Him, Jesus also prophesied that the Christian saints will rule and reign with Him forever as priests and kings over the population of the earth. The coming kingdom on God will someday encompass the entire universe including the earth, the New Jerusalem and heaven itself.

These facts should encourage us as Christians to carefully and prudently examine those prophecies concerning the Second Coming, which clearly relate to our generation and to the role that Christ has assigned us in His future kingdom. Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to watch diligently for the fulfillment of those specific prophetic signs that would indicate His soon coming. The Lord declared, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28). The prophetic message about the Lord's return is not a pessimistic message of doom and gloom to those who love Him. Rather, Christ's message is a prophecy of hope and redemption for all those who place their faith and trust in Him and long for His approaching kingdom of peace and righteousness.

*The above is an excerpt taken from Grant Jeffrey's fascinating new release,

Triumphant Return

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