CORRELATING THE KINGDOM WITH THE CHURCH AND THE AGE

State your observations about Jesus' comments concerning "age" in the following passages: Mt.12:32; Lk.18:29-30 [time]; 20:34-36 [that age]. He is distinguishing and contrasting "this age" from "the age to come."

An age is a period characterized by certain features.

What are the distinguishing features of each? This age includes the temporal aspects of physical existence. The age to come involves immortality. This contrast is found throughout the NT. "We look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Cor.4:18).

What are some further distinguishing features of this age? (age is translated world in some passages)

Gal.1:4; Eph.2:2 (Lit., according to the age of this world) The present age is evil and Satan is it's ruler, it's god (2 Cor.4:4). Rom.12:2 It has powerful negative influence. 1 Cor.1:20; 2:6 What passes for wisdom is foolishness.

What conclusion(s) do the following passages lead to?

Heb.1:2, "Long ago…but in these last days¹…" 1 Cor.10:11, "these things [judgment against Israelites crossing the wilderness after being delivered from slavery in Egypt]…were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages have come." 1 Cor.7:29-31, "The time has grown short…let…those who deal with the world [live] as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this world is passing away." Rom.13:11-12a, "the hour has come for you to wake from sleep for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand." 1 Jn.2:8b, "the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shinning." 1 Jn.2:17, "the world is passing away along with it's desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

Since the resurrection, there is a new sense of urgency to our dedication to God because the end is near. The new age has already begun but the old age has not yet ended. The 2 ages are distinct yet run consecutively for a time. The characteristics of the old age are the destructive results of man's fallen-ness, his autonomy from God. Therefore no success or pleasure that is connected with this age can fulfill or satisfy because it is not "truly life" (1 Tim.6:18-19).

What events characterize the close of the present course of history? (Mt.13:39-40, 49; 28:20b; 1 Cor.15:20-28) the presence of Christ with His people through the Spirit until the end; the resurrection of the justified and judgment of the wicked; the end of mortality

What period of time does "this age" refer to? the period from the fall of man to the second coming of Christ

What events characterized the inauguration of the kingdom of God? (Mt.12:28-29; Lk.17:20b-21; Acts 1:8; Eph.1:20-21) the resurrection, ascension and installation of Christ as head over all for the sake of the church; the gift of the Holy Spirit; the plundering of Satan's house by the Gospel

What is the time frame for "the age to come"? from the 1^st coming of Christ on-

How did Peter describe the dawn of the age to come (Acts 1:4-5; 2:2-4, 16-21)? He recognized the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as marking "the last days,"¹ the time of the New Covenant in contrast to the "former days" of the Old Covenant.

Comment on the overlap period between the 2 advents of Christ, commonly referred to as the "church age." It was created by the impact of the kingdom of God breaking into the world [read through Mt. with this in mind]. The resurrection of Jesus marked dawn of the age to come resulting in the transfer of believers from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of God's dear son (Col.1:13; Eph.2:5-6). Believers in Christ constitute the church and are the first-fruits of the gospel² (Jas.1:18; Rev.14:4; Rom.8:19-23). They are citizens of heaven sojourning on earth, in the world but not of it, awaiting the completion of their redemption and restoration of all creation. They enter into Christ's suffering as the "already, but not yet" people of God.

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1. The Bible contains numerous expressions which refer to various aspects of the end of the age: the end; the day of the Lord; the day; that day; the last day(s); etc.

2. God required Israel to bring an offering from the first part of a crop in recognition that all the harvest belonged to Him. Because Christ is our representative [see Justification by Imputation http://pop.eradman.com/], His bodily resurrection guarantees ours (1 Cor.15:20-23).