CORRELATING THE KINGDOM WITH THE CHURCH AND THE AGE, a Bible study
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 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;
Eph.2:2 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
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
What is the time frame for "the age to come"? from the 1st 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
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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
HISTORY OF THE
WORLD
creation cross & the return
eternity
& fall resurrection of Jesus
ΰ v v ΰ
the old age
..
I
.
the new age
..
.
V
HISTORY OF A
CHILD OF GOD
birth conversion death eternity
ΰ v v
ΰ
the old life
...
.
the new life
.
..
..