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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