Eschaton

All the Ends of the Earth

Jack Van Deventer

roclaiming the gospel involves preaching the coming of the kingdom of God. What does this involve? The issues surrounding the coming of Christ's kingdom and eschatology (the study of last things) are central to Christianity. Does God sovereignly determine world events, or has He turned control over to Satan for a time to bring judgment upon the earth? What is God's strategy in human history? Has God predestined His Church to certain defeat or decisive victory? Certainly these are not trivial issues.

With respect to these questions, the dominant view of modern evangelicalism maintains the following: (1) God is "sovereign," but in His plan He has seen fit to withdraw His influence from the world, leaving increased control to Satan; (2) the world will grow progressively worse, setting the stage for an evil, God-hating, antichrist to gain control of the nations; and (3) there is a diminishing hope for gospel success such that apostasy, not revival, will characterize the Church.

This modern perspective, however, is a substantial theological departure from historic, biblical Christianity which affirms the absolute and uncompromised sovereignty of God and the progressive victory of Christ over His enemies throughout the course of history.

The Comprehensive Lordship of Christ. The apostle Paul exhorted the Ephesians to "know what is the hope of His calling" and to know "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe." And what is this hope and power? It is the knowledge that God has "raised [Jesus Christ] from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion , and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph 1:18-23). Christ's comprehensive Lordship is affirmed now and in the future.

God is the supreme ruler, "the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Tim 6:15). He does not share His rule with anyone, and Satan in no way can thwart God's plan. God's power is absolute. He "above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph 4:6).

Satan's Demise. "Yes," comes the reply, "sure Christ is powerful, but He's in heaven and the Bible says Satan is the prince of this world." This common response misses the point of Christ's coming. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8).

Jesus said, "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or else, how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then will plunder his house" (Matt. 12:28-29). Jesus not only affirms the presence of the Kingdom of God, but states His intention of binding the strong man (Satan, cf. Rev. 20:1-3) and plundering Satan's domain (see also the parallel passage, Luke 11:20-23). What then, is Satan's status on the earth? Satan is condemned (John 16:11), driven out (John 12:31), resisted and fleeing (James 4:7), overcome (I John 2:14, 4:4), crushed (Rom. 16:20), and progressively destroyed (Heb. 2:14).

The Church, armed with the gospel of Jesus Christ, not with material weapons, is obliterating Satan's domain. Jesus said, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This is not a case of demons rattling the gates of the Church, rather it is the Church storming the gates of Hades!

The Progressive Advancement of Christ's Kingdom. From the beginning God has determined that "all the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations" (Psalm 22:27-28). Likewise, Isaiah prophesied "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Is. 11:9).

These prophecies pointing toward the world's progressive transformation are affirmed over and over in the New Testament. Indeed, the most frequently quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament (quoted or referenced sixteen times) is Psalm 110:1-2: "The LORD said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!'"

Jesus, knowing the nations were His rightful inheritance (Ps. 2:8), prayed for God's will to be done on earth as it was in heaven (Matt. 6:10). He assured His followers that the meek would inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5), and that He would "draw all men" unto Himself (John 12:32). The kingdom Jesus Christ established (Matt. 12:28; Col. 1:13) is likened to both a mustard seed which grows enormously (Matt. 13:31) and leaven which spreads through the entire loaf (Matt. 13:33). Christ promised to build His Church (Matt. 16:18) "till He sends forth justice to victory" (Matt. 12:20), so that "the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17). Jesus Christ has been granted "all authority... in heaven and on earth" (Matt 28:18), and we are therefore commanded to "make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19).

The times will have reached their fulfillment when heaven and earth are brought together under one head, even Christ (Eph. 1:10). Christ must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet, meaning that He has destroyed all ungodly dominion, authority, and power. Then the end comes when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father. The last enemy to be destroyed is death (I Cor. 15:24-26).