The Actual Gospel of Jesus Christ (Part 2)
as presented by the early church
The nearness of the Kingdom.
Matthew 4.17 reads, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘repent for the kingdom of heaven is near’.” (N.I.V.)
Schofield in his notes remarking on this verse states, “The biblical term ‘near’ is never a positive affirmation that the person or thing said to be near will immediately appear, but only…has the quality of immanency.” This was meant to show that the kingdom of God was not established on earth with the first advent of Christ, but rather was still a future hope, to be established at his second coming. However, the Emphatic Diaglott (a Greek interlinear New Testament) reads, “Reform; for the Royal Majesty of the Heavens has approached.” And further, J.N. Darby, C.I. Schofield’s mentor and the father of the modern day dispensational thinking, translates the verse, “…the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.”
Schofield continues, using as his justification for his argument, “When Christ appeared to the Jewish people, the next thing, in the order of revelation as they understood it, should have been the setting up of the Davidic kingdom.”
In the Messianic tradition there were several verses that described the relationship between David, the King, and the son of David, the coming heir. In Amos 9.11,12 we find a verse of scripture no scholar will deny as being a Messianic prophecy. Schofield’s heading reads, “The Final Restoration of Israel” with the subheading, “The Lords second advent and the establishment of the Davidic kingdom.”
“In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair it’s broken places, restore it’s ruins, and build it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of
Schofield has this referenced to Acts 15.16,17, wherein James is quoting from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament used freely by the early church), and reads, “…that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name…” (N.I.V.)
Here James is quoting Amos to show that, “…God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name…” And that, “with this the words of the prophets agree.”
Is it possible the scriptures could declare Christ has ‘set up’ the Davidic kingdom, that the early church saw that kingdom as being a present reality in some way, and Schofield simply ignored it? And the editors of his Study Bible ignored it as well?
Misunderstanding the Bible is easier than one would think. Just ask anyone who has come out of a Christian cult (Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, etc). All Christian cults specialize in twisting the scriptures, and millions follow those teachings primarily because this was what has been drummed into their heads as truth. Unfortunately, it’s no different with the church. If the people we respect and trust to teach us the truth have been taught a lie and accepted it as truth and we accept their word as truth without searching the scriptures ourselves, then we find ourselves being sent into battle with a bent and rusty sword.
It is quite clear that the New Testament interpretation of the Old Testament scripture is the correct one, and according to Acts the verses in Amos were in reference to God’s future plan spoken of by Peter in Acts 15.7-9:
“…God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe, so God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” (N.K.J.V.)
Since this is the only New Testament reference to Amos 9.11,12 we should draw all interpretive conclusions from Acts 15. The apostle James is clearly claiming this prophecy has been fulfilled at the first advent of Christ and therefore, to look for a future fulfillment is to go beyond proper biblical exegesis.
Schofield, in his notes, attempts to relegate this prophecy to ‘the time after the world-wide witness when Christ will return’. However, scripture is very clear that Peter viewed this prophecy as being fulfilled at the first advent, not some future day when Christ comes in judgment.
Isaiah 16.5, as cross-referenced from Amos 9.11, reads:
“A throne will even be established in loving kindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David…” (N.A.S.) Also, Isaiah 9.7 states, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom…” (N.A.S.) (see Luke 1.32,33 for the fulfillment of these verses)
Now, as to the time when God would ‘restore David’s fallen tent’ and establish the throne of David, can we ascertain from scripture when this will take place? If the prophecy is still future we are left with no clue, aside from other verses that predict the same event. As these verses are drawn together we begin to gain some insight as to a possible timetable. However, if the prophecy has already come to pass, the New Testament writers were always very careful to make that fact known.
In Acts 2, verses 29-36, Peter is preaching to the multitude on the day of Pentecost. After quoting from David in Psalm 16.8 concerning the resurrection of Christ, Peter states:
“Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath, of the fruit of his loins to set upon his throne; he seeing {it} before, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither has he been left in Hades nor his flesh seen corruption…Having therefore been exalted to the right hand of God…Let the whole house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him, this Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (30, 31, 33, 36 from J.N. Darby)
This clearly states that Jesus HAS ascended the throne of David, having been exalted to the right hand of the Father. God HAS MADE him Lord, indeed Lord of lords and the Messiah of Israel.
Furthermore, in Acts 13.32-34, we find this truth to be intrinsically embedded in the gospel message.
“We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus…The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.” (N.I.V.)
What I have set out to prove, in brief, is that scripture teaches Christ did indeed establish the Davidic kingdom, at his resurrection, and therefore Schofield’s prerequisite to Christ’s return has already been met. But even more importantly, that the gospel message intrinsically contains the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the kingdom of heaven as having drawn near, as being a present reality. It’s up to us to search the scriptures, with the aid of the Spirit of truth, and find how God expects us to live until Christ returns to bring all things to completion.
Mark 1.15 “The time is fulfilled and the
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