Master the Bible: How to Get and Keep the Big Picture of the Bible's Story

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Mas ter the B i b l e : How to Get and Keep the B i g P i c ture of the B i b l e ’ s Stor y

10. Jesus’ ascension to the Father: Messiah’s exaltation and coronation, Heb. 1.2-4

11. Jesus’ gift of the Spirit : Messiah’s outpouring of the first “down payment” of the fully pledged inheritance of the Kingdom, 2 Cor. 1.20

12. Jesus’ people : Messiah’s body, the foretaste and agent of the Kingdom, 2 Cor. 5.18-21

13. Jesus’ session in heaven : Messiah’s headship of the Church and generalship of his forces on earth (1 Cor. 15.24-28), and his high priestly intercession for us at the Father’s right hand, Rom. 8.24-27; John 16.26-27; Heb. 4.14-15; Heb. 7.25; Heb. 9.24; 1 John 2.1-2

14. Jesus’ return : the promised completion of the Kingdom by Messiah and his kingdom reign, Rev. 19.6-9; Zech. 14.5; John 14.3; Acts 1.11; 1 Thess. 4.14; 1 Thess. 4.16; 2 Thess. 1.5-9; 2 Thess. 2.1; 1 John 3.2; Rev. 1.7

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God’s Kingdom means the divine conquest over His enemies, a conquest which is to be accomplished in three stages; and the first victory has already occurred. The power of the Kingdom of God has invaded the realm of Satan–the present evil Age. The activity of this power to deliver men from satanic rule was evidenced in the exorcism of demons. Thereby, Satan was bound; he was cast down from his position of power; his power was “destroyed.” The blessings of the Messianic Age are now available to those who embrace the Kingdom of God. We may already enjoy the blessings resulting from this initial defeat of Satan. Yes, the Kingdom of God has come near, it is already present. This does not mean that we now enjoy the fulness of God’s blessings, or that all that is meant by the Kingdom of God has come to us. . . . [T]he Second Coming of Christ is absolutely essential for the fulfil ment and consummation of God’s redemptive work. Yet God has already accomplished the first great stage in His work of redemption.