The Kingdom of God, Mentor Guide, MG02

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T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

the New Testament imagery of the Kingdom, and Jesus promised he would drink together with his disciples the fruit of the vine in the Kingdom (Matt. 26.29). The images of our existence in God’s new order is fabulously delicious: we will forever delight in God’s presence as his servants, living in his city, ruling the nations as he directs (Luke 19.17; Matt. 25.20-21). There we will serve him in the city designed by his imagination alone, and we will understand as we are understood (1 Cor. 13.12). We will be conformed to the image of Jesus, in all his glory and splendor, and will see him as he is (1 John 3.2). In some remarkable way, we will be transformed to relate intimately, as our Lord does, to the Lord of hosts (Isa. 6.3; Rev. 4.8). Yes, we will dwell in his dwellings forever (John 14.2), the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12.22), experiencing his love and purpose, being his people, and he being our God (Rev. 21.3). Again, concentrate on the ways that Jesus’ work is seen in the consummation of the Kingdom of God. While good and open consideration of the various questions of the students is appropriate, you want to make clear the Christ-centered focus of this material. In particular pay attention to the way in which the resolution of the original questions of the course come into play here. In other words, seek to connect the answers given to the entire course, and see how God, in the consummation of the Kingdom, resolves the various issues, problems, and concerns which the Fall originated. These case studies seek to wrestle with the relative importance of these truths for the life of the Church in the examples given. There appears to be a kind of intrinsic close-mindedness to prophecy in many evangelical settings. Having been largely turned off by the conferences and other doctrinal emphases on prophecy which seek to align various contemporary events with biblical prophecies, many seem disillusioned at the ability of the truth regarding the consummation of the Kingdom to affect their lives in positive ways.

15 Page 128 Student Questions and Response

16 Page 132 Case Studies