The Parable of the Leaven reads: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened” (Mt 13:33). Here Christ symbolizes the kingdom’s intensive progress in the world. Leaven is a penetrative agent that diffuses itself throughout its host from within (cf. [...]
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The Parable of the Mustard Seed reads: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the [...]
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The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Mt 13:44) and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Mt 13:45–46). Both of these parables speak of the kingdom’s priceless value and the “enthusiastic and wholehearted commitment” required to enter it.1 But they do so by highlighting the kingdom’s hidden nature and its quiet discovery (cp. 6:33), [...]
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The Parable of the Tares (Mt 13:24–30, 36–43) and the Parable of the Dragnet (Mt 13:47–50). In the first of these parables the Lord points out that he will widely distribute the kingdom by spreading the “good seed.” According to his interpretation, this means that “the Son of Man” (13:37) will sovereignly spread the “sons [...]
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The Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:3–23).1 The first parable fits well with a postmillennial scheme and differs greatly from premillennial expectations. In fact, we know that in the wider Gospel record Christ rejects all political and revolutionary implications for his kingdom. He simply shows no interest in a political kingship. When he perceives that [...]
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The Apostle Matthew appears, at least in part, to place the Kingdom Parables in the narrative context in order to explain the “problems” surrounding the kingdom. What do I mean by this? In Matthew 12:28 we read: “if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon [...]
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The covenantal foundation of eschatological hope encourages our anticipating God’s historical blessings in time and on earth. The biblical worldview concerns itself with the material world, the here and now. We see Christianity’s interest in the material here and now in God’s creating the earth and man’s body as material entities, and all “very good” [...]
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Many contemporary Christians dismiss the very possibility of postmillennialism. And too often because of the newspapers. What they should be doing is reading the Scriptures. God’s word is powerful in controlling the world through his providence. God’s word providentially upholds the Universe through the continued application of its inherent power. The God of Scripture is [...]
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To show the absurdity of anti-Semitsm charges hurled at preterism, I come to my final point of defense. And that is: If preterism is anti-Semitic because it speaks of judgment on first-century Israel, then other ancient Jews themselves are anti-Semitic! The Dead Sea Scrolls were written by a sect of Jews who separated from Jerusalem [...]
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As I continue a study of the question of anti-Semitism and preterism, I come now to another biblical reply to this scurrilous charge. I will consider some direct quotes from the OT and Revelation themselves. Revelation has John speaking strong words against apostate Judaism. He clearly writes of synagogues as a “synagogue of Satan” (Rev [...]
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KINGDOM LEAVENThe Parable of the Leaven reads: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid i...
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