John 8:31-32 “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The When and Where of God’s Kingdom

Luke 17:20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’

22 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, “There he is!” or “Here he is!” Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

26 ‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 ‘It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 ‘It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding corn together; one will be taken and the other left.’

37 ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He replied, ‘Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.’

1. When is the Kingdom of God? a. Now 20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’

When in the future will God’s Kingdom appear? TIMELINE

TIMELINE When in the future will God’s Kingdom appear? God’s Kingdom is now here When in the future will God’s Kingdom appear? TIMELINE

TIMELINE When in the future will God’s Kingdom appear? God’s Kingdom is now here When in the future will God’s Kingdom appear? TIMELINE

1. When is the Kingdom of God? a. Now 20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’ Sign watching Pharisees missed the presence of Kingdom in Jesus’ ministry (Luke 11:20)

1. When is the Kingdom of God? a. Now The Kingdom of God was not a futuristic kingdom the Pharisees were seeking signs for but an already present reality in Jesus’ ministry, something the Pharisees had been blind to.

God’s Kingdom is now here through transforming Gospel ministry TIMELINE

God’s Kingdom and rule is not yet fully realized God’s Kingdom is now here through transforming Gospel ministry God’s Kingdom and rule is not yet fully realized TIMELINE

1. When is the Kingdom of God? b. Not Yet 22 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, “There he is!” or “Here he is!” Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Disciples will long for fully realized Kingdom of God

1. When is the Kingdom of God? b. Not Yet 22 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, “There he is!” or “Here he is!” Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Full realization not till Jesus’ unmistakable return

1. When is the Kingdom of God? b. Not Yet 22 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, “There he is!” or “Here he is!” Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Vain to look for a premature escape of suffering for Jesus’ sake before his return

1. When is the Kingdom of God? b. Not Yet God’s unmistakable fully realized Kingdom was something Jesus’ disciples would vainly look for while suffering as a result of their submission to Jesus’ rule. Faithful discipleship is the way of the cross In this now but not yet time of God’s Kingdom there will be resistance

In the now but not yet Kingdom, Jesus’ disciples can expect to suffer God’s Kingdom and rule fully realized at Jesus’ return TIMELINE

1. When is the Kingdom of God? c. Then 26 ‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 ‘It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 ‘It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. Sudden and unexpected judgment interrupts everyday life

31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. Lot’s wife was unwilling to relinquish everyday stuff at time of judgment Although nothing intrinsically evil about everyday life, its mundane things can distract disciples from God’s saving purposes This world is not our home, we are aliens

31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. Those striving for status and security in the kingdom of this world will lose their lives, whereas those who give those things up in favour of a new identity and security as citizens of God’s Kingdom preserve their lives

34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding corn together; one will be taken and the other left.’ At Jesus’ sudden and unexpected return, there will be a division of those who are already Kingdom citizens from those who are not

1. When is the Kingdom of God? c. Then The consummation of God’s fully glorious Kingdom happens when Jesus suddenly and calamitously returns to inescapably separate out his loyal Kingdom citizens from the condemned citizens of this world.

In the now but not yet Kingdom, Jesus’ disciples should avoid being distracted by everyday life God’s Kingdom is fully realized at Jesus’ sudden and calamitous divisive return TIMELINE

1. When is the Kingdom of God? 2. Where is the Kingdom of God?

37 ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked.

www.ccel.org

www.ccel.org

2. Where is the Kingdom of God? a. Here God’s Kingdom (although expected as a geographic nation) by Luke’s day had spread across international boundaries within the hearts of those who by faith had submitted to Jesus’ rule. Kingdom is present in the hearts of those who give their primary allegiance to Jesus and have handed control over to him

2. Where is the Kingdom of God? a. Here b. But Not Yet

Revelation 11:15 ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’ 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, 17 saying: ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small –and for destroying those who destroy the earth.’

2. Where is the Kingdom of God? a. Here b. But Not Yet Although presently an internal rule, Jesus’ disciples would not see God’s fully realized external rule in this life, the rule they longed for that would end suffering for Jesus’ sake.

2. Where is the Kingdom of God? a. Here b. But Not Yet c. There 37 ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He replied, ‘Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.’ Just as the presence of carrion is indicated by circling vultures, so Jesus’ coming to make the kingdom of this world the Kingdom of God will be clearly evident.

2. Where is the Kingdom of God? a. Here b. But Not Yet c. There God’s rule will gloriously and universally break out over all the earth at Jesus’ calamitous return when he separates the condemned from those he already rules over.

The When and Where of God’s Kingdom 1. When is the Kingdom of God? a. Now b. But not yet c. Then 2. Where is the Kingdom of God? a. Here b. But Not Yet c. There

The When and Where of God’s Kingdom 1. When is the Kingdom of God? a. Now b. But not yet c. Then 2. Where is the Kingdom of God? a. Here b. But Not Yet c. There 3. So What?

John 8:31-32 “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Why is it important that we know the truth about this now-but-not-yet-then and there nature of God’s Kingdom?

What does knowing the truth about God’s now-but-not-yet-then and there nature of God’s Kingdom set us free from? discontentment hopelessness & despair tightfistedness making this world my home poor stewardship complacency & apathy slavery to a mundane life just me against the world purposelessness& insignificance

support world missions The truth about God’s now-but-not-yet-then and there nature of God’s Kingdom inspires us to . . . be faithful hold things lightly be ambassadors be watchful persevere be generous support world missions steward wisely be courageous

How can we keep this truth about God’s now-but-not-yet-then and there nature of God’s Kingdom fresh and present so life does not return to business as usual? Talk about it often with one another Debrief about what happened when you did Memorize and or display key scriptures Deploy to apply it in present areas of unfaithfulness Mutual accountability Regularly ask ‘What if Jesus were to return today?’ Prayer

Will we return to business as usual when we leave here or will we let Jesus’ truth set us free to be his faithful Kingdom citizens?