Israel. It affects where we center our hope. This paper will classify and summarize the contemporary evangelical views of the coming of and point out some of the Messiah’s kingdom implications for the church, Israel, and a believer’s hope. II. EVANGELICAL VIEWS KINGDOM OF MESSIAH’S The contemporary evangelical views of the kingdom can be classified under three general categories that involve three terms which appear in the literature already, now, and not yet: – The concept of for the kingdom was introduced with the realized eschatology of “already” C. H. Dodd which set forth that final things have already been realized with the ministry of Christ. Geerhardus Vos, an amillennialist, then utilized the concept of the kingdom as “already” and yet” to bring focus on both its present inauguration and future consummation. George “not Eldon Ladd popularized the two terms for historic/covenant premillennialists. Progressive dispensational premillennialists now employ the two terms to describe the concept of a presently inaugurated kingdom and a future earthly kingdom. Keith A. Mathison, a postmillennialist, adds the to characterize the concept of the progression of the kingdom in the present age term “now” along with and for its inauguration and consummation. Stanley Toussaint “already” “not yet” not to characterize his view of a completely future messianic kingdom. The employs “no, yet” following sections classify the evangelical kingdom views under the headings of and “already/now/not yet”, “already/not yet”, “not yet”. ALREADY/NOW/NOT YET VIEWS Amillennialism (Present or Realized Millennialism) Kingdom Inauguration/Continuation/ – Consummation Amillennialism asserts that the kingdom of God is now present in the world. This is the view of many Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed theologians. The kingdom was inaugurated at
Israel. It affects where we center our hope. This paper will classify and summarize the contemporary evangelical views of the coming of Messiah’s kingdom and point out some of the implications for the church, Israel, and a believer’s hope. II. EVANGELICAL VIEWS OF MESSIAH’S KINGDOM The contemporary evangelical views of the kingdom can be classified under three general categories that involve three terms which appear in the literature – already, now, and not yet: The concept of “already” for the kingdom was introduced with the realized eschatology of C. H. Dodd which set forth that final things have already been realized with the ministry of Christ. Geerhardus Vos, an amillennialist, then utilized the concept of the kingdom as “already” and “not yet” to bring focus on both its present inauguration and future consummation. George Eldon Ladd popularized the two terms for historic/covenant premillennialists. Progressive dispensational premillennialists now employ the two terms to describe the concept of a presently inaugurated kingdom and a future earthly kingdom. Keith A. Mathison, a postmillennialist, adds the term “now” to characterize the concept of the progression of the kingdom in the present age along with “already” and “not yet” for its inauguration and consummation. Stanley Toussaint employs “no, not yet” to characterize his view of a completely future messianic kingdom. The following sections classify the evangelical kingdom views under the headings of “already/now/not yet”, “already/not yet”, and “not yet”. ALREADY/NOW/NOT YET VIEWS Amillennialism (Present or Realized Millennialism) – Kingdom Inauguration/Continuation/ Consummation Amillennialism asserts that the kingdom of God is now present in the world. This is the view of many Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed theologians. The kingdom was inaugurated at