Chapter 4

The Times of the Gentiles

"So is the kingdom of God... "

We justify our chapter title by reference to Mark 4:26-29. There are different phases or stages in the bringing of an ear of corn to full maturity — "First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear;" the inspired record says, "So is the kingdom of God." The kingdom of God, in the sense of Christ's reign over the earth, has its prophetic phase; its mystery phase and its manifestation phase. The prophecies of the Messianic kingdom in the Old Testament, in many places, presented a double aspect.

The basic prophecy of this series, Daniel 2:31-45, shows this double feature. We refer to the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which later becomes a great mountain and fills the whole earth. At the bottom of the chart we say, ''There are two stages in the existence of the stone — preparation and occupation." The two stages of the Kingdom are seen on the chart — The House of God, beginning far back toward the origin of the Roman empire, represents the preparation. That space which we show as "The Mountain of the Lord's House" shows the occupation period.

"Translated us into the kingdom of the Son..."

In this present dispensation the born-again ones, who are delivered out of the power of darkness, are "translated into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins" (Col. 1:13). Such persons are baptized in the Holy Spirit into "the church, which is his body" (I Cor. 12:12, 13; Eph. 1:22, 23). The church which Christ is building in this present age does present a stage of the kingdom. The kingdom in this age is the preparatory stage. This is so plain that we wonder that any believer in the inspired word should find reason to dispute it. However, it is just as plainly revealed, that those who are in the kingdom now should be expecting to enter into the Kingdom of God when Jesus returns from heaven.

Take the case of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14:23. Here are saved people, already in the kingdom, exhorted "to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God." In the kingdom and looking for the kingdom, is a scriptural attitude. This is confirmed in Luke 21: 25-33. After speaking of certain signs, Christ says, "Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh." This is not another kingdom but a different stage of the same kingdom.

"The church of the living God..."

Paul speaks of the proper behavior of men "in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3:15). The word "house" in the Bible very often is used in the sense of "family"; the word "family" means "a circle of relatives." The church which Christ builds is indeed "a circle of blood relatives." All who are in this family are "children of God" (I John 3: 2). As such we are "fellows" of Christ; as such we are destined to reign with Him over "the inhabited earth to come" (Heb. 2:15-18).

God is, during this dispensation, choosing a people for His name. First the Jews and then, God did visit the Gentiles to take out a people for His name (Acts 15:14). These called out ones, cut out as a little stone, out of the mountain of world empire, while it is still intact, are united to the Lord in the Spirit, and become "The House of God." What God is doing now is selecting the ruling, kingly house for the coming kingdom.

"When he was come back again, having received the kingdom..."

Just before His crucifixion Christ spake a parable on the kingdom which presents this double aspect of the kingdom. Some at that time were looking for the kingdom in manifestation form to immediately appear. This was not God's schedule in the prophecies of the kingdom. The preparatory stage comes first — the kingdom in mystery — the cutting out of the stone. This parable, Luke 19:11-27, presents the present form of the kingdom as that in which the future rulers are serving in the king's absence. That is the present stage of the church — we are bond-servants. When the Lord returns, having received the kingdom (Dan. 7:12, 13), those of His who now serve Him will be given authority as rulers (Rev. 2:26, 27). This is the Kingdom of God in Preparation and Occupation.

"A stone was cut out without hands..."

This little stone is interesting in many ways. Three things might be emphasized here. First, where it came from; second, how it came into existence; third, its destination. As to where it came from — it was cut out of a mountain — the kingdom of this world. Cut out without hands means "not of this creation" (Zech. 4:6; Heb. 9:11). It is therefore a new creation (II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15). It is destined to become a great mountain and fill the earth. This means that it becomes a world-wide kingdom and displaces present world-kingdoms. All these things are true of "The House of God," . . . "the church, which is his body" (Rev. 2: 26, 27; 5:9, 10; 11:15). The church is a stone house, spiritual in nature; Christ is a spiritual stone (I Pet. 1: 22-3:10). The smiting stone is made up of Christ — head and body, united as one in marriage (Rev. 19) This is a glorious privilege — made a member of God's house, destined to reign with Christ. The call is to "whosoever will."