What Are You Waiting For?
Part 2
By Jonathan Mitchell
The previous article, which asks the same question, was based upon the rendering of one (or, more than one, depending upon the reading of the MSS) Greek verb. This article will consider the topic of NT eschatological expectations and fulfillments. Should we be still waiting for the Parousia (the "being present") of Christ? Or, did He already come, in the first century AD?
This topic is discussed by Max R. King, under a section entitled, "Particularism Versus Universalism," in The Cross and The Parousia of Christ, The Two Dimensions of One Age-Changing Eschaton (The Parkman Road Church of Christ, 1987 pp 100-101). King views the destruction of Jerusalem, in AD 70, as the Parousia of Christ, coming in judgment, concurrent with that destruction, as Jesus foretold in the Olivet Discourse of Mat. 24 (cf also Lu. 21).
The destruction of the Temple, during the Judean-Roman war which fomented that event, brought to an end the sacrificial cultus of ancient Israel. In this section of King's book, he conjoins the universal aspects of Christ's cross, death and resurrection - which provided deliverance (salvation) for humanity - with the particular history of Israel during which "all things which were written [were] fulfilled" (Lu. 21:22).
King points us to Paul, in Gal. 4:21-31, where Isaac and Ishmael are seen as metaphorical symbols of the two covenants (4:24) - the first one being that which was founded at Mt. Sinai (represented by Ishmael, in Paul's presentation - 4:22) and was in Paul's day represented by the Jerusalem which then existed (and was in bondage - vs. 25); the second one being symbolized as the
"Jerusalem which is above,"
which exists being "free" (vs.26). In 4:29, Paul presents Ishmael as
"born according to the flesh,"while Isaac is seen as having been
"born according to the Spirit."
In this way Paul separates the first covenant from the new covenant, instructing us to
"Cast out the slave girl and her son"
meaning, cast out the first covenant, because with the instituting of the new covenant,
"we are not children of the slave girl, but of the free [woman]" (vs. 31).
Paul ends this dramatic refrain in 5:1,
"Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty (freedom) wherewith Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of slavery."
King asserts that it is a mistake to see the Promise made to Abraham (Gal. 3:29, figured by Sarah and Isaac, in 4:22) as the eschatological scenario which was pictured by Hagar (Sarah's slave) and Ishmael, who were to be cast out. The fulfillment of the Promise was accomplished by the cross and the resurrection, which inaugurated the new covenant. The casting out was accomplished with the destruction of Jerusalem and Judea, in AD 70, which ended the world of the religion of ancient Israel. Both of these events were a part of Israel's particular history, but they enabled the universal inclusion of the Gentiles, as we can see, below.
Paul gives us another picture of the results of the Christ event. In Eph. 2, he speaks about the category "in time PAST" when the Gentiles were called "Uncircumcision" by the "Circumcision in the flesh." During that past history, the Gentiles were
"aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise" (Eph. 2:11-12).
But in the next verses, look what Jesus Christ did:
13. But NOW, within, in union with, and centered in, Christ Jesus, you - the folks once being (continuously existing) far off (or: at a distance) - came to be (were birthed; are generated; are suddenly become) near, immersed within, and centered in union with, the blood of the Christ (or: from the Anointed One [= the Messiah]). [cf Gal. 3:28]
14. You see, He Himself is our Peace (or: continuously exists being our JOINING and harmony [of Israel with the Gentiles]) - the One making (forming; constructing; creating; producing) The Both [to be] one, and within His flesh (= physical being; or: = system-caused crucifixion) is instantly destroying (unbinding; unfastening; loosing; causing to collapse) the middle wall of the fenced enclosure (or: of the partition; which was the barrier): the enmity (cause of hate, alienation, discord and hostility; characteristics of an enemy),
15. rendering useless and inoperative (nullifying; rendering down in accord with inactivity and unemployment; abolishing) the Law (or: the custom; = the Torah) of the implanted goals (or: concerning impartations of the finished product within; from commandments; which was inward directives) consisting in decrees (or: prescribed ordinances and dogmas which are the results of opinions and perceptions of what seems right or good), to the end that He may frame (create; found and settle from a state of wildness and disorder) The Two into One qualitatively New and Different [p46 & others: common] Humanity centered within the midst of, and in union with, Himself, continuously making (progressively creating, constructing and forming) Peace by a Joining; [2 Cor. 5:17; note: these verses, may fit John Milbank's phrase, "an ontology of peace"]
16. and then should fully transfer, from a certain state to another which is quite different, The Both - centered in, and within the midst of, One Body in God (or: make completely other, while moving away from what had existed, and fully reconcile The Both, in one Body, by, to, with and for God), through the cross (execution stake) - while, in the midst of Himself, killing the enmity and discordant hatred (or: killing-off the characteristics of enemies within it)....[cf Rom. 6:6; 1 Cor. 10:17; Eph. 4:4; Col. 3:15]
19. Consequently then (or: Thereupon), you folks no longer continuously exist being strangers (foreigners) and sojourners (folks being or living beside a house; temporary residents in a foreign land), but in contrast, you continually exist being fellow-citizens of those set apart to be sacred people (or: folks residing together in a City composed of the holy ones): even God's family (members of God's household, and of God's House), [cf Acts 17:29a]
This is the new economy of God... a spiritual realm that exists in Christ! It is the Kingdom of God and His sovereign actions and influences that reside in our atmospheres (aka: heavens). What started as particularism (God's covenant with Israel) ended, and Israel (Circumcision) was joined with the Gentiles (Uncircumcision) and those two categorizations ended with the universalism of "One New Humanity" which is destined to bear God's image, the image of the "heavenly" (1 Cor. 15:47-50).
This transition, in the way in which God relates to humanity (aka: the economy of God), was finalized with the destruction of Jerusalem, in AD 70. If we observe the risen Christ's warnings of bringing judgment to the seven churches in Asia Minor (Rev., chapters 2 and 3), and of His "standing at the door" of the church of Laodicea, then we should realize that we do not need to "wait" for Christ to come to us. He is already here, living in His Home... His Temple.
Furthermore, recall the instruction given in Heb. 12:22-24,
23. [that is] in (or: to) an assembly of an entire people (or: a festal gathering of all, in a universal convocation) and in (or: to) a summoning forth (or: a called-out and gathered community) of firstborn folks having been copied (from-written, as from a pattern; or: enrolled; registered in a list) within [the; or: various] atmospheres (or: in the sphere of heavens), and in (or: to; with) God, a Judge (an Evaluator and Decider) of all people, even (or: that is; also) among (or: to; with) spirits of right and just folks (or: centered in the sphere of breath-effects from people who are rightwised, fair and in right relationship within the Way pointed out) having been made complete and brought to the destined goal (perfected; finished; matured), [cf Rev. 3:12; Eph. 2:6; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 14:1-5; Ex. 4:22]
24. and in (or: to) Jesus, a Medium (or: an agency; an intervening substance; a middle state; one in a middle position; a go-between; an Umpire; a Mediator) of a new and fresh (young; recently-born) arrangement (covenant; settlement; a deposit throughout, in every direction; a placing through the midst; or: a will and testament), and to and in blood of sprinkling, and to One continuously speaking something superior to (or: stronger and better than) Abel. [cf 10:22, above; Mat. 17:1-5; Rev. 21:9b-22:5; Jn. 4:21; Ps. 46:4; 132:13; Isa. 28:16; 33:5]
So, again, "What are you waiting for?" Hebrews 12:22 tells us where we are, and Eph. 2:6 describes our position in the New Jerusalem (Christ has raised us up, together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus). We are already there! John Gavazzoni has reminded me of 1 Jn. 5:20 with its use of the perfect verb tense. We begin with vs. 19,
20. yet we have seen and absolutely know that God's Son HAS arrived and is CONTINUOUSLY HERE, and He has given, so that we now possess, a thorough understanding (input throughout the mind; comprehension; faculty of thought; intelligence; intellectual capacity) to the end that we continuously and progressively know [other MSS: so that we would constantly know] by intimate experience, and insight, the True One (or: the true, the real, the genuine), and we constantly exist within, and in union with, the True and Genuine One (or: centered in the Real [situation or sphere]; in the midst of Reality): within His Son, Jesus Christ. This One is the True (Real; Genuine) God, and Life pertaining to, and having the qualities of, the Age (or: life from out of the Age [of Messiah]; eonian life; Life of, for, and on through, the ages).
Jonathan
Return To Jonathan Mitchell's Page