Thoughts and Questions

See LAB webpage here 1. How would you describe the age between the first and second coming of Jesus (the age that we live in now)? This age is the last days, before the complete, full coming of the kingdom of God. It is the period when the kingdom of God first came with the coming of Christ, and before Christ's return. 2. Read the Principle for Bible Reading (excerpt below). Do you agree with the idea of already/not yet? Why or why not? "The Already and Not Yet We live in an overlap of two ages: the present age of sin and death and the coming age of Christ’s complete reign. We are no longer merely in the age of fallen humanity because Christ has come and ushered in his kingdom into this age ( Matthew 12:28 , Luke 17:20–21 ). In other words, we no longer live in the winter of sin and death looking forward to summer, but because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, he brought spring, which totters on the brink of everlasting summer for his people. The already/not yet distinction (referring to things that are already true/real but not yet fully realized) aids our understanding of how to make sense of the Bible, especially as it depicts the Christian life. The Spirit made us new ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ), and yet we still need to be renewed in our minds ( Romans 12:1–2 ). Jesus freed us decisively from sin ( Romans 6:6 , John 8:36 ), and yet we still need to put the old man to death ( Romans 8:13 ). Christ brought the kingdom to earth ( Matthew 12:28 ), and yet wars, murder, and suffering take place. We live in the age of already and not yet: caught between winter and summer, death and eternal bliss, Christ’s first and second coming." I wondered how I would answer this question if I did not look at the LAB and did not hear about this from sermons and speakers. So I decided to use the search function in biblearc. I did a search using this parameter "age OR end OR kingdom" in the New Testament. I then went through the results and selected the relevant verses. From there I saw that the results matched the above paragraph. In addition, I include the verses used by Pastor Piper in the LAB episode. I also highlighted phrases concerning this present last days since the coming of Christ (in blue highlight ) and those concerning the full coming of the kingdom ( gold highlight ). 3. Can you think of any practical implications that living between the ages has for your life? There are many. Among them: Appropriate expectations of life in this last days Understanding why I still struggle in sin Having hope for the future Knowing that the "apparent" delay in Christ's return is a matter of perspective. To God, it's just 2 days (one day like a thousand, this being 2,000 years after Christ's resurrection) Results using biblearc search tool on "age OR end OR kingdom" in the NT:

notes

Search results on age,end,or kingdom in NT using Scholar's Search tool

NT

Matthew 13:39

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39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age , and the reapers are angels.

Matthew 13:40

40 As 57 the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age .

Matthew 13:49

49 It will be this way at the end of the age . Angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous

Matthew 24:3

Signs of the End of the Age 3 As 7 he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things 8 happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age ?”

Matthew 28:20

20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, 29 I am with you 30 always, to the end of the age .” 31

1 Corinthians 15:24

24 Then 14 comes the end , 15 when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.

Matthew 19:28

28 Jesus 39 said to them, “I tell you the truth: 40 In the age when all things are renewed , 41 when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging 42 the twelve tribes of Israel.

Mark 10:30

30 who will not receive in this age 51 a hundred times as much - homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions 52 - and in the age to come , eternal life. 53

Luke 18:30

30 who will not receive many times more 86 in this age 87 - and in the age to come , eternal life.” 88

Luke 20:34-35

34 So 78 Jesus said to them, “The people of this age 79 marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in 80 that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 81

Matthew 24:13

13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 21

Luke 21:19

19 By your endurance 44 you will gain 45 your lives. 46

Matthew 3:2

2 “Repent, 2 for the kingdom of heaven is near .”

Matthew 4:23

Jesus’ Healing Ministry 23 Jesus 35 went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, 36 preaching the gospel of the kingdom , and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people.

Mark 11:10

10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David ! Hosanna in the highest!”

Luke 10:9

9 Heal 25 the sick in that town 26 and say to them, ‘ The kingdom of God 27 has come upon 28 you !’

Luke 16:16

16 “The law and the prophets were in force 51 until John; 52 since then, 53 the good news of the kingdom of God 54 has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it . 55

Luke 17:21

21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is 64 in your midst .” 65

Luke 22:16

16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again 41 until it is fulfilled 42 in the kingdom of God.” 43

Colossians 1:13

13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, 25

Hebrews 12:28

28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom , let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.

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Notes

Verses from Pastor Piper's LAB:

Verses used by Pastor Piper

1 Peter 4:7

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7 n The end of all things is at hand ; therefore o be self-controlled and sober-minded p for the sake of your prayers .

Matthew 12:32

32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. 48 But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, 49 either in this age or in the age to come .

Luke 20:34-35

34 So 78 Jesus said to them, “The people of this age 79 marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in 80 that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 81

Ephesians 1:21

21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come .

Mark 10:17-30

The Rich Man 17 Now 26 as Jesus 27 was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 28 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? 29 No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘ Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud , honor your father and mother .’” 30 20 The man 31 said to him, “Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed 32 all these laws 33 since my youth.” 34 21 As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, “You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money 35 to the poor, and you will have treasure 36 in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But at this statement, the man 37 looked sad and went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. 38 23 Then 39 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, 40 “Children, how hard it is 41 to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel 42 to go through the eye of a needle 43 than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said 44 to one another, “Then 45 who can be saved?” 46 27 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, 47 but not for God; all things are possible for God.” 28 Peter began to speak to him, “Look, 48 we have left everything to follow you!” 49 29 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, 50 there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 30 who will not receive in this age 51 a hundred times as much - homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions 52 - and in the age to come , eternal life. 53

Luke 22:15-16

15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired 40 to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again 41 until it is fulfilled 42 in the kingdom of God .” 43

Matthew 12:28

28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God 40 has already overtaken 41 you .

Luke 17:20-21

The Coming of the Kingdom 20 Now at one point 59 the Pharisees 60 asked Jesus 61 when the kingdom of God 62 was coming, so he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs 63 to be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is 64 in your midst .” 65

Hebrews 6:4-5

4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age ,

1 Peter 1:20

20 He was foreknown 36 before the foundation of the world but 37 was manifested in these last times 38 for your sake.

1 John 2:18

Warning About False Teachers 18 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists 39 have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour .

Acts 2:16-17

16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel: 31 17 ‘ And in the last days 32 it will be, ’ God says, ‘ that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, 33 and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams .

2 Peter 3:3-8

3 Above all, understand this: 8 In the last days blatant scoffers 9 will come, being propelled by their own evil urges 10 4 and saying, 11 “Where is his promised return? 12 For ever since 13 our ancestors 14 died, 15 all things have continued as they were 16 from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately suppress this fact, 17 that by the word of God 18 heavens existed long ago and an earth 19 was formed out of water and by means of water. 6 Through these things 20 the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 21 8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, 22 that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day .