- Photograph from Light Magazine on Christadelphians cover.
Christadelphian Hope
Based on the "Light on Christadelphians" special issue.
This is part 3 covering chapter 5 & 6 Christadelphian Hope and you?
Part 1 covers Christadelphian Basics and part 2 covers Christadelphian Beliefs.
The Hope of the Christadelphians
The Gospel
The hope of the Christadelphians is based on the Gospel of salvation as taught in both the Old and New Testament Scriptures. If ever there was confusion amongst Christians, it is on this subject of the Gospel! Christadelphians are not surprised by this situation, for we find that in the first century the Apostle Paul was already voicing his concerns to the believers. He wrote to the Galatians:
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel... there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."
In the very early days of Christianity then, we see some were already following a different gospel and perverting the true Gospel!
Paul told these same believers that the Gospel was understood long ago by the Jewish patriarchs:
"And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."
So here we are told clearly that the Gospel is rooted in the Old Testament Scriptures and this is where we believe Christianity has gone astray. Many have dismissed parts of the Old Testament Scriptures as Jewish myth and folklore. However this is an integral part of the Word of God and if it is rejected by Christians, then they cannot understand what the true Gospel is!
The Gospel is Good News
The word 'Gospel' means 'good news.' So what was this 'good news' given to Abraham? God said to him:
"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great...and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Here is the essence of the Gospel message, that from Abraham would come a nation and ultimately a blessing on all nations through his descendants.
If we are to understand the Gospel, we must first read the Old Testament because it is the basis of the teaching and work of Jesus Christ as set out in the New Testament. The 'good news' for Abraham was that he would have a son called Isaac. Isaac's son was Jacob who had his name changed to Israel. He had twelve sons who were the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. The descendants of Jacob were enslaved in Egypt but were eventually led out of captivity by Moses and came to Sinai where they were constituted a nation by God [see Exodus 19.1-6].
A nation requires a land and Abraham was given this good news concerning the land: 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates' [see Genesis 15.18]. This is the land of Canaan that was eventually settled by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua. After the death of Joshua, they were ruled by a succession of Judges, the last of whom was Samuel.
The gospel and the Kingdom of Israel
Now it is important to note that at this point in their history the Israelites wanted a king to rule over them and Samuel was not happy about this at all, but God said to him:
"Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."
We learn from these Scriptures that God had made specific promises about this nation and that He had a purpose with Israel.
When they came out of Egypt, the Israelites were given the Law at Sinai and God made a further promise to them:
"For you are a holy people ... the LORD your God has chosen you ... for himself a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth ... the LORD loves you ... because he would keep the oath which he swore to your fathers."
This 'holy people', this 'special treasure' wanted a king and God said they could have one. But whatever happened to this people there was always a purpose behind it. In order that God would 'keep the oath which he swore to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) the king was chosen by God. His name was Saul and he proved a disappointment, but this paved the way for King David who is described in this way by God:
"I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will."
The kingdom of Israel was firmly established during David's reign and reached the zenith of its power during the reign of his son Solomon, who built a magnificent temple for the worship of God in Jerusalem. It is important to notice however that these kings recognised that their rule was not supreme, they were ruling on behalf of God! David put it this way,
"And of all my sons ... he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel."
We note here that the kingdom of Israel was 'the kingdom of the LORD' or the 'Kingdom of God.' This was a part-fulfilment of the promise - the Gospel preached to Abraham!
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God
Centuries later, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary telling her about the child she would bear, he said,
"Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favour with God...you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Here is a clear link from Abraham's descendants to the nation of Israel, to its king, David and finally to Jesus, who will at some time in the future sit on the throne of David as king over the kingdom of God.
It should come as no surprise then to those who study the Bible, that during his ministry
"Jesus went about all Galilee ... preaching the gospel of the kingdom."
He stressed the urgency of his mission, saying:
"I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."
After the death and resurrection of Jesus we learn that the Apostles preached the same Gospel or 'good news' of the coming kingdom of God. We read in the book of Acts when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. [See Acts 8.12]. Afterwards Paul preached in Ephesus for three months
"... reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God."
Even when Paul was a prisoner in Rome under house arrest, he was
"preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ."
Many theologians today view the 'Gospel of the kingdom' in a different way to the Bible's clear teaching. Some say the 'Church' is God's kingdom on earth, while others think it is a 'reign of grace' in the hearts of believers. Most churches certainly reject the idea of the Jews being an essential part of the kingdom of God. The Christadelphians believe that is where they have lost sight of the true Gospel message.
The Gospel Rooted in the Prophets
Christadelphians take notice of the advice of Jesus and his apostles to study the words of the prophets in the Old Testament Scriptures. Even though the prophets of Israel condemned the descendants of Abraham and foretold judgements on them for their wickedness, we usually find coupled with these words a further prophecy relating to the eventual restoration of the nation!
One example of this is a prophecy by Ezekiel, where God through the prophet told their king that he would bring the Babylonians against Jerusalem and that the last king, Zedekiah would be deposed:
"Now to you ... wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose iniquity shall end, thus says the Lord GOD: "... take off the crown; Nothing shall remain the same ... It shall be no longer, until he comes whose right it is, and I will give it to him."
God through the prophet Ezekiel is speaking here about the coming of Jesus and that, 'he whose right it is' would come at a future time and inherit the throne of Israel.
Another prophet, Jeremiah, in the same period of Israel's history, was moved to say,
"Behold, the days are coming', says the LORD, 'that I will perform that ... which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah ... It will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth."
It was prophecies like this, that faithful people at the time of Christ's birth were able to recall and remind others that God had not forgotten His promises to Abraham and David.
The Apostle Peter, for example, tells us that David was also one of God's prophets:
"... let me speak ... of the patriarch David ... being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne."
The Gospel and the Reign of Christ
We hope that you can see why Christadelphians are convinced that the Gospel is firmly tied to the nation descended from Abraham — the Jews or in other words the nation of Israel. It is through this nation that God's purpose to bless all nations is being worked out. Jesus the Saviour of mankind came from that nation, as it was prophesied. But for the blessing of all nations to be fulfilled, it requires a revival of the nation of Israel. We have seen this happen in recent history. So what believers are told to look for when they see the Jewish people returning to God's land, is the return of Christ to the earth,
to take the throne of David that is his by right!
Those Old Testament Scriptures pointed out that Christ, God's Anointed, would not only take the throne of Israel but would rule over all the nations. The Psalmist put it this way:
"The kings of the earth set themselves ... against the LORD and against his Anointed ... the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath... "yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion "...The LORD has said to me, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession."
The blessing of all nations will only come when Jesus returns and re-establishes the throne of David in Jerusalem. We see from this prophecy that God has promised that Jesus will reign over all the nations, not just Israel! The nation of Israel is the nucleus of God's plan for the world. Jesus will not only sit on David's throne in Jerusalem ruling Israel but he will also rule the world.
The prophets of Israel told us all about this:
"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established...and all nations shall flow to it...he will teach us his ways...For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall rebuke many people."
These words in Isaiah contain the 'gospel message', the 'good news', promised to 'all nations', that Jesus Christ will rule the world and peace and righteousness will be the order of his reign.
The Gospel in the New Testament
Is it still possible that the Christadelphians are looking at the Bible in the wrong way? Are we deceived? Well what did Jesus tell those Apostles personally? He told them to pray to God like this:
"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
So here Jesus taught them to pray earnestly for God's kingdom to be set up, 'on earth', not somewhere in the heavens, or in their hearts! When Peter said to Jesus,
"we have left all and followed you. Therefore what shall we have? "...Jesus said to them...in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Could this message have been put more clearly by Jesus? The kingdom of Israel will certainly be 'regenerated' on earth and those twelve faithful disciples will be co-rulers with Christ! For the avoidance of all doubt, let us look at Peter's message to the Jews assembled in the temple precincts. We find him rebuking his fellow countrymen for their treatment of Christ,
"Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance...But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all his prophets, that the Christ would suffer, he has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus Christ... whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
Could those Jews mistake Peter's words? He refers to those ancient Scriptures, right back to Abraham, reminding them that
"You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
What did those Apostles, who looked for Jesus to restore the kingdom of Israel, go on to teach? After Jesus left them, did they realise their mistake and admit that the Gospel of the Kingdom had nothing to do with a kingdom on earth? We read that the Apostle Paul went to Athens and preached to the people:
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all, by raising him from the dead."
These words of Paul are based on the teaching of the words of the prophets of Israel and echo the same message of Christ ruling the world from Jerusalem!
The Gospel and You
We feel sure that by now you can see why Christadelphians believe that Jesus has to return to the earth. He must come to fulfil these promises contained in God's Word. However, this falling away from the truth of the Gospel message and a general disbelief in Christ's second coming was foreseen by the Apostle Peter when he said
"... scoffers will come in the last days ... saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? " ... But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years ... The Lord is not slack concerning his promise ... but is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night... Therefore...what manner of persons ought you to be?"
Christadelphians believe we are in 'the last days', and hope that our preaching may bring more people to 'repentance' by understanding the true Gospel.
The words of the Apostle Paul to the 1st Century believers bring all these things together — the Old Testament promises and the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament. He wrote:
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Galatians 3.27-29
A proper understanding of the Gospel, coupled with a firm belief and faith in God's purpose and a recognition of our sinful nature with repentance, followed by baptism into Christ, is the path to becoming 'Abraham's seed', and heirs to the promises that constitute the Gospel. Christadelphians have no doubts about the ultimate fulfilment of God's promises relating to the future of this earth and all mankind. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
"But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterwards those who are Christ's at his coming. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."
l Corinthians 15.20-26
Here Paul outlines for us the whole plan and purpose of God, or the good news of the Gospel, from beginning to end, which can be summarised in the following statements:
- The fall of man from grace and the curse of death on Adam's race.
- A way of salvation planned through Abraham and his descendants.
- The promise to King David of a son to sit on his throne forever.
- The coming of Jesus - his rejection and sacrifice to cover the sins of mankind.
- The resurrection of Jesus - victory over death by a righteous man of Adam 's race.
- Jesus the first man to rise from the dead to everlasting life.
- Jesus the first-fruits of those who will be raised from the dead.
- At Christ's Second Coming, the responsible dead raised followed by the judgment and reward of those who are found worthy.
- The setting up of the kingdom of God on earth.
- Christ enthroned in Jerusalem - the subjection and blessing of all nations.
- The rule of Christ for a thousand years, with a final judgment at the end.
- Death, the great enemy of mankind, is destroyed.
The Gospel Fulfilled
Paul tells us that Jesus "must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet" and that
"The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."
Then he concludes,
"But when he says, "all things are put under him, " it is evident that he who put all things under him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all."
Here is the fulfilment of the Gospel message - God's plan of salvation. No more death, no more sorrow, only a beautified earth inhabited by immortal beings at one with God. This is the wonderful hope set out in the Bible. It is the hope of the Christadelphians. To us it is, 'good news', indeed.
We urge you to make it your hope as well.
Part 1 covers Christadelphian Basics and part 2 covers Christadelphian Beliefs.
Author Many people were involved in writing and checking this article
Country UK
Source Light on a New World special edition "Light on the Christadelphians"
| 
