Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 18:55 (Winter 2014)
Article: The Nature Of The Coming Messianic Kingdom As Found In Its Covenants
Author: Daniel F. Goepfrich

JODT 18:55 (Winter 2014) p. 209

The Nature Of The Coming Messianic Kingdom As Found In Its Covenants

Daniel Goepfrich

* Daniel Goepfrich, teaching pastor, Oak Tree Community Church, Sound Bend, Indiana; advising professor, cloud campus, Tyndale Learning Center, South Bend, Indiana; Th.M. candidate, Tyndale Theological Seminary, Hurst, Texas.

Much has been written with regard to the kingdom, and it is a common topic in articles, books, and sermons. Leading the discussion are groups like the “Young, Restless, and Reformed,”1 a new generation of reformed and covenant theologians delineating the evangelical landscape. Phrases such as “doing kingdom work,” “advancing (or building) God’s kingdom,” and “bringing up there, down here”2 permeate their writings and teachings. Even one example can demonstrate this doctrine’s obvious confusion regarding the kingdom and the church. In a post on Kevin DeYoung’s blog earlier this year (DeYoung is a proud member of the movement), guest blogger Jason Helopoulos was bemoaning the statistics regarding pastors leaving the ministry.3In his encouragement to persevere, he gave his readers specific things to be watching or actions to take so that they would not become part of the statistical exodus. As a method to overcome discouragement, Helopoulos suggested, “Read good biographies of saints, who labored long and hard for the good of the

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Kingdom.” Later, when addressing moral failure, he noted, “Nothing is more devastating to the Kingdom or the local church,” and thus suggested, “Don’t be busy about Kingdom work and forget Kingdom life.”

Unfortunately, as these phrases become part of the common language of the modern church, so do the false doctrines that they embrace. Misunderstandings concerning the church, Israel, future events, and even the nature of salvation have become commonplace as more and more graduates of both reformed (covenantal) and liberal seminaries become local church pastors. Frighteningly, this is not limited to a particular denomination or segment of the church. Though it is most common in the historically reformed (covenantal) groups (Presbyterians, some Baptists), the “already, not yet” phenomenon has gained momentum in most major denominations and non-denominational churches alike. At the same time, the dispensationalist understanding is acknowledged but disregarded. After correctly explaining the view held by this writer, Grudem essentially warned his readers, with (what seems to be) just a hint of condescension.

But it must be sa...