THE KINGDOM HOPE IN ISRAEL

THE PLACE OF HOPE IN RELIGION....

Three elements in the life of all religion. Its threefold

form: individual, social, future. Jehovah the root of

Israel's hope; an answer to the problem of evil.

THE KINGDOM HOPE AND ITS SOURCE..

Concerning the three aspects of religious hope. One idea

always present. Jehovah's kingdom already present.

CAUSES FOR DIFFERENCES IN FORM OF HOPE....

Differences in conception of God; influence of changing

conditions; varying forms of expression.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT HOPE..

The judgment. Nationalistic and ethical viewpoints. By

historical-natural means or sheer supernatural. The hope.

A new order of righteousness: material and spiritual

aspects. Israel and the nations: universal and nationalist

tendencies.

Mode of coming: higher and lower conceptions.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION..

Two tendencies: spiritual, ethical, universal; nationalistic

and external. No earthly kingdom of limited duration

(millennium) or heavenly kingdom.

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CHAPTER II

THE APOCALYPTIC HOPE

CHANGED CONDITIONS....

The problem of the individual brings ideas of resurrection

and judgment.

Israel's hopeless condition suggests miraculous deliverance.
Relation of God to world becomes more transcendental.
Dualistic tendencies.

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THE TEACHINGS OF THE JEWISH APOCALYPSES.

Prophetic sermon displaced by world philosophy; schemes

of epochs and ages. A predetermined order of events.

A strong but mechanical supernaturalism. Serious moral
questions brought by determinism and divine autocracy.
Dualism; doctrine of Satan and evil spirits.

Pessimism; its cause.

Divine transcendence and sovereignty.

THE APOCALYPTIC HOPE.

The imminent end.

The resurrection, limited or general.

The judgment: in older form as final conflict and destruc-
tion, in newer form as forensic.

The new heaven and earth; influence of idea of resurrection.
Hell; contrast with Sheol.

The place of the Messiah.

THE INTERMEDIATE KINGDOM.

An effort to unite the old hope (political-earthly) and the

new (resurrection-heaven). Earliest appearance. Various

opinions as to duration.

APOCALYPTICISM AND PREMILLENNIALISM...

Jewish apocalypses as chief source of premillennialism.

THE SERVICE RENDERED BY APOCALYPTICISM..

Its message of comfort and faith, idea of resurrection, a

moral judgment, a philosophy of history, a social hope.

How it helped preserve faith.

CHAPTER III

THE KINGDOM HOPE WITH JESUS

WAS JESUS AN APOCALYPTIST?.....

The apocalyptic element present. A purely eschatological

interest? The problem of sources. Were the "apocalyp-

tic discourses" colored and enlarged? Dogmatic use of

these passages limited. The originality of Jesus.

JESUS' FAITH AND ITS CENTER....

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His idea of God determinative; contrast here with apocalyp-

ticism.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS' THOUGHT OF GOD....

Determines spirit and temper of life and attitude toward

world.

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THE QUESTION OF NATIONALISM..

Jesus' hope broadly human, not nationalistic.

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66

THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM..

Seen from references to children of the Kingdom; a moral-

spiritual rule. Significance of figure of Father and children.

PRESENT AND FUTURE.

The beginnings of God's rule. Idea of a spiritual-ethical

kingdom breaks down rigid opposition of this age and

next. Yet emphasis of Jesus is on future consummation.

As to form in which Jesus expected this.

QUESTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS.

The expectation not fulfilled in exact form as held. The

premillennial solution of this problem inconsistent; the

common method ignores facts.

Jesus' disclaimer of omniscience; the significance of his hu-
manity.

The revelation of God in Christ: man's real need, the suffi-
cient answer.

CHAPTER IV

THE CHRISTIAN HOPE IN THE APOCALYPTIC AGE

APOCALYPTIC HOPES..

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75

The hope of the early church and of Paul apocalyptic in

form, but no intermediate kingdom.

THE CONTRAST WITH APOCALYPTICISM...

...

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A different attitude toward the world because of what the

church already possessed. Significance of Pentecost.

PAUL TRANSCENDS THE APOCALYPTIC..

He deals with a salvation already available. This is seen

in the gospel of reconciliation, the gift of the Spirit, Christ

as spiritual presence, a God working here and now.

The idea of a spiritual salvation breaks down the rigid apoc-
alyptic contrast of this age and the next.

He sees the Christian Church as heir to the old promises.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN...

It meets the problem of the deferred return of Jesus. Its

conception of salvation is spiritual and not national and

political; present and not future. Its conception of Christ.

The contrast not of present and future but of two worlds,

both present.

THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN....

Varying judgments of its value and use. To be understood as

an apocalypse. Circumstances and purpose of its com-

position. The writer's method; scheme of events. Its

hope apocalyptic. Wrong and right use of the book.

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89

The Reformers opposed to chiliasm. Found in smaller

groups.

THE MODERN Movement AND ITS SOURCES..

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Bengel and the influence of biblical literalism. The in-

fluence of the smaller separatist movements.

Historical sources of modern premillennialism.

THE CONTRAST OF OLD AND NEW....

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Modern chiliasm faces a wholly different situation and

exhibits different character.

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PREMILLENNIALISM IN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY AND CREED....

It is opposed by Christian scholarship to-day. It is opposed

or excluded by the historic creeds.

PART II

MODERN PREMILLENNIALISM

CHAPTER VI

THE PREMILLENNIAL DOCTRINE OF THE KINGDOM

AND ITS COMING

PREMILLENNIALISM A DOCTRINE OF SALVATION.

Involves a system of theology, but special interest is doc-

trine of salvation. Outline of its scheme.

PREMILLENNIAL PESSIMISM...

Pessimism as to this age is an essential feature; required by·

the predetermined order. Moral pessimism: the loss of

faith in moral and spiritual forces.

PREMILLENNIAL MILITARISM..

The reliance upon force, a mechanical supernaturalism, a

militaristic Christ. Can physical force bring spiritual re-

sults? The appeal to the visible.

THE MILLENNIUM—A Jewish State..

The millennial kingdom a political state, Jewish rule and

subject nations; sacrifice and ceremonial restored; an au-

tocracy with evil restrained, not overcome.