Musings and Contemplations

The Present and Future Kingdom

Luke 2:10-11 ESV
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Isaiah 60:1-6 NRSV
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.  A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD
J. I. Packer
The kingdom came with Jesus the Messiah as a worldwide relational reality, existing wherever the lordship of Jesus is acknowledged in repentance, faith, and new obedience. Jesus, the Spirit-anointed, Spirit-filled ruler-designate died, rose, ascended, and is now enthroned in heaven as ruler over all things, King of kings and Lord of lords. The golden age of blessing is an era of present spiritual benefit (salvation from sin and fellowship with God) leading to a future state of unmixed joy in a reconstructed universe. The kingdom is present in its beginnings though future in its fullness; in one sense it is here already, but in the richest sense it is still to come.[1]

HEIDELBERG CATECHISM Question #128
How do you conclude [praying the Lord’s Prayer]?
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. That is: all this we ask of Thee because Thou, as our King, who hast power over all things, art both willing and able to give us all good, and that thereby not we but Thy holy Name may be glorified forever.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas: Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful disciples of Jesus: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Younger, Simon, and Jude.[2]

Acts 1:12-14 NRSV
 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.[3]

Arise, Shine!

[1] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology, pp. 193-194.
[2] https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/advent/twelve-days-of-christmas.html
[3] Prayer for the second Sunday of Christmas, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019, p. 601.