A CLEAR and thoroughly Biblical book on the kingdom in the Scriptures has long been a desideratum. Perhaps no truth of the divine revelation has suffered more at the hands of interpreters than that concerning the kingdom. Following the Roman Catholic interpretation, Protestant theology has very generally taught that all the kingdom promises, and even the great Davidic Covenant itself, are to be fulfilled in and through the Church. The confusion thus created has been still further darkened by the failure to distinguish the different phases of kingdom truth indicated by the expressions "kingdom of heaven," and "kingdom of God."
In the light of plain Scripture all of these confusions are inexcusable, for at no point is the Biblical revelation more clear and explicit. Founded upon the covenant of the Lord with David, a covenant subsequently confirmed by the Lord's oath, the great theme of predictive prophecy is that kingdom. Even the order of the setting up of the kingdom, relatively to the great Gentile world-empires, is declared. The events attending the setting up of the kingdom of the heavens on the earth are described.
The New Testament carries forward the Old Testament foreview of the kingdom into greater detail, but without change. The very first mention of Christ in the first verse of the first chapter in the New Testament identifies Him with the Davidic Covenant, and the promise of Gabriel to His virgin mother is a new confirmation in express terms of that covenant.
The New Testament reveals the present age as a parenthesis in the prophetic program during which the Church is called out from among the Gentiles, a stranger and pilgrim body, belonging to the kingdom of GOD, but in no sense identical with the kingdom of Heaven.
I welcome therefore this present book on these fundamental truths. Having had the privilege of seeing it in manuscript, I bespeak for it the candid attention of all who are concerned for the truth of GOD.
C. I. SCOFIELD
"Greyshingles,"
Douglaston, N. Y.
Preface
MANY valuable books have been written on the general subjects related to the kingdom. A partial list of these is appended herewith; but no similar work covering, in brief form, the historic and prophetic aspects of the kingdom in their relation to the present age-purpose was known to the writer: hence this volume. It is hoped that this book will prove a comprehensive, if not exhaustive, treatise on this important theme.
It has not seemed expedient to deal with all problems of interpretation when they first appear in the discussion. Therefore the general difficulties arising in this study are taken up, so far as the writer is able, in what may seem to him to be the most appropriate place, and the reader to whom this interpretation is new is requested to withhold all judgments and conclusions until the various aspects of this revelation, here dealt with, have been considered.
May the Spirit, whose office work it is to guide into all truth and to show us things to come, guide in the study of what it has pleased our GOD to reveal of His purpose and plan in the realization of His kingdom in the earth.
Lewis Sperry Chafer
Bibliography
Theocratic Kingdom Peters
Israel and the Church Brookes
Maranatha; or, The Lord Cometh Brookes
Scofield Reference Bible Scofield
Scofield Correspondence Course Scofield
Addresses on Prophecy Scofield *
Annotated Bible Gaebelein
Matthew Gaebelein
The Prophet Daniel Gaebelein *
Hath GOD Cast Away His People? Gaebelein
Harmony of the Prophetic Word Gaebelein
The Revelation Gaebelein
Zechariah Gaebelein
GOD's Oath Ottman
Unfolding of the Ages Ottman
Imperialism and CHRIST Ottman
The Evolution of the Kingdom Riley
Lectures on the Apocalypse Seiss *
The Second Coming of CHRIST Haldeman
Signs of The Times Haldeman
GOD's Method with Man Morgan
Sunrise; or, Behold, He Cometh Morgan
Christianity and Antichristianity Andrews
What the Bible Teaches Torrey
The Coming Prince Anderson
Synthetic Bible Study Gray
Christian Workers' Commentary Gray
The Revelation Scott *
The Revelation Grant
Second Coming of CHRIST Moody
Ecce Venit Gordon
History Unveiling Prophecy Guinness
On This Rock Guinness
Even So Come MacNeil
The Great Prophecies Pember
The Coming of the Lord Pierson
Twelve Sermons on the Second
Coming of CHRIST Spurgeon
Addresses of Chicago Prophetic Conference
Man's Day Mauro
The Number of Man Mauro
The Revelation Kelly *
CHRIST Coming Again Kelly
Light on the Last Days Blanchard
Outline Studies in the Books of the Old Testament Moorehead
