Daniel M.
Puritan Board Freshman
He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was lall leavened.”
Can we make the inference from this text that, ever since Christ's ascension, the kingdom of God has only grown and grown? Does this mean that, no matter how bad the church looks on the outside, the kingdom of God is always growing somewhere and never really in decline?
I ask because it is a rarity that growth in the natural world happens in stages of growth, shrinking, and then growth again. Additionally, it seems to me that many postmillenialists believe that the kingdom of God will enjoy a long period of prosperity, influence and prominence leading up to the return of Christ, where as amillenialists tend to see the church undergoing tremendous persecution and apostasy at Christ's return.
Any thoughts?
20 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was lall leavened.”
Can we make the inference from this text that, ever since Christ's ascension, the kingdom of God has only grown and grown? Does this mean that, no matter how bad the church looks on the outside, the kingdom of God is always growing somewhere and never really in decline?
I ask because it is a rarity that growth in the natural world happens in stages of growth, shrinking, and then growth again. Additionally, it seems to me that many postmillenialists believe that the kingdom of God will enjoy a long period of prosperity, influence and prominence leading up to the return of Christ, where as amillenialists tend to see the church undergoing tremendous persecution and apostasy at Christ's return.
Any thoughts?