Originally published in "The Lord's Coming Herald & Wesleyan Bible Prophecy Advocate," Spring 2004 & Fall 2005 Editions
How Christ's Resurrection Changed Time
The Greek language has two distinct words
for our one English word "time." The first word is kronos, from which
we get our English world "chronology." It means ordinary measured time: days,
weeks, months, years, and so on. The second word, kiros, refers to
"eventful time," that is, time not so much as measured in duration or length,
but as marking an era, a season pregnant with some critical event, crisis time,
or a" shifting of gears" in which something unusual or extraordinary is
happening.
Now we teach that Christ is the divinely-intended
covenant-maker of Daniel 9:27, and that he first half of Daniel's 70th week was
fulfilled in Jesus' public ministry 2,000 years ago. We teach that the last half
of that week is a continuation of that same ministry, through the Holy Spirit,
in the "body" of Christ on earth, the church. In this sense the last half of
Daniel's 70th week has been elongated, or indefinitely stretched out (in
symmetry with the now stretched-out life of Christ himself by virtue of His
resurrection from the dead) to include this whole present age of the calling of the Gentiles, or entire period of time now lying
between Christ's resurrection and his second advent.
The critical genius of our above stated solution to the last
half of Daniel's 70th week lies in the simple radical understanding of the
profound meaning of Christ's own personal resurrection from the dead. That
resurrection itself guarantees the perpetual elongation of Christ's own
glorified personal manhood (Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:17-18).
In the middle of Daniel's 70th week lies the resurrection of
Jesus Christ. And at the heart of the resurrection of Jesus Christ lies the
concept of redemption, an on-going ministry of redemption that depends on, and
is effected by, the presence of elongation, an elongation implicit in the very
literal resurrection of Jesus Christ itself.
We teach, further, that the resurrection of Jesus Christ in
the midst of Daniel's 70th week changed "kronos" time into "kiros" time. Since that supreme event of all human history has transpired 2,000
years ago, all of human history, thenceforth, has become imbued with the living
Saviour's presence and power.
Now, since the resurrection, "time" can no longer be measured
in the same way as before, for now time is no longer merely quantity, or the
mundane, measured passage of time alone, it is also quality.
Time is now imbued with the aspect of quality, and has thus
become kiros time, by reason of the invasion of human history by a new
dimension of reality: the eternal Son of God has stepped into historical human
experience, and has vindicated who He was and what He did by being raised to
life again!
Time is also quality kiros time by reason of the
infusion of humanity with a new dynamic: eternal life through the impartation of
the Spirit of the eternal Son has come into our hearts and lives!
Abundant, eternal life, begun in time below to last through
all eternity above—surely this is more than the ordinary, mundane, measured
length, or duration, of an existence!
Finally, time is now quality kiros time because time
has now become the human stage upon which a new drama is being played out; in
short, the "fulfilled time" of the messianic kingdom of God on earth!
Indeed, Jesus had begun to draw the Jews into the bonds of
the new covenant during his earthly ministry, but this ministry did not stop at
the cross, or with the empty tomb, nor, as the whole of New Testament revelation
teaches us, was the salvation of the messianic covenant destined to be limited
only to the Jews. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, rather, laid the foundation
for a universal ministry that was to bring the blessings of the new covenant to
all mankind.
The fact is that the new covenant
Christian gospel of full salvation was confirmed through a Mediator and a
process of necessitated on-going mediation--a mediation of grace that flows ever
freely to all of lost humanity from the old rugged cross!
In the Cross we find the meaning of Messiah's great
redemption. Through the continuation of His now endless, changeless, mediating
life above (by virtue of His resurrection and ascension on high) each passing
generation gets to feel anew redemption's reach! It happens continually through
the imparted Holy Spirit of the Living Christ, who is the Transcendent Bridge of
time and ages, or the great Historical Reality Connector.
Because he arose from the dead and is alive today his ministry continues, not
through secondary agencies alone, but by his own direct involvement.
Jesus is still doing, in effect, what his Spirit does through
his "body" on earth, the church. This is the kiros time of his saving
ministry, the new messianic age of redemption!
Thank God for the privilege of being a part of something so
utterly world-confoundingly dynamic!
Let us then positively affirm the power of the gospel to transform this present age, and get on with God's surpassing program of redemption, renewal, revival, and reform, what do you say?
Jesus reigns, and shall forever reign.
That is a fact. But what is important and determinative for us, corporately and
as individuals, is whether or not he reigns "in" you and "in" me. The
resurrection and the reality are there. What only remains for us now is our
"obedience of the gospel."
Have you obeyed the gospel?
If not, why not? What are you waiting for, in time, or in
eternity, if you are not willing now to do what God says?
And what is the Word of God to all?
"Repent ye . . . and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . . [in order that] the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" Acts 3:19) "Break up your fallow ground, and seek the Lord" (Hosea 10:12). "Today is the day of salvation. . . Now is the accepted time" (II Corinthians 6:2).
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