Eschatology is one of the most interesting, polarizing, and mysterious subjects in theology: whether you are a dispensationalist, a post-millennial, a pre-trib, mid-trib, or a post-trib believer – this is undoubtedly a subject Christians are familiar with if they go to a Bible-believing church. I am always fascinated by the number of us who believe we have figured out exactly how the end is all going to go down; despite not remembering more than the fourth item we needed at the grocery store, we somehow imagine that we can grasp exactly how God plans to bring about His culminating act of the ages. You may be thinking: “Well, the Bible tells us how God plans to do it so…” no argument there, the information is not up for debate, but our interpretation of the information most certainly is (or should be.)
I want to preface what I am about to share with a disclaimer: I had no intention of writing a piece about eschatology to get things started on this blog – none whatsoever. Full disclosure: I would have preferred to begin with a different subject because there are a lot of things on my heart that I have been wanting to write about for some time – and this was not one of them. Nevertheless, I’d like to present the following thesis for your consideration. Most of us (Christ-followers) are familiar with the “Lord’s Prayer,” and while we commonly focus on the disposition Christ presents to us and how we should pray, I want to look at something striking Christ says and then present an idea to you based on His words.
Christ explicitly teaches us to pray that the Kingdom and will of God would come on Earth – and while I typically think about the will of God, what if the Kingdom of God coming is more literal than we may have once thought? (Stay with me) Scientists agree that the Universe is expanding, but they do not know why, and they are limited on just how far they can see into space. Interestingly, there is going to come a time when the world is not only going to see Christ, but they are going to see Christ seated on His throne and beg the rocks to fall on them and hide them from His gaze (Revelation 6:16.) Where is Christ’s throne? Is it not in Heaven? What if the reason the Universe is expanding is that we are on a collision course with the Kingdom of God that lies outside of what we can see? What is the second coming of Christ, is not Christ journeying through space to come back to Earth, but rather, an alignment of Earth with Heaven? Thy kingdom come on Earth.
I’m by no means suggesting this interpretation is the correct one what makes me doubt all of my interpretations is that they are mine – however, I do think it is worth considering. You may wonder what the application of this piece is, and that’s simple, pray the way Christ taught us to pray in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 – pray that God’s kingdom would come on Earth, just as it is in Heaven. If you are a pre-millennial, as I am, you likely agree that time is running out and the return of Christ is at the door – may we prepare our hearts that we will not be ashamed at His appearing. Even so, come quickly, Lord, Jesus!
