The Future is Now … Eschatology, Soteriology, & Christology

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In this passage we see a classic example of the future being injected into the present. We are placed in a Kingdom that while “yet to come” is, at the same time, present to us as we now live in that future to come Kingdom.

Previous to our entering the future we dwelt without division in “this present evil age” but now upon our union with Christ we have been delivered from the present evil age. The consequence of this is that we walk in two realities at the same time. On one had we are citizens presently in the future age to come, while on the other hand while not being citizens in this present evil age we still navigate as living among those who remain citizens of this present evil age. We live, at one and the same time, in two ages — both in this present evil age and also in the age to come.

I think Tolkien captured some of this when he wrote about his high elves who could walk in two worlds at the same time.

Note he also the Apostle’s triangulation of soteriology, eschatology, and Christology. Our redemption is anchored in Christ who is Himself the future Kingdom. This triangulation was underscored by Dr. Richard Gaffin in his “In The Fullness of Time,” when Gaffin wrote;

“The center of Paul’s theology is determined by the triangulation of his Christology, soteriology, and eschatology.”

I have a friend who often will say, “Christians suffer from not knowing who they are.” This passage teaches us that we are the redeemed ones (soteriology) belonging to Christ (Christology) now living in the age to come (eschatology). If we combine this idea with the reality that Christ is King it is not a far leap in the least to understand that our role is to live so as to expand the age to come, in which we dwell, so that it overtakes and vanquishes this present evil age.

Being in Christ is not a passive affair. Being in Christ and so in the age to come means following our great Liege Lord into battle so that all of the earth is redeemed and so experiences what it means to live in this “age to come” reality.

My Order are to fight
then if I win
or bravely fail
What matters it?

God only doth prevail

The Servant craveth naught
Except to serve with might
I was not told to win
or lose
My orders are to fight

Author: jetbrane

I am a Pastor of a small Church in Mid-Michigan who delights in my family, my congregation and my calling. I am postmillennial in my eschatology. Paedo-Calvinist Covenantal in my Christianity Reformed in my Soteriology Presuppositional in my apologetics Familialist in my family theology Agrarian in my regional community social order belief Christianity creates culture and so Christendom in my national social order belief Mythic-Poetic / Grammatical Historical in my Hermeneutic Pre-modern, Medieval, & Feudal before Enlightenment, modernity, & postmodern Reconstructionist / Theonomic in my Worldview One part paleo-conservative / one part micro Libertarian in my politics Systematic and Biblical theology need one another but Systematics has pride of place Some of my favorite authors, Augustine, Turretin, Calvin, Tolkien, Chesterton, Nock, Tozer, Dabney, Bavinck, Wodehouse, Rushdoony, Bahnsen, Schaeffer, C. Van Til, H. Van Til, G. H. Clark, C. Dawson, H. Berman, R. Nash, C. G. Singer, R. Kipling, G. North, J. Edwards, S. Foote, F. Hayek, O. Guiness, J. Witte, M. Rothbard, Clyde Wilson, Mencken, Lasch, Postman, Gatto, T. Boston, Thomas Brooks, Terry Brooks, C. Hodge, J. Calhoun, Llyod-Jones, T. Sowell, A. McClaren, M. Muggeridge, C. F. H. Henry, F. Swarz, M. Henry, G. Marten, P. Schaff, T. S. Elliott, K. Van Hoozer, K. Gentry, etc. My passion is to write in such a way that the Lord Christ might be pleased. It is my hope that people will be challenged to reconsider what are considered the givens of the current culture. Your biggest help to me dear reader will be to often remind me that God is Sovereign and that all that is, is because it pleases him.

6 thoughts on “The Future is Now … Eschatology, Soteriology, & Christology”

  1. Bret you cannot live in two ages simultaneously. Not only does it defy the clear message of scripture,
    it is illogical. Paul told the Ephesians in the first century prior to ad70 that they lived in their present
    evil age.

    There was no access to heaven. Noone was good not one. Thats why they had to be elected by God.

    Now since Christ has fulfilled all things we live in the Age wherein righteousness dwells.
    Heaven is open to those who choose to believe who Christ is and that he did what He said He would do.

    Those in Christ live fully in His Kingdom and presence. We have a sanctuary where we worship 24/7 in our sabbath rest.

    For those with eyes to see and ears to hear, the Kingdom came without observation, and is within us.
    Maybe one day when the church wakes up to its position now, we can have that christian theocracy we all pine for.

    Reply

    1. Hello Graham

      Have you become a full Preterist? It sounds like it.

      Of course you’re eschatology is over-realized. There is a already – now – not yet in the Scriptures. It is not illogical in the least. When I turned 18 I became a man but I was not yet the man that I would one day at the age of 35, 50, or 75. I went from manhood to manhood, but what the manhood at 75 was not unrelated to my manhood at 18.

      I do believe that the 70 AD coming was monumentally important, in terms of eschatology, but it was a judgment coming and the 2nd advent that culminates immediately in the great white throne judgment lies yet ahead brother.

      There is no understanding properly the NT w/o the already-now-not yet and if you have gone full Preterist I can only ask you to repent.

      Reply

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