Expectation for the Christian Future

"For the Christian, exegesis and theology should provide the basis of expectation for the future, not current events" (Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology, xxvii-xxviii).

He Shall Have Dominion

"My prayer is that this book will lead God's people to pray more fervently and believingly: "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Mt 6:10). And in better understanding and praying that, they might more diligently labor to "make disciples of all the nations" (Mt 29:19), knowing that "he shall have dominion" (Ps 72:18 KJV)" (Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology, xxiv).

To a Thousand Generations

"The biblical vision, however, can inspire us to obedience. When we know the kingdom will grow, when we know that God is faithful in His covenants, when we know that He has promised to be God to us, to our children, and to as many as are afar off, when we know that Christ not only came to conquer the world but that He has already overcome it--then we move forward in the faith. We move forward believing the good news of the Kingdom of Christ. We don't send our little children out to drag their heathen classmates onto the boat; we prepare them for the larger task of raising their own children to be a light to a world that is not triumphing but perishing. Eschatology then becomes more than a theological parlor game. It is the very spring in our step, the very hope that is within us, the very vision that we are to pass onto His blessings--that He is in the midst of blessing to a thousand generations" (R. C. Sproul, Jr., Eternity in Our Hearts: Essays on the Good Life, 58).

The Christian Future: Leaning Forward! Leaning Forward!

"The Christian faith is eschatological, always leaning into the future, standing on tiptoes, eager to see what God is bringing to birth among us. We are created for no better purpose than the praise of God. This is our true destiny. Yet any fool can see that the world is not like that, at least not yet. So Christians, in the Lord's Prayer, are busy leaning forward toward that day when all creation shall be fulfilled in one mighty prayer of praise" (William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Lord, Teach Us: The Lord's Prayer and the Christian Life, 57).

I've often talked about "leaning together into the Christian future." Now I remember where I picked up that thought-and-phrase.

Also, note their optimism: "Yet any fool can see that the world is not like that, at least not yet. At least not yet, indeed.

A Daniel We All Are

"The Church at the present time is in a temporary state analogous to that of Israel when she sinned against God. The Church is in something of an "exile." Individual Christians at this point in history are in a situation analogous to that of Daniel in exile. This Christian "diaspora" is not permanent, however, Christ's prayer will be answered, and there will be visible unity in the Church again. This unity will be the work of God. it will be a visible unity based in Christian truth, not a Roman uniformity based on late medieval papal theories or an ecumenical unity based on compromising the essentials of the faith [Think - Evangelicals and Catholics Together]. It will be a biblical and ecclesiastical unity under one Lord, confessing one faith, and administering one baptism. The one visible Church will once again recognize and confess the rightful role of Scripture and her proper relationship with it" (Keith A. Mathison, The Shape of Sola Scriptura, 325).