(Read Part 6)

The Implementation of the Unifying Principle: The Dispensations (Continued)

7A. The Dispensation of the Kingdom:
From the Second Coming of Christ to the Dissolution of the Present Earth

1b. The New Revelation From God

The new revelation will consist of all the information that comes from the direct rule and reign of Jesus Christ on earth (Isa. 2:3; Joel 2:28). Part of this will be the blessings of the New Covenant, which will be instituted with national Israel (Jer. 31:33-34).

2b. The Goal of the Dispensation

1c. Fellowship With God

Fellowship with God will be on the basis of the New Covenant, as instituted through the atonement of Jesus Christ. All the elements of salvation will be present during this time, such as repentance, forgiveness, regeneration, justification and sanctification. Salvation in all its facets and applications will be as available and plentiful as drawing water from an inexhaustible well (Isa. 12:1-6). The citizens of the kingdom will be “clothed . . . with garments of salvation” (Isa. 61:10). The walls of the international capital of the kingdom will be called “salvation” (Isa. 60:18). The Messianic King will be known worldwide as, “The LORD our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6).

2c. The Rule of God

The Messianic Kingdom is the historical goal and unifying center of God’s activity. Of that time we read,

For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
As the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:9).

The Messianic King, Jesus of Nazareth, God in the flesh, will take up His royal residence in the millennial Jerusalem. The glory cloud, the visible symbol of God’s theocratic presence, will return to the millennial temple (Ezek. 43:1-6). God will again be dwelling with His image-bearers in near-perfect conditions worldwide.

The dominion mandate will be fulfilled by a basically regenerated society. There will be a complete sanctification of human existence and all earthly relationships. Even the most insignificant and lowly utensils will be “HOLY TO THE LORD” (Zech. 14:20-21—”the bells” on the horses’ harnesses and common “cooking pots”). As Alva J. McClain put it, “No legitimate aspect of human life will be left without the regal saving activity” (The Greatness of the Kingdom [Winona Lake, IN: BMH, 1974], p. 217).

The millennial kingdom merges into the eternal universal kingdom on the sinless new earth. Here then is the final and eternal consummation of the goal and unifying center of God’s activities. God’s ultimate purpose of receiving exclusive self-glory throughout the entire universe will be realized. Everything and everyone will be in absolute  conformity to God’s will and design, and all opposition and contradiction will be eliminated. All rebels against God and His purposes will be incarcerated forever in God’s eternal penitentiary, thereby forcing even from them an everlasting confession “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11). The eternal state is in the form of a kingdom with “the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev. 22:1), where “His bond-servants will serve Him” and “they will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:3, 5).

The sacred writer summed it all up by saying of that eternal day: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them” (Rev. 21:3).

Dr. Rolland D. McCune served at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary from 1981 to 2009 as professor of systematic theology, dean of the faculty and president. He previously taught at Central Baptist Seminary for 14 years. He is the author of A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity, 3 vols. (Allen Park, MI: DBTS, 2008-2010) as well as other books and many journal articles. It is a truly a blessing to include him as a contributing author to Dispensational Publishing House.

Copyright © 2016 by Dr. Rolland D. McCune. Used by permission of the author.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)