Get Your Pretense On!

44 • Get Your Pretense On!

humankind has now been bound (Matt. 12.28-29). Jesus’s entrance into the world constitutes the invasion and manifestation of God’s kingly power and authority into the world. Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. [26] And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [28] But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [29] Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. [30] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” ~ Matthew 12.25-30 Reversal and the Two Advents of Christ According to both Oscar Cullman ( Christ and Time ) and George Ladd ( The Gospel of the Kingdom and The Presence of the Future ) the Kingdom of God (God’s rule and reign restored in creation) occurs in two distinct displays or manifestations (advents), both associated with comings of the Son of God into the world. In the first advent of Jesus into the world, the rebellious prince was bound, his house looted, and the penalty for humankind was paid on the Cross, and vindicated through the resurrection and establishment of the Church. This is the “Already” side of the “Already/Not Yet” Kingdom. In the second advent of Christ (which is yet to come) the rebellious prince will be finally destroyed, the effects of the curse and death will be finally overcome, and the beauty and grace of God’s kingdom rule will be manifested fully, when Jesus comes and