We continue our response to the arguments
raised by Dr. Hinson’s article, the New Last
Days Scoffers, published in the May 2005
issue of The National Liberty Journal.
This writing answers the question of When
Would God Restore the Kingdom to Israel?
The question assumes that God is finished
with Israel. We discussed that particular
issue in the previous post, regarding
Romans 11.
These are merely straw man arguments which are assumed to be implications for Christ’s first century return.
If the church replaces Israel and becomes the kingdom of God on earth, why did the disciples ask Jesus at the ascension; “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)
Dr. Hinson says, that was the perfect time for Christ to respond by saying he was finished with Israel. Well, since he didn’t wouldn’t that tell the professor that God was not finished with Israel?
Further, the “times and seasons” refer to the end times not to the beginning of events. Paul commented,
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”
Thus, what the disciples were asking for was the knowledge of the day of the Lord, a time which Christ says only the Father knew. Jesus had already explain that in the Olivet discourse, (Matt. 24:36).
Christ had given them what he knew, namely that it would occur in their generation. He did not at the time reveal any more than that. In Acts 3, Peter told the Jews that the heavens would receive Christ until the times of restoration of all things, which God had spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since he world [age] began.
This means that the restoration of all things, includes the kingdom being restored to Israel in fulfillment of the prophets. The previous text connects Israel’s restoration with the resurrection of “times of refreshing” which comes from the presence of the Lord.
Therefore, the Parousia, is the focus the time and seasons, per Matt. 24:36, 1 Thes. 5:1,2, Acts 1:7, Acts 3:19–21. So, the simple answer is, God would restore the kingdom at the Parousia of Christ, 2 Tim. 4:1.
They did not have to know the day and the hour, i.e. the times and the seasons for God to fulfill the promise. Again they knew the generation, theirs, meaning the first century.
At the destruction of Jerusalem, God would take consummate the transition of the kingdom from Old Covenant Israel, (Matt. 21:31–43), and give it to a nation bring forth the fruits of it, (1 Peter. 2:5–10).
See Preterism is False?, Part 3: Has God Cast Away His People?
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