Thanks for your post, and willingness to dig deep.
I have no difficulty with suggesting that Adam was given authority to rule the earth, but I do not accept your dividing up of the kingdom. There is only one kingdom. But to try to divide both in the Garden is unwise and unwarranted. In posts #711 and #812 I have proved, in a watertight manner, that the KOH and the KOG are synonymous. You or no Pretrib have or ever can refute that, because it is straight and plain Scripture speaking. Notwithstanding, the whole literal physical earthly progressive plan of God in the OT was all foreshadowing the coming spiritual kingdom (KOH/KOG). The divine revelation is given in the Old Testament by way of ceremonial types, religious symbols, sacrificial figures, actual events, old covenant offices and key spiritual characters.
- The old covenant was the type and figure.
- The new covenant was the fulfillment or realization.
Where Dispys miss it is that they are trying to take us back to that which is eternally abolished.
So, what is the difference between the Old Testament period and the New Testament period? Is the old covenant still alive and relevant or has it been superseded?
The main difference between the Old Testament period and the New Testament period is their perspective of Jesus Christ! The Old Testament was looking forward to the coming Messiah. The New Testament reveals His arrival and precious work on man’s behalf. As we dig deeper and compare both, we notice that there are notable differences between the two arrangements. We see a significant move:
· From the shadow and type to the substance and reality
· From the imperfect to the perfect
· From the inadequate to the all-sufficient.
· From the physical to the spiritual
· From the external to the internal
· From the natural to the supernatural
· From the temporary to the eternal
· From the earthly to the heavenly
· From the national to the international
· From the conditional to the unconditional
These two economies couldn’t be more diverse. The improvement is obvious, substantial and indisputable. The repercussions are even greater for mankind. What was long-anticipated by the old covenant prophets has now wonderfully arrived. The appearance of Israel’s Messiah was the pivotal moment in history and the catalyst for a colossal transformative change.
Totally agree!!!
You are flogging a dead horse here! There is no mention of the kingdom here! This is classic eschatological
eisegesis – reading into Scripture whatever you want. You are trying to impose a belief (that has thankfully been rejected by most modern Dispensationalists), on the sacred text. 2+2=4, not 22.
So, I totally reject your reasoning.
This is what I see in the Garden
When Adam fell his desires automatically changed from being God-ward to being self-ward. Natural man with Adam’s blood is born with that same corrupt aspiration. He is a rebel. In this, he will always go the way of sin. That is his natural inclination. This had to be corrected. That is why Christ (the last Adam) came. In salvation, Christ restores that desire for God and the things of God.
Basically:
- Man had a problem, Christ was the answer.
The Scriptures are essentially God revealing Himself to mankind through the communication of knowledge. As we analyze the ancient Hebrew text we see a notable and central theme mounting: that of the arrival of a Redeemer Messiah to rescue man from his sinful condition. This came in the form of direct prophecies, old covenant offices, ceremonial typology and a tapestry of unfolding preparation. In fact, Jesus Christ is the key to understanding the biblical covenants. Even though they did not have a full revelation of Him, the old covenant prophets were preoccupied with Christ’s person, His appearance and His ministry. The Old Testament text gradually and assuredly steered history onward to the fulfillment of every ancient promise. There is a steady unfolding continuity of plan and purpose from the Old to the New Testament, concentrated on the promised Messiah. Christ is indeed God’s final and fullest revelation.
Man badly needed redemption. God foretold the coming redeemer and Christ’s atoning sacrifice for sin at Calvary from the beginning in Genesis 3: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This prophecy in the Garden pointed straight to Calvary. It described the enormity of the cross-work. It came as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve, which opened their eyes, revealing their awful sinful state.
Even through the tragedy of the fall, God had an immediate and acceptable antidote. By shedding the blood of innocent animals and provided a covering for sin and shame, God afforded man a way of escape. The Lord removed their man-made garments and gave them a divine covering. Here is the first blood sacrifice. Significantly it was made by Almighty God. This Divine transaction revealed an eternal truth to sinful man, that “without shedding of blood is no remission” for sin (Hebrews 9:22). This blood sacrifice in the Garden was God’s preview of Calvary. Through this blood atonement He established a covenant with sinful man. Through it he revealed the only means of sacrifice acceptable unto God.
This system of blood sacrifice was passed down from Adam and Eve to Cain and Abel. However, Cain though he could circumvent this requirement, and bring an offering of fruit instead of a blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:5). He was consequently rejected by God for that. Abel's offering was acceptable to God because it was the “firstlings of his flock” (Genesis 4:4). After the flood receded, Noah made animal sacrifices to God for sin (Genesis 8:20-21).
A complex plan of blood atonement was officially set in place in the book of Leviticus as a temporary covering for Israel's sin. God accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of innocent animals as an appeasement for sin. He held back His wrath many times because of this scheme. It allowed sinful man to come into His presence and not be destroyed. Notwithstanding, the temple ordinances, the priestly ministry, the blood sacrifices, the annual feasts were all pointing to the coming Messiah and His one final sacrifice for sin.
But Christ would not just make this final sacrifice for sin, He was that sacrifice. Repeated Scripture depicts Him as man’s actual redeemer. Psalm 22:12-18: “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
Here the cross is predicted and prefigured. It shows how Christ was condemned on our behalf in order that we could be free.