Dan 2:35: … But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

Matt 13:31-32: He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”

Matt 13:33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Scripture makes it clear that the gospel will penetrate not only all nations but all languages, tribes and peoples as well. It also shows these same people groups in heaven (Rev 7:9), thus fulfilling God’s covenant with Abraham that “all peoples on earth will be blessed” through him (Gen 12:3). Not only that but ethnic Jews will be converted and usher in a period of great blessing for the church (Rom 11:12). Following these things Christ will return.

My seventh foundation is that I have become convinced of a postmillennial eschatology. Said simply, I believe in the success of the gospel and the fulfillment of the great commission to go and make disciples of the nations. More distinctly, I believe Christ will return, in the second coming, after God’s spirit-filled people have experienced the all encompassing effect of the gospel of grace reaching the ends of the earth and the full reality of the whole world adopting the Christian faith.  We are not there yet but I am committed to that goal.

Kenneth L. Gentry identifies seven distinct features of postmillennialism I want to cite, in brief, by way of explanation.

First, postmillennialism is a system of eschatology that holds that the Messianic kingdom was founded on earth, during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ and upon his redemptive work.

Second, the fundamental nature of that kingdom is redemptive and spiritual rather than political and corporeal

Third, due to the nature of this kingdom, as more and more people are saved and redeemed, societies and cultures will be changed as a result.

Fourth, postmillennialism expects the gradual expansion of the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth by the ministry of the word, through fervent prayer and the consecrated labors of God’s spirit-filled people.

Fifth, there is a confident expectation, in time and on earth, when the great commission will be completely fulfilled. All the nations will be discipled, and there will be a time of peace.

Sixth, cultures and societies will use the Bible as the rule of law in the governance of civil affairs.

Seven, we can look forward to a great ‘golden age’ of spiritual well-being and prosperity, possibly lasting for centuries, during which time Christianity will be triumphant, indeed, even reaching to the ends of the earth.

(Summarized from Gentry, “He Shall Have Dominion,” 73-74)

“Ad Fines Terrae” means: “To the ends of the earth,” this is a message that has brought me back to the power of the gospel and the call of Christ to his followers to be his witnesses and make disciples of the nations. We all have a distinct role to play in the fulfillment of that mission. For the glory of Christ and the redemption of the whole earth.

Go back to the home page