The Richmond Briefing

A weekly Bible reading for Bridge Builders

The Richmond Briefing has been a weekly feature of the Reachout web site for five years and is now available on the blog. To find out more and read earlier briefings go here

Reading – In His Royal Dignity (Matthew 16:28)

At the end of chapter 16 of Matthew’s gospel Jesus makes a puzzling statement.

“Some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom”

This is not a reference to the Second Coming, the date of which is known only to the Father (Mt.24:36) and therefore couldn’t be indicated by Jesus. It is believed by some to refer to the Transfiguration that happened witnessed by Peter, James and John six days later, while some believe it refers to the events of Pentecost. The word translated “kingdom” in our Bibles can mean “kingship”, “royal reign”, or “royal dignity” and the passage could be translated as referring to “the Son of Man coming in his royal dignity.”

In his prayer in John 17 Jesus prayed, “Now Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (Jn.17:4) and in Philippians we read of Jesus that:

“God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philip.29-10)

By the time Paul was writing (circa AD 62) the picture Christians had of Jesus was of his having taken his throne and reigning among his people by his Spirit. Given this is it possible that the picture of Jesus coming into his royal reign, kingship and dignity is not one event? Could the words of Jesus be understood as a “prophetic foreshortening” in which a number of prophetic/historical events merge so as to be seen as one? This is what William Hendriksen suggests in his commentary on Matthew where he writes that Jesus was referring to the unfolding of events starting with the Transfiguration, including the Resurrection and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There!’ for behold the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Lk.17:21 ESV, NB the NIV translates “within you” but in this instance this cannot be right since Jesus was addressing unbelieving Pharisees and the kingdom was not within them).

Beginning on the Mount of Transfiguration, continuing with the exercise of God’s great power in conquering death and raising Jesus from the dead, going on to the sending of the Sprit at Pentecost and resulting in bitter complaints that, “These men have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) the coming of Jesus into his kingly reign or dignity was witnessed by many who stood with him that day and by many more.

This is important as we witness because we have a special message to those who attempt to restore, rebuild or otherwise reinvent “what God originally intended”. The kingdom of God is not identified by borders, territories, organisations or a special people group as are earthly kingdoms but by a demonstration of the rule of God among his people in the world; among you, or in the midst of you. It will see its final consummation at his Second Coming but then he will come to judge, which is why we continue to invite people to put their trust in him so that until that day they too can see something of Jesus in his kingly dignity and on that day they can stand confidently before the throne of God because of Jesus whose kingly reign may be witnessed in their lives.

Obama's mother posthumously baptized into LDS Church - Salt Lake Tribune

In the wake of his remarkable success it seemed that the world and his wife wanted to claim President Obama as their own with even an Irish connection being dug up. Now the Mormons have got in on the act by posthumously baptising his mother. They have in the past upset the Jewish community, the Catholic Church and now the American President with this wacky and unbiblical practice but there is no indication that they will review it. And, of course, it is always someone else’s fault and they promise a thorough inquiry to uncover the real culprits. Maybe they should try looking in the mirror. President Barack Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, who died in 1995, was baptized posthumously into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints last year during her son's campaign, according to Salt Lake City-based researcher Helen Radkey. The ritual, known as “baptism for the dead,” was done June 4 in the Provo temple, and another LDS temple rite, known as the “endowment,” was...

Mormon Christians? Whats in a Name?

The Mormon Church, disturbed by the continuing identifying of polygamus sects in the news with the name Mormon, recently issued a press statement aimed at "clarifying" issues. It is interesting to note that if you substitute the name "Christian" where they use the name "Mormon" it makes a very good argument for us against the claims of the Mormon Church. The full press release is reproduced below in italics with each paragraph rewritten in ordinary text to present it from a Christian perspective. SALT LAKE CITY 10 July 2008 On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attent...

Is atheism an intolerant belief?

The Big Questions , Sunday 2 August 2009, third question. A growing number of Britons say they are certain there is no God - but how do they know? Professor John Adams of the North Yorkshire Humanist Association begins by asking theists what evidence they have for their beliefs. Paul Woolley of Theos continues by pointing out Richard Dawkins description of faith as a 'virus', and the appalling track record of atheism in the 20th Century, as spearheaded by Pol Pot and Stalin. Chloe Clifford-Frith of the Humanist and Secular Students Society contends that Stalin did not do the things he did because he was an atheist, but because he was evil. Paul Woolley rejoins that atheists are trying to have it both ways when they claim that religion is the cause of evil, but refuse to acknowledge the ideological impetus of atheism when it comes to many evil acts. Mao and Stalin both replaced God with the State - a 'religious' manoeuvre. Rev Alistair Rycroft of St Michael Le Belfrey Ch...

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