SPECIAL TOPIC: THIS AGE AND THE AGE TO COME

The OT prophets viewed the future as an extension of the present. For
them the future will be a restoration of geographical Israel. However, even they
saw it as a new day (cf. Isa. 65:17; 66:22). With the continued willful
rejection of YHWH by the descendants of Abraham (even after the exile) a new
paradigm developed in Jewish intertestamental apocalyptic literature (i.e., I
Enoch, IV Ezra, II Baruch). These writings make a distinction between two
ages: a current evil age dominated by Satan and a coming age of righteousness
dominated by the Spirit and inaugurated by the Messiah (often a dynamic
warrior).

In this area of theology (eschatology) there is an obvious development.
Theologians call this “progressive revelation.” The NT affirms this new cosmic
reality of two ages (i.e., a temporal dualism).

Jesus		Paul		Hebrews (Paul)
	Matt. 12:32; 13:22,39		Romans 12:2		Heb.1:2; 6:5; 11:3
	Mark 10:30		1 Cor. 1:20; 2:6,8; 3:18
	Luke 16:8; 18:30; 20:34-35		2 Cor. 4:4
			Galatians 1:4
			Eph. 1:21; 2:2,7; 6:12
			1 Timothy 6:17
			2 Timothy 4:10
			Titus 2:12

In NT theology these two Jewish ages have been overlapped because of the
unexpected and overlooked predictions of the two comings of the Messiah. The
incarnation of Jesus fulfilled most of the OT prophecies of the inauguration of
the new age (Dan. 2:44-45). However, the OT also saw His coming as Judge and
Conqueror, yet He came at first as the Suffering Servant (cf. Isaiah 53; Zech.
12:10), humble and meek (cf. Zechariah 9:9). He will return in power just as the
OT predicted (cf. Revelation 19). This two-stage fulfillment caused the Kingdom
to be present (inaugurated), but future (not fully consummated). This is the NT
tension of the already, but not yet!