Ep 108: The Kingdom Regardless w/ Dr. Darrell Bock

What does the kingdom of God have to do with the end times? In Episode 108, Brian talks with Dr. Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and Executive Director of Cultural Engagement, about the kingdom of God, Israel, eschatology, and Christian mission. This conversation builds on Season 4, The Forgotten Kingdom, where Soil & Roots explored why the kingdom of God is central to the mission of Jesus and the life of deep discipleship. Brian and Dr. Bock discuss Progressive Dispensationalism, how it differs from more traditional dispensational views, and why our views of the end times are not merely side issues. They shape how we understand Jesusโ€™ purpose, the churchโ€™s mission, Israel, the nations, creation, culture, and our daily lives. Dr. Bock offers a gracious and bridge-building perspective. He affirms a future for Israel, the importance of the churchโ€™s witness now, and the need for followers of Jesus to represent the kingdom regardless of how history unfolds. The church is called to be a โ€œsneak previewโ€ of what is coming: a reconciled people who show the world the way of peace, justice, love, and Shalom.

BY Brian Fisher

September 24, 2024

kingdom of God and the end times

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Kingdom of God
Soil and Roots
Ep 108: The Kingdom Regardless w/ Dr. Darrell Bock
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The Kingdom of God and the End Times

In Season 4, we spent a few episodes exploring how our views of the End Times shape our journey toward becoming more like Jesus today. We briefly examined the four major modern perspectives: pre-millennialism, dispensationalism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism.

Today, we dive back into that discussion with Dr. Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies and Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Bock is a progressive dispensationalist, which means he doesnโ€™t quite fit into the โ€œboxesโ€ we outlined earlier this year!

Dr. Bock shares some of the foundational aspects of progressive dispensationalism, including how they read and interpret the Bible, the role of Israel, and the nature and purpose of the Kingdom.

Though we talk through some of the primary differences between his views and others, we quickly hear Dr. Bockโ€™s heart for unity in the church, serving those with whom we disagree, and how we should live in and testify to the Kingdom of God, regardless of how we think the world is winding up.

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