Already and Not Yet

 

 

For them it was a now

And for them a not yet,

A partial fulfilment you may say

If you contextually vet.

 

A deposit possibly

Of a much bigger picture

Mirrored in their present time

But yet in the future.

 

A glimpse, ah yes!

A nice way of putting it,

But definitely not in its fulness

Yes, a deposit.

 

We have the Holy Spirit

Yes, in his fulness

But there is far more to come

As believers progress.

 

There is a coming to come

That we await by faith

Knowing that our election is sure

And this by God’s grace.

 

First century believers

Looked forward to a coming

Detailed in the New Testament,

Jesus himself prophesying.

 

Three Gospel writers

Tell of this prophetic event

And it was that coming to come

That these writers meant.

 

It was a now and not yet

Something was passing away

And coming upon the Jews

Was a judgment day.

 

 

Matthew, Mark and Luke

Spoke of that day

Though regarding those events,

John had nothing to say.

 

This generation, they said,

Was the context clue,

Not meaning our generation

As some today view.

 

A coming in the clouds

As Jesus had said

Surely not the consummation

But a judgment instead.

 

He had come to his own

And they had not received him

For just like their ancestors,

Unbelief was their sin.

 

They used their foremost foe

To crucified the Christ

But while they used Roman law

It was really their vice.

 

 

They forced Pilate’s hand

As they sided with Caesar

Whereupon their eventual success

Brought them pleasure.

 

And they that pierced him

Could very well be the Jews,

Riding on Roman jurisprudence

Is one of the views.

 

We have no king but Caesar

This imposter we reject,

His blood be on us and our children;

Their resolve was set.

 

There be some standing here

Hear Jesus’ words!

That coming was back then

Not to us deferred.

 

A then and not yet!

Not the consummation of all,

It was judgment upon the Jews

For rejecting their call.

 

 

But to as many as receive

The glorious Gospel news,

To them, the called-out church,

Whom the Father did choose.

 

The passing of one covenant:

The old and obsolete,

And the ushering of the new:

Eternal and complete.

 

Not a replacement covenant

But the unfolding of a plan

Put in place by the eternal Godhead

For the redemption of man.

 

The heavenly Jerusalem

Which John saw coming down

Is likely the kingdom/church

Which is currently around.

 

For we are going to a city

Not built with human hands

And the temple which we are

Are a part of God’s plan.

 

No need for a third temple

That will deteriorate,

Jesus is the fulfilment of all this

In its eternal state.

 

A now and a not yet

Until the fulfilment of time,

Meanwhile we walk by faith

With Jesus on our mind.

 

 

Now and not yet

As redemption’s plan unfolds

Giving time to all the repentant

To come into the fold.

 

For all that belong to Jesus

Will come to him,

This is regarding the Father’s promise

And deliverance from sin.

 

Stewart Russell © November 20, 2023