I’m running late, but here is an excerpt of what I’m working on for my upcoming New Testament Survey courses. It’s rough around the edges, but here it is.
What is inaugurated eschatology, and what is its significance in understanding the Bible’s message? The Bible reveals God’s redemptive plan for the ages. At the core of this plan is the theme of the kingdom of God. This phrase signifies God’s sovereign rule and authority over all creation, both spiritual and physical, with a focus on His redemptive plan.
In the Old Testament, God governs His kingdom by establishing a series of covenants. Following the universal pledge to never again destroy the earth by flood in the Noahic covenant (Gen 8:21-9:20), God enters into a covenant with Abraham, assuring him of land, nationhood, and universal blessings (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-14). As God’s promises to Abraham gradually come to fruition, He enters a conditional covenant with the nation of Israel (Exo. 19-24). As the nation expands, they yearn for a king, and through a sequence of events, God establishes David’s dynasty, promising an everlasting kingdom through David’s lineage (2 Sam. 7).
Israel rebels against God’s conditions in the Mosaic covenant, causing Him to send them into exile. However, God promises a New Covenant through the mouth of Jeremiah (Jer 31:31-34). This covenant would bring internal transformation, forgiveness, and an eternal relationship through a Messianic King.
As the Old Testament comes to a close, the promised King, and ultimately the kingdom of God, does not arrive. Many rabbis speculated how the kingdom of God would come to pass. Most assumed the kingdom would be established immediately by a political or military movement. This is why many rejected Jesus of Nazareth’s message of the kingdom of God.
He taught the promised kingdom would unfold in stages. Like a seed, it would start small, but over time grow into an enormous tree (see Mark 3:30-34). Theologians identify these stages of growth as the inauguration of the kingdom, the continuation of the kingdom, and the consummation of the kingdom. The technical term for this is inaugurated eschatology.
According to the Gospels, the kingdom of God commenced with the arrival of Christ. This inauguration was testified by Jesus’ miraculous ministry (Luke 4:18-19). Furthermore, the ongoing expansion of God’s kingdom through the church is revealed in Acts. The epistles (of letters to the churches) provide a detailed guide to navigating life within the paradoxical “already, but not yet” kingdom, outlining the complexities of existing in a space where the kingdom of God is both present and yet to be fully realized. In the end, Revelation guides us to the ultimate realization of the kingdom. Therefore, one needs a firm grasp on the concept of inaugurated eschatology to comprehend the Bible’s message.
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Kevin W. Bounds 
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