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THE ESCHATOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE TWO KINGDOMS Rev. Dr. Marney A. Fritts Introduction In this paper I will, first, describe three types of false eschatology and their presupposition of primacy of the law alone, rather than a law and gospel distinction, which ultimately results in a one-kingdom theology. Next, I will describe Luther’s present and relational eschatology, drawing attention to his teaching on relatio. Then, I will examine some of the rich fodder of Luther’s teaching on what he calls the two kingdoms distinction, as we find, for example, in his greater Lectures on Galatians (1535) and The Bondage of the Will (1525). Finally, I want to draw upon Luther’s eschatology of the two kingdoms distinction for what it means for our preaching today. My reason for setting the discussion on the two kingdoms distinction as the “eschatological relationship” between them comes from a close analysis of what Luther is doing in these writings to reform what the chief task of the church is: preaching Word and Sacrament. Initially, I want to briefly describe what we don’t mean by
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