Bible Overviews

[RefCath]

What are the Bible overviews that you've found helpful?

Mine are:

God's Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts
The Drama of Scripture by Craig Bartholomew & Michael Goheen
The Message of the Old Testament by Mark Dever
The Message of the New Testament by Mark Dever

Well worth reading IMO

 

[bibledoctrine]

The word genesis means beginning, and the book of Genesis describes 5 particular beginnings. 1. The Beginning of the World (1:1-1:25). 2. The Beginning of Man (1:26-2:25). 3. The Beginning of Man's Sin and Satan's Dominion on the Earth (3:1-3:24) 4. The Beginning of Man's Devolution Under Satan's Plan of Evil (4:1-11:32) 5. The Beginning of the Nation of Israel (12:1-50:26).

The majority of Genesis describes God's work in creating and forming the nation of Israel. In light of the events of Genesis 1-11, the covenant God made with Abraham sets forth God's plan and purpose for using a nation of His own creation to reconcile the earth back to Himself. The promised destruction of Satan's usurped domination will come to pass through Abraham and his seed being God's "great nation" through which He will establish His kingdom on the earth. The name "Israel" signifies that God's rulership on earth will be accomplished through them.

With Jacob God further amplified upon the details of His plan and purpose. Not only did He change Jacob's name to Israel, but he also gave him a dream in which he saw the objective of the Abrahamic covenant. Jacob saw that the land of Israel would be "the gate of heaven." God would reside on the earth in Israel and Heaven's business would be conducted from the earth. God's kingdom would be vested in Israel and administered by them.

Israel's role, therefore, pertains to God's plan for destroying Satan's plan of evil on the earth, along with repossessing it and using it for its original intended purpose. Their covenanted kingdom is "the kingdom of heaven," the "kingdom of God," literally established on this earth.

With Jacob God began multiplying the seed of Abraham into a nation. He also sent them down into Egypt, into the stronghold of the Adversary, from where He would have them begin the actual repossession of the earth.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The books of Exodus through Deuteronomy relate the history of Israel's triumphal departure from Egypt in fulfillment of what God had said to Abraham in Gen. 15:13-16. They also set forth the establishment of the Law covenant and Israel's eventual preparation to enter the land to begin the repossession of the earth.

These are extremely important books to understand. No less than 5 crucial issues are set forth that must be understood and appreciated if the details of the outworking of God's program with Israel is going to be comprehended. They are: 1. Israel's Education in God's "Jehovah-ness" and Grace (Ex. 1-18:27) 2. The Five Courses of Punishment of the Law (Lev. 26) 3. God's Warning to Satan and the Gentiles (Num. 22-25). 4. The Making of an Additional Covenant (Deut. 29-30). 5. Moses' Last Acts (Deut. 31-34).

Of these, the Five Courses of Punishment is the most important to understand. Israel's history can be understood and appreciated when first the Five Courses of Punishment are understood.

According to Leviticus 26, failure to comply with the Law contract would merit Israel curses instead of blessings from God. Those curses are described as coming in progressive courses of punishment. There are five in all, each building upon the preceding one and intensifying the punishment. They are as follows: 1. Physical illnesses and afflictions; enemy raids and defeats in battle; tributary rule by border enemies. (Lev. 26:14-17) 2. Internal government problems; cursing of the land and its environment. (Lev. 26:18-20) 3. Increased severity of land judgments, including affliction from wild beasts. (Lev. 26:21-22) 4. Greater oppression by enemies, including occupation of their land with lengthy and persistent sieges. (Lev. 26:23-26) 5. National destruction and captivity, with removal from the land and captivity to the nations. (Lev. 26:27ff)

Simply put, Israel's history is one of coming under these Five Courses of Punishment. Each Course is represented on the time line by its number placed within a circle.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The book of Joshua describes Israel's entrance into the land and the initial stages of its conquest. The repossession of the earth was to begin with the conquest of the land God promised to Abraham and his seed.

The outline of the book is set forth in the opening 9 verses of chapter one. God charges Joshua to bring Israel into the land, conquer it, divide it for an inheritance, and keep the covenant in the land. The book records Joshua doing these very four things.

Joshua knew God's plan and purpose with Israel, as well as Satan's plan of evil. As Israel entered the land, he reminded them of who they were in God's plan and what the land was all about. Yet he knew that God's kingdom would not be set up at this time. Therefore, Joshua placed the memorial stones in the Jordan River, marking the very place where the true "Joshua," the Lord Jesus Christ, will likewise cross Jordan when He comes to conquer the land and establish the kingdom.

The final section of Joshua records the admonition and charge that Joshua gave Israel now that they were in the land. The special admonition was given in view of signs of rebelliousness that Joshua saw among the people. He reminded them that the curses of the Law contract were in store for them if they departed from the Lord. The Five Courses of Punishment set forth in Leviticus 26 would begin to come upon them if they did not cleave to the Lord.

Joshua exposed the inclination of their hearts by what he said. He also forced it into their consciences by charging them to "choose this day" which course they were going to pursue. In all this he allowed them to honestly see that seeds of rebelliousness were sown among them, that they were beginning to take root, and would soon grow. By making a covenant with them, he held them responsible for rooting out the apostasy before it could grow.

It is significant that the book of Joshua ends with these words. Because the rebellion Joshua feared took hold shortly after his death.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The seeds of rebellion and apostasy that Joshua warned about began to take root and grow shortly after his death. The generation that followed began to rebel against the Lord. In so doing, Israel merited the First Course of Punishment set forth in Leviticus 26. The book of Judges, Ruth, and the first 16 chapters of I Samuel record Israel's history under that First Course of Punishment.

Judges gets its name from the series of judges that God raised up to judge and instruct Israel during this time. God did this solely on the basis of His mercy and grace, for the Law contract did not obligate Him to do so. Though Israel often responded positively to the judge, Judges 2:19 states that they consistently returned to their apostasy and advanced on in further corruption. For a span of about 450 years Israel experienced the First Course of Punishment, but was not reformed by it. In the days of Samuel, therefore, God made it known that they deserved the Second Course and declared that it was coming.

God gave Israel clear evidence of just how deplorable and abhorrent they had become to Him when He permitted the ark of the LORD to be taken by the Philistines. The departure of the glory from Israel, along with slaying Eli's sons in judgment, testified to Israel's low state at this time. Though the Second Course was more than merited at this time, God in mercy and grace raised up yet one more judge and prophet - Samuel. In accordance with the meaning of his mother's name, Hannah, grace was extended to Israel.

Under Samuel, Israel was judged. At first there was a positive response to Samuel's reproofs and corrections. Accordingly, God provided deliverance from the Philistines. Much like Joshua, Samuel set up a memorial and testimony to God's "Jehovah-ness" to remind Israel that their only hope and help is in the LORD. Yet Israel's reformation was short-lived. They soon rebelled against God worse than ever, desiring to be like the nations around them. In connection with this, they set the stage for the Second Course of Punishment.

 

[bibledoctrine]

Samuel made it evident that Israel was worthy of having the Second Course of Punishment come upon them. However, instead of the Second Course beginning, God gave Israel an interlude of glorious blessing and prosperity under David and Solomon. This was not a stipulation of the Law contract. On the contrary, it was not merited at all. I Samuel 16 through I Kings 11 record this golden age of Israel's grandeur.

God graciously gave Israel this time of blessing and prosperity for a very special reason. Throughout it He manifested to them every aspect of His "Jehovah-ness" that they would be beneficiaries of when He fulfilled to them what His name "Jehovah" meant. Moreover, He revealed to them the very means by which His "Jehovah-ness" would go into effect. He Himself, Adonai Jehovah, would become one of them to do for them what they could not do for themselves. He would enflesh Himself in the line of the seed of David to do this. This is what the Davidic Covenant is all about.

While under the First Course of Punishment God made it evident that Israel needed a redeemer, as well as a deliverer, avenger, king and blesser. He also made it evident that not one of them could be any of these things. Therefore, their only hope was for God Himself to become these things for them. In accordance with His name "Jehovah" God covenanted with David to become these very things. The Davidic covenant contracted for God to implement His "Jehovah-ness" for Israel and fulfill these five mandates. God Himself would become Israel's Redeemer, Deliverer, Avenger, King and Blesser. Through both David and Solomon God gave Israel foretastes of what the fulfillment of those five mandates would mean for Israel.

As shown on the chart, a parallel account of Israel's history from the time of David until the beginning of the Fifth Course of Punishment is given in the books of I and II Chronicles. This second parallel account emphasizes God's faithfulness in spite of Israel's apostasy, as well as his special dealings with David's line in view of the Davidic covenant.

 

[bibledoctrine]

Solomon's disobedience in the latter part of his reign plunged the nation back into apostasy. In view of this they made themselves worthy of receiving the Second Course of Punishment. Though the First Course was resumed near the end of Solomon's reign, for David's sake God said He would not bring the Second Course upon them at that time. The "pride of their power" would be broken by the division of the kingdom following Solomon's death.

I Kings 12-22 records Israel's history during the increased judgments of the Second Course of Punishment. Breaking the pride of their power was not the only judgment. God also judged their weather and environment, as stipulated in Leviticus 26:18-20. This began to occur in the days of King Ahab. Elijah was used to manifest the chastisements of the Second Course. This he did by causing it not to rain for three and one half years. Other of Elijah's miracles and works were also significant in view of the Second Course of Punishment.

Breaking the pride of Israel's power was the most significant judgment of the Second Course. In view of the fact that the Five Courses of Punishment would be cumulative, the division of the kingdom, along with the division of Israel's brotherhood, would be a factor in their history until the end of the Fifth Course. It would also mean that the chastisements of the remaining courses of punishment would not necessarily be experienced by the two kingdoms at the exact same time.

With few exceptions, the kings of both Judah (Southern kingdom) and Israel (Northern kingdom) responded negatively to the chastisements of the Second Course. As I Kings closes it is evident that they would not be reformed. They, therefore, merited the further judgments of the Third Course, which II Kings begins to describe.

 

[bibledoctrine]

Instead of responding to the increased chastisements of the Second Course of Punishment, Israel continued to walk contrary to God. The crippling apostasy that prevailed during the reign of King Ahab continued on under his son Ahaziah. God vehemently rebuked Ahaziah for denying the very meaning of Elijah's name, but it fell on deaf ears. This in particular provoked God to anger all the more and is what ushered in the Third Course of Punishment.

II Kings 1-10:31 describes Israel's history under the Third Course. God signified the severe nature of how He would deal with them under this course by having Elijah depart from the land in reverse order to the way that God originally entered it in the days of Joshua. God then re-entered the land with Elisha, but did so ready to walk contrary to Israel and chasten them seven times more for their sins. Elisha, with his double portion of Elijah's spirit, was used by God to manifest the worsening judgments of the Third Course of Punishment.

One of the first wonders performed by Elisha when he entered back into the land was to pronounce a curse from the Lord in Beth-el. This curse involved a plague of the Third Course as described in Leviticus 26:21-22. Beth-el was still the major center for Israel's idolatry, as it had been since Jeroboam's day. When Elisha was mocked and scorned by the children of Beth-el, he "looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD." This was the curse of the Third Course. And so it was that "there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them." This is just what the Third Course called for, saying, "I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children."

The further plagues of the Third Course also came upon Israel during this time. Their highways became desolate, as II Kings 6 records, and they began to be impoverished. In the midst of all this the Lord manifested His mercy and grace, but rebelliousness persisted. The Fourth Course was set to arrive.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The Fourth Course of Punishment greatly intensified the effects that Israel's enemies had upon them. As specified in Leviticus 26:23-26, God would now begin to "walk contrary" unto Israel. He would send a "sword" among them to "avenge the quarrel of His covenant." The direct invasion of the land would occur, with sieges being laid against their walled cities and their open lands being abandoned. The punishments of the Fourth Course are just shy of a complete deliverance of the people and the land into the hands of their enemies.

When God began to "cut Israel short," as described beginning in II Kings 10:32, He began the Fourth Course of Punishment. In cutting Israel short God permitted their enemies to actually begin taking possession of portions of the land. He began to reduce Israel in size, both geographically and numerically. He "delivered them into the hands of their enemies" repeatedly, as He "walked contrary unto them."

On a few occasions Israel's kings responded positively to the chastisement and sought the Lord. The Lord, according to His mercy, then provided deliverance. However, these reprieves were only short-lived. The overall course of the nation was one of continued rebelliousness and persistent hardness of heart.

In II Kings 13:22-23 God's graciousness is cited while Israel suffered under Syria's oppression. God was gracious because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Hence, He would not cast "them from His presence as yet." The potential was there at this time for Israel to have been cast from God's presence. However, the time for that was "not yet." It would be under the Fifth Course of Punishment that this would take place.

The Northern kingdom (Israel/Samaria) preceded the Southern kingdom (Judah) in meriting courses 3, 4, and 5. Most of II Kings 10:32-16:20 pertains to the Northern kingdom under the Fourth Course. However, in II Kings 15:36-37, the declaration is made about the start of the Fourth Course in the Southern kingdom.

 

[bibledoctrine]

Under the Fifth Course of Punishment Israel would experience God walking contrary to them "in fury." The abomination of their apostasy and their persistent hardness of heart would cause God's soul to "abhor them." In view of their negative response to the Fourth Course, in the days of King Hoshea the Fifth Course came upon the Northern kingdom (Israel/Samaria). It came upon the Southern kingdom (Judah) following the days of King Josiah. II Kings 17:1-25:30 records its arrival.

The judgments of the Fifth Course are descibed in Leviticus 26:27ff. The "fury" of the Lord's wrath would involve Israel's removal from the land and the endurance of a state of captivity. Israel would be ransacked, wasted, and destroyed from off their land. Their "sanctuaries," both idolatrous and the temple of the Lord, would be destroyed. They would be "cast from the Lord's presence," become Satan's "lawful captive," and their enemy would possess their land.

The description of the Fifth Course in Leviticus 26 indicates that it would be an extensive course. God described just how extensive it would be through the prophets He raised up at the time it was ready to arrive. The Fifth Course would have five installments to it. (These are represented above by the small numbers 1-5 underneath the time line.) Each of these five installments would have a special feature and a special trouble all its own.

With Israel being delivered into the hands of their enemies, the Fifth Course of Punishment is spoken of as "the times of the Gentiles." A successive number of Gentile dominions would hold sway over Israel and the people would suffer many things at their hands. The First Installment was the Assyrian/Babylonian captivity.

The Fifth Course will end with the fifth installment, in which the LORD will have His day of wrath. In this "time of Jacob's trouble" the Lord will thoroughly purge Israel of all its apostate element and will completely avenge His cause with Israel against the Gentiles of Satan's plan of evil.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The Second Installment of the Fifth Course of Punishment was described to Daniel as the time when the city of Jerusalem would be restored, but that "the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." This would be done under the reign of the Medo-Persian empire, the second Gentile dominion that would hold sway over Israel during the Fifth Course of Punishment. The books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther record Israel's history during the Second Installment.

In Ezra emphasis is laid upon the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Ezra was a priest who responded to the command to return to the land.

Nehemiah especially records the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther emphasize the "troublous times" Israel experienced during this Second Installment, as Satan opposed Israel's re-admittance to their land. They were still his "lawful captive" and faced his opposition both outside the land and within.

At the conclusion of the Second Installment Israel began to experience a very unique form of chastisement belonging to the Fifth Course of Punishment. During the Third Installment God went silent to Israel. For a period of about 400 years God said nothing to them. They had no prophets functioning and God gave no evidence that they were His people. They experienced a "famine of hearing of the words of the LORD." Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi functioned during the Second Installment and were the last prophets to Israel before God went silent. The blank page in the Bible between Malachi and Matthew ought to be thought of as representing the Third Installment.

Because of the nature of the Third Installment, there is no confusion or doubt regarding what to do with the books called the Apocrypha written during this time. Since God was silent, they are not the word of God. Therefore, they are not to be included in the Bible.

 

[bibledoctrine]

During the Third Installment of the Fifth Course of Punishment, though God was silent, Israel was fully capable of realizing the situation they were in. The Scriptures gave them their history up until this time, with the books of the prophets describing the installments of the Fifth Course of Punishment that was in effect. In particular, a very special section of the Scriptures was designed to be used at this time - Job through Song of Solomon.

Through these five books, God educated Israel in the reality of the predicament they were in. As well, He provided them with a detailed description of their hope of deliverance that was coming through the Christ, along with instruction on how to live in the midst of Israel's apostate system. These five books provide essential edification for the remnant of Israel, and will especially do so in the Fifth and final Installment of the Fifth Course.

In Job, Israel's predicament of being in Satanic captivity is set forth. The Lord allowed Job to become Satan's captive for the purpose of educating Israel in the nature of this predicament.

Psalms extols the virtues of the Davidic covenant - Israel's only hope of deliverance from their predicaments. Psalms is divided into five sections, each one focusing upon one of the five mandates of the Davidic covenant.

Proverbs provides the believing remnant with instruction on how to live in the midst of Israel's apostate system.

Ecclesiastes provides reproof regarding the vanity of the wisdom of the world and its ungodliness.

The Song of Solomon doctrinally instructs the faithful remnant to remain faithful, despite the time involved in waiting for their deliverance.

The full function of each one of these books awaits the Fifth and final Installment in the Fifth Course of Punishment.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The books of the prophets form a major section in Israel's Scriptures. Though some of them actually began functioning during the Fourth Course of Punishment, they are all Fifth Course of Punishment prophets. Through their ministries God describes the Fifth Course, with its five installments, in detail. Since there is no sixth course of punishment, everything in God's program with Israel comes to a head in the Fifth Course. Accordingly, much of Isaiah through Malachi focuses on the final two installments of the Fifth Course - the days of the Messiah - the climactic stages in the program.

The great amount of information contained in the prophets falls into the following 7 major doctrinal categories. 1. Details about the five installment breakdown to the Fifth Course. 2. The doctrine of the Messiah. 3. Details about the new covenant of grace God would make. 4. Details about the Lord's day of purging and avenging wrath. 5. Details about the prescription for cleansing God would administer to Israel. 6. Details about the time schedule for the Fifth Course of Punishment. 7. Details about Israel's glory to come when the covenanted kingdom of heaven is finally established with them.

Of these 7 issues, the time schedule of the Fifth Course is extremely important to understand. The initial time schedule for the First Installment was given to Jeremiah, setting forth the 70 years necessary for the land to enjoy her sabbaths. The balance of the time schedule for the remaining four installments was given to Daniel. From Daniel's time schedule Israel could track the progress of the remaining installments.

Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were the final prophets to function in Israel before God went silent for the Third Installment. Through their ministries Israel was told to give heed to the overall ministry of the Fifth Course of Punishment prophets, while they awaited the day when God would begin the climactic stages of His program with them.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The Gospel accounts record the arrival of the Fourth Installment in the Fifth Course of Punishment. With John the Baptist God broke the silence of the Third Installment, and the climactic final stages in the Fifth Course began. The "gospel of the kingdom" began to be preached to Israel by John and he began to administer the prescription for Israel's cleansing to those who responded. He also manifested Christ to Israel and prepared them for His ministry. Those that believed the "gospel of the kingdom" became part of the Lord's generation and were no longer identified with apostate Israel.

The time schedule for the Fifth Course was nearing its end with the ominous Fifth Installment fast approaching. Therefore, Israel was warned to "flee from the wrath to come," while the Lord prepared and equipped the believing remnant to make it through the tribulation of those days. He taught them much corrective doctrine by which they could be set apart from Israel's apostate system.

To confirm the reality of the kingdom of heaven being "at hand," the Lord manifested the signs of the kingdom spoken about in the prophets. The power to do so was also given to the 12 apostles, whom the Lord had chosen and commissioned to function with him at this time. The 12 apostles were also prepared by the Lord to function in His absence following His rejection. They would also form the government of Israel once the kingdom was established and would be "sitting on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

When Israel rejected Christ, the Fourth Installment to the Fifth Course was scheduled to conclude. However, God graciously provided an extension of mercy and forbearance to Israel in accordance with Christ's prayer for them on the cross. Following His resurrection from the dead, and after preparing His disciples for the Fifth Installment that was soon to begin, Christ returned to the Father and sat down at His right hand "until his enemies be made his footstool."

 

[bibledoctrine]

The opening 8 chapters of Acts record the "stumbling" and "fall" of Israel during the extension of mercy and forbearance God gave to them following their rejection of Christ. God gave "repentance to Israel" during this time, before Christ would actually begin to have His day and make His enemies His footstool. This "stumbling" and "fall" was prophesied about, taking place even in view of the increased signs that began on the day of Pentecost, which confirmed the arrival of Israel's "last days."

Three honest, open opportunities were given to Israel's rulers to repent, but they spurned each one. Upon their rejection of the third opportunity, Stephen was given to see that the extension of mercy was over and the Lord was ready to begin His day of wrath. The Fifth and final Installment to the Fifth Course of Punishment was ready to begin.

However, instead of beginning His day of wrath, the Lord did something completely unexpected and not prophesised about.

The Lord Jesus Christ came back from heaven, as related in Acts 9, and raised up Paul to be a brand new apostle. He commissioned him to go out and preach the astounding message that God was holding back the day of wrath, suspending His program with Israel, and was bringing in a new and different dispensation. In view of this, the Lord's day of wrath has yet to occur and the kingdom of heaven has yet to be established on this earth.

Following the raising up of Paul, the book of Acts records what God did to inform His 12 apostles of the change in programs He had made. It also goes on to describe the "diminishing" of Israel, as God made sure that even those of Israel outside the land knew about the rejection of Christ. In so doing He left them without excuse, but also provoked them to jealousy by His new program with the Gentiles.

Acts, therefore, records the "stumbling," "fall," and "diminishing" of Israel.

 

[bibledoctrine]

The Apostle Paul is "the apostle of the Gentiles." He is the one to whom God gave "the dispensation of the grace of God" for us Gentiles, revealing to him "the mystery of Christ." We, today, live in the dispensation of God's grace. Paul is our apostle and it is in his epistles - Romans through Philemon - that God sets forth what He is doing with us today. Israel's program is suspended during this dispensation. It will not be resumed or fulfilled until after this dispensation is concluded.

Believers in this dispensation are members of God's "new creation," the "one new man," the church the body of Christ. As Paul teaches, God will use His "new creation" to reconcile the heavenly places unto Himself. God formerly kept the "mystery of Christ" a mystery in order to take Satan in his own craftiness. Now, having made it known, God has revealed His plan for repossessing not only the earth, but the heavenly places also, from Satan's usurped domination.

God's design for our edification today is set forth in a doctrinal progression from Romans to Philemon. Romans sets forth the primary doctrines of who God has made us to be "in Christ," being justified, sanctified, living in this new dispensation, and being dealt with as "sons." These foundational doctrines are expounded further in I Corinthians through Galatians, as Paul deals directly with the effectual working of these truths in our lives. Ephesians builds upon this foundation with further knowledge about God's plan and purpose for us, especially in the heavenly places. Philippians and Colossians advance on, as Paul deals directly with the impact of this further knowledge upon our lives. The attitude and conduct we should have as mature saints is manifested and dealt with in the Thessalonian epistles. The four pastoral epistles that follow deal with the proper functioning of a local church, which God has designed to function as the "pillar and ground of the truth" for "godly edifying" in this dispensation.

This dispensation will end with the Lord rapturing the church to be with Himself in the heavenly places.

 

[bibledoctrine]

Following the conclusion of this dispensation God will resume and fulfill His program with Israel. The Fifth Installment to the Fifth Course of Punishment will then take place. The Lord will fulfill the remaining mandates of the Davidic covenant and Israel will be given their covenanted kingdom. They will function on this earth as God's "kingdom of priests and an holy nation." The promised "new heavens and new earth" will be established "wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Hebrews through The Revelation is the portion of the Bible dealing especially with the ominous Fifth Installment of the Fifth Course of Punishment, along with the fulfillment of Gods purpose with Israel on the earth. In accordance with this time that is still yet "to come," God has placed these books in the Bible following Paul's epistles about this present dispensation. They are placed in the very position that indicates the time to which they pertain.

The Hebrew people, (Israel), and God's program with them are once again the special focus of attention. These books to them, and from their apostles, have the prophesied Lord's day of wrath in view.

The book of the Revelation sets forth the details concerning the resumption of Daniel's time schedule. It describes in detail the Lord's day of wrath; the activities of Satan's final policy of evil against Israel; the avenging of God's cause with Israel upon the nations; the Lord's coming with "power and great glory" at the end of the "great tribulation"; and the establishment of the kingdom of heaven in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

Israel's "fulness," which is in abeyance in this dispensation, is the issue in these books.

 

[docpotter]

In my bible , in the very back in the white space , I have made a list of things over the years that I felt convicted about ..

- Be humble

- Be patient

- Be kind

- Be truthful ..God HATES lies

- Love one another

- Don't be idle

- Don't be afraid of persecution

- Be merciful , for you have been shown much mercy

- Gods word does not change with the times

- Serve God

- Be bold and confident in your salvation ..you HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN !


....these were just things that I saw as major behavioral changes I needed to make in my life as I read the word and prayed . Great Post , thanks : )

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