The Big Picture
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One of the best ways to start our life journey is to understand the Big Picture of the Bible as we walk with God. He unfolds His story of creation, fall, redemption, and love that weaves its way through all 66 books. In this Walk Through the Bible, we see that God redeems (buys back) what was originally given and lost due to man’s freedom of choice, either to separate from God or choose to be with God for eternity. What God started in creation with a perfect, sin-free world, He plans to redeem, including all those who choose to accept His only way of redemption through Jesus Christ—the Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior.
Author of the Bible
If you journey with someone, you should know them. To understand The Big Picture of the Bible, we must understand the author, God. Even though forty or so writers wrote the books in the Bible, 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God inspired each writing and was the overall author. God is sovereign; He is in total control of His creation. God is perfect within Himself. He needs nothing to make Himself more perfect. He created all things for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11), not out of any need. He is not bound or controlled by any of His creations, including “time,”; so, He sees all things throughout eternity as if they are all current (past, present, and future). He loves you more than you love yourself, and He wants the very best for you. He is invisible to man, but many invisible things with power (electricity, wind, air that we breathe, etc.) are brought to reality by the results they bring.
OLD TESTAMENT
Creation of angels
God creates angels (Job 38:4-7, Psalms 148:2-5, 104:2-5). One-third of the angels follow Lucifer in eternal rebellion against their Creator and fall from His grace. Lucifer is renamed Satan (also referred to as the Devil, the Destroyer, the Deceiver) (Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:13-17, 2 Peter 2:4, Revelation 12:4). Unholy (fallen) angels are referred to as demons in the Bible.
Creation of the world
Genesis 1 & 2; The most popular theory of secularists for creation is the Big Bang Theory, where a big mass explodes into all the galaxies, planets, and stars. (As much of a chance as my dynamiting a pile of junk into a Rolls Royce.) The Hebrew word for create “bara” in Genesis means to make something out of nothing. (Secularists need to answer where in their theory that big mass came from that exploded.) Only God can “bara.” The Earth is in the Milky Way Galaxy, which, as reported by Wikipedia, is up to 200,000 light years from rim to rim (one light year=6 trillion miles); our galaxy contains 100–400 billion stars, many larger than our sun, which is 110 times larger than Earth. Currently, an estimated 200 billion observable galaxies like the Milky Way exist.
The magnitude and order of creation continue to amaze scientists. Each created thing breaks down further and further into more parts. The human body is made up of atoms and molecules, which are further broken down into electrons and a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons. (Secularists promote that evolution was responsible for putting all these submicroscopic elements together in the proper order to make humans with amazing brains; they rationalize that “millions of years of evolving” provide the answer.)
Creation should bring us to our knees at the awesome greatness of God.
Creation of Man
Genesis 1:26-31, 2:15-17 God gives man four major attributes, including (1) dominion over the earth, (2) the image of God, (3) a personal relationship with God, and (4) a body that was intended to live eternally. Man was created “good” and with freedom of choice; he could choose to obey or disobey God. Man would have remained good in God’s eyes throughout eternity if he had not chosen to disobey God.
Man Falls
Genesis 3:1-13 Satan, the serpent, entices man to question God’s word and His goodness: man, as a result, chooses to disobey God in the one no-no that God provided. Even though eating a fruit seems innocent and does not rank on our radar screen of crime, it was a deliberate choice to disobey God- which was a sin (an archer’s term meaning to miss the target).
Man loses dominion, the divine part of the image of God (righteousness and holiness), the personal relationship with God, and death is instituted.
Satan temporarily usurps the dominion of Earth (Matthew 4:8-9; John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
God provides a Plan of Redemption
The entire Bible gives us the Plan written by God prior to the foundation of Earth (Revelation 13:8, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9), whereby He provides man “the Way” to redeem what was lost in the Fall. The Old Testament and the New Testament weave the Plan to be fulfilled through a Redeemer (Messiah), who is first hinted at in Genesis 3:15 immediately after the Fall.
The Old Testament paves a Messianic Golden Road on which we will shortly walk at the end of the Old Testament Overview (later in this chapter). God, in His grace, instituted a sacrificial, substitutionary atonement where man may be redeemed based on the shedding of blood (Redemption requires a blood sacrifice). Since Satan and the demons do not have omniscience (all knowledge) and must live bound by creation, this Plan to redeem humans was an unpleasant surprise. Their evil objective was to thwart this Plan to stop the Plan prematurely by eliminating the Redeemer indirectly throughout his genealogy before his birth or directly after his birth. Failing at this, they use their evil and temporary dominion over this earth to try to keep every human from being redeemed and to fight against each redeemed human (Ephesians 6:12).
Flood
Unconfessed sin builds on itself. Man’s thoughts were evil continually. God sends a universal flood to destroy all but a remnant approximately 1,636 years after creation. God’s remnant that He saved was Noah, his wife, his three sons (Ham, Shem & Japheth), and their wives, plus the animals (Genesis 6, 7 & 8). After 371 days in the ark, God tells the eight to leave the ark and to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth (Genesis 9).
Disbursing Nations
Instead of obeying God to spread out to fill the earth, the eight head back to where their home was before the flood. One hundred years after the flood, God forces them to obey by confusing their one language into many. Japheth’s descendants headed north (Eastern and Western Europe), Ham’s descendants headed east and south (Asia and Africa), and Shem’s descendants stayed in the middle east and northern part of Africa (Genesis 11).
Abraham
This descendant of Shem was born about 200 years after the disbursing of the nations. God makes an unconditional covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), promising him three things—land, seed, and blessing. Since he was 75 years of age and his wife, Sarah, was 65 years of age with no children, the promise of a seed was unbelievable, made even more so by the fact that he would be in the lineage of the Redeemer. The genealogy of the Redeemer is recorded in two different places in the Bible—the first recording of his earthly father’s genealogy is in Matthew 1:1-16, and the second recording of his mother’s genealogy is in Luke 3:23-38. Abraham had two sons—Ishmael and Isaac (in the Redeemer’s line); Isaac had two sons—Esau and Jacob (in the Redeemer’s line); Jacob (whose name was changed by God to Israel) had twelve sons; through Judah, the Redeemer’s line continues.
However, the son of Israel that is written about the most is the next to youngest—Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers because they were jealous of his being Israel’s favorite son. He was age seventeen when he was taken to Egypt, and for thirteen years was a slave, most of the time in prison. Through the sovereignty of God, at age thirty, Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt. God used Joseph to be the protector of his family. In fact, Joseph describes a perfect spiritual vision in Genesis 50:20 (perfect human vision is 20:20) to his brothers when he says, “You meant it for evil, God used it for good in order to save many people” — a true demonstration of God’s sovereignty.
Moses
Joseph dies, and one of the next Pharaohs puts the family of Israel into slavery, which lasts for about 400 years. God raises Moses to deliver the Israelites out of bondage. God aims ten plagues at the Egyptian gods to show His power. Passover is instituted by God to show that the shed blood of an innocent lamb provides deliverance to those believing and death to the unbelievers. However, blood sacrifice was first instituted by God in the Garden of Eden after the Fall when God provided the covering (atonement) for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). The shedding of blood is necessary for redemption/deliverance (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22).
Mosaic Covenant—The Law
After God divides the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross to the Sinai Peninsula, God provides the Law (10 commandments for moral and 603 rules for civil and ceremonial purposes) not as a means of justification/redemption but as a rule for living and preparatory discipline, a schoolmaster to point to the Redeemer (Galatians 3:19-25). This covenant was “conditional” on the obedience of the people (Exodus 19:5), unlike the Abrahamic Covenant, which was unconditional and based solely on God’s promise.
Wilderness
Twelve spies were sent into the Promise Land; ten came back with a negative report that there were giants in the land that would mash Israel like grasshoppers; two, Joshua and Caleb, advised them to believe in God and take the land. As a result of following the advice of the faithless ten and avoiding the land, God judged that Israel would roam in the wilderness for forty years until every male over twenty years of age died—about 600,000 of them.
Joshua
Under the leadership of 85-year-old Joshua, the nation enters the promised land; prior to entering, Moses gives the law a second time (Deuteronomy means second giving of the law), and God also gives the Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 29 & 30) to further explain the “land” portion of the Abrahamic Covenant. God miraculously divides the waters of the Jordan River, allowing the nation to crossover; Moses dies at age 120 prior to crossing. God wants to show the nation that it must always have faith in only God; the first battle at Jericho is won by God supernaturally to demonstrate His power that is available through faith. With the faith of Joshua, the nation of Israel, through many battles, repossessed the Promised Land again after 400+ years.
Judges
At age 110, Joshua dies. For the next several decades, the nation was under a theocracy (ruled by God). During this time, God raises up twelve men (Gideon and Samson, best known) and one woman, Deborah, to judge the will of God in each situation. This time in history recorded much chaos as each person did what was right in his own eyes.
Kings
The turmoil became so great that the people asked Samuel for a king to rule over them. Since it was not yet God’s timing for a king, God said no. God allowed the people’s choice of Saul as their first king because he was handsome, tall, and a good orator. As a result, their human choice is a terrible king. God chooses His king based not on the outward appearance but on the inward heart. David, a teenage shepherd who was even the last of his brothers that his earthly dad considered worthy, was chosen by God to become the second king.
God further explains the “seed” portion of the Abrahamic Covenant to David in the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16); through his seed, Solomon, the right to the throne shall descend (Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, is in this line as written in the genealogy in Matthew 1). Through another son of David, Nathan, Mary’s genealogy flows (Luke 3:23-38).
Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, is the next king; he desires to be greater than Solomon, so he increases taxes “like the finger is to the forearm”; the people rebel, and the kingdom splits with the northern ten tribes of Israel under the leadership of a general named Jeroboam and the southern two tribes, Judah, and Benjamin, under Rehoboam. The northern kingdom, after 200 years, is taken into captivity by Assyria, and the southern kingdom, after 300 years, is taken into captivity by Babylon.
Prophets
During the time of the split kingdom, God called special men as prophets with primarily a two-fold job—first, to forthtell God’s word to warn against worshipping false gods and to obey God; and second, to foretell revealed events by God in the future. God used the prophets to lead His people away from sin and back on the path of righteousness. Many of these prophets predicted and foresaw the coming Messiah, who was prophesied to be the long-awaited Savior and liberator of His people. A large portion of the Old Testament is comprised of the books of these prophets.
| Prophet | Time Period | Setting | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isaiah | BC 739-681 | Pre-exile: Judah | Salvation is of the Lord (Israel's Messiah) |
| Jeremiah | BC 627-575 | Pre-exile: Judah | Warning of Coming Judgment |
| (Lamentations) | BC 586-575 | Pre-exile: Judah | |
| Ezekiel | BC 593-571 | Exile: Captives in Babylon | Judgment and Glory of the Lord |
| Daniel | BC 605-536 | Exile: Captives in Babylon | Sovereignty of God over men and nations |
| Hosea | BC 760-700 | Pre-exile: Israel | Loyal Love of God |
| Joel | BC 841-834 | Pre-exile: Judah | Day of the Lord |
| Amos | BC 760-753 | Pre-exile: Israel | Judgment on Sin |
| Obadiah | BC 850-840 | Pre-exile: Edom | Doom of Edom |
| Jonah | BC 785-750 | Pre-exile: Assyria | God's Mercy- Salvation to the Gentiles |
| Micah | BC 735-700 | Pre-exile: Judah | Injustice of Judah and Justice of God |
| Nahum | BC 660-620 | Pre-exile: Assyria | The Destruction of Nineveh |
| Habakkuk | BC 609-603 | Pre-exile: Judah | The Just shall live by Faith (From Doubt to Faith) |
| Zephaniah | BC 640-620 | Pre-exile: Judah | Judgment and Blessing in the Day of the Lord |
| Haggai | BC 520 | Post-exile: Jews who returned from Babylonian to Jerusalem | Rebuilding the Temple |
| Zechariah | BC 520-480 | Post-exile: Jews who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon | Messiah's Advents and Future Blessing for Israel |
| Malachi | BC 433-420 | Post-exile: Jews who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon | Appeal to Backsliders |
Return from captivity.
After seventy years in captivity, Cyrus, king of Persia, frees the people from the southern kingdom to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the walls of the city under the leadership of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel. Only about 50,000 choose to return.
This is the historical end of the Old Testament.
MESSIANIC GOLDEN ROAD through Old Testament Scriptures.
Before continuing our Walk Through the New Testament, it is also important to take a Scriptural view of the Messianic Golden Road that God has paved through the Old Testament to look at “many” of the 300-plus hints, foreshadows, and predictions of the coming Messiah. The Old Testament was written to create an anticipation of and pave the way for the coming of Christ. It is the story of the Hebrew Nation, dealing largely with events and exigencies of its own times. But all through the Story, there runs unceasing expectancy and vision of the coming of the Messiah, who will rule and bless the whole world.
The Messianic Golden Road is paved through these verses. It extends through and binds together many diverse books into one amazing unity. Starting with vague hints, there soon begin to appear specific, definite predictions, which, as the story sweeps onward, become more specific, more definite, and more abundant. The following Old Testament passages most plainly point forward to the Coming of Christ and pave that Golden Road on which we will take a side trip in our journey.
Genesis 3:15. Seed of the Woman “Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpent's Head. Serpent shall bruise “HIS” heel.” This seems to say that God is determined, despite man's sin, to bring His creation of man to a successful Issue. As through woman, man fell; so, through woman shall man be redeemed. It will be by a Man, "HIS," who will be of the Seed of the Woman, that is, born of a woman without the agency of a man. It is a primeval hint of the Virgin Birth of Christ. For there has been only ONE descendant of Eve, who was born of a woman without being begotten by man.
Genesis 4:3-5. Abel's Offering "Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord and Abel brought of the firstlings of his Flock. . . And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. But unto Cain offering he had no respect." This looks like the institution of Blood Sacrifice, right at the start, as the condition of man's acceptance by God—a primal Hint and the beginning of a long line of pictures and predictions of Christ's Atoning Death for human sin.
Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18. Call of Abraham “In Thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Here is a clear, definite statement, stated three times, to Abraham, that in him God was founding a nation for the express purpose to, through this nation, be a blessing to all nations. In time it came to be called the Messianic Nation.
Genesis 14:18-20. Melchizedek, King of Salem, Priest of God, brought bread and wine and blessed Abraham. And Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. In Psalm 110:4, it is said of the coming Messiah, “Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." In Hebrews 7, Melchizedek, as a King-Priest, is called a type of Jesus. So, here we have a sort of historical shadow-picture of the coming super-human person whom Abraham's Nation was being formed to bring into the world as the Savior of mankind. And it was in Salem, that is, Jerusalem, the same city where Jesus was crucified.
Genesis 22:1-19. Abraham Offers Isaac A Father offering his son as a substitutionary sacrifice (22:13). And it was on Mount Moriah (22: 2), the same mount on which Jesus was crucified, and the same place where Abraham had paid tithes to Melchizedek (14: 18), Salem being on Mount Moriah. As Melchizedek seems to have been a primeval shadow, in Abraham's life, of the person Abraham's nation would bring into the world, so here seems to be shadow of the event in the coming person's life by which He would do His work. What an apt picture of the death and resurrection of Christ (Hebrews 11:17-19).
Genesis 26:4; 28:14. The Promise Repeated Made three times to Abraham, it is here repeated to Isaac, and then to Jacob, that their seed would be a Blessing.
Genesis 49:10-11. Shiloh The Scepter shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh comes. And unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. He washed His garments in the blood of grapes. Here is the first clear, definite prediction that ONE PERSON would arise in Abraham's Nation to rule all nations, Shiloh, He whose right It Is. He must be the one of whom Melchizedek was a shadow. He would appear in the tribe of Judah. His garments washed in the blood of grapes, may be a metaphorical indication of His crucifixion.
Exodus 12. Institution of the Passover
Israel's deliverance out of Egypt. Death of Egypt's firstborn. Israel's houses marked with the blood of a lamb. The Lord passed over those so marked. The feast to be kept annually throughout all their generations. It became Israel's principal feast to observe in memory of the deliverance from Egypt.
Kept for 1,400 years as the very heart of the Hebrew Nation. Unmistakably, it was designed by God to be a gigantic historical fore-picture of the basic event of human Redemption, the death of Christ, the LAMB OF GOD, who expired on the Cross at a Passover Feast, bringing Eternal Deliverance from sin, for those marked with His blood, even as the first Passover brought deliverance from Egypt for Israel. It shows how much God's plan was for the coming of Christ long before He came.
Leviticus 16. The Day of Atonement
Once each year on the tenth day of the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar (usually September or October), two goats were taken; one was killed as a sin offering, and the High Priest laid hands on the second, a scapegoat, confessing over him the people’s sins. The scapegoat was led away and let go into the wilderness. This and the whole Levitical sacrifices, as continuing features of Hebrew life, are clear historical indications of the atoning death of the coming Messiah.
Numbers 21:6-9. The Fiery Serpent
In the wilderness, serpents bit the people; many died. Moses made a serpent of brass which was a symbol of sin judged, and bronze is divine judgment. Whoever looked at it lived. Jesus took this picture of Himself being lifted upon the cross (John 3:14-15). Mankind bitten with sin in the Garden of Eden may look to Him and live.
Numbers 24:17,19. The Star
There shall come a Star out of Jacob. A Scepter shall rise out of Israel. He shall have dominion. Here is another definite prediction of a person, a brilliant ruler: evidently meaning the same person as the Shiloh of Genesis 49: 10, who is to rule the Nations.
Deuteronomy 18:15-19. A Prophet Like unto Moses
God would raise up a Prophet like unto Moses, through whom God would speak to mankind. Evidently, this is another characterization of the Shiloh and the Star aforementioned. Thus, in the first five books of the Old Testament, there is a specific prediction, repeated five times, that the Hebrew nation was being launched into the world for the one express purpose of Blessing All Nations. And also specific predictions that there would arise in the Nation one person, called Shiloh, a Star, a Prophet, with rather plain intimations that it would be through this one person that the Nation would fulfill its mission. Also, there are various hints about the nature of this person’s work, especially featuring His sacrificial death. Thus early, 1,400 years before Christ came, there were drawn, in distinct lines, some leading characteristics of Christ's Life.
Joshua (Name means “Jehovah is salvation”). This book seems to have no direct prediction of the Messiah, though Joshua himself is thought, in a sense, to have been typical of Jesus. The names are the same, "Jesus" being the Greek form of the Hebrew "Joshua." As Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, so Jesus will lead His people into the Promised Heaven.
Ruth. She was the great-grandmother of David, the family from which the Messiah would come. (Matthew 1:5) Boaz was of Bethlehem. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. An old tradition has it that Boaz took Ruth to be his bride and started the family, which was to bring Christ into the world in the very same place in which, 1,100 years later, Christ was born.
I Samuel 16. David
He was anointed King over Israel. From here on, David is the central figure of Old Testament History. The most specific and most abundant of all Messianic prophecies cluster around his Name. As Abraham was the founder of the Messianic Nation, David is the founder of the Messianic family within the Nation.
2 Samuel 7:16. David Promised an Eternal Throne
"Thy Throne shall be established forever." Here begins a long line of promises that David’s family should reign forever over God's people. This Promise is repeated over and over, throughout the rest of the Old Testament, with an ever-increasing mass of detail, and specific explanations, that the promise will find its ultimate fulfillment in ONE GREAT KING, who will Himself personally live forever and establish a Kingdom of Endless Duration. This Eternal King, evidently, is the same person previously spoken of as Priest after the order of Melchizedek, Shiloh, Star, and Prophet like unto Moses.
1 Kings 9:5. The Promise Repeated to Solomon
"I will establish the Throne of Thy Kingdom forever." Repeated over and over to David and Solomon. However, the books of Kings and Chronicles relate the story of the fall of David's Kingdom and the captivity of the Hebrew Nation, apparently bringing into question God's promise to David's family of an Eternal Throne. But in the period covered by these books, many prophets arose, crying out that the Promise would yet be fulfilled. The books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther relate the story of the return of the fallen and scattered Hebrew Nation without direct Messianic predictions. However, the re-establishment of the Nation in its own land was a necessary antecedent to the fulfillment of promises about David's Throne.
Job 19:25-27. The book of Job is a discussion of the problem of suffering, without much direct bearing, as far as we can see, on the Messianic mission of the Hebrew nation, except it is in Job's exultant outburst of faith, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth."
Psalms. The book of Psalms, written mostly by David himself, is full of predictions and foreshadows of the Eternal King to arise in David's family. Some of them, in a limited and secondary sense, may refer to David himself. But, in the main, they are inapplicable to any person in history other than Christ: written 1,000 years before Christ came.
Psalm 2. The Lord's Anointed Evidently references the Eternal King to arise in David’s family. A very positive statement relating to His Deity, His universal reign, and the blessedness of those who trust Him.
Psalm 16:10. His Resurrection "Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption." This is quoted in Acts 2:27, 31 as referring to the Resurrection of Christ. There had been many hints of the coming Messiah's death. Here is a clear-cut prediction of His victory over death and life forevermore.
Psalm 22. Picture of Christ’s Future Crucifixion “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Even His dying words foretold (Matthew 27:46), “All that see Me laugh at Me to scorn, saying…He trusted in God, let God deliver Him.” Sneers of His enemies in their exact words (Matthew 27:43), “They pierced My hands and feet.” This indicates crucifixion as the manner of His death. (John 20:20, 25) “They part my garments among them, and they cast lots upon My vesture” Even this detail is forecast (Matthew 27:35). This Psalm written a thousand years before it happened can only refer to Christ’s crucifixion.
Psalm 41:9. To be Betrayed by a Friend "My own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who did eat my bread, lifted up his heel against me." Apparently, David is referring to his own friend, Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:12), but Jesus quoted it as a picture and prophecy of His own betrayal by Judas (John 13:18-27; Luke 22:47- 48).
Psalm 45. Reign of God's Anointed (4) “In Majesty ride on prosperously” (6)“Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever” (7)“Thy God hath anointed Thee with oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (17) “All generations…shall praise Thee forever and ever.” Here is depicted the glorious reign of a King, bearing the Name of God, seated on an Eternal Throne. It can refer to no other than the Eternal King to arise in David's family. A nuptial song of Christ and His Bride, the Church.
Psalm 69:21. Gall and Vinegar "They gave me gall for my food; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." Another incident in the future of the Coming Messiah's sufferings (Matthew 27:34, 48; John 19:28-30).
Psalm 72. His Glorious Reign (7)"In His days the righteous shall flourish.” (8) "He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the Earth." (11) "All kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him." (19) "Blessed be His glorious Name forever. Let the whole Earth be filled with His Glory." This Psalm seems, in part, to have been a description of the reign of Solomon. But some of its statements, and its general tenor, surely refer to ONE greater than Solomon.
Psalm 78:2. To Speak in Parables "l will open My mouth in parables." Another detail of the Messiah’s life, His method of teaching in parables. (Quoted in Matthew 13:34- 35 as fulfilling this verse.)
Psalm 89. Endlessness of David's Throne (3) “l have made a covenant with David." (4) “I will build up Thy throne unto all generations." (27)"1 will make Him, My First Born, higher than the kings of the Earth.” (28) "And My covenant shall stand.” (35-36) "By My Holiness I have sworn …David's Throne... shall endure forever.” God’s Oath repeated over and over, for the endlessness of David's Throne, under God's Firstborn.
Psalm 110. Messiah to be King and Priest (1) "The Lord said to my Lord, sit Thou at My right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Matthew 22:42-44) (4) “Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:5-6) Eternal Dominion and Eternal Priesthood of the coming King. Jesus quoted this as referring to Himself.
Psalm 118:22. Messiah to be Rejected by Rulers “The Stone the builders rejected is become Head of the Corner." Jesus quoted this as referring to Himself (Matthew 21:42-44).
Isaiah 2:2-4. Magnificent Future Vision of Messianic Age "In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's House shall be established in the top of the mountains . . . And all nations shall flow unto it. And many peoples shall say, Come, let us go up to …the House of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His Ways, and we will walk in His paths. "The Word of the Lord shall go forth from Jerusalem…and the nations… shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." Isaiah, pre-eminently, the Old Testament book of Messianic prophecy, in language unsurpassed in all literature, goes into ecstasy over the glories of the reign of the coming Messiah. Micah 4:1-5 has the same verbiage with one added verse. The Holy Spirit gave both prophets the same revelation because of its surpassing importance.
Isaiah 4:2-6. The Branch of the Lord “In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious.” The Messiah is here represented as a Branch growing up out of the stump of the family Tree of David, becoming a guide and refuge for His people. (Explained more fully in Isaiah 11:1-10.)
Isaiah 7:13-14. Immanuel “O house of David…a virgin shall conceive and shall bear a Son. and shall call His Name Immanuel." This seems to say that some One, to be called Immanuel, will be born in David's family, of a virgin: evidently meaning the same person as the Branch of 4:2 and I l:1, and the Wonderful Child of 9:6. The Deity of the Child is implied in the name Immanuel, which means “God with Us.” Thus, the Virgin Birth and Deity of the Messiah are foretold here. It is quoted in Matthew 1:23 as referring to Jesus.
Isaiah 9: 1-2,6-7. The Wonderful Child (1-2)“In Galilee…the people have seen a Great Light.” (6-7) "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, from henceforth even forever.” This Child, unmistakably, is the ETERNAL KING promised to David's family (2 Samuel 7:16): the same Person spoken of centuries earlier as Shiloh, the Star, and the Prophet like unto Moses. His Deity is emphasized here. His ministry to be in Galilee. A very accurate forecast of Jesus.
Isaiah Il:1-10 Reign of the Branch "There shall come forth a Rod out of the Stem of Jesse, a Branch shall grow out of his roots. (That is, a Shoot out of the Stump of David's Family tree, meaning the Messiah.) And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. He shall stand for an Ensign to the peoples, and to Him shall the nations gather. He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth. And the wolf shall dwell with the Iamb. The leopard shall lie down with the kid: and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together. And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox . . .They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea". A magnificent description of universal peace in the world under the reign of the Coming Messiah.
Isaiah 25:6-9; 26:1,19. Resurrection of the Dead (6-8) “In this mountain the Lord . . . will swallow up death in victory and wipe away tears from off all faces." (19). “In that day…thy dead shall live, my dead body shall rise . . and the Earth shall cast forth the dead.” A forecast of the Resurrection of Jesus in Mt. Zion and of a general Resurrection.
Isaiah 32:1-2. Again, the Reign of the Coming King "A King shall reign in righteousness . . . A Man (The Man) shall be as a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, as streams of water in a dry place, and as the shade of a great rock in a weary land." In Isaiah 9:6, the Deity of the Coming King was predicted. Here it is His humanity, a Man, a Man who is a personal refuge to each one of His people from every trouble.
Isaiah 35:5,6. Messiah's Miracles "Eyes of the blind shall be opened; ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; the lame shall leap…the tongue of the dumb shall sing.” An exact description of Jesus' ministry of miracles.
Isaiah 35:8-10. Messiah’s Highway "A Highway shall be there. . . called the Way of Holiness. The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness: sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Holiness, happiness, singing, joy, no more sorrow, tears forever gone, for the Coming Messiah's people.
Isaiah 40:5,10,11. Messiah's Tenderness (5)"The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." (10) "The Lord God will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him.” (11) ”He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Another preview of the glory of Jesus, His power and His gentleness toward the weak of His flock.
Isaiah 42:1-11. Gentiles "Behold, My Servant… I give Him for a Light to Gentiles. . . The Isles shall wait for His Law. . . And from the end of the Earth they sing unto the Lord a new song.” Israel's Coming King will rule over Gentiles also and cover the whole Earth with songs of praise and joy.
Isaiah 53. The Messiah's Sufferings "He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief…He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities . . . With His stripes, we are healed. The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all… He was oppressed, He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter…He poured out His soul unto death…and bore the sin of many . . .It pleased the Lord to bruise Him to make His soul an offering for sin... And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His Hand… By knowledge of Him shall many be justified."
The most conspicuous feature in the prophecies about the coming King is that He would be a sufferer. It was hinted at in Abel's sacrifice and in Abraham's offering of Isaac, and vividly portrayed the future institution of the Passover Feast and in the annual Day of Atonement, and some of its details described in Psalm 22. And here, in Isaiah 53, detail upon detail is added, making the picture more complete. And in chapters 54, 55, 60, and 61 the suffering King fills the Earth with songs of joy. Marvelous forecasts of the Christian era.
Isaiah 60. To be the Light of the World (1) “Arise, shine; for thy Light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” (2) “Darkness shall cover the Earth. .” (20) "The Lord shall be thine everlasting Light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." In the New Testament, Jesus is repeatedly called the Light of the World (John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46).
Jeremiah 23:5-6. The Branch "The days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise up unto David a righteous Branch…a King… this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." As Isaiah, chapters 4 and 11, speaks of the coming King as a Branch out of the family of David, so, here, Jeremiah repeats the Name and asserts His Deity.
Ezekiel 34:22-24; 37:24-25. The Prince of the House of David "My servant David… shall and be…Shepherd of my Flock King over them…and be their Prince forever.” In describing the reign of the Prince, there is given a beautiful picture of the blessed influences arising out of Jerusalem, under the imagery of the life-giving stream issuing from the Temple and flowing out to the whole world, as recorded in Ezekiel 47: 1-12.
Daniel 2:44. Christ’s Kingdom "In the days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
Daniel 9:24. Backbone of Bible Prophecy "Seventy weeks (weeks of years; 490 years) have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.” Daniel's 70 'weeks' is considered to be the backbone of Bible prophecy and was given to this greatly beloved man of prayer following twenty-one days of godly intercession and deep repentance on behalf of his people, Israel, and their holy city - Jerusalem. And God, in His grace, laid out a 490-year historical roadmap tracing the future destiny of His chosen people, Israel, and their final restoration as 'My people - My inheritance.’
Bible prophecy is a signpost that points us to Jesus. Daniel's vision has its fulfillment in Christ and Him alone. The prophetic Scriptures tell us of His first coming and His future return. Christ is the living Word made flesh, and Christ is the surer Word of prophecy. Through Him, God promised, "to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place." It was through the Cross that Christ finished the transgression of His people, Israel, and made an end to sin, not only for the remnant of His people who will one day look upon Him Whom they pierced but for all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their substitute for the penalty of sin and trust in Him as their resurrected Savior.
Hosea 11:1. Calling Out of Egypt “I called My Son out of Egypt.” This passage illustrates the principle that prophetic utterances often have a latent and deeper meaning than first appears. Israel, nationally, was a son (Exodus 4:22), but Christ was the greater Son (Matthew 2:15).
Joel 2:28, 32; 3:13-14. The Gospel Era "I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh… Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be delivered… Put in the sickle. The harvest is Ripe . . . multitudes, multitudes in the Valley of Decision." The Messiah will institute an era of world evangelization, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:16—21).
Amos 9:11,12,14. David's Fallen Throne to Rise "1 will bring back the captivity of My people… and I will plant them in their own land…And in that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen…to possess all the nations that are called by My Name" (Acts 15:16-17).
Jonah 1:17. A Sign to Nineveh “Jonah was in the fish three days and nights." Jesus took it to be a three-day picture miracle of His own resurrection from the Tomb, as a sign to the world (Matthew 12:40)
Micah 5:2-5. Bethlehem to be Messiah's Birthplace "Thou, Bethlehem . . . out of thee shall He come forth that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been . . . from everlasting . . . He shall be great unto the ends of the Earth. And this Man shall be our peace" (Matthew 2:1-6).
Zechariah (3:8) "I will bring forth My Servant, the BRANCH." (9:9) “O Jerusalem, thy King cometh to thee…Lowly, riding upon a colt” (Matthew 21:1-5) (12:8) "In that day the House of David shall be as God." (3:9) “I will remove the iniquity in one day “ (11:12-13) “They weighed for my price thirty of the pieces of silver …and cast them to the potter." (Matthew 26:15; 27:4-10) (12:10) “They looked upon me whom they have pierced (John 19:37).
Malachi 3:1; 4:5. A Forecast of John the Baptist "Behold, I will send My messenger. . . Elijah the Prophet before the great day of the Lord… and He shall prepare the way before Me.” Jesus, in speaking of John the Baptist, in Matthew 11:7-14 quotes this passage from Malachi and expressly states that it referred to John the Baptist.
As we have walked down the Messianic Golden Road of Old Testament prophecy, we have found Jesus Christ at its center and its circumference, for He is the Alpha and Omega of prophecy, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, forever and ever. It has been calculated that the odds of any one man fulfilling only 8 of these prophecies would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (one hundred quadrillions); Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophesies in His earthly ministry.
We will now continue our journey through the Bible.
400 silent years between the Old Testament and the New Testament
The rule of the Persians continued for about 100 more years. The Greeks, under the leadership of Alexander the Great, conquered Persia; his empire was divided up after his death. Antiochus Epiphanes, in his attempt to Hellenize the Jews, sacrificed a pig on the Temple altar and destroyed all the Old Testament books that he could find; the people revolted and started the Maccabean War. The Roman conquest of the world included this area. The New Testament opens under Roman rule. The Apocrypha, containing fifteen books and included in most Catholic Bibles, contains the history of these silent years. However, there is no record of them in canonized scripture.
“We go from Malachi to Matthew in one page of our scriptures, but that one piece of paper that separates the Old Testament from the New Testament represents 400 years of history - 400 years where there wasn't a prophet, 400 years where God's voice wasn't heard. And that silence was broken with the cry of a baby on Christmas night.” — Louie Giglio, pastor/leader of Passion City Church, Atlanta
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus’ First Coming
The redemptive seed hinted at in Genesis 3 and weaving His “seed through the woman” genealogy through the Old Testament and recorded in Mary’s genealogy in Luke 3 becomes clear in the virgin birth of Jesus (the Lord is salvation) Christ (anointed, Messiah), Immanuel (God with us). Jesus’ right to the throne comes through the genealogy of his earthly dad, Joseph, recorded in Matthew 1.
Through 4000 years of history, both of these genealogies point to one man - Jesus, the Son of Man. Little is known about the first thirty years of Jesus’ life except at birth and at age twelve. He begins his public ministry at age thirty, and it lasts for only three years, during which time he trains and teaches twelve disciples. “He came to fulfill the Law and the prophets not to destroy them” (Matthew 5:17). “He became a stumbling stone to those who sought to obtain righteousness through works and not through faith” (Romans 9:32).
He becomes a mediator of a better covenant, the one promised to Abraham in the “blessing” portion of that covenant and further revealed in Jeremiah 31:31-34 as the New Covenant based on the unconditional promises of God (Hebrews 8:6-13).
Jesus’ Death & Resurrection
Jesus is crucified, is buried for three days, and is resurrected to have victory over death. As a result, believers now will in heaven have a glorified body like the resurrected body of Jesus Christ that will live forever (Philippians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 15: 35-50); what was lost in the Fall is redeemed. On the cross Jesus becomes the sacrificial Lamb of God to shed His blood in a once-for-all-eternity blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9 & 10).
By faith we are justified (counted righteous by God). We lost righteousness and our personal relationship with God through Adam. And now through Jesus, our Redeemer, we obtain the gift of righteousness and the abundance of grace (unconditional and undeserved love) whereby we can once again have an intimate relationship with God (Romans 5:17, 21). “We can now put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
We lost our divine image of God (righteousness and holiness) and now He recreates and sanctifies us through Christ to conform us back progressively to that image (Romans 8:28-29, 2 Corinthians 3:18). Therefore, salvation through Christ (redemption for what was lost) is a process involving justification (salvation from the penalty of sin), sanctification (salvation from the power of sin), and glorification (salvation from the presence of sin).
Holy Spirit
After His resurrection Jesus lived another forty days on this earth (Acts 1:3) and was seen by over 500 people during that period (1 Corinthians 15:6). Immediately before His ascension to the right hand of God, He gave His disciples and all believers the Great Commission to be witnesses to evangelize and disciple the world (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20). However, He knew without the power of God, this would be impossible (Luke 18:27). So, He promised that the Holy Spirit of God would come upon them to provide them the power of God; a few days later at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to indwell them.
The Holy Spirit indwells all believers in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20) to provide them power to be witnesses of their faith and to live an abundant Christlike life to give glory to God in all things. The filling (yielding to His control) of the Holy Spirit is the central doctrine of progressive sanctification (being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ) (Ephesians 5:18). This period of history with the Holy Spirit is the one in which we are currently living.
FUTURE TIMES PROPHESIED IN THE BIBLE
(Chronological order)
Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
Jesus brings all believers both dead and alive home to Heaven.
Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Romans 14:10)
The Bema in the Ancient Greek Olympics was that raised platform where the judge presented awards to the winners of each contest. All believers must appear before the Bema seat of Christ to receive rewards, if any, earned (after accepting Christ as Savior) for good works that bring glory to God (Matthew 5:16, John 15:8, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 10:31, 1 Peter 4:11) during their lives as Christians. Believers do not have to appear at the Great White Throne of Judgment to receive condemnation for sin (Revelation 20:11-15) because Christ paid for their sin on the cross.
Salvation is a free gift (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9); rewards are earned by works. In essence, believers have from God an irrevocable contract which has incentive (reward) clauses for good works.
Ezekiel 38- 39 Invasion of Israel by Northern powers, and Arabs
God sovereignly protects Israel and destroys most of the attacking forces. Since a Moslem Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, is currently on the site of the Jewish temple which will be rebuilt; this defeat of the Arabs provides the Jews the site once again. In addition, a world political leader (later to be revealed as the Antichrist) makes a peace agreement for seven years with Israel (Daniel 9:27) which begins the period known as the Tribulation.
Tribulation (Daniel 9:25-27)
1. Jews rebuild the temple (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 11: 1,2; Matthew 24:15)
2. 144,000 Jewish believers witness to the world (Revelation 7) This will complete God’s commandment (Genesis 12:3) to Abraham to be a “blessing” to the nations which the Jews for the 4,000 years since the Abrahamic Covenant have failed to do.
3. Two special Old Testament prophets prophesy and have the power to do miracles for the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation. At the end of this time the Antichrist kills them; their bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days at which time God resurrects them and brings them into heaven as the world watches in terror. No indication is given as to who these two will be. However, only two Old Testament prophets were taken into heaven without experiencing death: perhaps for this reason - Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).
4. Judgments of God - Seven Seals, seven Trumpets and seven Bowls of wrath (Revelation 6-19). It appears that God progressively puts the pressure on to force people to either accept Christ or reject Him.
5. Antichrist breaks the seven years covenant with Israel at mid-tribulation, the end of three and one-half years (Revelation 11:2; 12).
6. Michael and holy angels expel Satan and his demons from access to heaven at mid-tribulation (Revelation 12:7-12).
7. Israel flees into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6, 14).
8. Antichrist and False Prophet in power with Satan (False trinity formed) One world government, one world economy and one world religion are formed (Revelation 13).
9. Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16; 19:11-21). At the end of the seven years the Antichrist brings armies from all over the world including two hundred million men from the Far East to destroy the Jews and believers in one ultimate battle.
Second Coming of Jesus Christ as King of Kings & Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:11-16)
1. Defeats the armies of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:17-19).
2. Antichrist and the False Prophet cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
3. Satan bound for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).
4. Judgment of individual Gentiles living on the earth at that time (Matthew 25:31-46)
5. Judgment of Israel (Ezekiel 20:33-44).
Millennium (Revelation 20; Ezekiel 40-48; Isaiah 65: 18-25)
Jesus Christ will reign with his saints on this earth for 1,000 years in His Kingdom. (Dominion lost in the Fall reclaimed from the temporary rule of Satan and the “land” portion of the Abrahamic Covenant fulfilled.) It is then (at the start of His 1,000-year reign on earth), that the Lord will rule with a rod of iron.
The kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our God. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea, and the glory of the Lord will fill His Millennial Temple - so beautifully described by Ezekiel. This will be a time where Jesus Christ as King of Kings controls the media, all governments, the education system and curriculum, the entertainment industry, etc. He rules harshly against open sin and rebellion.
In the beginning of the Millennium only believers will be allowed to be citizens of the Kingdom; however, the population will multiply during this time. Each of these newborn children still must individually choose to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Satan loosed for a short time after the 1,000 years (Revelation 20:7-9).
Perhaps the saddest commentary on the depravity of man in the entire Bible is this passage. Even though the newborn children grow up in a “perfect” utopia with no crime, no bad outside influences, teaching of only absolute truth, etc. under the rule of the King of Kings, many of them (the number of whom is as the sand of the sea) reject Jesus Christ.
They are deceived by Satan to follow him in a final battle in one last attempt to defeat the Eternal Plan of Redemption of God through Jesus Christ. God destroys the unbelievers with fire from heaven and casts Satan into the lake of fire to join the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
Final Judgment for those to be cast into the lake of fire for eternity.
1. Fallen angels (demons) - Saints/believers will participate in this judgment of angels (1 Corinthians 6:3, Jude 6-7).
2. Great White Throne judgment of all unbelievers throughout the history of the earth. (Revelation 20:11-15).
Earth and heavens burned and purged with fire (2 Peter 3:10-12)
Eternal Kingdom for Believers in Jesus Christ-Everything made new.
1. New heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1)
2. New Jerusalem (Revelation 21)
Believers’ home for eternity will be on the new earth. It will be cube shaped with 1,380 miles in each direction. And our glorified bodies apparently will allow traveling vertically, as well as horizontally. One mathematician calculated if 20 billion people accept Christ as Savior, then this new city will allow each person to have seventy-five acres in each cubical direction as his/her individual eternal home. This assumes that 25% is used for inhabitants and 75% is used for common areas.
1. Triune God to dwell among His eternal family and reign on the throne eternally in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:3, 22:1-5).
2. Curse removed—no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. Everything made new will remain new throughout eternity (Revelation 21:4).
3. New paradise with a river of water of life and the tree of life on both sides of the river (Revelation 22:1-5).
4. No more darkness and night, no more light from the sun, God will give the only light needed for eternity (Revelation 22:5).
The summary of the Bible is that the one true God displays His glory in redeeming and restoring His fallen creation by fulfilling covenant promises and commands through the glorious person and atoning work of Jesus Christ.
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SOME PERSONAL STEPS IN SHOE LEATHER
I have been privileged in almost every extended Bible study that I have taught in the last few decades, to begin with, this “Walk Through the Bible.” It is always exciting to see eyes being opened to God’s truth and a growing enthusiasm for His Word by almost every participant.
Every time I take this “Walk” and journey down the “Messianic Golden Road,” it fills me with awe and wonders at this redemption story of God’s love for humanity and the sacrifice He was willing to make for all of mankind to save His people (including me) for His glory. Thank You, God!!!!
