Biblical Timelines – What Israel Saw vs What We See Today

 

Biblical Timelines – What Israel Saw vs What We See Today

 

Les Feldick, one of my favorite Bible teachers and head of the series: “Through the Bible with Les Feldick” (www.lesfeldick.org), was called home by the Lord earlier this year. His dear wife Iris recently joined them. In their memory I’d like to share an important educational tool that I first learned from Les several years ago. It significantly enhanced my understanding of the Bible. That “tool” is “Les Feldick’s Biblical Timelines”. (http://www.lesfeldick.org/lestimel.html )

Although it might seem simplistic, by comparing the views of how Israel saw the word of God unfolding through history, to what we see now in looking both backwards and ahead, we can better appreciate the variations in God’s Plan for mankind.

On close examination the reader will notice there are many points of agreement between the first Timeline and the second one. This is especially visible in the landmark events that took place prior to the First Advent of our Lord Jesus, marked by the Cross.

The first Timeline depicts what “The Old Testament Prophets (of Israel) Saw” as God’s Plan for mankind. That Timeline is consistent with all the events and scripture of the Old Testament and has guided Israel’s understanding even today. What is especially noteworthy is what happens after the sign of the Cross. Because Israel has not accepted the Christian view that our Lord Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah / Christ, their Timeline does not reflect the 2,000+ years of what we now call the “Church Age”. While they still “await the coming of their Messiah”, they anticipate that the period of Tribulation will begin soon afterwards. That concept is captured briefly in Psalm Two.

The second Timeline that “We See Today”, reflects what we as Christians have learned from the bulk of our “New Testament”.  It not only adds the perspective of the past 2,000 years of this Age of Grace, but also shows the coming “Rapture of the Church”, before the 7 Years of Tribulation, to which both Timelines agree.

Of critical importance to us as Christians, comparing the two Timelines helps explain the differences between our Lord Jesus’ “Gospel of the Kingdom” message to Israel during His Earthly Ministry (Matthew 4: 17, 10: 5-7; Mark 1: 14-15), and the “Gospel of Grace” message He gave to Paul for us Gentiles, after His rejection by Israel, and His crucifixion, death, burial, Resurrection and Ascension. (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4, Romans 10: 9-13)  Many Christians today have been confused by relying solely on the Lord’s message during His Earthly Ministry to His disciples and the other people of Israel.

The Lord Jesus’ message of the Gospel of the Kingdom reflects the first Timeline, based on the Covenant that the LORD made with Abram (later named Abraham) that would result in the creation of the Nation of Israel. (Genesis 12: 1-8)   His message was directed to Israel, not to Gentiles. (Matthew 10: 5-7) This is an important distinction to make. Remember the advice Paul gave to his protege Timothy to “rightly divide the word of truth”. (2 Timothy 2: 15) It also is a key to understanding why the Book of Acts is called the “Book of Transition”…as God’s Plan for the salvation of mankind shifts from its focus on Israel to the primary focus on the previously excluded Gentiles. That earlier “exclusion of the Gentiles” might sound harsh to many, but God had a Plan!  That is why we have been advised/instructed to read the entire scripture. (2 Timothy 3: 14-17)

More on this differentiation between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace will be discussed in another post on this blog.

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson