Right Place at Right Time

 

Right Place at Right Time

 

Over the years, at least three of my teachers have addressed the blessings of being at the “right place at the right time”. (Joseph Prince Ministries. T D Jakes Ministries, and Ron Carpenter Ministries)  The Bible gives several examples of this saying by using noted figures and their experiences.  As one example, note how Ruth the Moabitess (a Gentile) met Boaz the wealthy Hebrew who would change her life. (Ruth 2: 1-3)  More on Ruth’s experience is described below.

As another example, note also Mordecai the Jew’s response to his adopted daughter Queen Esther when the people of Israel were threatened by Haman the Agagite, a man who hated Israel. Reinforcing Esther’s knowledge of her Jewish heritage, Mordecai reminded her by saying “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Bold emphasis added)(Esther 4: 13-14) History showed that Mordecai was correct in that for the sake of Israel, Esther was in the “right place at the right time”.  

But for the sake of brevity, I especially want to bring to your attention the verse in the Book of Ruth that recorded the key words describing the situation under which Ruth received her blessing. She had been gleaning / gathering “leftovers” from the fields, along with others among the poor. That verse says: “and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz…” (Ruth 2: 3)  This is the Boaz who would become the “kinsman redeemer” for Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, saving them from a life of poverty, and who would ultimately marry Ruth.  I highlighted the words “her hap” as recorded because they tell us that this meeting of the two took place or “happened” as an accident, or by fortune, or by chance. (Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary “4745)  Ruth “by hap” was at the “right place at the right time”, and she received a life-changing blessing.

I encourage you to review the full stories of both Ruth and Esther at your convenience.

Remember the meeting when the Samaritan woman encountered Jesus at the well and He asked her for water to drink? She was also at the “right place at the right time”, to be able to bring the blessing of Jesus to her people in Samaria. (John 4: 1-42) The difference between her experience and that of the Ruth ad Esther is that now we are told specifically who it was that arranged for the opportunity for her to receive the blessing. It was definitely the Lord Jesus Himself. (John 4: 3-6)

The Holy Spirit has given us this knowledge so that we might learn from the experiences of those who have gone before us. (Romans 15: 4)  But we also have the opportunity to look back on our own lives to see when, and how many times our Lord Jesus has put us in the right place at the right time…whether to receive a blessing from Him, or to be a blessing for others.

Less than a week ago, I raised the window shade on a bedroom window to enjoy the morning sunrise. Immediately I noticed a large plume of black smoke rising above the backyard of a house down the street. It was far enough away so that I couldn’t see which house, or whether the house was on our street or the one next to ours. I also couldn’t determine whether the neighbor might be deliberately burning some refuse in their backyard or if there would be another cause for the smoke, which then had turned from black to gray.

After hurriedly going down the street to investigate, I saw there was indeed a fire in the backyard of a neighbor. We later learned that the swimming pool pump / service equipment had malfunctioned and caught fire, and the fire had then spread to nearby trees. When there was no response to my trying to arouse the homeowner, I was successful in alerting her neighbor and I called the fire department while in the process.  The first homeowner then appeared, and advised us that she has a hearing disability and was not aware of the fire or our efforts to help. Fortunately the fire department was able to extinguish the fire before it could reach the back of her house. This was perhaps my most recent experience of being “at the right place at the right time.”

In another light, I’ve looked back on my life and many experiences that shaped my personal and career decisions. We have no way to know what the outcomes might have been if we had made different decisions. But we can look at the alternative decisions we faced over time, the ones we chose, and the resulting outcomes that we have experienced. For Christian believers, I would argue that such an examination of our past would reflect how being at the right place at the right time led us to our Lord Jesus.  Further, we can now see that our positioning was not due to our own efforts, but because the Holy Spirit positioned us to be at that place and at that time.

That same analysis would apply to better understanding the blessings we’ve received for ourselves, and the blessings to be able to help others.

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson

https://christianityandbiblestudy.blogspot.com

Bible Study Means to Read Carefully - Part Two

Bible Study Means to Read Carefully – Part Two

 

In Part One under this title, I ended with the following Scripture verses.  They were provided in my discussion of Philip, who was one of the 12 Disciples of our Lord Jesus.

6 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.  ² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  ³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.  ⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:  ⁶ Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. (Acts 6: 1-6)

I ended Part One by saying that I had not noticed the key points in these verses that gave necessary clarification about Philip. Then I challenged readers to find them. Finally I added that in Part Two of this post I would provide a further discussion on Philip.  and why I used this example to reflect my title: “Bible Study Means to Read Carefully”.

Before revealing the key points I mentioned above, I’d like to continue the discussion as the Scripture looks at Philip. His name becomes prominent after Israel’s final rejection of Jesus as their Messiah in response to the dramatic plea of the disciple Stephen in Acts Chapter Seven. Please note the first Bible mention of Stephen is in the Scripture verses underlined above. 

The Scripture then notes in Acts Chapter Eight, the important contributions of Philip in Samaria where he preached Christ; performed many miracles of healing and removing unclean spirits from the people; and baptized many in the name of Jesus Christ. Philip’s deeds set the stage for Peter and John to come from Jerusalem, where they provided the energy for the believing Samaritans to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8: 5-25)

In that same Chapter Eight, the Scripture tells that “the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip”, sending him from Jerusalem south into the desert of Gaza. Once there, the Holy Spirit directed him to join the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch who had recently gone to Jerusalem to worship. As this worshipper was returning home, and was reading the Old Testament scripture of Isaiah Chapter 53, he faced difficulty interpreting the meaning. Philip was able to reveal the meaning, pointing to the suffering and death of Jesus. As a result, the Eunuch stated his belief that Jesus was the Son of God and sought baptism in the name of Jesus. Philip accomplished that.

The Scripture then recorded: “³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.  ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.” (Acts 8: 26-40)

Following those events there is only one further mention of the name Philip, and that was later in Acts Chapter 21. The writer (Luke) was traveling with the Apostle Paul during one of Paul’s  missionary journeys. They had arrived in Caesarea. The Scripture adds: “…and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven; and abode with him.” (Acts 21: 8) (Underline added for emphasis)

Two key points stood out in this verse. The first is that Philip is called: “the evangelist”, a term that had not been previously used.  The second point is that he is described as being “one of the seven”. That was not consistent with his being identified as one of the 12 original disciples.

That discrepancy took me back to the more detailed scripture noted at the end of Part One of this topic and repeated above. More careful reading revealed that “two Philips” were included. One “Philip” was implied in the reference to the twelve disciples who “called the multitude of disciples unto them.” The other ”Philip”, who was called by name, was “one of the seven” chosen by the multitude of disciples to provide for the “daily ministration” needed to provide logistics for the thousands of new believers.

Then I recalled a Bible verse that had been earmarked in a different context by one of my teachers, Les Feldick (now deceased). This verse followed the Scripture that presented the speech made by Stephen (who is the best remembered of the “seven disciples” noted above), that led to his martyrdom. The verse reads: “ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8: 1) (Bold and underline were added for emphasis.)  In this discussion of Philip I had failed to recall this distinction among the followers of Jesus. The “12” never left Jerusalem.

To obtain further clarification on the use of the name “Philip”, I turned to my Strong’s Expanded Concordance…a step I could / should have taken earlier. (Strong’s Greek Dictionary # 5376) That search for the name “Philip” revealed that there were actually THREE individuals in the Scripture with that name. The first was the disciple picked by the Lord Jesus. The second was a son of Herod the Great, who was listed only once. (Luke 3: 1) The third was called “The evangelist”, as we’ve just discussed above.

If only I had consulted my Strong’s Concordance earlier. 😊  But even that is no substitute for reading carefully.

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson

https://christianityandbiblestudy.blogspot.com

Bible Study Means to Read Carefully - Part One

 

Bible Study Means to Read Carefully – Part One

 

While in the process of reading and studying the Bible it is not unusual to find understanding of terms or concepts that were previously missed.  I’d like to share an example similar to one that you also might have encountered.  This example relates to the Bible figure Philip.

I recalled first encountering that name “Philip” when it was listed among the names of the 12 Disciples chosen by our Lord Jesus as He was beginning His Earthly Ministry. (Matthew 10: 4; Mark 3: 18; Luke 6: 14; and John 1: 43)  Like most Christians I didn’t give his name much notice because it was not familiar compared to those of Simon Peter, James and John. I had just mentally grouped him in with Bartholomew, Nathanael, Thaddaeus, and the others.

The fact that Jesus personally chose Philip meant that there was truly significance to his being numbered among “the Twelve”.  The Scripture recorded that on the day after Jesus changed Simon’s name to “Peter”, “Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, ‘Follow me’.” (John 1: 42-43) 

Very noteworthy was the Scripture’s next several verses in which Philip then found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus. The verbal exchanges between Philip and Nathanael, and then between Nathanael and the Lord Jesus provide important context for future Scripture.  They reveal the mindset of the two predominant opposing views in the Nation of Israel regarding Jesus being their long-awaited Messiah. (John 1: 44-51)  Philip had a key role.

We next heard of Philip several chapters later. He and the other disciples traveled with Jesus, being followed by “multitudes” who had witnessed the Lord’s miracles. This set the stage for the Lord’s next miracle of the “feeding of the 5,000”, of which many  / most Christians have heard. The Scripture recorded the following:   ^“5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?  ⁶ And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. ⁷ Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”  (John 6: 5-7)

The Lord Jesus had asked Philip a direct, pointed question to “prove” (Strong’s # 3985, meaning “test”)  how he would respond. Of the 12 Disciples, Jesus chose Philip,  and his response was a practical one, based on his natural, human point of view. Philip did not take into consideration the potential for the miraculous intervention that would follow.  Perhaps the Lord Jesus was using this example to show even His strongest followers / believers that they should always consider the potential for one of His miracles, no matter how seemingly unlikely. Again, Philip played a key role in this teaching.

Later, during the final days of the Lord Jesus’ Earthly Ministry, and shortly before His suffering and Crucifixion, Philip is mentioned again.  It was the time of the Feast of the Passover, and large numbers of Jews from around the known world had come to Jerusalem to worship. Among them were some Gentiles, most likely curiosity seekers.  The Scripture recorded:

“20	And there were certain Greeks (Strong’s # 1672, meaning Gentiles) among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21	The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22	Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23	And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24	Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

(John 12: 20-24)

Philip was key to this conversation because of his reluctance to take the Greeks / Gentiles to see Jesus. He had undoubtedly remembered Jesus’ first command to His new Disciples, that they were to: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. (Matthew 10: 5-6)(Bold emphasis added)  After seeking advice from Andrew, together they went to ask Jesus for His definitive guidance regarding the potential meeting.

Jesus used this opportunity to explain to them (and especially to us today) part of the purpose of His Coming, and the outcome of His Death as it would impact us. It was not yet time for the Gentiles to hear His message. Israel was the focus of the “Gospel of the Kingdom”.  Jesus was about to give His Life to pay for the sins for all of us.  As the “Son of God”, through death He would bring forth large numbers of “sons of God”, both Jew and Gentile. (Romans 8: 14-17; Galatians 3: 26; Ephesians 1: 1-6; etc.)

So far, we have followed Philip along with the other Disciples but also viewed his individual contributions. From that point on, after the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection, Philip was grouped among the disciples present during the Ascension (Acts 1: 1-15), and on the Day of Pentecost when all the 120 followers / disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2: 1-4)

The Bible’s next specific mention of Philip by name came some time later. Following the Pentecost, literally thousands of new disciples were added to the Jerusalem Church. (Acts 2: 41)  That led to the Scripture providing the record below. [I am highlighting it because these verses are keys to why I chose the title of this post.]

 

6 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

⁶ Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. (Acts 6: 1-6)

I had not noticed the key points in these verses that gave necessary clarification about Philip. Can you find them? 

In Part Two of this post I will provide a further discussion on Philip.  and why I used this example to reflect my title: “Bible Study Means to Read Carefully”.

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson

https://christianityandbiblestudy.blogspot.com 

God Teaches Us Logic and Order

 

God Teaches Us Logic and Order

 

[Before addressing the title topic I’d like to recommend that all Bible students have access to a very important tool to aid in their study.  That tool / resource is the New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, 2010. Just as students learning the English language would be well-advised to have access to a quality reference dictionary, Bible students really need this reference resource.  Enough said.]

The logic and order of the Bible scriptures serve a definitive purpose. They carefully guide the reader through the story of mankind with our Creator, even as God maintains secrets / mysteries over thousands of years until He is ready to reveal them. (Deuteronomy 29: 29; 2 Peter 3: 15-18) Understanding the fine distinctions of each part of the message is critical to following the full message. Sometimes the Bible shares the message using the literal meaning of the words, but other times it gives greater insight by using the figurative  / symbolic meaning of those words.  Below are examples from the early Scripture. But first, let’s look at how the platform is set to introduce our Lord and Savior Jesus.

In Genesis 1:1, the Scripture reads: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the Earth.” From the outset we are introduced to the concept of “God” as the Creator.  Our Strong’s Concordance shows that our English word “God” is the translation of the Hebrew / Jewish word “Elohiym”, which is a plural word.  That means it applies to more than one member / component. As we continue in our reading we understand that this is the beginning of the presentation of the Christian concept of our “Triune /Three-part Godhead’ consisting of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Note: This concept of plurality was reinforced in Verse Two, where the Scripture identifies one member of the Godhead, the Spirit that “moved upon the face of the waters.”  

Further, in Verse 26, note when “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” (Emphasis added to show plurality.) By presenting that concept early in the Scripture, God is preparing the reader to better understand the roles and relationships He will have with mankind in the following chapters and Books of the Bible. Logically this is the first of such references.

Next, to fully understand our make-up as human beings, we must first understand the make-up of God because we are in His image and likeness. The Bible tells us that God is an invisible eternal Spirit; therefore man is an invisible eternal spirit. (Psalm 90:2, 102: 25-27; John 1: 18, 4: 24).  Later in the Bible we learned that our Lord Jesus is not only the image of the invisible God, but also that He was that member of the Godhead who actually accomplished the Creation in Genesis Chapter One. (Colossians 1: 15-17; John 1: 1-3)  With that understanding of Jesus, the Son of God as the Creator, we can then better appreciate man’s relationship to and with Him. In looking back on man’s history we can see in the remainder of Genesis Chapter One how God / Jesus was preparing the heaven and the Earth for mankind.

The logic and order of the sequence of the Creation is also very noteworthy.  God started  with water (Verse 2) which would prove to be an essential factor for nutrition; an environment for plants, fish and other sea creatures, etc. and for otherwise maintaining life.  God then called for light (Verses 3-5), which became another essential factor by providing energy / heat for plant growth for food; temperature control for the seas and land; etc.  Next in order, God called for the “firmament Heaven” (Verses 6-8) to provide an atmosphere / air / sky division between the waters on the planet (seas) from the waters above it (clouds).

Then God revealed the existence of the “dry land Earth” that had been hidden under the waters in Verse 2. (Verses 9-12)  He gathered the waters under the firmament of the heaven into one place so that the existing dry land would not only appear but also bring forth the grasses, seeds and fruit trees.  That vegetation would provide food / nutrition; replenish oxygen levels; etc. for future animal life.

I encourage you to re-review the remainder of this key chapter to continue to follow the logic and order of God’s Creation. I believe it was an introduction designed to show us that there is a pattern in the remaining Bible Scripture that should make sense and that we can learn from it. (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

Genesis Chapter Two introduces the terminology of “LORD God”, which from our Strong’s Concordance is the English translation of the Hebrew / Jewish name of “Jehovah”. (Exodus 6: 2-3)  It was this same LORD God Jehovah / (Jesus) who “formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2: 7)  Based on what we have shown above, that “breath of life” was  the “spirit” (image and likeness of God) being infused into the newly-formed body of the man, making man a “living soul”.  (Genesis 1: 26-27)  In that same manner, each of us became a “living soul” after our first breath at birth when we obtained these physical bodies which are our temporary “earthly houses”.  (2 Corinthians 5: 1)

Also in that same manner man’s spirit and soul became so interconnected that only the “word of God” can separate them. (John 1: 1-4; Hebrews 4: 12)  

I’m stressing these details to emphasize the importance of reading carefully what the Bible actually says, as opposed to what many think it should have said.  Also, I’m trying to stress the importance of how God is following His logical order in introducing these important concepts at the very outset of His message to us. He continues to build on them as the narrative progresses.

Now I’d like to return to the point I addressed briefly in the second paragraph above. That is, in being able to read the Scripture we sometimes fail to recognize that the literal meaning of the words can mask a deeper, figurative concept. However, both the literal and figurative meanings add to the order and logic of God’s message to us.  Here is an example also from the Book of Genesis, brought to my attention by another of my teachers. (Ron Carpenter Ministries)

As you recall, in Genesis Chapter Three, the Bible tells of Adam’s failure to obey the LORD God’s command that he not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Remember, the LORD God had said the penalty for Adam’s disobedience would be death. Therefore Adam’s physical body began to die…a very slow process of irreversible changes that would eventually return it to the dust of the ground from which God had formed it, as noted above. (Genesis 2: 16-17; 5: 1-5)

However, the narrative of the Scripture tells us that the initial impact of that disobedience sensed by Adam and Eve was their realization that they were ‘naked”. They then sought to hide both their “nakedness” and their physical presence from the LORD God.  (Genesis 3: 6-7)  

Most importantly, Adam’s “death” had resulted in the immediate separation of his spirit / soul from his Creator. [How the LORD God repaired that “separation” was addressed in another earlier post to this blog.] After the sequence of events in the paragraph above, the Scripture described the scene as Adam and Eve “were hiding”: “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the cool of the day…And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3: 8-9) (Bold emphasis added)

The literal words “in the cool of the day” are self-explanatory for the reader to understand the climate / environment during which the dialogue took place. However, the figurative meaning is less obvious. 

The word “cool” is the English translation of the original Hebrew word “ruwach” (Strong’s Concordance # 07307) meaning “spirit”…the same word used in defining the “Holy Spirit” as noted above in Genesis Chapter One.  Further, the word “day” is the English translation of the Hebrew word “yowm” (Strong’s Concordance # 03117) meaning “a space of time defined by an associated term”.  When these two concepts are placed together, we are informed that while in the Garden of Eden, the LORD God / Jesus was in His Pre-incarnate  Spirit form as the member of the Godhead. He was not “walking” as we usually perceive it, as Adam and Eve were in their physical bodies.  Further, this concept would introduce later appearances He would make in the Old Testament in Spirit-form, in a vision, or otherwise…such as in a theophany. (https://www.gotquestions.org/theophany-Christophany.html )

There is both logic and order to this introduction to our Lord Jesus and His relationship to and with His special creation Man.

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson

https://christianityandbiblestudy.blogspot.com

God's Two Timelines for the Salvation of Mankind

 

God’s Two Timelines for the Salvation of Mankind

 

For some Christians and others, there is difficulty in understanding  the sequence of events that ties the Bible’s narrative into a cohesive unfolding of God’s Plan for the salvation of man. From beginning to end, one key factor in understanding the Scripture is recognizing how much “time” has passed between significant Biblical events.  Another key factor is the realization that the Bible presents a single “Timetable” but “two Timelines” for the salvation of mankind.  That complete timetable begins as a single concept, then separates into two tracks / Timelines, which later reunite.  We’ll discuss these two factors of “time” and the “timelines”  separately, but with some necessary overlap.

In previous posts to this blog I noted a key Bible study tool that I hope you also use. That tool is the guidance of the early Bible translator Myles Coverdale who, in 1535, advised:

“It shall greatly help ye understand the Scriptures if thou mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth after.”  (Emphasis added) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myles_Coverdale )

With regard to the first key factor noted above, in our English translations of the Bible there are several words that alert us to the passage of time and / or the correct chronological sequence of events.  However, most often they do not tell us precisely how much time has passed or will pass between those events. Some of those more obvious words are: “after / afterwards, following, later, then, when, and until.” This has added significance when we read the words of the Prophets, or when the LORD God / Jesus says: “I WILL…”, or “I SHALL…”  For your further consideration I would add the seemingly unlikely word “And”, as a “time word”.  

In your study have you noticed that from the beginning of our Bible, the word “And” is used  in several important places to both connect related events and to denote the passage of time. For example, in Chapter One of the Book of Genesis, many people have struggled with the concept of how God could accomplish the Creation in only “Six Days”.  Later in the Scripture the Apostle Peter offered a possible explanation in that: “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8).  Peter’s reference was likely to help expand our thinking beyond our regular perspectives of time as we know it.  But note the word “as” is used  twice, rather than using the more precise word “is” in those places. I believe that is intentional. From man’s perspective, the Creation in “Six Days” could never happen, but in the words of Jesus: “With God nothing is impossible”. (Luke 1: 37; Matthew 19: 26)  We believe Him by Faith!

 

Also, God keeps things secret (as “mysteries”) until He is ready to reveal them. (Deuteronomy 29: 29) (https://www.openbible.info/topics/mystery ) He doesn’t want man to know precisely when He will complete His timetable for man’s salvation. (Acts 1: 6-7)  Even so, through the Scripture He has given us knowledge of events in man’s history that allow us to know where we are now in that history, and where we are heading.  What He revealed (2,000+ years ago) and has already proven true should be sufficient that we trust Him and have faith in what He has said.

In another example related to time, Genesis Chapter Five of the Bible gives the list and lifespans of the “generations” that followed the first man Adam until “Noah’s Flood”. In that context the word “And” is used to both connect those generations and to emphasize the passage of time. Look for other examples as we study.

Let’s move to the second key factor noted above (evidence of “Two Timelines”).  Although God is eternal and exists outside of the limits of time as we now know it, the Scripture shows that He has more than one “timeline” for His dealings with man. (Psalm 90: 1-2; https://www.gotquestions.org/eternal-God.html )  My personal Bible study and understanding was significantly enhanced after one of my teachers (recently deceased Les Feldick) introduced me to that concept of “Two Biblical Timelines”.  That concept shows how God began with a single “timeline” for the history of all mankind; then it was divided into “two timelines” to reflect the change in His approach to redeem man; then later the two parts were reconnected to make up that single broad timeline of the Bible that we see today.  (See: https://www.lesfeldick.org/lestimel.html )  Collectively they represent His complete timetable, as accomplished through our Lord Jesus.

By understanding this separation in the original single timeline, we get a different perspective on why God turned to the Nation of Israel (Jews / Hebrews) as His “Chosen Nation”, separating them from the rest of humanity (Gentiles).  We also better understand why Jews and Gentiles  have now been reunited as the total of humanity eligible to choose salvation under the current single timeline.  Seeing these two “Timelines”, and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit also led me to a new appreciation for the numerous other references to time throughout the Bible.

The Bible explains how God began the human race with one man Adam in Genesis Chapter One. Given dominion over the Earth and freedom of choice, Adam seemingly had everything.  But his disobedience / sin against God (in Chapter Three), caused him (and future mankind) to be separated from God. Fortunately for us, the LORD God immediately initiated His Plan to redeem His beloved creation man (including us today) back to Himself. (Genesis 3:15)   

Having disobeyed the LORD God by eating of the “forbidden Tree”, Adam had gained the knowledge of good and evil. With that knowledge also had come a “conscience” for future generations of man, but that conscience was heavily weighted towards a knowledge of evil, through an inherited “sin-nature”.  (John 8: 3-9; https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-nature.html )  That sin-nature came from following the guidance of the Enemy Serpent / Satan who caused the sin. The history of that need for man’s restoration to God was the starting point for the “Timeline(s) ” of this discussion. 

You might recall from previous Bible studies that through the next many generations and hundreds of years after Adam’s sin, mankind fell into a pattern of continued disobedience, spiraling downward into utter evil and violence. (Genesis Chapters Five and  Six)  Over the many years after “Noah’s Flood”, man’s conscience and choices  continued to be dominated by his inherited sin-nature. Until that point, God’s plan for man’s restoration addressed all mankind as a single entity. There was a single Timeline   (through Genesis Chapter 11).

It was at this point that the LORD moved to divide His Timeline. He did this by calling out Abram (later renamed Abraham) to be the progenitor / father of a new race of humanity, the Nation of Israel. (Genesis 12: 1-3)  It would be through the people of Israel that the LORD would create a “kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (sic) (Exodus 19: 1-8)   As the “Chosen Nation”, Israel was to learn and serve as a model for God’s Laws for morality, worship and how to live with others. (Exodus 20 through Leviticus)   The pathway for Israel and mankind to overcome their sins / disobedience against God was for them / us to understand the nature of sin, and what was required to regain “righteousness” in the eyes of God. Only Jesus could meet that highest standard of Righteousness. (Romans 3: 9-31; Galatians Chapter Three)

One part of the newly divided timeline shows that approximately 1500 years passed between  Moses’ receiving the Law for Israel until the Lord’s First Advent. During that time Israel met with varying degrees of success, but mostly failure in trying to keep God’s Laws. Their inherent sin-nature was as strong as it was for the Gentiles for whom they were to serve as models.  Note also that the other part of the divided timeline relates to the rest of humanity (the Gentiles) who had no relationship with the LORD God. (Ephesians 2: 2-3, 11-12)

As the story of Jesus and the Bible unfolds, those who read it and study it are bound to notice the passage of time. But even so, it doesn’t seem like the passage of literally thousands of years. That is in part because of the many references to non-specific dates and times. Again, God’s sense of “time” does not have to match the time reflected in the calendar developed by man.

Getting back to our title, here are some examples of the language of the Scripture that we link to our “Timelines”:

·       Perhaps the most specific (and probably least appreciated) example of a portion of that “timeline” was revealed to the Old Testament Prophet Daniel by God through the Archangel Gabriel.  Although specifically directed to Israel, understanding these “70  Weeks (490 years) of Prophecy” is an important step for all Bible students. (Daniel 9: 20-27; https://www.gotquestions.org/seventy-weeks.html   See also Daniel Chapters 11 and 12. The Scripture speaks directly to the number of months that lie in man’s future which will mark the end of this world Age, with critical signs of those events that will take place  before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.

 

·       Galatians 4: 4-5 - “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son…”  The Scripture gives this clear picture of a highlight in God’s timetable for the redemption of mankind. The actual date of our Lord Jesus’ birth has been a source of debate (December 25^th??), but we do have an approximate year on which we base our current Julian/Gregorian calendar. This year has been designated “2025 A.D.”, reflecting the years since Jesus’ birth. [The Hebrew / Jewish Calendar will note in September that the year will become “5786 A.M.” (meaning “in the year of the world”)    …celebrating the day God created Adam and Eve. Israel still does not recognize Jesus as their “Messiah”. (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4644/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah-2025.htm ; https://www.chabad.org/calendar/converter_cdo/aid/6225/jewish/Jewish-Hebrew-Date-Converter.htm )]

 

·       Luke 21: 24 – “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/times-of-the-Gentiles.html ) These words were spoken by Jesus to His Disciples who wanted to know more about the future of Israel’s temple and the end of the Age. (See also Matthew Chapter 24). Jesus did not give a specific timeframe for this occurrence but,…

 

·       Matthew 16: 1-3 – While being tempted by Pharisees and Sadducees to show them a sign from heaven that He was Israel’s Messiah, Jesus responded in part: “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”  He was alerting them that they wouldn’t receive knowledge of a specific date for God’s implementation of His Plans. They should be able to learn from obvious observations of the world around them.   And, in a final example…

 

·       Ephesians 1: 10 – “In the dispensation of the fulness of times, He (God) might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on the Earth, even in Him.”  This speaks about what will take place at the end of the timeline.

These and other “general concepts of events” have places in the God’s timetable for man’s salvation, in either of the two divided timelines, or in the re-united single timeline. As we study the Bible we must continue to observe the occurrence of significant events and place them in the context of these timelines. Again, we know God wants us to believe what He has said “by faith”, not having the answers to all our questions before we “believe”.  (Hebrews 11: 6)  This should encourage Christians and interested others to continue reading His message through to the end…the last Chapter of the Book of Revelation.

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson

https://christianityandbiblestudy.blogspot.com