CHRIST THE CENTRE OF THE BIBLE. Overview of the Bible.
Entry posted by Marilyn C
750 views
OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE
God`s word contains 66 books, written by 40 authors, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is God`s plan and purpose through Christ for mankind.
The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew (a few short passages in Aramaic). Then about a hundred years before the Christian era the entire Old Testament was translated into Greek, being the predominant language of that time.
The New Testament was written in the Greek language and our English Bible is a translation from the original languages.
The authors were kings and princes, poets and philosophers, prophets and statesmen. Some were learned in all the arts of the times and others were unschooled fishermen. Other books are soon out of date but the Bible spans the centuries.
God starts with the creation of the world and the heavens, revealing mankind, his perfect, yet vulnerable state before the fall. Then we read of the effect of sin and its consequences, revealing a fallen angel, Satan, who is against God. God then sets in place His means of restoration, His Son to be the way to deal with sin. God continually works with mankind till sin reaches its climax, then comes judgment by flood. From then on we see God working with a family, (Noah) and later tribes and nations, (Egypt, Assyria).
God raises up His nation to rule the world righteously. However even amid rebellion throughout the centuries God never casts away His people, Israel. Their purpose to rule the world under God, is put on hold when they reject their Messiah.
The death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ is central to God`s word. We see that God had planned His Son to be the way back to relationship with the Father. Then we read of a new group, the Body of Christ that is made up of Jews and Gentiles. These believers have the very character of Christ within and will eventually rule and reign with Him in the third heaven.
Operating from the third heaven, we read of the Lord Jesus Christ putting down all rebellious rule and authority. First He deals with the world system, its armies and leaders. Then we see Satan and his fallen angels put into the pit. Israel under the Lord, then rules the world for a thousand years. Satan is finally loosed and when he gathers the world`s armies against Israel, they are dealt with by fire from heaven.
Finally there is the Great White Throne Judgment, and the creating of a New Heavens and New Earth. Every realm is ruled by the Lord under His rulership - the Body of Christ is the third heaven, the Old Testament saints in the New Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven near the earth, and then on the earth, Israel ruling the nations.
As God says - `His good pleasure that He purposed in Himself, that in the fullness of the times, He might gather together in one, (harmony) all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him.` (Eph. 1: 9 & 10)
-
2
9 Comments
Recommended Comments