Why This Book?
(continued)
(continued)
Where are we on the time-line?
The Church finds itself on the charts after the cross and very close to the Rapture in the period which is called the Church Age. The Church is made up of the Body of Christ, which consists of only saved believers in Christ. The following verses clearly indicate why this period is called the Church Age. The verses also make it equally clear that the Church consists of the Body of Christ. Like Israel of the Old Testament, God has chosen the local church of the New Testament as His fighting arm to put forth His message and bring His will to pass.
Ephesians 1:22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
The Church Age will last approximately 2,000 years. This amount of time is derived through the study of biblical and natural patterns. Seven is God’s number of completion (seven days of creation, seven days in a week, seven years of Tribulation, seven colors of the light spectrum and rainbow, seven notes of the scale, etc.). God uses the number seven to indicate completion; the eighth is generally a “new beginning.” Assuming that God’s pattern of seven as completeness holds true concerning God’s dealings with man, the approximate length of the Church Age can be easily computed as follows.
Genealogical lists verify that approximately 4,000 years transpire from Adam to the time of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Millennium is given as a 1,000-year period yet to come. If 5,000 years (4,000 plus 1,000) is subtracted from a “completion” total of 7,000 years, around 2,000 years remain for the Church Age. Note: This is not an attempt to date the Rapture or the Second Coming. It is simply a means to illustrate the lengths of time in God’s dealings with man and the approximate length of time of the Church Age.
Our calendar places us nearly 2,000 years after Christ’s birth, and at a point very close to the Rapture on our time-line. Most serious Bible students would not disagree with the events and times depicted in chart 1.3, nor would they disagree that the “last days” are upon us. This is the period just prior to the Rapture of the Church.
Click to enlarge chart 1.3
Where are the books of the Bible on the time-line?
The next chart reflects the placement of the sixty-six books of the Bible on our time-line. Note: Although the books neatly fit on the next chart, some of the actual divisions occur within the books themselves. Generally, although a division may occur within a book, a transition is occurring from one period to the next.
Click to enlarge chart 1.4
First, an overview of the sections of chart 1.4 is presented. Then each section will be studied in further detail.
Section A—Old Testament: Thirty-nine Books, Genesis through Malachi, cover the period of time from the beginning (far left) to a time before the cross. The Lord Jesus Christ is not born until after the close of the period defined as the “Old Testament” in our Bible, and He goes to the cross at the age of thirty-three. Note: The New Testament did not actually begin or take effect until after the death of the Lord Jesus Christ (the testator) (Hebrews 9:16-18).
Section B—The Gospels: Four Books, Matthew through John, cover approximately thirty-three years of events preceding the cross through the events immediately following the cross. The theme of these books is the teaching of how to be prepared for the coming of the Kingdom when the Lord Jesus Christ will rule on earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thus, its name “Readiness.” (See Luke 1:17, 12:40, Matthew 24:44, 25:10, discussed later.)
Section C—Acts: One Book, Acts, covers the time period immediately following the cross until the time of Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. This book covers the actions of the apostles historically and is commonly referred to as a transitional book because it continues the transition from one time period into the next. Note: Although the entire Bible is the history of a King and His Kingdom, some books emphasize history over doctrine. Acts is one such book; whereas, Romans and Galatians are best characterized as doctrinal books.
Section D—The Church Age: Thirteen Books, Romans through Philemon, cover the writings of the Apostle Paul as presented to the Body of Christ—the Church. Paul’s name is the first word in each of these epistles. Church Age doctrine comes predominantly, yet not exclusively from these thirteen epistles. They should be the starting point for any serious Bible student wanting to learn his or her Bible.
Section E—Readiness, Tribulation and Millennium: Nine Books, Hebrews through Revelation also cover future events, including the Readiness and Tribulation period, Second Coming, Millennium, Great White Throne Judgment and Eternity; in addition to having significant Church Age application.
The five periods of time (A through E) cover all sixty-six books of the Bible.
Section # of books
Each of these five sections will be discussed in more detail, beginning with Section A below.
Section A: Old Testament
The Old Testament records God’s dealings predominantly with the Jews and through the Jews. Through Moses, God gives the law to the Jews and calls them out as His chosen people.
Click to enlarge chart 1.5
Section B: Gospels
The Gospels are the first four books following the thirty-nine “Old Testament” books of the Bible. The books of Matthew through John cover a period of time of approximately 33 years prior to the cross and through the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. These books cover the following:
- The forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The life of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The death of the Lord Jesus Christ
- The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
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The ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ
Not any one of the four Gospel books covers all of the events mentioned above, but it is very easy to see that each book contains a great number of each of these events. It is also easy to recognize that these four books are logically and theologically grouped together as a unit.
For this reason, the four Gospel books should be studied as a unit when considering how the Bible is applied doctrinally and historically to various peoples and individuals. However, God never intended for the application of Systematic Theology to the Bible to indicate that some books lack any application outside of their primary focus. This erroneous method is almost as dangerous as the haphazard exegesis that many preachers call Bible study.
"The Gospels do not unfold the doctrine of the Church. The word occurs in Matthew only. …‘I will build my church’ (Mt. 16.16,18). It was, therefore, yet future; but His personal ministry had gathered out the believers who were, on the day of Pentecost, by the baptism with the Spirit, made the first members of ‘the church which is his body.’ (1 Cor. 12.12,13; Eph.1.23)"
Scofield Reference Bible
, "The Four Gospels," pages 990, section IV.
Click to enlarge chart 1.6
Section C: Acts
Acts follows the book of John. As has been said, Acts is a historical and transitional book. It begins with the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the last major event recorded in the Gospels (Luke 24:51). Grouping the four Gospels, Matthew through John, fits them perfectly just prior to the beginning of the book of Acts which opens with an account of the ascension (Acts 1:9).
Click to enlarge chart 1.7
As a historical book, Acts tells us about the Act(ion)s of the apostles: their acts. The student will notice that Acts in not primarily a book of doctrine but, instead, is predominantly historical. Acts also serves as a transition from the Gospels (The Lord Jesus Christ, Peter and the other eleven apostles ministering to the Jews only) to Paul and his writings. Acts features a definite transition from one spokesman (Peter) to another (Paul). The Gospel books record Peter as the leader of the apostles. The early chapters of the book of Acts depict his leadership also. Later chapters in Acts (13 through 28) cover the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul. Thereafter, in the first thirteen epistles following the book of Acts, Paul serves as God’s primary spokesman.
Section D: Church Age
The primary Church Age books are the thirteen books following the book of Acts, from Romans to Philemon. Paul’s name is the first word in each of these thirteen books. (The improbability of Pauline authorship of Hebrews will be examined in Chapter 4 of this work. For now, compare the dissimilarity of the “confirmed unto us” of Hebrews 2:3 with Paul’s “neither was I taught it” and “by revelation” of Galatians 1:11-12, 16, 2:6, Ephesians 3:3, etc.).
Click to enlarge chart 1.8
All of Paul’s writings must have occurred after the cross. He is not mentioned by name prior to the cross, and his salvation occurred when he met the Lord in Acts chapter 9. These thirteen books cover the revelations of the Gospel of the Grace of God and of God’s expectations of the Church Age saints. These books cover Paul’s early ministry to the “Jew first” through the period of the Rapture (yet to come). The Rapture ends the Church Age, as members of the Body of Christ are caught out together to meet the Lord in the air.
Section E: Readiness/Tribulation/Millennium
The nine books following Philemon (Hebrews through Revelation) include the Readiness/Tribulation/Millennium periods. These nine books include five major events or time periods. They are the Readiness period, Tribulation period, the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Millennium and Eternity. The reason that aspects of Hebrews through Revelation effectively apply to these periods rather than exclusively to the Church Age will be explained later. One simple point to consider is that God is speaking primarily through the Gentile during the Church Age, but will once again begin speaking through the Jew (Hebrew) during the Readiness/Tribulation period. Thus, the first book addresses the Jews in its title—Hebrews. (The Readiness period will be discussed in depth as part of Chapter 16.)
As stated above, the Tribulation period compromises a total of seven years occurring sometime after the Rapture of the Church. The Tribulation ends with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (His Second Coming). When He returns, He will set up His Kingdom and reign for 1,000 years as King on this earth. At the end of this time, God will destroy the heaven and earth by fire and create a new heaven and a new earth for Eternity (II Peter 3:10-12).
Click to enlarge chart 1.9
Summary: These five sections give us the basic divisions needed to understand the biblical approach of studying and rightly dividing the Bible. The remainder of this book deals with how to practically apply this knowledge after mastering these basic principles.
While reading and studying this book, always keep in mind Chart 1.4—“Book Divisions.” In the next chapter, the divisions are presented from another perspective. The basic book groupings serve as dividing points based upon whom they feature as God’s spokesman. Yet, most of the divisions are not absolutely distinct (i.e., a precise division without any overlapping transitional features or dual applications). The charts are not intended to completely compartmentalize the books in such a manner as to disallow or disavow personal application of those books designated as outside the “Church Age.”
For instance, the Lord tells His apostles to go to “the Jews only” during His earthly ministry (Matthew 10:5). However, following His ascension (and Calvary), His commission to the apostles includes all nations (Matthew 28:19) and every creature (Mark 16:15). Failing to recognize these periods of transition within certain epistles can cause much confusion when attempting to “rightly divide” the word of truth. For example, many overzealous Bible students fail to recognize God’s overwhelming desire concerning world missions by rightly dividing the “great commission” out of any spiritual significance to the Church. Christianity does not need any more hyper-dividing, hypercritical, know-it-alls who fail to comprehend God’s love for world missions. What it desperately does need are Christians that are both soul conscious and ardent Bible students willing to admit that mastery of the Bible is an unattainable feat.
A. Old Testament 39
B. Gospels 4
C. Acts 1
D. Church Age 13
E. Readiness/Tribulation/Millennium 9
Total Books 66