A Dispensational Overview of The Bible
THE PATRIARCHAL AGE
The first period of human history is known as the patriarchal age because God dealt directly with the leaders of each family. The father in each family was known as the patriarch. This period lasted from Adam until the time when God gave the written law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. In this lesson we will study a few selected events from the Patriarchal Age which will show how God was preparing the world for the coming of Christ Jesus.
I. THE TIME PERIOD FROM ADAM TO NOAH (GENESIS 1-11)
A. Events
1. The Fall, which brought sin into the world. (Genesis 3:6)
2. The Promise of Redemption. (Genesis 3:15)
3. The Flood. (Genesis 7:11-12) Only the obedient were saved.
B. Persons
1. Adam, who fell into sin is given the Promise of Redemption.
2. Noah, with whom we associate the Flood.
C. God provided forgiveness of sins. God instructed man to offer animal sacrifices. (Leviticus 17:11; 5:17-18; Hebrews 9:22) God was just in granting man forgiveness, as He knew that Jesus would eventually come to the earth in order to pay the full price for sin by dying on a cross. (Hebrews 9:13-14)
II. THE TIME PERIOD FROM NOAH TO THE CALL OF MOSES (GENESIS 11 - EXODUS).
During this time period Abraham was called to be the father of a chosen nation. Abraham and his descendants were chosen, not because God loved them more than others, but because through them He was to bless the world.
A. Events
1. The Dispersion at Babel in Chaldea
2. God chose Abraham
a. God promised Abraham that through his offspring would come one who would bless all nations.(Genesis 12:1-3) That offspring was Christ. (Galatians 3:16; Matthew 1:1-17)
b. Abraham was 100 years when the three angels appeared to him and promised him a son. (Genesis 18:9-6) Abraham trusted God even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. (Genesis 22) Because of Abraham's great faith, he is known as the father of faith. (Romans 4:16-21; Galatians 3:7)
3. God renewed to Isaac the promises He had given to Abraham. (Genesis 21:2-3; 26:1-5)
4. God renewed to Jacob the promises He had given to Abraham.(Genesis 28:3-4; 13-14) Jacob's name was changed to Israel. (Genesis 32:28) From him we get the name Israelites. Jacob had twelve sons - Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. (Genesis 35:35:22-26; 49) These sons and their descendants became the twelve tribes of Israel.
5. God saved His chosen nation from famine through Joseph. (Genesis 37-50)
6. God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egyptian slavery. (Exodus1-9)
7. God sent plagues upon the Egyptians.(Exodus 7-10)
8. The last plague took the life of the eldest son from every family that did not have the blood on their door post and lintels. (Exodus 11)
9. Pharaoh's first-born son died, and he let the Israelites go. (Exodus 12)
10. The children of Israel were led through the Red Sea and to Mt. Sinai where God gave them the Mosaic Law. (Exodus 14-20)
B. Persons
1. Abraham, the man who was called to leave home. (Genesis 12:1)
2. Joseph, the greatest of the twelve sons of Jacob.
3. Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery.
JUDAISM (MOSAIC AGE)
The second period of human history is known as the age of Judaism. God used Moses as the lawgiver (John 1:17). This period lasted from the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai until the time it was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14-17; II Corinthians 3:3-11). By the miraculous hand of God the Israelites were delivered from bondage. Unbelief on the part of many brought headaches and misery which caused God's people to wander in the wilderness forty years before reaching the promised land. We see the story of the Kings of Israel, how the kingdom was divided, and the prophets of then who told of the coming Savior. This age ends with the establishment of the church on the day of Pentecost.
I. GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH ISRAEL
God led the Israelites to Mt. Sinai where He made a covenant with them. The covenant was given only to the children of Israel (Exodus 19:1-6; 20:1-7; Deut 5:1-3).
II. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW SINCE GOD PROMISED TO
SAVE MAN THROUGH FAITH AND NOT THROUGH THE WORKS OF THE LAW?
A. The law was necessary.
1. The law was added because of man's disobedience. (Galatians 3:19; I Timothy 1:8-10)
2. The law showed the need for the Savior. (Romans 3:20,23; Galatians3:10)
3. The law was a tutor to guide Israel to the coming Messiah. (Gal 3:23-24)
4. The law was the instruction to prepare Israel for bringing Christ into the world. (Acts 3:25-26; Hebrews 11; I Peter 1:10-12)
5. The law was a shadow of the real things to come. (Hebrews 10:1-2)
B. The law was insufficient.
1. Justification from sin did not come from the law. (Galatians 2:21; 3:10-11; Hebrews 10:1-4)
2. The law was not intended to be a law for all times and ages. It was a covenant only with Israel. (Exodus 19:1-5; Psalms 147:19-20) God promised to give a new covenant, which (Hebrews 8:7-8; Romans
7:4,6)
III. GOD CARED FOR THE ISRAELITES DURING THE 40 YEARS IN THE
WILDERNESS (EXODUS 16:1-5; 17:1-6)
IV. GOD ENABLED THE ISRAELITES TO CONQUER AND SETTLE THE
LAND PROMISED TO ABRAHAM (GENESIS 12:7; JOSHUA 2:24; 21:43-45;
23:15-16; I KINGS 4:21)
V. GOD GAVE ISRAEL JUDGES AFTER THE SETTLEMENT OF CANAAN
IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM HOLY FOR GOD'S USE. (JUDGES 2:16;
ACTS 13:20)
VI. GOD RENEWED THE SPIRITUAL PROMISE GIVEN TO ABRAHAM. (II
SAMUEL 2:12-14; PSALM 89:3-7)
Christ was David's descendant. (Romans 1:3; Matthew 1:17-18) David was a physical king over physical Israel. Christ is a physical descendant of David and yet, He is a spiritual king over a spiritual kingdom, the church. (Psalms 132:11; Colossians 1:13)
VII. GOD IN HIS ANGER DISCIPLINED THE DISOBEDIENT TRIBES BY
ALLOWING THEM TO BE TAKEN INTO FOREIGN CAPTIVITY
The captivity of Judah is discussed in II Chronicles 36:17-21 and Nehemiah 1:8-10.
Israel captivity is discussed in II Kings 17:1-41.
VIII. GOD ALLOWED THE TRIBE OF JUDAH TO RETURN FROM BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY (ISAIAH 1:9; 8:20-24; 11:11)
The Christ was to come through the tribe of Judah. (Genesis 49:9-10)
IX. GOD SENT PROPHETS TO INSTRUCT ISRAEL AND JUDAH (HEBREWS
1:1) AND TO SPEAK OF THE COMING MESSIAH (LUKE 24:44)
X. 400 YEARS OF PROPHETIC SILENCE.
The writings Old Testament closed with the prophecies of Malachi, who was contemporary with Ezra and Nehemiah, about 432 BC. Thus from Malachi to the beginning of the New Testament, a period of little more then 400 years, no inspired writer appeared. This period is very appropriately called "Period of Prophetic Silence". For facts relating to the Jews during this time reliance must be placed upon the Greek and Latin historians, Josephus, and books called the Apocrypha (regarded as uninspired). Daniel in his book did give prophecies concerning this time period and the events that took place.
XI. GOD SENT JOHN, THE SON OF ZECHARIAH, TO PREPARE THE NATION OF JUDAH FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST (MATT 3:1-12; ISAIAH 40:3)
John's baptism was not for the same purpose as the baptism into Christ. (Acts 2:38; 20:28; Matthew 16:18-19) John also baptized Jesus in order to fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15) Jesus did not have any sin.
CHRISTIAN AGE
(Hebrews 1:1; Romans 1:16)
The Christian era began on the day of Pentecost when the church was established and will be concluded when Christ returns to judge the world. The Christian Age is a age of life (Romans 6:11) and of reconciliation (Romans 5:10). Jesus died on the cross in order to reconcile God and man. Christ paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. Salvation is now available to all those who will accept God's forgiveness and who will serve Him obediently (I John 4:9-10; Acts 19:30; I John 5:1-3). In this lesson we will discuss the beginning of Christ's church and the blessings that we can have through Christ.
I. THE DISPENSATION OF LIFE REPLACED THE DISPENSATION OF DEATH.
A. "...in Adam all died...in Christ made” (1Cor. 15:22).
B. "...consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)
II. GOD IS LOVE.
A. Christ means forgiveness to all (Jo 4:9-10; Acts 17:30).
B. Christ died to pay the price for our sins. (Romans 4:25).
III. GOD IS JUST.
Men who refuse life and forgiveness will be separated from God and will receive everlasting torment. (2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 6:23; Luke 12:5)
IV. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH.
A. The church in preparation
1. The work of John the Baptist
a. Read Malachi 3:1 and Matthew 3:1-2
b. He was to prepare the people for the coming of Christ. (Mark 1:2-3; Luke 1:17)
2. The personal ministry of Christ
a. Jesus preached the Kingdom (Matt. 4:17).
b. Jesus promised the Church (Matt. 16:18)
c. Kingdom promised THEN (Mark 9:1)
d. Jesus instructed the apostles to tell the people that the kingdom was at hand (Matthew 10:5-7).
e. The seventy disciples instructed to preach Kingdom was near (Luke 10:1,8-9).
f. At the end of Christ's personal ministry the disciples were still looking for the kingdom (Luke 22:19, 19:11; Mark15:43).
g. The kingdom had still not come at the time the Lord ascended (Acts 6:1-9).
B. When did the church begin?
1. Christ said that the kingdom would come with power (Mark 9:1). This power came with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:8)
2. Church established on Pentecost 33A.D. (Acts 2)
3. When the Holy Spirit was poured out, the apostles received power to preach by divine guidance. They preached that Christ Jesus had been crucified, buried and raised again, and that this was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The apostles convinced many of the Jews who heard them preach. When the Jews asked what they should do, they were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins; and they were told that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) It is recorded in Acts2:41 that "they that gladly received his word were baptized." In Acts 2:47 we read "And the Lord added to them day by day such as should be saved."
CONCLUSION: Christ is the head of the church. (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18;
Matthew 28:18-20)