Genesis To Esther Series – LESSON 5

 

Bible History

 

The book of Genesis is history. Before we get to the specifics of Genesis, we are going to look at some general facts. Our text for this lesson is in 2 Timothy. I especially want to make some emphasis on verse 16 before we proceed.

 

2 Timothy 2: 15-16

(15) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

(16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

 

There is some teaching that will increase ungodliness. But there are two words that I want you to pay attention to. In verse 15 the word is “study.” In verse 16, the word is “shun.” Those go together. If you do not do the first, you will not be able to do the second. You will only know what to shun when you have studied God’s Word.

 

There are certain things, and I can say this honestly, that “run off of me like water off of a duck.” And the reason they do, is because, by the help and the Grace of God, I’ve learned one or two things from the Bible. For instance, (I have named the man before, and I name him again) -- I do not have time to listen to a man like Garner Ted Armstrong. And the reason why I do not have time to listen to him is because I have studied the Bible a little bit. And studying the Bible, I don’t correct him, I just shun him. There are certain things you don’t try to correct, you just shun. Study in order to shun those things that

 

are of no profit. That is what we are going to endeavor to do as we look at the book of Genesis.

 

But, first of all, if we are going to study the Bible, there are three subject that we are going to have to study together.

 

 

1. Bible Study Will Include:

                     1.    A study of history

                     2.    A study of geography

                     3.    A study of prophecy

 

 

There are some people I know very well, who dislike history. If you don’t like history, I guess you will find many of the pages of the Bible very boring -- because the Bible is filled with history. But if you are going to study history, you will also have to study geography.

 

I think the thing that makes the Bible come alive, is learning something about Bible geography. You cannot study history and not study geography, because history is basically, the record of events that take place at geographical locations. And one of the things that makes Bible history stand out, is the fact that so much of Bible history is connected with the geography that you can find to this very hour.

 

I think it was Willard Cantelon whom I heard say, that one-third of the Bible, when it was written, was written as prophecy.  I know it is very close to that. Just think of that. If one-third of the Bible, when it was written, was written as prophecy, then how can one study the Bible and ignore the subject of prophecy. And yet there are people today who want to ignore that subject. They are glad to have you preach on anything else, but don’t preach on prophecy. You cannot

 

preach on the Bible, or study the Bible, and not study prophecy.

 

 

Now remember – three subjects:

                                       1.      history

                                       2.      geography

                                       3.      and prophecy

 

 

2.   The Facts About Bible History

 

1.    Bible History Is Literal

 

This is a Scripture passage that I refer to many, many times in my studies, because I think it is so very important. And often, by reading the context, it shows what we are speaking about and thinking about

 

1 Corinthians 10: 1-11

(1) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

 

The first moment that you read 1 Corinthians 10:1, you are brought face to face with Old Testament history.

 

(2) And were all baptized unto Moses

 

(3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

 

(4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

 

(5) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

 

(6) Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

 

(7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

You will find that history in the book of Exodus.

 

(8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

 

(9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

 

(10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

 

You will notice in verses one to ten, it has reference to Old Testament historical accounts. You have to read from the Old Testament to get the details of the first ten verses.

 

1 Corinthians 10: 11

(11) Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition,

 

The words all these things happened. When you read the Old Testament, you are not reading fiction. When you read the Old Testament history, you are reading fact. If these things happened, then we have reason to pay attention. And God’s Word says they really happened.

 

2.    Old Testament History Is Linked Together

 

Lord willing, in our next lesson, which is again introductory, I want to show you as best I can, how Old Testament history is linked together. I simply make this statement in this class: “It is so linked together that eventually, to accept part is to accept all. And to reject part is to reject all.” We hope to be able to prove how true that is.

 

John 5: 46-47   Jesus is speaking of Moses

(46) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

 

(47) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

 

Jesus spoke about Moses’ writings. He said if you had believed Moses, you would have believed Me.

 

3.    Old Testament History Is Primarily About Jews

 

It seems repetitious, but I do it on purpose. I want to embed these things into your heart. Old Testament history is primarily about Jews. There are other things, but it is primarily about Jews. They are people connected with a specific land, which we know as the Holy Land. And the Old Testament, as we have found, is filled with prophecy of a coming Messiah. We said that to say this:

 

4.    New Testament History Is Primarily About Jesus.

 

The New Testament history is primarily about Jesus. He is connected with the same Old Testament people. And his life is connected with the same geography. That’s the significance.

 

When you study the Old Testament history about the Jews, you are going to study about the Holy Land in geography. When you study the New Testament about Jesus, you are going to study the same geography as in the Old Testament. It doesn’t change at all. The geography of the Old Testament is the geography of the New Testament – what for? – to make both history in the Old and New stand out as being reliable.

 

The book of Romans ties together Old Testament history with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Romans 9: 1-5 

(1) I say the truth in Christ  

May I, for the sake of emphasis use the word Messiah.

Messiah and Christ are one and the same.

 

(1) I say the truth in Messiah, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

 

(2) that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

 

(3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

 

I am not giving you a study of Romans at the moment, but don’t miss that point, as I read on. Paul did not say “my kinsmen according to the Spirit.”

Paul said “my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

 

He said “ I have heaviness regarding my kinsmen according to the flesh. Who were they? – read on:

 

(4) who are Israelites.

 

I suppose I should keep saying this: –

 

Sometimes you don’t understand the answer, because you have never seen the problem.

 

 

I don’t know if you have run across this or not: There are some people who would try and teach me that you have to be of Benjamin and Judah to be called a Jew. And if you belong to any other tribe, then you are an Israelite and not a Jew. I’m talking about British Israel teaching. You will run across this once in a while – that Jews are only from those who are of Benjamin and Judah, and Israelites do not belong to those tribes.

 

I want to show you that I could read from Philippians 3 and give you Paul’s pedigree. Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin. Therefore, Paul was really a Jew. But will you notice what he says here in verse four. He does not say my kinsmen are Jews, although he doesn’t deny that. He says:

 

(3) I could wish that myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, by kinsmen according to the flesh:

 

(4) who are Israelites;

 

Did you get what I said? They are Israelites. Paul called his kinsmen according to the flesh – Israelites. And then he said:

 

(4) To whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

 

And now this wonderful statement in verse five:

(5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as according the flesh

 

Again I repeat: verse 3. It says according to the flesh.

 

(5) whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen

 

Jesus is more than a man. He is God blessed forever. But notice according to the flesh, he comes from the tribe of Israel. Why is there so much in the Bible about Israel? Why is there so much in the Bible about these people? – because, from these people came our Messiah. From these people came our Christ. And Christ is connected with the nation of Israel. The Old Testament is primarily about Israel. The New Testament is primarily about Jesus who is connected with these people.

 

5.   Old Testament Historical Links

 

Let’s look at the Old Testament historical links. And as we look at the historical links, we will be looking at the geography. I have stated that history and geography are linked together. I want you to notice as I read this history, the emphasis on the geography.

 

1.    Joseph To Egypt

 

Genesis 37: 28  the story of Joseph

(28) Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

 

There you have a statement. You have a man’s name Joseph. And we are told, when he was sold, he was brought to Egypt. This seems so elementary, and almost foolish, but when you look at a map -- is Egypt still on the map? Is that country still identifiable? When you are reading the book of Genesis, and you are in the history, don’t forget that it is connected with geography that can still be found.

 

I find this most intriguing, and I cannot explain it. Of all the countries in the middle east, there is one country that has never had a name change.

 

For instance, when you hear them talk about Persia today, you don’t hear the word Persia -- you hear the word Iran.

 

And until 1948 you didn’t hear the word Israel, you heard the word Palestine regarding the land of Israel.

 

You don’t hear the word Babylon today, you hear Iraq.

 

All of these other countries have changed names, but the country of Egypt was Egypt in the time of Genesis, and it has never ceased to be Egypt to this day. The same Egypt that is in the Bible is the Egypt that is now making history. Joseph is sold down to Egypt. If it is history, it has to be real geography.

 

2.    Jacob To Egypt

 

Genesis 46: 1

(1) And Israel (whom we have learned earlier – to be Jacob) took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba.

 

For those of you who have been to the Holy Land, the moment you read about it, you know exactly where these places are. You have heard the words “Dan to Beersheba.”

 

I heard of one person who knew so much about the Bible she went to the Holy Land to visit. And she said: “My it is amazing -- I thought Dan and Beersheba were man and wife just like Sodom and Gomorrah.” I don’t know if you got the joke in there or not, but that is as much as some people know about Bible geography.

 

In the Bible, where they say “from Dan to Beersheba” that is like saying “from the north to the south.” Dan is the north, and Beersheba is the south of the land of Israel. “I went from Dan to Beersheba” means, “I went from the north to the south.”

 

Beersheba is in the very southern part of the land of Israel. And Jacob went to Beersheba. Why? – he is on the road to Egypt. And if you are going to go to Egypt from the Holy land, you have to go south.

 

Genesis 46: 1-3

(1) Israel (Jacob) took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

 

(2) And God spake unto Israel (Jacob) in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

 

(3) And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt;

 

I want to bring this to your attention now, and Lord willing, we are going to talk about it later. Will you notice the prophecy:

 

For I will there make of thee a great nation:

 

When Jacob went into Egypt, he went in with his family. When Jacob left Egypt, they came out a great nation. God had made a prophecy. There is a prophecy that the book of Exodus tells us is fulfillment.

 

3.    Jacob In Egypt

 

First Joseph goes down to Egypt and Jacob goes down to Egypt. And now Jacob moves into the land of Egypt.

 

Genesis 47: 27-31

(27) And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

 

(28) And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

 

(29) And the time drew nigh that Israel (Jacob) must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

 

(30) But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.  And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

 

(31) And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel (Jacob) bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

 

Genesis 48: 1-2

(1) And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

 

(2) And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

 

4.    Jacob Dies In Egypt

 

All of this history is happening in the land of Egypt. Now let’s go to the 49th chapter of Genesis, and read the last verse.

 

LAST VERSES IN GENESIS

 

Genesis 49: 33

(33) And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

 

Genesis 50: 1

(1) And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

 

5.    Jacob Embalmed In Egypt

 

Genesis 50: 2-3

(2) And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

 

(3) And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him three score and ten days.

 

Jacob died in Egypt, and Jacob is embalmed in Egypt.

 

6.    Joseph Dies In Egypt

 

Genesis 50: 26

(26) So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 

In the book of Genesis that begins “in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” -- isn’t that a sad ending. How does Genesis conclude? The story of Joseph’s death. Where? – in the land of Egypt. Where? – in a casket. When did they put him in a casket? – after they embalmed him.

 

 

 

7.    Real People, Real Places,

Real History, Real Geography

 

What facts really make up life? – Birth – Life – and Death---- of real people. Somebody is born, somebody lives, and somebody dies. And if they are real people, then that is real history. Why did I read these verses about Joseph and Jacob going down to Egypt and dying in Egypt? – because Genesis is real. It is literal history. It happened in a literal place, and more than that – is the significance of the embalming.

 

I have been in the mummy room in Cairo in Egypt. They take you through that room and they show you the learning of the glory of the Egyptians in the past. There are times when I have looked at some of these mummies. I looked into the glass eyes that they put in them, and they almost jump out at you, they are so real.

 

Do you know the historians know that the Egyptians knew something about embalming that nobody else knew. And so the word of God tells us repeatedly that both Jacob and Joseph were embalmed in Egypt – for at that time, in the history of Egypt, that was the thing that marked them out with their learning. And so God’s word is real when you are reading the book of Genesis.

 

 

Now To Show You The – CONNECTION

 

 

FIRST VERSE IN EXODUS

 

Exodus 1:1

(1) Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

 

The Bible is divided into 66 books. Let’s suppose that Genesis is in one volume and I take it off the shelf and read it -- then I put it back on the shelf. And now I take down another book,-- the book of Exodus. Let’s suppose I have never seen Genesis, and I open up Exodus and I begin to read:

 

Now these are the names of the children of Israel.

What is the question? – who in the world are the children of Israel? The children of Israel, which came into Egypt. How did they get to Egypt? Every man and his household came with Jacob. Who in the world is Jacob?

 

Why did I ask those silly questions? – for this reason: The first verse of Exodus demands that you read Genesis before you read Exodus. If you had read Genesis, you would know who Jacob is. If you had read Genesis, you would know how Jacob got into Egypt. If you had read Genesis, you would know who the children are. You see, the book of Exodus takes for granted that you have read Genesis before you start to study Exodus -- because the first verse in Exodus links Exodus with all that has gone before. Can all of you see that? Can you see the link between the book of Genesis and the book of Exodus?

 

LAST VERSES IN EXODUS

 

Exodus 40: 34-38

(33) And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar,

If you haven’t read the preceding chapters, you can’t understand these words.

and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

 

(34) Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

 

 (35) And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

 

(36) And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

 

(37) But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

 

(38) For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

 

That’s how the book of Exodus ends. Now we take down volume #3 – the book of Leviticus from our shelf. And we have never read Exodus and we have never read Genesis. We start reading Leviticus.

 

FIRST VERSE IN LEVITICUS

 

Leviticus 1: 1

(1) And

 

The first word is “and.” Isn’t that some way to begin a book! Do you begin a book with the word “and?” – No you don’t. What is it showing you? What am I showing you? – I am trying to show you that these books are linked together. If you are going to believe Exodus, you have to first believe Genesis. And if you are going to believe Leviticus, you have to first read Exodus.

 

Leviticus 1: 1

(1) And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

 

The same thing applies there. I want to impress this upon you – what congregation is he talking about? – the congregation in the church at Surrey? – No – a thousand times No! What tabernacle is he talking about? – the Evangelistic Tabernacle in Vancouver – No – a thousand times No. Who in the world is Moses? You see, if you have read Exodus, you know who Moses is. If you have read Exodus, you know what congregation it is talking about. If you have read Exodus, you know what the Tabernacle is. But if you haven’t read Exodus, you haven’t got the foggiest notion – because Exodus explains the first verse of Leviticus.

 

I want you to notice that the last verse of Leviticus ends with geography, as does Genesis. I am emphasizing the links and I am emphasizing the geography

 

LAST VERSE IN LEVITICUS

 

Leviticus 27: 34

(34) These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

 

Now we take down volume #4 – the book of Numbers.

 

FIRST VERSE IN NUMBERS

 

Numbers 1: 1

(1) And

 

There it is again. You don’t begin a book with the word “and.” The book of Numbers is connected with what has gone before.

 

(1) And the Lord spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt

 

I think I can ask four questions about that verse, and I think you can see what I am getting at. The Lord spake unto Moses Who is Moses? in the wilderness of Sinai. How did he get into Sinai? In what Tabernacle? Why the first day of the second month? If you have read Leviticus, if you have read Exodus, and if you have read Genesis, you understand the book of Numbers. But if you haven’t read the other books, you haven’t got the foggiest notion as to what that verse is talking about -- because the first verse of Numbers is linked with all that has gone before. Now let’s go to the last chapter of Numbers, and notice how the book of Numbers concludes.

 

LAST VERSE IN NUMBERS

 

Numbers 36: 13

(13) These are the commandments and the judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.

 

Once more, take a map and look and find where Jericho is. You will find that Jericho is just across the Jordan River. I have been there on a number of occasions. We have stopped in the plains of Moab. We have looked down from the mount on the town of Jericho – right across Jordan. The book of Numbers ends in geography that is still on the map. Turn to the next book—Deuteronomy.

 

FIRST VERSE IN DEUTERONOMY

 

Notice here that Deuteronomy picks up the history at the same geography as where Numbers leaves off.

 

Deuteronomy 1: 1, 5 

(1) These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness

 

 (5) On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this saying,

 

So the geography that is introduced in the book of Numbers, is picked up in the book of Deuteronomy.

 

LAST VERSES IN DEUTERONOMY

 

Deuteronomy  34” 5-8

(5) So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

 

(6) And he (God) buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

 

(7) And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

 

(8) And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

 

The book of Deuteronomy ends with the death of Moses. Now look at Joshua and you will see how all of this is connected together.

 

FIRST VERSE OF JOSHUA

 

Joshua 1: 1

(1) Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua

 

So the book of Joshua picks up immediately after Moses. And if you don’t believe the history that has gone before, you cannot believe the history of Joshua. Now the last chapter of Joshua.

 

LAST VERSES IN JOSHUA

 

Joshua 24: 29, 33

(29) And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died,

 

(33) And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

 

You are back again to geography. All through the portions, history and geography are joined together. Now look at Judges. You notice how Joshua begins – after the death of Joshua. How does Judges begin?

 

FIRST VERSE IN JUDGES

 

Judges 1: 1

(1) Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass

 

So every book is linked on what has gone before. I hope you are getting this. Somebody says: Can I pick and choose what I believe in the Bible? – No you can’t, because it is so linked together.

 

          Y      Judges is linked with Joshua,

          Y      Joshua is linked with Deuteronomy.

          Y      Deuteronomy with Numbers,

          Y      Numbers with Leviticus,

          Y      Leviticus with Exodus  

          Y      and Exodus with Genesis.

 

Can you see how it is linked together?

 

LAST VERSE IN JUDGES

 

Judges 21: 25

(25) In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges ends with no kings. Judges took over the rule of the land.

 

FIRST VERSE IN RUTH

 

Ruth 1: 1

(1) Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled

 

The book of Ruth is connected with the time of the Judges. There you have an historical connection once again. And furthermore you have a geographical location.

 

(1) That there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

 

The same geography is throughout the Bible.

 

LAST VERSE IN RUTH

 

Ruth 4: 22

(22) And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

 

 

And so, in these links, if you look at it carefully, from Genesis chapter 12 (where Abraham is introduced )--- to Ruth chapter 4, we have the link of the history that links the whole thing to the time of David.

 

BACKGROUND OF DAVID AND HIS FAMILY

 

The book of Ruth introduces us to David.

1 Samuel, chapters 1 to 15 is David’s background.

1 Samuel 16: 13 tells us about David being anointed King.

 

From here on – from the book of Samuel to the book of Malachi, all the history is directly or indirectly connected with David’s family. So when you see that connection, the Old Testament is all together. Thus, from Genesis 12 to 1 Samuel, we have

 

                   Y      Abraham,

                   Y      Isaac,

                   Y      Jacob

                   Y      and Jacob’s seed to David.

 

There is one thing I want you to learn as we continue our study.

 

 

You cannot believe the New Testament if you cannot believe the Old Testament. For the New Testament is connected with the Old. And you have to know the Old to understand the New.

 

 

We took a look at the Book, and we observed that the entire Bible has to do with three classes of people.

 

1 Corinthians 10:32

(3) Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God;

 

If you follow those three divisions, you have actually, the content of the Bible. I consider these few introductory lessons to be rather like the study of the bones of the body. The study of bones is not very exciting, but bones are certainly essential.

 

Or to use another illustration – these lessons are somewhat like studying the plans and framework of a building. The framework of a house is not very nice to look at, but it is certainly necessary. So these lessons are necessary to the understanding of what follows.

 

 

 

The study of the Bible will include:

                                                History

                                                Geography

                                                Prophecy

 

 

Don’t forget that. And keep a mental note of these facts. The Bible has history, geography and prophecy interwoven together.

 

Bible History Is Always Literal.

Bible History Is Linked Together.

 

There are two facts about Bible history.

 

First, Bible history is always literal. The definition of “literal”  is  “true to the letter.” That’s what I mean by that phrase. Bible history is true to the letter. When you are reading any Old Testament story, remember it is literal.

 

And then secondly, Bible history is linked together.

We looked at the Old Testament historical links. And as we have done this, we have noticed how it is linked together from Genesis, right through.

 

And we saw that from Genesis 12 to 1 Samuel, we have

                             Abraham,

                             then Isaac,

                             then Jacob,

                             and Jacob’s seed to David.

 

 

What Stephen (Of The New Testament) Said In Acts 7: 1-53 –----

About The History Of The Jews –----- Starting Back In Genesis

 

 

Now I would like you to read Acts 7: 1-53. Stephen is full of the Holy Spirit. I must emphasize that he is filled with the Spirit, as he stands up to preach. In this passage, you have the whole history of Genesis to Deuteronomy outlined by Stephen. This portion is so very important – to see the history.

 

Acts 7: 2-16 --All the information that Stephen refers to is found in Genesis.

 

Acts 7: 17-36 -- All of it is found in Exodus.

 

Then he quotes from Deuteronomy as we shall see, in verse 37. He moves back to Exodus and then he moves on in verse 45 to the book of Joshua. Then he moves on to David, then to Solomon. And finally he concludes in the book of Chronicles.

 

It is so very important to see details that are here in Stephen’s sermon.  Details that you really have to dig for to find them when you are reading the Old Testament history. The point I have in reading Acts 7 is to show you that when Stephen was speaking, he did not look upon the Old Testament stories as being fiction. He looked upon those stories as being fact. And so that is how we are going to read it.

 

Acts 7: 1-5

(1) Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

 

(2) And he (Stephen) said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, (that takes us back to Genesis 12) when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Charran (in the Old Testament it is Haran)

 

(3) And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.

 

(4) Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Heron, and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

 

(5) And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

 

You can see that prophecy is all embedded in the history. God promised he was going to give a land to Abraham and he promised he was going to give a son to Abraham, and as yet, he doesn’t have any of it. So it is prophecy which becomes history later on.

 

Acts 7:6-9

(6) And God spake on this wise, That his (Abraham’s) seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

 

That has to do with Israel going into the land of Egypt.

 

(7) And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

 

(8) And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

 

(9) And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him,

 

I would remind you once again, it would be an interesting observation, or a little task, to take the Old Testament and put the chapter beside each verse. For instance, as I have read verse 9, you are in the 37th chapter of Genesis. That’s when they sold Joseph.

 

Acts 7: 10-22

(10) And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

 

(11) Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

 

(12) But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

 

(13) And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

 

(14) Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls,

 

(15) So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

 

(16) And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

 

To that verse you are in Genesis. Now at verse 17 you move into Exodus.

 

 (17) But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

 

You can get the details, reading the first chapter of Exodus.

 

(18) Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

 

(19) The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

 

(20) In which time Moses was born,(the second chapter of Exodus)and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:

 

(21) And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

 

(22) And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

 

Secular history tells us that Moses was in line to be king on the throne. It was Pharaoh’s daughter who had found him. And so he was educated in the palace in Egypt. Don’t forget that. And he was mighty in both words and deeds. History says that there was none like Moses to lead an army.

 

Acts 7: 23-25

(23) And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

 

(24) And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

 

(25)For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them but they understood not.

 

I pause for a moment, regarding this. You cannot find that information in the book of Exodus. But if you read the background to Acts 7, in the 6th chapter, when Stephen was speaking, he was full of the Holy Spirit. And being full of the Holy Spirit, he was able to add information that was not recorded back in Exodus.

 

He tells us here, Moses knew who he was. He knew that he was to be the deliverer forty years before it happened. And he thought that when he went to the Hebrews, they would know, but they didn’t know. And in that, by the way, there is a wonderful type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Moses came unto his own, and his own received him not the first time. But when he came back the second time, Israel received him. When Jesus came the first time, his own did not know Him. But when He comes the next time, they are going to receive him. There is wonderful typology, but that is not what I am concerned with right now. I want you to see the history, joined together here by Stephen.

 

Acts 7: 26-37

(26) And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

 

(27) But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

 

(28) Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

 

(29) Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Median, where he begat two sons.

 

(30) And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

 

 

We are now at Exodus 3.

 

(31) When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,

 

(32) Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

 

That verse connects the book of Genesis with what happens in Exodus. You have to believe Genesis before you can believe Exodus. And you have to believe both before you can believe Stephen. For Stephen is putting that history together.

 

(33) Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

 

(34) I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

 

(35) This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

 

(36) He brought them out, after that he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

 

Now you have the wonders and signs in  Exodus chapters 4 to 11, and in chapters 12 to 13 you have the deliverance of Israel from Egypt (the crossing of the Red Sea, and bringing them into the wilderness for forty years.) Now verse 37 is a direct quote from the book of Deuteronomy, and Stephen is putting it all together.

 

 

(37) This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

 

And then he goes back again to the book of Exodus, after quoting from Deuteronomy.

 

Acts 7: 38

(38) This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him  in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

 

That is a direct reference to the 20th chapter of the book of Exodus when the law was given.

 

Acts 7: 39-53

(39) To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

 

(40) Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

 

(41) And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

 

That verse brings us to the 32nd chapter of Exodus.

 

(42) Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets,

 

You will notice that Stephen, in his sermon, goes beyond the books of Moses, and now he refers to the books of the prophets -- Isaiah, right through to the book of Malachi.

 

(42) O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

 

(43) Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

 

He is quoting the prophecy of the Babylonian captivity.

 

(44) Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

 

(45) Which also our fathers

Are you noticing the phrase “our fathers?”

that came after brought in with Jesus  Now, don’t let this throw you. You have Jesus in the passage there, but it is really Joshua, because the name Jesus and Joshua are interchangeable. The Old Testament word “Joshua” is “Jesus” in the New Testament. So here is evidence of that.

 

(45) That came after brought in with Joshua into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David

 

(46) Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

 

(47) But Solomon built him an house.

 

(48) Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

 

(49) Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? Saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

 

(50) Hath not my hand made all these things?

 

(51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

 

You have to be full of the Holy Spirit to say that to your congregation.

 

(52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

 

(53) Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

 

And the audience wouldn’t listen to any more. But I don’t see any passage in the New Testament that can begin with Genesis and literally can go right through to the book of Matthew. Can you all see what Stephen has done? He has gone over the whole history – linked it together – but don’t forget, he didn’t do that by human ability. He did that through the Anointing and Power and Inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And can we believe that the Old Testament history is not literal after reading that? Stephen sure believed it was. He linked the literal history of Jesus , with all the history of the Old Testament.

 

Now we come to a statement on which I plan to give you more about later on.  I’m quickly putting it together to show you how it is linked.

 

The Books Of Samuel To Malachi

 

SAMUEL WAS THE LAST JUDGE

 

Samuel was the last Judge. Now we are introduced to Joshua, and then to the Judges. Samuel was the last Judge, and his book begins the story of David. And that is why he is in the Bible. And so, the books of Samuel to Malachi begin with the story of Saul, then the story of David, the true king, until the

 

last king of Judah whose name was Zedekiah. You don’t have to memorize that fellow’s name, but there are a lot of people who do not know that Zedekiah was the last king to sit on the throne at Jerusalem.

 

STORY OF JOB ILLUSTRATES ISRAEL’S HISTORY

 

The only book not directly related to David and his family, or the Israelites, is the book of Job. And that story illustrates Israel’s complete history. What is the book of Job about? Why is it in the Old Testament? It illustrates the story of Israel. In a nut shell, what is it? It is about a man who was blessed. There are some things being taught about the book of Job today, that would not be adhered to if we observed the first chapter.

 

Job 1: 3, 8

(3) Job’s substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

 

Notice that word “greatest.” Job was the greatest man of the east.

 

(8) And the Lord said unto Satan,

 

 

There is a conflict -- not between Job and Satan,

The conflict is between God and Satan.

Don’t ever forget that!

 

 

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth.

 

I have simply read that, to give you why I have said what I have said. We are going to give you Scripture later on, that will show that the nation of Israel is like no other nation in the earth. Samuel is going to ask the question – What nation is like the nation of Israel? You study their history and they stand out as a nation like no other nation.

 

But what happened after the first chapter? Job lost everything. Job lost his family. He  lost his camels, and he lost his asses.  He lost the fellowship with his wife, and he lost the fellowship with his friends, and Job is sitting on an ash heap. It is quite a story. But now go to the end of the story – chapter 42.  I believe this to be an interesting observation. Let’s look at it.

 

Job 42: 12

(12) So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning

 

Now Israel was blessed, and Israel is now under the curse. But according to the Bible, Israel is going to be blessed more than she was at the beginning. Have you faith to believe your Bible?

 

(12) For he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

 

Will you notice, as you compare that with Job 1:3? He has six thousand camels, He has a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. You go back and notice Job 1: 3 and see he only had seven thousand sheep at the beginning. He only had three-thousand camels. He only had five-hundred yoke of oxen. He only had 500 she-asses. Now God gives him double of everything. Read the next verse.

 

Job 42: 13

(13) He had also seven sons and three daughters.

 

Somebody says “it fails here--Only seven sons and three

 

daughters?” If God doubled everything he should have had fourteen sons and six daughters. You see what the answer is? – When you lose your sheep, you lose them. But when you lose your children in death, you don’t lose them. Job still had the seven that died, and the three that died. And God doubled his family by giving him seven more. He had to double the sheep and double the oxen, but he only had to give the same amount of sons and the same amount of daughters to double his family. I think that is precious, but the whole story is an illustration of the nation of Israel.

 

 

The Books from Samuel to Malachi tell us about:

                                      kings who failed,

                                      priests who failed

                                      And prophets who failed

 

 

Did you ever watch an artist? When they start to paint a picture they put blue across the top, and green across the bottom. What for? – they are going to project a figure on the picture. And so it is here. We are going to project a figure on this picture.

 

In the background we have failing kings, and failing priests, and failing prophets – because the Bible is going to continue to tell us about a Priest Who is going to come, Who will not fail. And a Prophet Who is going to come, Who will not fail. And Praise God, a King Who will be like no other king, because He will be King of kings and Lord of lords. That is the background of the Old Testament.

 

Promise Made To The Prophet Moses

About A Coming Prophet

 

Deuteronomy 18: 15  A very important verse in light of the Old Testament.

 

 (15) The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.

 

That promise is made to Moses. And remember, Moses was the greatest prophet in the Old Testament. And to Moses, a Promise is made of a Coming Prophet. Now we move to 1 Samuel.

 

Promise Made To The Priest Eli

About A Coming Priest

 

1 Samuel 2: 35

If you look at the context, it is talking to Eli who was the priest in Israel at the time.

(35) (God speaking to Eli) And I will raise me up a faithful priest,

 

For the sake of getting this embedded in your mind. To Moses the prophet, there is a Promise of a Prophet. To Eli the priest, there is the Promise of a Coming Priest. Now turn to 2 Samuel.

 

Promise Made To King David

About A Coming King

 

2 Samuel 7: 12

Speaking to David, who is called the great king, in Israel

(12) And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

 

Can you see the promise of a King in there? It is a king who has a kingdom. And so I repeat:

 

 

                             To Moses the prophet, there is a Promise of a Prophet.

                             To Eli the priest, the Promise of a Priest.

                             To David the king, the Promise of a King.

 

 

But the wonderful thing about this, and I say it in passing, (and take a mental note of this.)  In the order of the prediction -- the Prophet is first. The Priest is next. And the King is last. And the order of the predictions are the order of the fulfillment. 

 

Jesus came as a Prophet, 2000 years ago. He is in Heaven today as our Priest. And we are looking forward with great anticipation to his Coming as King.

 

The prophets, the priests and kings are foreshadows in the Old Testament. So why is there so much in the Old Testament about prophets? Why did the prophets suffer, the way that they suffered? – because they all foreshadow Christ. Why is there so much in the Old Testament about priests? – because they all foreshadow the great High Priest from Heaven. Why is there so much about kings? – because they foreshadow the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

 

And you see, if we had time to study it here, we would take all of the prophets. If you take something out of the life of every prophet, you would have a complete picture of Christ. But you couldn’t do it from just one.

 

You would take Moses, and you would have one picture. You would take Isaiah, and you would have another picture. You would take Jeremiah, and you would have another picture. But together, they all picture Christ. See how wonderful the Bible

 

is! And the same thing with the priests. And the same thing with the kings.

 

In a sense, I have threaded together the history from Genesis 12 right through to Malachi 4. And in the book of Matthew 1: 1, I am still trying to show you how linked the Bible is. If you are going to accept part of it, you have to accept all of it.

 

The New Testament Links

Jesus To David And To Abraham

 

Matthew 1: 1

(1) The book of the generation of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

 

What a link! What a joining with the Old Testament. As I did in one of my classes, I read and said “Who was Moses?” Now I say this: “Who is David? And who is Abraham? If I have read the Old Testament, I can understand the basis of the first verse of the New Testament. If I haven’t read the Old Testament I don’t know who David is. If I haven’t read the Old Testament, I don’t know who Abraham is. But if I have read the Old Testament, I know the stories.

 

How real is the person of the New Testament?

How real is Jesus Christ? – He is as real as David.

How real is Jesus Christ? – As real as Abraham.

How real are David and Abraham? – as real as the Bible.

 

And so when you start linking these things together you have reasonable reason to believe the history regarding Jesus Christ.

 

Romans 1: 1-3   I want you to see that this fact is amplified over and over again in the New Testament.

 

(1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

 

(2) (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

 

What is it talking about in verse 2? The Holy Scriptures – the Old Testament. What is in the Old Testament? – Promises.  Promises by the prophets. Concerning what? Read verse three.

 

(3) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

 

I want you to observe how many times we have, and will read the phrase “according to the flesh.” It is not talking about his Deity, but it is talking about his humanity. Jesus Christ is David’s son according (not to the Spirit) but the flesh. Have you got that! He is of the seed of David. Why is there so much history in the Old Testament about David? – because the New Testament is going to link Jesus Christ with David. And I have to believe about David in order to believe about Jesus, and I have to believe about Jesus in order to believe about David. They are linked together.

 

Luke 1: 26-33

If we read these verses a half a dozen times, it is not too often, because this truth takes a long time sometimes to sink in.

 

(26) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

 

(27) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

 

Why is there so much in the Old Testament about David? It is not that David was such a wonderful man in himself, but David is that wonderful forefather of this great person of the New

 

Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ. And where did Jesus get his connection with the house of David? – through Mary. Mary is of the house of David.

 

(28) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

 

There is one church today that tries to tell us that Mary is above women. She is not above women, she is blessed among women. Isn’t that wonderful!

 

(29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

 

(30) And, the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

 

Luke 1: 31-33

(31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,

That is the human contribution right there.

 

and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

 

(32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

 

He is Son the Highest, but he is also the son of David.

 

(33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 

Notice, he is connected with David in the passage, through Mary.

 

What do you have in the first verse in Matthew? – Jesus Christ is the son of David. Verified in Romans. Verified in Luke. Verified in Acts. But he is also from Abraham.

 

Hebrews 2: 16

(16) For verily he took not on him the nature of angels: (I guess he could have) but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

 

The New Testament, wherever you cut it, agrees with the first verse of Matthew that Jesus is of the seed of David and Abraham.

 

SOME WERE LOOKING FOR MESSIAH –

THE PROPHET – TO TELL, AND TO REVEAL

 

Some people who had read the Old Testament, were looking for a Messiah the Prophet -- to tell. They were right, because they had been promised a Prophet. And they had read about a Prophet.

 

And the woman of Samaria was looking for a Prophet-- to tell – to reveal.

 

John 7: 37-46

(37) And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

 

(38) and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

 

(39) Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

 

(40) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

 

(41) There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

 

(42) And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

 

(43) Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

 

(44) And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

 

(45) Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

 

(46) My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

 

John 4: 25-42

(25) The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

 

(26) Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

 

(27) And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? Or, Why talkest thou with her?

 

(28) The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

 

 (29) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ:

 

(30) Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

 

(31) In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

 

(32) But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

 

(33) Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat?

 

(34) Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do with the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

 

(35) Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 

(36) And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

 

(37) And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

 

(38) I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

 

(39) And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

 

(40) So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

 

(41) And many more believed because of his own word;

 

(42) And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

 

SOME WERE LOOKING FOR MESSIAH –

THE PRIEST – TO SAVE

 

Some, like in the story of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2,– were looking for a Priest ----to Redeem.

 

Luke 2: 10-11

(10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 

(11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 

Luke 2: 25-38

(25) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit  was upon him.

 

(26) And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

 

(27) And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

 

(28) then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

 

(29) Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to they word:

 

(30) For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

 

(31) Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

 

(32) A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

 

(33) And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

 

(34) And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

 

(35) (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 

(36) And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

 

(37) And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

 

(38) And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

 

SOME WERE LOOKING FOR MESSIAH –

THE KING - TO REIGN

 

Nathaniel in John 1 and the men who came from the east were looking for a King.

 

John 1: 45-49

(45) Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

 

(46) And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

 

(47) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile?

 

(48) Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

 

(49) Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

 

Matthew 2: 1-2

(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 

(2) saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

 

You see, they were all right in what they were looking for. Some were only looking for a Prophet. Some were only looking for a Priest. Some were only looking for a King. Because some had read some Scriptures, and others had read other Scriptures, and they were all right, but they were all wrong. And the reason that they were all wrong was because Jesus said in Luke 24: 25 -- O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken

 

 

You see, the prophets had spoken about a Prophet and a Priest and a King, but they weren’t all looking for the same thing. As we study, we are going to learn to put those things into the proper prospective.

 

The purpose of this lesson has been to show how linked Old Testament history really is. It is linked around the story of Israel and the leaders of that nation. Now we go on.

 

The Books Of Matthew To Revelation

 

We now leave the Old Testament and we come to the New Testament, -- Matthew to Revelation. As you read all of these books, there is something to observe from the reading. The first verse of each book of the New Testament (sometimes you have to go to the second verse) talks about Jesus Christ. We will quickly look at a few of these New Testament books. I do it, to bring to your remembrance what is here.

 

Matthew 1: 1

(1) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ

You can’t finish the first verse of Matthew , until you are face to face with a Person. And that Person is Jesus Christ. Who is it that links the New Testament together?– Jesus Christ.

 

Mark 1: 1-2

(1) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

 

(2) As it is written in the prophets.

Most people miss that. They interpret Mark without the connection with the Old Testament.

 

Matthew says: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ

Here in Mark, it says: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it is written in the Old Testament.

 

You cannot go on without connecting Mark with the Old Testament.

 

Luke 1: 1-2

(1) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us.

 

(2) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word.

 

I would remind you of something I have talked about before. I do not know why the translators were not correct in translating this. Look at John 1: 1, and notice what the translators did.

 

John 1: 1

(1) In the beginning was the Word

Who is that? If you read on, you know who that is. It is Jesus.

Now we go back to Luke 1: 2

 

Luke 1: 2

(2) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word.

 

Without any fear of contradiction by any scholar, the word “word,” should have been translated with a capital W (Word). It is talking about Jesus Christ. And Luke says we were eyewitnesses from the very beginning. So you can’t get past the second verse until you are face to face with Jesus.

 

Now you go to Acts 1: 1. and you see the same thing.

Acts 1: 1

(1) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

 

So you have the same thing. You can’t get out of the first verse until you are face to face with Jesus Christ.

 

Romans 1: 1

(1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

 

Romans, and in all of Paul’s epistles we see the same thing. All the way through the first verse of every book speaks of Jesus.

 

 

These Books Tell Us Basically:

                                                Who Jesus is

                                                 What He has done

                                                What He is doing now

                                                What He will yet do in the future

 

 

It is because Jesus is who He is that He can do what He does. And if He wasn’t who He is, He couldn’t do what He does. But Praise God, we believe He is able to do what He says He can do, because we believe He is who He says He is. And so you study the book to find out who He is, and what He does.

 

The Old Testament Brings One Face To Face

With A People.

 

Don’t miss this.

 

The New Testament Brings One Face To Face

With A Person

 

The Old Testament is linked together with a people. The New Testament is linked together with a person. And of course, that person is linked with those people, and those people are linked with that person. That is the importance of all of this.

 

Revelation 1: 1

(1) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

 

Now in Revelation 1:1  the Revelation of Jesus Christ. There will yet be a Revelation of this Person. Revelation, chapters 21 and 22, takes us  through the present purpose in plan, beginning with the Gentiles – carrying over with the Jews – completing with the Church. And when the plan is finished, then He will make all things new.

 

Concluding This Point --- Regarding Bible History

 

Old Testament history is primarily about the Jewish people of the nation of Israel. And Jews are still very real.

 

New Testament history is primarily about Jesus Christ. To prove the Bible to be false, you must first prove its Jewish history to be false. Only then can you do away with the person of Jesus. The Bible is so linked together historically, all must be true or all must be false. 

 

I have only touched high points. I have simply given you sufficient high points to show you how it is linked together. How are you going to pick and choose what you are going to believe? It is so linked together that if I am going to believe in Jesus Christ, I have to believe all the Bible.

 

 

6.   Examples Of History Linked With Geography

 

We have been illustrating how history is linked with history. Remember, in the start of this lesson  we said, if you are going to study the Bible, you are going to have to study history, you are going to have to study geography, and you are going to have to study prophecy. You cannot study the Bible without studying those things. We have shown you the links of history. Let me show you the links in geography.

 

Let’s turn to Genesis 15. This becomes a tremendous study all of its own. I only suggest it. I only introduce it. I leave it with all of the students to pursue it, as you study the Bible.

 

Genesis 15: 18

(18) In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram.

That is a fact of history.

 

Saying, Unto thy seed

There is prophecy in that, because at this point in the history, Abraham does not have any children. And so there is history that is connected with prophecy.

 

Have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

 

There is geography there. The covenant that was made with Abraham is connected with geography. And the thing that I love about it – I can still find Egypt on the map. And I can still find the Euphrates River on the map. The geography referred to in Genesis has not changed at all. Praise God. How real is the geography? --  as real as the history. How real is the history? – as real as the geography. Now let’s go from there to the New Testament.

 

Matthew 2: 1

(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

 

There are at least seven facts in Matthew 2: 1.

(1) Now when Jesus was born  (Fact #1, an historical statement)

in Bethlehem  (Fact #2,  geography)

The history of the birth of Jesus is connected with geography.

of Judaea  (Fact #3, geography)

 

You see, there is a place called Bethlehem New York. But that isn’t where Jesus was born. He was born in Bethlehem of Judaea. (geography)

 

in the days of Herod the king  (Fact #4 -history)

 

behold there came wise men (Fact #5 – history)

 

from the east  (Fact #6 - geography)

 

to Jerusalem (Fact #7 - geography)

 

Every geographical location in Matthew 2: 1, is connected with the birth of Jesus – you can find it on the map to this very day. It hasn’t changed.

 

Now turn to Luke 2: 1-7. Same thing, you have the history and geography interwoven.  The reason the geography is interwoven  with the history, is to impress upon us how real and genuine the history really is.

 

Luke 2: 1-7

(1) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

That is an historical statement.

 

 (2) (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

That is an historical statement. Is Syria still in the news? Is it still the same Syria that you read about in the Bible? – without any question! And so I have geography there.

 

(3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. (history and geography)

 

(4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee (geography)

out of the city of Nazareth (geography)

into Judaea (geography)

unto the city of David (history and geography)]

which is called Bethlehem (geography)

(because he was of the house and lineage of David) (history)

 

(5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. (history)

 

(6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (history)

 

(7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (that’s history)

 

And so you have another example – history, geography. Now I want to do something in chapter 3 that I have done so many times. I think it will impress upon you, this passage. I am going to read it the way it isn’t, so you will see it the way it is.

 

Luke 3: 1

Let’s bring it right up to date

(1) Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second, Mr. Mulroney, being Prime Minister of Canada, and Mr. Bennett being Premier of British Columbia, Mr. Harcourt being Mayor of Vancouver, and Pope John the Second being the

 

Pope of Rome, and Rev. Wes Schindel being the Moderator of the Apostolic Church of Pentecost, and Ben Kirkpatrick, being the Pastor of People’s Full Gospel Church.

 

Now listen, if I put all those things in one statement, would that not be a well-documented history? I’ve been doing that for twenty-five years. And to go back over my notes, I see how many times I have had to change it. Now, since 1952, I have left the same Queen there. But think of the Prime Ministers I have had to put in there. I put in Mulroney and Clarke and Trudeau, and Pierson. All in the same reign. Think of the Premiers that have changed. Think of the Mayors that have  changed. Think of the Popes and Moderators that have changed.

 

But look here – you have a document that is documented so precisely that you haven’t any question as to the time in history when Jesus was born. It is so interwoven with geography that to me, is tremendous. And so, remember, true history, and genuine geography are always linked together. If the geography is not genuine, the history is not genuine. If the history is genuine, the geography has to be genuine, to make the history genuine.

 

7.   Bible History, And Bible Geography

Are Linked Together With Bible Prophecy

 

I am building a structure. I am laying a foundation for Bible study. Bible history and Bible geography are linked together with Bible prophecy. Let’s give you three examples. I could have used many, but these are outstanding examples. They are so outstanding that I think they are the best in the Bible to use. That is why I am using them.

 

Jeremiah 16: 14-15

(14) Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord,

Do you all agree with me that that statement is prophecy?

that it shall no more be said,

 

The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; (history)

 

Now pause for a minute, Do you accept that? Do you believe that? Do you believe that that really happened?—that God brought Israel out of Egypt. It is now history.

 

(15) But, the Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

 

Can you see that verse 15 is definitely Prophecy?  Verse 15 is Prophecy, but what is it connected with? It is connected with history. Why is this important? Don’t miss this!

 

When you are studying Bible prophecy, prophecy is so linked with history that the Prophecy in fulfillment, must be as literal as the history with which it is connected. It is connected with literal accounts. Israel was brought out of Egypt – (history). They are going to be brought out again. The Prophecy has to be as literal as the history.

 

Let’s take another example. This always touches us. At least it should! It should always make us rejoice. And I care not how many times I read it, I praise God that this is what I know – that the Bible is the Word of God, that the Bible is Inspired of God, and that the Bible is alive. I always get blessed when I read Acts 1: 10, but I want you to notice, in verse 10 you have history. Verse 11 is Prophecy.

 

Acts 1: 10-11

(10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

 

Let me rub that in, if I can. Verse 10 is absolute, positively history, or it is nothing at all. It is genuine history, or erase it, forget all about it. Do you believe that 2000 years ago Jesus literally, actually, visibly, bodily, left the Mount of Olives and went to Heaven? That’s what it says. He is standing on the mount of Olives, and as they are looking, He goes up to Heaven. (history)

 

(11) which also said, Ye men of Galilee,(geography) why stand ye gazing up into heaven? (history) this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Prophecy)

 

What is the Prophecy? – it is embedded in the history. The Prophecy is connected with the history. How literal must be the fulfillment of the Prophecy? – as literal as the history. If the history is literal, the Prophecy is history – and so it is when you read all the Bible. Prophecy is so embedded in the history, that you can’t get away from it.

 

I am only using these passages as examples of this wonderful fact. Here is another passage that I have read over and over again. I think of the wonderful time when  I stood on the wall of Jerusalem, and looked over at the Mount of Olives, and read this passage of Scripture. And I read it every year, two or three times in school. And I love to read it.

 

Zechariah 14: 4-5

(4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east,

 

Notice, I am not now pointing out primarily the geography. Notice the geography in all of it.

 

And the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

 

Verse 4 is definite Prophecy. It has not yet taken place. The mount of Olives is still in one piece, and this Prophecy is going to be fulfilled. But now look at the next verse.

 

(5) And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: (that is history.) and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.(history, Prophecy)

 

You have a statement of history, then you have a statement of Prophecy. Then you have a statement of history and then a statement of Prophecy. How real is the Prophecy? – as real as the earthquake of the days of Uzziah. I Praise God that I believe that Prophecy is literal. Why? – because it is linked with literal history. Can you see what I am getting at? It is very important that you see this, if you are going to enjoy Bible study.

 

8.   Much Bible History Is Actually Fulfilled Prophecy.

 

We are going to look at Scriptures. I am giving you example #1 of John the Baptist

 

1.    The Example Of John The Baptist

 

The prophecy of Isaiah was written, in round figures, 700 years before John was born. And you also think, in our

 

lifetime, they have found the Isaiah scrolls that are dated back at least 200 years before the coming of Christ, you can’t help but realize how tremendous these things are.

 

Isaiah 40: 3

(3) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness.

 

If I say it now, I will say it again. Has anybody suggested to you the book of Isaiah is a miniature Bible? It is a Bible within the Bible. There are 66 books in the Bible. There are 66 chapters in Isaiah. There are 39 chapters in Isaiah that deal with the sins and the problems of Israel. But how does the 40th chapter begin? – comfort ye my people. What is verse 3? –

 

(3) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

 

Who is it talking about? This is not my idea, it is a Revelation of the Bible.

 

Matthew 3: 1-3

(1) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea.

 

(3) For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

 

So I don’t have to use my brains to figure out what Isaiah is talking about. I know by Divine Inspiration that when Isaiah wrote 700 years before Christ – and he said the voice of one crying in the wilderness – he was Prophesying about the coming of John.

 

Therefore the coming of John the Baptist was in Prophecy before it was in history, and the history of John, as recorded in

 

the New Testament is therefore is fulfilled Prophecy. And much of the history in the Bible, is fulfilled Prophecy.

 

2.    The Example Of Jesus

 

I am using some of the better known portions. It is not necessary to dig out the hidden Prophecies to do this, but this is an exercise in learning what your Bible is all about, and to see how wonderfully it is all woven together. The more you study your Bible, the more respect you have for it. How does faith come? – faith cometh by the Word of God. What are we doing? – we are showing you how it is the Word of God, from Genesis 1: 1 to Revelation 22: 21.

 

Micah 5: 2

(2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

You take that last statement, and anybody who reads that, would have to know, this person who is going to be born in Bethlehem, is not an ordinary person. His goings forth are from everlasting. That is not said about Adam, or any other man. So here is a special Person who is going to be born in the town of Bethlehem, and that, like Isaiah, is 700 years before it happened. A Prophecy 700 years before.

 

Matthew 2: 2,5

(2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

(1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 

(5) And they (the scribes) said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet.(Micah 5: 2)

 

See all the connection? When you are reading in the New Testament about the birth of Jesus Christ -- it is history. But when you are reading about the birth of Jesus Christ, what is it? – It is actually fulfilled Old Testament Prophecy. Prophecy has a way of merging into history. Glory be to Jesus!

 

I have a writing in front of me, interpreting Prophecy. I quote what it says:

 

Bible scholars, in defense of what they term “literalism” may often say that prophecy is pre-written history. The author of this says: “This statement is just not true.”

 

I care not who writes that. This statement is true. Prophecy is pre-written history. Can you see that? John is going to come. Did he come? --Yes. Did he come in history? --Yes. Jesus is going to come. Did He come? The Prophecy is merged into history. Let’s take a couple of other examples.

 

I am amazed when I read these things. I’m amazed at how much God can pack into so little. That’s why I am always excited about Bible Prophecy – because after I have tried to expound Bible Prophecy, I’m always sure, that when it is fulfilled, there will be a hundred more things in it than I can see now. You cannot see what is in Prophecy before its fulfillment.

 

Abraham is asleep, and God is talking to him. And only God could have revealed this

Genesis 15: 13-14

(13) And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

 

 (14) And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

 

What do you have in Genesis 15: 13-14? You have two verses of Prophecy. I hope you can all see that. Abraham doesn’t have any children. God tells him: “Abraham, you are going to have children and they are going to produce a nation. They are going to go down to Egypt. They are going to be in bondage in Egypt for 400 years. And afterward, I am going to unveil my power, and I am going to bring them out.” Isn’t it there? – all before it happened.

 

Now, you have the whole book of Exodus that follows Genesis. The book of Exodus is primarily history. It is now Bible history, yet in reality, the book of Exodus is the record of the fulfillment of two little verses of Prophecy. You stop and think. How many chapters are there in Exodus? – 40 chapters. How many chapters does it take to fulfill two little verses of prophecy? Well, when God starts doing things, it takes a lot of chapters. It takes 40 chapters to show you how God did, what He said he was going to do. There is a lot of history to be written yet, because there is a lot of Prophecy that hasn’t been fulfilled yet. And when Prophecy is fulfilled, more chapters like Exodus are going to be written.

 

3.    The Example Of Daniel

 

Let’s go to the next one. Perhaps this is one of the most important Prophetic passages in all of the Old Testament. It involves so much, on many subjects, that the interpretation is so very important. I’m only, for my purpose, picking out one line.

 

Daniel 9:25   the last part of the verse

(25) the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

 

Just pull that out of verse 25. Daniel says, the street of Jerusalem is going to built again. Daniel says, the wall of the city is going to be built again. That, when it was written, was one line of Prophecy. Are you getting it?

 

We have two verses back in the book of Genesis. Here we have one line of Prophecy, and the book of Nehemiah, which is now history. It is really the fulfillment of one sentence of Bible Prophecy.

 

The book of Nehemiah tells you about the Jews going back digging out the rubbish, rebuilding the wall, cleaning out the streets, and rebuilding the city. And it also tells you that when they were building, they were up on the wall with the sword in one hand, and a trowel in the other, because they had trouble when they were doing it. And so Daniel’s Prophecy was very literally fulfilled.

 

Thus we learn -- before all Bible Prophecy is fulfilled, much history is going to be written. Did you get that? And you better believe that it is not all fulfilled yet. Before it is all fulfilled, there is going to be a tremendous amount of history to be made.

 

Review

 

Going back, we looked at point #1. We stated that when you study the Bible, it is going to include three subjects:

 

                                                real history,

                                                real geography,

                                                and prophecy,

 

2 Peter 1: 19    Peter says

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.

 

Then down to point #2. There are two facts about Bible history. First, Bible history is literal. And we repeat – that means “true to the letter.” Secondly it is linked together so that, in the Bible, we have a continued story.

 

Then skipping down to point #5. We looked at links in Bible history.

 

Point #6. We emphasized, and we illustrated, that Bible history is linked and interwoven with genuine geography.

 

Point #7. Bible history, and Bible geography are both linked with Bible Prophecy. And that is a very important observation for our future understanding of what we are going to study in the Bible.

 

Point #8. We started to show that Bible history is actually fulfilled Prophecy.

 

9.   Bible Prophecy That Becomes Bible History,

Then Becomes Typical Prophecy.

 

Everybody should be wide awake when you read this, because it boggles the minds of some -- I hope not yours. Bible Prophecy that becomes Bible history – then becomes typical Prophecy.

 

Considering Bible history, Bible geography and Bible Prophecy, we discover, the Bible is not an ordinary book, it is very, very unique.

 

Don’t let this throw you. I say it again: Bible Prophecy that becomes Bible history, then becomes typical Prophecy. It typifies something yet to come.

 

Example

 

Jeremiah 25: 11

(11) And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

 

And then it tells us in the next verse that there is going to be a return. But just notice a Prophecy of the Babylonian captivity for exactly seventy years.

 

In Isaiah 39: 6-7, there is a remarkable prophecy relative to this same subject, but there are details in Isaiah 39 that you cannot find in the book of Jeremiah. Another significance is that the book of Jeremiah was written almost immediately before the Babylonian captivity, whereas the book of Isaiah was written over 100 years before the captivity. So in one sense, it is more miraculous.

 

Isaiah 39: 1-7

(1) At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

 

(2) And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah showed them not.

 

(3) Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they

 

unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

 

(4) Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.

 

Now here comes the Prophecy.

(5) Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:

 

(6) Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.

 

Now here is something significant, in the light of what we are going to read next.

 

(7) And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

 

That was written well over a hundred years before it happened.

 

Turning over to Daniel, we have the historical document of the fulfillment of both Jeremiah and Isaiah’s Prophecy. I want to show you one detail that you have in the first chapter that fits in with Isaiah 39.

 

Daniel chapters 1: 1,3 & 6

(1) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

 

 (3) And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

 

(6) Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

 

Isaiah said  that out from the loins of Hezekiah, seed would come. They would be carried to Babylon, and they would become eunuchs in the palace of Babylon. That’s what happened to Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. And so when you are reading Daniel 1, although you are reading genuine history, it is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s Prophecy. Isaiah said this would happen. Now you go on to the second chapter of Daniel. It is history. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. He saw a great image. And it is described in detail. Then we go to the third chapter

 

Daniel 3: 1

(1) Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

 

(5) …..ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.

 

And if you go down further in the chapter, it tells you that those who refused to bow would be cast into the fiery furnace. So if they wouldn’t bow before the image that Nebuchadnezzar set up, then they would be put into the fiery furnace and die. That was his plan. Now I am suggesting to you that you have a Prophecy that became a history – that becomes a type of something else. Here is the wonder of this wonderful Book.

 

Revelation 13: 11-17 John speaking

(11) And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

 

(12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

 

(13) And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

 

(14)And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

 

(15) And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

 

(16) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

 

(17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

 

I am trying to show you, that what you have in the book of the Revelation is Prophecy. It has to do with a dictator, it has to do with an image, it has to do with worship, and it has to do with death,-- if you won’t bow.

 

Now you go back to the book of Daniel – and you have a historical story. You have a story of a man Nebuchadnezzar, who typifies the one who is to come.  Nebuchadnezzar sets up an image, and says – everybody bow down, and if you don’t you will burn. So what I am showing you out of the Bible – it is woven together. First you have a Prophecy, then you have history, and that history typifies what is ahead. Only God can figure that kind of thing out, in my opinion.

 

And so when I look in the Bible, the more I look at it, the more I wonder at this wonderful Book.

 

The Bible is not an ordinary book. It is so interwoven, it’s like a wonderful pattern woven together. And if you take out one piece, if you pull out a thread – you spoil it all. Thank God for the Bible. I learned to sing, about 35 years ago:

                   I thank God for the Bible, and the truth its brought to me.

 

I am giving you three examples of what I mean by prophecy becoming history, and that in turn, becomes typical. We need to go back to Jeremiah again.

 

Example

 

Jeremiah 25: 11

(11) And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

 

Jeremiah 29: 10 (An additional Prophecy to that information. First, we are told that nations will go into Babylonian captivity.

(10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place (that is to the land of Israel.)

 

So in Jeremiah 25:11, you have a Prophecy of the captivity. Then Jeremiah 29:10, a Prophecy of the return of the people.

 

Daniel 9: 25-26

((25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

 

(26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

 

You have a Prophecy of rebuilding the streets of Jerusalem and the city of Jerusalem.

 

Ezra and Nehemiah recorded the history fulfilling the Prophecy. The children of Israel went back from Babylonian captivity, and Ezra and Nehemiah tell you that. They went back to Jerusalem and they rebuilt their city, and they rebuilt their temple. And all three of those things are typical of what is also in future Prophecy.

 

Isaiah 11: 11-12

(11) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people,

 

I want to say this, because, so often, it is overlooked. And I must say it again and again. Notice the phrase “the second time.” There are those who interpret this verse and say that God brought Israel out of Egypt – that was the first time. Then He brought them out of Babylon – that was the second time. But that is not true – because in here it says “a remnant.” He will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant.

 

When He brought Israel out of Egypt He brought the whole nation. Did you get that? It wasn’t a remnant. Remnant means “a few” of the people. He brought the whole nation out of Egypt, but when He brought them out of Babylon, He only brought back fifty thousand people – a remnant. So there was

 

a part of the nation that was brought back under Ezra and Nehemiah. And God does not promise that He is going to take every Jew back to Israel. But He is going to take a remnant of the nation back. And He is going to do it a second time, and I believe we are now seeing the beginning of that. He said He would do it a second time. Let’s go on.

 

Revelation 11: 1-2

The Jews are going to return again .

(1) And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

 

But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

 

That passage introduces the subject of  the Temple and the Temple area in the book of Revelation. So putting Scripture together, the Jews are going to go back again. The Jews are going to rebuild their Temple again. That is future Prophecy. They have already done it once. So what they did in the past is only a picture of what is ahead. It is typical Prophecy.

 

Example

 

This one always thrills me when I look at it. It has to do with king David. In one of our other lessons, we made reference to this passage. But now we are reading it for a different purpose.

 

2 Samuel 7: 12

In this verse you have a Prophecy made to David

(12) And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

 

There is going to come a seed out of David, and God is going to set Him up and establish His Kingdom. There is a Prophecy.

 

2 Chronicles 6: 10

There is something here, that to me, is always amazing; it matters not how often I read it. Keep in mind what we have read. David is going to die, and David is going to have a Son. And that Son (David’s seed) is going to sit on David’s throne.

 

Notice verse 1 says: Then said Solomon – (so it is Solomon who is talking.)

(10) The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoke.

 

In other words, Solomon said: God has fulfilled a Promise, or, God has fulfilled a Prophecy

 

for I (Solomon) am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set  on the throne of Israel, as the Lord Promised,

 

Solomon said, God made a Promise to David. God has fulfilled that Promise in ME, because I am now on the throne of Israel. But now go back to 1 Chronicles. I always say, “be prepared for a shock if you have never read it before. And pause, and look what’s here.”

 

1 Chronicles 29: 23

I don’t know what some people do with this verse. In fact, I think they never look at it. But now look what it says: We just read – Solomon sat on what throne? – the throne of Israel. Where is the throne of Israel? Is it in Heaven? – I think not. Where is the throne of Israel? It is in Jerusalem – where David sat. And Solomon sat on that throne. But now look at this next verse. I’ve got some information that is tremendous.:

 

(23) Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father

 

LORD means “Jehovah.” Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah.

 

And what is the New Testament word for Jehovah? –Jesus. So what could you read in there? Then Solomon sat on the throne that belongs to Jesus. It’s there! He sat on David’s throne. He sat on Israel’s throne. But he sat on the throne of the Lord. So what do you have? Solomon then, is only a type. What happened to Solomon is only a shadow of what is ahead.

 

David was the king who was despised and rejected, and a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. But Solomon was the king in all his glory, and his fame went throughout all the earth. And the Queen of Sheba came for hundreds of miles to see the glory. And when she came she said: the half has not been told me. It exceeds anything I have ever read about. Do you know why? – it’s typical. It is foreshadowing something.

 

One of these days, Somebody greater than Solomon is going to return and sit on David’s throne.  And when He does, I’ll tell you, it is going to be Glorious. They are going to come for more than a thousand miles, as did the Queen of Sheba, to come and see the Glory -- not of Solomon, but of Jesus. And the report is going to be  “Everything that I read, isn’t half as good as it really is. There’s not half been told.” That’s the way it is going to be.

 

Now, somebody says “Where do you get that from – that this throne belongs to Jesus?” Look in your passages of Scripture.

 

Luke 1: 31-,33

The context has to do with Mary, and her conception of Jesus.

(31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

 

(32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

 

(33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 

 

There you have the throne of David

Connected with the person of Jesus.

 

 

Acts 2: 29-31

Again quoting from the Old Testament, it talks about the Resurrection.

 

(29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

 

(30) Therefore being a prophet, (He is referring to what he read from the Psalms) and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

 

(31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ,

 

Now, what have you read? – simply this – it’s going to be a Resurrected man who is going to sit on David’s throne. Jesus did not sit on David’s throne when He came the first time. In fact, He couldn’t do it until after His Resurrection, because David, seeing that Jesus was going to sit on this throne – spoke of the Resurrection.

 

I want to repeat that.

It is the Resurrected Lord who holds the credentials of the throne of David. It is a Resurrected Man who is going to return. And it is a Resurrected Man Who is going to sit on David’s throne.

 

To say that Jesus is seated on David’s throne now, as some say, is really to say that David’s throne is in Heaven. Can you see that? If Jesus is now seated on David’s throne, then you have to place David’s throne in Heaven. But I don’t read about that in Revelation 3. It doesn’t say that he sat on his throne, but on his Father’s throne

 

He is not now in Heaven seated on David’s throne. David’s throne is on earth. David’s throne is at Jerusalem. And one day Prophecy is going to merge into history, when Jesus sits on David’s throne – fulfilling the type that was seen in Solomon that fulfills the Prophecy that was made to David. And so the Prophecy made to David, became history in what happened to Solomon, and it becomes typical of what is ahead in the future. And praise God, God has it so interlinked and interlocked, that if one thing fails, the whole thing fails. But because the links prior have not failed, praise God, what is ahead is not going to fail either. The links are all going to be fulfilled.

 

10. We Conclude

 

Considering Bible history, considering Bible geography, and considering Bible Prophecy, we discover, the Bible is not an ordinary book. It cannot be studied like an ordinary book. It cannot be passed over lightly. It is unique, and praise God, it is above us, and it will always be above us.