Finding Jesus in the Bible…So We Can Follow Him in Life
Bible Reading Plans
- Plan One: New Testament Only
- Plan Two: New Testament + Psalms
- Plan Three: New Testament + History
- Plan Four: The Entire Bible – Year 1 of 3, Year 2 of 3, Year 3 of 3
Don’t know which plan? Go to A Christ-Centered Bible Reading Plan: Quick Start.
Extras
Verse of the Day, Audio Capsule, and Video Minute
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(Today’s Reading)
The Implications of the Second Coming as Accomplished Fact
(Book Installment 60)
The Plan Behind the Second Coming
Chapter 4 – The Predetermined Plan
The Importance of the Four Vantage Points
Earlier in this chapter, when I was describing to you “The Three R’s” of God’s predetermined plan – Revelation, Restoration, and Recordation – I mentioned that revelation was progressive. That is, God disclosed Himself and His plan step by step – not all at once. Therefore, we always have to keep in mind where we are in the Bible when we’re reading it.
A simple example of progressive revelation is the subject of circumcision. If we’re reading in the Old Testament, we see that God made circumcision an important matter for Abraham and his descendants.
Genesis 17:10 “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
In the New Testament, however, circumcision – while still important – became a spiritual matter, not a physical one.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
When God progressively revealed Himself and His plan, He was not changing His mind along the way. Rather, the disclosures of His plan were on a need-to-know basis – just as a parent teaches a child what needs to be known when it needs to be known. Remember also the refrain from Ecclesiastes: “There’s a time for everything.” That’s why they teach driver’s ed in high school and not kindergarten. That’s why there was a time when Jesus sent His disciples to Jews only, but there came a time when He sent them to the Gentiles as well. Circumcision and target audience are only two examples of how God’s revelation unfolded.
Here again are the four key vantage points on God’s plan (in execution order):
- Pre-Creation
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- The Second Coming
Recall also that the pre-creation perspective was not revealed through the prophets, but rather only through the apostles (by way of Jesus). That’s why Matthew said this of Jesus:
Matthew 13:34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.
Matthew 13:35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES;
I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.“
And it’s why Jesus said this to His disciples:
Matthew 13:17 “…many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
I’m only speaking in generalities here, but, as we work through the various implications of the Second Coming, this framework will be needed to help us unravel things that have been misunderstood by the institutional church for centuries.
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