God’s Timeline:
Without a full understanding of God’s timetable, confusion will be demonstrated when particular Bible subjects are discussed. Following is an overview of these time-lines, from Adam through the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ.
Using round figures lets take a look at God’s timetable, past, present, future.
When was Adam created by God? The question is unknown. How long ago did God evict Adam from the Garden of Eden, that’s another story. The day Adam was evicted is the day the clock began to tick, it was on October 23 4004 B.C.
From 4004 B.C. until Noah’s flood 1600 years passed.
From Noah to the tower of Babel 200 years:
From the tower of Babel to Abraham, 200 years.
From Abraham to Moses, 500 years:
From Moses to king David, another 500 years.
From David to the birth of our Lord, about 4 B.C., 1000 years passed.
Up to Jesus birth, 4000 years had passed from Adam.
Jesus died on the cross on April 5th, 30 A.D.
From Abraham to Paul, God for the most part was dealing with the Jews, and the land.
What does A.D. mean, concerning years? A.D. comes from the Latin Anno Domni. It means year of our Master, or Lord. Today, those who reject God; those who desire to take every mention of His name from man’s vocabulary, have changed A.D. to C.E. C.E. means common era. If anyone can tell me what common era means, please do so. It appears the world will do whatever it takes to rid itself of any mention of God.
Solomon’s temple was destroyed in 586 B.C. The Jews went into captivity for 70 years. When 70 years had passed, about 44,000 Jews returned to Israel, and began to rebuild the temple. Most of the other Jews in Babylon, Media, and Persia began to migrate to other parts of the known world. This is where the phrase, “Wandering Jew” comes from. The truth of their migration to other lands, and the results can be demonstrated in,
Acts 2:5, “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Ver.9, Men from “Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia in Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, and Rome.
These Jews had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. Upon hearing the gospel by way of the apostles, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, believed; and 3000 were converted. When these men returned to their homes in foreign lands, they revealed the Gospel to other Jews. This was the beginning of the first century Christian church in foreign lands. The gospel of Jesus Christ was being heard around, and by the civilized Jewish world.
When King Cyrus, Darius, and Artxerxs gave their decree for the Jews to be released after 70 years of captivity; these people, now were free to return to Israel, and to rebuild their temple. Ezra and Nehemiah oversaw the task, and began rebuilding the walls of the second temple; followed by the temple itself. It was poorly constructed, and much smaller in comparison to Solomon’s temple. Years later, Herod, came along and finished the second temple that stood on Mt. Moriah. He enlarging it, and made it beautiful once again. For this reason, it was called Herod’s temple.
But there was one major problem, God was having no part in this work of Herod. The ark was missing, the mercy seat, the eternal flame, and the levitical priesthood was no longer charged with the sacrifices of the people etc. And the presence of God was no longer seen there. The Pharisees were false priests, men appointed by Rome, and corrupt in every point of the law.
After Stephen’s death, Paul met Jesus Christ in a vision, and was told to go to the Gentiles. On the other side, the apostles were told to go only to the Jews. Paul went into the desert for some 3 years before he began his ministry. I feel that Jesus Christ had his own intense Sunday school Bible study with Paul at this time.
Some 21 years after Paul’s conversion, Christian Jews became aware of the Gentiles having received the Holy Spirit, and they being a part of the church of Jesus Christ. Peter upon his vision of the sheet, Acts 10:11, from heaven concerning clean (Jews) and unclean (Gentiles) things, finally understood, and then explained it to other Jewish Christian leaders.
I am not saying Paul did not reach some Jews in foreign lands, or the apostles did not reach some Gentiles; but these were clear commands given by Jesus Christ to both. Apostles were to go to the Jews, and Paul to the Gentiles. Paul in his travels was finding Jews, and synagogues throughout the Roman Empire, more proof of their migration from Babylon, and Persia.
In 70 A.D. the temple at Jerusalem was destroyed.
From 586 B.C. the time when Solomon’s temple was destroyed until the 2ed coming of Jesus Christ (still future) for his Bride, it is written,
Luke 21:24, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
Some will claim that Jerusalem is no longer being trampled under foot by Gentiles. But as long as the Moslems have a part of the land, and their temple rests on the place where the Solomon’s Temple was, it can be said, Jerusalem is being trampled under by Gentiles.
After the church is raptured up, the 70th week of Daniel will begin. The first 69 were finished when Jesus was cut off at the cross. The first 69 weeks, Dan.9:24, were for the Jews. God said to Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon THY (the Jews) people and upon the holy city, to FINISH the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity.”
This 70th week is still future. When completed, it will finish God’s promises He made with the Jews, and for the land. Finished will be the Abrahamic, the Davidic, and land covenants God made with them. This 70th week will be a very difficult time for the Jews. The anti-Christ will be revealed, and many will die. But in the end, Jesus will establish His kingdom on earth, and He will rule and reign as, “Lord of Lord’s, and King of Kings.”
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com