Time
Periods In The Bible
Hello and God bless you.
Please turn with me to the gospel of Luke Chapter 16 verse
16. I want you to see a statement that Jesus made
that is truly foundational to our understanding of the
bible. Jesus recognized and understood that time
periods were important. In Luke sixteen Jesus had
just said: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he
will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one
and despise the other. Ye can not serve God and
mammon.”[money-greed] The Pharisees that were
listening heard him say this. They, being covetous, began to
deride him. His answer to them was:
Luk 16:15 Ye are they which justify yourselves before men;
but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among
men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since
that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into
it.
Notice the change in time periods that Jesus is talking
about. “The law and the prophets were;” notice this
is past tense. The word until denotes a passage of
time up to a point where it stops. For example, I was 25
until my 26th birthday. When my 26th birthday
arrived I was no longer 25. The law was until John
the Baptist. Since that time, Jesus said to them, the kingdom of God is
preached.
The king was here. The kingdom was being
proclaimed. The disciples and most who
heard the preaching of the kingdom thought that an earthly physical
kingdom would be set up. They were hoping for a military
warrior king to expel the Roman army out of
Israel. They missed the
point. The avenging kingdom will happen in the
future during the appearing time period after the return of
Christ.
In the next verse he tells us that the law did not
fail. He was there on earth as a man to fulfill and
complete the law. Galatians tells us that Jesus was the end
of the law. The law
was in effect UNTIL it ended. Since then it has not been in
effect. The law did not fail, it was completed. It is
done-for.
As Jesus hung preparing to die he declared: “it is complete!”
He had fulfilled all of the requirements of the law. The laws
of Moses are no longer in effect. So the relationship with
God is no longer through the nation of Israel but through the one and
only king of kings, lord of lords Christ Jesus. A new era had
arrived, a new time period. Look with me at the major time
periods of the bible:
The Bible presents seven distinct divisions of time. We must
be careful to know which time period the scripture is addressed
to: The bible starts: In the beginning God
…” God is not subject to time. He is
future/present/past without any
distinction. Time periods are
from man’s perspective. With God a day is the same as a
thousand years. But the bible is written so that
the human mind can understand an infinite God’s interaction with finite
mankind. So from our standpoint there are time
periods.
Time periods within the bible are key to understanding God’s plan for
us specifically without trying to carry out his plan for someone like
Balaam who had a conversation with an ass. He fit in his time
period, we fit in ours. If we try to drag other time periods
into ours we end up talking to an …….. OK, lets begin in
Genesis Chapter two verse 7.
The Paradise Time Period started when God created Adam.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man
became a living soul.
Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden;
and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Relationship: Adam and Eve communicated directly with God;
there was no need for a mediator or go between. They talked
face to face. But then they were tempted and followed the
advice of the devil in the form of a
serpent. When they sinned, they
spiritual died just as God had warned.
The Paradise Time Period ended when Adam and Eve were expelled from the
Garden of Eden. (Gen 3:23,24)
Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make
coats of skins, and clothed them.
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as
one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand,
and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east
of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every
way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The Patriarchal Time Period started with Adam as the first
patriarch.
Starting with Adam and ending with Moses, God’s relationship was with
the head of the family or the Patriarch. A prime
example is Abraham and the covenant that God established with him
whereby the family of Abraham was blessed due to the relationship
between God and Abraham. Abraham’s family prospered
and grew until God made it a nation.
The Patriarchal Time Period ended with Moses and the law. (Ex 19:5-25)
Exo 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto
him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of
Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Exo 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how
I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and
keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above
all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an
holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the
children of Israel.
Exo 19:7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the
people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD
commanded him.
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All
that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of
the people unto the LORD.
And so on and on ….. The law was given by way of Moses and
the people of Isreal became a people kept under the law.
The Law Time Period started with the giving of the law (ten
commandments) to Moses. (Ex 20:1-17)
Exo 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,
Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out
of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love
me, and keep my commandments.
Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in
vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in
vain.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy
God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the
sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the
LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may
be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbour.
Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his
maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy
neighbour's.
Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the
lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and
when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and
we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
God’s relationship under the law period was with the nation as a whole
by way of the law. The priesthood and tabernachle
and later the temple were the focus. The people of Isreal’s
relationship with God was regulated by the laws. A system of
sacrifices, tithes and taboos that culminated with the yearly entering
in to the holy of holies by the high priest provided a
temporary covering of blood for their sins.
The Law Time Period ended with the proclamation of the kingdom by John
the Baptist. (Luke 16:16)
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify
yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is
highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since
that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into
it.
The Christ Time Period started with the preaching of John the
Baptist.
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the
times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth.
Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they
beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he
went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye
gazing up into heaven? 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.
Act 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount
called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Act 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an
upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew,
Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of
Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and
supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with
his brethren.
Act 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an
hundred and twenty,)
Act 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have
been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before
concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Act 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part
of this ministry.
Act 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of
iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all
his bowels gushed out.
Act 1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem;
insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that
is to say, The field of blood.
Act 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his
habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his
bishoprick let another take.
Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us
all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same
day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness
with us of his resurrection.
Act 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who
was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Act 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest
the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and
apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go
to his own place.
Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell
upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as
of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Christ time period ended the day of Pentecost with the giving of
holy spirit. (Acts 1:7-2:4)
The Grace Time Period: Started with the giving of holy spirit on the
day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:4)
This is the time period that we live in. For direct straight forward
biblical directions for living in this time period read the letters of
Paul. Our time period was not prophesied
in the old testament. The bible calls it a mystery or a
secret that God kept until He reveled it to Paul. We are the
people of the mystery: Christ in you the hope of glory
people.
The Grace Time Period will end when Christ returns. (I Thes 4:16)
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and
so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The Return of Christ will usher in the Appearing Time Period. (I Thes
4:16) and includes the events prophesied in the book of Revelation.
The Appearing Time Period will end at the time foretold in Revelation
20:15.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on
it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before
God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is
the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and
hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged
every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of
life was cast into the lake of fire.
Paradise will return at the time prophesied in Revelation 21:1. Will
not end.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the
first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no
more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and
be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make
all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true
and faithful.
The original plan for mankind was paradise in a face to face
relationship with God. In the
Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve walked and talked with God.
There was no sin, deceit, danger, or sickness and
death. Adam’s sin plunged all of mankind into
spiritual death and put us at odds with God and under the thumb of the
devil. Through out the time periods in
the bible we can plainly see the persistent working of God to redeem
mankind from the bondage that Adam led us
into.
We live in an exciting time period. We live in the time of
Grace. For those of us that have responded to God’s
call, God has redeemed us from the curse of the law and we are
free. He has birthed us of his seed, made us sons
and daughters of God. We are a part of the holy family,
brothers, sisters and joint heirs with Christ.
The Bible presents seven distinct divisions of time. We must
be careful to know which time period the scripture is addressed
to. Time periods within the bible are key to understanding
God’s plan for us. We are living in the grace time
period, looking for the appearing of our lord and savior Christ Jesus
to return. Remember Balaam and his unhappy conversation with
an ass. He lived in his time period, we live in
ours. The word of God has specific
instructions for us in this time
period. The stories
of Balaam, Abraham, Moses, Potiphar’s wife and the field of bones that
got up are for our learning and encouragement but not for instruction
in living.
Happy reading! May your study be inspired and blessed.
