The BIG Picture (Study)

The Stages of Christ's Ascension and Return (Part 9) Verses often do not provide timeline context I'd like to draw your attention to an important concept before we get into the next stage of Christ's return. This concept will become relevant as we continue in this study. It is crucial to understand that verses often do not provide timeline context. As we study and piece multiple scripture together, one would gain the information necessary to discover if there is, and if any, what the timeline is between verses. Let's have a look at what I'm referring to in our key verses, 1 Thess.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:   1 Cor.15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed [raptured], 52 In a moment , in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : As already discussed in previous posts, the &#

OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.2) This is Part 2 of the Series   Click here to start with Part 1 Examples of 'primary' progression and context In part 1 of this article, we proved that the Bible is a singular PLAN, albeit very intricate. As with any plan (or project), it has a start and an end point, and between these one typically has parts or specific actions that provide progression and momentum to achieve the planned objective. In this part, we will have a look at the divisions of the plan that provide its progress. Depending on what your focus is, there are many clear divisions in the Bible that can be identified based on period, people group, covenant or promise and various attributes. Our timeline image in the header of the page provides some of the primary divisions, or parts of Gods plan. Some of the primary divisions we can clearly recognize and which we will shortly analyze are, prophecy and

Two Verses that might Challenge your Doctrine (Part.2) This is  part 2  of the series Click here to start with  Part 1 The two verses I deal with in this article played a HUGE role in helping me to understand the Bible in its proper context. If one does not understand how to divide the Word and bring context to the two verses that are mentioned in this article, they can be pretty hard to interpret correctly. As I mentioned before in part 1, these are the two verses that got me on the path of studying the Word in a dispensational way, ( or as Paul puts it, rightly dividing the Word of truth , 2 Tim.2:15). The reason is because these two verses mention some very interesting things, things that will cause you to question if you actually read the verse correctly, things that will certainly make you think twice about what Paul was really saying. So, let me introduce the second verse to you, Romans 16:25-26  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to  my gosp

Two Verses that might Challenge your Doctrine (Part.1) The following two verses referenced below played a HUGE role in helping me to understand the Bible in its proper context. If I never knew at that time what I now know about the Bible, these two verses would have been hard to swallow, hard to digest, hard to agree with! I trust you get my point. :) In actual fact, it is these very two verses that got me on the path of studying the Word in a dispensational way, (or as Paul puts it, rightly dividing the Word of truth, 2 Tim.2:15 ). The reason is because these two verses mention some very interesting things, things that will cause you to question if you actually read the verse correctly, things that will certainly make you think twice about what Paul was really saying.  So, let me break your suspense and jump into the first of these two verses and provide some comments and interpretation on them. Our first verse is, 2 Corinthians 5:16

The Connection between Abraham and Paul (Part.2) This is  part 2  of the series Click here to start with  Part 1 Lets connect the dots between Abraham and Paul Having set the scene,  in part 1 , that creation is corrupt in both heaven and earth, we indicated that God predestined the cleansing of these two realms by two separate people groups.  Genesis 22:15-17  is an incredible verse that describes the two people groups in God's plan of redemption, but lets have a look at some  even more incredible connections  ( similarities or parallels ) within these two people groups. Both people groups belong to  a new faith stream  ( this is my own personal description ) that describes a branching off from the main undercurrent of unredeemed humanity.  In order to become part of  'the faith stream',  one needs to respond  'by faith'  to the gospel * , the good news and instruction of redemption that God prescribed a

The Connection between Abraham and Paul (Part.1) Setting the scene There are 2 programs in God's PLAN of redemption; an  earthly  program and a  heavenly  program. We all know that Genesis 1:1 reads, Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the  heavens  and the  earth . Heaven and earth are two  separate  realms that make up God's creation. We should also be aware that both these realms are corrupt and need 'cleansing'.  The heavens were corrupted when God cast Satan out of the 3rd heaven as we read in  Isaiah 14:12  and  Ezekiel 28:16 , and the result of  this is confirmed in  Job 15 , Job 15:15  Behold, He  [God]  puts no trust in his saints  [angels, see Job 4:18] ; yes,  the heavens are not clean in His sight . The earth and everything in it is corrupt and under a curse as we read in, Genesis 3 .   The conclusion of this is that God predestined two programs in his great redemption

OBS: God's Word is a Progressive Plan (Part.1) Consider a plan or project. Logically, it has a starting point and an end. Between the start and end there are a series of steps, or actions, that navigate those involved in the project to the end result. If there is deviation from the planned steps or actions, the project flow is disrupted and complications can occur. Take for example building a house. First, it must be planned out via blueprint. Next a plot must be bought. After this one must lay a foundation, built the walls and finally add the roof. These are the basic sequence of steps involved. But say the builders mix things up and start building the roof first! They have deviated from the plan and the whole project is affected. To take this example one step further, consider the materials used to build a house. One cannot use bricks to build the roof, or roof slates to build the walls. Now, let me get to my point. Have you ever c