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Old Testament history as a roadmap to Christian history

It is hoped the reader can see at least a few parallels here between Old Testament history and Christian history. I hope to point these out in greater focus in each of the time categies under the heading "external support" or merely placing a date of the historical event.

Israelite history as a pattern for Christian history, 1 Corinthians 10:11

The Exodus

Preface: Preparing for the journey
Exodus 1-12
Moses, the Prophet-Deliverer,
his special birth and early life,
burning bush encounter with God,
returned from the desert as miracle-working deliverer of God's Chosen People
(the Israelties)
from bondage
under the rule of Pharoah.
The last supper under the rule of Pharoah,
the sacrifice of the Passover lamb.

The Tribulation

Preface: Preparing for the journey
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Jesus, the Prophet-Savior like Moses,
His birth and early life,
baptismal encounter with God,
returned from the desert as miracle-working
deliverer of God's Elect People
(the Christians)
from bondage
under the Law of Moses.
The last supper under the Law of Moses,
the sacrifice of Christ our Passover.

The Journey of Transition

Exodus 13-40, Leviticus, Numbers, Dueteronomy -- The 40-year Exodus from Egypt through the desert to the Inheritance/Promised Land; Moses the promised deliverer; Moses returns after 40 days of fasting with the 10 commandments written on stone; Moses, the Law-giver, delivers the Law of Moses.

The Journey of Transition

30-70AD: The 40-year New Testament historical account:Acts-Revelation: The Second Exodus-Tribulation from the Law of Moses to the Kingdom of the Heavens; Christ our promised Deliverer/Savior, Christ our Passover, Christ returns from 40 days of fasting with the Gospel written on hearts with the Spirit; the Law of Christ; Jesus/Spirit, the Life-giver, delivers the Law of Christ; Christ our Rock for refreshing water, etc., "God has ordained that you should enter His Kingdom through much Tribulation."

Entering the Promised Inheritance

Joshua 1-6
The miraculous crossing of the Jordan,
putting off the unprofitable flesh
through circumcision of the survivors
of the 40-year Exodus,
Manna ceases to be produced upon arrival at the Inheritance,
the promised land;
arrival of the Captain of the Lord's Armies
for conquest of the Land,
destruction of Jericho, the first conquest.

Entering the Promised Inheritance

70AD: Jude 14-15, 1 Thess 3:13, 2 Thess 1:6-10, Rev 19:11-21, 2 Kings 6:15-17
The miraculous Rapture,
putting off the unprofitable flesh
through resurrection/transformation of the faithful
of the 40 year Tribulation (30-70AD),
Scripture ceases to be produced upon arrival of the Inheritance,
the promised Kingdom of God;
arrival of the Lord with 10,000's of His Saints
for conquest of the World,
destruction of Jerusalem, the first conquest.

Taking Possession of the Land for Israel

Joshua 7-24
taking initial possession of the Land for Israel;
conquering the primary cities,
subjuagating the kingdoms of Canaan,
the Perizites, Hivites, etc.

Taking Possession of the World for Christ

70-325AD Ante-Nicene Christianity:
taking initial possession of the World for Christ;
conquering the primary cities,
christenizing the kingdoms of the World,
the Romans, the Greeks (Byzantines), etc.

Establishing dominion over the Land

Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1 Kings
simple, theocratic rule of the Land by judges, priests and prophets.
Worship still simple at the Tabernacle of Moses.
Establishing Israelite rule over the Land.

Establishing dominion over the World

325-590AD Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity
from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great
the simple, theocratic rule of Christendom by the great churches, the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople, and Rome, etc.
Establishing Christian rule over the World.

Extending the reach of the kingdom

2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, establishing the temple of God in Jerusalem, reigning with kingly glory over the Land. The height of outward show of Israelite reign. Solomon's world traveling fleets, his worldwide fame and outreach, sharing his wisdom. Some regression into Golden Calf idolatry, division and decline.

Extending the reach of the kingdom (Christendom)

590-1070AD: The regal rule of the Catholic Church in its glory. The missionary period from Gregory I. to Hildebrand or Gregory VII., A.D. 590-1073. The height of outward show of Christian reign. The conversion of the northern barbarians. The dawn of a new civilization. Later corruption & decline. Some regression into Islam (Old Testament style legalism). The schism of East and West.

The kingdom threatened with extinction

Isaiah (history accounts)
The divided kingdoms under one siege after another by the heathen nations. Northern kingdom of Israel is conquered and scattered by the Assyrians. The southern kingdom of Judah is beseiged, under threat of extinction by the Assyrians.

Divine Deliverance
The Southern kingdom is divinely delivered from the multitudes of beseiging Assyrian armies surrounding Jerusalem when an angel from heaven slaughters 185,000 Assyrians in a single night.

The kingdom threatened with extinction

1070AD-REFORMATION: Pope Gregory VII to Martin Luther, et al : Divided schism between Roman Catholic west and Greek Orthodox east; saints under seige on every side, heretics and false leaders within and Muslim Turks and without; the Black Death Plague, etc. Greatest challenges to the survivial of faithful, holy, true-believer Christians since the Tribulation of 30-70AD; many true-believers in hiding.

Divine Deliverance
REFORMATION-FOREVER: True Christians were divinely delivered from the threat of extinction by "fire from Heaven," the Reformation.

Decline, Exile, Return and final Destruction

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah (the historical portions) -- the decline in Jerusalem begins when Hezekiah asks for 15 more years to live. He then invites in the Babyloninan spies and begets evil Manasseh, to whom he leaves the kingdom. From there, it is a downhill decline into Exile, return, and struggle for existence as God reveals His will to destroy Israel beneath subjugation to four beastly (idol-worshipping) empires: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman.

Israel is then to be resurrected into a new and living spiritual kingdom that shall have dominion over all and shall have no end. That account is given in the right column of this table.

*The analogy ends here*
Christ's Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom to which there shall be no end.

A Christian Exile (and return) never happens because our king, King Jesus, never makes the mistakes of King Hezekiah, (inviting in the Babylonian spies; leaving his kingdom to evil heirs like Manasseh and Amon). "His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom to which there shall be no end."

REFORMATION-FOREVER: The "fire from heaven" continues as Martin Luther & John Calvin institutionalize the Reformation; Protestant denominationalism is established; World missions & Bible societies; 24-hour preaching worldwide; the Word of God directly rules over the hearts of estimated 2.5 Billion people and growing; return to simplicity of the faith, worship & practice, free men freely serving Jesus from their free consciences, Government of the People, by the People, for the People to the glory of the God of Peace ....

BC: Before Christ: Bondage

These prophecy+history relationships are shown for the purpose of learning the language of Bible prophecy, how it actually communicates. That is to say, when the Bible predicts "this" in prophecy we can expect to see "this" in history. By studying how the Bible's prophecies were fulfilled in Bible histories we can get a feel for how the language of Bible prophecy is expected to be understood.

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30-70AD Tribulation: Exodus from Sin & the Law of Moses

This section is arranged after the pattern shown in the book of Exodus. Just as the early biography of Moses was included in Exodus, the early biography of Jesus is included under the heading of "Tribulation," which is the Christian exodus from the Law of Moses and its taskmasters, the Pharisees, et al.

This period answers to the Old Testament period of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Second Exodus, Last Days of ancient age, last hour, Tribulation: anticipating Christ's soon Return

Anticipating Christ's Return/Rapture with our Inheritance, our 40-year Exodus ended with our entering the Land of the Promise

30-70AD Comparing Exodus & Tribulation ›
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70-1070AD The Last Day: Possess Promises Land Kingdom

Judges, Priests + Kings

70-1070AD: the Last Day-Millennium = The Middle Age

This age is characterized by the dismantling of the old idol-worshipping empires and the establishment of Christendom, that is, the empire of Christ.

70-1070AD: SATAN bound, cast & sealed into the Deep (Abyss, Bottomless Pit) for 1000 Years, Rev 20:1-3 ›
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1070AD-REFORMATION: Besieged by Satan's armies

1070AD-REFORMATION: Saints tested by Satan's release, Rev 20:7-10: Saints under seige like ancient Israel.

Revelation 20:7-9 ~foreseen around 63AD
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. ...
NASB

This period answers to the Old Testament period of the scattering of the 10 Northern tribes and the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians during the reign of Hezekiah as reported by Isaiah. In analogous Christian history, Satan was released for a while to test and prove the New Jerusalem (Rev 20:7-9) in like manner as was the old Jerusalem. Historical accounts are given to reveal "the spirit of the age," that is, its telling marks & character, or "zeitgeist" of this period in Christian history reminiscent of that of ancient Israel under seige. On both occasions, heaven came to the rescue of the holy remnant of the Israel of God: the true believers, the saints.

[It should be noted, however, that the king of Christians, the immortal King Jesus, will never err like King Hezekiah who later invited in the Babylonian spies, bequeathing His reign to heirs like Manasseh and Amon, and thereby losing the kingdom and Jerusalem to destruction again and again. So the analogy between Old Testament history and Christian history ends with the miraculous deliverance from seige under the reign of good King Hezekiah. Henceforth, Christian history is a blank page ready to be co-authored between God and Man: our Tomorrows are determined by what we do with Jesus Today and not by prophetic judgments upon generations long passed. There will never be a destruction of the Heavenly Jerusalem of which Christians are citizens; not by the Babylonians nor again and again by the Romans. The reign of Christ and His Kingdom, Christendom itself, endures forever and ever. Amen.]

Saint Augustine on Rev 20:7-9

The words, “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints and the beloved city,” do not mean that they have come, or shall come, to one place, as if the camp of the saints and the beloved city should be in some one place; for this camp is nothing else than the Church of Christ extending over the whole world. And consequently wherever the Church shall be,—and it shall be in all nations, as is signified by “the breadth of the earth,”—there also shall be the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and there it shall be encompassed by the savage persecution of all its enemies; for they too shall exist along with it in all nations,—that is, it shall be straitened, and hard pressed, and shut up in the straits of tribulation, but shall not desert its military duty, which is signified by the word “camp.”

The words, “And fire came down out of heaven and devoured them,” are not to be understood of the final punishment which shall be inflicted when it is said, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire;” (Matt 25:41), for then they shall be cast into the fire, not fire come down out of heaven upon them. In this place “fire out of heaven” is well understood of the firmness of the saints, wherewith they refuse to yield obedience to those who rage against them. For the firmament is “heaven,” by whose firmness these assailants shall be pained with blazing zeal, for they shall be impotent to draw away the saints to the party of Antichrist. This is the fire which shall devour them, and this is “from God;” for it is by God’s grace the saints become unconquerable, and so torment their enemies. For as in a good sense it is said, “The zeal of Thine house hath consumed me,” Ps. 119:9, so in a bad sense it is said, “Zeal hath possessed the uninstructed people, and now fire shall consume the enemies,” Isaiah 26:11. Saint Augustine's City of God and Christian Doctrine, pages 692-3

  • The New Jerusalem, (ie, the global community of the true Christians), subjected to same test that scattered the northern kingdom of Israel and threatened to destroyed old Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. It corresponds to the historical period recorded by Isaiah.
  • God's People under siege on every side, Turks & Wars & Black Death Plagues without and heretics running rampant within, True Faithful Christians face the greatest challenge to their survival since the Roman Empire was overcome for Christ.
  • From early Reformers like John Wycliffe to later Reformers like Martin Luther, the period following 1070AD is considered a Dark Age, a challenging season in Christian history. And secular historians have similar words for the period of World history. [It should be mentioned here that I regard the Reformation fires to have begun with the likes of John Wycliffe and ending with the likes of Martin Luther & Jean Calvin. Thus, the Reformation beginning with Wycliffe gave rise to the Renaissance, "the rebirth" that followed. Progress is preceeded by preaching]. Relative to the 1000 year Millennium just finished and Eternity just ahead, this period of Satan's Release is a "short while."
  • World History is cited to demonstrate the "zeitgheist" or "spirit of the age" of this dark period before the Reformation fire came like "fire from Heaven" to rescue the faithful from enemies on every side. 

"Fire from Heaven" compared with divine deliverance of old Jerusalem by angel from Heaven during Hezekiah ›
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REFORMATION-FOREVER: Kingdom no end, no Satan

The period immediately following the Reformation answers to the Old Testament period immediately following the return from Exile: to reclaim of the Land for God, to the rebuilding of the holy city Jerusalem and of the Temple, and to the greater glory of the Temple restored, albeit, with less outward show. The Reformation onward begins like the periods of Ezra & Nehemiah and continues on forever, forever fulfilling all the prophecies of the eternal City, the New Jerusalem, which has survived and thrived amidst the unbelieving world surrounding it since its arrival with the Lord Jesus around 70AD.

Saint Augustine comments on Rev 20:7-10

The words, “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints and the beloved city,” do not mean that they have come, or shall come, to one place, as if the camp of the saints and the beloved city should be in some one place; for this camp is nothing else than the Church of Christ extending over the whole world. And consequently wherever the Church shall be,—and it shall be in all nations, as is signified by “the breadth of the earth,”—there also shall be the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and there it shall be encompassed by the savage persecution of all its enemies; for they too shall exist along with it in all nations,—that is, it shall be straitened, and hard pressed, and shut up in the straits of tribulation, but shall not desert its military duty, which is signified by the word “camp.”

The words, “And fire came down out of heaven and devoured them,” are not to be understood of the final punishment which shall be inflicted when it is said, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire;” (Matt 25:41), for then they shall be cast into the fire, not fire come down out of heaven upon them. In this place “fire out of heaven” is well understood of the firmness of the saints, wherewith they refuse to yield obedience to those who rage against them. For the firmament is “heaven,” by whose firmness these assailants shall be pained with blazing zeal, for they shall be impotent to draw away the saints to the party of Antichrist. This is the fire which shall devour them, and this is “from God;” for it is by God’s grace the saints become unconquerable, and so torment their enemies. For as in a good sense it is said, “The zeal of Thine house hath consumed me,” Ps. 119:9, so in a bad sense it is said, “Zeal hath possessed the uninstructed people, and now fire shall consume the enemies,” Isaiah 26:11. Saint Augustine's City of God and Christian Doctrine, pages 692-3

Revelation 20:7-10 ~foreseen around 63AD by the exiled Apostle John
And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
NASB

[ I would add the clarification that this "fire from heaven," this "zeal of the Saints," continues to abide with Christians, continually vigilant to subjugate evil in the World around us, whereby the Saints reign over evil. Recall, also, the "tongues of fire," that lit upon the Saints at Pentecost, accompanying their baptism in the Holy Spirit along with the speaking in tongues. Recall, also, John the Baptist's teaching that Christ would baptize "with the Holy Spirit and fire." ]

Satan, the organizational head of evil beings, will never again organize the world into idol-worshipping empires as he did in the ancient world, (the various "beasts" of Daniel & Revelation). This does not mean there remain no more evil, or sin, or temptors, etc. It only means that evil beings & temptors lack the organizational head, (Satan), they once had when the world was subjugated beneath idol-worshipping superpowers. Evil beings such as the ancient principalities and powers, (Eph 6:12), are present, (and people still follow their sorceries, Rev 22:15), but they are positioned now only as disorganized insurgents outside the protected "Green Zone," the reigning City of God, the holy Heavenly & New Jerusalem, the eternal ruling empire of Christ, Christendom. The organizational head of evil, the Devil, Satan, has been cast into the Lake of Fire which is the Second Death, Rev 20:10. How much more confidence we should have today to resist evil and temptation, washing our robes in the river flowing from the City, that we might enter the Gates of the City and serve our holy Father & Christ our Lord, reigning with them forever! Amen.

The following events in history are given to show how history lives up to the hope anticpated by this view.

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AGAINST ERROR

Here is taken a "process of elimination" approach towards discovering the Bible's placement of the "1000 years" Millennium within the Last Day timeline.

Revelation 20:1-8
1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the THOUSAND YEARS were completed). This is the first resurrection. 6 Blesssed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a THOUSAND YEARS.7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out ...

2 Peter 3:8-10
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one DAY is as a THOUSAND YEARS, and a THOUSAND YEARS as one DAY. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the DAY of the Lord will come ...

Psalms 90:4
For a THOUSAND YEARS in Thy sight are like yesterDAY when it passes by, or as a watch in the NIGHT.

Romans 13:11-12
And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The NIGHT is almost gone, and the DAY is at hand.
NASB
Related Scriptures: 30-70AD: the Night was almost gone, and the Day was at hand  

ERROR: Theories of a non-time Millennium

The Millennium, (Latin for "1000 years" as are the Bible's actual words), is a finite period of time with epoch events marking its start and end points:

  1. The "1000 years" Millennium starts with the binding, casting & sealing of Satan into his prison below in the Abyss, (Rev 20:2-3), and with the Resurrection of the Blessed & Holy Ones, (Rev 20:4, the first of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

  2. Following their resurrection, the Blessed & Holy ones reign with Christ throughout the "1000 years" Millennium, (Rev 20:4-6), while Satan remains sealed into his prison in the Abyss below, (Rev 20:2-3 & Rev 20:7).

  3. The "1000 years" Millennium ends with the release of Satan from his prison in the Abyss below, (Rev 20:3 & Rev 20:7), and with the Resurrection of the Rest of the Dead, (Rev 20:5a, the second of the two groups of souls of dead people that are resurrected in Rev 20:4-6).

 

Unintended Error vs. Intentional Deception ›
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