This chart should give a helpful graphic for Bible study.

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Then  perhaps double click on image to enlarge.

Either or both steps may not be necessary depending

upon your system.  Look for discussion to follow later.

Biblical Timeline is a post from: Study Bible Prophecy

What does the word “church” mean?  Is it a word that has changed meaning over the years?   The word church means a calling out of people such as an assembly or group for a specific cause.  Now this cause could be for religious purposes, but it could also be for any purpose that anyone might call, such as a town or committee meeting.  The word “church” is often associated with a building where religious people assemble for worship.  This use of the word church is used in the Bible for the building at Ephesus, Galatia, Thessalonica, Jerusalem and the ones mentioned in Revelation. 

The church is actually the group of people that are referred to as Christians today, ones who are reborn by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12:13-28.  This is a body of people that are selected during the time (dispensation) after the law was completed (“it is finished” Jn. 19:30), until the rapture occurs (the resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:14-17).  The church is referred to under many names, as the “body of Christ” (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18), the “bride of Christ” (Rom. 7:4; 2 Cor. 11:2) and also as those in the “dispensation of grace”.  The seal (proof) of a member of the church is the “indwelling” Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13) within the Christian.

The Old Testament has not one prophesy mentioning the “Church Age”.  But one must remember that while studying the Bible one must read what it says and also “read” what it does not say.  There is no mention of the word church until Mt. 16:18 and this word is the Greek word ekklesia which is a verb meaning to call out.  This word is used to depict an assembly or gathering of people together for a specific purpose.

The Old Testament goes from talking about Christ’s first coming (first advent) straight into the second.  This is why the Apostles felt that they were in the “last days” and they were very soon to go into tribulation and then the Kingdom.  Examples of these scriptures are found:

Joel 2:28 and 29, they take us up to Pentecost, but verse 30 goes straight into the tribulation.

Ps. 2:1-4 talks about how the nations together crucify Christ and then in verse 5 talks about the tribulation.

Ps. 118:22 talks about the refusal of Christ and straight into the Kingdom.

Isa. 9:6 from His birth straight to His government.

Isa. 61:1-2 from preaching the good tidings to tribulation to millennium.

Dan. 9:24 from making a payment for sin to Kingdom.

Zech.  9:9-10; Lk. 1:31-32; Acts 2: 7, 12, 17-21; Acts 15: 15-16, etc.

The mystery of the church age, the taking out of the world a body for Christ, the time from when the Holy Spirit started “indwelling” up to the time of the rapture was not revealed to just anyone, it was revealed to Paul (Rom. 16:25; Gal 1:16:  Eph. 3:3).   Paul brought his gospel (good news) to the Gentiles after the Jews rejected his message just the same as they did Christ’s good news of the kingdom.  For this reason the Jews as a nation are spiritually “blinded” (2 Cor. 3:14) as well as the lost are blinded (2 Cor. 4:4).

As Paul says in 1 Cor. Chapter one, when we are sanctified by being called by Jesus Christ who is going to faithfully keep us to the end (rapture) so we can be presented that day blameless (bema seat).  What a beautiful time (church age) we are so fortunate to live so we can have such an opportunity that has never been offered before, nor will ever be offered again.  How long will this opportunity continue?   Paul writing to Christians said in 1 Thess 5:4, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.”  Remember this is to Christians and this scripture is not in conflict with Mt. 16:1-3.  Who was Jesus talking to?  Hypocrites, not Christians, these are among the lost and as mentioned before in 2 Cor. 4:4 the lost are blinded by the god of this world (Satan) who does not want the light (word of God) to shine and light up the “Truth” to their understanding.

Mystery of the Church is a post from: Study Bible Prophecy

The time of this kingdom begins when Christ comes back to earth.  This will not happen until the Time of the Gentiles are fulfilled, Romans 11:25.  Which is the completion of today’s Chruch Age.  At the end of the “Great Tribulation” Christ will come back with all His armies of saints and angels, Rev. 19:14.  Then the Battle of Armageddon, Rev. 19:17-20.  The beast and false prophet will then be cast into the lake of fire, Rev. 19:20.  The imprisonment of Satan in the bottomless pit for the 1000 years, Rev. 20:1-3.  This all happens when Christ first returns to earth the second time.  Christ will now set up His reign.  This is the reign of “The King of kings”.

During this time the curse of the earth will be lifted.  The curse of man will be held captive for 1000 years.  There will be changes in agriculture (Joel 3:19).  Changes in the animal kingdom (Isa. 65:20-22).  There will be no Satan to influence the people.  This is the last test for mankind.  And as usual man will fail the test.  This is the seventh time (dispensation), and the eighth number is known Biblically as the new beginning.  1.  Innocence (Gen. 1:28).  2.  Conscience (Gen. 3:17).  3.  Human Government (Gen. 8:15).  4.  Promise (Gen. 12:1).  5.  Law (Ex. 19:1).  6.  Church (Acts 2:1).  7.  Kingdom (Rev. 20:4).  8.  Perfect Age (Rev. 21).

[The eighth dispensation, the last kingdom or age is called the Perfect Age.  This is the new earth and new Heaven (Rev. 21:1-2).  This dispensation will last for eternity.  This is a promose from God for all His people.]

Who are the people that will go into the Millennium?  Only Believers.  For at the judgment of nations when Christ divides the sheep (righteous) to his right and the goats (unrighteous) to the left and in Mt. 25:46 Christ sends the unrighteous into everlasting punishment.  Yes, only the righteous will enter into the Millennial era.

Now who are these righteous ones?  1.  The Saints.  These include all the ones of the first resurrections.   First-Fruits, Tribulation Saints, guest and family of the Bridegroom and the Bride herself, the Church at the rapture.  These all have their glorified bodies.  2.  Armies of Heaven who follow Christ into this battle.  Which are probably the Church and angelic beings.  3.  The believers that survived the tribulation.  This last group does not have glorified bodies, they still are flesh and blood.  They will have the sinful nature of man.  These will be the ones who will repopulate the earth.  From out of these new born will be the ones that Satan will get to follow him into the final battle of Gog and MaGog.

The Kingdoms (part three) is a post from: Study Bible Prophecy

The Millennial Kingdom-prophets foretold of a kingdgom and reign of peace.  This kingdom of peace is for a people that have never known peace, the Jew or more specific Israel.  Prophets have been foretelling of this time for centuries, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, all the way up to the last prophet, Christ.  This kingdom is a promise that began in Genesis and continues all the way through Revelation.  This promise is for the Jews.  Israel has been waiting for this kingdom for several thousand years.  This kingdom is for God’s bride, Israel (Isa. 54:5).  Israel could also have been Christ’s bride, but His proposal was refused.

Yes, this means that Israel is not Christ’s bride.  When John the Baptist was saying, “repent the kingdom is at hand” (Mt. 3:2), Jesus was on earth.  when the apostles were sent out (Mt. 10:7) to (whom) Israel, saying repent the kingdom is at hand, Jesus was on the earth.  The King of kings was right there among them.  All Israel had to do nationally accept Jesus.  They refused, so the king left.  Consequently the kingdom has been postponed.  This time-out made way for the age of the Church.  This is an age that the prophets did not see.  This age is one of the great mysteries.  The mystery of the kingdom of heaven in the parables of Mt. 13.

God’s promises are always kept, so the kingdom of peace promised to the Jews will be an actual event.  Now a kingdom has to have a king, or a ruler.  The ruler of this peaceful kingdom is Christ.  The time for this kingdom is called the Millennium or the 1000 year reign and it’s capital is in the city of Jerusalem.  Christ’s rule will be over the entire world.  Yes, the entire world will be under the law of Christ.  He will rule with an “iron hand”, but this will be a justly and righteous rule.  Christ will rule supreme and none will challenge His decisions.

How does the kingdom affect us today?  First we must decide who we are, Jew or Gentile.  For the Jew, this kingdom is what they have been waiting for since Abraham and David.  The Jew sees there being two classification of people, ones that are Jews and those that are not.   The ones that are not Jews are called Gentiles.  Remember that the Jew did not accept the Messiah, and they were spiritually blinded.  They feel He hasn’t come yet.  They were/are expecting a king, a conqueror, and not a carpenter’s son.  The Jew does not accept the death, burial, resurrection or the Gospel of Salvation.  In one sense we can consider them still under the law.  For the Jew the law has not been fulfilled or replaced with grace.  Now there are a few Jewish exceptions who believe.  And what do we call the Jews that have believed?  Christians.  The same as the Gentiles that have believed.  Remember there are three classes of people in the Bible, Jew, Christian (Church), and the Gentile.  Jews that have accepted the Gospel of Salvation are now part of the Church.

By now you should have an idea who is Christ’s bride.  Right, the Christians.  Christ is the head and the Christians are the body.  The Christians are those who make up the “Church”.

What dispensation are we in today?  From Moses to the cross has been under the dispensation of law.  Since the resurrection we have been under the sixth dispensation called the Church Age.   Also known as the dispensation of the Spirit or the Age of Grace.  This is the time that has been set aside for the Church to be fulfilled.  This dispensation will end with the second coming of Christ.  The second advent will start the seventh dispensation the one of “The Kingdom”.

The Kingdom (part two) is a post from: Study Bible Prophecy

Approximately 400 references to kingdom/s are made in the Bible.  The Bible uses many kingdom terms, such as “kingdom/s”, “The Kingdom”, “Kingdom of God”, “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Gospel of the Kingdom”.  I will try to shed some light on these terms and characteristics associated with them and especially the Millennial Kingdom.

What is a kingdom?  What do kingdoms have to do with us today?  Do the terms “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” mean the same?  What is the mystery of the Kingdom of God?  Whom do these kingdoms involve?  What does it mean to preach the “Gospel of the Kingdom”?  When are these kingdoms to be?

What does the word kingdom mean?  Basically it means that which is under the authority of a “king”.  We have two words that are associated with the word “kingdom”, one in the Old Testament Malkut or Mamlakah.   This is to reign over, to have dominion over or authority over.  Also the Greek translation in the New Testament is Basileia.  One thing common is that they both indicate something goverened by a “king”.

The word kingdom/s refers to what has been an earthly rule of a king.  Such kings as Nebuchadnezzar, David or Ahaz.  These kingdoms are of an earthly rule by an earthly king.  When the Bible talks of these it refers to events in the past.

The “Kingdom of God” consists of all that God has the authority to rule.  God is omnipotent and He rules over all things.  Consequently, all the kingdoms are under His control.  His kingdom begins in eternity past and will continue to eternity future.  God controls the physical and spiritual domains.  God controls the unseen or mysterious realm like that of Mt. 13; Luke 17:20-21, to the physical kingdom like that of Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 2:37; Pilate in John 19:11, and will control that of the Millennial Kingdom through Christ.  It is important to remember that God’s major domicile is in heaven so the authroity or power originates here.  All other kingdoms will be subject to the Kingdom of God.

Next term “Kingdom of Heaven” contains a mystery part.  The mystery is where an invisible power is governing the Christian’s work from the cross to the rapture.  The parables in Mt. 13 are about the Christian’s work in the world today.  Matthew portrays Christ as The King and the power is coming from the future King who is now in heaven.

The word “kingdom” also is used in the Bible to denote a physical rule of a territory and all within that land, the earth.  The Biblical term kingdom often refers to the actual physical rule of Christ during the Millennial 1000 year Age.  Christ, The King of Kings, will be the supreme ruler at this time.  The “stone Kingdom” from the smiting stone in Daniel, is another name for this reign.

Another term used in the Bible is the “Gospel of the Kingdom” found in Mt. 24:14.  This is the preaching of the 144,000 chosen Jews to all the world during the tribulation.  One needs to be reminded that this is not the Gospel of Salvation.  That the Gospel of Salvation is for this Age of Grace.

The Kingdoms (part one) is a post from: Study Bible Prophecy

BATTLES of GOG and MAGOG

J. Vernon McGee explains his version of the Battles of Gog and Magog. He said that these are two separate battles. Gog and Magog I, and Gog and Magog II. Battle I is when the Antichrist breaks the peace with Israel in the midst of the Great Tribulation. This battle is described in Ezekiel 38-39, (Vol III, page 512-519). The war in Revelation 20:8 relates to Gog and Magog II (Vol. V, Page 1058). Both group of armies are destroyed by God using natural forces.

McGee says that somewhere near the middle of the seven-year period the king of the north, and he believes it will be Russia, will move against Israel.

Gog being the prince or king, and Magog being this ruler’s land.

The Lord said that there will be “wars and rumors of wars,” in other words one will know of wars and will also hear about wars.

What is the battle of God and Magog?

During the latter half of the Tribulation, an alliance between Gog and his allies will invade Israel from the north. These nations will fail in great confusion in their attempt to destroy Israel. It will take seven months to bury the dead (Ezek. 38:1-10, 39:12). The geographic regions included in Ezekiel’s vision of the allies are occupied by the Russian and the former Soviet-bloc countries in Eastern Europe today. This battle may be fought with allies attacking from the east (Rev. 16:12-16). Today, mainland China is the only nations in the world with an army or militia the size of that identified by John.

When will the battle of Gog and Magog take place?

There are several reasons to believe this battle will take place during the Tribulation: (1) The invasion takes place at a time when Israel is dwelling in their own land (Ezek. 38:8). (2) The invasion takes place when Israel is dwelling in peace in the land (Ezek. 38:11). (3) Ezekiel used two expressions in chapter 38 that may give an indication as to the time of this invasion. In verse 8 the expression “latter years” and in verse 16 the expression “latter days” is related to the tie of Israel’s glorification, salvation, and blessing in the kingdom age (Isa. 2:2-4, Mic. 41-7). The terms “latter days” or “latter years” is related to the last days (the “Millennial Age”), which would be the Tribulation period.

The Conclusion, the, since Ezekiel uses these expressions, is that events described by that prophet must take place within the Seventieth Week. Daniel 11:40 seems to have reference to the same period, for the prophet placed these events “at the time of the end.” This expression seems to separate this event from the end itself.

ARMAGEDDON

The Tribulation period will close with the great “Battle of Armageddon.” The field of battle will be the “Valley of Megiddo,” west of Jordan in the plain of Jezreel between Samaria and Galilee, located in the heart of Palestine.

There will be two major battles during the Tribulation period. One is at the “Second” Coming of Christ. This is when Christ will come with His armies of Saints and armies of heaven, to claim His rightful reign and the Millennial Kingdom. Christ of course will be resisted by the Antichrist and his powers. The beast and False Prophet were cast into a lake of fire. Then the angel binds Satan and casts him into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. From this pit Satan can no longer affect mankind.

What is the battle of Armageddon?

The battle of Armageddon involves the nations of the world converging on the Middle East and surrounding the city of Jerusalem to destroy the Jews and the Jewish nation (Ezekiel 12:2; 14:2-3, 12; Rev. 10:11-21). The nations will be led by the Antichrist and will be gathered together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). This place is presently known as the valley or plain of Jezreel. In the middle of the battle, Christ will return and touch His feet on the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:9-12). He then will destroy the Antichrist and the armies gathered at Armageddon (Rev. 19:11; Isa. 34:6; 63:1). The Beast and the false prophet will then be cast alive into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 19:20).

There will be two major battles during the Tribulation period. One is at the “Second” Coming of Christ. This is when Christ will come with His armies of Saints and armies of heaven, to claim His rightful reign and the Millennial Kingdom. Christ of course will be resisted by the Antichrist and his powers. The beast and False Prophet were cast into a lake of fire. Then the angel binds Satan and casts him into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. From this pit Satan can no longer affect mankind.

Much confusion here about the Judgment of the Gentile Nations.

This we know that there are three classes of people here.

1. Sheep-helped the brethren (Israel) and put on the right hand side.

2. Goats-did not help the brethren and put on the left hand side.

3. Brethren (Israel).

4. The basis of judgment is upon how the Brethren was treated by the gentiles.

5. VS. 41. “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;” VS. 46. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.”

In this time frame we have the Second coming of Christ, Judgment of Nations, and Armageddon. Some are talking about another resurrection at this time. Others are talking of a Gog and Magog war here.

What is Gog, Magog and Armageddon is a post from: Study Bible Prophecy