Bible Prophecy could be expressed in terms of the following periods of time:
~AGE OF PROMISE: God promised Abraham and his descendants the Promised Land. This is approximately the present land occupied by the nation of Israel, plus substantial surrounding territory. God chose Israel to play a special role in bringing his plan of salvation to the world. It is important to emphasize that much of Bible Prophecy revolves around Israel and of course Jesus Christ.
~AGE OF LAW: This period started when God gave Moses the Law on Mount Sinai, and it ended with the crucifixion of Jesus. The Law was a detailed set of rules and regulations which the Israelites had to follow. The Law also included animal sacrifices to compensate, at least for the time being, for failure to live up to the Law. In giving the Law, God was continuing to reveal his plan of salvation for the human race.
~AGE OF GRACE: This period started with the crucifixion of Jesus in 30 ad. It will essentially end at the Rapture of the Church. The death of Jesus on the cross replaced once and for all the animal sacrifices required under the Law. Under Grace we can now accept on faith God's forgiveness for our failures, provided by the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. Those who BELIEVE IN and DEPEND ON the sacrificial death of Jesus for their salvation are said to be under Grace.
~TRIBULATION PERIOD: Prior to the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation Period a world leader will arise. Israel will continue to face crises of one form or another. At some point when the situation in Israel becomes serious enough, this world leader will make a 7-year protective treaty with Israel. The making of this covenant is the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation Period. Just after the midpoint of the 7-year Tribulation Period, the Rapture of the Church is expected.
Near the end of the Tribulation Period, the ANTICHRIST will gather the armies of the world together to destroy Israel. However these armies will be destroyed by Jesus and his heavenly armies, who will appear from heaven at that time. This is known as the Battle of Armageddon. At this time the ANTICHRIST and the FALSE PROPHET are cast alive into the Lake of Fire. Also at this time Satan is chained and confined in the Bottomless Pit for 1000 years, and so there will be no demonic activity on earth during most of the 1000-year Millennial Age which follows.
~1000-YEAR MILLENNIAL AGE: At the very end of the Tribulation Period Jesus does the following: a) sets up his Kingdom on earth and b) conducts the Judgment of the Nations. The righteous will continue on earth into the 1000-year Millennial Age which follows immediately. At the very end of the 1000-year Millennial Age the wicked dead are raised, judged and then cast into the Lake of Fire, and Satan is then cast into the Lake of Fire.
~ETERNITY: This starts immediately after the 1000-year Millennial Age. John, writer of Revelation, saw a new Heaven and a new earth. All reality will be re-made. New Jerusalem, the Holy City, desends to earth. New Jerusalem has an area of 140,625 square miles, or 90 million acres. There will be no death, no pain.
Revelation 21:5- He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!
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So the type and purpose of prophecy depends partly on which age we are talking about. For instance, in the Age of Promise, the prophecies could be thought of as type 2) He controls and guides all the happenings so they will fit His promises.
When it comes to the tribulation period and the actions of the antichrist, ect they would seem to be type 1) "Sees" the future, without compelling the happenings to fit the prophetic model.
Its important to note that not all Bible scholars agree on how future prophecy will be fulfilled.
Fulfilled prophecy is one of the most powerful proofs that the Bible truly is the Word of God. There were over 300 Old Testament prophecies about The Messiah that were fulfilled by the life of Jesus Christ. This is part of the purpose of prophecy - to show us The Messiah, so that we can believe in Him.
This message has been edited by Limbo, 05-26-2005 04:31 PM
This message has been edited by AdminJar, 05-26-2005 06:07 PM
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