Hello my friends, this page presents a summary outline of the major dispensations in the Old Testament. The goal is to help the reader understand God’s revelation given under the Old Covenant and what it means for our lives from a layman’s perspective. This question and answer format is striving to stimulate the reader to go deeper into the Scriptures and wrestle with their relationship to the Creator. My paraphrases are based on the New Kings James Version. Of utmost importance is this link where I provide my understanding of how a soul is born again because Jesus said, unless this happens you cannot enter the Kingdom of God: The 3Rs

From the creation to the flood: 4,000 to 2,343 BC

The origins of everything

The Bible says that God created everything in six days culminating in the creation of mankind and how God rested on the seventh day.  I am unsure if these days represent our 24 hour periods but I do believe they were probably short periods of time. Have you ever considered where God got the physical matter to create the earth and other bodies, planets, stars, etc.?  Have you ever considered why the atomic particles behave the way they do?  Why do the electrons and protons revolve around the nucleus?  Why do some of the particles attract each other while others repel each other?  What makes our earth and other planets revolve around our sun and why do we experience the seasons? What gives the planets and stars their gravitational powers? Obviously, the biggest miracle of all is what engendered our consciousness and makes us aware that we exist?

My friends, apart from an Intelligent Life Force that existed before the universe began you are left with the universe forming itself, along with us, which makes the universe God.  I propose a Supernatural, All-Powerful Being outside our physical universe answers many more questions than a big bang and random change.  How can something come from nothing? How can intelligent beings, us, come from less intelligent beings? In order for us to say there is no God, we would have to be everywhere at the same time or essentially, we would have to be God. For instance, God could be pulling up to our residence now. 

The most logical and truthful statement we can make is that we do not believe there is a God. A statement that says we do not know if God exist is the same as saying we do not believe God exist. We might know or believe or have a strong suspicion something is true and might develop a weird feeling in our gut. However, if we choose not to act on that belief or knowledge it does not really matter. For instance, we might believe that God or Jesus exist, but if we do not obey them, our knowledge will not change the way we think or live, so in the end it did not matter to us.

The Bible says in the Gospel of John and the letter to the Colossians that Jesus made everything and yet it says in Genesis that God made the heavens and the earth.  Hebrews tells us that the things visible were made out of things invisible.  Remember, it took man a while to develop a microscope powerful enough to see atomic particles.  However, the particles were always here.  The reasonable explanation is that God created the heavens and the earth and established the laws of physics to govern them.  Personally, I believe whoever says there is no God or Divine Intelligence just does not want to follow the rules.  How many rules did God give us in the beginning? Just one.

What does it mean when the Scripture says God rested on the seventh day?  Was God tired? Did not Jesus say my father is working so I must work while we have the day and the time is coming when no man can work. My friends, God does not get tired but I am sure he might get irritated with us falling in and out of sin. As the Scripture says, do not grieve the Holy Spirit who is working to bring you back to God.

God makes the rules and man has freedom of choice

There were many good trees in the garden they were allowed to eat from.  God gave them one restriction, do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  God gave them freedom to chose. This freedom to chose between good and evil is with us from our initial confession of sin, repentance and submission to Christ until we take our last breath. This is our testing period and after we die, those of us who made it can never again disobey God or sin. Likewise, those of us who did not make it can never again obey God or live holy.

Love cannot be forced so we must freely chose to turn from sin and turn toward God. We must feely chose to spend time with the Lord and be more concerned with his program than our personal goals in life. God could have created robots that could not disobey him but that would not be genuine love. God also gave freedom of choice to the Angels and some of them chose to disobey. I would like to believe he also warned them what would happen if they disobeyed. But like us, the Angels had nothing to compare against the experiences they received, prior to disobeying God.

God warned of the consequences for disobeying

God gave us the consequence by saying the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.  Do you believe Adam and Eve understood what death was?  No, they did not understand this because they had never experienced it?  Not having experienced it, do you understand what heaven or hell will be like? Now, I have been to heaven and hell twice in dreams or visions, so I have some understanding of both states.  Please visit my dreams and visions page as well as listen to the videos. However, I cannot say that my understanding is comprehensive because my stay was brief. The Bible says that we cannot comprehend the things God has prepared for those who love him or heaven. Alternatively, we cannot comprehend the horrors awaiting those who have failed to live for our Lord or hell. 

The Holy Spirit has revealed to me that death is simply separation from God. So even if we are physically living but have not been reborn or reconciled to God then we are dead in our trespasses and sins. This also means we are dead to the good purposes and plans that God has for our life. Remember what our Lord said to the man who said I will follow you but first let me go and bury my father. You follow me and let the dead bury their own dead. Now, we are not subject to the second death or perpetual separation spoken of in the Revelation until we have experienced the first physical death. For the Bible says it has been appointed once for us to die, then the judgment. Consider that even though we might be dead, according to the Bible’s definition, we are existing. What makes us think we will cease to exist when our spirit leaves the body?

My friends, we will be more aware when our spirit leaves the body because the rich man in Luke 16 had all his senses and desperately wanted relief. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of life leading to life and to the other the aroma of death leading to death. I understand this statement means we will continue to be pleasing or displeasing to God forever!

Just as we are existing now and might be in a state of death or separation from God, our consciousness or personality will exist forever. The major difference between existing now in this body and then in another form is that our opportunity for reconciliation is on this side. Remember our Lord said for that man who is against him, that is whoever does not live for the Lord, it would be better if that man was not born. This statement tells you that there is a condition waiting for that person worse than ever having existed. If a person eventually goes out of existence, this statement is not true.

Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life

How did the serpent tempt the woman?  Was it not through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, which were the same temptations the Lord faced after his baptism?  So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (the lust of the flesh), that it was pleasant to the eyes (the lust of the eyes) and a tree desirable to make one wise (the pride of life), she proceeded.  Our temptations are the same because the Bible says in Corinthians that no temptation has taken us but what is common to man.  When we are tempted, what should we do?  Do you remember how the Lord responded to Satan after being tempted, he used the Word of God.  My friends, the Word of God must be a part of our life to use it when our strongest temptations come. Please visit my topical page and go to the link on how to Understand Testing and Temptation for more insight.

The prophecy of the seed of the woman, the Messiah

God said to the serpent, “There is one coming from the seed of the woman who will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel.”  Now if you remember from your biology course, the woman does not have a seed naturally, so I can see implications of the virgin birth in this statement. When was this prophecy fulfilled?  At the cross, Paul tells us that Christ conquered all principalities and rulers or he bruised their heads. We also know at the crucifixion our Lord’s feet were pierced, so they definitely bruised his heels. My friends, through the cross, that is us willing to die to our desires and live for God’s program, we conquer all temptations and the demonic realm. 

Hold on my friends, because after the destruction of this cosmos or universe, Peter and John states we will receive another one.  In the Revelation, the Lord states,” Behold, I make all things new.”  I saw a new heaven and a new earth.  When we read the end of the Book of Revelation, there is only the tree of life.  Our testing period ends after this age! 

The Holy Spirit brought to my mind the order in which God cursed all the parties.  The serpent was cursed first, woman second, man third, and earth last. The order appears to represent the level of culpability of the parties. Also, it appears the man and woman were reigning as partners but after the fall, there is implications of a power struggle because the Scripture says the man will rule over the woman.

The effects of sin produce shame

After the first sin, man hid himself and we have been hiding ever since.  If you do not have a relationship with God, why do you believe you are hiding from him? You are hiding because you are guilty my friend. The Bible says that once we know God, we run to him so that his light exposes our lives and proves we are living holy. Now, God made them skins to cover them. 

The Holy Spirit pointed out to me that the priesthood of Melchizedek was established immediately after the first sin. You remember Melchizedek was called priest of the most High God in Genesis. How many sins do you think he was interceding for at that time?  God is so holy that any sin must always be interceded for. Hebrews tells us that Christ is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.  What does this mean if you are not in Christ? Are you ready for Christ to be your intercessor?  When we stand before God, who will plead our case? For the Bible says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

If we go to court for a serious crime, the judge says do you have counsel or are you in pro per, meaning representing yourself?  Anyone who is not extremely knowledgeable in the administration of the judicial system would be foolish not to obtain legal counsel. My wife is a retired lawyer and she would never dream of representing herself.  Therefore, us standing before an eternally perfect being who has given us the rules of conduct saying, “We are pretty good” is hilarious. Remember, our Lord said to the rich young ruler no one is good but one, that is God. Now when the Lord referred to himself as the Good Shepperd in the Gospel of John, who was he claiming to be?

How a sinful man approaches a Holy God

After the first sin and under the Old Covenant, God prescribed the way to approach him is through animal blood sacrifice. After the cross and under the New Covenant, God prescribes the way to approach him is through Jesus blood sacrifice. This means that we cannot approach God how we want to.  For instance, when Cain and Abel approached God through their sacrifices, which one was correct?  We know that Abel’s offering was accepted by God and Cain’s was not.  

God is saying the same thing to us, if we do right will not our sacrifice be accepted?  The Bible tells us in Romans to present our bodies a living sacrifice.  Jesus also tells us that when you do your good deed, do not do it so man can see you. In other words, do not be a hypocrite.  Also, when you fast, do not do it to be seen by people. My friends, how are you trying to approach a Holy God?

The process of sin and help to overcome

Cain did not fall into sin after his initial sacrifice because God said if you do right will not your sacrifice be accepted, but if you do not, sin lies at the door.  Notice that sin was at the door but not in his life yet.  Was Cain in disobedience? Yes, however this act had not led into full blown sin yet. James tells us that when sin is full grown, it brings forth death. Before we sin my friend, we go through a process just as Cain did.  Eventually, Cain gave in to his jealousy and sinned by killing his brother.  What should Cain have done to keep himself from falling into sin? Obviously, Cain should have brought the correct sacrifice.   What should we do to keep ourself from falling into sin? Paul says we must submit ourselves as a living sacrifice and renew our mind in the word of God.

The Bible says no temptation has taken us other than what is common to man, but God will not allow us to be tempted more than we can bear but will provide a way of escape so we can bear it.  James says when we are tempted, it works with our desires and eventually can lead us into sin, which results in death.  Anyone tempting us to commit evil, that includes ourselves, is being influenced by the evil one. Again, the temptation works with our desires and eventually can lead us into sin. Therefore, one of the strongest defenses we have is to allow the Holy Spirit to work Godly desires into our mind. The Bible says to delight yourself in God’s word and he will give us the desires of our heart. My friends, are you spending time in God’s word? Remember, our Lord said that he is the bread of life. Just as we eat physical food, we must eat spiritual food which is God’s word.

As previously explained, death is separation from God.  However, until our judgment or the final judgment, we still have an opportunity to repent and be reconciled to God. Jesus never sinned so he was never separated from God.  Our Lord’s death on the cross was for payment for our sins because he did not have any.  When our Lord said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me”, he was not referring to a separation from the Father but rather why are you allowing me to be physically killed.  Father God had rescued the Lord from physical death on many occasions, including when he was a baby, but now was the time for the cross. After the Lord physically suffered on the cross, he said, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” I reject the teachings which says Jesus was separated from the Father, went to hell and suffered more for our sins.

Therefore, my friends sin is a process and during that process we can overcome it.  At any time, Eve or Cain were being tempted, they could have stopped the process before it became full blown sin.  Jesus’s message to the seven churches in the Revelation is you must overcome sin.  We overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and we do not love our lives down here.  My friends, are you overcoming sin or is sin still ruling in your life? The Bible says sin shall not have dominion over us.

From the flood to the promise: 2,343 to 1,909 BC

God warned before the flood judgment

Now wickedness multiplied on earth and the Sons of God went into the daughters of men.  There are different positions on who the sons of God are, the main thing to consider is this act was extremely wicked and brought horrific judgment.  My position is these are angelic beings because in Luke 20, the Lord says that in the resurrection we will be like the angels who are Sons of God. Also, in the Old Testament, the Sons of God are referred to as angels and the Sons of men as humans, consistently. We are children of God once we have been born again down here and are elevated to the position of Sons of God in the resurrection. 

God told Noah he was going to destroy the earth and to build a boat to save mankind and the animals.  He gave that generation 100 years to get right with him because the Bible says Noah was 500 when he got the warning and the rain came when he was 600. Notice God determined to destroy the earth, man’s only escape was to get on the ark. Just as God gave Noah a warning my friends, God has given me a warning for our time by telling me the person who will be alive when he returns. 

He is confirming this moment by moment through physical sensations on my body that began approximately four months after the prophecy.  My body tingles and the wind of the Holy Spirt blows on me periodically throughout the day.  My prayer sessions last for about an hour and there is chest pressure, dizziness, burning in hands and feet and the wind of the Holy Spirit until I stop praying.  This was prophesized to happen to people in the book of Joel, about 800 BC.  In the end, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, we will receive an increase in dreams, visions and anointings.

Do you remember the symbol God gave the earth that he would not destroy it again by water?  Do you know what mankind has done with the symbol of the rainbow?  How do you think this makes God feel every time he sees his symbol displayed in this ungodly way?

From the promise to the exodus: 1,908 to 1,488 BC

Abraham’s and our call to follow God

God called Abraham out from among his people, told him to go to the promise and he would establish his covenant with him.  The Bible tells us we all have been called out of the world to come and follow the Lord.  Are you still a part of this world or have you answered the call of the Lord to deny yourself, pickup your cross and follow Him?  What does it mean for us to deny ourself, pickup our cross and follow him?

Is the Lord asking us not to fulfill the desires of our heart or is he asking us to seek Him first and He will give us better desires for our life?  Christ has placed the desires in our heart for relationships, have a home, have a career, meet someone, have children, vacation, enjoy life and ultimately feel significant.  When we seek Him first, our primary desire becomes to please Him, then all the secondary desires of our heart will align with this. Also, our primary desire to worship Him will keep the secondary desires from being fulfilled in a selfish manner. The Bible says seek the kingdom of God first and all other things will be added to us.

Jesus says the Father is seeking those to worship him.  However, Jesus says we can only worship in spirit and in truth.  What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth?  My friends, we cannot worship God until we have been born again of the Holy Spirit. Remember, Cain tried to worship God his own way. What did God say about Cain’s offering? What is God saying about our offering?

God’s circumcision covenant and promised Messiah

God promised Abraham he would make a great nation from him and through his seed, the whole world would be blessed.  Paul tells us in Romans this blessing was coming through Abraham’s Seed, that is Christ. While the ultimate blessing is through Christ, we can be a blessing to someone while allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us. The promise to Abraham is further fulfillment of the Genesis seed of the woman prophecy.

Our Lord told Peter you have been given the keys to the kingdom and whatever you bind on earth will be bound and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. My friends, we are all called to bind up the broken hearted, set the captives free and move the mountains in peoples lives. Through his power, we are called to become a fisher of people.

Now Abraham was about 100 and Sara was about 90 years old, well past child bearing years when the promise was given.  However, Hebrews tells us Abraham did not waiver at the promise but believed God.  Now, Abraham and Sarah tried to help the Lord by having a child with Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid. This act was a result of the couple not believing in the supernatural. Never discount the supernatural experiences the Lord can give you. Also, the Lord told Abraham your descendants would be enslaved for about 400 years in a foreign land and I will bring them out with a strong hand.  During the 400 year period the Lord was dealing with the nations around him who had become extremely wicked. 

God gave Abraham the command of circumcision to commence this covenant. The Old Covenant of circumcision was in effect until the Lord brought in the New Covenant.  Now, we are under the New Covenant because Paul tells us that circumcision or uncircumcision avails nothing but faith exercising itself in love.  Also, Hebrews tells us our circumcision is of the heart and not of the flesh so our praise is from God not man.

Judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah

Around this time wickedness has increased and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah have become exceedingly sinful.  Notice that even though the promises of God are unfolding God is prepared to judge a portion of the world for its wickedness.  My friends, the Bible says in Peter and Jude God knows how to preserve the righteous and judge the wicked.  Please do not let the Lord condemn you for your sins.  Hear the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and how Abraham negotiated with the Lord saying surely the judge of all the earth will do right. 

Abraham negotiated from fifty down to ten righteous people to spare the whole city.  In fact, there were not even five within the city.  The Lord told us in the gospels that when he is about to judge the earth that it will be like the days of Lot and to remember Lot’s wife. In one respect people were marrying and given in marriage, however the city was so vile that the wrath of God was being unleased.  What can we say about Lot’s wife? Lot’s wife looked back because her heart was still in Sodom. Is your heart still in this wicked world? Remember the Lord says, wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be. My friends, is our treasure in this world or heaven?

Immediately before the fire and brimstone was rained down, the Angels said flee for your life and do not look back.  This is the message I am giving the world, flee from the wrath to come for it will be here in my sister’s lifetime.  Lot’s wife looked back and was judged by God and turned into a pillar of salt.  Jesus says that no one is fit for the kingdom who puts his hands to the plow and looks back.  This is a picture of someone who says they are a Christian but their heart is still in the world.  James says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  Do not let that man think he will receive anything from the Lord.  The message to the church of Ephesus in the Revelation is you have left your first love, therefore repent and do the first works. 

Evil company can corrupt us

Let’s examine how living among the people of Sodom impacted Lot, a righteous man, his wife as well as their daughters. Lot was able to show hospitality to the two men that came to Sodom because he pleaded with them to spend the night at his place. At this point, Lot did not know the men were angels but was just being kind. Hebrews tells us to be careful how we treat strangers because they might be angelic. My friends, do we have a difficult time just showing strangers love and kindness?

Now Lot was dwelling in the gate of the city so he was fully aware of the practices, which is why he pleaded with the men not to rape the strangers. In fact, his standard of morality was poor because he offered his two virgin daughters, in place of the strangers. In addition to scaring his daughters for life, they had husbands or were considered married, so this would have devastated their husbands. The men of Sodom did not want the women but only wanted the men, so Lot, his wife and two daughters fled the city. Because the city had influenced Lot’s wife greatly, she disobeyed the Lord and was destroyed. My friends, is the world influencing you to a point where you are continuing to disobey God?

After the escape, Lot’s moral compass continued to be impacted because he allowed his two daughters to get him into a drunken state and ended up getting them pregnant. This act also speaks of the wicked influence Sodom had on his daughters where they did not trust the Lord but tricked their father. Now the Bible says he was unaware when they laid down and rose up.

The Bible says from this union came the people of Moab and Ammon. The Moabites and Ammonites were a thorn in the side of the Israelites. My friends, if we think we can hang out with corrupt people of this world and not get lead astray then we are deceiving ourselves. For the Bible says, what fellowship does light have with darkness? Now I am not saying you cannot have friends who are in the world because our Lord ate with sinners. What I am saying is while we are influencing them to live holy, we must be careful not to adopt their sinful practices.

Abraham’s test

The Lord fulfilled his promise and Abraham had Isaac.  Afterward, the Lord told Abraham to take your son, your only son, whom you love and offer him as a burnt offering to me.  I would have said, now wait a minute Lord, you just said that out of this boy there are going to come kings and descendants as numerable as the stars!  How can this happen if he is killed?  If you know the story, God stopped him and provided a ram caught in the thicket instead of his son. Some scholars say this mountain is the same place where the Lord was eventually sacrificed. The point is we must be obedience to God’s prompting and trust that He has a plan.

God says in the book of Revelation that there is great tribulation to come and he specifically ensures the church of Philadelphia that through obedience, He would keep the church from the test. Does this mean Jesus will keep the church from being tested or keep them from falling the test? I believe that a great test to come in our time is whether to receive a mark described in Revelation 13. Now when God says do not receive a mark on your right hand or forehead in order to buy or sell, you might say Lord this is just technology and the way we conduct business now. You may not fully understand this demand of God, as I am sure Abraham was equally bewildered, but will you trust Him. When this demand comes upon our world, will we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Obedience displayed through sacrifice is the very example of Christ.  Remember when our Lord was in the garden, He said Father if there is any other way let this cup pass from me.  Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done. What are you willing to sacrifice to get closer to the Lord?  How about just an hour each day in reading and prayer before the Lord.  How about taking some of your money and supporting a worthy cause. My friends, are we passing the test today?

Joseph’s test and prophecy fulfilled

As time passed, Jacob and his twelve sons were born and the Lord changed Jacob’s name to Israel.  From the twelve sons arose the twelve tribes of Israel.  If you remember, the brothers sold their youngest brother Joseph into slavery and he was taken down to Egypt. Joseph was wrongfully accused and languished for two years in a prison but the Bible says God was with him during this trial. Then, through a series of dreams Joseph rose to second-in-command in Egypt.  During that trial period, it probably felt to Joseph that God had abandoned him.  During our trials, we must not lose faith. 

Matthew says he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.  It also gives us the parable of the Sower.  The seed is the Word of God and it falls on every type of soil or heart.  The only fruit that remains is the heart, which endures temptation and does not pursue things of this world to the point where the Word is unfruitful.  We must pursue some earthly things because money does not grow on trees. However, the Spirit of God teaches us how to be in the world but not of the world.

From exodus to the promise land: 1,488 to 1,448 BC

Moses’ birth and call

The Lord told Abraham that his descendants would be strangers and oppressed for 400 years and afterward he would bring them out and give them the promise land.  Remember when the prophecy came, God determined that it would take about 400 years before the Amorites iniquity or sin was complete.  My friends, God knows how much sin He will tolerate from our lives before He sends judgment upon us.  Do not let God’s patience run out on you.  He was so patience with this little man and the Bible say’s God is long suffering, not willing that any should perish but all to come to repentance. 

So, Moses was born in the midst of turmoil as the Pharaoh had given an order that all the male children should be killed.  The Pharaoh was in fear because the Israelites were multiplying too fast, remember God’s promise.  God protected Moses and he grew up in the palace of the King.  When Moses was 40, he killed an Egyptian who was beating his brethren and then fled into the wilderness.  God spoke to Moses through the burning bush and gave him the task of leading the Israelites out of bondage.  Now, when Moses asked God what His name was, He said that I am that I am.  Interestingly, the Lord Jesus claimed these same words when disputing with the scribes and they picked up stones to kill him. Now the scribes knew exactly who the Lord was claiming to be. My friends, do you know who the Lord is claiming to be?

Did Moses encounter great difficulty when trying to carry out God’s plan?  Do you think it is going to be easy to live the Christian life?  Jesus says strive to enter the narrow gate because many will try and not be able.  Now Pharaoh and his kingdom is a picture of Satan and Sin and their rule over our lives until we are born again.  Do you think they are going to give up their rule over our life without a fight? Do you remember what God said to Cain about sin? My friends, it is the same thing God is saying to us, sin wants to rule over us, but we must rule over it. The question then becomes are we ruling over our sin or are we continually submitting to it?

Demonic activity in Egypt will be similar at the end

Pharaoh’s magicians were using demonic power because they could duplicate some of the signs and plagues given by God.  The Bible says the False Prophet, under authority from the Man of Sin or Antichrist, will be able to perform great signs and wonders even calling fire down from heaven in the sight of men during the reign of the Beast. 

The Lord took me down to hell in November 2018 and I met a man coming out a room who asked, “Who are you?”.  I said, I am Marvin.  He looked directly at me and said the Antichrist is rising soon.  When he said that, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that the Catholic Church was going to propel him to power.  My friends, this is why you must be living a holy life because we are at the very end of time.  The Holy Spirit is confirming to me that the Lord is returning in my sister’s lifetime.  I received the prophecy when she was 57 and Deborah turns 63 in November 2025. 

There is a verse in Thessalonians that says around the time of the Man of Sin’s reign, God will send them a strong delusion that they might believe the lie and that all should be damned who have pleasure in unrighteousness.  My friends, what are some of the lies the world is telling us?  The lie could be that I can live how I want and God forgives me anyway. Perhaps the lie that Satan sold to Eve, you can disobey God and you are not going to die. How about only the really bad people like Hitler go to hell.  Jesus says that right before he returns deception will be so great that if it were possible, the very elect shall be deceived. How great do you think deception is in the world now? 

Remember how many prophets told you that Donald Trump was going to win the 2020 election and he did not win.  I assure you that some of these people heard voices that said he was going to win.  How do I know the prophecy I received regarding the return of the Lord is from Him and not another spirit?  Because the Lord is having the Holy Spirit confirm it through continuous physical manifestation, proper interpretation of Scripture, additional dreams and visions and I am living a holy life.  In one of the recent dreams I received I heard the pastor say in his mind, “Moses.”  I believe the plagues that appeared during the time of Moses, or Moses himself, is about to appear. 

More instruction on how to approach God

During the Israelites 40 year wilderness experience, the Lord gave the laws consisting of the 10 commandments or moral laws, ceremonial laws, dietary laws, social governance laws, medical prescriptions, etc. These rules are contained in the Torah or the Mosaic Covenant.  God gave the instructions on how to build the tabernacle, which contained the Ark of the Covenant as well as instituted certain festivals at that time.  My friends, the Lord has given us specific instructions on how to approach God. 

• Come to the Father through Jesus: Jesus said I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the father but by me. All other paths to God are not valid.

• Come to God in humility: He also says no one can come to me except he humbles himself and becomes like a little child. We must recognize that God makes the rules.

• Come to God and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the process: He also says that no one can see the Kingdom of God or enter heaven unless he becomes born again. Remember, our Lord said that to enter heaven is impossible without the Holy Spirit.

• Come to God by making Him more important than anything else: He also says that no one can be my disciple unless he forsakes everything else and follows me. We must understand that God must be the main priority in our lives.

• Come to God as the most importance relationship in your life: He also says that no one can be my disciple unless he hates his parents and even himself. Human relationships are important but he who has the Son has life.

• Come to God in remembrance of His sacrifice: He also says no one can be my disciple unless he eats my body and drinks my blood. Without us believing in the physical death and resurrection of our Lord, we will not make it.

My goodness, the Lord has a ton of demands!  Yes, my friends, the Lord is telling us that if our lives are not centered around Him completely, then we are not going to make it. Peter says that if a righteous man barely makes it, where will the sinner be found in the day of judgment?

Israel’s wilderness experience and ours

When we examine how God interacted with the generation that came out of Egypt, we can learn from this.  Hebrews tells us that God was not pleased with that generation and swore in His wrath that they would not enter His rest.  This is saying that as we journey through this life, do not continue to look back to Egypt or our old sinful man or lifestyle. We must press forward to the prize and answer the high call to glory from our Lord.  Will God’s patience run out on us if we continue to live in sin? 

When the Lord rained down manna from heaven, the Bible says some gathered more and some gathered less. Also, notice that the Lord gave them just enough for one day and enough for two days so they would not work on the Sabbath. Jesus said I am the bread of life which comes down from heaven, he who feeds on me will never die. My friends, just how the children of Israel fed on the physical manner, we must feed on the Bible to have the commands and promises of God on our mind at all times. Also, some of us need more time, while others might need less time with the Lord. Depending on our relationship and the challenging in our lives, we proceed. Furthermore, how can we expect to be strong in the Spirit if we are not feeding on his word?

You know if the Lord has been calling you for a long time to come out of the world and live for Him.  Many of that generation did not enter the physical promise land or the eternal rest of the Lord.  I believe only the children of those who disobeyed as well as Joshua and Caleb made it in because when the Lord sent out the 10 spies only two came back with a good report.  The others said the land is filled with giants and we cannot overcome them.  In fact, we looked like grasshoppers in their sight. 

What giants or mountains are in our lives preventing us from entering the promise land?  The Lord said if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, get up and be thrown in the sea.  Now, was the Lord talking about a giant rock or the mountain of challenges in our lives? What are the mountains in our lives?  Each one of us have sins and challenges which we must overcome.  For some it might be atheism, false religion, procrastination, sexual immorality, drug addictions, alcohol, pride, false humility, worry, materialism, unforgiveness, depression, poverty, etc.  The Holy Spirit is here to help us overcome the giants and move those mountains in our lives.

Joshua to Samuel: 1,448 to 1,113 BC

Specific instruction to conquer Jericho

Now the Lord gave Joshua specific rules to conquer Jericho.  March around the city one time each day for seven days and around the city seven times on the final day and then have the priest blow the trumpets and let out a great shout. Now, what do you think Joshua thought about these instructions? Bewildered?

My friends, the Lord has given us specific instructions on how to overcome.  Revelation tells us that we overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and we love not the world until the death.  Ephesians also tells us that we must put on the whole armor of God in order to stand in the evil day.  Is the evil day upon us?  Our waist must be girded with truth, we must have the breastplate of righteousness, our feet prepared to give the gospel, we carry the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Remember to forgive those who have wronged you and pray that the Lord will soften their hearts. When you consider these images, notice the entire body and mind is fully integrated with the Lord’s program.     

The Judges: Double minded generations

Now after they entered the promise land, the people begin to worship false gods and disobey the rules.  Then the Lord sent them judges and prophets to bring them back into a proper relationship.  This went on for about 430 years until the first King whose name was Saul.  How often have we gone back and forth between committing to the Lord and falling back into the same old sins? 

We can learn a lot from studying the life of King Saul, David and Solomon.  The Bible says that David was a man after the Lord’s heart.  You might say, wait a minute Lord, David stole a man’s wife and had the man murdered!  Yes, that’s true.  However, if you study the books of Samuel, the Psalms and Kings, David always knew how to repent and throw himself on the mercy of God. 

Do you know how to repent my friend and throw yourself on the mercy of God?  The Bible says if we hear His voice today, not to harden our hearts like they did in the rebellion. A hard heart is going to blame others and even God for their sin and not cry out to the Holy Spirit for strength to overcome it. Remember, both Judas and Peter sinned a great sin against the Lord, one cried out to the Lord and one hung himself.

Split of Kingdom prior to exiles: 1,045 to 603 BC

God’s continuing patience

After King Solomon’s reign the kingdom was split into the ten northern tribes called Israel and two southern tribes called Judah.  As the wickedness of both kingdoms progressed, God sent them prophet after prophet to warn them of the day of the Lord or judgment.  One notable prophet was Elijah whom we read about in the book of Kings.  He prophesied during the wicked Queen Jezebel.  In the book of Revelation, the Lord wrote to the church in Thyatira and said he gave her time to repent but she did not.  My friends, the Lord will give us time to repent of our wickedness but do not presume His grace will tarry with us until we get older.  For the Bible says, “what is our life but a vapor as it is here today and can be gone tomorrow.” 

I remember hearing a statistic that some 155,000 people die every day.  Death is no respecter of people and I can assure you hell is real because I have been down there twice.  Now Elijah and his successor Elisha tried to get the kingdoms back on track.  One instance was when Elijah challenged about 400 prophets of Baal to a showdown.  Elijah said let’s build an altar and the God that answers by fire is the true God.  The result was that the God of Israel answered by fire and the false prophets of Baal were defeated. 

Now my friends, the power to call down fire from heaven was reserved for true prophets of God back then but during the Revelation, the Lord will give the False Prophet this ability. This is why in these last days the Lord said that false prophets will rise up and show great signs and wonders trying to deceive folks.  Also, in the book of Malachi, the Lord says that I will send them the prophet Elijah before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.  John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah but John said, I am not Elijah. 

The Prophets deliver warning and hope

When we read the prophetic message delivered by the Old Testament prophets, their message contained a warning of judgment, a call to repentance and hope of future restoration. The Bible says in Hebrews, God spoke during the Old Testament through many prophets. Noah prophesied that God was going to destroy the world for at least a 100 years before the incident. Abraham prophesied that God was going to make a great nation out of him and his descendants would be like the sand of the sea. Joseph believed in Abraham’s 400 year prophecy that said God would bring up Israel out of bondage and gave instructions not to leave his bones there. Moses prophesied about the coming of the Messiah and he would be a prophet like himself. The sermons in Acts given by Peter and Stephen confirm that Moses was speaking about the Lord.  

Warning to the Jews

From Isaiah we get the prophecy of the coming of the Lord and that He would be born of a virgin.  This prophecy probably made no sense to Isaiah because virgins cannot get pregnant.  Also, Isaiah 53 gives us a glimpse into the suffering Messiah before his ultimate rein in the new heaven and earth. The suffering aspect of the Messiah was misunderstood by the religious leaders and many of the people. How about us my friends, do we understand we must deny ourself, pickup our cross and follow Jesus before we can rein when he returns?

Jeremiah warned the people to turn from idolatry or God was sending the Babylonian kingdom for judgment. Now there came a point when repentance was no longer an option for Israel. Even for us my friends, if we continue in sin, there comes a point when judgment is unavoidable. Ezekiel was given an awesome vision of God and the powerful Cherubim around his throne. Also, he pronounced judgment on most of the nations but later gives us a picture of final judgment and hope of the new creation. In the prophet Joel we get the locust and coming nations to rule over Israel but also the promise of the Holy Spirit in the later days. In Amos we get warning of judgment along with the promise of future restoration.

From the prophet Micah we get where the Messiah will be born and cloaked within the prophecy is they will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek. Again, the suffering aspect of the Messiah was hidden in the Old Testament. My friends, is this aspect of the Christian walk still misunderstood by us?

Warning to the Gentiles

In addition to Israel’s prophets, God was gracious to send prophets to some of the pagan nations. Jonah and Nahum both delivered messages of warning and hope to Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, a pagan nation that God used to judge Israel. After receiving the warning from Jonah, the Bible says from the king down to the servant, they repented and stopped sinning. God spared Nineveh for a while after Johan’s warning. God also sent the prophet Obadiah to warn the pagan nation of Edom. Think of your own life, have you received warnings that something terrible is about to happen if you continue to live the way you are living? 

In many instances, Israel as well as the pagan kings, would not heed the true prophets but brought in false prophets to say that disaster was not coming.  My friends, this prophecy I am delivering regarding the coming judgment in my sister’s lifetime is being backed up by the continuous presence of the Holy Spirit. I beg you my friends, if sin is in your life, please repent and cry out to the Holy Spirit.

Eventually, the Lord sent Assyria to conquer the northern kingdom and Babylon into the southern kingdom.  The Lord used very descriptive terms for the Babylonian army in the book of Zechariah.  Also, a key prophecy given to Jeremiah prior to the southern kingdom being conquered was that after 70 years of exile, the Lord would bring them back into the land. Haggai also commanded the people to get busy rebuilding the temple.

The exile and return: 603 to 397 BC

Man’s kingdoms and God’s ultimate kingdom

During the exile, God spoke to two main prophets, Ezekiel and Daniel and revealed the kingdoms of mankind, the kingdom of God, millennium and eternal state.  The King of Babylon received a dream that symbolized the kingdoms of mankind in the form of a statute of a man.  Daniel received the same prophecy over a series of dreams symbolizing the kingdoms as different animals. John’s visions in the Revelation speaks of a beast coming out of the sea consistent with these animals.

• The kingdom of the Babylonian empire was symbolized as the head of gold of the statue as well as a lion. 

• The next kingdom of the Medes and Persians was symbolized as the chest and arms of silver as well as a bear and ram. 

• The next kingdom of Greece was symbolized as the belly and thighs as well as a leopard and male goat. 

• The next kingdom of Rome was symbolized as legs of iron as well as having huge iron teeth. 

• The final kingdom of mankind is a continuation of the Roman empire and depicted as the feet of the image as well as having 10 horns and a final little horn.  In Revelation 13, this final kingdom is symbolized as having all elements of the prior kingdoms.  The beast was like a leopard, feet similar to a bear with a mouth like a lion having 7 heads and 10 horns.

• The Lord’s kingdom was symbolized as the rock not cut out by man’s hand that hits the image on the feet and crushed it. The rock grows and fills the entire earth. The Lord’s kingdom begin in the gospels and was announced by John the Baptist. Obviously, Satan’s rule is still present because when he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, the Lord did not say you cannot give them to me because they are not yours. Paul tells us that Satan is the prince and power of this age and John says the whole world lies under the influence of the wicked one. It is apparent that the world is getting more and more wicked. The rock will eventually crush all the world’s kingdoms when the Lord physically returns. Currently, we have authority to cast out demons and overcome our sin through our Lord’s death on the cross.

The 70 weeks prophecy and promised Messiah

In one instance, Daniel was praying for the interpretation of a dream he received and the Prince of Persia, a demonic being, was preventing the answer from coming through.  My friends, if your prayers are not being answered keep praying because there is so much more happening in the universe than what we see.  Our Lord gave the example of the woman continually coming to the unjust judge for her case. Persistence pays off. There are so many times when I am praying that I want to stop because of the chest pressure and dizziness but I know God wants me to continue and finish the prayer session.

After breaking through, the angel delivered the specific command and how many weeks of years would pass before the coming of the Lord as well as His crucifixion.  The command was recorded in the book of Ezra around 458 BC.  The last week or 7 years of this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled because after the 69^th week, the Messiah will be cut off.  Also, the end of the prophecy will bring in everlasting righteousness.  Now, you can see we are not living in a state of everlasting righteousness.  In fact, it is getting more wicked every day.

Conclusion of Old Testament: 435 BC to 4 BC

God’s silence in history and your life

The last book of the Old Testament is Malachi and scholars date this book around 432 to 435 BC.   The Prophet Malachi’s message is to prepare for the coming Messenger or Messiah who will suddenly come to his temple. Again, we get a warning of the coming of the dreadful day of the Lord but also God will write in his book of remembrance the name of those who fear him.

After this prophet, God did not send any more prophets and was waiting to send the Messiah, our Lord Jesus.  Have you ever had a period in your life when it felt like God was silent?  If you are a believer and living for the Lord, just know that He is still moving behind the scenes.  However, if you have stopped reading your Bible, praying and thinking about the Lord’s program this could indicate you have left your first love. If you have fallen into this state my friends, like the Church of Ephesus in the Revelation, you must repent and do the first works.

The Temples of God

God’s initial plan was to dwell among his creation because in Genesis we read God came walking in the Garden in the cool of the day looking for Adam. However, by the time of Noah, mankind and I believe with the help of some fallen angels, had become so wicked that God said it pained him he had made us. However, the Bible says that God still had one man and Noah found grace. 

During Israel’s wilderness experience, God established many laws of the first covenant and directed Moses to construct a tabernacle or temporary home. Within this temporary home, there was a place called the holy of holies which was the place where God’s presence rested. 

After Israel settled and the time of the kings begin, God instructed Solomon on how to construct the first permanent temple structure. Afterwards, God’s glory appeared. After destruction of the first temple, God instructed Nehemiah, Ezra, Zerubbabel and others on how to construct the second temple. Our Lord predicted and history tells us that this second temple was destroyed in A.D. 70. Now certain Jews are busy trying to construct a third temple but I assure you my friend, God’s presence will not rest in that structure.

After our Lord Jesus established the new covenant, Paul tells us that our bodies are the temple of God. We read in the Revelation that ultimately, New Jerusalem has no need for a temple. The reason is that we are the final temple being built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, our Lord being the chief cornerstone. The Scripture says we are being built up into a holy temple for the final dwelling place of God. At the end of the day, we read in the Revelation, behold the dwelling place of God is with man. 

My friends, we must understand that God’s desire is to prepare us for his final dwelling place. Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell in our temple or is he constantly striving with us to clean the sin out? God will not force himself on us because the Scripture says I stand at the door and knock. Allow me to encourage you my friend to open your life to the Lord. This means giving our Lord some of our time and using our talents and gifts to further his agenda.