God’s Master Plan
God’s Plan through the Ages
A Simple Guide to what the Bible Says about the Future!
Future Events, Part 3 - God’s Master Plan
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© February 6, 2011
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Understanding of how Human History
and End Time Events are Related
I believe God wants His Children to know about and understand the history of mankind and comprehend the signs of the times – the “end times”.
1 Thessalonians 5:3–6
3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
Christ rebuked the Pharisees by telling them that they could predict the weather but they were not aware of the “signs of the times” (Matt. 16:1-4; Luke 19:41-44).
God told the Prophet Daniel that his prophecies would be sealed up until the time of the end when their meaning would be revealed – the “wise will understand” (Daniel 12:4,10). Why else would God have given these end times prophecies to the prophet, had not God intended the prophecies to be revealed to give His people understanding of the “times”?
Many of the Old Testament Prophets prophesied about “future events”. “The days are coming,” they would declare – days that have not been seen as yet! Are all of their predicted future end-time events prophesied to no avail? Should their declarations be spiritualized, declared “past”, or incomprehensible? Should their words of prophecy be so easily set aside from God’s Children’s understanding and accountability?
I believe God gave His prophets their prophetic utterances for a purpose: So we, God’s Children would know what is coming in the future! God expects us to respond accordingly to His Word, in understanding, discernment, healthy fear, and amazing awe to God, for who He IS and what He has revealed to His Children, because His Children do not belong to the darkness, but to the light!
How Has God Revealed His Purposes throughout History?
Throughout history God has revealed Himself in different ways – through dreams, visions and angelic beings – even Old Testament revelations of “the LORD” – Christ (Numbers 12:6,8; Genesis 18:9-21; 32:30; Joshua 5:13-15; 1 Cor. 10:1-4; etc.); and, finally through the physical incarnation of Jesus Christ: God, the Son (Philippians 2:5-11).
Hebrews 1:1–2
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Why Did God Make Me?
Let’s go back and review why God made the world – and you and me!
What is God’s “purpose statement”, if you will, for creating the world and for people’s existence in this world, from the beginning until now – until its end?
God’s Purpose: God’s plan through the ages is to call out for Himself, a People - a Bride to live with Him forever.
God’s Purpose is to Make for Himself, those gathered from every generation:
• A Glorious Bride (Revelation 19:6-10)
• A Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:9,10)
• A Holy Nation (1 Peter 2:9)
• A Chosen People (1 Peter 2:9)
God’s goal, seen from Scripture, is to build for Himself a people for His eternal Kingdom: Those who trust Him through every type of circumstance and trial, from every culture, epoch, language, and tribe, from the dawn of time to the end of time.
The Bride and the Priests of the Kingdom of Christ
Taken from every tribe, language and people in the History of the World.
Revelation 5:9–10
9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals, because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Who Does God Choose to Be in His Kingdom?
People, who have genuine faith - trusting Him in their daily lives, accepting His gift of Salvation, relying on His direction and provision, and making Him their God…
How Does God reveal those who have Genuine Faith?
Challenges and testing, sometimes extremely severe challenges and trials, face God’s people of genuine faith during their earthly journey, no matter in what period of history they live. These trials try the genuineness of the faith of those who will be part of God’s Eternal Kingdom (Heb. 11:17). The testing may be great – even extreme, but the rewards will far exceed the dilemma or disaster of any trial (James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:4-9).
This testing comes in the combination of three internal and external pressures, from human and spiritual sources.
The Problems we deal with daily reveal the Truth of Genuine Faith
The Conflict of the Ages involves direct battle with three foes, internal and external, which, in actuality brings the reality of our genuine faith and spiritual condition to light:
• The Curse of the Depravity of our Flesh
• The Lure of the Contraband of the World
• The Spiritual Deception and Opposition of Satan with his fallen angels
People of Faith are Chosen from Every Age, for His Eternal Kingdom
The Dynamic of the Conflict in these three areas above is throughout History in every Age, under every circumstance.
Let’s look at the unique generations from the beginning of time, from which God has chosen, is choosing, and will choose an earthly nation, a people, a Bride to be with Him in His Eternal Kingdom. Our understanding of how God has worked through the ages, will give us insight into God’s working in the end times.
1. Before Sin: At the beginning of earth’s creation in the Garden of Eden, before the Curse of Sin. Adam and Eve proved they would not and could not naturally obey the commands of God, even in a perfect environment.
2. Before the Law: Before God gave the Law to Moses, people were a law unto themselves. Pleasing sacrifices were given to God by those who worshipped Him in faith, as Abel did in Genesis 4:2-5, but the wickedness of mankind grew so great God destroyed all life, with the exception of Noah, a man of faith, and those with him on the ark. Mankind proved during this time period, before the Law was given, that they would not and could not naturally obey the commands of God on their own. After purging the earth of wickedness God covenanted with Noah, his sons, all their descendants and every living creature, not to again destroy all of life with water (Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17). God then reveals to us another man of faith, Abraham.
God’s Covenants with Abraham and His Descendants
o God covenanted with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as they believed God and obeyed Him, regarding the multitude of their descendants and the inheritance of the Land of Israel (Gen 15:18-21; 17:1-8; 22:16-18; 26:3–5; 28:13–15; 35:9-12).
o Abraham’s descendants would evidence their side of the covenant through the sign of circumcision. (Gen 17:9-14)
3. The Law of God is Revealed: After God gave the Law through Moses, to the Children of Israel initiating the temple sacrificial system.
o God’s covenant of the Law, with Moses and the Israelites on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 24:1-8)
Joshua later confirmed again the covenant of the Law through the symbolic blessings and cursing at Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal. Before the Israelites took possession of their land, half of the Israelites were to stand in front of Mount Gerizim to repeat the blessing for those who obeyed God’s Law and half of them to stand in front of Mount Ebal to repeat the cursing reserved for those disobedient to God’s Law. (Joshua 8:30-35; Deut. 11:29; 27:11-28:68).
Even though God Covenanted with Man through His Law, mankind proved continually that they would not and could not naturally obey the commands of God or honorably keep their side of a covenant with Him, as had been the case since the fall in the Garden of Eden. In each age, mankind had to reach out for God through faith, either looking forward to when the Messiah would come to redeem them, or looking back to when He had come.
Before Christ came, people of faith, who would become part of God’s eternal Bride, looked forward to the coming Redeemer-Messiah and salvation through Him (Genesis 3:16; Isaiah 53; 59:20; Psalms 22–24, Zechariah 9:9, etc.).
Those who live after Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, become part of God’s eternal Family by accepting Christ’s Redemptive Salvation, in looking back to His Sacrifice, through faith, and also experiencing the transforming work of New Birth by the Holy Spirit (who was revealed at Pentecost).
Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). When we accept, by faith, the gift of God’s provision for us to be in His eternal family, we stop relying on our good works and trust alone in His Salvation.
Titus 3:4–7
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
4. Redemption through God’s Son, Jesus Christ: In the fullness of time, Jesus Christ took on human flesh and gave Himself to be the Redemptive Sacrifice on the cross for our sins (Philippians 2:5-11). He then sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost so that those who had believed in Him could be transformed through His Spirit’s power and have New Birth. Christ fulfilled the requirements of “the Law” and gave us the opportunity to be born again into God’s Family. The mystery of the Gospel was finally revealed (Col. 1:26-27; Eph. 3:8-10; Rom. 16:25-27). This initiated what we know today to be the “Church Age” and the “Age of Grace”. To become those who would be part of God’s Family – Christ’s eternal Bride, it is revealed that saving faith is only in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, through the Redemption that He had for mankind’s sin, on the Cross.
…And then, there are the “End Time” events below, which will become world-wide events in the future: The Tribulation and the Millennium. (We will be having a more in-depth study on these events in the next few weeks.)
5. “Jacob’s Trouble” – The Tribulation
Jeremiah 30:7
7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.
Daniel 12:1–2
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
Jesus called this Time of Trouble a “great distress” or “tribulation”
Matthew 24:21–22
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
There are 22 clear references to the catastrophic “Day of the LORD” in the Scripture; 17 references in the Old Testament and 5 in the New Testament. It is an awful day of darkness and destruction. This time of “Jacob’s Trouble” is what we call, “the Tribulation”.
The Tribulation is a horrible time of trouble, never before experienced in the history of the world. This time is after the restraining force of the Holy Spirit is taken from the world (including those who are the Temple of the Holy Spirit) 2 Thess. 2:1-8. This is often referred to as “the rapture”. During the Tribulation there is a continued harvest of those who will be part of the eternal Kingdom (“the elect”, seen in Matt 24:22 above) brought to faith through the testimony of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Revelation chapters 7:1-8 and 14:1-5). Even during this unparalleled, intense earthly devastation of the Tribulation, there will be many who listen to the Jewish evangelists, repent from their sin and turn to God, through Christ Jesus (Rev. 7:9-17).
6. The Millennium: Following the Tribulation, the Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ will Come Again in Power and Glory, after which He will reign on the earth for 1,000 years, “with a rod of iron” (Rev. 19:15; 12:5; 2:27; Psalm 2:9). During the Millennial Period of Peace and the physical Reign of Jesus Christ on the earth (Revelation 20, together with a host of Old Testament passages), mankind will prove for the final time that they will not and cannot naturally obey the commands of God, even under the direct rule of Christ. Many will submit to Christ as their King and Lord, but even more will turn their backs on His Rule over their lives and rise up to defy His Kingdom (Rev. 20:7-10).
Conclusion
How does our understanding of human history increase our understanding of end time events? When we see how God has worked through history, in bringing mankind to Himself, we will see that He has not finished the harvest of those whom He wants to be with Him in His Kingdom. We will also see that God has judgment waiting for the world that has cast off His restraint and have lived in carnal pleasure for themselves.
God has revealed Himself throughout history in every age and has given opportunity for those, whom He knows who seek Him, through faith to find Him.
The same three pressures have faced every person since the fall:
• The Curse of the Depravity of our Flesh
• The Lure of the Contraband of the World
• The Spiritual Deception and Opposition of Satan with his fallen angels
God uses these three, coupled with circumstances and testing to try the genuineness of each one’s faith.
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, sent to deliver us, through His sacrifice on the cross, from the damnation of our sins. He has given us the Holy Spirit to transform us to be His holy people, a royal priesthood and His eternal Bride. The days are coming when we will be gathered together to be with Him forever. Let us be comforted with this Hope through His Word!