ESCHATOLOGICAL BIBLE STUDY (Part 2)
Continued from yesterday’ Part 1
By Francis Bola AKin-John
GOD’S PLAN AND PROGRAMS FOR THE AGES
Daniel 2:21 “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”
Acts 1:7 “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”
1 Thessalonians 5:1 “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.”
Psalms 102:13 “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.”
God is a God of times and seasons. He is in charge and control and will do what He has proposed for the world in His set times and seasons. God has divided His program for the world into time segments. ‘There are periods of time related to the divine purpose. Mountains may rise and fall, tumult’s may arise and the devil doing so much to destroy Gods plan and purposes, yet His time stands and His purposes will be fulfilled at His Own set times.
I. DIFFERENT PERIODS
This is otherwise known as dispensational periods. In these dispensational times, God varied His dealings with man and humanity.
1. The period between Adam and Moses – Romans 5:14.
2. The period between Moses and Christ – John 1:17
3. The “Times of the Gentiles” – Luke 21:24
4. The “Times and Seasons” – Acts 1:7; I Thessalonians 5:1
5. The “Last days” for the Church – 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
6. The “Last days” for Israel- Isaiah 2:1-5
7. A period of one thousand years of the reign of Christ – Revelation 20:1-6.
In Hebrews 1:1,2, there is the “Time past” when God spoke to the fathers by the prophets and these last days” when He is speaking to us by His Son.
The Bible also speaks of:
a) Ages past (Ephesians 3: 5; Colossians 1 :26)
b) The present age (Romans 12:2; Galatians 1 :4)
c) And the age or ages to come (Ephesians 2:7; Hebrews 6:5).
Note that “age” (or “world” as it sometimes appears in the New Testament) refers to a period of time. It is used of the- world under the aspect of time or period of time. Even though God’s own time and age are quite different from mans calculations and calendar of events. “ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8) Such is the difference in mans calendar to Gods own.
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS PRESENT AGE
This is the period scripturally referred to as “the times of the gentiles”, “age of the church “, “last days”, “dispensation of grace”,
1. A period of time marked by “evil” (Galatians 1 :4)
2. A period of times marked by dominion of Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4)
3. A period of time marked by darkness, ungodliness and lusts (Ephesians 6:12; I Corinthians 2:6,7; Titus 2:12; Ephesians 2:2)
4. A period of time marked by outpouring of the Holy Spirit and bringing many people back to God through Christ atonement
This is the age we are presently in.
Two prophecies will be fulfilled simuntenously at this present age: Acts 2:17-18 and 1Timothy 4:1,2Timothy 3:1-5. These two prophecies will be running concurrently at this present age. While God will be pouring out His Spirit upon His own, doing a lot of marvelous things, evil, moral decadence, demonic deceptions, wickedness, apostasy and calamities will be happening to the gentiles also. The onus is on you to determine in which camp you’ll belong at this present age.
III. DISTINCTION BETWEEN THIS PRESENT AGE AND THE PRECEDING AGES
1. In previous ages, Christ was expected but in this present age He has already come, died, risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father – Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:2; Luke 2:8-14; I Corinthians 15 :3-7; Mark 16 :19. Expecting His enemies to be subdued under Him.
2. The Holy Spirit, who in previous, ages came upon certain men to empower them for a given task, now empowers every believer for service – Numbers 11:24-29; John 7:37-39; Acts 2:39. This is the time to reign in life by the power, presence and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
3. The nation Israel has been set aside as the particular object of God’s dealing in this present age – Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 20:9-16; Acts 13:46-49; Romans 11:11-25. God is gathering the Israelites back to their nation and getting them ready for His special dealings, as prophecied.
IV. DIVINE PURPOSE IN THIS PRESENT AGE
1. Divine visit on the Gentiles – Acts 15:14. It’s time for gentiles to repent, turn away from their idols and come back to the Lord Jesus. Acts 17:31-32
2. The Church, the body of Christ is to be formed in every locality and grow, mature and get ready for the rapture of the saints- Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:25-27.32; John i5:1; Ephesians 2:17-22; 2:7.
The purpose of God for the church in this present time is to go, reach out, get people converted and disciple them for Him, plus getting them ready to meet their God, individually and collectively.
3. This present-age programme of God with the Church was unknown to the Old Testament prophets.
a. Paul called it a mystery – I Corinthians 1 :24-27; Ephesians 3 :5-9; I Corinthians 2:7-10; Romans’11:25; Colossians 1 :26,27; Colossians 2:2; 4:3; I Timothy 3:16; I Corinthians 15:51-57. Yes, this mystery of church age was not known to Old Testament prophets, but it was in Gods plan since the beginning of the world, in Gods mind. Ephesians 1:4.
A mystery (in New Testament usage) is something which was not formerly revealed and therefore unknown, but now is made known by God.
b. This present age existed in the mind of God in times past – Isaiah. 9:6; 53:10,11; Zechariah 9:9.10; Luke 1:31,32.
V. THE CLOSE OF THIS PRESENT AGE
Within this present age (the period of grace, age of the church) God is bringing to fulfillment two distinct programmes:
(1) that with the Church, which will be completed at the rapture of the church; Inspite of wars, pestilence, demonic invasions, natural disasters, persecutions and man made diseases, God has not finished with His church. He is continually pouring out His Spirit to purge, revive, restore, refire and reinvigorate the church for revivals at this end time of Endtime.
and (2)that with Israel, which will be completed after the rapture at the second advert of Christ.
The close of this present age for the church is called ‘last time’ “last times” and “latter days” in the New Testament.
1. “Last time”, ”last times”, “latter days” for the Church – I Peter 1 :5; I John 2:18; I Peter 1:20; Jude 18; I Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2.
2. “Latter days” and “last days” for Israel- Daniel 10:14; Deuteronomy 4:30; Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1.
The conditions within the professing or visible Church at the closing days of the Church age centre around a system of denials. There will be and there is:
*a denial of God- Luke 17:26; 2 Timothy 3:4,5
*a denial of Christ- I John 2:18; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:6.
*a denial of Christ’s return – 2 Peter 313-4.
*a denial of faith – I Timothy 4:1-4; Jude 3.
*a denial of truth, sound doctrine– 21’imotny 4:3,4.
*a denial of Christian living – 2 Timothy 3: 1-8; Jude 18
*a denial of authority – 2 Timothy 3:4.
The heightened activities of the devil and his demonic agents at this present age will result in these denials. Many will be deceived by fake prophets, preachers and seductive spirits. They will come up with strange teachings in order to make merchandise of the people. Scientists, mind- readers, mental, positive thinking agents of Satan will turn the truth of Gods word into lies, so as to deceive many to follow their destructive ways.
For those who refused to be deceived, and would rather seek to be filled with Holy Spirit of God, and searching for the Truth as it is Jesus Christ, the imminent (soon, sudden and unannounced) return of Christ is the hope and expectation of the Church – Luke 21:36; Hebrews 9’:28; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:1.1-13; Philippians 3:8-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8. That’s the next program of God for the world. Nobody knows the time, only the LORD God. But we are told to be ready always! But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:36
