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Introduction: Any study which relates to history should have included in it a study of the fifteen historical periods of the Bible so that all historical discussions can be properly framed in their perspective settings. The next several weeks will be a study of those divisions to aid the student in having a better understanding and a deeper appreciation for the facts that are to be discussed.

I. Antediluvian (before the flood): The antediluvian period begins with the six days of creation in which the world was framed and mankind was placed in the garden. Man was then given instructions how to live to please God. But man did not listen and soon because of sin was banished from that beautiful garden.

Years later Cain and Abel were born and we begin to see the different natures man can choose, the one being righteous and the other wicked. This difference is shown again in the life of Enoch, a man so righteous that God did not let him suffer death. However, his son Methuselah, died a wicked man. God always gives man the ability to choose his direction.

God looked on His creation and saw that man was continually evil. But amid all the wicked men God saw the family of Noah, a man of righteousness, and called him into His service. God has always called those who choose righteousness and rejected those who choose evil. It is because of this characteristic of God that He sent Christ as the Redeemer of mankind so that those who choose righteousness would be with Him in eternity.

II. Postdiluvian (after the flood): After the flood recedes, Noah and his family leave the ark and begin again. Years later Noah is found drunken in his tent by his son Ham and is mocked by him. Noah places a curse on Ham’s son and a blessing on Shem and Japheth. Again wickedness is condemned and righteousness rewarded. Later God tells the people of the world to scatter and fill the earth. But they choose instead to build a great tower and remain together as a great people. God is provoked into action by the rebellion of mankind and He comes down and confounds their languages, scattering them throughout the earth.

III. Patriarchal Period: The patriarchal period begins with the calling of Abram and ends with the children of Israel living in Egypt. Throughout all of this period, God called those who were righteous and rejected those who were wicked. God worked His will as he prepared history in such a way as to prepare man for the Messiah.

Thought Questions:

1. Why was Cain’s offering not accepted?

2. How do we know that Methuselah was wicked?

3. Why was Canaan cursed rather than Ham?

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Introduction: In this lesson we will continue the study of the fifteen historical divisions presented in the Bible. Remember that since this is a historical study, we need to lay a foundation of understanding things as they relate to their particular periods of history.

I. Egyptian Bondage: Exodus begins by telling us that a king arose over Egypt that knew not Joseph. Because the people grew in strength and number, the Egyptians decided to enslave them. In Exodus chapter two we are introduced to Moses who would eventually lead God’s people out of slavery. It was not until Moses was eighty years of age that God called him to deliver the people. With a mighty hand Moses, by the power of God, performed ten plagues on Egypt and the people were freed.

II. Wilderness Wanderings: God’s final act of freeing the people of Israel, the act which ended their bondage, was their deliverance by passing through the Red Sea. From there they traveled to Mount Sinai where they received the law. God then had spies sent out into the land so that the people might prepare for its conquest. But the people were afraid and did not have the proper faith in God. Because of this, God led them in the wilderness for forty years until all the adults that left Egypt except two passed away because of their lack of faith and obedience.

III. Conquest of Canaan: At the conclusion of the forty years of wandering, God took the life of Moses and replaced him with Joshua. It was he that led the people in the conquest of Canaan. After they crossed the Jordan River they came to the city of Jericho which they promptly destroyed. But because of the sin of Achan, they were made to suffer. The people constantly suffered because of their lack of total submission to the will of God. In Joshua 21: we read that the land is subdued and God has kept all His promises. This section of history ends with the death of Joshua.

1. Why was Moses kept out of the Promised Land? Numbers 20:12

2. Did Moses ever make it to the Promised Land? Luke 9:28-36

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Introduction: This lesson deals with the beginnings of life for Israel in their new land. Without leaders such as Joshua, the people quickly begin to become involved in practices which are offensive to God.

I. Judges: While it was true that the people had conquered the land God had given them under the leadership of Joshua, they had failed to utterly destroy the Canaanites and, thus, they began to be corrupted by the influences around them. Idolatry and immorality was the norm for the land. Whenever the people offended God enough He would leave them and they would need delivering. During this tragic time, God used thirteen regional judges to aid His people.

II. United Kingdom: The kingdom was united under three separate monarchs. They were Saul, David, and Solomon. The people had rejected the rule of God and had demanded a king. They were told it would lead to conscription, forced servitude, increased taxes, seizing of land, and so on but they still insisted on a king. They got what they wanted and paid for it heavily in generations to come.

Each of these kings served approximately forty years. Of the three, David was the only one who attempted to stay faithful to God. Saul was led away by his own ambition, arrogance, and pride. Solomon was led away by his many wives and allowed idolatry to enter the land. God was displeased by the life and performance of Solomon.

III. Divided Kingdom: The kingdom was divided because of God’s judgment against the house of Solomon. The first two rulers were Rehoboam and Jeroboam. The division consisted of two tribes in the south (the faithful tribes) and ten tribes in the north (the rebellious tribes). This division would last until approximately 721 BC when God would sweep away the ten northern tribes as an act of righteous judgment for their rejection of His law.

Conclusion: The time of the judges was a sad time for Israel. Without men such as Moses and Joshua to lead them, the people quickly began to corrupt themselves with their neighbors. Their failure to totally secure the land of promise would eventually lead to their total rejection by God.

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Introduction: In 721 BC, as an act of vengeance for rebellion, God brought the Assyrians and others against the northern tribes and swept them away. The southern tribes, known as Judah, were all that were left of God’s people.

I. Kingdom of Judah: Several kings would reign over Judah before its eventual fall. The more prominent kings were Hezekiah, a righteous man to whom God added fifteen years to his life, Mannasseh, a wicked king who God crushed until he repented and then God restored him, Josiah, the boy king who reformed the nation at the recovery of the law, and Jehoiachin, the king who was ruling when the Babylonian captivity began.

II. Babylonian Captivity: There were several carryings away of the nation of Judah before it was finally completed in 586 BC. Because of poor leadership and open rebellion to God’s law, God sent His people into Babylon where they would remain for 70 years. The final carrying away was completed in 586 BC. While in captivity, they came under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus. It was Cyrus that gave the decree for the people to return and rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem.

III. Return From Captivity: The people returned under the guidance of Zerubbabel, who would become the governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest. Through these men’s leadership and the strong prophesying of Haggai and others, the people finally accomplished their mission of rebuilding the house of God.

Conclusion: God is never pleased when His people are disobedient. When man rebels, God acts. Sometimes slowly, sometimes pleadingly, sometimes vengefully. Today God deals with His people the same way. One must concentrate on his faithfulness if he is to avoid the vengeance of God.

1. Who was Jehoiachin and by what three names was he known?

2. What was his relationship to the Christ?

3.  What important prophecy was made concerning him and how does that prophecy relate to the nature of the reign of the Christ?

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Introduction: In our last historical lesson we will cover the inner-testament times, the life of Christ and the new covenant. Once this is completed and we have reviewed our study on Christ in the Law, we will begin our search for Christ in Jewish history.

I. Inner-Testament Times: For the four hundred years between the close of the Old Testament and the creation of the new, there were no inspired writers or writings for us to view. But in the book of Daniel, God recorded the history of those years prior to their actual events taking place.

II. Life of Christ: Christ lived for approximately 33 years. During this period of time He prepared the world to receive His final will and testament. Once this was completed, He went to the cross and offered Himself for the sins of the world.

III. The New Covenant: The new covenant began formally on Pentecost in Acts Two. The apostles began to teach about repentance and remission of sins and those that gladly received the word were baptized into the church. In only a few short years, the gospel was spread throughout the entire world. It is the law of Christ that will continue until the end of time.

Conclusion: From our historical study we are able to see Jesus’ abiding presence from the beginning until now and into the future. He has, and always will be, involved in our lives for our good. This will only cease to be true if we leave this world in a lost condition.

1. What period of history was not written about in Scripture?

2. What are some of the terms given to our historical period?

3. When did the new covenant begin?

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Introduction: This lesson is to refresh us concerning some of the major things we learned about Christ in the Law. After this review, we will begin to add other pieces of information which make the Christ unmistakable.

I. Christ to be From David: Prophecy told in Genesis 49:8-12 that Christ would be a ruler who descended from Judah. Then in Psalm 132:11-18 we found that He would further be from David. This is affirmed in Matt. 1:1 and in Acts 2:29-36.

II. Christ to Replace Moses as Lawgiver: Moses was the great giver of the law. Some Jews did not have an interest in the further writings of the old Scriptures but nearly all at least accepted the writings of Moses even if they did not follow them. To represent Christ as the replacement of Moses was to present Him as the ultimate lawgiver.

III. Christ a Universal Savior: We have seen in our studies and will continue to see that Christ was a universal savior. His lawgiving was not national, it was universal. His redeeming work was not national, it was universal. His leadership was not national, it was universal. Christ came to seek and save ALL that would follow Him.

IV. Christ a Priest after Melchisedec: Christ was symbolized by Melchisedec. He was to be a priest but was not from the priestly tribe. His was a lasting priesthood while the Jewish priesthood was temporary. Christ priesthood was and is superior to the Aaronic priesthood.

V. Christ to be Announced by Signs: In the Law we learned that a star would mark the arrival of Christ. As we continue to study, we will see when he was to be born, where, under what conditions, etc. Truly anyone missing Christ would do so not because the evidence was not ample but simply because they ignored it.

Conclusion: The evidence available today that Jesus is the Messiah is overwhelming. His characteristics, His mission, His universal work, and much more are laid out as a witness of His person. What He would do, where He would be from and when, and how he would die were all laid out hundreds of years before they actually occurred. Truly Jesus is the Christ!

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Introduction: In this lesson we will be looking at times when the Word did actually visit the earth. We will see the ever-present vigil of the Lord over His creation and His people.

I. Creation: In the first few chapters of Genesis we find that the Lord visited the earth in His acts of creation. His first visit to the earth was to complete it and place mankind on it to inhabit it and to live in fellowship with Him.

II. Abraham: In Genesis 18:1-33 we find that three men visit Abraham at his camp. In the next chapter we learn that these men are angels of God. The angels have come to announce that Sarah is to have a child the next year and they also tell Abraham that Sodom and the other cities are to be destroyed because of their wickedness.

III. Jacob: In Genesis 32 we find the story of Jacob wrestling with an angel. As the day begins to break, the angel touches Jacob’s thigh and injures it. In spite of this, Jacob does not relinquish the match until the angel gives him a blessing. This angel is probably Jesus.

IV. Moses: Moses has many encounters with Jesus. There is the burning bush (Ex. 3), the destroyer of the firstborn (Ex. 12), the cloud of guidance (Ex. 13), and the giving of the law at Sinai (Ex. 20). In spite of the wickedness of the people, the Lord did not abandon His people, but continued with them so that His divine purpose might be fulfilled.

V. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: In Daniel we read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego as they are placed in a great furnace of fire. It is so hot that it cannot even be approached without causing death. Yet when the fire was burned down and the king looked in the furnace, he saw not three people in the furnace, he saw four. The fourth, of course, was Jesus.

Conclusion: These are some of the more prominent visitations of the Christ in history. Other lesser visitations such as Samuel and others are also recorded for our learning. We have looked at these to see that Christ was truly active in the history of the Jewish people.

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Introduction: In this lesson we will continue to look at the physical visitations of Christ to this earth.

I. Birth of Christ: In the Gospels we begin to see the fulfillment by Jesus of the many prophecies which refer to Him. At His birth we see He is descended from David, He is virgin born, a star marks His arrival, and many other wonderful events prove His identity.

II. Life of Christ: In His life we continue to see the abundant proof of who He is. Everything from His being carried into Egypt to His method of teaching has its revelation in the Old Testament.

III. Death of Christ: Psalm 22 gives a greatly detailed description of the scene at Calvary. The amazing part of this is, obviously, this description was written about 1000 years before the events took place.

IV. Resurrection: David had foretold of the resurrection and Peter and the other apostles referred to it in Acts two. A number of references either taught about the resurrection or reflected on its events after it had occurred.

V. Establishment of Christ: Daniel 7:13-14 foretold of Christ receiving power, glory, honor, and a kingdom. Acts 1 tells of His going to the Father and Acts 2 tells of His kingdom coming to Earth by the power of the Holy Spirit.

VI. Christ’s Return (Future History): I have included this visitation even though it has not yet occurred. It is so definitively spoken of as certain that it merely is history having as yet not occurred.

Conclusion: Anyone truly and faithfully searching for the Christ would have to conclude, based on the evidence, that Jesus was truly the Christ. His final return is here presented because it is so assured by God it is merely future history, i.e. it is as assured to occur as those things having already occurred. In this sense it may be viewed as history written, not yet having happened.

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Introduction: In this lesson we will be looking at the two different ways in which we can tie Christ to David through descendency.

I. House of David - Legally: To satisfy the prophecies concerning Christ being from David and ruling on His throne it is necessary to show that Christ is legally descended from David. Without this evidence, Jesus would have no claim to the throne of David. This legal descendency had to come from and through the father to satisfy Jewish philosophy. This lineage is given to us in Matt. 1:1-16.

II. House of David - Physically: To satisfy the prophecies concerning Christ being from David and ruling on His throne it is necessary to show that Christ is physically descended from David. Without this evidence, Jesus would still not have a complete claim to the throne of David. This physical descendency had to come through His mother since He was virgin born. This lineage is given in Luke 3:23-38.

III. Some Items Suggested By The Lineage of Christ: There are several things suggested by the lineage of Christ. We will consider only a few. (1) Christ was to be a universal Savior. This is suggested by the presence of Gentiles in His lineage. (2) Christ was to be a spiritual savior or deliverer, not a physical one. This is suggested by the presence of Jechonias in His lineage. (3) Christ was to be a royal savior. This is suggested by His royal bloodline.

Conclusion: Jesus was to be from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Jesse, and David. Jesus the Christ was authenticated, in part, in that He fulfilled this requirement of the Old Scriptures.

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Introduction: We have already seen how many items of the Old Testament were representative of New Testament concepts, practices, etc. Today we will look at some human types of Christ. They typify Christ through their lives or actions in such a way as to illustrate some truth or principle of the Messiah. We will look at only four in this lesson.

I. Adam - A Contrasting Type: There are many comparisons that can be made concerning Adam and Christ. We will look briefly at the contrasts in I Corinthians 15 and in Romans 5 where we find that just as Adam brought universal death through his disobedience, Christ brought universal life through His obedience.

II. Melchisedec - A Similar Type: We find in Heb. 5 that Melchisedec was chosen by God to be a priest forever. We find also that his priesthood was greater than that of Aaron. Christ, being typified by Melchisedec, possesses these same characteristics.

III. Moses - A Similar Type: Moses had two main roles in his life in serving God. One was as the deliverer of God’s people out of bondage. The other was as a lawgiver. Moses tells us he typifies Christ in Deut. 18:15-18 in these functions.

IV. Joshua - A Similar Type: Joshua is the one who replaces Moses and leads the people into the land of promise. Jesus is the spiritual replacement of Moses and leads the people into the spiritual Promised Land. The name Joshua in Hebrew is the same name as Jesus in the Greek.

Conclusion: There are many others that typify Christ in many ways. Some that have been suggested are Abraham, David, Jonah, Aaron, Samuel, and others., One must be careful not to goo too far with this type of study but one thing is for sure, the Old Scriptures are permeated with information concerning the Christ of the new covenant.

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Introduction: After the birth of the twelve sons of Israel, the nation begins to form. It was prophesied that the Christ would be of the tribe of Judah. In viewing the lineage of Christ from this point we find that four women are listed in that lineage in the Old Testament. We are going to look at them and consider their purpose.

I. Tamar: Tamar was a woman of Gentile heritage. She married the son of Judah and would have raised up children to him. But God became angry with him and killed him. She then married his brother but God killed him also. Her father-in-law withheld his third son so, by deception, Tamar raised up children by Judah.

II. Rahab: Rahab was a woman of Gentile heritage. Having heard of God, she believed and aided the people of God. Because of her great faith (Heb. 11:31) and her accompanying works (James 2:25) God spared her and her house.

III. Ruth: Ruth was a woman of Gentile heritage. Her exposure to the God of Israel made her accept their faith. Her speech of commitment was one that was so eloquent that it is still used in wedding ceremonies today.

IV. Bathsheba: Bathsheba was a woman of Gentile heritage. Although a woman who committed a great sin, she must have been penitent and served well as the faithful other of Solomon.

Conclusion: Each of these women demonstrated submission to the will of God based on different situations and times. They demonstrate that with proper faith one can so change his life that he can have a fruitful relationship with God. God has always recognized the righteous among the Gentiles. Consider Naaman as he is referred to in Luke 4:24-28. In the lineage of Christ we find four great Gentile women recorded for our learning. God has always accepted anyone who wanted to be His servant. The law was to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24-25) and it is that very law that took us where we could be all ". . . one in Christ (Gal. 3:26-28).

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Introduction: In this lesson we will be looking at the type of kingdom Christ rules. Understanding the spiritual nature of His kingdom lets us put in better perspective the things of this world.

I. The Prophesy Concerning Coniah: In Jer. 22:28-30 we read an interesting prophesy concerning Coniah, king of Judah when the nation was carried into Babylonian captivity. From this passage we find that the physical control of Judah by a descendant of Coniah as king would never again be blessed by God. God had rejected him and his house because of sin.

Christ was descended from Coniah (Matt. 1:11-12). This prophecy eliminates the earthly reign of Christ as a possibility. We must therefore look for some other type of reign to understand the lordship of Christ.

II. Christ Has A Spiritual Kingdom: When the people tried to take Christ and make Him a king, He refused (John 6:14-15). He knew His kingdom was spiritual (John 18:16) and an earthly reign was not the will of the Father. In truth, Christ now reigns (Acts 2:36) and has no need of any further historical events to secure His throne.

Conclusion: The historical evidence and the personal testimony of Jesus show that the kingdom of Christ is spiritual and not physical in nature. Christ rules now in the hearts of men and will never rule physically in Judah.

1. Heaven is God’s throne and the __________ is His footstool (Matt. 5:34-35).

2. For Christ to reign in Judah He would have to cease sitting in __________ on His throne and instead sit on the __________ on His footstool.

3. As time permits, discuss some of the other fallacies present by Scripture concerning the concept of an earthly throne for Christ to rule upon.

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Introduction: In our lesson we will examine Matthew 2:23 and search for its importance.

I. Jesus of Nazareth (The Nazarene) Of Great Importance: In studying the New Testament account of the life of Christ, one would conclude that His being from Nazareth was of great importance. First, of course, it was the fulfillment of prophecy (Matt. 2:23, John 1:45-46). In addition the term "Jesus of Nazareth" is a very common title for our Savior, being used by Peter, an angel, some devils, and even the Savior Himself.

II. Term Tied to Holiness and Separation (Num. 6:1-21): It is generally concluded that the importance of Matt. 2:23 is to link Christ to the Nazarites. They were a group of individuals who made vows of total commitment to God, either for short periods of time or, as in the case of Samson, for life.

Some believe that the prophecy referred to in Matthew was only spoken and not written. While that is a possibility, it seems rather odd that such an important fact about the Christ was never recorded. Perhaps the answer is found, as many suggest, in the Hebrew language in some veiled way.

In Is. 11:1 Jesus is referred to as the Branch. Several writers believe this word has a linguistic relationship to the term for Nazarite. This same word appears in Is. 49:1-6 where, in a clearly messianic passage, it is translated ‘preserved’. This passage discusses the dedication of the Christ and is probably our best connection.

Our other connection may be found in the characteristics of the Christ. He was to be separated for a particular work, totally dedicated from birth, etc. These characteristics which the Messiah and the Nazarites shared give us another link to His person as the son of God.

III. Christ Not Under Nazarite Vow: Christ was never under a Nazarite vow. He consumed grape products and He touched dead bodies, both a violation of the vow. But in the real concept of total dedication, He was the only true and perfect Nazarite to ever live.

Conclusion: Israel was to be a separated or Nazarite people. But they failed to so be and God rejected them. Today the church is to be a separated and Nazarite people (Acts 24:5, I Pet. 2:9-10). Those in the body which fail today will be lost to Hell. Our lesson shows us that Christ was totally dedicated to God’s will and that, as His followers, so should we be in our lives today.

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