Understanding the Bible

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KNOW YOUR BIBLE BETTER

THE CHART OF THE BIBLE’S PROGRESSIVE REVELATION OF GOD’S KINGDOM AMONG MANKIND  

This chart should be used in conjunction with the Summary Notes - click here to see it. 

If you would like to print off-screen to provide a chart for personal use or copies for a group, please free to do so BUT this is not the page from which to do it, as it will print to 2-and-a-quarter A4 pages. Two special print-off-screen pages have been provided at Kingdom Chart for Print Page 1 and Kingdom Chart for Print Page 2.  Click on the titles to go there.

GOD'S PEOPLE

UNDER GOD'S RULE

IN GOD'S PLACE

GOD’S BLESSINGS

1.    THE KINGDOM PATTERN ESTABLISHED - EDEN

 

Adam and Eve

 

 

God's Spoken Word – Gen.2:16 ‘And the Lord God commanded the man ..’: 

Eden Gen.2:8-14

No death, God's immediate presence  Gen.3:8a

2.    THE KINGDOM PATTERN REJECTED - THE FALL

Mankind refused to be ruled by God: Gen. 3:1-7 (3:1 ‘Did God say ..?’ , 3:3a ‘but God did say..’  3:4 'You will not surely die,')

 

Adam and Eve and descendants

 

 

Condemned/rejected Gen.3:23

 

Eden closed Gen.3:24

Withdrawn > Death Gen.3:22

3.   BUT GOD SHOWED PROVIDENTIAL GRACE >  by providing clothing for Adam and Eve (‘The LORD made garments for Adam and his wife Eve and clothed them’ Gen.3:21, by giving Cain protection even after he had murdered Abel (the ‘mark’ Gen.4:13-15)  

But mankind becomes more and more wicked and God grieved that he had ever made mankind Gen.6:5-7.

                In his Grace God chooses Noah and his family to save by means of the Ark: mankind begins again under God's blessing.                      Preservation of Noah and family = salvation act

4.

           Noah and family

Gen.6:9

 

 

Word/covenant

Gen.6:18

The Ark

Flood=judgement

Ark=salvation

Life/security

Gen.9:15

5. Mankind’s corporate rebellion – the building of the Tower of Babel Gen.11:4  'so that we can make a name for ourselves'

6.    THE KINGDOM PROMISED - ABRAHAM:                                       Call of Abraham = salvation act

 

Promised nation Gen.12:1-3 and 17:1-8

 

Covenant Gen.12:2 and 15:6 

Canaan: ‘Promised Land’

Gen.12:7

Promised

Gen.15:4,5

7.    THE KINGDOM FORESHADOWED - MOSES                                Exodus = salvation act  (Passover)                                           

JOSHUA  (= Jesus) leads them into the promised land.

Redeemed Israel Ex.6:6-8; Deut.7:7-9  

 

Sinai covenant/Law Deut.10:12,13

 

Promised Land Deut.1:8:  Josh.1:6-9

Tabernacle/Law   

Deut.4:6-8

8. THE KINGDOM EXEMPLIFIED - DAVID AND SOLOMON               Killing of Goliath = Salvation Act

                   David the shepherd King: the champion of Israel >> Jesus the shepherd King: our champion (John 10:11, 18:37): Israel like Eden

         Redeemed Israel

Sinai covenant/Law

Land at rest

1 Kings 4:25: 1 Chron.16:8-36

Temple/Law/King: Promise of a dynasty  

2 Sam.7:18-24

9.    THE KINGDOM FORETOLD - THE PROPHETS                            Return from Exile = salvation act  

Faithful remnant          Is.11:10,11

New covenant in the heart

Jer.31:31-34

Restored land/Zion

Is.51:11

Promise of new king; everlasting kingdom; new heaven and earth

Ez.37:21b-28; Is.65:17ff: 66:22,23

 

                       |                                                   |                                                                                    |

GOD'S PERSON                           GOD'S RULE PERFECTED                         GOD IN PERSON                    GOD'S FULLEST BLESSING

 

10THE KINGDOM AT HAND - JESUS (the) CHRIST - KING, SON OF DAVID

 

His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension = salvation act

                           |                                                   |                                              |                                       |                                   

11.  THE KINGDOM IN THE 'LAST DAYSHeb.1:2 '.. in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son..': Heb.12:20 '..we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.'  The church is not the Kingdom, the Kingdom is much bigger than the church, but the church is the earthly community of the Kingdom: it witnesses to the Kingdom: is the instrument of the Kingdom; and proclaims the Kingdom.

 Believers of all nations John 12:32, Eph.3:6

 

 

 

Holy Spirit and Bible

John 16:13,2 Tim.3:16

 

“In Christ”

John 15:5, Eph.4:15,Phil.3:9b  

 

 

Justified by faith Rom.3:23,24

Eternal Life

John 6:40  

 

12.    THE KINGDOM CONSUMMATED                                                           Christ’s Return = final salvation act
All Christians - including believing Jews:  Rev.5:9,10

 

Direct

Rev.21:22

 

New heaven and new earth: Rev.11:15, 2 Pet.3:13

 

No death, Christ's immediate presence Rev.21:3,4

 

"... to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ" Eph.1:10

 

 

  With acknowledgements to "Gospel and Kingdom" and "According to Plan" by Graeme Goldsworthy (both published by Lancer Books NSW, Australia [ISBN 0-85892-338-6] and Paternoster Press, Exeter, UK [ISBN 0-85364-218-4])

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Kingdom Chart for Print Page 1       Kingdom Chart for Print Page 2.