Rightly Dividing the Word
Understanding the Bible requires recognizing the “times and seasons” of God’s plan for mankind. While all Scripture is for our learning and edification, not every instruction applies directly to the Church in the present age.
Key Principles
- The Law
Given to Israel to prove man's inability to save himself from sin. - Grace
The current age where salvation is a free gift to all who believe and trust in Jesus' blood sacrifice. - The Mystery
Doctrine specifically for the Body of Christ revealed through the apostle Paul.
The Biblical Timeline
Creation
"In the beginning..." God creates a perfect world and places man in the Garden. Man is in direct fellowship with his Creator, innocent and free from death.
The Fall of Man
Adam and Eve rebel against God. Sin enters the human race, and death follows. The first promise of a coming Savior (the "seed of the woman") is given in Genesis 3:15.
The Law
From Sinai to the Cross. God deals primarily with the Nation of Israel. The Law was a "schoolmaster" to bring us to Christ by revealing our sin.
The Crucifixion
The turning point of history. The veil is rent, the blood is shed, and the legal debt of sin is paid in full for all mankind.
Grace / The Church Age
The current "dispensation." God is calling out a Body from all nations through faith alone, without the works of the Law.
The Rapture
The "Blessed Hope." Christ catches away His Church (the Body) before the period of global wrath begins.
The Tribulation
A seven-year period of judgment. God turns His attention back to the redemption of Israel (Daniel's 70th week).
Armageddon
The Second Coming. Jesus Christ returns literally and physically to the earth to defeat His enemies and judge the nations.
The Millennium
The 1,000-year reign. Christ sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem, bringing peace and righteousness to the whole earth.
New Heaven & New Earth
The Eternal State. After the final judgment, God creates a new cosmos where He dwells with man forever. No more sin, no more death, and no more tears.
Knowing the Creator by Name
Elohim
The Strong One / Creator
Used in Genesis 1:1, this name emphasizes God's power and sovereignty over the material world. It is a plural noun, hinting at the Triune nature of God from the very first verse.
Yahweh (YHWH)
The Self-Existent One
God's covenant name. It means "I AM THAT I AM." It signifies that God has no beginning and no end; He is the source of all life and truth.
El Shaddai
God Almighty / All-Sufficient
The name used when God promised the impossible to Abraham. It portrays God as the nourisher and the one who is completely sufficient for every human need.
The "I AM" Statements of Christ
In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the divine name "I AM" to reveal His identity and how He fulfills every human need.
Sustenance
Guidance
Access
Protection
Victory
Exclusivity
Connection
Eternity
Can we trust the Text?
The Bible is the most well-documented book in human history. While other ancient texts (like Homer’s Iliad) have only a few hundred copies, the New Testament has over 5,800 Greek manuscripts and over 20,000 in other languages.
- Accuracy Rate: 99.5%
- Earliest Fragments: Within 30-50 years of original
The Glossary of Grace
Justification
A legal term meaning "to be declared righteous." It is not a process; it is an instantaneous act of God where He credits Christ's righteousness to your account.
Sanctification
The process of being "set apart" for God's use. While our soul is saved instantly, our walk and behavior are progressively sanctified as we grow in Grace.
Redemption
To buy back. Christ paid the "ransom price" (His blood) to purchase us out of the slave market of sin and into the family of God.
Propitiation
The satisfaction of God's holy wrath. Christ's sacrifice didn't just "cover" sin; it satisfied the requirements of justice once and for all.
Imputation
A bookkeeping term. Our sin was imputed (charged) to Christ on the cross, and His righteousness is imputed (credited) to us by faith.
Atonement
The reconciliation of God and man through the shed blood. In Christ, the barrier between us and a Holy God has been permanently removed.
Understanding Future Judgments
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2
The Bema Seat
For Believers Only
This is not a judgment for sin (as sin was judged at the Cross). It is an evaluation of our service to Christ. It results in rewards or loss of rewards, but never the loss of salvation.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..." — 2 Cor 5:10
Great White Throne
For the Unbelieving
The final judgment for those who rejected the gift of Grace. It is a judgment based on their own works, which can never meet the standard of God's holiness.
"And I saw a great white throne... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books." — Rev 20:11-12
The Urgency: Why Today Matters
The Dispensation of Grace
Right now, salvation is as simple as believing the Gospel record. The Holy Spirit is present on earth through the Church, acting as a "restrainer" against pure evil. Accessing the truth is free, and the cost is merely social. This window will close.
The Tribulation of Blood
Once the Church is caught away (The Rapture), the Holy Spirit's restraining influence is lifted. To be saved then will require a literal "denial of the system." Faith will likely cost your life. There will be no "casual" belief when the global order demands total allegiance.
The Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13)
The "Mark" is not just a technological tool; it is a spiritual oath. Taking the Mark is an explicit denial of God's sovereignty and a permanent siding with Satan. Scripture warns that this choice is irreversible—it seals one's fate at the Great White Throne. During the Tribulation, refusing the Mark means you cannot buy or sell; you must be willing to face martyrdom to show your love for Christ.
Christ: The Center of the Word
The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories; it is a single progressive revelation of Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, He is the hidden treasure in every chapter.
01. The Ark of the Covenant
Incorruptible wood (Christ's humanity) overlaid with pure gold (His deity). Inside was the Law that condemns, but it was covered by the Mercy Seat where blood was sprinkled, turning judgment into mercy.
02. The Brazen Serpent
Those who looked at the bronze serpent on a pole were healed from the venom of death. Jesus identified as that serpent—taking the "venom" of our sin upon Himself so that we might live by a look of faith.
03. Joseph: The Rejected Savior
Joseph was loved by his father, rejected by his brothers (Israel), sold for silver, and cast into a pit. Yet he rose to the right hand of the King to save the very brothers who rejected him.
04. The Passover Lamb
A lamb without blemish was slain. Its blood was applied to the doorposts of the house. When the judgment passed over, God said: "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Our safety is in the Blood, not our behavior.
05. The Cities of Refuge
Ancient Israel had cities where those fleeing judgment could find safety. Once inside the gates, the "avenger of blood" could not touch them. Christ is our city—inside Him, there is no condemnation.
06. Boaz: The Kinsman Redeemer
To "redeem" a lost inheritance, one had to be a relative and have the wealth to pay the debt. Christ became our "Kinsman" (human) and had the "wealth" (sinless blood) to buy us back.
Ready to grow?
Doctrine is not merely for the classroom; it is meant to shape the heart. The deeper your understanding of the Work, the greater your appreciation for the beauty and glory of the Worker behind it.
Return Home