P4 Key Golden Verse to the Book of Revelation

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself 
approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  

In today's post we will conclude our series of presenting key verses to each of the New Testament Books.  Years ago Bible teachers used to refer to "The Golden Verse" as a means of finding one key verse that summarizes a given Bible book.  This approach can prove helpful when attempting to grab hold of the overall message of each Bible book or the Bible as a whole.  Yesterday's post featured "golden key verses" to the General letters of the New Testament: Hebrews - Jude.   In today's post we will consider the Golden verse to the final book of the New Testament and the Bible: Revelation.  In this post we will also mention some general features of the book to aid the reader in a deeper appreciation of the book.  My hope is that this study has been edifying to you in your faith-walk.  To God be the glory!

Suggested Key Golden verse to the Book of Revelation

Revelation 1:19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things."

This verse has been cited for years as a golden key verse due to the three-fold way in which Revelation can be outlined around it's statements:

1. "things which you have seen" Revelation 1

2. "things which are" Revelation1-3 (including 4-5)

3. "things which will take place" (also including 4-5, 6-18)

Revelation 4-5 is included in both "the things which are" and the "things which are to come" due to the fact that the throne room is the very throne room of God the Father and the Son. Being that God sees from His point of view all things as they are and all things being already complete, then past, present and future are going on simultaneously. (compare Psalm 90, 102, 139, Romans 11:33-36, Hebrews 1)  This observation is why I see overlap in Revelation 4-5.

As we look at the book of Revelation from Revelation 1:19, we can say that the book generally progresses from past, present to future.  Though this be the case, the way in which the events of the future (Revelation 6-22) unfold are more in the manner of re-telling a sequence of events in a repeated, "winding staircase fashion".  Simply put, the Apostle John is presenting a sequence of future events in a repeated fashion to give the reader greater and greater detail and to unfold major themes that will culminate at Christ's return (Revelation 19); Christ's Reign (Revelation 20) and Christ's Renewal of all things (Revelation 21-22).  

Truly and significantly the entire Book of Revelation is about showing the Priority and Preeminence of Jesus Christ in the fullness of His being and glory, as well as revealing details of His soon return that give hope in the present and prepares his church for the future.  

P3 Golden Key Verses to the New Testament General Letters

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself 
approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  

In today's post we continue our study of presenting key verses to each of the New Testament Books.  Years ago Bible teachers used to refer to "The Golden Verse" as a means of finding one key verse that summarizes a given Bible book.  This approach can prove helpful when attempting to grab hold of the overall message of each Bible book or the Bible as a whole.  Yesterday's post featured "golden key verses" to the letters or Epistles of Paul in the New Testament.  In today's post we will consider the Golden verses to what is often termed "The General Epistles" or "General Letters".  May this list prove edifying to you in your faith-walk.  To God be the glory!

Suggested Key Golden verses to the General Letters

Hebrews 8:1 "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."

James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."

2 John 6 "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it."

3 John 11 "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God."

Jude 3 "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints." 

These seven letters are called "General" due to the fact they are written not so much to specific churches as they are written to Christians in regions where churches or groups of Christians live.1  Among these eight letters we find common themes such as suffering, the need for perseverance, the relationship between the Old and New Testaments and the need to defend the faith.  In tomorrow's post we will consider the Golden key verse and some general features of the last book of the Bible: The Book of Revelation.

Endnotes_________________

1. These letters in times past have been called "The Catholic Epistles" (from a Greek word "katholikos" meaning "general").  

Golden Key Verses to Paul's letters

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself 
approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  

In today's post I want to present
key verses to each of the New Testament Book that I have found helpful in unlocking their meaning and aim.  Years ago Bible teachers used to refer to "The Golden Verse" as a means of finding one key verse that summarizes a given Bible book.  This approach can prove helpful when attempting to grab hold of the overall message of each Bible book or the Bible as a whole.  Yesterday's post featured "golden key verses" to the Gospels and the Book of Acts.  In today's post we will consider the Golden verses to Paul's Epistles or letters.  May this list prove edifying to you in your faith-walk.  To God be the glory!

Suggested Key Golden verses to Paul's Letters

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Galatians 3:11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Colossians 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is,seated at the right hand of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him

1 Timothy 3:15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

Philemon 15-16 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

These verses are suggested key verses for all of Paul's letters.  Depending upon one's viewpoint, the Book of Hebrews could be included in this post, since some tend to believe Paul as the author of that letter.  For the purpose of this series, we will let that issue be for another time and include Hebrews in tomorrow's post, when we consider Golden Key Verses to the General Letters.

P1 - Golden Verses to the Gospels & Acts

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  

In today's post I want to present key verses to each of the New Testament Book that I have found helpful in unlocking their meaning and aim.  Years ago Bible teachers used to refer to "The Golden Verse" as a means of finding one key verse that summarizes a given Bible book.  This approach can prove helpful when attempting to grab hold of the overall message of each Bible book or the Bible as a whole.  In today's post we will propose Golden verses to the Four Gospels and the Book of Acts.  May this list prove edifying to you in your faith-walk.  To God be the glory!

Suggested Key "Golden Verses" to the Gospels & Acts

Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."  Jesus is our Majestic King

Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Jesus' mission as our Suffering Servant

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus is our Mediating Perfect Representative

John 20:31 "but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." Jesus is our Magnificent, Divine Savior.

Acts 1:8 "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."  This verse gives you the outline of the Book of Acts:

Power of the Holy Spirit: Acts 1-2

Witnesses in Jerusalem: Acts 2-8

Judea and Samaria: Acts 9-12

Remotest part of the earth: Acts 13-28

More tomorrow....

A Minister's Bible - Anonymous Prayer

2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

The book "Valley of Vision" is a collection of prayers and reflections on scripture that I have found to be of great blessing to my soul over the years.  In today's post I want to share with you a prayer entitled "A Minister's Bible".  Many of the prayers in "Valley of Vision" were anonymous, reflecting the humility and deep spiritual relationship the authors had with Jesus.  May this piece be of blessing to you this Lord's day.

A Minister's Bible - Anonymous prayer

From the Book: "The Valley of Vision"

O God of a Truth

I thank thee for the holy Scriptures

their precepts, promises, directions, light

In them may I learn more of Christ,

be enabled to retain His truth

and have the grace to follow it.

Help me to lift up the gates of my soul that He may come in

and show me Himself when I search the Scriptures

For I have no lines to fathom its depths,

no wings to soar to its heights.

By His aid may I be enabled to explore all its truths,

love them with all my heart,

embrace them with all my power,

engraft them into my life.

Bless to my soul as grains of truth garnered from thy Word;

may they take deep root,

be refreshed by heavenly dew,

be ripened by heavenly rays

be harvested to my joy and thy praise.

Help me to gain profit by what I read,

as treasure beyond all treasure,

a fountain which can replenish my dry heart,

its waters flowing through me as a perennial river

on-drawn by the Holy Spirit.

Enable me to distill from its pages faithful prayer

that grasps the arm of thy omnipotence,

achieves wonders, obtains blessings,

and draws down streams of mercy.

From it show me how my words have often been unfaithful to thee,

injurious to my fellow-men, empty of grace, full of folly

dishonoring to my calling.

Then write thy own words upon my heart and inscribe them on my lips;

So shall all glory be to thee in my reading of thy Word!

Meet the Old Testament

Hebrews 9:1 "Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary."

Review
Yesterday we did a flyover of the New Testament through the aid of the thoughts we gathered from Hebrews 9:14-28.  In that chapter we spring boarded into a survey of all the New Testament books by following the following thoughts and outline:

1. Foundation of the New Testament is the Gospels, which portray Christ.  Hebrews 9:11-12

2. History of the New Testament is in Acts which records the preaching about Christ.  Hebrews 9:13-14

3. Epistles of the New Testament serve to explain Christ.  Hebrews 9:15-26

4. Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, prioritizes Christ.  Hebrews 9:27-28

So in short, Christ is portrayed in the Gospels, preached in Acts, explained in the Epistles and Prioritized in Revelation.  In today's blog we are going to utilize the first half of Hebrews 9 to aid us in thinking through the first part of the Bible that is called "The Old Testament".  

Why the Old Testament is important
According to H.L Wilmington, the Old Testament contains 39 books, 929 chapters, 23,214 verses and 593,493 words.  If you were to compare the Old and New Testament by their lengths, you would discover that The Old Testament occupies over 75% of the Bible.  Sadly Christians by and large neglect the Old Testament.  Our lack of desire stems not from it being harder to understand than the New as it does with sheer lack of familiarity with its contents.  My prayer is that this blog post today will whet your appetite to study the Old Testament.  

Briefly comparing Old and New Testament
Much like the New Testament, the Old Testament in our English Bibles can be subdivided into the same four categories that we used yesterday.  Below I have included a comparison of both Testaments to illustrate what I am saying:

Old Testament        
Foundations: Pentateuch or Torah or Law                
Genesis-Deuteronomy  (5 books)                            

New Testament
Foundations: The Gospels
Matthew-Luke (4 books)

Old Testament History: Joshua through Esther (12 books)              

New Testament
History: Acts

Old Testament Writings: Poetic Books or Books of Poetry               
Job-Song of Solomon (5 books)  

New Testament
Writings: Epistles
Romans-Jude (21 books)

Old Testament Prophecy: Isaiah - Malachi (17 books)                    
New Testament
Prophecy: Revelation

Encountering the Old Testament through Hebrews 9:1-10

1. Foundations: Genesis - Deuteronomy illustrated in Hebrews 9:1-5
Christ Pictured
Hebrews 9:1 reads - "Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary."  The focal point of Hebrews 9 is the worship center of Israel called "The Tabernacle".  God's promise of salvation began back in Genesis 3 with the institution of the Covenant of Grace to Adam and Eve in the Garden.  Ten generations from Adam, God would reveal to Noah the Ark of salvation wherein he would save he and his family from the world-wide flood. (Genesis 6-9; 1 Peter 3:18-20).  Another ten generations from Noah's son Shem would lead to Abraham, to whom God would call to be saved and become the first patriarch of the Israelite nation in Genesis 12.  From Abraham's day to Moses would span yet another 10 generations and 430 years period of time, connecting the ongoing redemptive plan and promise of God.  To Moses God revealed the law on Sinai and His grace through the tabernacle.   

Contrary to what many people may think, salvation in the Old Testament was based upon grace alone through faith alone in the promise God revealed to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as well as their forbears.  The Tabernacle system served to illustrate the promise and functioned together with the law to remind the people that salvation was unattainable apart from the grace of God and their reception of it by faith.  

These truths are why the first five books of the Bible in the Hebrew Bible are  called "Torah", since the word derives from a verb meaning "guidance".  The Apostle Paul spells out the purpose of the Torah or Law in Galatians 3:24 - "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith."  

The tabernacle system spoken of in Hebrews 9:1-5 served to picture the Person and work of Jesus Christ.  For example, the seven main furnishings of the tabernacle functioned together as a unit, detailing the journey that the worshipper would make from the world of sin to the throne of God.  If we had more time we would go through each of those, but the point of Hebrews and the foundation of the Old Testament: The Torah or Pentateuch (the five books) is to picture and point the way to Jesus.  

2. History: Joshua to Esther serve to Anticipate Christ. Hebrews 9:6-7
Hebrews 9:6-7 states - "Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance." As the writer of Hebrews underscores the preparation that would had went into the Tabernacle, we see the key theme of the remaining historical section of the Old Testament.  The people had been prepared under Moses, and now they were going to be led by Joshua in to the promised land.  The people would carry with them the tabernacle through Joshua and Judges and Ruth.  

By the time you reach 1 Samuel, the Tabernacle is currently at a town called Shiloh, with the system of worship and great decline.  God had in mind to call forth a prophet Samuel, who would end up anointing two kings: Saul and David in 1 Samuel.  In 2 Samuel you see David anointed twice more to become the greatest king of the United Kingdom of Israel.  In the books of 1 &2 Kings and 1 &2 Chronicles we see the kingdom led by Solomon, David's Son, who would build the temple.  According to 1 Kings 6, we are now 480 years after the days of Moses.  

Following Solomon's death, the United Kingdom divided and roughly 20 kings reigned in both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.  God warned the people time and time again that if they did not listen, He would send them into exile.  Sadly they ignored God's prophets, and so Israel in the Northern kingdom was exiled by Assyria and the Southern Kingdom would be later exiled into Babylon.  The Northern Kingdom would never be reformed, however after 70 years in Babylon, the people of Jerusalem to the South would return.  The books of Ezra and Nehemiah details the lives of God's people after the Babylonian exile.  It is in Esther that we historically reach the end of the Old Testament historical section.

Throughout that section of 12 books, we hear the growing cry for a redeemer.  Undoubtedly God continued to reveal things about Him, such as the promise of Him being the Ultimate King who would sit on David's throne in 2 Samuel 7:8-16.  Nonetheless you can hear the groans of history through the historical books as Christ is anticipated.  

3. Writings: Christ Prayed for and Praised.  Hebrews 9:8-9
Hebrews 9:8-9 states - "The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience."  As the writer of Hebrews continues, he tells us that the Holy Spirit was signifying that the way into the holy place remained off limits to the people.  

In the writings of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, we see God's people praying and responding on a personal level to the increasing darkness of the world and the urgent need for the Redeemer to come.  Job prays for it in Job 9:33 and David writes about it in Psalms such as 2 and 110.  Solomon and the other writers of Proverbs urge us to trust in the Lord with all our heart in passages such as Proverbs 3:5-6 and Proverbs 30:4-5.  Solomon warns us about how this world can destroy a person in Ecclesiastes and then we see Christ pictured beautifully in Song of Solomon.  All the while we are gaining the leverage needed to pray for the coming of the Lord, predicted in the final section of the Old Testament: the Prophets.  

4. Prophets focus on Christ predicted.  Hebrews 9:10-11
Hebrews 9:10 states - "since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation."  Just as we see in The New Testament, the Old Testament section of our Bibles in English ends with a prophetic tone.  Seventeen prophets occupy this last part of the Old Testament, with Isaiah leading off the pack.  It is in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7 that we see Christ's virgin birth and Kingdom predicted, along with His death and resurrection predicted in Isaiah 53.  

Jeremiah and Lamentations portray the grief of our Savior as well as the New Covenant age that He would institute at His coming. (Jeremiah 31)  Ezekiel reaffirms Jeremiah's message by speaking further on the New Covenant age that will eventually lead into the Millennial reign of Christ.  Daniel starts out his prophecy as a 15 year old boy some 800 miles from home, in Exile, in Babylon.  For 70 years Daniel would live in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar and later on Darius of Persia.  To Daniel God would send far reaching visions about his own day and ours.  By the time he is 85, Daniel composes the most detailed prophecies you will find in Daniel 9,10,11 and 12.  

Hosea to Malachi are termed the "Minor Prophets", not because of their rank in the scriptures but mainly their relative size.  In the original Hebrew Old Testament they constituted one scroll, reminding us that though different men in different stations of life, yet they had one unified message: salvation, and one unified focus: God's glory.  Hosea portrays Christ the faithful spouse, Joel the sending of the Spirit and Amos pictures Christ the Plumb line of truth.  

Obadiah's prophecy gives an outline of the events of Christ's future coming and Jonah is used by Christ to picture what would be His death, burial and resurrection.  Micah tells us there is no God like Him and Nahum reminds us that He is an ever present comfort.  Habakkuk tells us that He answers prayer and Zephaniah tells us details about the day of His return.  Haggai asserts that Christ is the Desired treasure and Zechariah has him on the cross, raised and returning to earth to redeem His people.  Malachi finishes out by paving the way for what will be John the Baptist's ministry of preparing for the coming of the One whose sandals he would be unworthy to untie.  

Conclusion
In short, The Law as the foundation of the Old Testament pictures Christ, the History books anticipate Christ, the writings pray for and praise Christ and the Prophets predict Christ.  

To God be the glory!

Meet the New Testament

Hebrews 9:11  "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation." 

Introduction:
We will begin today's post with a quiz: What has 7,959 verses; 181,253 words and has been in existence for nearly 2,000 years.  Answer: The New Testament.   The purpose of today's post is to introduce you to the New Testament.  What is it's message, contents and chief point?  All of these questions will be answered in this fast-fly over of that glorious section of our Bibles that we call the New Testament.  Hebrews 9:11-28 will be our vehicle of choice, so strap in, buckle up, because its going to be a fast ride!

The Message, contents and chief point of the New Testament

1. The Foundation of the New Testament - The Gospels: Portray Jesus
Hebrews 9:11-12 states - "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." Where in the New Testament do we go to find out when and where Jesus appeared and what He did? The foundational books of the New Testament, the four Gospels, give us four portraits of what Jesus did.

Matthew presents the Majestic Christ, Christ our King.  In Matthew 1 we see the opening genealogy demonstrating His legal right to Israel's throne.  By the time you reach Matthew 27:37, you find our Lord on the cross with a sign above Him reading: "This is Jesus the King of the Jews." Following His resurrection from the dead, Jesus asserts in Matthew 28:18 that all power has been given to Him on Heaven and on earth.  Mark comes next, with his emphasis being upon the Mission of Jesus - the Suffering Servant.  Mark 10:45 has Jesus coming to serve and give His life a ransom for many.  Luke's account is the most historical, connecting us to Jesus the Perfect man, the New Adam.  In Luke 3:23-38 we see Jesus' genealogy differently from Matthew's.  Matthew traced Jesus bloodline through Joseph as being legally related to David, since Joseph was not his biological father according to the flesh.  However Luke traces Jesus' bloodline through Mary to demonstrate him to be be the biological heir of David, the biological fulfillment of Abraham's promise and biologically included in the bloodline of humanity.  As the New Adam, Jesus states in Luke 19:10 how He came to seek and save that which was lost.  

Those first three portraits together present Jesus in his humanity, with glimpses of His Deity.  In John's Gospel we see the emphasis being upon Jesus Christ as God in human flesh.  By the time you get through all four Gospels, you get the full picture of what Jesus Christ had done.   

2. Historical Section: The Book of Acts is about Jesus being Preached 
Hebrews 9:14-15a states - "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (15) For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant..."  The Gospels view Jesus in the past tense: what He did.  With the Book of Acts and the Epistles, we are seeing Jesus in the present tense: Who He is.  The Book of Acts is really a companion volume to the Gospel of Luke.  Together with Luke, both occupy nearly 30% of the New Testament's length!  The point of Acts is to show what happened following Jesus' resurrection.  In Acts 1 we see Jesus giving final instructions to His disciples before His ascension into Heaven.  Acts 1:8 is really the key to the whole book: "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” The reception of the power of the Holy Spirit occurs in Acts 2, with the early church going forth to proclaim the Gospel first in Jerusalem. (Acts 1-8)  Then we see the second stage of the church's mission going forth into all Judea and Samaria under the leadership of Peter and John in Acts 9-12.  Then the third stage of the church's mission occurs when Saul is converted and as Paul, spreads the Gospel to the remotest reaches of the Gentile world - northward and Westward. (Acts 13-28)  

The Book of Acts is undoubtedly a book of missions, but it is also a book of preaching.  Nearly 20 sermons are recorded in part or in full length, giving the reader first hand information on what was preached about Jesus in the 30 or so years of time recorded in Acts. Then finally, Acts is a book of the Holy Spirit, wherein He is mentioned some 40 times.  

The Book of Acts' relationship to the remaining section of the New Testament (Epistles) is to provide the historical backdrop and occasions for the writing of most of Paul's letters.  

3. The Writings or Epistles Explain Jesus Christ
Hebrews 9:15 tells us - "For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."  From Hebrews 9:15-26 we see a full explanation of what Jesus did and is doing, a function that describes the main point of the 21 New Testament Epistles.  In the Gospels we see 30% of the material being devoted to the final week of Jesus life, crucifixion, burial and resurrection.  In those six hours that He hung on the cross, all four Gospels reveal what happened.  However in order to understand the meaning of the cross and resurrection, we need to hear the preaching of Acts and the explanation of the Epistles.  What is an epistle?  An epistle is a 1st century form of what we would call a handwritten letter.  Normally there was an introductory section (salutation), a doctrinal section, a practical section and then a closing section (epilogue or conclusion).  Thus in Galatians we see Christ our curse bearer, Ephesians depicts Him as the Ascended King, Philippians details Him as God who humbled himself into full humanity and Colossians reveals His Full Deity revealed in full humanity.  1 and 2 Thessalonians unfold the truth of His snatching away of the church prior to His touching down upon this world in His return.  1 and 2 Timothy and Titus unfold Christ as the Chief Shepherd over his church, with under shepherds doing His bidding through the preaching of the word and loving of the people.  Philemon is devoted entirely to the theme of forgiveness and Hebrews explains the relationship of Christ's accomplished work to the predictions of the Old Testament. 

With Paul's letters being 13 or 14 in number (depending upon your view of Hebrews' authorship), the remaining epistles cover the entire range of the composition of the New Testament.  James is the earliest of all the Epistles, connecting the preaching and teaching of the Early church back to Jesus.  As half-brother of Jesus according to the flesh, he would have unique insight along with the other half-brother of Jesus who authors the book of Jude.  1 and 2 Peter came from the hand of the Apostle Peter who was the leading spokesman in the first 12 chapters of Acts.  1,2,3 John represents the end of the Apostolic period, with the Apostle John being the author who wrote them in 90 A.D.  Then the book of Jude, being composed by Jesus half-brother Jude, closes out the section of the New Testament sometimes called "The General Letters or Epistles". Paul's letters explain Christ's accomplishment and Christian salvation to the end of time.  The General Epistles take this same theme and show how Christ's work give power to endure suffering and to overcome the increasing encroachment of the world upon the Christian.  


4. The Book of Revelation Prioritizes Jesus Christ
Hebrews 9:28 states - "so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."  We have seen how the Gospels provide the foundation of the New Testament in their portrayal of Christ.  Acts provides the material necessary for the preaching of Christ, with the Epistles serving to Explain Christ.  This passage in Hebrews 9:28 illustrates a summary statement about the New Testament's final book - The Book of Revelation.  Revelation is all about revealing to the reader Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:1).  In Revelation 1-3 we see Christ and His church.  By reading Revelation 4-5 you see Christ worshipped and in the section of 6-18 you see Christ Sovereign over history.  In the fourth major section of Revelation 19-20, you see revealed Christ and His coming reign, with the final two chapters devoted to Christ in eternity with His bride.  

Like the book of Acts, the book of Revelation has a key verse, 1:19 - "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things."  Therefore "the things which you have seen" covers the main bulk of chapters 1-3.  Then "the things which are" could overlap into Revelation 4-5.  Finally, "the things which will take place" could include the overlap of 4-5 as well as chapters 6-22.  Whether looking at the book thematically as we did in the previous paragraph, or structurally from the standpoint of 1:19, Jesus Christ still retains His central Priority.

In tomorrow's blog we will use Hebrews 9:1-14 to do a fly-over view of the Old Testament.  I hope you will be back to see what God has to say in that section of His Word.  Until then, God bless!