Understanding the Bible is essential to every Christian’s growth and development in their faith. However, it can be a challenging task for anyone. One of the critical things to understand is that the Bible is a progressive revelation. As we read and study the Bible, we must recognize that it was not all dealt out at once but rather given progressively throughout history. It’s important not to get ahead of God’s revelation and study the Bible in its proper time frame. Additionally, we must rightly divide the word of God, distinguishing what is written to us from what is for our learning, as Romans 15:4 tells us.

‘For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.’
Romans 15:4

Finally, we must take into consideration the context of each passage. Who wrote it, to whom was it addressed when was it written, and what were the circumstances at that time? By doing this, we can gain a better understanding of the Bible and apply its teachings to our lives appropriately.

USE THE TIMELINE FOR REFERENCE

The First 2000 Years  –  #1 on Timeline

Genesis 1 – Genesis 12
4000 – 2000 BC
For the first 2000 years (Genesis 1–Genesis 12), God dealt with all mankind directly, and everyone spoke one language (Genesis 11:1). There was no law, and there were no instructions for worshipping God. It was based on man’s conscience and what God had instructed Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel to do. In other words, when a person sinned, they were to bring God a blood sacrifice by faith, and their faith (believing, trusting) in what God had commanded them to do would ultimately save them, just like faith (believing, trusting) saves us today.

The Call of Abraham God Creates a People for Himself  –  #8 on Timeline

Genesis 12:1-3
2000 BC
Then He made a change and chose just one man out of millions to start a new race of people for Himself, the Israelites, the nation of Israel, and the Jewish people (Deuteronomy 7:6–9; 32:8–9). For the next 2000 years of Biblical and human history, God will deal directly with Jews only, with only nine Gentile exceptions. For nearly 2000 years, from Abraham to Paul, mankind was divided into two groups: Jews and Gentiles. During that time, the Gentile world had no access to God and was without hope (Ephesians 2:11–12).

“The Lord’s Earthly Ministry: Israel’s King is Preaching the gospel of the kingdom” –  #13 on Timeline

Three Years: 26 – 27 to 29 – 30 AD
Many believe that Christianity begins with the first chapter of Matthew, but this is not the case. This time period is a continuation of what God did for Israel and is based on the promises and covenants in the Old Testament. As the angel predicted in Luke 1, Christ came to earth to fulfill the promises made to Israel (Genesis 12:1–3), not to the rest of the world’s people. Zacharias’s Holy Spirit-inspired speech in Luke 1:67–75 makes it crystal clear what was going on with the births of both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus.

“The Call of Paul: God’s Apostle to Gentiles & the Gospel of Grace” – #19 on Timeline

Acts 9:15; Act 20:24; Ephesians 3:1-11
The apostle Paul was called by God as His chosen vessel to preach the gospel of grace to the Gentiles. Around 37 A.D., shortly after the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 and 8, Paul preached the gospel of grace for 24–26 years.
God then made another change by choosing Paul as a new apostle (Acts 9:15; Acts 20:24; Galatians 1:11–12) with a new message of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles apart from the Mosaic Law and temple worship. God has been pouring out his grace on all mankind since the ascended Lord Jesus revealed the gospel of grace to Paul over 1900 years ago. Salvation is attained through faith alone in the finished work of the cross, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“The Rapture: The Church Meets the Lord in the Clouds” – #22 on Timeline

1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7
Next on God’s prophetic timeline is the rapture of the church, which is his body, the body of Christ. When the final Gentile becomes a part of the body of Christ, a trumpet will sound. Then, all those who have died in Christ will be raised first, and right after them, the living members of the body of Christ will join them to meet the Lord in the clouds. From then on, they will be with Him forever.

“The Seven Years of Jacob’s Trouble” – Jeremiah 30:7 – #23

First seal Revelation 6:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:8,9; Daniel 9:27
After the body of Christ is removed from the earth and in glory with the Lord, God will again turn his attention back to his chosen people and bring to a culmination the full 490 years prophesied by Daniel in chapter 9. This period is known as “The Seven Years of Jacob’s Trouble.”

“The Millennial Kingdom: A Thousand Years with Jesus, Satan’s Release, and the Battle of Armageddon” – #25 on Timeline

Revelation 20:1-10

The Millennial Kingdom is a 1000-year period in which Jesus will reign on earth as King of kings from Jerusalem on David’s throne. Israel will be the top nation among all nations, fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant, which Jesus made with Abraham in Genesis 12.
During this time, Satan will be bound and unable to deceive the nations. But at the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be set free and will lead one last rebellion against God. This rebellion will end in the Battle of Armageddon, where the Lord Jesus, the King of kings, will destroy and crush Satan’s armies. Satan will be tossed into the lake of fire where the antichrist and the false prophet have been for 1000 years.

“The Great White Throne Judgment” – #26 on Timeline

Revelation 20:11–15

Following the Battle of Armageddon, the final judgment will take place, the Great White Throne Judgment, in which all the unsaved will be resurrected bodily from hell and the sea, and they will come face to face with their Creator, the Righteous Judge (Romans 2:16), the Lord Jesus, and be judged according to their works. Those whose names are not found in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire.

Eternity with God – #27 on Timeline

The word of God explains eternity best.

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” Also, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.” God, Himself will be with them and be their God.’
Revelation 21:1-3

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”’
Revelation 21:4

‘Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”’
Revelation 21:5

‘And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ‘
Revelation 21:6