Appendix A: Biblical Timeline

This is Appendix A to my book, Biblical Glasses. I am not dogmatic on this information, but it serves as my first attempt to work a Biblical chronology. Feel free to make adjustments with Scriptural support!

Creation occurred sometime during the year 4113 B.C. Of course, since this date represents the beginning of time, there is no date prior to 4113 B.C. This date is like absolute zero on the temperature scale. Just as the temperature cannot be measured any colder than absolute zero (because there is no colder temperature), time cannot be traced any farther back than 4113 B.C. (because there is no prior time). This date can be found by working backwards through the Bible and assuming no gaps in the genealogies. Using this method, the cataclysmic worldwide flood occurred in 2457 B.C., and Adam and Eve were created in 4113 B.C. Five normal days before the creation of the human race, God created the universe. The list below describes the days of God’s creation.

Day 1: God made the universe, including the earth, and light
Day 2: God made the sky and the atmosphere
Day 3: God made dry land and plants
Day 4: God made the sun, moon, and stars
Day 5: God made sea creatures and birds
Day 6: God made land animals and Adam and Eve
Day 7: God rested

Tracing the genealogies given in the Bible is quite simple. The list below provides the names of the patriarchs who carried on the Biblical lineage, their birth years, death years, lifespans, and ages at which their sons who would continue the Biblical lineage were born.

Adam lived from 4113–3183 B.C. (930 years) and fathered Seth at age 130
Seth lived from 3983–3071 B.C. (912 years) and fathered Enosh at age 105
Enosh lived from 3878–2973 B.C. (905 years) and fathered Kenan at age ninety
Kenan lived from 3788–2878 B.C. (910 years) and fathered Mahalalel at age seventy
Mahalalel lived from 3718–2823 B.C. (895 years) and fathered Jared at age sixty-five
Jared lived from 3653–2691 B.C. (962 years) and fathered Enoch at age 162
Enoch lived from 3491–3126 B.C.* (365 years*) and fathered Methuselah at age sixty-five
Methuselah lived from 3426–2457 B.C. (969 years) and fathered Lamech at age 187
Lamech lived from 3239–2462 B.C. (777 years) and fathered Noah at age 182
Noah lived from 3057–2107 B.C. (950 years) and fathered Shem at age 501

The * in Enoch’s lifespan represents the uncertainty of his death. The Old Testament of the Bible says: “Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:23-24). The New Testament of the Bible says: “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away” (Hebrews 11:5). We know Enoch lived 365 years prior to being taken away. Some say Enoch was raptured to heaven; others claim he was simply moved to a different location on the earth. The uncertainty here in no way affects our study of the genealogies.

The worldwide flood began when Noah was 600 years old, in 2457 B.C. It came shortly after the death of Methuselah, whose name prophetically means “when he dies, it will come.” Think about the implications of that! The worldwide flood lasted from 2457–2456 B.C., and there were only eight human survivors—Noah, his wife, Shem, his wife, Ham, his wife, Japheth, and his wife. The Bible gives the immediate descendants of all three of Noah’s sons but follows only Shem’s lineage in detail throughout its remainder. Shem was 100 years old at the end of the flood, lived an additional 500 years, and fathered the first of many sons and daughters the same year the flood subsided. The following list contains the Biblical ancestry to Abram (Abraham).

Shem lived from 2556–1956 B.C. (600 years) and fathered Arphaxad at age 100
Arphaxad lived from 2456–1991 B.C. (465 years) and fathered Cainan at age thirty-five
Cainan lived from 2421–1961 B.C. (460 years) and fathered Shelah at age 130
Shelah lived from 2291–1858 B.C. (433 years) and fathered Eber at age thirty
Eber lived from 2261–1797 B.C. (464 years) and fathered Peleg at age thirty-four
Peleg lived from 2227–1988 B.C. (239 years) and fathered Reu at age thirty
Reu lived from 2197–1958 B.C. (239 years) and fathered Serug at age thirty-two
Serug lived from 2165–1935 B.C. (230 years) and fathered Nahor at age thirty
Nahor lived from 2135–1987 B.C. (148 years) and fathered Terah at age twenty-nine
Terah lived from 2106–1901 B.C. (205 years) and fathered Abram at age seventy

Notice in the list above how the lifespans decreased rather rapidly. The flood and ensuing ice age had an amazing impact on living conditions for our ancestors! During the lives of Eber and Peleg, the incident at the Tower of Babel occurred. Notice that the typical lifespan fell again after this event, probably because harsh living conditions during the ice age took their toll on the people who were beginning to spread out all over the earth.

Now Abram, who later became Abraham, lived from 2036–1861 B.C. (175 years). At age eighty-six, he fathered Ishmael, and at age 100, he fathered Isaac. At this point, the ancestries get more complicated due to multiple wives (and mothers) entering into the equation. Abraham had many sons and daughters, but the main two of interest are:

Ishmael, who lived from 1950–1813 B.C. (137 years) and fathered twelve sons
Isaac, who lived from 1936–1756 B.C. (180 years) and fathered twins, Jacob and Esau, at age sixty

Although Esau, like Ishmael, was the eldest son, Jacob, like Isaac, received the rights to the inheritance from God. Jacob lived from 1876–1729 B.C. (147 years) and fathered twelve sons. At age ninety-one, Jacob fathered his eleventh son, Joseph, who lived from 1785–1675 B.C. (110 years). Joseph was taken to Egypt in 1768 B.C., at age seventeen, and became pharaoh’s right-hand man in 1755 B.C., at age thirty. Jesus came from the lineage of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, but our timeline continues with their third son, Levi, whose lineage can be followed below to get to Moses:

Levi lived 137 years and fathered Kohath
Kohath lived 133 years and fathered Amram
Amram lived 137 years and fathered Moses

We do not know with certainty the birthdates of the three men above; we only know how long they lived. However, working backwards through Biblical history, we know that Moses lived from 1658–1538 B.C. (120 years). He was eighty years old at the time of the Exodus. The Exodus began in 1578 B.C., and the first census was taken shortly thereafter. The second census was taken in 1538 B.C., forty years later, just before the death of Moses as the Hebrew people prepared to enter the Promised Land. Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the Hebrew people; he lived from 1623–1513 B.C. (110 years) and led the Hebrew people into the Promised Land in 1538 B.C., at age eighty-five.

After the death of Joshua, the period of judges began. The following list details the succession of enemy rulers and national leaders throughout the time period:

Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram Naharaim, ruled from 1513–1505 B.C. (eight years)
Othniel (judge) led from 1505–1465 B.C. (forty years)
Eglon, king of Moab, ruled from 1465–1447 B.C. (eighteen years)
Ehud (judge) led from 1447–1367 B.C. (eighty years)
Shamgar (judge) led from 1367–1367 B.C.* (less than a year*)
Jabin and Sisera ruled from 1367–1347 B.C. (twenty years)
Deborah and Barak (judges) led from 1347–1307 B.C. (forty years)
Midianites ruled from 1307–1300 B.C. (seven years)
Gideon (judge) led from 1300–1260 B.C. (forty years)
Abimelech, Gideon’s son, was a self-proclaimed king who ruled from 1260–1257 B.C. (three years)
Tola (judge) led from 1257–1234 B.C. (twenty-three years)
Jair (judge) led from 1234–1212 B.C. (twenty-two years)
Philistines and Ammorites co-ruled from 1212–1194 B.C. (eighteen years)
Jepthah (judge) led from 1194–1188 B.C. (six years)
Ibzan (judge) led from 1188–1181 B.C. (seven years)
Elon (judge) led from 1181–1171 B.C. (ten years)
Abdon (judge) led from 1171–1163 B.C. (eight years)
Philistines ruled again from 1163–1123 B.C. (forty years)
Samson (judge) led from 1123–1103 B.C. (twenty years)
Eli (judge/priest) led from 1103–1063 B.C. (forty years)

The * in Shamgar’s listing represents the uncertainty of his time as leader. Mentioning him only twice, the Bible first says: “After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel” (Judges 3:31). The Bible also says: “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths” (Judges 5:6).

While it is possible that his reign was forty years or more, it is more likely, as scholars suggest, he aided the Hebrew people near the end of Ehud’s reign. Therefore, I treat his reign as practically nonexistent on the timeline. Nevertheless, if his reign was a more considerable length of time, the date of the Exodus, along with the lives of Moses and Joshua, would simply be moved back in time by the length of Shamgar’s reign. Nothing changes prior to that time. Likewise, if there are any generation gaps during the period of judges where no defined rulers governed the Hebrew people, there is room between Jacob and Moses to allow for uncertain lengths of time.

Moving on, with the period of judges coming to an end, Samuel led the Hebrew people in a revival of sorts. Samuel was born around 1100 B.C. He served under Eli for awhile, and eventually led the Hebrew nation until 1052 B.C., when he turned over the reins of leadership to the nation’s first king, Saul. The following list details the kings of Israel, who led for the most part a united nation. (A divided nation, when mentioned below, speaks of either the ten northern Hebrew tribes known as Israel or the two southern Hebrew tribes known as Judah.)

Saul, who lived from 1082–1010 B.C. (seventy-two years), reigned from 1052–1010 B.C. (forty-two years)
Abner (Saul’s priest) ruled a divided nation (Israel) from 1010–1005 B.C. (five years)
Ish-Bosheth, one of Saul’s sons born in 1045 B.C., ruled a divided nation (Israel) from 1005–1003 B.C. (two years)
David, who lived from 1040–970 B.C. (seventy years), led a divided nation (Judah) from 1010–1003 B.C. (seven years)
David reigned over a united Israel from 1003–970 B.C. (thirty-three years)
David’s son, Solomon, who lived from 1000–930 B.C. (seventy years), governed the united nation of Israel from 970–930 B.C. (forty years)

During Solomon’s reign, the Temple in Jerusalem was constructed. After Solomon’s death, the nation of Israel was divided again. Many of these leaders co-ruled with their sons for part of their reigns. I have listed below the rulers of Israel, the divided nation consisting of ten tribes:

Jeroboam ruled from 930–909 B.C. (twenty-one years)
Nadab ruled from 909–908 B.C. (one year)
Baashah ruled from 908–886 B.C. (twenty-two years)
Elah ruled from 886–885 B.C. (one year)
Zimri ruled from 885–885 B.C. (only a few months)
Tibni ruled from 885–881 B.C. (four years)
Omri ruled from 885–874 B.C. (eleven years)
Ahab ruled from 874–853 B.C. (twenty-one years)
Ahaziah ruled from 853–852 B.C. (one year)
Joram ruled from 852–841 B.C. (eleven years)
Jehu ruled from 841–814 B.C. (twenty-seven years)
Jehoahaz ruled from 814–798 B.C. (sixteen years)
Jehoash ruled from 798–782 B.C. (sixteen years)
Jeroboam II ruled from 793–753 B.C. (forty years)
Zechariah ruled from 753–752 B.C. (one year)
Shallum ruled from 752–752 B.C. (less than a year)
Menahem ruled from 752–742 B.C. (ten years)
Pekahiah ruled from 742–740 B.C. (two years)
Pekah ruled from 740–732 B.C. (eight years)
Hoshea, the final king of Israel, ruled from 732–722 B.C. (ten years)
Under the reign of Shalmaneser V, Assyria conquered Israel in 722 B.C.

Next, the nation of Judah, which consisted of two tribes, was originally led by Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. Many of these leaders also co-ruled with their sons for part of their reigns. I have listed below the rulers of Judah:

Rehoboam ruled from 930–913 B.C. (seventeen years)
Abijah ruled from 913–910 B.C. (three years)
Asa ruled from 910–869 B.C. (forty-one years)
Jehosaphat ruled from 872–848 B.C. (twenty-four years)
Jehoram ruled from 853–841 B.C. (twelve years)
Ahaziah ruled from 841–841 B.C. (less than a year)
Queen Athaliah ruled from 841–835 B.C. (six years)
Joash ruled from 835–795 B.C. (forty years)
Amaziah ruled from 796–767 B.C. (twenty-nine years)
Azzariah, also known as Uzziah, ruled from 792–740 B.C. (fifty-two years)
Jotham ruled from 750–732 B.C. (eighteen years)
Ahaz ruled from 735–715 B.C. (twenty years)
Hezekiah ruled from 715–686 B.C. (twenty-nine years)
Manasseh ruled from 697–642 B.C. (fifty-five years)
Amon ruled from 642–640 B.C. (two years)
Josiah ruled from 640–609 B.C. (thirty-one years)
Jehoahaz ruled from 609–609 B.C. (less than a year)
Jehoiakim ruled from 609–598 B.C. (eleven years), the latter part as Nebuchadnezzar’s puppet
Jehoiachin ruled as Nebuchadnezzar’s puppet from 598–597 B.C. (one year)
Zedekiah ruled as Nebuchadnezzar’s puppet from 597–586 B.C. (eleven years)
Under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon conquered Judah in 586 B.C.

The Temple in Jerusalem that Solomon had built was destroyed in 586 B.C. The people of Judah who were not killed were exiled to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled Babylon from 605–562 B.C. Cyrus, king of Persia, conquered Babylon and sent many Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple in 538 B.C. So Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David, led 50,000 Hebrews to Jerusalem out of Babylonian captivity. Temple construction began in 536 B.C., but it was halted in 530 B.C. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Hebrew people to continue the project and maintain loyalty to God. In 520 B.C., Temple construction continued. The Temple was completed in 516 B.C., exactly seventy years after it was destroyed, just as prophesied by Jeremiah and Daniel.

In 483 B.C., King Xerxes of the Persian Empire banished his wife, Vashti, for disobedience. In 479 B.C., Xerxes made Esther his queen. In 458 B.C., Ezra led a second group of Hebrews back to Jerusalem; in 445 B.C., Nehemiah led a third group of Hebrews back to Jerusalem. The prophet Malachi served the people under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, thus ending the Old Testament.

Cyrus led the Persian Empire from 559–530 B.C. He was succeeded by Cambyses, who reigned from 530–522 B.C. Darius led Persia from 522–486 B.C.; he was succeeded by Xerxes, who ruled from 486–465 B.C. Artaxerxes followed from 465–424 B.C. Then Darius II reigned from 424–404 B.C. Artaxerxes II ruled from 404–358 B.C., and Artaxerxes III governed from 358–337 B.C. Darius III ruled as the final leader of the dominant Persian Empire from 336–331 B.C.

The Greek Empire, under Alexander the Great, conquered the Persian Empire in 331 B.C. Alexander the Great ruled from 336–323 B.C.; he was followed by the Seleucid Dynasty. In 175 B.C., the evil King Antiochus dominated the Middle East. The Maccabean revolt eventually led to the restoration of Jewish freedom in the region. Hyrcanus led the Hebrew people under Greek and Roman rule from 134–104 B.C.

The Roman Empire gained power in the Middle East as Gaius Marius led from 104–100 B.C. He was followed by chaos and turmoil under Roman leaders Pompey and Cicero. Julius Caesar came on the scene from 60–44 B.C. The Second Triumvirate governed all Roman provinces from 60–27 B.C. From 27 B.C.–14 A.D., Caesar Augustus (Octavian) ruled alone. He was succeeded by Caesar Tiberius from 14–37 A.D. Caesar Caligula led Rome from 37–41 A.D., and Caesar Claudius governed from 41–54 A.D. Caesar Nero governed from 54–68 A.D., and Titus followed him. Civil wars broke out during Nero’s reign, and Jerusalem was ruined. The Jewish Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., and Christian persecution grew increasingly harsh.

The New Testament Gospels give us the timelines for the ministries of John the Baptist, who lived from approximately 5 B.C.–28 A.D., and Jesus, Who lived from approximately 4 B.C.–30 A.D. The Acts of the Apostles, which covers the time after the death and resurrection of Jesus, provide evidence for events that took place from 30–62 A.D.

The conversion of Saul (Paul) took place around 33 or 34 A.D. Paul spent three years in Arabia, then returned to Damascus, then visited Jerusalem, then went to Tarsus around 36 or 37 A.D. Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch around 43 or 44 A.D. Peter’s miraculous escape from prison took place in 44 A.D. Paul’s first missionary trip was from 47–49 A.D. The Apostolic Council at Jerusalem was in 49 A.D. Paul’s second missionary trip was from 49–52 A.D. Paul’s third missionary trip was from 52–57 A.D. Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem was in 57 A.D., and his imprisonment and trials took place from 57–59 A.D. Paul sailed to Rome to await trial in the winter of 59 and spring of 60 A.D. Finally, Paul remained under house arrest in Rome from 60–62 A.D.

The Books of the New Testament were written as follows:

49 A.D.: Galatians and James
51–52 A.D.: 1 and 2 Thessalonians
54–57 A.D.: 1 and 2 Corinthians
57 A.D.: Romans
58–60 A.D.: Gospel of Mark
60 A.D.: Ephesians and Colossians
60–61 A.D.: Philemon and Philippians
61–64 A.D.: Gospels of Matthew and Luke
64–65 A.D.: Jude, Titus, 1 Peter, and 1 Timothy
66–68 A.D.: Acts, 2 Peter, and 2 Timothy
68–70 A.D.: Hebrews
85 A.D.: Gospel of John
85–90 A.D.: 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John
95 A.D.: Revelation

Post-Biblical history was reviewed in chapter eight of this book.

Conclusion: "Biblical Glassses" offer a truthful worldview

In the introduction of this book, we looked at the decay of morality and the rise of extreme tolerance throughout the world and especially in America. We considered the decline to be due to a steady stray from absolute truth, the truth found in God’s Word. I mentioned that I would provide a taste of the evidence for God. With the diverse range of topics addressed in these chapters, you may feel like you have been fed a series of ten-course meals. Let me assure you that I have provided only a taste. Without experiencing an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, nothing I write or say can ever be more than a taste. So now, “like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:3).

In chapter one, we discussed the history of the Bible. We learned about its origin and its preservation. We reviewed the following reasons to believe that the Bible is the Word of God:

1) Historical Accuracy
2) Archaeological Accuracy
3) Scientific Accuracy
4) Complimentary Accounts
5) Prophetic Accuracy
6) Structure, Unity, and Consistency
7) Amazing Preservation
8) Power to Change Lives
9) Claims of Divine Inspiration
10) Painful Honesty
11) Jesus’ Claims
12) Eyewitness Martyrdom

I suggested that the best place to begin investigating the evidence for God and the claims of His Word is in the beginning. The Bible says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). It is easy to doubt the authenticity of the Bible, but we must at least examine the evidence! It is foolish to overlook what God puts right in front of our faces! Paul said:

The Holy Scriptures … are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in
Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

In chapter two, we looked at the beginning of time, starting with the days of creation. Several viewpoints regarding the origin of life were considered, but we concluded that Biblical creation fits with the evidence. We briefly introduced natural selection, mutations, fossils, symbiotic relationships, and the flood. Pointing out that many of the most prominent evolutionists admit their theory is unstable—indeed, it is man’s attempt to exist apart from God—we discussed evolutionary lies, which have infiltrated the school systems and taught children that there is no God. Even a majority of Christians believe in some form of theistic evolution, the worst viewpoint to take; it leads to a half-hearted faith. The Bible says:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power
and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been
made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:20).

In chapter three, I gave a briefing on the Old Testament. We mentioned the relationship between dinosaurs and the pre-flood world and looked at some of the most prominent figures of the Bible, people such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David. God formed covenant relationships with these men to carry out His will. We saw that ever since the first sin, the world has been “subjected to frustration” (Romans 8:20). There is pain and suffering, disease, decay, and death everywhere we look. Jesus said: “In Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

In reading His reply to Job’s inquiry, we experienced God’s sovereignty in chapter four; reviewing an old yet effective sermon by Charles Spurgeon, we discussed the ultimate sin of unbelief. We also focused on the Old Testament prophets. Brief biographies of the Major and Minor Prophets, who preached messages of repentance to the nations in hope that the people would return to God, were documented. The Old Testament prophets saw little success, yet their collective mission was brilliantly carried out. Paving the way for the Messiah to come, “all the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43).

Regarding his own message, Paul said, “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to His own people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-23). Peter explained, “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). Guided by the Holy Spirit, the prophets spoke not only to the people of their time, but to us as well! Peter said:

Though you have not seen [Christ], you love Him; and even though you do not see
Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious
joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come
to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the
time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when
He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was
revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke
of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the Gospel
to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (1 Peter 1:8-12).

In chapter five, we examined the Gospel, the glorious message of hope in the perfect life, atoning death, and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. We learned that Jesus Christ is eternal, always existing with God the Father. The Bible says:

When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law,
to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. … So you
are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also
an heir (Galatians 4:4-7).

The perfect life of Christ fulfilled the law; He was sinless! He chose to die for our sins, so we do not have to experience God’s wrath! The Bible says: “God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We discussed the significance of Jesus’ last words. It is finished signified that the debt sinners owe to God has been paid in full by Jesus. He redeemed us, bought us with a price of His own blood. The Bible says, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Jesus bore the wrath of God, which was reserved for us out of love for us; “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).

Now, His physical resurrection is just as critical as His life and death. Death could not hold Christ captive, because in His perfection, He has power over death. He was victorious over death, the ultimate consequence of sin, in His resurrection. We can be joyously certain of our resurrection as well. Paul said:

With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we
know that the One Who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us
with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. All this is for your
benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause
thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by
day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what
is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2
Corinthians 4:11-18).

In chapter six, we reviewed the Book of Acts, which details the escapades of the early Church. Most notably, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and gave them confidence, assurance, and spiritual gifts to accomplish the Great Commission set before them by Jesus Christ. We saw both the infiltration of sin and the beginnings of persecution in the young Church. We learned what it means to be a Christian. It is a possession of the Holy Spirit enabled by God’s grace alone, which makes us believers in Christ, born again to new and everlasting life with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

We saw both the transformation of Peter from the days when he denied knowing Christ to his bold preaching before the Sanhedrin and the astonishing conversion of Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and harsh persecutor of Christians. Becoming the apostle Paul, he considered himself to be “less than the least of all God’s people” (Ephesians 3:8). Knowing God was using him to show others that anything is possible, Paul said:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for
that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ
Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would
believe on Him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

We reviewed the teaching of the New Testament in chapter seven by summarizing each letter to learn how God used different men from varying backgrounds to spread His Word around the world. We caught a glimpse of how to live like a Christian from the life of Paul. We noted a few of the in-house debates, such as the qualifications for baptism, on doctrinal issues discussed in the New Testament; but the clear message of the Gospel is that Jesus died to save sinners. Regarding that issue, there must be no debate.

Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3). James White said, “Man believes [in Christ], because he is born again, not in order to be born again.” The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and the Son, makes us born again. Jesus said: “No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him. … No one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him” (John 6:44,65).

We examined post-Biblical history in chapter eight, noting how the Church strayed from its Scriptural roots in the first millennium A.D. The Church failed to simply “preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23), and instead relied on its traditions over Scripture. Jesus said: “‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men” (Mark 7:6-8). He said not to “nullify the Word of God by your tradition” (Mark 7:13), but that is exactly what the early Church did. The Reformation, led by educated men who took it upon themselves to study the Bible, moved many members of the Church back in the right direction—toward the Word of God.

In chapter nine, we discussed the world today and looked at the character of God. Most people do not understand Who God is; they think of Him as merciful but forget He is just and sovereign, able to accomplish His will by whatever means He deems necessary, as long as those means are consistent with His character. How does He accomplish His will? “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6).

God is not passive when it comes to world events; rather, He is involved in the world, appointing kings and rulers and raising up nations to accomplish His will. We considered how He was involved in the 9/11 tragedy. He desires His people to repent of their sin and turn to Him. The prophet Elijah asked, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). The Bible says: “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. … As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

In chapter ten, I, like a child, listed some fantasies of heaven that may await believers. We noted the significance of the Arab/Israeli conflict and reviewed the Book of Revelation. Mentioning my lack of knowledge in eschatology, I offered several viewpoints and discussed the evidence for the dispensational pre-millennialist position using an outline provided by David Reagan. Regardless of your end times viewpoint, all Christians can be certain that Jesus Christ will return as judge of the world. The Bible concludes: “He Who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21).

We come now to the conclusion. James answered his own question: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Solomon declared, “Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs” (Ecclesiastes 5:15). So what is this life for?

Think about it. Life is truly meaningless unless it is lived with eternity in mind. Christians can know that eternity with Christ lies ahead, so we are free to truly live! In fact, we are free to live for Him Who defeated death—not to merit anything, but simply to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Paul said:

Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is
more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whose sake I have lost all things. I consider
them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a
righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith
in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians
3:7-9).

Recall from the preface of this book that my vision had gradually weakened over time. In fact, I did not even realize my eyesight was failing. A look back after the fact helped me to understand what had occurred with my eyes. After writing this book, I have noticed, in a similar but inversely related way, that researching Christianity and writing about it has gradually strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ. Rather than simply being fit with “Biblical Glasses,” my eyes have actually been permanently changed. In being sanctified, I am slowly receiving the eyes of Christ through a form of surgery from within by the Holy Spirit. By the light of the living and active Word of God, I now see everything else more clearly.

Benjamin Disraeli said, “The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write a book about it.” I did not realize I was being edified and sanctified while writing this book, but looking back now that it is complete, God has drawn me closer to Him by the power of His Holy Spirit living within me. How exciting!

As far as this book goes, perhaps it can help people become the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), preventing further decay of at least a small portion of American culture for the time being. I plead with you, just as Peter exclaimed in his first sermon, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:40)! Maybe this book can help people become “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), encouraging a better Christ-like lifestyle so others will see the changed lives and glorify God. Now it may do neither of these two things, but I am certain this book has accomplished at least one of God’s goals. It has made me know Him more!

I set out to show how America’s worldview has gradually deteriorated and how a Biblical worldview might help turn things around; while I hope I have accomplished that mission, I now understand the real reason I felt inspired to write: It was for me to learn more about God! Knowing God more has been the greatest reward! Now that I have better knowledge of God, I can “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [me] to give the reason for the hope that [I] have” (1 Peter 3:15). Perhaps God can use me more effectively now that I know more about Him!

Of course, my spiritual knowledge is still quite basic; I have a long way to go. Honestly, before writing this book, I think I fought the fire of the Holy Spirit, Who desired to transform me. Now, I have learned to love this transformation going on within, and I no longer desire to quench the flame of the Spirit. I look forward to continuing my study of God’s Word and writing another book to answer some additional questions and examine some theological issues left un-discussed. I long for the Holy Spirit’s work to continue in my life. Most of all though, I look forward to spending eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ—to see Him face to face; to “be like Him” and to “see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

I would like to end with the lyrics from Amazing Grace, written by John Newton in 1772. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular and powerfully touching songs ever composed. Read the lyrics slowly, let their truth touch you, and rejoice in the grace and glory of the Almighty God, Creator of the universe.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,
In a believer’s ear;
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for ev’ryone,
And there’s a cross for me.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

The Bible says: “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20). Jesus Christ is the Light of the world! Come into the Light! Put on “Biblical Glasses”—or better yet, let your eyesight be permanently changed—and sing along, “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.”

What the Future Holds (7)

This is part 7 of chapter 10 of my book, Biblical Glasses.

In concluding this chapter, I want to address some final concerns about which all people wonder. What is heaven like? Can we know? God’s Word is clear that the glories of heaven are beyond our comprehension; but again, the Bible has given us some thoughts of heaven for our anticipation. We will look at examples in a moment. First, we need to revisit death.

Remember that death simply means separation. When we die, our souls will be separated from our bodies. This is the first death. The Bible says: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Now many questions can be asked about what happens the moment we die. Do we go directly to heaven or hell? Do we wait in a state of slumber until Christ’s second coming? Theologians vary in their answers to these questions, but they often point to something Jesus said while hanging on the cross. Speaking to the thief who repented while hanging next to Him, Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Reading this statement leads me to think that upon death believers go straight to paradise to be with Christ. However, if the comma is moved to the right by just one word in the sentence, Jesus’ statement could be interpreted differently. It would then appear that Jesus was speaking the truth today. The thief would accompany Him in paradise sometime later. This is the argument of several scholars.
Christian theologians also look closely at Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church. Paul said: “We are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Do these verses say, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”? Some experts think so; others disagree.

While I have not yet gained enough confidence to answer with certainty whether or not, at the moment of death, we will be present with Lord, I am confident that it will seem to us like the transfer is instantaneous. Therefore, the believer should not fear this death, for he or she can be certain of salvation. Paul declared, “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). He also said:

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have
sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,
whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If
I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what
shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and
be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I
remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will
continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through
my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me
(Philippians 1:20-26).

Paul wanted dearly to die and be with Christ, but he knew that God was working through him to bring people to salvation by the message of Gospel, which he proclaimed so brilliantly. We believers may often yearn for God to take us out of this dilapidated world, but there are things for us to do here! We can win souls to Christ until God rightly decides to bring us home. The Bible says: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15).

Now the first death is often the scariest thing imaginable for an unbeliever. Unbelievers cling to this life as if it is all they have. But six times, the Gospels record Jesus saying: “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33, among others). While it is understandable for people without the hope of eternal life to be terrified of the first death, the second death is what should cause unbelievers to tremble. Total separation from God in the lake of fire (hell) is unimaginable!

Now, what will heaven be like? Paul tells us we will get new bodies, incorruptible and perfect in every way. We will know others as Jesus knows us, more intimately than we can possibly fathom. John says, “We are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). We will be fully conformed to the image of Christ! We will know truth in knowing God. We will have answers to all our questions. Perhaps there will be a video of all the experiences on earth, including creation! Better still, maybe we will just know it. We will not have to watch a video to soak it all in; rather, the knowledge of all truth will be in us, just as Christ is in us. Perhaps we will know the past, present, and future as God does: Presently.

Consider this: We are four-dimensional beings; we exist in height (length), width, depth, and time. We generally think only in those dimensions. Perhaps we will be ten-dimensional in heaven!

As we exist presently, we can see colors, but perhaps in heaven, we will be able to smell them, taste them, touch them, and hear them. What would the color red sound like? Would its texture be smooth? Do you think it would taste like a berry of some sort? Consider its aroma.

As we exist presently, we can hear music and see the notes that describe how to make music, but perhaps in heaven, we will be able to smell music, touch music, taste music, and see not just the notes of music, but the actual sounds of music. Can you imagine the vivid sight of an angel’s chorus? What would Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony taste like? What would the music from a harp feel like? What would an organist’s tune smell like? It is exciting to think about these things, but for now, we can only imagine. The Bible says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

I often wonder if we will remember our fondest moments of this life when we are in the next. Will we remember growing up at the old house on such-and-such street? Will we recall our sixteenth birthday? What about high school football games? Will we remember our favorite concerts? What about that first kiss? Will we remember our anniversary? What about our marriage and the honeymoon? Will we remember the birth of our first child? Will these memories still elicit such joy and happiness?

If we remember the fond moments, will we also remember things we would rather forget? What about the terrible automobile accident that took the life of a loved one? Will we recall the death of a parent or grandparent? Will we remember getting into a fight with our spouse? What about the time we cursed our parents for not allowing us to do something we shouldn’t have been doing anyway? Will we remember the time we had to be hospitalized with a severe injury or disease? Will these memories bring feelings of anger, pain, frustration, or embarrassment?

We know that when the Lord returns, “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Will we not mourn for our friends and family members who are not with us in heaven? Will there be no tears over their eternal damnation? I think the answer to these two questions is threefold: First, we will be filled with such awe at the presence of God that nothing else will occupy our thoughts besides Him in His glory. Second, the Bible says:

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood
outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, ‘Your mother and brothers
are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.’ He replied to him, ‘Who is My
mother, and who are My brothers?’ Pointing to His disciples, He said, ‘Here are
My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is
My brother and sister and mother’ (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke
8:19-21).

This passage explains that our true family and friends will be those fellow believers with us in heaven! Our earthly friends and family may or may not be included in this group, the true Body of Christ. Third, we will be completely thankful for the mercy God has shown us, and at the same time, we will desire His complete and perfect justice in dealing with those who did not accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We will glorify God for His justice as He punishes unbelievers in the lake of fire. Therefore, we will see all unbelievers, whether they were friends, family members, enemies, or people we never met, as God sees them—debtors with an invoice not marked Paid in Full by Jesus Christ.

Some people cannot wait to get to heaven, because they envision unlimited golf at Heaven’s Gate Country Club or shopping at the Grand Mall of Heaven. I hate to break the news to these dreamers (myself included sometimes!), but neither golf nor shopping are going to satisfy us in heaven. God Himself will be our satisfaction. His glorious presence will be our pleasure for eternity, and we will be His pleasure too! We will forever worship and glorify Him in all we do. As I mention in the conclusion of this book, the lyrics of Amazing Grace speak wonders to the idea that we will forever worship God: “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.”

Jesus said: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2, KJV). He continued: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). I like to consider that God spent six days making all we see and more in His creation of this universe. What a creation! This universe is awe-inspiring indeed; yet, Jesus has been gone from the earth for nearly 2000 years, preparing a place for us. If He made our current universe in six days, what could He possibly be up to that would take 2000 years? I can hardly wait to find out!