These are themes that are established in the first five books of the Bible (The Torah) and “echo” throughout the rest of Scripture. These are MAJOR themes that we will be developing when they first occur and watch as they build.
SACRAMENTS:
You will see that there are many ways in which God uses very finite things of earth to mediate and bring into our finite reality, the actual experience and expression of the infinite. This begins in the garden, and continues throughout all of the Scripture.
TABERNACLE:
God desires a “dwelling place” with His people. Begins in the Garden Tabernacle in the wilderness. Mt. Zion with King David Solomon’s Temple Church of the New Testament Described in Revelation as “The New Jerusalem!”
FEASTS AND FESTIVALS:
God is a God of celebration. Feasts and festivals were predominant in the Jewish calendar. Appendix outlines the calendar of feasts and festivals. Note: Much of the Gospels are written around Jesus attending the Feasts and Festivals of the Jewish calendar. Learning about the Feasts enhances our understanding of the Gospel stories.
COVENANT:
God is a God of Covenant. Testament could also be “Covenant” There are seven major covenants in the Old Testament:
- Adam
- Noah
- Abraham
- Moses (Nation of Israel)
- Elijah (Prophets)
- Samuel (Judges)
- David (Kings / Kingdom)
COVENANT NAMES OF GOD:
God’s ongoing revelation of Himself is in the ongoing disclosure of His “names.” This is also in the appendix for continued study. We will highlight the most significant “revelations” of His name as we encounter them.
NUMBERS:
Numbers are significant throughout Scripture. Understanding the nature of numbers in the Bible, is essential to understanding the Book of Revelation. An appendix of the “basic” meaning of numerology in the Bible is also provided. Some have numerology as a “special” means of revelation. I want to be sure to avoid such an emphasis.
JESUS IS THE FOCAL POINT OF ALL HISTORY:
I find it interesting that even our calendar is dated from the life of Jesus. The ENTIRE Old Testament looks forward in anticipation to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. It is essentially the story of THE FAMILY through whom the Messiah would come. The New Testament is a historical accounting of Jesus life and activities, the chronicling of which validates His activity as BEING THE ONE anticipated during all of history. The New Testament further provides a historical accounting as to the response to, and understanding of, Jesus teaching in the lives of those to whom He committed the ongoing work of establishing His Kingdom.
HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT:
It is important to understand that the folks we read about after the Torah, had only the Torah as Scripture. The progression of revelation of the Old Testament is based entirely on the truth contained in the Torah. All other books were “added” during history, from an understanding of, and further revelation of the Torah. Jewish boys would have been able to recite the entire Torah from memory before age of twelve. (Bar mitzvah) Jesus would have also memorized these books. By the time of Jesus, the prophetic books, especially Isaiah and Jeremiah were also very significant in the training and education of Jewish boys. Jesus quoted continually from the Torah and these prophetic books.
JESUS CLAIMED TO FULFILL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS:
Adam: beginning of mankind.
- Sinned, bringing the need for redemption.
Moses: brings into being the Law of God.
- The revelation of God’s purposes for His people.
Elijah: is to the Prophets what Moses was to the Law.
- Brings to birth the prophetic vision of the coming Messiah.
Jesus: The fulfillment of all of Old Testament revelation and history.
- On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared to discuss