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INSIGHTS INTO THE OLD TESTAMENT
(The Only Bible At The Time of the Christian Apostles)
Charles Pinkney, 2024
When I first became a Christian and was growing in the knowledge of the
Bible, I had no idea of the importance of the Bible’s Old Testament. I
questioned if it had any relevance at all to the church today. I even
wrote to a well known ministry to address the question, “What is the importance
of the Old Testament?” I received no answer to my question. I had no idea
then, that the O. T. was and is a deep well of knowledge pertaining to
the plan of God. God saw in the beginning the need for a plan to redeem
a fallen humanity. The Almighty foresaw an angelic rebellion and the fall
of His human creation. He in the beginning had foreseen the need and the
solution of how to redeem the world again. The plan was to have a "new
Adam" who would be a "redeemer" whose purpose was to reinstate
a fallen humanity. This plan was to be enabled by a particular "set-apart"
people who would be the vehicle of bringing forth the redeemer and through
this "elect" people His glory would be restored and the adversary
would be judged and removed from his stronghold upon humanity.
Certainly the Old Testament (The Hebrew Tenakh) is not an easy subject
but it effectively foresaw the end of the world from the beginning through
the prophets. The prophets had to be 100% perfect to make God's purposes
and plans known. The depth of cohesiveness throughout the OT is amazing,
yes miraculous. It bears witness to the divine authorship and its portraying
the person of Messiah in every book of the Bible. The Jewish ordinances
and festivals that were instated in the ancient historic past from the
patriarchs, Abraham, Isaack and Jacob portrayed the person of the Son
of the highest who would finally redeem the people of Israel.
Meanwhile
throughout the epochs of time "the adversary" who had
assumed rulership over the planet after Adam's fall, resisted the divine
plan of redemption by stealth and cunning. The adversary is a spirit being
who has many names, Satan, Lucifer, The evil one, The god of this world,
the Prince of the power of the air and others.
The things which I include in this brief study is just a sketch. It is
compiled for beginners. It doesn't go into particular historical epochs
(dispensations) or the stories
of the many heros and heroines of the faith spoken of later in Hebrews
chapter 11. The historical periods going back to creation and the garden
of God, are populated by individuals who were empowered (anointed) by
JHVH and whose calling it was to keep His covenant people, Israel, from
turning aside to idolatry and judgment. The prophets foretold that the
people of God would rise and fall and go into captivity. Yet, in the fullness
of time, his chosen seed would be born according to dozens of prophetic
promises who would be born and be the ranson for sin. He would extend
his arms to gather in the nations (the gentiles). Jesus was that redeemer
who would call forth a special people for himself and eventually rule
over a people called out for his pleasure. Throughout the generations
an adversary is continually at work to hinder and destroy God's plan.
As of this hour, Satan is still in preparation for his own kingdom to
rise and rule.
As it turns out the Old Testament Bible or
First Covenant is rich in revelation and
prophecy that provides insight into history “His-Story”
which includes:
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How
God created the world, finally man and woman; and what caused their
"fall";
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How
Lucifer (the shining one) usurped man’s dominion and became “the
god of this world;”
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How
God revealed his eternal plan to provide a redeemer from the seed
of a woman; (Gen. 3:15, the proto evangelium) and fulfill the promise
of a kingdom on the earth; “I
will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between
your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise
His heel.”
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How
Satan has an allotted time and will eventually be defeated along
with his minions;
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How Satan’s character is vanity
(pride).
He is a lier, a thief, a killer and a destroyer.
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How Satan’s kingdom and its influence
produced a depraved world that brought brought forth judgment in the
time of Noah and later Lot in Abraham's day.
-
How Satan is constantly engaged in
an effort to thwart God’s plan of producing a redeemer, (the
woman’s seed, the messiah)
who is promised to reign;
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How God established a righteous line
(through
Abraham)
from which the promised messiah would come;
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How the descendants of Abraham (the
patriarchs)
were thwarted by Satan’s forces continuously through the centuries;
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How Abraham was given a
land
of promise.
It was to be
an eternal possession;
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How the land of promise (Caanan)
was occupied by giants and beings who practiced idolatry and demonic
worship; These also had a bloodline that was corrupted by intermixture
with fallen angels. (Gen. 6)
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How these lands once conquered by
the Israelites were meant to be sustained in righteousness;
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How God raised up holy prophets who
spoke words of correction and spoke of things to come as God directed
their speech by the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha Kodesh);
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How Moses led the Jews out of captivity
in Egypt with signs and wonders and was later given the commandments
and sacrifices needed to continue under the blessings of JHVH;
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How all the books of the O.T. (the
Tenakh)
point to
Jesus the Messiah;
the books of Moses, all of the prophets and the Psalms. (Luke
24:27 & Luke 24:44);
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How Israel
became a kingdom about 1000 b.c. and anointed King David who prefigures
the righteous king who will rule in the Messianic Kingdom;
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How Israel
was taken into captivity by other empires when they failed to continue
JHVH's laws;
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How prophets spoke of a time of future
judgment when all the unrighteous will answer for their idolatry,
blasphemy, and sorceries. This time of judgment is called the "Day
of the Lord" a time when Satan's head will be crushed and evil
will be vanquished. Jesus is the one who will destroy the enemy wielding
his own “terrible
swift sword;”
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How John the Baptist was the last
O.T. prophet. John came in the Spirit and Power of Eliajah the prophet.
He was the forerunner who declared the coming of Messiah and to “make
straight the way.”
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How Jesus’ earthly ministry was only
to the Jews. (the lost sheep
of the house of Israel)
He presented proofs of his divinity and messiah- ship but was not
received by the religious authorities.
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How
at the
birth of the church age,
God’s covenant was extended beyond the Israel and the Jews. The “good
news” of the gospel was to go to all the nations (gentiles.) Non Jews
were allowed to be grafted into the vine of Israel, becoming fellow
heirs along with the Jews.
E
Book 1:
The Gospel Without
Religion
E Book 2:
A Disciples Handbook
E Book 3:
Mysteries in the Bible
Index to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Resources:
Understanding Home Fellowships
Frank Viola Interviews a typical church-goer
(Discussion
of Open Church)
C.
Pinkney, 2024 01-02
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