Reading the Bible in Historical Sequence Appendices
Reading the Bible in Historical Sequence offers a chronological Bible reading programme that aims to take the reader through the whole Bible in a year, in the order that events happened.
Developed by Colin Candy in collaboration with Wycliffe NZ, the plan is now available on YouVersion. If you've been following this plan and want some extra background information, see the appendices below.Appendices
-
The names in Genesis 5:
Strong’s Concordance gives the following meanings:
Adam = man
Seth = substituted or put
Enosh = mortal
Kenan = nest or dwelling
Mahalel = praiseworthy God
Jared = descent or come down
Enoch = initiate or teach
Methuselah = at his extend of time; shooting forth
Lamech = (lost meaning)
Noah = quiet, peace, rest
Putting these meanings together we have a brief summary of the future gospel: Man puts on mortal(ity) as his dwelling, so the praiseworthy God shall come down to teach that at his extent (fullness) of time, the lost may have peace and rest.
There is also a message in the name Methuselah, signalling that at his maturity or death a bursting forth of some missile would happen. The year of his death was in fact the year when the fountains of the great deep burst open (Gen 7:11) causing the worldwide flood.
Chuck Missler in Cosmic Codes page 71 to 75 has some additional comment.
-
Summary of the ritual offerings described in Leviticus
Burnt Offering: With a burnt offering a man draws near to God by laying his hand on the animal’s head while it is being killed, to identify with it. The whole offering except blood and skin is burned on the altar. This offering is a voluntary gift to God and typifies our coming near to God today in the name of Jesus.
Grain Offering: Grain offerings are given to thank God for His provision of basic food. It consists of fine flour and baked cakes (unleavened). Part of it is burned for the Lord; the rest is for the priests.
Peace Offering: This was for a fellowship meal between God and men on a joyful occasion. The holy parts, fat in the abdomen, kidneys, the liver membrane, and the fat tail in the case of a lamb were burned for the Lord. The blood too is for the Lord. The rest is shared at the meal.
Sin Offering: This was for sins committed unintentionally or in weakness, not in defiance of God. For the sins of a priest or the nation, a bull is required; for the sins of individuals, a lesser animal. The special abdominal parts are burned on the altar; the rest of the bull is burned outside the camp but the lesser animals are to be eaten by the priests.
Trespass or Guilt Offering: Restitution plus a penalty had to be made by a person who neglected to pay a tithe, or redeem his firstborn, or who offended against holy things in other ways. In addition, a ram was required as a sin offering.
-
In 1491 BC God told Moses that unblemished Paschal lambs must be selected on the 10th of the first month for sacrificing on the 14th day. The Hebrews were then to apply the lambs’ blood on their door frames to warn the angel of death against killing their firstborn. The widespread death of Egyptian firstborn led to the Hebrews escaping from their slavery in Egypt. Later they were told that when they tilled the ground in their new land, they were to celebrate the feast of first fruits on the day after sabbath, that is, the day after the weekly sabbath.
This order or pattern, given to Moses at the first Passover, was to apply all subsequent celebrations of Passover. Jesus came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (Mt 5:17), so was careful to follow the patterns established by God. He had total control over the events of crucifixion week and ensured that the events followed the same pattern that God had established in Ex 12 and Lev 23. Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29), presented Himself on the 10th day of Nisan and gave up His life on the 14th of Nisan in order to fulfil scripture (not on Friday that the Church traditionally celebrates). Just as the Hebrews were released from their slavery, so Jesus’ death released believers from slavery under Satan and sin. He rose from His grave on the Sunday, the day of First Fruits, again in accordance with the scriptures (Lev 23:10-14, 1 Cor 15:3-4, 20). Jesus is the first fruits of our promised resurrection (1 Cor 15:20, 23). He fulfilled many of thep prophetic teachings in the OT.
This resurrection day was the 17th day of Nisan which is also the anniversary of Noah’s ark coming to rest (Gen 8:4). Heb 4:11 urges us to “Labour therefore to enter that rest”.
The resurrection, happening on a Sunday, confirms that Lev 23:11 means First Fruits should be celebrated on the day after the weekly sabbath, not on the second day of the Unleavened Bread that the Jewish people assumed. Unfortunately the Jews interpreted Lev 23:11 as meaning the morrow after the special sabbath and so wrongly placed First-fruits on Nisan 16 which in the crucifixion week was the Saturday.
-
From Creation to Noah’s 500th birthday (Gen 5): 1556 yrs
From Noah’s 500th birthday until the flood came (Gen 7:6): 99 yrs
Time in the ark: 1 yr
From the flood to the death of Abraham’s father Terah (Gen 11:10f): 427 yrs
From the death of Terah to God’s promises to Abraham (Gen 12:1): 0 yrs
From these promises until the escape from Egypt (Ex 12:40, Gal 12:1): 430 yrs
From the Exodus to the start of Temple construction (1 Kg 6:1): 479 yrs*
From the start of the Temple to Solomon’s death (1 Kg 11:42): 37 yrs*
From division of the kingdom until the fall of Jerusalem (App. F): 388 yrs*
Destruction of Jerusalem (Ussher): 588BC
Adding these spans gives the date of creation as: 4004BC
*The Temple construction starts in the 480th year in 1 Kg 6:1
*The Temple starte after the third year, the division of the kingdom after the 40th
*The fall of Jerusalem was 388 years plus two part years after the division of the kingdom. 390 yrs total (Ek 4:4-5)
