Gods Plan for the Ages

                                                   

Adam--  2000 yrs-.---Noah--2000 yrs.-------------Jesus crucified-----(church age 2000 yrs approx.)----(then-saints taken to heaven in the rapture)-----(7yrs trib-- begins-----at the end of 7 yrs trib)------(saints return to earth with Jesus. Rev 20 chp and then -Jesus ---sets up his millennial kingdom-1000 yrs-)-----  great white throne judgment and the new heaven and earth throughout eternity. see Rev 21 & 22

 

Lesson 6 in acts

35 AD

One of the most notable events in this chp. is the conversion of Saul, the persecutor of the Church of the Lord and his Christian followers, to one of the most devout and fearless leaders of the church.  Because of his bold preaching of Jesus Christ, Paul, as we will see later, suffered being ship wrecked, stoned by his own Jewish people, and left for dead only to recover.  He was brought before rulers and tried and imprisoned.  He corrected his fellow Christians for shunning Gentile Christians in favor of Jewish Christians.

He wrote more books or letters of the new testament than any of the other Apostles.  We learn in one of his letters later that he was taken to heaven, whether in the body or the spirit he wasn't sure.  But he was privileged to see and hear things in heaven that he was forbidden to disclose or tell in detail.  We will see some things as we go through the book of Acts.  We will have to visit some of his letters to the church to learn more details of his amazing life and of his service for Jesus.   Here in this chp. we see him going to Damascus to imprison more Christians, only to be knocked from his high horse and temporarily blinded by Jesus. 

This is definitely another example of a Divine appointment of the Lord.  Even today sometimes strong willed people have to have a Damascus type of experience and hit bottom before they can look up and see God, so to speak.  Please read and listen to the audio of these wonderful events here in this important    chp.  Paul was not one of the original 12 apostles like Peter, John, Matthew etc.

 

Jesus, in one place, told his 12 apostles that they would sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.  This of course would be during the Millennial  reign of Christ here on earth.  The number 12 is one of the important number patterns we find in the scriptures.

 For instance, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 stones in the ephod or breast plate worn by the Priest, also twelve foundations in the heavenly city mentioned in Revelations.

 

Although Paul was persecuted by his people, the Jews, he loved them and was adamant about winning them to the Lord Jesus and Messiah.  He nevertheless became mainly an apostle to the Gentiles, and carried the message of the Gospel to the pagan cities of Rome, Greece etc.  Paul, it seems, will not sit on a throne judging one of the 12 tribes of Israel.  But we can rest assured that his rewards for the powerful and fearless service to our master will be great.  He had a beautiful anointing from God.  No one could accomplish the things he did without it.

 

       Here below in Acts 28 is the last sermon by Paul to the Jews that Luke that has recorded in the book of Acts

 

23And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening. 24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers, 26saying,

    Go thou unto this people, and say,

    By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand;

    And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

27    For this people’s heart is waxed gross,

    And their ears are dull of hearing,

    And their eyes they have closed;

    Lest, haply they should perceive with their eyes,

    And hear with their ears,

    And understand with their heart,

    And should turn again,

    And I should heal them.

 

28Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear. 29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.

30And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him, 31preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.

 

You will notice above that I jumped ahead to the last chp of Acts to show why Paul is called the Apostle to the Gentiles.  Return to study with us as we go through Acts. Thanks for visiting.

        Bill Hicks

 

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Acts


 

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.