GOSPELS AND ACTS

PREPARATION OF WORLDPREPARATION OF WORLD

FOR CHRIST’S COMINGFOR CHRIST’S COMING

INTRODUCTIONPreparation of the World for Christ’s Coming Preparation of the World for Christ’s Coming

“Fullness of Time”“Fullness of Time”

Gal 4:4 “But when the Gal 4:4 “But when the time had fully come,time had fully come, God sent His God sent His

Son…”Son…”

Eph 1:9-10 “He made known to us the mystery of His will Eph 1:9-10 “He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ, to be according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect put into effect when the times will have reached their when the times will have reached their fulfillment…”fulfillment…”

Titus 1:3 “And Titus 1:3 “And at His appointed seasonat His appointed season He brought His Word to He brought His Word to light through the preaching entrusted to me…”light through the preaching entrusted to me…”

Christ born at proper timeChrist born at proper time

A. Jewish elements – A. Jewish elements – ReligiousReligious

1. Divine selection of1. Divine selection of IsraelIsrael Exodus 19:5-6—special relationshipExodus 19:5-6—special relationship 2. Divine 2. Divine revelationrevelation in Scripture in Scripture a. a. MonotheismMonotheism b. b. LawLaw c. Messianic c. Messianic propheciesprophecies

To David — 2 Samuel 7:12-16To David — 2 Samuel 7:12-161212When your days are over and you rest with your When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. kingdom. 1313He is the one who will build a house for my He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. forever. 1414I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong I will punish him with the rod of When he does wrong I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. men, with floggings inflicted by men. 1515But my love will But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, who I removed before you. Saul, who I removed before you. 1616Your house and your Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me, and your throne kingdom will endure forever before me, and your throne will be established forever.will be established forever.

Perpetual kingdom — Father-Son relationshipPerpetual kingdom — Father-Son relationship

To Judah by Jeremiah — Jeremiah 29:10-11To Judah by Jeremiah — Jeremiah 29:10-11This is what the Lord says: This is what the Lord says: 1010“When 70 years are “When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 1111For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”plans to give you hope and a future.”

Positive purpose after Babylonian captivityPositive purpose after Babylonian captivity

To Israel by Isaiah. To Israel by Isaiah. Isaiah 10:24-25, 11:1-2Isaiah 10:24-25, 11:1-22424Therefore, this is what the Lord, the Lord Therefore, this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says, “Oh my people who live in Zion, Almighty, says, “Oh my people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did. did. 2525Very soon my anger against you will end Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.” …destruction.” …11:111:1A shoot will come up from the A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit. fruit. 22The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him…The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him…

Ultimate revival of Davidic KingdomUltimate revival of Davidic Kingdom

Of virgin birth and birthplace. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6 and Micah 5:2 Of virgin birth and birthplace. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6 and Micah 5:2

7:147:14Therefore the Lord will give you a sign: the virgin will Therefore the Lord will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call Him Immanuel… Him Immanuel… 9:69:6For to us a child is born, to us a son is For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, the government will be upon His shoulders, he will given, the government will be upon His shoulders, he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Father, Prince of Peace. Supernatural nature of childSupernatural nature of child

5:25:2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come from Me among the clans of Judah, out of you will come from Me one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. old, from ancient times.

BethlehemBethlehem

3. Jewish 3. Jewish MessianicMessianic expectation expectation 4. 4. DispersionDispersion of the Jews of the Jews

major captivities 721/586 major captivities 721/586 minor captivities minor captivities

business opportunities business opportunities Exposed world to true God and ScriptureExposed world to true God and Scripture 5. 5. SynagogueSynagogue worship worship An alternate worship centerAn alternate worship center 6. 6. SeptuagintSeptuagint (LXX or 70)(LXX or 70) – 180 B. C. – 180 B. C. Greek Translation of O.T.Greek Translation of O.T.

7. Religious climate of Israel

a. Major religious groups: a. Major religious groups: PhariseesPharisees SadduceesSadducees

Focus: Focus: ReligiousReligious PoliticalPolitical

Language: Language: HebrewHebrew GreekGreek

Worship: Worship: SynagogueSynagogue TempleTemple

Emphasis: Emphasis: LegalismLegalism RitualRitual

Beliefs: Beliefs: SupernaturalSupernatural Anti-supernaturalAnti-supernatural

b.b. LegalismLegalism works salvation works salvation oror covenant relationship covenant relationship innumerable regulationsinnumerable regulations c. c. ProselytismProselytism

B. Greek elements - B. Greek elements - culturalcultural Alexander the Great 334-323 BC Alexander the Great 334-323 BC 1. Greek 1. Greek languagelanguage

- unified Greek language - unified Greek language - -

internationalized Greek languageinternationalized Greek language 2. Greek 2. Greek customscustoms - Greek way of life- Greek way of life 3.3. GreekGreek philosophyphilosophy - dualism - dualism - soul eternal - soul eternal - dignity of people- dignity of people

C. Roman Elements - Political 1. Roman 1. Roman unificationunification of world of world 2. Roman 2. Roman peacepeace 3. Roman 3. Roman lawlaw and and orderorder 4. Roman 4. Roman citizenshipcitizenship 5. Roman 5. Roman roadsroads 6. Roman moral and religious 6. Roman moral and religious degenerationdegeneration 7. Roman recognition of 7. Roman recognition of JudaismJudaism 8. Roman 8. Roman politicalpolitical control of Israel control of Israel