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| It has been said that time is "marked off eternity."
In this lesson, we will discover how God "marks off" or
separates time into "ages" in order to work with his
creation, man. We are not particularly concerned with weeks or hours,
but with "ages" of time.
By closely studying the Bible, we discover there are eight of these ages. An age might be a hundred years or a thousand years in length. Many times these ages overlap one another; that is, age number six did not suddenly stop so that age number seven could begin. In each of these "ages," God dealt differently with man than in other ages. For example, in our second lesson, we learned about the "Beginnings," and how God created everything. We call this "age" of time the "Pre-Adamic" or "Pre-Time Age." God's plan was to create a world where his ultimate creation, man, could live. When this time period was over, he began working in another manner. Understanding these ages will help us to see how God has dealt with man in the past, how God deals with man during this present age, and how God will deal with man in the future. There is a chart at the end of this chapter. Study the chart in relation to this lesson, and see how God has changed his manner of dealing with his creation. No claim of originality is made for this chart. Some of these ages will be studied together in order to make a five day study program. Monday Pre-Time Age and Adamaic Age This lesson will deal with two ages -- the Pre-Time Age and the Adamic Age. Since we discussed these ages in the lesson on "Beginnings," we will only touch on them briefly in this lesson. Pre-Time Age Before God created the sun and the moon, he had already created the heavens and the earth. He had already created the angels, and some had already sinned and fallen from their position as God's ministers. This period of time is known as the "Pre-Time Age." God completed his creation and then began to work in a different age that we call the "Adamic Age." Adamic Age The phrase "Adamic Age" simply means the age in which Adam lived. God constructed the present creation, then created man and set him down to live in a garden that he had prepared for him. After Adam sinned and "fell" from God's favor, he was driven from the garden and had to provide for his own needs by "the sweat of his brow." Genesis 1:31 And _________saw every ___________ that ______ had ___________, and, ____________, it was very __________________. And the ________________ and the ____________ were the _______________ day. Genesis 2:1-2 ___________ the __________ and the __________ were __________________, and all the ____________ of them. And on the _____________ day God ____________ his work which he had ___________; and he ________________ on the ________________ day from all his ____________ which he had _________________. QUESTIONS: Abbreviate the first ten books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ ______________,____________,_____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first ten books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10______ __________,______________,______________ _________________,________________ Tuesday The Flood Age to the Abrahamic Age The next two periods of time take us from after the fall of Adam through Abraham and all the way to Moses and the giving of the Law. Adam and Eve, driven from the garden, began populating the earth and reaping the results of their sin. The Flood Age From the time that Adam was driven from the garden, man's behavior continued on a downward spiral. Every imagination of man's heart was turned toward evil. When God looked at the evilness of mankind, it "repented him" that he had ever made man. However, one man, Noah, did find favor in the eyes of the Lord. He was commanded to build an ark to save his family from the flood of water that God said would be coming. When Noah and his family and a sample of all the earth's animals were safely aboard the ark, God caused it to begin raining upon the earth. Additionally, the "fountains of the deep" (underground rivers and lakes) were broken open and helped to flood the earth. The Abrahamic Age After the flood receded from the earth, Noah came from the ark, and the repopulating of the world began. It was during this time, which we call the "Abrahamic Age," that the head of each household made offerings and sacrifices to God for their families. It is believed that the book of Job was written during this time. This age and this manner of service to God continued until God gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Genesis 6:5-6 And _______ saw that the _________________ of man was ____________ in the _______________, and that every ____________________ of the __________________ of his ________________ was only evil ___________________. And it ___________ the Lord that he had ____________ man on the ____________, and it __________________ him at his ______________. Genesis 6:8 But __________ found ________ in the _________ of the _______________. Genesis 12:2, 3 And I will _________ of thee a great __________, and I will bless thee, and make thy ___________ great; and thou shalt be a _____________: And I will ________ them that bless _________, and curse him that ____________ thee: and in thee shall all ____________ of the earth be _______________. Questions: Abbreviate the first ten books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ ______________,____________,_____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first ten books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10______ __________,____________,_______________ _________________,________________ Wednesday The Law Age The "Law Age" was a time when God dealt with man through the Law. Not only did God deliver the Ten Commandments for Israel to Moses on Mount Sinai, but he also gave rules for dietary habits, for dress, and other for day-to-day living principles that would govern these people who were descendants of Abraham. When Christ came and was able to keep this law without breaking even one commandment, the Law was "fulfilled" and he then "nailed it to the cross." This age ceased with the death of Christ on the cross. Exodus 19:5:6 Now _______________, if ye will __________ my ____________ indeed, and keep my _______________, then ye shall be a__________ _____________ unto me above all _____________: for all the _________ is __________: And ye ______________ be unto me a __________________ of ______________, and an ____________ nation. These are the ___________ which thou shalt __________ unto the _________ of ____________. Colossians 2:14 _____________ out the handwriting of _________ that was ___________ us, which was __________ to us, and ___________ it __________ of the way, _______________ it to his __________; Questions: Abbreviate the first ten books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ ______________,____________,____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first ten books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10______ __________,______________,_____________ _________________,________________ Thursday The Church Age To begin the "Church Age," Jesus Christ called his church out to follow him. This happened during his personal ministry, before he was crucified and rose from the dead. This church was made up men and women who had been saved, baptized, and then yielded to his command to follow the Lord. The church has a very special place in God's heart and should always be held in high regard and respect. God has chosen to evangelize the world by the means of his church. She has been at his work for almost two thousand years and will continue to do so until Christ returns for her. However, at the return of Christ, this world will undergo another "age" change. First will come a brief period of time (7 years) called the "Tribulation," but following this will be the 1,000-year period when Jesus Christ will personally rule the earth. Matthew 4:18 And __________, walking by the _______ of _____________, saw two ________________, Simon called ________________, and Andrew his _________________, casting a ____________ into the ____________: for they were ____________________. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, ________ ye into ________ the __________, and __________ the ___________ to ___________ creature. John 14:3 And if I ________ and _______________ a place for __________, I _________ come ____________, and _________ you unto ______________; that where I am, __________ ye may be ________. Questions: Abbreviate the first ten books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ ______________,____________,____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first ten books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10______ __________,____________,______________ _________________,________________ Friday Millennial Age to Post-Time After the church has been "raptured" (taken up out of the earth), along with all the other saved in the world, there will be a time of Great Tribulation on this earth such as the world has never seen before. Immediately following this Tribulation, Jesus will return to this earth with all the saved to set up his kingdom. This will begin what we call the "Millennial Age." A millennium is 1,000 years. Post-Time The closing of the 1,000-year reign of Christ will be highlighted by the Great White Throne Judgment, where the lost people will be judged according to their works. Following this, God will create a new heaven and a new earth where no sin may enter and time as we have counted it will cease to be. We call this age the "Eternal Age." God will live among us, and all testing and failures will be over. Revelation 21:1 And I ____________ a _______ ___________ and a _______ __________: for the _________ heaven and the __________ earth were ______________ away; and there was no more __________. Revelation 22:3-5 And there _________ be ________ more __________: but the _____________ of ___________ and of the __________ shall be in it; and his ________________ shall ___________ him: And ____________ shall see his _____________; and his ____________ shall be in their _______________. And there shall be no _____________ there; and they need no ___________, neither light of the ____________; for the ______________ __________ giveth them ___________: and they shall ____________ for _________ and __________. Questions: Abbreviate the first ten books of the Old Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6______7______8______9______10______ _____________,___________,____________ ________________,_______________ Abbreviate the first ten books of the New Testament and write out the next five. 1______2_______3______4______5______ 6_______7______8_______9______10______ __________,_____________,_______________ _________________,________________
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