Past, Present and Future

Nancy Paulson

This Bible Study explains the different ways God expects man to approach Him. This study will explain the different way man needs to approach God in the three main divisions of the Bible: Times Past, But Now, and Age to Come. This study is foundational in learning how to "rightly divide" the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) Right division is taking Paul's viewpoint about how the program of God is laid out and then reading the Bible based on that understanding. The program of God is outlined in what He was doing in the past, what He is doing now, and what He will do in the future.

TIMES PAST: BEFORE THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY

(Eph 2:11-12 KJV) 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Notice what the status of the Gentiles was in times past:

• Called uncircumcision
• Without Christ
• Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel
• Strangers from the covenants of promise
• Had no hope
• Without God in the world

From the list above it would appear that the Gentiles had no standing before God in times past. We see this status of the Gentiles throughout the Old Testament and up through the early chapters of Acts. Even in the earthly ministry of Christ the Gentiles were excluded from the blessings of God.

(Mat 10:5-6 KJV) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: {6}But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Mat 15:24 KJV) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Rom 15:8 KJV) Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Jesus was a minister of the CIRCUMCISION during His earthly ministery. What were the Gentiles called by the circumcision? They were called the UNCIRCUMCISION. The verses in Matthew show that Jesus was excluding the Gentiles in His earthly ministry. Why? It was all in accordance to God's plan:

(Exo 19:3, 5-6KJV) And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; {5}Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: {6} And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

(Isa 61:6 KJV) But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

(Isa 42:6 KJV) I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

The Jews were to be a nation of priests before the Lord. It was God's plan that the nation of Israel would first become a nation of priests ( a go-between God and man) and the Gentiles would come to know God through the nation of Israel. The Gentiles who believed God became proselytes (Gentiles who accept the Jewish faith and complete the rituals to become Jews). Hence they would no longer be Gentiles, but Jews.

(Zec 8:20-23 KJV) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: {21}And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.{22}Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. {23}Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

This will take place when Israel takes the place that God has intended, to rule the earth as a kingdom of priests when Christ comes to set up the earthly kingdom.

(Acts 1:6 - 7 KJV) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? {7}And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

The believing Jews (those who believed that Jesus is the Christ) understood that the nation of Israel needed to be converted first before that which was described in Zechariah will take place. That is why the twelve limited the ministry to the nation of Israel in the early chapters of Acts.

(Acts 11:19 KJV) Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

But the nation, as a whole, refused to repent and turn to the Christ. We see this in Acts 7, with the stoning of Stephen. This was the ultimate rejection of God's plan. First, they had rejected the Father in the Old Testament times through the prophets' ministry, then they rejected the Son during Jesus' earthly ministry. Finally, they reject the Holy Spirit, as Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. What happens next is very important; in Acts 8:1 Saul (Paul) is introduced and we see a change in God's plan. It is through the fall of Israel that salvation is come to the Gentiles. This is the But now stage of God's plan.

But Now

Ages to Come

But Now - The Revelation of the Mystery

(Eph 2:13 KJV) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

(Rom 11:32 KJV) For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

(Rom 3:9 KJV) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

When Israel refused to believe and acted out their rebellion when they stoned Stephen God concluded all, both Jew and Gentile, to be in unbelief. At this point Israel no longer held an exalted position in God's favor. Israel has become just like the Gentile nations in times past. (See Ephesians 2:11-12)

Notice that in Romans 11:32 it says that the reason God concluded them all in unbelief was so that He could have mercy upon them all. Instead of God pouring out His wrath He poured out His mercy. In doing this he set aside His plan with Israel and began something new.

(Rom 11:11 KJV) I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

(Rom 11:25 KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

God had a program with Israel in time past, but now He is doing something different. God wants us to be aware of the fact that He will continue His plan with Israel at some future time. But in the meantime, we see that the Gentiles can now have salvation apart from the nation of Israel. Because of this change of plan God raised up a new Apostle who would go specifically to the Gentiles. Paul is this new apostle. Remember that the twelve that were with Jesus during His earthly ministry were instructed not to go to the Gentiles. (See Matthew 10:5-6) Paul's ministry would be to the Gentiles and those who have failed under the times past program (the unbelieving Jews of Paul's day).

(Acts 9:15 KJV) 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:

(Acts 13:46-48 KJV) Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. {47} For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. {48} And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

(Rom 11:13 KJV) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

In the thirteenth chapter of Acts we see that Paul and Barnabas were preaching Christ unto them, but the Jews refused to believe that through Jesus Christ they could receive forgiveness of sins and so Paul told them that he was chosen to be a light to the Gentiles. Even after God set aside the original plan with Israel He still gave the nation of Israel a chance to take their rightful place in God's plan and purpose, but they refused. Paul was told that he would do what the nation of Israel was to do. (See Isaiah 42:6) Paul would be a light of the Gentiles. The risen Jesus Christ was the one who chose Paul to do this.

(Gal 1:1 KJV) Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

(2 Tim 1:11 KJV) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

It is through the Apostle Paul's writings (Romans through Philemon) that we learn salvation is for ALL through the blood of Christ. Before, in time past, salvation was of the Jews.

(John 4:22 KJV) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

BUT NOW salvation is to all without distinction. A Gentile can now come to know God without becoming a Jew. This was all part of God's plan and purpose from the very beginning, but God had kept it a secret until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul. Nowhere in the Old Testament can one find where a Gentile could come to God apart from the nation of Israel. It is only through Paul's writings that we learn of this method of salvation. Paul preached Christ through the revelation of the mystery in God's secret purpose. It was something that God had planned from the beginning but kept it a secret until He chose to reveal it to Apostle Paul.

(1 Cor 2:7 KJV) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

(Eph 3:9 KJV) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

(Col 1:25-27 KJV) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; {26} Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: {27} To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(Rom 16:25 KJV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

So even though God is doing something different in His plan for salvation He is not finished with the nation of Israel. We need to understand that what God has promised to Israel will come to pass in the age to come.

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Ages to Come - Prophetic Program Resumes

(Ephesians 2:7 KJV) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

(Romans 1:18-24 KJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; {19} Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. {20} For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: {21} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. {22} Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, {23} And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. {24} Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

In times past God made Himself known to man and so man had a clear understanding of who He is. But man had chosen to go his own way and did not even acknowledge God in their thinking. For this reason God let man do his own thing. But man will reap the consequences of his actions.

(Romans 1:28 KJV) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

(Romans 1:32 KJV) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Notice that Romans 1:18 says that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. Mankind continues to live his own way even though it does not please God. But even though the wrath of God has been revealed from heaven the human race has not yet experienced the wrath of God. God has shown his longsuffering toward the human race by withholding His wrath. He has never left the human race without a means of salvation. In time past God had called out a man named Abram (Abraham) in whom the nation of Israel would come. Throughout the Old Testament we see that God deals primarily with the nation of Israel. He had given the nation of Israel an exalted position. Israel was given a set of laws that set them apart from the rest of the nations. The Gentiles nations were to come to know the living God through the nation of Israel. Israel was to show the Gentile nations the way to God. But Israel failed, like the Gentiles before them they had chosen to go their own way.

(Romans 2:23-24 KJV) Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? {24} For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Because Israel failed to do what God had intended the Gentiles remained in darkness. God temporarily interrupted His program with the nation of Israel and raised up the Apostle Paul who became the Apostle to the Gentiles. Through Paul's writings we understand all (Jew and Gentile) are guilty before God, but God has provided a new way to come to Him. No longer is it necessary to approach God through the nation of Israel but through faith in the shed blood of Christ. This is the longsuffering of God that we are experiencing today. God has postponed His wrath so that all can be saved. He is giving mankind every chance to repent.

(2 Peter 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But God will pour out His wrath. In the prophetic timetable God pouring out His wrath is the next thing that will happen when God resumes His dealings with the nation of Israel. This was understood during Jesus' earthly ministry. They understood that God was about to pour out His wrath.

(Matthew 3:7 KJV) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

(Luke 3:7 KJV) Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

This is important to understand because when God begins the "Ages to Come" stage of His plan it will begin with His wrath being poured out. This time period is known as the Great Tribulation. It will be a time of God's judgement and Israel will again be the center of God's eye. It is when all that God has promised to Israel will come to pass. This will include when Christ comes to set up His kingdom on earth. It is during this reign that Israel will hold the exalted position and be priests of the Lord.

(Isaiah 61:6 KJV) But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

(Isaiah 61:9 KJV) And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

The most important event in the ages to come is that all things in heaven and all things in the earth will be placed under the authority of Jesus Christ. Those are in the "But Now" stage of God's plan and purpose have a heavenly position. Israel will have an earthly position. Both are "in Christ".

(Ephesians 2:4-8 KJV) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, {5} Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) {6} And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: {7} That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. {8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Verse 7 tells us why we are given that heavenly position: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us. There is emphasis on His kindness towards us because God withheld His wrath. The reason for this is so He will be able to have all things, in heaven and in earth, one in Christ (under His rule and reign).

(Ephesians 1:10 KJV) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

The Bible is given to us in accordance to God's plan:

• Time Past -Genesis 12 through Acts 7 shows the distiction between circumcision and uncircumcision
• Transition between Time past and But now - The Book of Acts reveals the fall of Israel and salvation to the Gentiles through the ministry of the Apostle Paul
• But Now - Romans through Philemon shows no distinction; all are one in the body of Christ
• Ages to Come - Hebrews through Revelation are for those who will go through the Tribulation period.

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