Thy Kingdom Come
by Marc Mitchum

GOD'S TIMELINE FOR MAN
During my years of studying God's word, I, along with so many other born again Christians have come to the conclusion (based upon the evidence we have through prophecy, science, etc.) that God's word is true (John 17:17), and that there are no lies in his word (1 John 2:21). Based upon the truth that it is ‘impossible for God to lie', we take a unique approach to God's word. So many Christians find it easier to write (or read) another bible every time they find something in God's word that seems to them to contradict; but for some of us, this is just a sign that we need to spend more time labouring in His word and doctrine (1 Tim 5:17, 2 Tim 2:15). During this time of studying and labouring in the word, the Holy Spirit will reward us by revealing to us a truth, that at first sight appeared to be a contradiction. (John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.)
In this first issue of "Thy Kingdom Come", we will present a timeline for man from the time that God placed Adam in the garden of Eden until the final ‘Great White Throne Judgment'. We will learn that there are two judgments, two resurrections, two places of torment, etc. Once we understand the order of the events that take place during this time period, we will be more capable of understanding scripture, that to the unstudied Christian, seems to be contradictory.

1. Scripture says that salvation is ‘NOT OF WORKS', (Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.) yet scripture also says that we are to ‘WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION'?(Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.)

2. Scripture says that you are ‘SAVED THROUGH FAITH',(Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God). Yet scripture also says ‘CAN FAITH SAVE YOU?' (James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?)

3. Scripture says that as a child of God, He will ‘NOT CAST YOU OUT', (John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.) Yet scripture also says that Paul feared being ‘A CASTAWAY'?
(1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. KJV)

Once we understand God's timeline for man, we will be able to easily answer these as well as other questions, proving that it truly is ‘impossible for God to lie'.

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (KJV)

FRAMING OUR TIMELINE

Just as a house must first have a foundation and frame, so must our timeline. Once our timeline has a frame, then we will be able to build upon it. Our foundation can only be built upon one thing; and that is the fact that God has always been here, and that He will always be here.

Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Scripture does not give us many details into what God did before He created Adam; and since our timeline is for God's creation of man, this is the point that we will begin to build a frame upon our foundation.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..."

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Now, let us look at a couple of scriptures that will help us finish the foundation of our timeline.

2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (KJV).

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. (KJV)

We can see from Isaiah that God declares the end from the beginning, so if we want to know about "the things that are not yet done", then we must first look at the beginning.

Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

God worked for six days and then rested on the seventh day. Though God does not need to rest, this is a beautiful picture of the future millennial (1000 year) rest.

Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;