Clifford Denton unpacks God's vision for knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

"Education, education, education", said Tony Blair as he entered 10 Downing Street for the first time. It sounded good at first. Now, our new Prime Minister Theresa May has raised education to a high priority once more, with a fresh focus on grammar schools. With standards under scrutiny as each year passes, whether it be through Ofsted reports, or exam results, our attention is never far from how our children are being taught in school.

But how close are we to a biblical pattern for education? It is not so much the efficiency and funding of our national programmes that should be our priority, but the foundations on which we are raising the next generation.

The Jesuits have been credited with the maxim, "Give me a child for his first seven years and I'll give you the man", reflecting what everyone who wants to order society according to a certain world-view knows. If an education system is designed to conform to a certain philosophy or religion, then society can be changed in a generation – for good or bad.

If an education system can be conformed to a certain philosophy or religion, then society can be changed in a generation – for good or bad.

Back to our Roots

So what does the Bible say? That must be the prime focus for Christians.

First, the word education is not to be found. The biblical word is Torah. Yet even before the establishing of Torah through Moses, God's prime purpose for his people was shown – right back in the Garden of Eden. God created mankind to be in fellowship with him. Adam and Eve were given simple instructions to maintain that fellowship. The principles of Torah were given to them in basic form - they were told what not to do in order to maintain a close relationship with the Lord.

The Bible, in other places, describes this relationship as a walk with God. Through human weakness and a little input from the enemy, Adam and Eve could not maintain this walk and so the Fall occurred, followed by God's programme of recovery through covenant that is still going on today. Principles of biblical education, Torah, were made known through Moses so that the chosen people of God could live an ordered and blessed life in fellowship with him.

Torah: Principles and Purpose

The Hebrew word Torah refers to the teaching of God's people. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, summarised the way God's people should be taught: "stand before God for the people...teach them the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do" (Ex 18:19-20).

The walk with God, highlighted here, was recalled time and again throughout Israel's history. It was a walk that could (and did) falter through disobedience, and so its principles were reiterated at key moments. For example, Ezra affirmed the principles after his return to Jerusalem from Babylon:

Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Torah of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances to Israel. (Ezra 7:10)

Micah also was inspired to champion the balance and purpose of Torah:

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8)

In considering what Christian education might look like, in contrast to what the world around us is establishing, we are wise to first look back to the Old Testament and consider how God intended his covenant people to walk safely with him.

Beware of dry legalism, however, in which Torah is reduced to a set of dos and don'ts, as if God desires only ritual observance. What he desires above all is relationship with us, as a father with a child, or a husband with a wife. The principles of Torah are for securing this walk, not replacing it.

Principles of biblical education, Torah, were made known through Moses so that the people of God could live a blessed life in fellowship with him.

Keeping on Track with God

The struggles of the Children of Israel to maintain a close walk with God demonstrate our need of principles to protect us along our way in life. As much as Adam and Eve were subject to the temptations of the evil one, so there are always ways in which evil is at work in the nations of the world to seduce God's people off track.

This principle is reflected in the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and so is as valid for Christians as it was for Adam and Eve and for the Nation of Israel. The four injunctions of the letter written from the Council to new believers (Acts 15:28-29) were essential things to abstain from so that "if you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well."

So even though we live in days of the New Covenant where, according to the fulfilment of Jeremiah 31:33, Torah (God's educational programme) is put into the minds and written on the hearts of God's people, still there are warnings about being seduced away from a close walk with God.

Jesus Messiah the Goal

The ultimate goal of Torah (God's educational package) was to bring us to Messiah (Rom 10:4), like an escort taking a person to the place of his education (Gal 3:24). Jesus made it clear that he did not come to abolish Torah but to fulfil it (Matt 5:17-20), meaning that the goal of teaching within the Christian community is the interpretation of Torah by the Spirit of God, in the light of Jesus the Messiah, fulfilling the New Covenant announced first by Jeremiah (Jer 31).

This goal remains the same as in the days of the Old Covenant, though now it is enabled by the Spirit of God in the heart of every believer. Our teaching should encourage and establish this walk for all of Jesus' disciples. Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, is Jesus' command that we do this - making disciples.

This walk is enabled through the Spirit of God and it is as much a spiritual battle today to gain and maintain it as it was for Adam and Eve and for the Children of Israel through the days of the Old Covenant. Our education programmes must have the objective of discipleship and growth to maturity in the Holy Spirit as their prime focus, to help others mature in their personal walk with God.

Summary So Far

In summary, from the time of Adam and Eve, God's plan has been to live in relationship with his own people. Since the time of Jesus, the invitation has gone out to the entire world for people to walk in this relationship. God desires this but also requires our complete commitment.

Torah is not to be reduced to a set of ritual dos and don'ts. Above all God desires relationship with us – the principles of Torah are for securing this, not replacing it.

Education God's Way: The Method

Whilst each disciple of Jesus has a personal walk and a promise of the Holy Spirit as our personal teacher, God has also appointed some to be teachers (Eph 4:11). We learn from Deuteronomy 6 that responsibility for Bible teaching is first through the example of parents. Biblical education is primarily to take place in the home – more so than in church!

Other Bible teaching is ordered around this, with the aim of raising up disciples of Jesus to personal responsibility and independence in their walk with God. The exhortation of God to the families of Israel (Deut 6:4-9) is still foundational to the teaching of our children today:

Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The importance of diligence is emphasised here; the minute care that is to be taken to remember, and always be alert to opportunities to teach God's ways. This shows that it is easy to slip into the ways of the world around. We must always remember what God has done in the past, in order to have a straight path into the future.

The goal of Torah, God's educational package, was to bring us to Jesus Messiah.

Education God's Way: The Content

If discipleship is the goal, what then of the content of biblical education? The Book of Proverbs emphasises the three key elements of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. These are three distinct elements usually considered key in any education system.

However, James warned us about demonic counterfeits (James 3:15). There is a wisdom that does not come from God. This is the danger inherent in education systems that are not founded on the Bible and are motivated in other ways (which James would call earthly, sensual and demonic).

Knowledge: Only the Start

Much education in our schools today is knowledge-based and much of it ends there, leaving the application of this knowledge open and vulnerable to the spirit of the age. Our children can be trapped within a system perpetuated by unbiblical objectives that are self-serving and at times dangerous. Thus, knowledge of nuclear power can be put to good use providing heat and light to enhance or lives – or it can be used to make weapons to destroy the world. This is just one illustration.

Knowledge from a biblical perspective, however, is far deeper than factual knowledge. The Hebrew word for 'knowledge' is the same word that describes the relationship between a man and his wife. As we study this we discover that all three of the key elements of biblical education are spiritual in nature. A prayerful reading of the Book of Proverbs will confirm this. So, whether we are speaking of factual knowledge or relational knowledge of God, we are designed and intended to exercise our spiritual nature in its acquisition.

Understanding: Releasing the Potential of Knowledge

But what of understanding? I have been a teacher and educationalist for many years, but it has taken me until recently to get a better grasp of what this is. Many of us use the words knowledge and understanding interchangeably, thinking we have grasped their meaning, but I would suggest there are hidden depths here that we did not realise existed.

Hebrew, the foundational language of the Bible, is verb-orientated: application is always paramount. Knowledge leads to action. One becomes intimate with information and with facts and the natural tendency is to do something as a consequence, to apply knowledge into some form of action or end result.

This is understanding in action, putting together diverse pieces of information to bring about a creative consequence. There is potential in knowledge - understanding releases that potential. How important, therefore, that understanding be properly directed, since the potential of knowledge can be released in so many different ways!

All three key elements of biblical education – knowledge, understanding and wisdom - are spiritual in nature.

Wisdom

Biblical education must develop a Godly mindset, so that our understanding (and therefore our doing) has the right motives. This can only be accomplished through a prayerful walk with God, who alone can lead us to apply what we learn rightly. That is why James says that we should ask God for wisdom in faith, in confidence that God will give it liberally.

The wisdom of God is not only concerned with abstract and spiritual matters. It is also concerned with practical outworking for the ordering of our society. In all ways, practical and spiritual, the goal of education is to fulfil the two Great Commandments: to love God with all our being and our neighbour as ourselves. It is no small thing to teach one another to walk with God in this way and it is clear that education in our nation's schools is likely, in the world as it is, to fall far short of this.

In Conclusion

Returning to the introduction to this article: "Education, education, education" rightly directed is an excellent maxim, but wrongly directed is worldly, blind and potentially dangerous. Surely we are at a period in history when we should consider carefully what God's plan for the education of his people should be, especially our children.

"Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecc 12:12-13)

Paul Luckraft meets up with Sally Richardson, founder and organiser of the 'Israel and Prophecy' group, London.

The 'Israel and Prophecy' group meets once or twice a month on Saturdays at All Souls Clubhouse, London. Paul arranged to meet up with Sally, its founder, to find out how they started and what God is doing through the meetings.

Pieces of the Jigsaw

It is often the case that when God wants to start something new he calls on those who have been serving him faithfully for many years and whose previous experience and background provide just what he needs at that time. For many years Sally Richardson had been involved in organising meetings and making contacts with speakers and teachers who had also become good friends. Her involvement with Christian Ministerial Fellowship International (CMFI) in particular meant that she had come across several speakers at conferences whom she would be able to call upon in the future – a future which God knew about long before she did!

Another piece in the jigsaw that the Divine hand was putting together was the venue. By chance Sally came across All Souls Clubhouse (ASC) when walking down Cleveland Street one day. Instead of just going past, she decided to go in and investigate what was there. Sometime later, when another venue for a meeting she was organising was inadvertently double-booked, Sally remembered ASC and was able to rearrange her meeting there. Although this was a one-off at the time, it is now clear that God was showing Sally the potential of the rooms there for what he would want in the future.

God knew Sally's future long before she did – and had all the pieces of the jigsaw in place ready.

The Seeds Germinate

For the next few years nothing different happened, but seeds had been sown. Then in 2012 Sally found that, quite spontaneously and independently, people were telling her with great concern and sadness about their churches espousing Replacement Theology and having no understanding of prophecy or the end times, much less any teaching on them. This very much resonated with Sally's own awareness of the lack of good teaching in churches on the vital subjects of Israel and prophecy. As she says, "I was very distressed in spirit about these matters, and began to earnestly pray and seek the Lord concerning them. He then began to remind me of certain things."

First, he showed her that she was in the fortunate position of knowing a number of brothers who could give sound and balanced teaching on these vital and neglected subjects. He also reminded her that she had organised meetings in the past, so why not do so again? Indeed, with both the necessary administrative skills and a list of personal contacts, surely she was the one God could most use to help people in this respect?

Further, the Lord laid on her heart that these meetings were to be in central London, and in a venue easily accessible for people. At this point he reminded her of ASC and of that previous occasion when she had needed to find a last-minute replacement venue.

As she continued to pray about the possibility of arranging meetings and what to call them, she sensed the Lord say they were to be held under the banner title of 'Israel and Prophecy'. Everything was coming together and in the spring of 2013 the first meeting took place, being led by two brothers from the Bible Prophecy Foundation.

Sally recalls that only a small number of people attended (about 15), but all very much appreciated the teaching that was brought, the warmth of the welcome they received and the fellowship they enjoyed with others of like mind. This encouraged her to continue, and three more meetings took place that year. Also encouraging was the way the Lord brought a small team of helpers around her to assist with recording, serving refreshments and the other essential tasks which make such a venture more successful and enable it to grow.

Often when God wants to start something new he calls on those who have been serving him faithfully for many years, whose background provides just what he needs at that time.

Gathering Momentum

In 2014, things really took off - such was the demand. There would be a meeting every month, sometimes twice a month, with more and more speakers being drafted in. News of the meetings spread by word of mouth. Sally testifies, "I don't need to advertise much now, new people are coming each month." Thankfully, there are larger rooms available at ASC when necessary – as God knew from the beginning! Sally is grateful that the Clubhouse is a very welcoming and supportive venue. "I have been told by the Manager and some of the volunteers that we are a favourite of theirs amongst the many other groups who use their facilities."

With such contentious subjects as Israel and prophecy, it might be wondered how this is handled. The answer is - diplomatically and with a stress on unity! Clearly, regarding Israel all the speakers are anti-Replacement Theology and pro-restoration. As for end time topics, a greater diversity of opinion is allowed for on the part of the speakers, which at least allows people a chance to think things through from a biblical perspective.

Without exception each brother's ministry has been warmly received and greatly appreciated. Those attending regularly tell Sally at the end of the meetings how very grateful they are for the teaching they've heard, some nearly in tears and others almost overcome with gratitude. "I get fed here!" more than one has declared. "Please...never stop these meetings! We need them!"

Such contentious subjects as Israel and prophecy are handled diplomatically and with a stress on unity.

A Bright Future!

The future of these meetings seems assured. The speakers are generally free to decide what they want to speak about, as long as it fits the general remit of Israel and prophecy. There will certainly be no lack of specific topics to keep the group going until...well, the Lord returns!

The style of the meetings may vary a little, sometimes with discussion, Q&As, and also some prayer and intercession. But the overall aim has been satisfied – people are now receiving the biblical teaching they were lacking previously.

As Sally concludes, "I want to give all the praise and glory to the Lord for the blessing these meetings have been, and indeed, continue to be."

Details of Future Meetings

The next four meetings are as follows:

• 1 October: Pastor Ian Huxham and Rod Boggia (Bible teachers from Evangel Sidmouth and PFI)
• 29 October: Prayer and Bible Day with Simon Wyatt (Bible teacher from Bethel Christian Assembly, Raising a Standard)
• 5 November: Chris Hill (Bible teacher and Israel Tours leader, CL Ministries)
• 19 November: Tony Pearce (Bible teacher, Bridge Lane Fellowship, Light for the Last Days)

All meetings will be from 10am-3pm unless advised otherwise, at All Souls Clubhouse, 141 Cleveland St, London W1T 6QG. Recordings are available to purchase after. A love offering is taken for the speaker. Please come prepared for the lunch break – either bring a packed lunch or eat at a nearby café.

For more details, contact Sally by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

All welcome!

Paul Luckraft reviews 'Hebraic Church' by Steve Maltz (2016, Saffron Planet Publishing).

This is the latest book from Steve Maltz, and the culmination of many years of thinking and writing about where the Church is today and where it should be. He contends that it is not possible for the Church to change significantly unless it is prepared to think differently. Attempts in the past to reform its practices have all run into the same persistent problem – the mindset has remained Greek. The original Church was Hebraic in its thinking and approach, and a recovery of this is needed if today's Church is to regain its strength and purpose.

The term 'Hebraic Church' is in many ways a strange one, and needs careful explanation, which Maltz provides early in the book. It is not, of course, about becoming Jewish or reverting to Judaism, but it does involve shedding the Greek-based Western influences which have robbed the Church of its Way, Truth and Life.

Contrasting Greek and Hebraic Thinking

The book is in three parts, covering the 'why', 'what' and 'how' of Hebraic Church. The first section includes a brief survey of the journey the Church has made over the centuries and where it has ended up today. Part of this is a review of Alice Bailey's 10 point plan to "wrench society away from its Christian roots" (p27), which over the past 70 years has been so successful in achieving its aim that it is not only a description of society now but also "a huge indictment of the modern Church" (p27) for allowing this to happen.

The Church must be prepared to think differently – with a Hebraic rather than a Greek mindset.

The rest of this section starts us off on the path of 'thinking differently' by comparing how Hebraic thinking contrasts with Greek Western thinking in two key areas: time and space. These vital concepts dominate the way we live.

Time seems to have us in its grip and has become a driving force, instead of a backcloth for remembering the wonderful moments in which God has acted in our world and in our lives. As for 'space' (meaning the objects that occupy space) the key is to think 'function, not form'. We need to change our perspective, understanding and appreciating things (and people!) not primarily for what they look like or how they're put together but for their God-ordained purpose and design. Maltz give details here of how to make the transition in our thinking - as a result, we sense there's a real adventure to go on.

Grappling with God Himself

The second section is the longest and covers five major themes: God, Jesus, the Bible, Israel, the Church. The aim of Hebraic Church is to enable everyone to engage directly with God and to create a people of extraordinary faith and vitality who can reveal God to the world. A man-centred approach to Church has to be abandoned. Instead the desire must be to grapple with God himself, rather than just adhere to the creeds or doctrine. God will always remain mysterious and paradoxical to some extent, and our 'put everything in its box' thinking does not serve us well when it comes to the Almighty.

Our desire must be to grapple with God himself, rather than just adhere to creeds or doctrine.

The chapter on Jesus is a summary of an earlier book, Jesus, Man of Many Names, and is a "whistle-stop tour of the Life and Times of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), from Creation to New Creation" (p82). Two parts especially stand out: Jesus as the Word and Jesus as Messiah.

In discussing the Bible, Maltz explains that in Hebraic terms study is considered a high form of worship and that the aim of learning is that we might revere God more. The purpose of Bible study is not to engage in an intellectual pursuit but to be able to participate more in its story. Too often the 'form' of the Bible is put ahead of its function - namely the primary means by which God communicates to his people.

In terms of how we study, the Hebraic model is the yeshiva or Beth Midrash, a communal affair involving dialogue, and often noisy! Studying in pairs is a good way of teasing out the truth; challenges and disagreements form part of the learning process.

Changing Church Attitudes

Attitudes towards Israel inevitably form part of the contrast between those who think Hebraically and those who do not. Here is a brief reminder of the differences between those who see Israel as still having a key role in God's purposes and those who have laid aside such considerations in favour of a Church that has replaced Israel.

The chapter includes a fascinating account of the meeting in 2002 between prominent Jews and Christians which was reported by Melanie Phillips in The Spectator under the title 'Christians who hate the Jews'. This is an eye-opener to those not previously aware of this meeting. Maltz points out that Hebraic Church would be remiss if it didn't provide "an active reminder of the history of "Christian" anti-Semitism...and truly work towards the mysterious entity of One New Man" (p120).

Too often the 'form' of the Bible is put ahead of its function - namely the primary means by which God communicates to his people.

The chapter on the Church is not surprisingly the longest. Many aspects come under the microscope including worship, good deeds as an expression of faith, and the use of storytelling (haggadah) as a means of passing on truth and wisdom. Also emphasised are prayer, discipleship, sin and repentance, and the importance of the festivals as God's calendar (his 'appointed times'). Perhaps Hebraic Church is best summed up as "a place where like-minded believers grow together, worship together, and exercise their gifts" (p160).

Working It Out Together

The final part of the book contains quite a bit of repetition of what has been said earlier but it is a useful review, as this section is essentially about putting the previous ideas into practice, best summed up as 'now let's do it!'. There are many practical suggestions all based upon the 'big thoughts' Maltz has been outlining in previous chapters.

Maltz is aware that such a transition into Hebraic thinking is not necessarily easy. For many it will be nothing less than a total transformation and can only occur if there is a practical context. To this end there are 'Hebraic Church' days at his Foundations conferences which are proving increasingly popular and productive. These conferences have become opportunities for testing the ideas in this book.

The author is clear that Hebraic Church is not a bid for a new denomination, nor should it be confused with one! Rather it is just a name, a convenient way of expressing the restoration of the Jewish roots of Christianity and the emerging One New Man movement. He is also aware that 'balance' has to be a key watchword. The Church has limped along in a lopsided unbalanced way for most of its life.

Maltz hosts Hebraic Church days to test out and apply the ideas in the book practically.

He concludes with a useful 'mission statement'. Hebraic Church provides "an environment where we can all meet God individually, discover and exercise all of our gifts (not just spiritual gifts) and callings and to worship the living God, with the correct application of His Word and an acknowledgement of the debt the Church has to the Jewish people, including a desire to bless them" (p202).

But no formal statement can adequately summarise what it is really about. Perhaps better is the thought that this is a dynamic way to rediscover that church can be exciting! In short, it is an adventure to set out on, with others, and with God.

You can buy Hebraic Church (222 pages, £10) by clicking this link.

*EVENT NOTICE: FOUNDATIONS CONFERENCES*

Steve Maltz's next Foundations conferences are in Suffolk (Bungay) from 30 September to 2 October 2016, and in Devon (Torquay), 2-4 December. Click here for more information and to book – places are still available but going quickly!

What is the best way to study Bible passages on the end times?

There are many reasons for reading the entire Bible over and over again. One reason is to ensure that we find all its references to whichever theme we are studying, including the end times. More important, however, is that we cultivate a biblical worldview.

Instead of reading and interpreting the Bible through the lens of our worldly experiences and what others have told us, we look out on the world and judge what we see through the lens of Scripture, ingrained into our hearts by the Holy Spirit as we study carefully and prayerfully.

Today, particularly in the West, we live busy lives and have access to a wealth of information on all subjects, including Bible themes. Such information is no longer contained in Christian bookshops but also proliferates online. Without realising it, we can end up taking shortcuts in our Bible studies, gleaning from others rather than studying for ourselves. In so doing, we are in danger of imbibing the mindsets of others, rather than working out our own through a personal walk with God.

Instead of reading the Bible through the lens of our worldly experiences, we should look out on the world and judge what we see through the lens of Scripture.

This surely is a major reason for many of the conflicting views on the end times. Would it be different if our attitude was like that of the Bereans (Acts 17:11), who searched the scriptures for themselves to see if what they heard was true?

Biased Perspectives and Their Consequences

For example, perhaps even without realising it, we may still retain an element of Replacement Theology in our thinking, leading us to concentrate overmuch on God's plan for the Church in the Gentile world. In turn, we easily lose a balanced perspective on his designs for Israel and therefore his overall covenant plan.

We might also cultivate a habit of seeking to select verses of Scripture – often out of context - as 'proof texts' for our hopes for the future of the Church. Surely this is why there is so much contemporary emphasis on an expectation of the 'rapture', when the Church will be taken out of the difficult circumstances of the world, and when this will occur. 'Proof texts' used in support for this are Matthew 24:37-41 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

If we focus too much on this hoped-for event, out of context with the rest of Scripture, we begin to read every other aspect of end times Scripture through this lens. We become more and more concerned to find the best estimate of where to place the 'rapture' – and others do the same, with different conclusions, resulting in conflicting views of 'pre-', 'mid-' and 'post-tribulation' rapture.

Though Paul told the Thessalonians to comfort one another with an expectation of the Lord's return (1 Thess 4:18), I do not think he would have had them take his dramatic description of the way it will happen so out of context, as many today seem to have done.

If we lose a balanced perspective on God's overall plan, we can end up taking Scripture out of context.

The Background of the Covenant

The context of the end times (and all the events leading up to the return of the Lord) is the overall covenant plan of God. 'Covenant' and 'end times' are two intersecting themes that weave through Scripture, overlapping to become totally dependent on one another. If we read the entire Bible with this in mind, we cannot also fail to see that there is another theme bound up with these two – namely, God's purpose for Israel. A biblical mindset holds all this in balance. We find these overlapping themes behind the writings of all the Prophets, e.g.:

• The promised New Covenant proclaimed to Israel and Judah (Jer 31) is within the context of God's end times plan for Israel.
• The end time passages in Ezekiel 38 and 39 are in the context of the re-birth of Israel in Ezekiel 37.
• The great end time deliverance of Israel shown to Daniel (Dan 12) is in harmony with the other Prophets and with the Book of Revelation.
• Jesus, in speaking of his return (Matt 24; Mark 13; Luke 21), was talking to his disciples in the Land of Israel, to where he will return.

Harmony of Scripture

In reading the scriptures as a whole, we find that there is balance and harmony in all the major Bible themes. But without realising it, we often read one set of scriptures and put it in one compartment of our mind and another set and put it in another compartment, as if there are parallel worlds to which they apply.

This applies to reading the New Testament and Old Testament in isolation from each other, as much as to reading certain passages and Books in isolation. All the scriptures build together to emphasise one period of end time history. Ezekiel and Daniel, for example, both speak of the same time and circumstances, as do Jesus in the Gospels and John in the Book of Revelation.

The context of the end times is the overall covenant plan of God, including his purposes for Israel.

If we study the scriptures in a balanced way, we will find themes echoing across the whole of the Bible that will help us prepare, understand the signs of the times and have a sense of God's timing. For example:

• The 'sacrificial meal' and its context in Ezekiel 39:17-20 is echoed in Revelation 19:17-21. These surely are descriptions of the same event.
• Could we consider before God whether the sealed scroll of Daniel 12:4 was the same one opened by Jesus in Revelation 5:9-10? It is reasonable to assume this, since the last things on this earth could only be released after the Sacrifice of Jesus opened the way for the Gospel to go out to the entire earth, prior to the final judgments.
• Also, surely, the events so clearly revealed in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are precisely the same events proclaimed more mysteriously in the Book of Revelation. All these things line up in harmony.

Haggai Speaks of the End Times

Many of us believe that, over recent years, God has spoken to us concerning the fulfilment in our day of the great shaking of Haggai 2:21-22, repeated in Hebrews 12:25-29. This is not independent of all else that is prophesied for the end times but fits into the overall picture, helping us to understand where we are on the final run-up to the return of Jesus.

This also focuses our attention on the covenant priorities of our age - completion of God's purposes for Israel and the strengthening of believers across the world.

All the scriptures on the end times build together in harmony.

Our Purpose

This short series on the end times is not intended to bring yet another formula, but to encourage the reading of the entire Bible afresh, with prayerful desire to understand the times. At four chapters a day this would take about a year, by which time world affairs will have moved on and it will be wise to consider it all again. There is no substitute for this prayerful study on our own and in our local prayer and study groups.

When the disciples asked about the signs of the Lord's coming, they were told to watch and pray. That command has been passed down to us. In so doing, we will be drawn closer to the Lord and to one another as the events unfold before us. We will achieve a stronger biblical worldview and we will learn to find harmony in all the scriptures.

Next time: An overview of Matthew 24.

For other articles in this series, click here.

Clifford Denton's second article on the end times emphasises the importance of reading Scripture through the right lens.

The Masterpiece of the Bible

The Bible is like a tapestry. A multitude of themes trace their way through the scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. These themes intersect and overlap so that they are both single themes and part of a whole.

The picture of the end times is one of those themes. Echoes from Genesis are in Revelation. The plagues of Egypt remind us of the woes that God will pour out on the entire earth right at the end of time. We learn about the heart and mind of God, the separation of the saved from the unsaved, judgment on sin and much more.

So, to understand the end times, we must read the entire Bible.

Greek versus Hebrew

How, then, do we approach the reading of Scripture with the end times in view? We must beware of an overly-analytical approach. Western philosophy and scientific analysis emerged from ancient Greece. This has fostered methodical, 'logical' attitudes to world issues based on human rationality, but as far as the scriptures are concerned another mindset is needed.

Western education, influenced by those Greek patterns of logic, has unfortunately trained our minds away from the biblical, Hebraic mindset through which we should approach Scripture. This has even influenced our theology, including perspectives on the end times, contributing significantly to the divisions and conflicting conclusions on the topic which exist among Christians today.

To understand the end times, we must read the entire Bible.

The Hebraic mindset is founded on faith and leads to a seeking after God through a prayerful walk. It is a mindset that encourages questions - but not questions of the philosophical kind that expect straightforward, rational answers. We must not approach God with our questions expecting to walk away with the single answer that ticks all the boxes of our theology.

Instead we find ourselves enquiring about aspects of a larger truth. Our questions are held in the background, in our spirits, and are part of an ongoing communication which results in God feeding us, edifying us and gradually revealing something richer and clearer on questions that are deeper than we first thought. Sometimes God hears one question and raises another as an answer. We find this in the biblical record of Jesus' own teaching.

A Walk of Discovery

For this walk God has provided us with Scripture, that wonderful tapestry of intertwining themes that builds into an overall picture.

The walk is both personal and corporate, so we each have a testimony that we share with others as they also share with us, as we sit prayerfully together with the scriptures open and as we share our questions.

Through Word and Picture

There are two main ways in which God communicates prophetically. One is in pictures; the other is in words. These are not independent. As we often say, 'a picture paints a thousand words'. Language gives rise to pictures in our imagination, and pictures can be described, interpreted and celebrated in words.

Nowhere are these connected forms of communication clearer than in the created universe, which God created in all its visual splendour to speak of himself. Psalm 19 expresses this profound truth: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard" (NKJV).

There are two main ways in which God communicates prophetically: pictures and words.

While scientific enquiry has revealed much about the laws of nature and the structure of the universe, giving many people of faith further understanding through which they praise God all the more, science has never proven or disproven the existence of a God of Creation. Indeed, more and more scientists in our day have become side-lined by theories of evolution that seemingly do not require a Creator. Far better to prayerfully gaze with wonder on Creation and let God speak of himself to us in his own way, by faith unspoiled by too much logical analysis.

Communicating Heart to Heart: Illustrations from the Arts

God made mankind in his image, so we (in a limited way) are able to express ourselves through words and pictures. Though we are all human and prone to impurity, through the expressions of the various creative arts, we can begin to understand how Creator God communicates to us.

A painted masterpiece will hang in a gallery and one can look at it for hours, seeing the overall picture, while from time to time focussing on a detail that makes up the whole. If the picture were broken down into individual details the overall impression would be lost.

Poets use words to convey their thoughts in the same way that artists use paints on canvas. Many of us fall short of understanding poetry if our scientific mindset seeks to over-analyse the structure of the poem, which was often (for some of us) how we learned to approach poetry at school. We were taught to dissect it through metre, rhyme, structure, figures of speech and so on, rather than just reading it.

C Day Lewis described this error in reading poetry, where the reader "doesn't take off his critical controls and allow the poem to pass direct to his imagination".¹ Lewis was considering what makes a good poem and how it should be read. He understood that a good poet communicates from his heart through particular choices and combinations of words – that is his craft. We, the readers, are intended to trust the poet as a communicator and allow him to speak to us through the end result of his writing.

How much more so than any human artist or poet does God, the Creator of language and all visual expression, seek to communicate truths to us heart to heart. And so to the key point of this article.

How much more so than any human artist or poet does God, the Creator of language and all visual expression, seek to communicate truths to us heart to heart?

God the Creator Communicates

The Hebraic way to approach Scripture's words, pictures and visions, including the passages relating to the end times, is to simply read them in a prayerful attitude as part of our walk with God. He is less concerned that they be scientifically analysed and more concerned to reach into our hearts and minds, to plant there the message behind the words and pictures – rather like C Day Lewis explained that poetry should be read.

This will not leave us with the overall picture alone, as a general abstraction. From time to time we will find ourselves focussed on a particularly relevant detail. However, this is not so we can reconstruct scientifically what God is saying, such as many have done with various time-lines of the prophetic scriptures, only to find that they have pushed the idea too far and into disagreement with someone else's system – or indeed into conflict with factual events as they unfold.

Let us trust God, the Greatest of all Communicators, and read together what he has said of the end times. Perhaps some of us should start afresh and read the scriptures with this renewed mindset. Simply read the entire Bible and see what God says. Do it the Hebraic way.

Next time: Harmony among the prophetic scriptures.

For other articles in this series, click here.

References

1 Introduction to A New Anthology of Modern Verse 1920-1940. Methuen, 1941 p XV.

A call to prayer.

Several significant anniversaries in recent years have reminded us of what it has taken to defend our nation against physical enemies through two world wars: Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, D-Day and - last week - the horrific Battle of the Somme.

Through such battles Christians have recognised that wars are not fought on earth alone and, through intercessory prayer, they have joined in a spiritual battle that parallels what is experienced on earth.

We are in such a time today. There is a spiritual battle raging right now for the heart of our nation, as evidenced by the confusion among our national leaders following the Referendum. God granted us a door of opportunity through the vote to come out of Europe, but this is no more the end of the battle for Britain than Dunkirk was the end of the Second World War. It is another 'end of the beginning', to remember Winston Churchill's stirring speech after Dunkirk.

Responsibility of Christians

The divided Britain that has been exposed as a result of the Referendum exists because we have lost the biblical principles that once united and defined our nation. Now is the time to re-discover these principles, which brought us through other dark days in our history.

The vote to leave the EU was no more an end of the battle for Britain than Dunkirk was the end of the Second World War.

The topics on top of the Referendum agenda were business, finance, border control, immigration and sovereignty. Across the spectrum of the mainstream debate, the arguments being put forward about these topics were based on humanistic objectives. These objectives have not united Britain – neither have they inspired any party or campaign group to put forward a positive vision for the nation's future.

In the aftermath of the Leave vote, it is now time to re-discover deeper principles that God can bless - or we will simply shift from one set of humanistic objectives to another.

It has fallen to Christians to steer the country through, primarily in prayer and increasingly in witness. We, out of the entire nation, are able to interpret the times in biblical perspective and are able to access and articulate God's vision for Britain and the British people.

Defining 'Britishness'

What is it to be British? Attempts to define what it means to be part of a particular community or nation are where constitutions come in.

If Britain's constitution were left to believers, I would hope that we would use biblical principles to frame the governance of our land in a way that would ensure God's blessing and protection. That would be our constitution – our definition of 'Britishness'.

But we do not need to start all over again. Over many centuries, thanks to God's grace and the faithful efforts of believers down through the ages, Britain has developed the best constitutional framework of any Gentile nation (albeit that it has been betrayed by successive leaders of the nation).

It is time to re-discover principles of governance that God can bless - or we will simply shift from one set of humanistic objectives to another.

Now that we are freeing ourselves from Europe and its secular humanist constitution, a window of opportunity has been opened up for us to re-group on the ancient foundations of our own constitution that God has blessed in times past.

Britain's Unwritten Constitution

Britain has a largely unwritten constitution bound up in laws and customs, but that does not mean that it is vague or difficult to pin down.

At its heart, a key principle is the concept of the Crown, which distributes responsibility for governance interactively among the Monarch, the two Houses of Parliament, the Courts and other tribunals, the servants of the Crown, local authorities, the police and the armed forces.

This principle has been developed and refined over the years, especially through Magna Carta in 1215 and the Coronation Oath Act of 1688, keeping the Monarch central to our constitutional framework but in healthy balance.

The following summaries, taken from Halsbury's Laws of England,¹ illustrate this sharing of power, as well as the balance between laws and customs in the constitution of the UK:

By law the Monarch is the Head of State.
By custom she acts on the advice of her ministers.
By law she has no power in judicial systems.
By custom she can only give opinion and advice.
By law she is not responsible for the acts and decisions made on her behalf.
By law she can choose whichever minister she wishes.
(p26)

The Monarch is the principle source of legislative, executive and judicial power.
By custom the term "Crown" can mean either the Monarch or the body that is delegated to execute the responsibilities of the Monarch.
By custom, Parliament sets out primary legislation.
By law, the Monarch gives Royal Assent to laws presented to her by Parliament.
By law, the courts administer justice. This power has been taken from the Monarch.
(p27)

The Principles Behind our Constitution

Behind the laws and customs which are applied by our leaders lie deeper moral principles which, again, have developed in Britain over centuries. According to AV Dicey, these include the idea that everyone is equal before the law (including those in power), as well as the notion that people are only punishable if they breach the law. Such principles are designed to protect people and to hold authorities to account.²

These deeper principles owe a great debt to scriptural values and ethics. This is nowhere stated more clearly than in the Coronation Oath, the importance of which we have highlighted elsewhere. The Oath acknowledges God and his word as central to the governance of our nation. Its main tenet, sworn by the Monarch, is to "maintain the laws of God [and] the true profession of the Gospel".³

The promises to God made by the Monarch as the Coronation proceeds illustrate a wonderful balance in our constitution between law and Gospel, justice and mercy, dependence on God, responsibility of Christian leaders within Government, responsibility to the Commonwealth - with all parts of the nation held before God for his help and blessing.

Is it any wonder that there is difficulty for our Government to get its hands firmly on the rudder to steer the nation into the future, when these principles are neglected? Is it any wonder that this wake-up call from God seems like the shaking of an earthquake? The shaking is intended to stir us to repentance – a return to our constitutional principles, which we will also find is a pathway back to God.

The current shaking is intended to stir us to repentance and take us back to our constitutional principles – which we will also find is a pathway back to God.

The Bible Central

In a British Coronation, the Bible is placed on the altar along with the paten and chalice, which are used for the Communion Service. This takes place after the taking of the Oath and before the Anointing, prior to events leading up to the Crowning. The entire ceremony is drawn from biblical parallels for the crowning of kings.

The Monarch takes the Oath with their right hand on the Bible, with these words being said:

...to keep your Majesty ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords.

Here is Wisdom; this is the royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God.⁴

Today, the Bible is no longer central to the life of Britain and our Oath to God is betrayed. But what if, with repentant hearts, we were to confess this to God and seek his help to restore biblical precepts in our nation?

Christians must lead the way at this time of appointing new leaders, praying that eyes will be opened and that Godly men and women will come into office. If we are open to such prayer, God will give us the understanding that we need as we engage in the spiritual battle that lies ahead.

Dare We Believe?

Additionally, we might all do well to revise the Oath itself, as there is a sense in which every British citizen has been committed to it because of the declarations made by our Queen.

If we return to its principles, then God will look after those priorities that prompted fear in our nation as Referendum day drew near. He will help us protect our borders and show us how to care for the strangers in our midst. He will help us reverse laws that displease him. He will help us in our businesses, hospitals, schools and homes.

Dare we believe this? Surely God has opened the door for us - so surely he will help us.

There are Christians in our Government, among them some seeking to take leadership roles. Now let eyes be opened, clarity of understanding re-kindled, and with repentant hearts let us go forward to put our constitution back on the rock of biblical intent. Let this again be how our nation as a whole is identified in the world – what it is to be British.

Postscript

If, as a nation, we had more deeply sought God's guidance, we would not have been led into the errors that currently beset our generation. The results of the Chilcot Inquiry illustrate the serious consequences that we are reaping from what has been sown in various aspects of our nation's life.

We cannot go back and restore the multitudes of lives lost in the Iraq War and its fallout. Sadly, had we had biblical truths at our heart and through listening prayer, we would have had the guidance of Almighty God – and things may well have turned out very differently. That is how serious this is.

References

1 Taken from Vol 8, 1996 edition, edited by Lord Hailsham, published by Butterworths.

2 Dicey, AV, 1885. Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution. Discussed on Wikipedia's page on Rule of law in the United Kingdom.

3 Read the text of the Coronation Oath here.

4 For more information on the structure of the British Coronation Service, click here.

Paul Luckraft reviews 'God's Tapestry' by Steve Maltz (2015, 224 pages, Saffron Planet)

God's Tapestry completes Steve Maltz's trilogy on the Old Testament and asks the key question: what do we do with the Hebrew Scriptures?

The task he has undertaken is to explore if the Old Testament is still valid (a big 'Yes!') and then whether it is still applicable (an intriguing 'not all of it').

Undaunted by the enormity and complexities of the task, Steve shines his usual bright light into areas of confusion. The result is another shrewd and witty contribution towards helping the Church recover its identity and discover its destiny.

Feasts, Sabbaths and Covenants

All the expected big topics are tackled: Sabbath, Law, Festivals, Covenants. But he is clear that Gentiles within the Church can appropriate all these without becoming Jewish. These are our roots - but we remain wild branches grafted in. For instance, we can appreciate Yom Kippur and see its fulfilment in Jesus, and then share this in love as an outreach to Jewish brothers and sisters.

The chapter on the festivals ('Times of Remembering') is very helpful as Maltz discusses whether these are 'for all time' and 'for Gentile Christians as well as Jews'. He explains how a Passover demonstration can be adapted from a purely Jewish haggadah into a Messianic one. And he quotes at length from the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem's website on why Christians are visiting Israel to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

In another shrewd and witty contribution, Maltz undertakes to explore how the Old Testament applies to Christians today.

Maltz's consideration of the Sabbath is very enlightening as he distinguishes between a day of rest and day of worship; one is for the home, the other is for the church. Confusion has arisen by not recognising the difference between these two: a day free from work and dedicated to relaxation, and a day when the Church meets together as a congregation.

The chapters on covenants are especially instructive as Maltz carefully and thoughtfully explains their differences, especially between those made with Abraham and Moses, and what God intended through them. Above all Steve makes it clear that "the covenant with Jesus, established on better promises, is superior to the conditional covenant with Moses, not the everlasting one with Abraham (Hebrews 8:6)" (p91). Anyone who seeks to teach the Bible will benefit from the vital understanding these chapters provide.

Understanding the Torah

But the main heart of the book concerns Torah, which Steve asserts should be thought of as primarily "instructions for life given by God to man to be able to live and worship in the environment in which they lived" (p94). As such, Torah existed before Moses, before it was enshrined in 613 commandments for the Israelites specifically to turn former slaves into a nation fit for purpose - God's purpose. And it certainly exists still, now a Torah of the heart, written there for the same purpose of guiding us along our walk of faith. Being Torah-observant is still valid, even though some practices as given to Israel are no longer appropriate for Gentile Christians.

Maltz unpacks aspects of Jewish living that, as wild branches grafted in to the olive tree, we can appropriate.

If you work through Maltz's thinking on this you will be greatly rewarded and hopefully released from confusion on this important topic. To help us along, he does something that has rarely been done before. In the Appendix he lists the 613 commandments of the Torah of Moses (in biblical order), reproduced by permission of John J Parsons from the Hebrew4Christians website. Taking these as the raw material he explains how we can strike off many of these today, starting with the 200 or so which are specifically concerned with the sacrificial system, priests, tabernacle and Temple.

He continues to reduce the list until we are left with the New Torah of Jesus, about 160 that are relevant and compulsory, with another 100 that are optional. These are the ones to be written on our hearts, our Torah upgrade whose purpose is not to take the place of faith but to give faith substance and enable us to live our faith out. He then gives pointers to their application, drawing on the gospels and Paul. This overall approach clarifies so much and will repay further detailed study for those with time to do so.

Fully Rewarding

As in all his books, Maltz is adamant about ditching Platonic Greek thinking and emphasises repeatedly the need for a Hebraic mindset. He spends a little time discussing the Hebrew Roots movement as "there's an awful lot of confusion triggered by those three words" (p139). He is keen to dispel the false ideas that can surround such terminology.

Maltz lists all 613 of Moses' commandments and pares them down to those that apply to us today – clarifying the New Torah of Jesus, which is to be written on our hearts.

Overall, here is a book that fully rewards the time invested in it, and can be profitably read again and again. Even if you are already familiar with some of the material and topics covered there is still a benefit to be gained as Maltz's approach will drive it home still further. Each chapter ends with a 'Let's Ponder' - two or three questions to help you reflect on what you have just read. The whole book is fascinating and extremely helpful, a great ending to the trilogy. Highly recommended.

Buy 'God's Tapestry' from Saffron Planet Publishing for £10, or together with the other two books in Maltz's 'God trilogy' for £20.

**CONFERENCE ALERT**

Meet Steve Maltz and Prophecy Today's Paul Luckraft at the up-coming Foundations conference (East Anglia)! A weekend of solid teaching, worship, fellowship and opportunity to explore our Hebraic roots - 30 September – 2 October 2016, Belsey Bridge conference centre, Bungay, Suffolk. For prices and information on how to book, click here!

Peter Sammons reviews the One New Man Bible - a 2011 translation by William J Morford.

The One New Man Bible (ONMB) is a helpful modern translation by William J Morford, an American bible translator and Hebraic specialist.

It aims to bring greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the power given to believers for their daily walk.

In the words of its Preface: "The One New Man Bible...makes the Jewish roots of Christianity come to life" having been "edited from a public domain English translation. The English has been brought up to date and many words previously translated according to tradition have been changed to the literal. The New Testament is the Power New Testament, a fresh translation of the Fourth Edition United Bible Society Greek Text. An effort has been made to keep the text as free as possible from denominational biases and doctrinal interpretations".

Healing the Enmity

Why the name 'One New Man'? The inspiring text is Ephesians 2:16 where the 'enmity' between Jew and Gentile is finally healed, these two becoming One New Man. Ephesians 2:14-22 is provided in the preface as a sort of Scriptural raison d'etre for the new translation.

Certainly the Hebraic root of Christianity comes uniquely to life in the ONMB. Hebrew is a very expressive language, so this translation brings out much of the power that has commonly been omitted from traditional English translations. The ONMB will undoubtedly help to open the eyes of the Church to appreciate its Hebraic roots, and to recognise that Yeshua (Jesus) was born Jewish, that He grew up Jewish, and that He is the same today as He was then (Heb 13:8).

The ONMB will undoubtedly help to open the eyes of the Church to appreciate its Hebraic roots.

This fresh translation adopts the Jewish ordering of the books of the Old Testament, which helps readers to recognise a direct link between the chronicle of the Jewish story with the chronicle of Jesus and the apostolic church. Hence the Old Testament ends with Chronicles.

Translation Surprises

Scripture translated with the power and meaning of the original language really does come alive! One early surprise is in Genesis 12:1 when God does not say "Go" to Abram, but "Get yourself out of here!" Later He tells Moses to order Pharaoh to "Send My people away!" instead of pleading "Let My people go."

These passages are the literal translation from the Hebrew. Some words have been translated differently because the traditional translation conveys something not intended by the author. One of those words is the Greek word ecclesia, which means a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into a public place. Ecclesia is commonly translated 'church', but because of our association of 'church' with both a building and an organisation, in the ONMB, ecclesia is translated 'congregation'.

This fresh translation adopts the Jewish ordering of the books of the Old Testament, which ends with Chronicles.

The One New Man Bible achieves its goal to be a very readable text that flows from one book to another while preserving much of the Jewish flavour, especially the Jewishness of Yeshua, and much of the sheer power in many Hebrew and Greek expressions. If I have one minor complaint, it is that Morford failed to address the poor translation of John 3:16 which should better be translated as "God thus loved the world" rather than misusing the 17^th Century language of "God so loved..." which, in a modern idiom, seems to be so hard-wired into modern translations.

Another core strength of the ONMB is its very extensive glossary at the back. This brings out many treasures that are missed in commentaries and indeed other translations. One simple example:

HOSANNA – is the English spelling of Hoshea.na, meaning Deliver Us Now! This comes from the same Hebrew root as Y'shua, the Hebrew name of Jesus. The ending, "na", is something we do not have a translation for in English, a demanding "NOW!" which is not rude or impertinent. It is properly translated as "please" or "I pray you". The greeting and waving of palm fronds and branches were traditionally done on the sixth day of the feast of Sukkot, welcoming the reigning messiah to assume the throne in Jerusalem. All those shouting "Hoshea-na!" knew this and believed Y'shua was the Messiah Who had come to claim His throne, there and then.

Verdict

My verdict on the ONMB? This translation is more than a useful addition for the serious Bible student. It is something that every such student should have available.

Would it be a reliable stand-alone, general purpose Bible? My first impression was 'no' but I have to say that with frequent use this fresh translation does 'grow' on me as a reader. I am enjoying it more and more. I believe that over the next 20 years this fresh translation will become far more widely adopted. It is priced competitively with higher quality translations.

Available leather-bound for £40 (+P&P) from Glory to Glory Publications, also Saffron Planet Publishing. The One New Man Bible has its own website – click here to find out more.

Clifford Denton traces the theme of family through Scripture, including how God instituted the family as a shadow of our relationship with him.

The theme of family is woven through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The family is at the heart of the believing community. It should not surprise us, therefore, that one of the major areas of spiritual conflict in every generation, including our own, is the family.

If we truly had the Bible as our guide at the heart of our nation, we would never have had need to address the issue of laws that liberalise and confuse the definition of marriage and the associated confusion over gender that besets our generation. We would have a clearer view of roles and relationships of fathers, mothers and children and know God's own purposes and patterns for building society's foundations on the biblical pattern for family. As a result, we would surely find God's blessings as we seek to grow together in our communities founded on strong family relationships.

Generally speaking, though there are some major warnings to heed, the Bible teaches positively, so if we study carefully and respond positively to God's teaching we do not need to dwell too much on the negatives.

There are biblical warnings about departure from God's structure of family (including taking divorce lightly, eg Mal 2:14-15; Mark 10:5-9, and wrong relationships eg Lev 18, Rom 1:26-29) which are to be taken very seriously. Thank God that through Jesus there is a path of redemption through repentance for those who have strayed. But for this study let us concentrate on the positive aspects of the Bible's teaching on family. Like all Bible themes we can trace this theme from Genesis to Revelation, through the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings and the New Testament.

Family Before Time, and Forever

There was a family before time began, including the Father and his Son through whom all things were made (John 1). Father and Son are in perfect unity and one with the Holy Spirit. There was a community in Heaven including the Godhead and the Angels - we have enough information to know about this but not enough to form a clear picture. The principles of the family of God were embedded in Creation, however, bringing shadows of heavenly reality to earthly experience.

Genesis 1 describes how God brought the animals into partnership, male with female, and mankind was made in the image of God (Gen 1:26). So began the way that God's Creation was to be ordered, finally leading to the fulfilment described in the New Testament when the family of God will be gathered to join the family of Heaven for all eternity (John 14:2-4; Rev 19:7).

The principles of the family of God were embedded in Creation, bringing shadows of heavenly reality to earthly experience.

The First Family on Earth

When Adam was created his own wife was taken out of him to be his companion in the flesh (Gen 2:18-25). Thus began the principle of family life on earth. God began with a man and a woman who were of one flesh, separated into two distinct beings, with a central purpose of reproducing themselves and populating the world. It is no mistake that multiplication of mankind requires the most intimate of relationships, intended to be maintained in holiness and purity. The unity of our Heavenly Father and his own Son was to be modeled through our human relationships as we multiplied into families.

We are so used to the way family life has been distorted by sin and through spiritual attack that it is wise to go back and consider God's first family to regain his vision for what was intended. Adam and Eve were to live in harmony with God and bring forth godly offspring, replicating the biblical principle of family into every generation (Mal 2:15).

Noah and His Family

A family was saved at the Flood. The family of Adam had multiplied and evil began to spoil what God had intended. This is described first in terms of the community breakdown when "the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and took wives from them of whom they chose" (Gen 6:2). It is not easy to understand just what happened here - it could have been an interaction between natural and supernatural beings and/or a departure from God by those who knew him marrying with those who did not. Whatever this was, there was a breakdown of God's family on earth and this led to the judgment of the Great Flood.

Through God's grace, mankind continued with the family of Noah and representatives from the families of the animals (Gen 7). After the Flood Noah received the command to populate the earth once more (Gen 9:1). Through one family many new families would come – a fresh start.

Our Father Abraham

Another perspective on family came through Abraham. Abraham, our father of faith, is the father of a family from all nations. Israel, his physical offspring, became a nation built on family principles, just as the new covenant community should be. God's covenant (Gen 17:1-7) was framed in terms of family.

There follows in the chapters of Genesis a wonderful account of the beginning of Abraham's physical descendants. The account of Abraham's desire for a son and his relationship with Sarah his wife is a real account of God's building through family. The account of Abraham's servant finding a bride for Isaac (Gen 24) is a beautiful story that could even point to the Holy Spirit seeking out a Bride for Jesus.

The principles of the family being the base on which God was to build in both physical and spiritual ways is strongly evident here as the parallel themes continue to develop throughout the rest of the Bible.

The Theme of Family Develops

Here are some of the many references to follow up as the priority of family develops through Scripture:

• God's promise to Abraham is remembered and worked out in families (Ex 2:24-25, 12:1-11, Ex 24, 34).
• The congregation of the Lord was numbered by families (Num 1).
• Family framework is ingrained in the Ten Commandments – the family of God and the human family (Deut 5, Ex 20).
• The teaching programme of God is to be founded on what is done in the home. Children are to be taught the ways of God through family interaction. (Deut 6).
• The Sabbath and Feasts of the Lord are celebrated in a family framework within the covenant community (Lev 23).
• The nation of Israel was a nation of families and tribes (1 and 2 Chron).
• The Psalms give wonderful pictures of families blessed by God and needing God for blessing and protection (eg. Ps 127, Ps 128).
• God honours highly a wife who is in covenant partnership with her husband (Prov 31:10-31).
• The blessing of pure and intimate relationships as God intended are made evident in beautiful, uplifting ways in the Bible, but there is also a warning concerning perversion of the biblical order of man and wife (eg compare Song of Songs with Hebrews 13:4).

Family as a Basis for Our Relationship with God

When we study this theme across the scriptures we realise that there is something even more important than the order and blessings that the biblical family structures bring to life on earth. We, in a sense, through our family love, unity and interactions, rehearse relationship with God himself, within his eternal purposes.

Through family love, unity and interactions, we rehearse relationship with God himself.

God the Father compared himself with a husband to his people (eg Jer 3, Isa 54, Matt 6:6). If we have a pure understanding of family relationships on earth, we are more ready for those relationships to be transferred to God himself – intimate and pure. God hates divorce (Mal, Matt 19:4-6). If we are vulnerable to divorce in our human relationships, we may also be vulnerable to broken relationships with God. How much do hurts that come out of family upheavals lead to difficulty in forming relationships with God, and how much do loving relationships experienced in family life open the way to relationship with God!

With this sort of understanding we also realise that there are parallels to be drawn between parents teaching children in the home and God teaching his family through the power of his Holy Spirit (Prov 1-9). Step by step through the practices and interaction of the human family, we are being prepared for our place in the everlasting family of God.

Jesus is the head of his covenant community and of our individual families. Consider his sacrifice for his family (Heb 3:6). What does this teach us about our own families and the level of commitment that is expected? Purity of relationships in our family life prepares us for pure relationship with our perfect, holy heavenly Father (Eph 1:3-14, Rom 8:1-17).

If we have a pure understanding of family relationships on earth, we are more ready for those relationships to be transferred to God.

God's family is one body made up of Jews together with those saved from the Gentile world (Eph 2, Rom 4:12, Rom 11). The head of our family existed before time and so this family, consisting of those saved from this world through faith joined to him, has in a sense always existed. We are added to this one family as history proceeds.

How we should live on account of this is a constant theme of the New Testament (John 1, John 17, 1 Pet 3:1-7, 2 Pet 3:11). God honours a believer in the household (1 Cor 7, particularly 14) in his outworking of plans to extend his family through grace.

The Family of God

Our Bible study of family takes us from the first principles of family being at the heart of God's purpose for Creation and step by step brings us to the purpose of his preparation for his own covenant family drawn from all nations.

Paul the Apostle, with this understanding, exhorted believers to strengthen their families for the very purpose of preparation for membership of God's family. God gives responsibility to husbands and wives, and emphasises the importance of children submitting to their parents for the stability of the whole community and nation. The balance of husband and wife relationships as a model for relationship with God the Father and Jesus his Son was expounded by Paul in the Epistle to the Ephesians (Eph 5 and 6). Paul pointed to the unfolding mystery of this, taking us back to the first principles of Genesis 1 and pointing to eternal purposes of God.

Step by step through the practices and interaction of the human family, we are being prepared for our place in the everlasting family of God.

Order and discipline are required in Scripture, with warnings for falling away from God's model of family, but this is not the main intent. The beauty and intimacy of the relationships that family life brings is the chief theme of Scripture.

Our families are the building blocks of the covenant community, the place where we should learn of God our Father together, so that we might ourselves be part of the living parable pointing to the relationships of God with all his people.

God's relationship with us is as father to child and husband to wife. The union of the Son of God with those he bought by his sacrificial death will be in relationship with him as a bride is to a husband. The elect of the fallen family of Adam will be redeemed as the family of God. God's intention for his people is that we build our communities founded on the family with this purpose always in view.

Do you want to dig deeper into the word of God? Would you like some guidance and resources to help you along the way?

In co-operation with Issachar Ministries, Prophecy Today is now offering distance learning Bible study courses with personal mentoring. These courses are designed for individuals but can also be used for small prayer and study groups.

As well as distance learning we plan to offer opportunities for group study and prayer retreats, and we are also looking into organising study tours to Israel.

Please contact us for further details.