“Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:27
Typically, we think of the Old Testament as being composed of 39 books, and the New Testament composed of 27 books (at least for Protestant Christianity). But, what defines an “Old” or “New” Testament book? Mostly, the Old Testament contains books written in Hebrew, written prior to the birth of Jesus, and focusing on the Jewish race and nation. The New Testament contains books written primarily in Greek, written after the death of Jesus, and focusing on Jesus Christ and His followers. But, I think they should be looked at a little differently. If you think about the Old Testament as books which detail the history of the Jews and their relationship with God, then it actually expands into and includes some New Testament books. The Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the book of Revelation all should be considered “Old Testament” books in my opinion.
“I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins. Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs, since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.” Romans 11:26-29
The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all detail the life of the Jewish Messiah Jesus, God made flesh, come to Earth to deliver the Jews. Up until the last few chapters of each of the four Gospel books, they continue the story of the relationship between God and His chosen people, the Jews. After all, Jesus was the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament who would come to deliver the Jews. The Gospels document the birth of the Messiah, His ministry and teaching, and His presentation of Himself to the Jews as the Son of God. But, as we know, Christ the Messiah was rejected by the Jews, and instead crucified. The last few chapters of each Gospel book make the transition of God dealing with the Jews to the inclusion of Gentiles (non-Jews) into God’s plan. This is known as the Church Age which will last about two thousand years according to Bible prophecy.
“The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.” Revelation 1:1-3
Of course, due to Bible prophecy, we know that the story of God’s relationship with the Jewish Nation does not end there. It is taken up again in the last book in the New Testament, the book of Revelation. The first three chapters of Revelation detail Jesus’ letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. Through these letters, we get a glimpse of the 2000 years of the Church Age. Starting in chapter four, verse one, The apostle John is given a vision of heaven and the future. This revealing (“apokalypsis”) of the future begins in chapter four with the end of the Church Age and the removal of the church, us Christ followers. What John details over the next nineteen chapters is God’s focus returning to His chosen people, the Jews.
John describes scenes in Heaven and on earth involving the tribulation period, the Millennial Kingdom, and finally the New Heaven and New Earth. We are given a glimpse into the tribulation period which includes three and a half years of relative peace when the Antichrist enters into a covenant with the Jewish Nation allowing them to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. However, at the end of that period when the second half of the seven year tribulation period begins, the Antichrist desecrates the temple and begins to persecute the Jews. This second three and a half year period of the tribulation is known as the “Great Tribulation,” or “Jacob’s trouble.” God protects a large portion of the Jews who accept Jesus as the Messiah, and leads them through the Great Tribulation period. At Armageddon, Jesus returns as conquering king and defeats Satan, the Antichrist, the false prophet, and all their armies.
John then describes the one-thousand year period known as the Millennial Kingdom here on Earth. Christ Jesus the Messiah reigns from Jerusalem in a newly constructed temple (the Millennial Kingdom temple or fourth temple). The Jewish Nation is a favored people, and much of the Jewish Feast and worship practices are reinstated and observed by all nations. The Bride of Christ, the church, has a role in the Millennial Kingdom of course, but the focus is again on the Jews and their relationship with God, specifically their relationship with Jesus, their Messiah and King. At the end of the one thousand year reign, Satan is released from his prison and deceives many thousands to attack God’s holy city Jerusalem. God destroys them and casts them directly into Hell. What follows in chapters twenty-one and twenty-two is John’s vision of the Great White Throne judgement and the destruction of this world and the New Heaven and New Earth.
“The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3
To truly get a complete story of the Jews and their relationship with Jehovah God, you must realize that their story does not end at the book of Malachi. It continues into the New Testament with the Gospel accounts of the Jewish Messiah Jesus. After the Jewish Nation’s corporate rejection of Jesus as Messiah and His crucifixion and resurrection, the last few chapters of the Gospels and then the book of Acts begin the story of the Church Age, the Bride of Christ. With the removal of the Church during the rapture, the book of Revelation once again picks up with the story of the Jews in chapter four. The story of God’s relationship with His chosen people, the Jews, is told from Genesis to Revelation.
“Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18
