Looking Backward from the Future

Introduction

The major objectives of Looking Backward from the Future are to get a glimpse of what awaits God’s people, and then take a more detailed look at the incomprehensible odyssey to get there.

Thus the first chapter is appropriately entitled The Fulfillment of God’s Plan for His Chosen.

The Star of chapter 1 is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. New Jerusalem and its inhabitants will be described as will be the saved nations living on the ‘new’ earth. Also described are the things that disqualify entrance to the city. It will be noted that God’s standard of righteousness revealed to Moses has never changed.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah will also be referred to as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and the wisdom of God.

The curse on earth and mankind will be removed and man will once again be in the presence of the Holy Trinity.

Then we look backward from the end to relive the journey from God’s covenant with Abraham up to and including the most significant event in human history which Daniel referred to ‘...until Messiah the Prince.’

Beginning with chapter 2 to the end of the book the primary role of the Messiah will be the Passover Lamb of God.

The prophet Daniel revealed that when the Messiah arrived He would be put to death.

“…Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself…” Daniel 9:26a NKJV

This book will thus end with the arrival of the Messiah, His vicarious death, resurrection, and ascension. These events marked the end of Daniel’s 69th week.

The prophets of old did not know there would be a wide gap in time between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy. Recall, several times Jesus was asked by His disciples as to when He would establish His kingdom, and His response:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36 NKJV

And just before Jesus ascended, His disciples asked one last time and Jesus’ response was the same:

“And He said to them; ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority…’” Acts 1:7 NKJV

The only informational source for this book was the Bible, with the exception of an account from the Jewish historian Josephus detailing the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes during the time of the Maccabees.

Josephus was consulted in this example because his historical account is eerily consistent in detail with Daniel’s previous prophecy of the event. In addition, the desecration of the temple by Epiphanes reveals the action of the future anti-Christ marking the midpoint on the 70th week. Jesus confirmed this future event in Matthew’s gospel.

This book places people and places in the ‘big picture’ and illustrates that God’s plan is seamless.

A common thread is Israel’s disobedience throughout their history and the consequences. Other major themes include God’s sovereignty and longsuffering.

This book will examine Israel’s history in chronological order.

Each of the chapters begins by stating the period covered by the contents of the chapter with the exception of two chapters, i.e. chapter 3 entitled: Do we really know Ishmael? and chapter 4 entitled: People of the East. The principles of these two chapters are not confined to specific time periods.

This book should save the serious Bible student countless hours of study and research.

It is a necessary precursor to the final volume which will focus on events and conditions during the age of the church preceding week 70.

Then we’ll examine the 7 year tribulation period which culminates in judgment of the earth and its inhabitants.