In the beginning, God created the earth and everything in and around it. He created light, land and sea, vegetation, sun, moon, stars, birds, fish, and animals. After all this, he created people!
He made them perfect in a perfect environment, and gave them the Tree of Life. There was only one rule. They were not to disobey God and eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They disobeyed and plunged the human race into sin and death. They were separated from the Tree of Life, but were given a promise that the offspring of the woman would bring them victory over sin.
The earth was still a wonderful place. People lived long lives in a peaceful environment. So they filled the entire world. But over time, people become exceedingly wicked.God changed things, causing a worldwide flood. He saved only eight people and destroyed everyone else. All the animals died except for a select few, and God totally change the environment of the earth, making it a harsh place to live.
Years later, God gave a man named Abraham definite promises. First, God said he would make Abraham’s descendants into a nation, and some of them would be kings.
Next, God would give them a certain land on which to live. In addition to that, a particular spot would be very special. It was the place where Abraham was told to offer his son to God. Finally, God gave Abraham a blessing and promised he would live among his people.
In reality, Abraham didn’t receive any of these promises except the blessing. But years later, God used Moses to make Abraham’s descendants into the nation by giving them laws. This nation was called Israel. Moses also built a place where God would live with his people.
God used Joshua to give Israel the land he had promised. But it wasn’t until years later that God established kings among his people, David being the greatest. He was the one who claimed that special spot where Abraham offered his son to God. It was there that the Temple was built, and God’s presence dwelled there.
David’s son Solomon enjoyed all the promises of Abraham. Israel was a nation on the land God promised to give them. Kings ruled over them, and God’s presence dwelled at the place where Abraham gave his son to God. Most important, God’s blessing was with them. But God made it clear to Solomon that if the people of Israel disobeyed Him, he would take it all away.
That is exactly what happened. The people of Israel turned away from God. So, one by one, he took all these things away, except his blessing. God’s presence left the Temple, and it was torn down. The people were taken off the land and they were no longer a nation. The kings lost their thrones and their lives. It was a time called The Captivity.
Seventy years later, God started to reestablish his promises with Israel. He once again gave them back their land, and they become a nation. They rebuilt the Temple on the special place. All they lacked was his presence and a king. God said those would come later.
Four hundred years later, God’s Son was born of a virgin woman. Shepherds visited him saying they were told by angels that he was the Messiah, the presence of God. Wise men came a year or two later saying they knew he was the king of the Jews. His name was Jesus.
He lived a sinless life, performing miracles, and teaching a group of disciples. Then, when the time was right, he presented himself to Israel as their Messiah and their king – the last two promises given to Abraham.
The nation of Israel rejected him and condemned him to death. The Jews found him guilty of saying he was the presence of God, the Christ. The Romans found him guilty of saying he was the King of the Jews. They crucified him, and on the cross, Jesus took on himself all the punishment of sin. At that point, God had fulfilled his promise to the first two people on earth. The offspring of the woman had brought victory over sin.
His death fulfilled God’s judgment on humanity. Jesus then rose from the dead in three days, proving he had won the victory. This began the period of time where his disciples spread the good news that anyone can accept the free gift of salvation. At first it was offered only to the Jewish people, but later the opportunity was given to the rest of the world.
Those who accepted this free gift gathered together into groups called churches. Those who rejected it started persecuting these believers.
The Bible ends by giving a picture of what will happen in the future. God will once again set up the earth the way it was at the beginning. People will once again have access to the Tree of Life, and live forever. Those who reject God’s Son will suffer the full weight of God’s punishment on sin.
