Discovering God’s Story – Volume 2

Description

Volume 1 follows the biblical story from creation through the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah. Volume 2 continues the story from the ascension and enthronement of Yahshua through the formation of the ekklesia, His future return and millennial reign on the earth, and ultimately the restoration of all things.

 

The book of Acts opens with the risen Messiah commissioning His disciples and ascending to the Father, where He is exalted and enthroned at Yahweh’s right hand. The Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost, the Gospel moves outward from Jerusalem, and communities of disciples begin forming throughout the Roman world. What began with Abraham, Israel, the prophets, and the Messiah now moves into the mission of the New Covenant people.

 

Paul’s letters are then read within that unfolding story rather than as disconnected collections of doctrine. Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians explain what the death and resurrection of the Messiah have accomplished, how people enter the New Covenant, what it means to live by the Spirit, and how the ekklesia is to become the living body of the risen Messiah.

 

The resurrection and ascension of Yahshua mark the inauguration of the Kingdom, as He is exalted and enthroned at the Father’s right hand and the Holy Spirit is poured out upon His people. Yahshua presently reigns from heaven, while the apostles continue to look forward to His return, when His rule will be openly established upon the earth. The ekklesia therefore serves the enthroned Messiah now while awaiting His return and the coming millennial reign.

 

The apostolic writings continue forming the people who must live faithfully during that waiting. Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Jude, and the remaining letters call Yahweh’s people toward maturity, perseverance, holiness, love, obedience, and endurance while warning against deception and apostasy.

 

The story reaches its climax in Revelation. The risen Messiah is first unveiled as King and High Priest, establishing the identity and authority of the One at the center of everything that follows. He walks among His assemblies, calls them to faithfulness, and prepares them for the conflict ahead. The visions then move through the throne room, the Lamb, judgment, Babylon, beastly powers, and the continuing witness of Yahweh’s people.

 

Yahshua ultimately returns as the conquering King, followed by the millennial reign of the Messiah, when He and His resurrected saints reign upon the earth. This is not a minor prophetic detail, but a major stage in the fulfillment of Yahweh’s Kingdom purpose.

 

After the millennium come the final defeat of rebellion and death, resurrection and judgment, and finally the renewal of creation. The story that began in Genesis reaches its completion as the New Jerusalem descends, the river of life flows, the tree of life appears again, the curse is removed, and Yahweh dwells with His people.

 

Volume 2 therefore does much more than explain the writings of the apostles. It shows how the New Covenant, the ekklesia, the present reign of the Messiah, His future return, the millennial Kingdom, resurrection, judgment, and the restoration of all things belong to one unfolding biblical narrative.

 

You may already know many of the letters, teachings, and prophetic images found in these writings. Discovering God’s Story, Volume 2 helps you see how those pieces fit together, where we are in the story now, what still lies ahead, and how Yahweh will bring His Kingdom purpose to completion through the Messiah.