The First 4000 Years From Creation

In preparing ourselves to take this Tour Of The Ages, let us review some Scriptural guidelines to safeguard our examination. The following Scriptures are God’s means of helping us determine truth from error as we examine some of the things that have influenced or impacted the realm of Christendom, of which the true Church is only a small part of. Everything that calls itself or claims to be Christian is not a part of true Christianity, and that is why it is so very important to start out right by seeking God’s help.

Proverbs 3:1-8 has an astonishing amount of good advice for us to follow: "My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you. Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. [Col 3:9-12.] So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.

⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones." All eight verses are basic foundational principles to be followed if we expect God to help us in our quest for truth, but the fifth and sixth verses are the ones that we intend to concentrate upon.

Our ultimate trust and reliance should be in God and His Word, not in our own ability; God tells us what He knows to be true about man’s wisdom in chapter one of Romans, and chapters one thru three of 1 Corinthians. In verse six above God says that in all, not some or a few but all our ways we are to (1) know, (2) recognize and (3) acknowledge Him; and then and only then can we be confident that He will direct, make straight and plain our paths. God cannot and will not bless or honor our foolishness! We are to know, recognize and especially acknowledge God in all that we do, and we do that by seeking God in prayer knowing and recognizing the above Scriptures to be true and asking God to help us in our every endeavor--to see Jesus’ beautiful example of this see John 5:30.

God tells us through His servant Paul to test and prove all things and hold fast to that which is good: "But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast" (1 Thess. 5:21). And He tells us through His servant John: "Beloved, Do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world." (1 John 4:1). And we test and prove all things just as the Bereans did by using God’s Word to judge them by: "Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

In The Beginning God Created

"In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). This probably took place about 4000 B.C.; we don’t know for sure of course, because we weren’t there. The long time periods typically ascribed to the formation of the solar system, no matter how it is imagined, cannot be proven by modern science. Biblical chronology places Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden about 4000 years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (Gen. 2:15-3:19). God’s destruction of all living things except Noah and those with him in the Ark (about 2450 B.C.) was caused by the extreme wickedness of man (Gen. 6:5-22). Jesus made reference to Noah and the flood in His teachings and warnings to the disciples (Matt. 24:37-39). Some 200 to 300 years after the flood the Lord again intervened in the affairs of men when He confounded their language at the Tower of Babel and caused them to be disbursed over a much larger area of the world (Gen. 11:1-9).

God made a choice to build up a special nation through whom He would reveal Himself, His will, and plans for our future. Through a long line of patriarchs and prophets, beginning with Abraham (about 2090 B.C.) and continuing with Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses He gradually formed them into a nation in the land of Egypt. At first they prospered, but later they were forced into bondage by the Egyptians. God decided to deliver them from bondage, after about 430 years in Egypt (Ex. 12:40 about 1440 B.C.), and to bring them into the land that He had promised to Abraham. God had told Abraham long ago that this would happen, "And [God] said to Abram, know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs [Egypt], and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years. But I will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions" (Gen. 15:13-14).

During the next 400 years (about 1400 to 1000 B.C.) they were ruled over by God appointed judges and their first king, King Saul. The following 200 years, in round numbers, were the golden years of the Nation of Israel, beginning with King David and his son Solomon. There was a gradual decline of morality and grandeur until the demise and exile of both the Northern and the Southern Kingdom. The destruction of the Nation was accomplished in two periods. The Northern Kingdom fell, 734-721 B.C. Preceding, and during this period the prophets that God sent to warn them were: Joel, Isaiah and Micah to Judah; Jonah to Nineveh; Amos and Hosea to Israel. The Southern Kingdom fell, 606-586 B.C. In this period the prophets sent were: Jeremiah to Judah; Ezekiel to the captives in Babylon; Daniel to Babylon; Obadiah to Edom; and Nahum to Nineveh. Jeremiah was left at Jerusalem, and Daniel was in the palace in Babylon; Ezekiel was also with the exiles in Babylon. The restoration of the Nation occurred 536-444 B.C., the prophets connected with this were: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem 536 B.C., Esther became Queen of Persia in 478 B.C. Ezra returned to Jerusalem in 457 B.C., Nehemiah returned as governor of Jerusalem in 444 B.C. Malachi the last book of the Old Testament was written around 450-400 B.C.

God repeatedly warned the nation of Israel to repent of their sin and disobedience and to return to Him or they would be destroyed and once again sent into captivity; but they would not listen to the prophets that God sent to them, so destruction came upon them again just as God said it would.

The 400 years in between the testaments

The nation of Israel was brought under subjection to the World Powers of Persia (430-332 B.C.), Greece (331-167 B.C.), and the Roman (63 B.C. to Christ) during this period. However, there was a period of Jewish independence during 167-63 B.C. There were many writings during this period by numerous individuals. Fourteen of these books which are still in existence today are called the Apocrypha, and they were added to the Septuagint which was a Greek translation of the Old Testament made in this 400 year period. These 14 books were never recognized by the Jews, Jesus or the Early Church as part of the Inspired Word of God. Also during this period a collection of various Jewish traditions and oral explanations of the Old Testament, called the Talmud, was written. Jesus refuted some of these Jewish writings and traditions (Mt. 15:1-6).

This then was God’s preparation work for the next great event the coming of the Son of God from the Father to take upon Himself a body of flesh and become a man, all the while retaining His Godhood and oneness with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:1-18). This is the Old Testament witness and testimony of God’s work and endeavor to reveal Himself and His will to His creation.

The mystery religions and their influence

Religion, the worship or appeasement of what we humans recognize as some kind of a power greater than ourselves, seems to have always been a universal instinct. The teachings, rituals, ceremonies, and practices used were sometimes varied considerably, but man has always tried to relate to a god, gods, or goddesses in an attempt to gain the benefits that a more powerful being can give. It is therefore understandable why this religious instinct can be a very powerful force for either good or evil.

The forms that man made religions have taken extend from Animism, the belief that every object in nature has a personality like our own; to Humanism, the belief that we have within ourselves the ability to do and become whatever we put our minds to; to Pantheism, the worship of all gods, or the universe and a god force thereof.

Egypt, Arabia, Babylon, Persia, Assyria, Phoenicia, Greece, and Rome all had their mystery religions. Many of these beliefs and practices have survived and form the basis for many of today’s prominent cults and religions. These are rightly called the cults and religions of this world and should not be confused, included or combined with Biblical Christianity.

Down through the ages Satan has tried to pervert the truth about God and the salvation of God, by introducing his false religions, teachings, and practices. Many and varied are his devices, and he has flooded the world with them. Satan is the original author of the practice of altering the prescribed course of the Lord (Ez. 28:12-17; Isa. 14:12-15). It is very likely that man’s second deviation from the prescribed course of the Lord, and the beginning of occult practices are recorded for us in Genesis 4:3-7. "And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering, but for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed. And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Cain had become angry and jealous because God would not accept what he had labored to produce from the ground (Gen. 4:3). He was trying to be right and acceptable to God by his own merits. He apparently did not understand that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin or relationship with God (Heb. 9:22), nor did he bother to ask. Because Cain refused to give up his resentment and bring the proper sacrifice, God banished him from the presence of his relatives and friends (Gen. 4:11-16). God had personally appeared to Cain and implored him to change his mind and do right, if Cain would not submit to such an appeal there is every reason to believe that his resentment and opposition toward God would only increase. This is just one example of how hard and opposed to the will of God the human heart can become when it is focused upon oneself instead upon the honor and glory that is due to God.

There has been only one other time during the post flood era when the world became unified under a single system; this occurred at the building of the Tower of Babel in ancient Babylon. God responded by dispersing mankind and causing him to speak different languages. Had God not intervened, mankind would have become enslaved under the first Luciferic priesthood, established by Nimrod, the founder of the Ancient Mysteries and of pantheism. Is it a pure coincidence that Freemasonry, by its own admission, traces its roots through the Ancient Mysteries to Nimrod? (En Route To Global Occupation by Gary H. Kah, p.196)

As Gary points out in his book, Freemasonry traces its beliefs and practices all the way back to the days of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, and is one of the most ardent promoters of the ancient occult mystery religions carried on in the world today. Masonry has tremendous influence upon and within the world’s political, economic, educational and religious systems, and is perhaps the leading organization striving to establish a one world government. Its occult leaders may well be the ones who hand over the control of the world to the Antichrist.

The Word of God separates all wisdom and knowledge into two categories, the wisdom that God gives through His Word and Holy Spirit, and the wisdom of this world through the instrumentality of men (1 Cor. 1:17-2:16). The Word of God has been questioned and attacked from the very beginning, and it continues to this very day, "And he [Satan] said to the woman, can it really be that God has said, you shall not eat from every tree of the garden?" (Gen. 3:1b). From that beginning Satan has used every trick and devise at his command to undermine and destroy man’s understanding and confidence in God. It is our responsibility to examine and decide for ourselves if the Bible can and should be trusted as completely reliable, partially so, or completely rejected. If it is the Truth, then any departure from it will have a harmful effect in our lives, and have the potential of leading us further astray. Although this has happened repeatedly throughout the history of man, an examination of our history will reveal that the Bible is an anvil that has worn out many a hammer, whether it be king, kingdoms or contrary wisdom and knowledge.

If we believe that the Bible is God’s revealed Word to us, then we know that what God has revealed is completely accurate, and realize also that what man has devised is partial and subject to error (Rom. 13:9-12). Whenever we accept into our beliefs or practices, any portion of this world’s wisdom that is contrary to God’s Word, we have allowed the influence of this world to corrupt God’s Truth. The extent of the harm done in our lives and the lives of others will depend upon the particular truth of God that has been rejected. Any reasonable person would understand that to give up something that is true for that which is false would be very foolish indeed.

In spite of all the evidence that God has given to support the truthfulness of His revelation, the majority of humanity has remained in unbelief; some because they have never heard the Gospel, some because they have been deceived into believing a false gospel, some because they refuse to examine the evidence, and some because they prefer a life of sinful indulgence instead of obedience to God. These are the reasons why false religions, cults, and the occult have remained with us down through the ages, and are so popular in our own day. The Church is being lured back into a second Dark Age as it was under the popes beginning in the fifth century.

The Greek Philosophers and their influence

Socrates (about 470-399 B.C.) was the first of the three greatest and best known Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. He developed no systematic doctrine or teaching, only a method. He has been referred to as "the first of ethical philosophers," and he has been recognized as laying the philosophical foundation for our Western culture.

Plato (about 427-347 B.C.) was a student of Socrates, and as such played an increasingly important part in the shaping of Western thought. He built upon what he had learned from Socrates, and made it more sophisticated and acceptable, but also included a mystical element. He did not develop a philosophical system, but he did lay the cornerstone of the foundation that Aristotle would establish.

Plato, one of the most eminent of the Greek philosophers. He was by far the most illustrious of the pupils of Socrates, completely eclipsing all his fellow students, . . . He was the earliest of the systematic scholars, or founders of permanent schools, in which the doctrines of the original master, with more or less of development and change, continued to be expounded through successive generations. His fame and influence on antiquity transcended the renown and authority of any other teacher, and may have suggested, in connection with the character of his doctrine and the mode of its exposition, the declaration of Labeo, that he was to be accounted a god rather than a man. . . . His influence was increased, rather than diminished, during the long and ardent struggle between rising Christianity and expiring Paganism both combatants receiving his impulse, claiming his alliance, and submitting to his philosophical ascendency. Though the oblivion of the Greek language and the dogmatic character of mediaeval speculation turned intellectual activity into widely divergent channels, yet the revival of letters was attended by the resurrection of Plato; and the Medicean Academy of Florence under the direction of Marsilius Ficinus (q.v.), renewed the prominence of his name and of his philosophy. Since that period, the beginning of the 16th century, Plato has enjoyed an augmented authority in the domain of metaphysical inquiry; has animated successive schools of brilliant reputation and of extensive rule; and has been the late progenitor of the most famous systems which have given to modern Germany its marvelous predominance in transcendental metaphysics. From McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) was the author of, not only a philosophical system, but a scientific system as well. They were both used by succeeding generations until the 17th century, and much of his work is still used and argued over by his modern counterparts. He was a man of great intellectual ability, and worked in the disciplines of physics, chemistry, biology, zoology, and botany; in psychology, political theory, and ethics; in logic and metaphysics; in history, literary theory, and rhetoric. He was the originator of the theory of logic.

Aristotle organized and classified the methods and contents of knowledge and created the science of logic, which in the Christian Middle Ages became the chief instrument of the great systematic theologians of the church. The inventors of Biblical theology, criticism, interpretation or hermeneutics, and views on revelation, inspiration, illumination and the Godhead all used the tools of philosophy, such as logic, to form their opinions that they then taught to their pupils. Since man’s reasoning is subject to error because of human limitations, God’s people should not accept anything that is contrary to what God has revealed to us in His Word, no matter the greatness and ability of the expositor.

Socrates and Plato were continually frustrated in the attempt to change the morals and conduct of men by instructing and educating them. In the search for the truth that sets us free we all remain like blind men groping in the dark trying to grasp the wind in our hands, until we come to our senses and submit ourselves to the will and the way of God. The following Scriptures explain why.

PROVERBS 1:7.... The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

PROVERBS 2:1-8.... My Son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, that He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-25.... For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God. For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. [Isa. 29:14.] Where is the wise man (the philosopher)? Where is the scribe (the scholar)? Where is the investigator (the logician, the debater) of this present time and age? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world’s wisdom? For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him). For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom, we preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek, Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing [that springs] from God is stronger than men.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:8-13.... Love never fails [fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy, it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]. For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. And so faith, hope, love abide [faith – conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope – joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love – true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three: but the greatest of these is love.

Knowledge, like religion, can be an instrument for either good or evil. If we are careful to bring every thought and conviction into full compliance and obedience to God and His Word (2 Cor. 10:1-6), we can safely pursue a scientific investigation of God’s creation and Word. But if we neglect God’s instruction in His Word and insist upon going our way, we will continue to live in the frustration that plagued Socrates and Plato.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible , an English version of the Bible which claims to Capture the Full Meaning Behind the Original Greek and Hebrew.