May.31.02: Lftd - " The Chronological Method - Bible Study"

Nearly every Bible institute and Christian college offers
cours in Old Testament and New Testament survey.
The usual approach is to briefly examine the sixty-six books,
suggesting a key thought, verse, truth, character, etc., for each book.
The main problem with this method is the difficulty in connecting
the many "keys" with the proper biblical "locks."

A simpler method would be to place every book into twelve logical
and historical divisions. This we have done in this Guide to the Bible.

Each stage describes a particular and unique period of time in God's progressive revelation to man. These twelve divisions are historical, not dispensational in nature. A quick survey of these twelve reveals the following:

I. Creation Stage
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(Genesis 1-11)
1. Creation
2. Fall
3. Flood
4. Tower of Babel

II. Patriarchal Stage
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(Genesis 12-50; Job)
1. Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Job
2. Beginning of Hebrew nation
3. Arrival of Jews in Egypt

III. Exodus Stage
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(Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
1. Deliverance from Egypt
2. Giving of Law
3. Building of tabernacle
4. Failure at Kadesh

IV. Conquest Stage
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(Joshua)
1. Invasion of the land
2. Subjection of the land
3. Division of the land

V. Judges Stage
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(Judges; Ruth; 1 Samuel 1-7)
1. Ministry of twelve military reformers
2. Marriage of a Moabite girl
3. Call and ministry of Samuel

VI. United Kingdom Stage
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(1 Samuel 8-31; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-11;
1 Chronicles; 2 Chronicles 1-9;
Psalms; Proverbs; Eclesiastes; Song of Solomon)
1. Reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon
2. Recovery of the ark and capture of Jerusalem
3. Construction of first Temple

VII. Chaotic Kingdom Stage
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(1 Kings 12-22; 2 Kings 1-17; 2 Chronicles 10-36;
Obadiah; Joel; Jonah; Amos; Hosea; Micah; Isaiah;
Nahum; Zephaniah; Habakkuk; Jeremiah; Lamentations)
1. Civil War
2. Capture of ten tribes by Assyria
3. Capture of two tribes by Babylon

VIII. Captivity Stage
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Ezekiel (around 597 B.C.);
Daniel (605-536 B.C.); .....
1. Ministry of Daniel and Ezekiel
2. Fall of Babylon
3. Rise of Persia

IX. Return Stage
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(Ezra; Esther; Nehemiah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi)
1. Decree of Cyrus
2. Construction of second Temple
3. Deliverance of Jews in Persia

X. Gospel Stage
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(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
Birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ

XI. Early Church Stage
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(Acts)
1. Birth of Church at Pentecost
2. Ministry of Peter, Stephen, and Philip (Acts 1-12)
3. Ministry of Paul, Barnabas, and Silas (Acts 13-28)

XII. Epistle Stage
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(Roman to Revelation)
Letters of Paul, Peter, John, James, and Jude

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From: Willmington's Guide To The Bible
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