Notes for: Weeks 27 - 34 | Weeks 35 - 42 | Week 43 | Week 44 | Week 45 | Week 46 | Week 47 | Week 48 | Week 49 | Week 50 | Week 51 | Week 52

Week 43

THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS

This letter, addressed primarily to Hebrew (Jewish) believers, sets out the supreme position of Jesus Christ above all that had gone before. Jesus is superior to anyone or anything else - except God alone. He is the one promised in the Old Testament who will come again to fulfil the promises and reward the faithful of all ages. (See chapter 11).

DAILY NOTES

Week 44

GOD'S WITNESSES

God provides ample evidence that He is God and that He is true.

• The heavens and their wonders tell of His power (Psalm 19).
• His Word, so miraculously preserved (1 Peter 1:25) proclaims His Plan and Purpose.
• Jesus Christ is His faithful and true witness (Revelation 1:5), who by his way of life, his miracles, his death and his resurrection, proclaimed the true God and eternal life (1 John 1:1-2).
• The apostles, prophets and all true believers witness that God is true by their works and manner of life.
• Israel are God's special witnesses that the Lord God is the only God, and that what He says always comes true (Isaiah 43:12).

DAILY NOTES

Week 45

FAITH AND WORKS

Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God (Hebrews 11:6). We must learn to trust His gracious promises; we can never deserve them. But faith cannot exist unless we show it in our lives. Faith without works (actions) is dead and meaningless. Faithful men and women must live faithfully.

THE LETTER OF JAMES

James was a half-brother of Jesus, but he was not converted until Jesus rose from the dead. Later he became the "bishop" of the church (or ecclesia) at Jerusalem (Acts 15). His letter is very practical, and shows the inescapable need for our faith to be demonstrated by actions.

DAILY NOTES

Week 46

THE PROPHECY OF JEREMIAH

Jeremiah was the son of a Jewish priest. His work as a prophet began in the reign of Josiah, king of Judah, and lasted 40 years until the captivity in Babylon. He did not want to be a prophet (Jeremiah 1:6), but God put His word into his mouth (verse 9) so that he prophesied about Israel and all the nations round about (verse 10). He had much to say about the forthcoming sufferings of God's people, both in the Book of Jeremiah and in the Lamentations which follow.

Like all of God's prophets, Jeremiah endured hardship because of his work (chapter 38). He told of the suffering of the coming Messiah, and the restoration of the nation of Israel after many years of persecution. He also prophesied about the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

DAILY NOTES

Week 47

PETER'S LETTERS

Peter the fisherman followed Jesus faithfully for more than three years, but to his bitter regret, denied him when Jesus most needed his support. Peter's faith was rekindled by the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and Jesus gave him the commission to "feed his flock" (John 21:15-18). He became a prominent early preacher of the Gospel, first to the Jews (Acts 2-9), and also to the Gentiles (non-Jews) (Acts 10-12). He suffered imprisonment on several occasions, and according to tradition, was finally martyred, as foretold by Jesus.

His letters, addressed to Jewish believers scattered throughout the world, proclaim the leadership of Jesus as the Chief Shepherd of the flock. Believers are reminded of their holy calling in a dark world. They must expect suffering and trial, but God's promises in Jesus Christ are sure. Through him, we too can escape the judgments coming on the world.

DAILY NOTES

Week 48

THE PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL

Ezekiel was a priest who was taken captive to Babylon, where he prophesied. He was called upon to enact many prophecies. He was called a "man of sign" and "son of man", pointing forward to Jesus Christ.

A most exciting prophecy in chapter 37 relates to our days. It describes the revival of Israel, a modern miracle, and forecasts her coming King (verse 22). The land will again be invaded from the North (chapter 38), but God will intervene.

DAILY NOTES

Week 49

THE LETTERS OF JOHN AND JUDE

John, the disciple of Jesus, wrote a Gospel record, three short letters and the Book of Revelation. He was called the disciple whom Jesus loved (although he loved every one of them!) and the twin themes of LOVE and TRUTH occur frequently in the letters.

Already, false teaching was creeping into the Church. By the end of the second century AD, the truth of Jesus' teaching had been largely replaced amongst so-called Christians by false doctrines still common today. Compare the Bible teachings as listed in the summary with the ideas of many churches today! True followers of Jesus Christ accept only the teachings of the Bible and not of men.

Jude, possibly a half-brother of Jesus, abandoned writing a treatise on our common salvation in favour of an urgent appeal to defend the faith.

DAILY NOTES

Week 50

THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL

Daniel was one of the captive Jewish princes taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. His inspired book is a blend of prophetic dreams and exciting events showing God's care for His people.

THE KING'S DREAM

God gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream portraying a history of a series of kingdoms or empires, the last being the Kingdom of God. The rest of the prophecy of Daniel develops this theme.

Head of Gold BABYLONIAN EMPIRE		The stone cut out of the mountain without hands - Christ's coming kingdom.
Breast and Arms of Silver MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE
Belly and Thighs of Brass GRECIAN EMPIRE
Legs of Iron ROMAN EMPIRE
Feet of Iron and Clay The present-day world

DAILY NOTES

Week 51

THE "MINOR" PROPHETS

The Twelve books which follow Daniel in the Old Testament are sometimes called the "Minor" prophets - because they are shorter, not because they are less important. Their message from God is just as important, and the great themes are the same, as those of the "major" prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

We can only now look briefly at five of these books, but when you proceed to Step Seven you will eventually read ALL of them.

DAILY NOTES

Week 52

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

The last Book of the Bible completes God's message about Jesus Christ and the coming Kingdom. It was given by God to Jesus (Revelation 1:1), to show his servants things which were yet to happen before Jesus is revealed from heaven. It was made known to John while he was in exile on the isle of Patmos, just off the south-west coast of Asia (modern Turkey).

Given in symbolic language ("signified", 1:1) the book can only be properly understood in the light of the rest of Scripture. The early chapters, addressed to the seven "churches" or ecclesias in Asia (see map below), are easier to understand. They contain vital advice for us today.

The Seven "Churches" in Asia Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea

DAILY NOTES

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