All the previous reading outlined provides the background of Jesus' life. As you read the Old Testament you may have noticed events, principles, and prophecies later referred to by Jesus and the New Testament authors.
In Jesus you meet a King better than king David, one who speaks words with more authority than the prophets, and one who offers sacrifice superior to the priests.
The New Testament book, Hebrews, makes such connections explicit. It purposes to demonstrate Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament anticipation. It will help you grasp the unity of the Bible's message.
>>Read Hebrews now
The Final Book
You are now prepared to read the final book of the Bible -- Revelation. This book is a combination of three types of literature: it's a letter, a prophecy, and an apocalypse. You're now familiar with the first two types. If you read Daniel, you encountered the third type as well: half of Daniel is also apocalyptic literature. This third type of literature is highly visual, almost cinematic.
Revelation gains most of its imagery from the Old Testament, portraying Jesus as Christ and eternal cosmic Lord through these images. It does so by describing Jesus' victory over Satan from two perspectives. Scene by scene it first portrays the way things look in heaven. Then, it rewinds the timeline and portrays the way the same events look on earth.
Over and over through many literary devices it shows Christ's victory: the Lamb is the great eternal saving King -- a tremendous comfort to all who rely upon this Lamb for their fulfillment. Revelation's final scene returns you to Genesis’ Garden of Eden -- only now, after the course of human history, God has made it a garden city, well peopled and even more abundant than when he first planted her.
>>Read Revelation now
Next Steps
This guided tour of the Bible brings you through its central storyline and introduces you to the types of books in it. Soak it in, consider its central themes and main character -- Jesus Christ.
What now? According to the Bible -- though sin and its effects have comprehensively impacted your reality, you can know God personally. Simply rely on the work God accomplished through Jesus to restore the way for you to have a relationship with Him. Pray and talk to God. Ask to know him through Christ and to be renewed by his own Spirit.
Continue to read his word. Ask him to make his way clear to you as you read and seek to apply the Bible’s lessons to your life. Read the rest of the Gospels. Read the other New Testament letters. Read the Old Testament books you missed. Then re-read what you already read: you’ll be surprised by how much you missed the first time.
The Bible offers direction and insight for a lifetime of walking with God.
A Guided Tour through the Bible
Copyright 2004 © by Paul Engstrom. Reprinted with permission of Author. May not be used without permission.
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