God created man with a strange obsession for what? 

Freedom, something no man can actually have, total freedom that is. We will always be in a certain bondage to things or people or governments. 

We can free our selves from the toothbrush but only find our selves in bondage to cavities; or by opting for total freedom and sailing the seven seas, we find ourselves in bondage to the compass, the wind, the elements, the fish, the ship, the provisions we brought, trying to make them last, to our health, to safety, so you see we can never be free unless we choose to become the servant of God, growing in trust and faith in His capability to guide and protect you, finally trusting in his ways no matter what happens, having the right attitude toward Him and the life he leads us to.

So freedom always comes with a price. You give up something to get something better that what you had. Thus we move into the Kingdom Era, reading about the struggles of God's people during their turbulent ups and downs. When a righteous king ruled they prospered, but the unrighteous king led them into misery.

If you want to know more, read on.

Understanding the Bible, Part Four

Robbie L. Rogers

Remember we study God's word to know more of who Him, building our faith and making Jesus our personal Savior and allow a better release of the Holy Spirit so we can better live the life we are supposed to.

Conquest and Judges, which was blocks 4 and 5 in building our threshold to better knowledge of the Bible.  Remember to visualize your surroundings or use Texas, and Dallas. 

Last we talked about who?  Look on your sheet for block 4 or Era 4. Joshua. Where did it happen? Canaan, or Jerusalem. Joshua led them from where? Kadesh, where God told his priests to step first across the mighty, 20 mile wide, flood swollen Yellow River, wasn't it?

Okay so it was the Jordan River instead, but I want you to form the picture of the feat in your mind as it would apply to you local. During that ERA God had the foolish soldiers blowing horns to destroy one of the mightiest fortress in that time.

Let's do to some of our enemies strongholds.  No not necessarily blowing horns at them but following Gods direction.  Often we strike out in our own knowledge rather than depending on God's true leadership.

Then the Israelites conquered Canaan, South to North in a glorious 7-years, finally having dominion of the Promised land!

Can you imagine how the Canaanites felt? Apparently more Jews moved in to the country side than those who already lived there, and in only seven years they took over completely.  Sort of like Dallas migrating to the Florida panhandle, taking over, how would we feel?

So what happened next?  Did God's people convert the Canaanite?  Hardly, once again God's people fell before other gods ushering in the darkest of times, what was it called?

Judges, remembering judges were political leaders not judges like we have and as they moved from rebellion to repentance cycles God forgave them and once again gave them their freedom.

Who was God's first prophet?

Samuel, the one who brought them back to the scriptures or the last Judge.

One thing to remember, the Seven-Year Cycles found in this Era, each cycle had five parts, (1) Israel sinned, (2) God Disciplined with neighboring kingdoms, (3) Israel repented, (4) God gives new leader and removes bondage, FORGIVES, (5) God gives them freedom again.

Okay, next we will lay block 6 the Kingdom and block 7 Exile in place. The Kingdom Era, 1 Samuel through 2 Chronicles.

Break this Era into: United Kingdom; Division of the Kingdom; Northern Kingdom; Southern Kingdom.

United Kingdom, all twelve tribes, jealous that others had kings demanded that God allow them the same. Samuel anoints Saul the first King of Israel.

Because Saul was not righteous what do we know happened? 

Israel does not prosper and Saul's family is not honored with the succession, instead David is anointed.

David, although not perfect is righteous and what happens? They prosper and David's son becomes king. Solomon is righteous at first then falls away. Read about this in 1&2 Samuel.

As a result of Solomon's faltering the kingdom erupts into civil war after his death. The Kingdom divided, consisting of 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom and two, Judah and Benjamin in the south. The northern tribes continue to call themselves Israel while the southern kingdom is called Judah. Read 1 Kings.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel, led by unrighteous King Jeroboam and 18 others is conquered after a 250-year reign by what country? Assyria, and the unrighteous kingdom is scattered to the four winds in 722 B.C., never again restored.

The Southern Kingdom, Rehoboam, Solomon's unrighteous son led Judah along with 19 more kings.

Because eight of those kings were righteous Judah fared better than the northern kingdom surviving 400-years. Nevertheless, God brings judgment against Judah's inconsistency through Babylon in 586 B.C. after previously allowing the conquering of Assyria, who finally moved against Judah, taking all leaders, artisans, musicians and promising children into captivity. Read 2 Kings.

The Exile Era personifies the man who, after deciding to kill himself, jumped from the tallest building he could find only to realize he made a mistake half way down pleading to God for forgiveness. God who is always willing to forgives us said, " Of course I forgive you, don't think another thing about it, I will never bring it up again, and by the way I'll see you in a little while."

Sin is in our flesh but God forgives!  Isn't that wonderful, God understands us, but why shouldn't he? After all he created us they way we are, using the good and bad in us to our good.

The basic laws of physics state that everything set in motion tends to eventually run down or fall into a deteriorating cycle until it either stops or something energizes it again. This is true in all things is it not?

After the 400-years of roller-coaster rebellion against God's authority Israel finally had to pay the debt and they found themselves once again in exile.

This era breaks into: Prophecy; Prophets; Exiles; Power Change. Prophecy, or the weeping prophet, Jeremiah issues warnings to Judah almost 150-years before their captivity and of the 70-years it will last. Think of it!  Read Jeremiah.

During the Prophets segment, God's people received encouragement from Ezekiel and Daniel foretelling of the restoration. Daniel becomes a leading example to God's people much like who in Egypt?  Joseph.

Daniel's prophecies are heavily concerned with the future destruction of the world.  Read Ezekiel and Daniel.

The true prophet is 100 percent correct in what he prophesied.  And according to Jesus, John the Baptist is the last of such men, calling him Elijah.  Math 11:12-14; 17:12, 13; Mark 9:13.

During the Exiles God's people once again chose to assimilate the culture they were forced into rather than to transform it to God's.  As the Power Change happened Persia became the dominant influence over Babylonia controlling everything from the Tigris River to the Mediterranean Sea.

What happened at the base of the Tigris river?

Man was Born.  The Garden of Eden.

What will happen there eventually?

Armageddon.

What is happening now?  Total ciaos

Who is Persia now?

Iran.

Remember all of this happens in an area smaller than Texas.

Next we will complete the Old Testament with blocks 8 and 9, Return and Silence Era, leading us to begin the new covenant or new testament.