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this does not mean they are fully grown. Scripture teaches much more as to the Christian life (Ephesians 4:10-13; Hebrews 6:1-3). A perusal of these Scriptures and others shows that there is an end to be reached, not only with us individually but with the assembly as a whole (Ephesians 4:15 & 16). This takes us on to the end God has in view. However, some have so occupied themselves with the future that God's work in the present time has little place with them. Certainly Scripture has much to say about the future. From Isaiah onwards the books of the Old Testament are prophetic (Four major prophets and twelve minor). Many of the Psalms contain what is prophetic - see for instance Psalms 2, 89 & 110. Apart from this there are prophetic passages such as those in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. There are also passages that prefigure what will happen in the future. The universality of future judgement is prefigured in the Noahic flood; its character is prefigured in the destruction by fire of Sodom and Gomorrah. Future blessing is prefigured in Solomon's glorious reign. There are plenty of passages that can be used by the keen student of prophecy to justify him in his study. Further, prophecy is not confined to the Old Testament. In the New we have the book of Revelation which is a prophetic book. The epistles to the Thessalonians contain prophetic sections. They have their use in comforting those who are being persecuted: "So encourage one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). The judgement passages would have the effect of getting the Christian to hold things here lightly (Jeremiah 45;1 Corinthians 7:29-31). Christ spoke prophetically in a number of passages but particularly in a chapter such as Matthew 24. The object was to get the disciples to get things here in perspective. The buildings they so much admired were all going to be thrown down. There are also many prophetic words found in the Acts and the epistles e.g. Acts 2 and Romans 11. However, though Scripture contains much prophecy the books of the Bible are not exclusively prophetic works, they also contain much history from which we are to learn (1 Corinthians 10). Being overoccupied with prophecy is therefore something to be avoided. Prophecy was not written to satisfy curiosity, but to encourage us as knowing how things will end.

Christ

What we have considered above is firstly creation. This is finished (Genesis 2:1). God is not now occupied in creatorial work. He is now occupied with the work of taking out of the nations a people for his name (Acts 15:13-21). Recovering souls from their lost condition is God's work at the present time. In the future there will be a day of display when what God has wrought will be seen by a wondering universe (Romans 8:18-30). If there had been no creation in the first place and no fall there would be no redemption and no coming glory. These things all hang one upon the other. However, there is one line that runs through Scripture. It is Christ. All is connected with him. Creation is connected with him (John 1:3). Redemption is connected with him. He is the redeemer (Galatians 4:5). He died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). In the day to come he will have the first place and reign in glory (Revelation 11:15). Many look to see Christ in the Scriptures - his person, his word and his work. Although this is right and all the Scriptures speak of Christ (Luke 24:25-27), it must be remembered that he is spoken of in many connections. Paul spoke of him and the kingdom of God (Acts 28:23 & 31). Christ spoke of losing ones life for my sake and the gospel's (Mark 8:35). Not just for his sake but also the gospel's. Both are connected. On the other hand, it is wrong to make everything of the gospel. Christ must be connected with it. See also Mark 10:29. Again we have; Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Also, we have Christ and the assembly (Ephesians 5:32). We must not separate the two. The genealogy of Christ runs right through the Old Testament. Those in the genealogy are quite often types of Christ. Ones that stand out are Adam, Noah, Isaac, David, Solomon and Zerubbabel. The wives of Adam (Eve) and Isaac (Rebecca) stand out as types of the assembly. Though we may rightly at times focus closely on the person of Christ all the other things that are connected with him must not be overlooked.

God's Revelation

The Bible is God's revelation of himself. It is his word and Christ is that word incarnate (John 1:14). Hence, in seeing Christ in the Scriptures, we get to know God's mind, for God's word is the expression of his mind. The Scriptures are full of references to God, whether simply to God as in Genesis 1:1 or under other titles such as Almighty, Jehovah, the Most High or the Father to name a few. God is spoken of in every book in the Bible save Esther. There is one reference in the Song of Songs though it does not appear in all versions: "Flames of Jah" (Song of Songs 8:6). Jah is an abbreviation of Jehovah. God's thinking permeates the Scriptures and we do well to imbue our minds with it. God's thinking shows the moral nature of his being. He is love and that love is a holy love. A perusal of the Psalms, for example, will show how full they are of moral conceptions. Take a Psalm at random. Opening the Bible at Psalm 98 (a nine verse Psalm) we find that Jehovah is mentioned by name six times. The first verse speaks of his holy arm and salvation. Verse two speaks of salvation and righteousness. Verse three speaks of loving-kindness, faithfulness and salvation. Verse four speaks of joy and also verses six and eight. Verse nine speaks of judgement, righteousness and equity. This is what the Bible is all about though it may touch on many other subjects. Our senses are often exercised by the actions of men in the Scriptures. Were they doing what is right? See for example 2 Samuel 21:1-14.

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