New Testament Survey - Chapter 5

I and II Peter

These two books in the New Testament were written by Apostle Peter.  They were written  to Jewish Christians as well as Gentile Christians throughout the Mediterranean world.  

The theme of I Peter is Christian suffering.  We are reminded that we will suffer just as our Lord Jesus Christ suffered.  But suffering is only temporary, whereas salvation is eternal.  In suffering our faith is refined in the same way that fire purifies gold.

The theme of II Peter is preservation of the true faith.  True Christian character is defined as diligently seeking moral excellence; one who is knowledgeable; one who exercises self-control; and one who perseveres and does not give up.  Peter warns against false teachers and mockers.  The Lord's return will come like a thief in the night, and we must be ready.


I, II, III John

Apostle John is the author of these three books in the New Testament.  They were written for preservation of the faith.  Christianity settled the Jewish Christian dilemma of faith versus works.  Now John fights against the philosophy of Gnosticism.  This was a belief that Jesus could not be both God and man.  

John writes to give security to those who have believed and that they might be certain of their faith.  Certainty comes through walking in the Light, accepting Jesus as the Son of God and having fellowship with God.  The love for God and the love for material things cannot co-exist.  True love for God is expressed by obeying Him.  


Revelation

The last book of the New Testament was also written by Apostle John.  The purpose of the book was to encourage Christians under persecution to be faithful to God...God is in control! 

Chapters two and three are letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor.  Then John wrote of the three woes in chapters four through twenty.  Chapter 21 tells of the creation of the new heaven and new earth, and the book ends in Chapter 22 where it is stated that Jesus is coming quickly (22:7).  Thus the New Testament ends.

The events of Revelation are in this order:
1.  Present Age

2.  Tribulation - seven years; rapture may occur prior to this and is the first resurrection where every believer is spared of going through the tribulation period.  (Many scholars do not agree with this timing of the rapture.)

3.  Battle of Armageddon - the second coming of Christ who comes to defeat the armies of satan on earth and to establish the Kingdom of God.

4.  Millennial Age (1,000 years) - an age of Peace - Christ and all his saints establish the Kingdom of God on literal earth.  The saints rule and reign during this period, ruling over the sinners that come out of the tribulation alive.  Satan is chained in the abyss, so there is no sin during this age of Peace.

5.  Satan is Loosed - for a season he will try and tempt people from tribulation period who must then decide to go with the Kingdom of God, or succumb to sin and satan.  This is the final rebellion.

6.  Great White Throne Judgement - This is the second resurrection.  The judgement is of sinners, not saints.  The wicked and satan are cast into the lake of fire, and the earth is destroyed by fire.  God creates a new earth where there is no sea.

7.  Eternity.

This concludes my notes from my class on New Testament Survey.  I would enjoy taking a class like this again, and perhaps I will.