Introduction
The history of religion is intimately linked with the history of man. The scope of this brief book offers an understanding of where the religions of men fit in the timeline of history. Given dominion over the world, man has advanced to the technological level that exists today. In contrast, man’s impaired ability to understand the spiritual has resulted in myriads of religious systems throughout his history.
According to the Bible, the spiritual entity called Satan tricked man near the beginning of his existence, causing spiritual death. Believing a lie, man became spiritually blind to the truth. In this state of blindness concerning truth, man has sought to find his way. His blindness was not total for he was left with a sense of right and wrong. However, even his conscience is able to be manipulated resulting in an alteration and often a reversal of what is thought to be right or wrong. Then his blindness is total.
Man wanted to do things his own way. He developed his own system to relate to a higher power. Through the ages every group of people has had its system of religion. Man in his spiritual blindness has in the course of history concluded everything from believing that life is controlled by the forces of nature, to believing that man has total control in himself, denying that a higher power exists at all.
Some of the information presented in these pages will undoubtedly be refuted as fantasy and falsehood by those who are familiar by association with any given group. The search for truth is the goal. It is hoped that the information presented in the following pages will be useful as a resource for anyone wishing to “see” the big picture.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Section I Timeline
7 Days and 7000 Years
A parallel between the days of creation and the millennia of man
Does Anyone Know What Day It Is?
An explanation of calendar numbering
6000 Years as We Know It
The history timeline from Adam to the present
We Have Seen His Star – Three Days in the Grave
Dating the birth and death of Jesus
The Final Hour- 1335 Days
A timeline for the Great Tribulation
Millennial Reign - Eden Restored
The final 1000 years
Section II Religions
Children of the Promise
Judaism - brief history
Only the Names Have Been Changed
Paganism
The Disappearance of the New Testament
Church in 300 Years
Early Christianity
The Transformation
The assimilation of Christianity
Other “Holy Men”
Various religions
Family Feud - Ishmael against Isaac
Muslim history
Will the Real Bible Please Stand Up
History of the development of the Bible
Men and Movements
Heresy and Reform
Hippity Hop -- Ho! Ho! -- Trick or Treat
Pagan holiday celebrations
Let Us Go Up!
Feasts of the Lord
Remember the Sabbath
Hebrew How to
Truth or Tabloid Tales
Truth or fiction
Bibliography
Appendix
Index
