Verses to Understand World History
in Biblical Perspective
(all from NIV - bold emphasis added, some verses
linked to music)
Genesis 12:1-3
1 The LORD had said to Abram,
"Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to
the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."
Galatians 3:6-9
6 Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture
foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced
the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed
through you." 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with
Abraham, the man of faith.
Act 17:26-27
26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole
earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places
where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek
him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far
from each one of us.
| Deuteronomy
32:6-8 6 Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? 7 Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you. 8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel. |
Isaiah 46:8-10 8 "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. |
Deuteronomy
9:4-6
4 After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to
yourself, "The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land
because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of
these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. 5 It
is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in
to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these
nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish
what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6 Understand, then,
that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving
you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
Jeremiah 19:4-6
4 For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign
gods; they have burned sacrifices in it to gods that neither they nor their
fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with
the blood of the innocent. 5 They have built the high places of Baal to
burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command
or mention, nor did it enter my mind.
| Colossians
1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. |
Romans
13:1, 2 1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. |
John 19:11
11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were
not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me
over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The
weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they
have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and
every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will
be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
2 Peter 3:3-7
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days
scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will
say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died,
everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5 But
they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed
and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the
world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word
the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day
of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Matthew 24:9-14
9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and
you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn
away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets
will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness,
the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be
saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole
world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Acts 14:14-17
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they
tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 "Men, why
are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you
good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16 In the
past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself
without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and
crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts
with joy."
Numbers 31:15-18
15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them.
16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the
means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened
at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people. 17 Now kill all the boys.
And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every
girl who has never slept with a man.
Isaiah 40:15-17 |
Psalm 46:8-10 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." |
Romans 2:12-15
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish
apart from the law, and all who sin under the law
will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear
the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who
obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when
Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required
by the law, they are a law for themselves,
even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that
the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their
consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even
defending them.)
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will
frustrate."
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher
of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since
in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was
pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness
to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God
is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Romans 1:18-32
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness
and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what
may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain
to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his
eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made, so that men
are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave
thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged
the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds
and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts
to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They
exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things
rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women
exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also
abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.
Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due
penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain
the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what
ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness,
evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and
malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and
boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know
God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not
only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice
them.
| Psalm
2 1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." 7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD : He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." 10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. |
Micah 4:1-5 1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. 5 All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. |
Ezekiel 12:15-16
15 "They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among
the nations and scatter them through the countries. 16 But I
will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that
in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices.
Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Acts 13:15-31
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent
word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement
for the people, please speak."
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel
and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of
Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during
their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that
country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years
in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and
gave their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450
years.
"After this, God gave them judges until
the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he
gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty
years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He
testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own
heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'
23 "From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel
the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John
preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was
completing his work, he said: 'Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No,
but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'
26 "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles,
it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27
The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning
him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read
every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they
asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all
that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid
him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he
was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They
are now his witnesses to our people.
| Lamentations 3:16-40 16 He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. 17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. 18 So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD." 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. 28 Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him. 29 Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope. 30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. 31 For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. 34 To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, 35 to deny a man his rights before the Most High, 36 to deprive a man of justice— would not the Lord see such things? 37 Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? 39 Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? 40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. |
Micah 6:2-13 |
Romans 12:14-19
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony
with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of
low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in
the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on
you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge;
I will repay," says the Lord.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone 2 for kings
and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet
lives in all godliness and holiness.
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