2. DRAMA OF THE AGES FLY THROUGH HISTORY WITH THE ANCIENT BOOK 15. THE BIG SHADOW-PLAY: THE BOOK IS BORN

3. Camped at the foot of Sinai (Jabel el laws), a wonderful revelation was given these people. God came down in fire and spoke his Law in their hearing.

4. Then a copy was given to Moses written on stone by God's own finger.

5. Although the Law had been known from Creation, it had not been necessary to write it down as the people were taught from father to son and had very good memories.

6. Mankind having degenerated greatly, now it was given in written form.

7. Also many statutes and civil laws were given to Moses who wrote them into books.

8. When Moses came down from the mount, what did he find but that the people, forgetting so soon the Law they had heard from the very mouth of God, had turned back to nature worship and were dancing and celebrating around a golden calf, symbol of the sun god Baal.

9. How soon these pagan people forgot the lessons God was trying to teach them!

10. The first five books of the Bible and the book of Job were all written by Moses.

11. This was the start of the Ancient Book we call our Bible.

12. Some say that man could not write that early, but they forget, man is not ascending, he is degenerating. There is evidence of writing even in the time of Abraham.

13. There are three sets of laws in the books of Moses, 1st the eternal Moral Law, the 10 Commandments written on stone.

14. 2nd a collection of civil laws to guide in daily living written by Moses in a book.

15. 3rd there were a set of Ceremonies and Sacrifices, guidance for the priests and the worship at the Tabernacle that was later built.

16. These were a living prophecy and every aspect of them had something to tell of the Messiah and Salvation.

17. However, the practice of these ceremonies was to end when Jesus died on the cross.

18. When the people repented of the worship of the calf and returned to God, He guided them to build a wonderful sanctuary where daily and yearly services were held, all pointing to the work and ministry of the Messiah.

19. When this was all completed, Israel was on the march again.

20. But on the very edge of Canaan, Israel rebelled and refused to obey God. Back into the wilderness they went for forty years.

21. DRAMA OF THE AGES Continues: 16. ISRAEL DESTROYED AND JUDAH CAPTIVE