The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 4: The Unfolding of Time, Part 1

The five of us and Mentor were alone in the Crux when it was time for the next session to begin. “When do the witnesses return?” asked Cesar. “During this session you will meet them in the reading room,” replied Mentor. We looked at one another, wondering if our time in the Crux was over. Mentor noticed our concern. “There are many episodes in the Unfolding of Time ,” he explained. 1 “The witnesses must narrate these in their respective settings so that you may fully grasp them.” 1 While “the unfolding of time” is not an expression found in the Bible, it effectively names the period after the fall of humankind and up to the advent of the Savior, with his inauguration of God’s kingdom. It begins, accordingly, with the call of Abraham in Genesis 12 and continues through the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, where its conclusion is marked by these words in Mark’s Gospel, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand ; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15 ESV, emphasis added). Following the outline provided by Suzanne de Dietrich in God’s Unfolding Purpose , chapters 4 and 5 explore the interaction of God with his people leading up to the incarnation. In sum, it tells the story of Israel as the chosen people of God.

117