Kings and Prophets
2 CyclesThe Bible-Wheel, shown opposite, displays asymmetrical arrangement of the books of the Bible,
dividing into three cycles, each of 22 books.
The first cycle of the Bible Wheel focuses on thepolitical leaders of Israel – beginning with Moses,Joshua, the Judges, then the kings of Israel until theexile. The Kingdom of Israel reached its apex with KingDavid and King Solomon who wrote the 5 books ofWisdom.
The second cycle of the Bible Wheel focuses on theprophets of Israel. The prophets were spokesmen for
God, and spoke about the Kingdom of God.
The prophetic cycle begins with the 5 major prophets,then the 12 minor prophets, and culminating with themessiah – Jesus.
Curiously, the gospel of Christ is found at thebeginning of the prophetic cycle - in the “sufferingservant” of Isaiah, and at the end of the prophetic
cycle - in the suffering of Jesus on the cross portrayedin the New Testament gospels.
Symmetry and Balance
There is a symmetry and balance between the firstand second cycles – between the earthly endeavors ofkings, and the spiritual endeavors of prophets.

Treasures in HeavenThis concept of a balance to life – material riches andspiritual riches – may have a practical value.
When the material world is full of uncertainty andwoes, it may help to have a spiritual side.
If our treasures are in heaven, we may feel lesseffected by earthly concerns.
Root Cause of Suffering
If mind is primary, then it is possible that muchsuffering arises because the kingdom of God is notsought first – so the primary condition for abundanceis absent.

The Messiah came as a suffering servant rather thanas a conquering king, suggesting that the kingdom ofGod begins with mastering self rather than masteringothers, an inner liberation, a spiritual endeavor ratherthan an outward, earthly one.
It also suggests that a king or leader must also be apublic servant – since they must combine power overothers with responsibility for their welfare, and besubmitted to God’s law, rather than simply assertingego.
Primacy of Mind
In nature, mind has primacy over matter, since life
arose by creation from a Mind. In the same way, Jesus
taught that our liberation begins with an inner
liberation, and then manifests as outward abundance– a message echoed in the Sermon on the Mount “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things
will be added unto you”

12 books of history parallel the 12 books of the minor prophets
9 books are about history before the exile .
3 books are about history after the exile

9 books are about prophets before the exile.
3 books are about prophets after the exile

Parallels between Moses and Christ
Birth :
Slaughter of the innocents

Birth :
Slaughter of the innocents

Passover :The First Passover

Passover :The Last Supper

Pentecost :Law of Moses

Pentecost :Law of the Spirit

Judgement :The beginning of the nation - 40 years later they
entered the promised land.

Judgement :The end of the nation - 40 years later they departed
the promised land

According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, the Messiah was the expected king of the Davidic line who would deliver
Israel from foreign bondage and bring about God’s Kingdom on earth.
However, according to the prophetic cycle, Christ came as a “suffering servant” and rather than overcoming a foreign
enemy – he offered freedom from the enemy within – our bondage to sin. So the kingdom of God manifests in each
person who overcomes sin. Moses delivered the Israelites from an external enemy. Christ delivered the Jews from aninternal one. Inner change is all that is necessary to bring about the kingdom of God.
So Jesus regarded inner transformation as the first step in bringing about social change. A society is only as good as
its members – an orchestra is only as good as its musicians. Our primary responsibility is to fix ourselves rather thanothers, and in doing so we enter the Kingdom of God even despite our social environment.