In this study, we are going to delve into the Bible, and we will extract an outline of the spiritual development of humanity from the beginning to the present and then into the future.

That introductory statement is based on several assumptions, and we shall state them clearly.  First, there is more to the human experience than just existence in the physical world; that is, there is a spiritual realm that surrounds humanity.  Second, there are spiritual beings, rarely visible to humanity, who influence and interact with humanity.  Third, among the spiritual beings, there is a unique, creative, eternal deity who created and rules the entire universe.  Fourth, the supreme, spiritual being freely communicates with humanity and has provided the Bible as a valid and vital source of instruction and revelation.  In this first chapter, we will consider these assumptions and identify tools which will assist in our study.