Concise Christianity

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How To Be Saved''] <== --- * To be saved you MUST admit you are a hellbound sinner in need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. * You MUST turn from UNBELIEF to BELIEF in the Gospel (this is biblical repentance means change of mind about God/Jesus or turn to Jesus per Acts 20:21. * You MUST believe Jesus died on the Cross for all your PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE sins according to the scriptures. * You MUST believe Jesus was buried. * You MUST believe He bodily rose again from the dead on the third day for your justification, according to the scriptures. * YOU MUST ADD NOTHING!

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is Witnessing?''] <== --- * Witnessing is something that Christians do, not something people do to become Christians. What is “witnessing” though? If we can define that term properly, then we can understand why it is Christians alone who witness, and not lost people who witness to become Christians. * In religion, to “witness” means to attempt to convert a person from one group or denomination to another group or denomination. A dictionary definition is “an open profession of one’s religious faith through words or actions.” This “open profession” is meant to attract new members to churches, groups, organizations, denominations. * However, in the Bible, “witnessing” is something different. Biblically speaking, witnessing is designed to exalt God’s Word and build up people’s faith in it. Witnessing in the Scriptures is not about building organizations or establishing denominational cliques, but about encouraging people to trust God’s words to them. * Soul salvation unto eternal life does not depend on our performance (including witnessing); our soul salvation in Christ (guaranteed) should motivate us to witness. What does “witness” mean in Scripture? * To “witness” in Bible usage means to testify or to bear record of God’s Word. In other words, one affirms a particular Biblical teaching to be true. Notice, I did not say, affirming a particular denominational position to be true. * A Christian can witness to the reliability of the Gospel, the veracity of the Holy Bible, the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, and so on. A Christian’s goal should not be to move people from one religious group to another. That is what denominationalism is all about, but that is not Bible! * A Christian should share the Gospel with that person and then that person—that saved person—will then, via sound Bible doctrine, have the ability to discern which group is theologically sound and which group is not.

(text-size:1.1)[''Dear God''] --- Creator of everything (text-indent: 24)[we see] and everything (text-indent: 24)[we don't see.] We're only here (text-indent: 24)[today] because you're here (text-indent: 24)[every day.] What we have (text-indent: 24)[are those things] You have (text-indent: 24)[decided to give.] Nothing more (text-indent: 24)[is what we need,] nothing less (text-indent: 24)[is what You provide.] We recognize (text-indent: 24)[the supreme sacrifice] (text-indent: 24)[of Jesus on the cross.] Daily we see (text-indent: 24)[how He intercedes] (text-indent: 24)[in our lives,] offering protection and guidance (text-indent: 24)[whenever we ask] (text-indent: 24)[and many times when we don't.] On this day we celebrate (text-indent: 24)[the Risen Christ,] (text-indent: 24)[Your Son, Jesus.] He did as You commanded (text-indent: 24)[and reopened the door] (text-indent: 24)[to eternal life for us all.] (text-indent: 48)[We only have to walk] (text-indent: 24)[through it in faith.] His mission is ongoing, (text-indent: 24)[and He will return] (text-indent: 48)[to gather us who believe,] (text-indent: 24)[then He will judge] (text-indent: 48)[those who are left behind.] For after here is a forever life, (text-indent: 24)[one that knows] (text-indent: 24)[no sorrows, no tears, no pains,] (text-indent: 24)[but only Love, Joy and Peace.] We graciously wait (text-indent: 24)[during this Age of Grace,] (text-indent: 24)[longing to see those] (text-indent: 24)[who have gone on before us.] It's knowing we will see You, see Jesus, (text-indent: 24)[along with so many we've missed] (text-indent: 48)[for so long,] (text-indent: 24)[that gives us the will] (text-indent: 48)[to continue] (text-indent: 48)[for as long as it takes.] Amen... mAt 3/30/24

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''15 Attributes of God''] <== --- 0. ''God Is Infinite'' – He is Self-Existing, Without Origin 0. ''God Is Immutable'' – He Never Changes 0. ''God Is Self-Sufficient'' – He Has No Needs 0. ''God is Omnipotent'' – He Is All Powerful 0. ''God Is Omniscient'' – He Is All-Knowing 0. ''God Is Omnipresent'' – He Is Always Everywhere 0. ''God Is Wise'' – He Is Full of Perfect, Unchanging Wisdom 0. ''God Is Faithful'' – He Is Infinitely, Unchangingly True 0. ''God Is Good'' – He Is Infinitely, Unchangingly Kind and Full of Good Will 0. ''God Is Just'' – He Is Infinitely, Unchangeably Right and Perfect in All He Does 0. ''God Is Merciful'' – He is Infinitely, Unchangeably Compassionate and Kind 0. ''God Is Gracious'' – God Is Infinitely Inclined to Spare the Guilty 0. ''God Is Loving'' – God Infinitely, Unchangingly Loves Us 0. ''God Is Holy'' – He is Infinitely, Unchangingly Perfect 0. ''God Is Glorious'' – He is Infinitely Beautiful and Great

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(enchant: ?Jesus, (text-colour:red)) (set: $rt to (text-colour:red)) =><= ''Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple'' <== Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, $rt[See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. ] =><= ''Signs of the End of the Age'' <== Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, |Jesus>[Take heed that no man deceive you.] Mat 24:5 |Jesus>[For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. ] Mat 24:6 |Jesus>[And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ] Mat 24:7 |Jesus>[For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ] =><= ''Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany'' <== Joh 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. Joh 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? Joh 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Joh 12:7 Then said Jesus, |Jesus>[Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. ] Joh 12:8 |Jesus>[For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. ] <img src="./Bible_Topics.png" >

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is Christianity and what do Christians believe?''] <== --- The core beliefs of Christianity are summarized in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, was resurrected, and thereby offers salvation to all who will receive Him in faith. Unique among all other faiths, Christianity is more about a relationship than religious practices. Instead of adhering to a list of “do’s and don’ts,” the goal of a Christian is to cultivate a close walk with God. That relationship is made possible because of the work of Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Beyond these core beliefs, there are many other items that are, or at least should be, indicative of what Christianity is and what Christians believe. Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired, “God-breathed” Word of God and that its teaching is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Christians believe in one God that exists in three persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but sin separates all men from God (Romans 3:23; 5:12). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross. Christians believe that after His death, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for the believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). Christianity proclaims that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by all men and this is what restores the broken relationship between God and man (Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:10; Romans 5:8; 6:23). Christianity teaches that in order to be saved and be granted entrance into heaven after death, one must place one’s faith entirely in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If we believe that Christ died in our place and paid the price of our own sins, and rose again, then we are saved. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation. We cannot be “good enough” to please God on our own, because we are all sinners (Isaiah 53:6; 64:6-7). There is nothing more to be done, because Christ has done all the work! When He was on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), meaning that the work of redemption was completed. According to Christianity, salvation is freedom from the old sin nature and freedom to pursue a right relationship with God. Where we were once slaves to sin, we are now slaves to Christ (Romans 6:15-22). As long as believers live on this earth in their sinful bodies, they will engage in a constant struggle with sin. However, Christians can have victory in the struggle with sin by studying and applying God’s Word in their lives and being controlled by the Holy Spirit—that is, submitting to the Spirit’s leading in everyday circumstances. So, while many religious systems require that a person do or not do certain things, Christianity is about believing that Christ died on the cross as payment for our own sins and rose again. Our sin debt is paid and we can have fellowship with God. We can have victory over our sin nature and walk in fellowship and obedience with God. That is true biblical Christianity.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is a Christian Worldview?''] <== --- A “worldview” refers to a comprehensive conception of the world from a specific standpoint. A “Christian worldview,” then, is a comprehensive conception of the world from a Christian standpoint. An individual’s worldview is his “big picture,” a harmony of all his beliefs about the world. It is his way of understanding reality. One’s worldview is the basis for making daily decisions and is therefore extremely important. An apple sitting on a table is seen by several people. A botanist looking at the apple classifies it. An artist sees a still-life and draws it. A grocer sees an asset and inventories it. A child sees lunch and eats it. How we look at any situation is influenced by how we look at the world at large. Every worldview, Christian and non-Christian, deals with at least these three questions: 1) Where did we come from? (and why are we here?) 2) What is wrong with the world? 3) How can we fix it? A prevalent worldview today is naturalism, which answers the three questions like this: 1) We are the product of random acts of nature with no real purpose. 2) We do not respect nature as we should. 3) We can save the world through ecology and conservation. A naturalistic worldview generates many related philosophies such as moral relativism, existentialism, pragmatism, and utopianism. A Christian worldview, on the other hand, answers the three questions biblically: 1) We are God’s creation, designed to govern the world and fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15). 2) We sinned against God and subjected the whole world to a curse (Genesis 3). 3) God Himself has redeemed the world through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15; Luke 19:10), and will one day restore creation to its former perfect state (Isaiah 65:17-25). A Christian worldview leads us to believe in moral absolutes, miracles, human dignity, and the possibility of redemption. It is important to remember that a worldview is comprehensive. It affects every area of life, from money to morality, from politics to art. True Christianity is more than a set of ideas to use at church. Christianity as taught in the Bible is itself a worldview. The Bible never distinguishes between a “religious” and a “secular” life; the Christian life is the only life there is. Jesus proclaimed Himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and, in doing so, became our worldview.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''A syllabus of prophetic language:''] <== --- The language of prophecy: The language of the Old Testament is Hebrew. Therefore, it is essential to interpret Old Testament prophecies in light of ancient Hebrew culture. For example, in our culture, someone might say, “After I watch the Hawks and 49ers on the 60” plasma, I’m going to drive the Ford to SeaTac then catch the Red Eye to the Windy City. Most today would have little difficulty understanding that sentence. However, if we went back in time just 100 years the sentence would not make sense. Remember, Bible prophecies are more than 2000 years old, and are presented in a different cultural context. Therefore, interpreting prophetic words and phrases must be done with great care. A few common words with uncommon meanings follow. * Days = often equal years. * Week = a week of years or 7 years. * Horn = represents power. * Biblical years = 360 days (the ancient calendar followed lunar cycles). * Animals can be used to represent kings and kingdoms. * Wind = can describe a war or a unique working or moving of God. * Water = means life or cleansing; it can also represent judgment. * Oil = a sign of blessing. * Virgin = signifies purity. * Prostitute/harlot = unfaithful or false church. * The numbers 3, 7, 10, 12, 40, 70, 120, 1000, 144,000 have spiritual (and symbolic) importance. * The number 1000 = was considered perfect and often, uncountable. * A generation = 40, 70 or 80 years (depending on the verse or specific context). * Fire and various signs in the heavens warn of or announce divine judgments and appearances. * End days/Last days/End times = the period from Pentecost to the end of the Great Tribulation. * Birth Pangs/Birth Pains = The end of the Last Days to the beginning of the Tribulation period. * The Tribulation = The last 7 years. * The Great Tribulation = The last 3 1/2 years.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''TIMELINE OF JESUS’ MINISTRY IN THE GOSPELS''] <== --- |und>[''PART ONE: Leading Up to the Birth of Jesus''] * The nature of the Messiah (John 1:1-5) * The genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:1-17) * The parents of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-22) * The announcement of the birth of Christ (Luke 1:26-38) |und>[''PART TWO: The Birth of John and Jesus''] * The birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80) * The birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 2:1-16) |und>[''PART THREE: Infancy and Childhood''] * The Infancy of Jesus (Luke 2:21-28) * The visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) * The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23) * Jesus at 12 years old (Matthew 2:40-43;Luke 2:44-52) |und>[''PART FOUR: The First Year of Ministry''] * The Messiah announced by John the Baptist (John 1:6-9; Matt. 3:1-6) * The ministry of John the Baptist (Luke 3:15-18; Matt. 3:13-17) * The temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13) * The calling of the disciples (John 1:10-12;John 1:35-51) * The first miracle (John 2:1-12) * Jesus cleanses the temple (John 2:13-21) * The meeting with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) * Ministry in Judea (John 3:22-36) * Ministry in Samaria – “The woman at the well” (John 4:5-43) |und>[''PART FIVE: The Second Year of Ministry''] * Opposition in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30) * Opposition in Capernaum (Luke 4:31-36; Mark 3:8-12) * Jesus heals Peter’s Mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-44) * The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) * The compassion of Jesus (Mark 1:40-45) * The listing of the disciples (Luke 6:12-16) * The affirmation of John the Baptist (Matt. 11:2-19) * A lesson on gratitude (Luke 7:36-50) * The source of Jesus’ power (Matt. 12:22-45) * Jesus teaches in parables (Matt. 13:1-52) * Women support the ministry of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3) * Jesus calms the sea (Mark 4:34-41) * Jesus heals a demon-possessed man (Mark 5:1-20) * Jesus heals a paralytic (Luke 5:18-26) * The call of Levi (Matt. 9:9-13) * Jesus heals on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:1-14) * Jesus heals Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:22-43) * Jesus heals one blind/demon-possessed (Matt. 9:27-34) * Jesus heals a lame man (John 5:1-15) * Jesus sends the twelve (Mark 6:7-13; Matt. 10:14-42) * Jesus speaks of His true nature (John 5:16-47) * Jesus as Lord of the Harvest (Matt. 9:35-38) * The death of John the Baptist (Matt. 14:1-12) * Jesus feeds the 5000 (John 6:1-15) * Peter walks on water (Jn. 6:16-20;Matt.14:28-31 Jn. 6:21;Mk. 6:53-56) * Jesus speaks of commitment (John 6:22-71) |und>[''PART SIX: The Third Year of Ministry''] * Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees for not following their traditions (Mark 7:1-15) * Jesus privately instructs His disciple (Mark 7:16-23) * Jesus helps the daughter of a Greek woman (Mark 7:24-30) * Jesus heals the deaf and mute (Mark 7:31-37) * Jesus feeds the 4000 (Matthew 15:32-38) * The Pharisees demand a sign (Matthew 16:1-8,12;Mark 8:18-21) * Jesus heals a blind man in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26) * Peter proclaims Jesus as the Christ (Matt. 16:13-38) * The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) * Jesus heals the demon-possessed mute (Mark 9:14-30) * Jesus speaks again of His coming suffering (Mark 9:31-32) * The miracle of the coin in the mouth of the fish (Matt. 17:24-27) * Teaching in Capernaum (Mk. 9:33-35; Lk. 9:47-48; Matt.18:5-9) * Jesus teaches about forgiveness and confrontation (Matthew 18:10;18:13-35; Mark 9:38-40) * Jesus delays going to the Feast (John 7:1-9) * Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:10-42) * Temple guards are sent to arrest Jesus (John 7:43-52) * A woman is caught in the act of adultery (John 7:5) * The Pharisees challenge Jesus (John 8:12-59) * Jesus heals a man born blind (John 9:1-41) * Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-17) |und>[''PART SEVEN: The Long Journey to Jerusalem''] * Jesus begins the long journey toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-56) * Jesus speaks of commitment (Luke 9:57-62) * Jesus speaks of accountability (Matthew 11:20-24) * The great invitation (Matthew 11:25-30) * Jesus heals ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) * The seventy are sent out (Luke 10:1-24) * The greatest commandment (Luke 10:25-29) * The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) * Mary and Martha wait on Jesus (Luke 10:38-42) * Jesus urges believers to be ready for His return (Luke 13:1-13) * Jesus at the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-39) * Jesus teaches about salvation and heals a man with dropsy (Luke 13:22-35; Luke 14:1-6) |und>[''PART EIGHT: Six Months Before The Cross''] * Jesus speaks of the importance of humility (Luke 14:7-23) * Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:24-33) * Jesus speaks of our witness (Luke 14:34-35) * The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) * The parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) * The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) * The parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-15) * The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) * Jesus teaches about the sovereignty of God (Matthew 20:1-16) * Jesus teaches about the power of prayer (Luke 18:1-17) * Jesus speaks to the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-34) * Jesus teaches about divorce (Matthew 19:3-12; 20:1-16) * The raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-57) * The Pharisees plot to kill Jesus (John 11:53-57) * The request for preferential treatment (Mark 10:35-45) * Jesus heals the blind at Jericho (Mark 10:46-52) * Jesus ministers to Zacchaeus at Jericho (Luke 19:1-10) * The parable of the talents (Luke 19:11-27) |und>[''PART NINE: The Last Week''] * Mary honors at a dinner (John 12:1-11) * Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:28-35; Luke 19:39-49; Matt. 21:4-16) * Jesus curses the fig tree (Mark 11:12-18) * Greek Jews seek an audience with Jesus (John 12:20-36) * Jesus speaks in parables (Matthew 21:33-44) * The Herodians attempt to trap Jesus (Matthew 22:15-22) * The Sadducees attempt to trap Jesus (Luke 20:27-40) * The Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus (Matthew 22:34-40) * Jesus rebukes the Pharisees (Matthew 23:13-36) * The widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44) * Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple (Luke 21:5-7) * Jesus speaks of end-time events (Matthew 24:4;25-46) * Jesus seeks to comfort the disciples (John 12:27-35) * Jesus pleads with people to believe (Luke 21:37-38; John 12:37-38) * Jesus at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Luke 22:1-13) * The Last Supper in //Luke// (Matt. 26:20; Luke 22:15-20) * The Last Supper in //John// (John 13:1-9) * Jesus washes the feet of the disciples (John 13:10-39) * Jesus speaks of His leaving and the Holy Spirit (John 14:1-31) * Our calling and God’s expectation (John 15:1-27) * The coming of the Holy Spirit (John 16:1-33) * The high priestly prayer (John 17:1-26) * Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) * The arrest of Jesus (Matthew 26:47-56; John 18:4-10) |und>[''PART TEN: The Crucifixion and the Ascension''] * The trial of Jesus (Matthew 26:57-68) * Peter denies Jesus (Matthew 26:69-74; Luke 22:61-62) * Jesus before Pilate (Luke 22:66-71; Matthew 27:2-10) * Jesus before Herod (Matthew 27:11-14; Luke 23:7-12) * Pilate orders Jesus beaten (Luke 23:13-16) * Pilate seeks to release Jesus (Matthew 27:15-26) * Pilate turns Jesus over to be crucified (Matthew 27:27-31) * Simon carries the cross / Jesus is crucified (Matthew 27:32-36; Luke 23:27-31; John 19:18-22) * The mocking crowd (Matthew 27:39-43; Luke 23:39-43) * The death of Jesus (Matthew 27:45-56) * The legs of those crucified with Jesus are broken (John 19:31-37) * Joseph of Arimathea and the tomb (Matthew 27:57-61) * Pilate orders the tomb secured (Matthew 27:62-66) * The resurrection (Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:4-8) * At the tomb / Mary’s encounter (Luke 24:9-11; John 20:3-17) * Religious leaders try to conceal the truth (Matthew 28:11-15) * Jesus meets with the disciples (Luke 24:13-36; John 20:20-29) * Jesus at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-15) * Jesus restores Peter (John 21:15-22) * The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) * The ascension of Jesus (Luke 24:50-52; John 20:30-31; John 21:24-25)

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How can I become a Christian?''] <== --- The first step to become a Christian is to understand what the term “Christian” means. The origin of the term “Christian” was in the city of Antioch in the first century A.D. (see Acts 11:26). It is possible that, at first, the term “Christian” was intended to be an insult. The word essentially means “little Christ.” However, over the centuries, believers in Christ have adopted the term “Christian” and use it to identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. A simple definition of a Christian is a person who follows Jesus Christ. ''Why should I become a Christian?'' Jesus Christ declared that He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The question then arises – why did we need to be ransomed? The idea of a ransom is a payment that must be made in exchange for the release of a person. The idea of a ransom is most frequently used in instances of kidnapping, when someone is kidnapped and held prisoner until a ransom is paid for the person’s release. Jesus paid our ransom to free us from bondage! Bondage from what? Bondage to sin and its consequences, physical death followed by eternal separation from God. Why did Jesus need to pay this ransom? Because we are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23), and are therefore worthy of judgment from God (Romans 6:23). How did Jesus pay our ransom? By dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). How could Jesus’ death sufficiently pay for all of our sins? Jesus was God in human form, God come to earth to become one of us so He could identify with us and die for our sins (John 1:1,14). As God, Jesus’ death was infinite in value, sufficient to pay for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2). Jesus’ resurrection after His death demonstrated that His death was the sufficient sacrifice, that He had truly conquered sin and death. ''How can I become a Christian?'' This is the best part. Because of His love for us, God has made it exceedingly simple to become a Christian. All you have to do is receive Jesus as your Savior, fully accepting His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins (John 3:16), fully trusting Him alone as your Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Becoming a Christian is not all about rituals, going to church, or doing certain things while refraining from other things. Becoming a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through faith, is what makes a person a Christian. ''Are you ready to become a Christian?'' If you are ready to become a Christian by receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior, all you have to do is believe. Do you understand and believe that you have sinned and are worthy of judgment from God? Do you understand and believe that Jesus took your punishment upon Himself, dying in your place? Do you understand and believe that His death was the sufficient sacrifice to pay for your sins? If your answers to these three questions are yes, then simply place your trust in Jesus as your Savior. Receive Him, by faith, fully trusting in Him alone. That is all it takes to become a Christian!

(text-size:1.1)[''God help us ''] --- God help us To succeed Not fail To overcome The traps of The world, The flesh and The Devil. The world today Is full of strife, Of hardships And lies. All to keep us tired, off balance and Feeling overwhelmed. The flesh says Have another cookie Or piece of pizza Or another drink, Look at another picture, Watch another Video, Listen to more music. It says have more Because you can't have Too much. But, we know better. The Devil just plans And develops more ways To destroy the world And us through our flesh. He will only succeed For a short time And only when help him By being fearful, By hopping on His rollercoaster of doom Instead of resisting And staying pure Through the reading of and Focusing on God's Word. We can overcome But not by giving in Or going along with What the world Wants us to believe, Wants us to follow, Wants us to do Through it's constant Daily diet of fear mongering And it's Proposals For changing almost Every way of life we have followed For thousands of years.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What was a prophet in the Old Testament?''] <== --- A prophet in the Old Testament was someone who was used by God to communicate His message to the world. Prophets were also called “seers” because they could “see,” spiritually speaking, as God gave them insight (1 Samuel 9:9). The prophets can be divided into the “writing prophets” such as Isaiah, Daniel, Amos, and Malachi; and the “non-writing prophets” such as Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29), Micaiah (2 Chronicles 18:7), and Elisha (1 Kings 19:16). There are also some anonymous prophets in the Old Testament, such as the unnamed prophet in Judges 6:7–10. The prophets came from a variety of backgrounds, spoke to different audiences, possessed unique styles, and used assorted methods. Most of the Old Testament prophets’ messages concerned the people of Israel; if other nations were mentioned in the oracles, it was usually in connection to those nations’ dealings with Israel. Most prophets of God were men, but the Old Testament also mentions prophetesses such as Miriam (Exodus 15:20, ESV), Deborah (Judges 4:4, ESV), and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14, ESV). All prophets shared some characteristics that made their ministries “prophetic.” A prophet was called by God to be a prophet. Isaiah and Ezekiel were given visions of God’s glory (Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1). God told Jeremiah that he had been picked out prior even to his birth: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, / before you were born I set you apart; / I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). A common description of the source of the message is that “the word of the Lord came” to the prophet (Jeremiah 1:2; Ezekiel 1:3; Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1; Jonah 1:1; Micah 1:1; Zephaniah 1:1; Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1). Another description is that the prophet received an “oracle,” that is, a special revelation from God (Isaiah 13:1; Habakkuk 1:1; Numbers 24:16, ESV). A prophet was required to deliver God’s message accurately. The prophet Micaiah put it well: “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell [the king] only what the Lord tells me” (1 Kings 22:14). Those who, like Jeremiah, tried to keep silent found they could not (Jeremiah 20:9). Those who, like Jonah, tried to avoid their responsibility were corrected (Jonah 1:3–4). Others, like the unnamed prophet from Judah who directly disobeyed the divine command, lost their lives (1 Kings 13:15–24). A prophet sometimes had a unique appearance. Elijah was known for wearing “a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist” (2 Kings 1:8). Elijah’s mantle that he left for Elisha was also seen as a symbol of the prophetic office (2 Kings 2:13–14). God told Ezekiel to shave his head and beard (Ezekiel 5:1). Other prophets were set apart in other ways: Jeremiah, for example, was told he could not marry (Jeremiah 16:2); Hosea was told to marry a prostitute (Hosea 1:2). All prophets were recognized as those through whom God spoke (even if their message was not welcome). A prophet often led a hard life. Isaiah was sent to a people “ever hearing, but never understanding” (Isaiah 6:9), and (according to tradition) he was eventually murdered for his efforts. Ezekiel ministered to “a rebellious people” (Ezekiel 12:2). The queen of Israel sought to take Elijah’s life (1 Kings 19:2). Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern, where he “sank down into the mud” (Jeremiah 38:6). Jesus spoke of Jerusalem as those “who kill the prophets and stone those sent” to them (Luke 13:34), and, speaking to the Jewish leaders of his day, Stephen asked this condemning question: “Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?” (Acts 7:52). Often, a prophet in the Old Testament predicted the future. Sometimes, the prophecies concerned events that were soon to happen; for example, Joseph predicted seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine in Egypt, events that occurred within the next fourteen years (Genesis 41:25–36). Many other prophets foresaw things in the distant future; for example, many of Daniel’s and Zechariah’s prophecies concern the second coming of Christ and other end-times events (Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 12:10). The Old Testament also mentions false prophets. These were liars who claimed to speak for God but were intent upon deceiving the people or serving their own interests. Ahab had nearly four hundred such false prophets in his employ (1 Kings 22:6, 23). Nehemiah’s work was opposed by several false prophets and one false prophetess (Nehemiah 6:14). The test of a prophet was 100 percent accuracy in what he said (Deuteronomy 18:22). If a prophet’s predictions did not come true, then he could not have been speaking for God, since God never lies (Numbers 23:19). The role of Old Testament prophet reached its consummation in the person of John the Baptist, who was predicted in Malachi 4:5 (cf. Luke 7:26–27); and in Jesus Christ, who was the Prophet “like Moses” predicted in Deuteronomy 18:15 (cf. Acts 3:22).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Various principles of Christian Living''] <== --- 0. A spiritual gift is something God gives you to serve Him; talent is different. 0. Acquiring wisdom leads to understanding. 0. ''Adversity is inevitable; stress is optional.'' 0. Adversity is what life does to you; stress is what you do to yourself. 0. A-fortiori (Latin) -- If God did the greatest while we were unbelievers, then how much more can He do for us now that we are saved? 0. Arrogance: Self-justification leads to self-deception (lying to yourself), followed by self-absorption (doing whatever you want regardless of the rules), ending with self destruction (destroying yourself through your bad decisions). 0. Arrogant people have unrealistic expectations and unrealistic images of themselves. 0. As a Christian, you are never alone. 0. As a client nation we are custodians of the Canon of Scripture. We guard it, preach and teach it, and protect it from attacks and those who intend to create doubt. 0. ''As goes your spiritual life, so goes the future of your Nation.'' 0. As long as you are still alive, God has a plan for you. 0. As a Christian, at any given moment, you are either serving God or Satan. 0. Authority is not always fair, neither is life. 0. ''Bad decisions limit future options.'' 0. Be a crisis personality - prepare to think and lead under pressure. 0. Be a spiritual quiet professional. 0. Beware of people who seem to know God's will for your life. 0. Bible Doctrine in your soul is true wealth, not the assets/money you possess. 0. ''Blessings come, and blessings go, but the Source remains the same.'' 0. Capacity for happiness requires contentment with life's circumstances. 0. ''Christianity is a relationship with God.'' 0. Circumstances in life are your pulpit, use them to glorify God. 0. Confess your sins to God the Father, by silent prayer, so the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is allowed to work within you. 0. Contentment is sharing the happiness of God and brings capacity for life, love, and happiness. 0. Contentment replaces eyes on material things or people. 0. ''Desperate people do desperate things.'' 0. Divine discipline is intended to get your attention and see the need for an attitude adjustment. 0. Divine viewpoint produces lasting happiness, a relaxed mental attitude. 0. Don't be impetuous and get ahead of the Lord. 0. Don't focus on the circumstance or problem, focus on the solution. 0. Don't forget the Source when you are in prosperity. 0. Don't humanize God. 0. Don't let the good things of life take you from the best things of life. 0. Don't let the rate of forgetting exceed the rate of learning the Word of God. 0. Don't let the physical take precedence over the spiritual. 0. Don't speculate, articulate. 0. Doubt is the absence of faith. 0. Emotions are a great servant, but a vicious master. 0. Emphasize your relationship with God, before your relationship with people. 0. Evaluate your thoughts and actions in the light of eternity. 0. Every Christian is given a time and a standard; redeem the time and live up to the standard. 0. ''Every problem has a solution in the Bible.'' 0. Faith alone, in Christ alone, through Grace alone. 0. Faith is spiritual stamina. 0. Faithfulness in the little things leads to faithfulness in the big things. 0. Fear and the spiritual life are not compatible. 0. Fear of dying inhibits living. 0. ''Fear sees the problem; Faith sees the solution.'' 0. Forget the past... press forward. 0. God calls us to be witnesses, not lawyers; His Word can defend itself. 0. God designed you to think, not emote. 0. ''God gave you two ends - one to sit on and one to think with. Success in life depends on which end you use. Heads you win - Tails you lose.'' 0. God gave you volition; you make your own decisions. 0. God has a destiny for you; you must pursue it and find it, before you can live it. 0. God uses prepared Christians. 0. God wants us to be faithful, not flawless. 0. God's plan is perfect and God's timing is perfect. 0. God's Word, the Bible, is the only absolute source of truth. 0. Good decisions are made from a position of strength (wisdom). 0. Grace is God doing the work and man receiving what God provides. 0. Grace is neither earned nor deserved. 0. Grace orientation replaces eyes on people. Keep these three aligned in your life: Witness of God's Word; Witness of Circumstances; and Witness of the Holy Spirit. 0. Happiness depends on what is in your soul; happiness is self-contained. 0. ''Happiness does not depend on people or circumstances.'' 0. Have an attitude of gratitude. 0. Holding on to the past is a waste of time. 0. How do you handle unfair situations? Do you respond with humility or react with arrogance? 0. ''Human solutions are no solutions; Divine solutions are the only solutions.'' 0. Humility is teachability. 0. Humility, the lack of arrogance, opens your mind to learning. 0. If God does not promote you, you are not promoted. 0. If you are not advancing, you are regressing. 0. If you can trust God with your life, you can trust Him with the details; have faith. 0. If you choose to be lured by the details of life, human viewpoint, you are living like a fool. 0. If you do not adjust to the justice of God, the justice of God will adjust to you. 0. If you live with emotionalism, your thinking will be faulty. 0. ''In living, you apply Bible doctrine. In dying, you live Bible doctrine.'' 0. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 0. It's never too late to: rebound; reconsider your ways; or relocate for face-to-face teaching under a qualified pastor-teacher. 0. It's not about you. 0. ''Jesus Christ controls history.'' 0. Jesus Christ is the key to eternal wealth. 0. Jesus Christ will never abandon or forsake you. 0. ''LAG - Learn and Apply the Word of God, Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.'' 0. Learn to live, don't live to learn. 0. Leave your own agenda behind and walk into God's Plan for your life. 0. Life is a journey; God's Word is the guide. 0. Live each day in the light of eternity. 0. ''Man looks on the outside, God looks on the inside.'' 0. Man's adversities = God's opportunities. 0. Mental stability is poise and composure marked by self-assurance and thinking. 0. Momentum testing gives you data to assess your spiritual condition. 0. Must be motivated to learn in spite of subjective distractions (your own issues) and objective distractions (something outside of yourself). 0. ''Never build your happiness on someone else's unhappiness.'' 0. Never criticize someone in authority, be it pastor, parent, or leader of an organization; respect the position, not necessarily the person. 0. Never get in God's way when faced with unfair situations, let God handle it; don't try to vindicate yourself. 0. No person, circumstance, or situation is too great for the Plan of God. 0. Norms and standards in your soul are designed to protect you. 0. ''Nothing can be added to the work Christ completed on the cross.'' 0. Occupation with Christ replaces eyes on self and circumstances. 0. Once you allow yourself to get sucked into a frantic search for happiness, your life will spin out of control; you will be frustrated and miserable. 0. Only in time can God demonstrate grace through suffering. 0. Patience is a learned character asset. 0. Poise is thinking under pressure. 0. Prevailing power of persistent prayer. 0. Priority or Passion? Do you live by priorities or follow your passions? 0. Problem Solving Devices: Rebound; Filling of the Holy Spirit; Faith-Rest Drill; Grace Orientation; Doctrinal Orientation: Personal Sense of Destiny; Personal Love for God; Impersonal Love for Mankind; Sharing the Happiness of God; and Occupation with Christ. 0. Production in the Christian life is both visible and invisible; the invisible is often the greatest. 0. ''Promises, the shield of faith, will protect you.'' 0. Protocol means doing a right thing in a right way. A wrong thing done in a wrong way is wrong. A right thing done in a wrong way is wrong. Only a right thing done in a right way is right. 0. ''Recall the doctrine, recite the verse, reap the reward.'' 0. Religion demands that people do good things to please God; religion is steeped in legalism. 0. Religion is the devil's ace trump. 0. Renovate your thinking through wisdom in your soul. 0. Resolve is determination on steroids. 0. Respond or React. Responding requires humility; humility forgives and forgets. 0. Reacting is arrogance which judges and criticizes. 0. Ritual without reality is meaningless. 0. Satan can control you through your thoughts and emotions. 0. Satan never quits; the cosmic system never rests. 0. ''Solve your problems by learning and applying the Word of God, not by depending on others.'' 0. Speak to the living; bury the dead [focus of a memorial service]. 0. Speak, write, teach God's Word to your children. 0. Spiritual assets/skills are acquired, not inherited. 0. ''Spiritual skills must precede production skills.'' 0. Spiritual values are what hold a nation together. 0. Stay focused on God, not circumstances, to stay oriented to His plan for your life. 0. ''Stay off the My Way Highway.'' 0. Store up treasures from the Word of God. 0. ''Studying the Word of God needs to be a daily habit.'' 0. Testing comes at your weaknesses. 0. Testing is a means to an end; testing gets you where you need to go. 0. Testing is to strengthen your faith. 0. The Bible is the light that makes the right path clear. 0. ''The Christian way of life is unique. To understand and live it, you need the unique resources God provides: the Holy Spirit and the Bible.'' 0. The Christian way of life isn't doing, it is thinking. 0. The darker the outlook, the more difficult the adversity, the greater the problem, the more He is glorified when we keep trusting Him. 0. ''The decisions you make determine the life you will lead.'' 0. The details of life can't bring happiness. 0. The Lord delivers through adversity, not necessarily from adversity. 0. The object of faith always has the merit. 0. The only way to grow as a Christian is to study, learn, and apply God's Word. 0. ''The real you is what you think, not how you look.'' 0. The same power that sustained Jesus Christ on the cross is the same power the Christian has to sustain the spiritual life. 0. The secret to a full and meaningful life starts with authority orientation learned at home. 0. The solution to people testing is a function of impersonal love and spiritual self-esteem. 0. The Supreme Court of Heaven is open 24/7; let God handle the justice, He has all the facts. 0. The Word of God is the Mind of Christ. 0. There are no accidents in the Plan of God. 0. ''There is no adversity too great for the Plan of God.'' 0. There is real danger in experimenting with things the world offers. 0. Think in an organized way; an organized mind can handle pressure. 0. Three checkpoints for knowing the will of God: Where does God want me to be? What does God want me to think? What does God want me to do? 0. Timing is patience expressed. 0. Tomorrow is not guaranteed; don't waste today. Redeem the time. 0. ''Unhappy people take their unhappiness with them wherever they go.'' 0. Use Scripture. It worked for the Lord Jesus Christ, it will work for you. 0. When fear knocks on the door, faith needs to answer. 0. When we fall asleep in the arms of the Lord, it is with the assurance that we will awake to a new morning that never ends, to a realization of eternal life. 0. When you choose to leave your own agenda behind and walk into God's Plan, you will have the best life imaginable, more contentment and happiness than you ever thought possible. 0. When you don't have enough on the inside to equal the pressures from the outside, you will be crushed. 0. When you think with divine viewpoint, you do not think the way the world thinks. 0. Winners execute, losers emote. 0. Wisdom and understanding are the keys to happiness. 0. With rebound, positive volition, and application of Bible Doctrine, you can turn suffering for discipline into suffering for blessing. 0. Without a sense of God's destiny in your life, you will never find the purpose of why you are here. 0. You are a product of your own volition, your decisions. 0. ''You are either going to be born twice, or die twice.'' 0. You are not the victim of your circumstances; you are the victim of your own decisions. 0. ''You are what you think, not what you think you are.'' 0. You can either believe in Christ for eternal life, or reject Him for eternal condemnation - the choice is yours. 0. You can have an invisible impact by executing the Plan of God. 0. You cannot apply what you do not know. 0. You can pass people testing, or you can be a people test. 0. You can trust God; can God trust you? 0. You can't build your happiness on someone else's unhappiness. 0. You can't live the spiritual life in the energy of the flesh. 0. ''You can't lose your salvation; once saved, always saved.'' 0. You defend God's Word not by telling people they are wrong, but by simply giving them the Truth. 0. You don't have to tell God your problems, thank Him for the solutions. 0. You trust God with your life; trust Him with the details. 0. Your choices = your life. 0. Your destiny is God's special plan for your life. 0. ''Your most important decision is to accept or reject Jesus Christ as your Savior.'' 0. ''Your relationship with God must come first in your life.''

(text-size:1.1)[''Looking Ahead''] --- Looking ahead, what do you see? Peace and prosperity, chaos and strife, people starting out, couples marrying, others retiring. We either see what we want to see or reality as it is. Actually, few see reality, as it is obscured by the 'news,' social media, movies and music. This world is headed in a very specific direction. Keep watching and praying so you stay on the right path.

{ <style> summary { color: blue; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin: -0.5em -0.5em 0; padding: 0.5em; } a { font-weight: bold; } </style>  <script> [...document.getElementsByTagName("details")].forEach( (D,_,A) => D.addEventListener("toggle", E => D.open && A.forEach(d => d!=E.target && (d.open=false) ) ) ) </script> (enchant:?Link, (hover-style:(text-style:'italic')))(text-color:purple)+(text-size:1.1)[''Concise Christianity''] <details><summary>Basics</summary>[[What is Christianity?]] [[Is Christianity True?]] [[What is the Gospel?]] [[How can I become a Christian?]] [[How To Be Saved]] [[What is the Lord’s prayer?]] [[What is a Christian Worldview?]] [[Life Principles]] [[What Is Witnessing?]] [[Once Saved, Always Saved?]] [[How to get to Heaven]] [[What happens after death?]] [[How can I overcome the fear of death?]] [[Is the human soul mortal or immortal?]] [[What is the difference between Christianity and Judaism?]]</details><details><summary>God & Jesus</summary>[[Does God Exist?]] [[15 Attributes of God]] [[Who is Jesus Christ?]] [[What does it mean to believe in Jesus?]] [[What does it mean that Jesus saves?]] [[What is the meaning of the blood of Christ?]] [[What does Christ mean?]] [[What does Messiah mean?]] [[Timeline of Jesus Ministry]] [[Why is the resurrection of Jesus so important?]] [[Who is the Holy Spirit?]] [[Who is the Comforter?]] [[What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of Man?]]</details><details><summary>The Bible</summary>[[What is the Bible about?]] [[What is the purpose of the Bible?]] [[How is the Bible unique?]] [[What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?]] [[What are the books of the Bible?]] [[Why did God give us four Gospels?]] [[Can you give me a basic timeline of the Bible?]] [[What does the word testament mean?]] [[What is Truth?]] [[Is there proof for the inspiration of the Bible?]] [[Old vs. New Testament - What are the differences?]] <br><a style="color: maroon; " href="https://bible-topics.michaels-tech-notes.info/Holy%20Bible.html" target="_blank">The Holy Bible (external)</a><br> <a style="color: maroon; " href="https://bible-topics.michaels-tech-notes.info/New%20Testament.html" target="_blank">The Holy Bible New Testament (external)</a><br> </details><details><summary>Lifestyle</summary>[[How do I get right with God?]] [[What does it mean to exercise self-control?]] [[What does the Bible say about family?]] [[Should there be hierarchy in the family?]] [[What are the roles of the husband and wife in a family?]] [[How to treat ex-wife/husband?]] [[How many genders are there?]] [[Can a person be born with the wrong gender?]] [[When does a life in the womb become a human being?]] [[Is abortion murder?]] [[What does the Bible say about homosexuality?]] [[What does the Bible say about being a lesbian?]] [[What does the Bible say about doing drugs?]] [[What is pharmakeia in the Bible?]] [[What does the Bible say about fornication?]] [[What does the Bible say about pornography?]] [[Masturbation—is it a sin according to the Bible?]] [[What does the Bible say about alcohol?]] [[What does the Bible say about sorcery?]] [[Is artificial intelligence (AI) biblically possible?]]</details><details><summary>The Rapture</summary>[[What is the Rapture of the church?]] [[What is the blessed hope?]] [[What is the end times timeline?]] [[When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation?]] [[What is the end times tribulation?]] [[Jesus and the Ark]] [[Did Many People Disappear?]] [[What are the strengths and weaknesses of the pretribulational view of the Rapture?]]</details><details><summary>Prophecy</summary>[[What is Prophecy?]] [[The importance of Bible prophecy]] [[Mathematical Precision of Prophecy|Peter Stoner’s Calculations Regarding Messianic Prophecy]] [[How much of the Bible is prophecy?]] [[Old Testament Prophets]] [[How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill?]] [[Are we living in the End Times?]] [[What is Israel's role in the end times?]] [[Prophetic Language]] [[What is going to happen according to end times prophecy?]]</details><details><summary>Other Things</summary>[[What does the Bible say about angels?]] [[What does the Bible say about demons?]] [[What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?]] [[What is the time of Jacob’s trouble?]] [[What is the Battle of Armageddon?]] [[Is the United States a Christian nation?]] [[Could an EMP attack be a part of the end times?]] [[How should a Christian respond to Hollywood?]] [[What does the Bible say about Russia?]] [[What does the Bible say about China?]]</details><details><summary>Poetry</summary>[[Dear God]] [[Looking Ahead]] [[God Help Us]] [[Every Day]] [[The Great (un)Known]]</details>(if: (saved-games: ) contains "BibleAdven")[<hr>(link: "Go to bookmark")[(load-game:"BibleAdven")]](link-repeat: "Search")[(goto: "SEARCH")]<hr> [[About |About]](text-size: 0.6)[<br>''Compiler: M. 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=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Is once saved, always saved biblical?''] <== --- Once a person is saved are they always saved? Yes, when people come to know Christ as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their salvation as eternally secure. To be clear, salvation is more than saying a prayer or “making a decision” for Christ; salvation is a sovereign act of God whereby an unregenerate sinner is washed, renewed, and born again by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3; Titus 3:5). When salvation occurs, God gives the forgiven sinner a new heart and puts a new spirit within him (Ezekiel 36:26). The Spirit will cause the saved person to walk in obedience to God’s Word (Ezekiel 36:26–27; James 2:26). Numerous passages of Scripture declare the fact that, as an act of God, salvation is secure: (a) Romans 8:30 declares, "And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." This verse tells us that from the moment God chooses us, it is as if we are glorified in His presence in heaven. There is nothing that can prevent a believer from one day being glorified because God has already purposed it in heaven. Once a person is justified, his salvation is guaranteed—he is as secure as if he is already glorified in heaven. (b) Paul asks two crucial questions in Romans 8:33-34 "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? No one will, because Christ is our advocate. Who will condemn us? No one will, because Christ, the One who died for us, is the one who condemns. We have both the advocate and judge as our Savior. (c) Believers are born again (regenerated) when they believe (John 3:3; Titus 3:5). For a Christian to lose his salvation, he would have to be un-regenerated. The Bible gives no evidence that the new birth can be taken away. (d) The Holy Spirit indwells all believers (John 14:17; Romans 8:9) and baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). For a believer to become unsaved, he would have to be "un-indwelt" and detached from the Body of Christ. (e) John 3:15 states that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have eternal life." If you believe in Christ today and have eternal life, but lose it tomorrow, then it was never "eternal" at all. Hence, if you lose your salvation, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error. (f) In a conclusive argument, Scripture says, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38–39). Remember the same God who saved you is the same God who will keep you. Once we are saved, we are always saved. Our salvation is most definitely eternally secure!

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What happens after death?''] <== --- Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still others claim that, when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and the finality of their eternal destination. So, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death? First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins were forgiven when they received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36). For believers, death means being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Philippians 1:23). However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50–54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 describe believers being resurrected and given glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that, while the souls/spirits of believers go to be with Christ immediately at death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and reunited with the soul/spirit. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the state of existence for believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21-22). Second, for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting punishment. However, similar to the destiny of believers, it seems that unbelievers also go to a temporary holding place to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. Luke 16:22–23 describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. Revelation 20:11–15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers, then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but they are rather sent to a temporary realm of judgment and anguish. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24). After death, a person resides in either a place of comfort or in a place of torment. These realms act as a temporary “heaven” and a temporary “hell” until the resurrection. At that point, the soul is reunited with the body, but no one’s eternal destiny will change. The first resurrection is for the “blessed and holy” (Revelation 20:6)—everyone who is in Christ—and those who are part of the first resurrection will enter the millennial kingdom and, ultimately, the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). The other resurrection happens after Christ’s millennial kingdom, and it involves a judgment on the wicked and unbelieving “according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:13). These, whose names are not in the book of life, will be sent to the lake of fire to experience the “second death” (Revelation 20:14–15). The new earth and the lake of fire—these two destinations are final and eternal. People go to one or the other, based entirely on whether they have trusted Jesus Christ for salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How can I overcome the fear of death?''] <== --- Even the most secure, devout believer can have occasions when he fears death. It is hard-wired into our systems to avoid death. And death was not an original part of God’s plan for His creation. We were made to be whole and holy, living in paradise in communion with Him. The introduction of death was a necessary response to the admittance of sin into the world. It is a grace that we die. If we didn’t, we would have to live in a sinful world for all eternity. Knowing that in your head doesn’t necessarily counteract the visceral reaction to the thought of your own mortality. The fragility of our physical bodies and the sudden cessation of life are violent reminders of our lack of control in a large, dangerous world. We do have a great hope, that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). And He did go to prepare a place for us so that we can join Him (John 14:2). But it might help to consider the more immediate, practical considerations we’re faced with. Beginning with, what is the actual fear? There are several aspects of death that can potentially cause fear. Fortunately, God has an answer for each of them. ''Fear of the unknown'' What exactly does it feel like to die? What can you see as your life leaves your physical body? How will it come about? Is it anything like people have reported—a bright light? A group of relatives? No one knows for certain what it feels like, but the Bible does describe what happens. Second Corinthians 5:6–8 and Philippians 1:23 say that when we leave our body, we are at home with the Lord. What a reassuring thought! We will stay in this state until Christ comes and resurrects the believers (1 Corinthians 15:20–22; 6:14) when we will be given a new, glorified body. ''Fear of loss of control'' By the time humans reach adulthood, they have a pretty good idea how to interact with the world around them. They know how to find what they need, get to where they want to be, and interact with others in a way that fulfills their intent. Many though, even those who profess a trust in God, are so fearful of not getting what they need that they feel they have no choice but to manipulate their surroundings and the people around them to their benefit. We have all met men and women who abuse and grasp out of fear. They don’t trust God to provide for their needs, so they take care of things themselves. They don’t trust others to give them consideration, so they demand what they think they need. How much more they must fear the loss of control upon their deaths. As Jesus said to Peter, describing how he would die, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go” (John 21:18). Before Peter got this warning, he denied Jesus out of fear. Directly after the warning, he reacted by demanding to know how John was going to die. But after Jesus returned to heaven, Peter took the gift of the Holy Spirit and became a new person—one whose passion for Christ’s message far out-stripped his need to control his surroundings (Acts 5:17–42). The Holy Spirit alone gave him the strength to face whatever challenges he might face. ''Fear for those left behind'' The Christian view of death is “separation.” Ultimate death is separation from God. With physical death, we will be separated from our loved ones on Earth for a time. If they are also Christians, we know that the separation will be a short blink of an eye compared to the eternity we’ll spend with them in heaven. If they are not Christians, that will not be the case. Our commission, then, becomes to use this time together to talk to them about where they will go when they die. Ultimately, however, the decision rests with them. Just as God gives them the room to choose, we must also. ''Fear of the act of dying'' Few of us know how we will die. Quick and painless, in our sleep, a long, drawn-out illness—the mystery of it, the inability to prepare, can be frightening. If we do know, if we’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness, it can still be scary. But it is only a moment. A moment nearly everyone has gone through or will go through. And, when that moment is over, we can claim Philippians 3:20–21: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Often, being informed and actively participating can help assuage fear. You can take steps to prepare yourself and those around you. ''Overcoming the fear of death — Practical steps'' Many people believe they shouldn’t die because they have too much to live for. Often, this means they have responsibilities and unfinished business that wouldn’t be taken care of if they were gone. But having people and things you are responsible for won’t keep you from dying if it’s your time. Doing what you can to make sure they’re seen to can alleviate fear. If you have a business or children or other dependents, consider their care. Decide who will take over your role and work with that person to come up with a plan. Look into a will or a trust. Make sure all of your necessary paperwork is organized and easy to find. Reconcile broken relationships before you’re unable to. But don’t live for dying. There’s a difference between taking reasonable steps and obsessing. ''Overcoming the fear of death — Physical steps'' If you have strong feelings about what you want to happen to you should you become incapacitated, express them now. It’s entirely possible that during the course of an illness or injury, you’ll lose control over the situation and be unable to make your wishes known. Get a living will. Let those closest to you know what you want—or at least tell them where it’s written down. Choose someone you trust to be authorized to make decisions for you should you become unable. ''Overcoming the fear of death — Spiritual steps'' These are all steps to keep up responsibilities or maintain a measure of control in the worldly realm, but they don’t get to the meat of the matter. The most important thing to remember regarding death is the truth about life. You love your family and care for them, but God loves them more. You may worry about your earthly legacy, but God’s more concerned with a kingdom perspective. All the paperwork in the world won’t bring the peace of mind of one simple action: abide. In the middle of living this life, with these people, in this world, it’s difficult to keep in mind that this is just a temporary condition, and not a very good one at that. First John 2:15–17 says, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” How we remember this is by abiding (1 John 2:24). Staying in the truth of His Word, believing what He says about us and the world around us, will give us the proper perspective regarding this life and the one we will receive. When we are able to keep that kingdom perspective, we’ll be able to fulfill 1 John 3:1–2: “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” It will be so evident that we do not belong in this world that others will see it, too. We will so take ownership of our position as children of God that we will actively seek the day we can be like Christ and see Him as He is.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Does God Exist?''] <== --- Whether God exists is one of the most basic and important questions any person can consider. Opinions about God abound, but answering the question does God exist? demands more than a few seconds of attention and involves a wide range of ideas and evidence. Ultimately, what we see in human experience, science, logic, and history leads to a confident answer: yes, God exists. Often, this question is posed as “Can you prove God exists?” The problem is that, while truth itself is absolute, there are virtually zero instances of absolute proof outside of pure logic and mathematics. For that reason, courtrooms don’t require absolute proof to reach a verdict; rather, they seek to dispel “reasonable doubt” and consider what’s “most probable.” Demanding “proof” of God that no one could ever reject is unreasonable. Neither evidence nor people function that way in the real world. “Encountering” facts and “accepting” them are profoundly different. Airtight, sound arguments will remain unconvincing to those determined to disbelieve. For the resolute skeptic, it’s not “proof,” even if it would convince almost anyone else. A person’s intent is more influential than any evidence encountered. That means a certain amount of “faith” is necessary—and not just regarding God’s existence. Perfect knowledge is beyond our ability. Bias and prejudice cloud our views. There will always be a gap between what we can “know” and what we “believe.” This applies equally to skeptics and believers. We cannot possibly know every detail involved every time we sit in a chair, eat food, or climb stairs. Such actions all express a measure of faith. We act, despite what we don’t know, because of what we do know. That’s the essence of biblical faith, including faith in the existence of God. We trust in what is known, leading us to action, despite a less-than-absolute understanding (Hebrews 11:6). Whether or not one acknowledges God, the decision involves faith. Belief in God does not require blind faith (John 20:29), but neither can it overcome malicious resistance (John 5:39–40). Bolstering faith are human experience, logic, and empirical evidence, all of which help answer the question does God exist? ''Does God Exist? — Human Experience'' Discussing the existence of God usually starts with logical arguments. That makes sense, but it’s not how human beings normally operate. No one starts devoid of all perspective, waiting to follow a robotically rational path before forming an opinion. People interpret life based on the world around them. So, looking at the existence of God ought to start with experiences. Afterwards, we can use logic to assess those views. Evidence of God exists in daily human experiences (Romans 1:19–20; Psalm 19:1; Ecclesiastes 3:11). This includes our innate sense of morality. It applies to the apparent design of the universe around us. Human life compels belief that truth, deception, love, hate, goodness, evil, etc., are real and meaningful. The overwhelming majority of people throughout history have been inclined to believe in a reality greater than the physical. Our experiences are not conclusive evidence, of course. Instead, God uses general revelation as an invitation (Revelation 3:20). Common experiences are meant to emphasize that we ought to seek further answers (Matthew 7:7–8). Those who ignore or disdain God’s invitation don’t have the excuse of ignorance (Romans 1:18; Psalm 14:1). ''Does God Exist? — Human Logic'' Three of the more powerful logical suggestions of God’s existence are the cosmological, teleological, and moral arguments. The cosmological argument considers the principle of cause and effect. Each effect is the result of some cause, and each cause is the effect of a prior cause. However, that chain of causes cannot go on infinitely into the past, or else the chain would never actually start. Logic demands something eternally existent and that is not itself the effect of anything else. Our universe, clearly, is not eternal or uncaused. Logic points to God: the uncreated, eternal measure of all other things, the First Cause of our reality. The teleological argument examines the structure of the universe. The largest galactic configurations, our solar system, our DNA, subatomic particles—everything gives the appearance of having been purposefully arranged. This trait is so strong that even hardened atheists have difficulty explaining away the appearance of design. Nothing about subatomic particles or forces indicates they must be arranged as they are. Yet, if they were not exactly as they are, complex matter—and life—would be impossible. Dozens of universal constants coordinate with mind-boggling precision just to make life possible, let alone actual. Science has never observed or explained life arising from non-life, yet it also shows a sudden onset of complex organisms. A team of archaeologists who saw the words I am here on a cave wall would universally assume intelligent action. Meanwhile, human DNA represents a coding structure beyond the ability of the best human engineers. The weight of this evidence, logically, favors the idea of an Intelligent Designer—God—as an explanation. The moral argument points to concepts like good and evil, ethics, and so forth. It’s notable that these are discussions of “what should be,” not merely “what is.” Moral principles are drastically disconnected from the ruthless, selfish reasoning that one would expect of a creature randomly evolved to survive at any cost. The very idea that human beings think in non-physical, moral terms is striking. Beyond that, the fundamental content of human morals remains constant throughout history and across cultures. Further, discussion of moral ideas leads inevitably to a crossroads. Either moral ideas are completely subjective, and therefore meaningless, or they must be grounded in some unchanging standard. Human experience doesn’t support the conclusion that morals mean nothing. The most reasonable explanation for why people think in moral terms and share moral ideals is a real moral law provided by a Moral Lawgiver, i.e., God. ''Does God Exist? — Human Science'' The logical arguments above are inspired by observations. Concepts such as the Big Bang Theory demonstrate, at the very least, the scientific validity of a created, non-eternal universe. Likewise for the structure of DNA. Empirical data lends credibility to the idea of a biblical Creator and contradicts alternative explanations, such as an eternal universe or abiogenesis. Archaeology also lends support to the Bible. People, events, and places depicted in Scripture have repeatedly been confirmed by secular discoveries. Many of these discoveries came after skeptics implied the Bible’s accounts were fictional. History and literature, for their part, also support the existence of God. The preservation of the Bible is one example: our ability to trace the existing text of Scripture to a time so close to the original events supports the Bible’s reliability. Judeo-Christian influence on culture, morality, human rights, and the birth of modern science also strongly indicates an approach aligned with truth. ''Does God Exist? — God in Us'' Each of the prior categories is an entire field of study and the subject of thousands of books. Yet the existence of God is demonstrated most profoundly, for most people, in personal experience. It may be impossible to “prove” to others that you’re happy, for instance, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are. That’s not to say internal perspective outweighs objective truth, but complex truths are often powerfully supported by individual experiences. Changed lives, reformed attitudes, and answers to prayer are all part of our personal perception that God exists. A personal sense of truth is a compelling way we know God exists, and it’s God’s intent for all people to experience that sense. God came to earth personally, as a human being (2 Corinthians 4:6), so we could have a personal relationship with Him (John 14:6). Those who sincerely seek God will find Him (Matthew 7:7–8), resulting in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26–27). The question does God exist?, therefore, cannot be answered with absolute proof, but we can point to the weight of evidence that suggests He does exist. Accepting the existence of God is not a blind-faith leap into the dark. It’s a trusting step out of the dark into a well-lit room where many things are made clear.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Who is Jesus Christ?''] <== --- Unlike the question “Does God exist?” the question of whether Jesus Christ existed is asked by relatively few people. Most accept that Jesus was truly a man who lived in Israel 2,000 years ago. The debate begins with the discussion of Jesus’ full identity. Almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet or a good teacher or a godly man. But the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man. [[C. S. Lewis]] in his book Mere Christianity writes the following: “I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to” (Macmillan, 1952, p. 55–56). So, who did Jesus claim to be? Who does the Bible say He is? First, He is God in the flesh. Jesus said in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” At first glance, this might not seem to be a claim to be God. However, look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement. They tried to stone Him “for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). The Jews understood Jesus’ statement as a claim to be God. In the following verses, Jesus never corrects the Jews or attempts to clarify His statement. He never says, “I did not claim to be God.” When Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), He truly was claiming equality with God. In John 8:58 Jesus claims pre-existence, an attribute of God: “‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’” In response to this statement, the Jews again took up stones to stone Jesus (John 8:59). In claiming pre-existence, Jesus applied a name for God to Himself—I AM (see Exodus 3:14). The Jews rejected Jesus’ identity as God Incarnate, but they understood exactly what He was saying. Other biblical clues that Jesus is God in the flesh include John 1:1, which says, “The Word was God,” coupled with John 1:14, which says, “The Word became flesh.” Thomas the disciple declared to Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28), Jesus does not correct him. The apostle Paul describes Jesus as “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). The apostle Peter says the same, calling Jesus “our God and Savior” (2 Peter 1:1). God the Father bears witness of Jesus’ identity as well: “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” (Hebrews 1:8; cf. Psalm 45:6). Old Testament prophecies such as Isaiah 9:6 announce the deity of Christ: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (emphasis added). Why is the question of Jesus’ identity so important? Why does it matter whether Jesus is God? Several reasons: • As C. S. Lewis pointed out, if Jesus is not God, then Jesus is the worst of liars and untrustworthy in every way. • If Jesus is not God, then the apostles would likewise have been liars. • Jesus had to be God because the Messiah was promised to be the “Holy One” (Isaiah 49:7). Since no one on earth is righteous before God (Psalm 53:1; 143:2), God Himself had to enter the world as a human. • If Jesus is not God, His death would have been insufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Only God Himself could provide an infinite, eternally valuable sacrifice (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • God is the only Savior (Hosea 13:4; cf. 1 Timothy 2:3). If Jesus is to be the Savior, then He must be God. Jesus had to be both God and man. As God, Jesus could satisfy God’s wrath. As a man, Jesus had the capability of dying. As the God-man, Jesus is the perfect Mediator between heaven and earth (1 Timothy 2:5). Salvation is available only through faith in Jesus Christ. As He proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''C. S. Lewis''] <== --- Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963), better known as C. S. Lewis, was an Irish author and Oxford and Cambridge literature professor known for his popular writings. These include the seven-book series The Chronicles of Narnia, several books of which have been adapted into feature films. Other well-known writings by Lewis include The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, and The Great Divorce, as well as a science fiction trilogy. Although he was an Anglican, C. S. Lewis endures as a popular writer among Christians of all denominations due to his ability to connect art, scholarship, and faith. In terms of impact, C. S. Lewis is often described as one of the greatest Christian apologists of the twentieth century. The great strength of his writing is in connecting spiritual ideas to everyday experience. Lewis’s approach to defending the faith is simple and direct, yet profound. Rather than grappling with convoluted philosophy, his best writing explains Christianity in terms easily understood by all readers. For Lewis, faith in Christ wasn’t some irrational leap into the dark. Instead, faith was a submission to common sense—an acknowledgement of everything daily life already tells us. The ability to present Christianity in a clear, personal way is especially notable, given that C. S. Lewis was a vigorous atheist through his teenage years. It was his exposure to new ideas and deeper learning while at the university that eventually led to his conversion. A voracious reader, Lewis was fond of the writings of Christian authors George MacDonald and G. K. Chesterton. MacDonald’s book Phantastes caused Lewis to rethink his atheism. In much the same way, G. K. Chesterton’s book The Everlasting Man led Lewis to question his dismissal of religion. While teaching at Magdalen College, C. S. Lewis met two Christian men who later became close friends: Hugo Dyson and J. R. R. Tolkien. Soon Lewis recognized that most of his friends, like his favorite authors—MacDonald, Chesterton, Johnson, Spenser, and Milton—were Christians. He was also greatly influenced by Owen Barfield, a writer who had earlier converted from atheism to Christianity, and author Nevill Coghill, another devout Christian. Unlike many converts, C. S. Lewis was not eager to become a believer. Even as evidence mounted, demonstrating the truth of the Bible, Lewis struggled to maintain his unbelief. Rather than fleeing to faith or fulfilling a personal wish, Lewis resisted acceptance of God. He came to faith, in his own words, “kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting [my] eyes in every direction for a chance of escape” (Surprised by Joy: The Early Shape of My Life, p. 228–229.). Lewis described himself, at the moment of his conversion in 1929, as “perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England” (ibid.). C. S. Lewis’s eventual enthusiasm for Christianity spawned a lifelong stream of books on Christian apologetics and discipleship. His first major work, The Pilgrim’s Regress, published in 1933, was about his own spiritual journey to Christian faith. Though best known for his Chronicles of Narnia series, Lewis wrote 74 books during his lifetime, leaving an enormous literary legacy for generations to follow. In 1956 Lewis married American divorcée Joy Gresham, sixteen years his junior, who died four years later of cancer. Despondent over her death, Lewis turned to the outlet he knew best: writing. His book describing the process of loss, A Grief Observed, was originally published under the pseudonym N. W. Clerk to avoid the pain of even greater publicity. Ironically, friends and relatives often suggested that Lewis read the book as a means of overcoming his anguish. Only after Lewis’s death did the publisher acknowledge that Lewis was, in fact, the author. After the death of his wife, Lewis’s own health deteriorated, and in the summer of 1963 he resigned from Cambridge. Mere months later, Lewis died. His death would have been considered a more notable event, but at that moment, the entire world was watching the United States. On November 22, 1963, Lewis passed away on the same day that American President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. As with any deeply studied figure of religion or philosophy, C. S. Lewis also attracts criticism for some of his doctrinal positions. Among the most frequently mentioned are his views on the inerrancy of the Bible, the existence of a literal Adam and Eve, and eternal security. While conservative Christian scholars would generally consider Lewis to be in error on these points, such issues clearly didn’t dampen his zeal for literary evangelism. In fact, Lewis was often criticized by his peers and passed over for teaching opportunities for his vocal defense of the gospel. A major plank of Lewis’s philosophy of religion was that myths were mankind’s way of foreshadowing God’s eventual revealed truth. In accordance to that belief, he accepted the possibility that many Old Testament stories, including those of creation, were purely mythical and not necessarily true. For Lewis, this even included the possibility that Adam and Eve were entirely mythical, and not actual people. In a similar way, Lewis held that the Bible was the work of human authors and therefore fallible. While convinced that the New Testament was more literally true than the Old Testament, he still believed there were errors and contradictions within the Scriptures. In Lewis’s view, divine inspiration by God simply meant that truth was contained in the Bible, not necessarily that everything written in the Bible was true. As explored in books such as The Screwtape Letters, Lewis held to a conditional view of salvation. According to his perspective, people were in constant spiritual motion, either toward God, or away from Him. This, rather than some once-for-all redemption, was what eventually determined their eternal destiny. While not as overtly controversial as his views of inerrancy or history, this is a point of caution that should be applied when interpreting Lewis’s works. C. S. Lewis stands as a shining example of the influence a Christian can have in both the university and popular culture. His works changed the lives of many during his lifetime and beyond, offering a model for those who desire to live as “salt and light” in a dark culture (Matthew 5:13). As an apologist and writer, C. S. Lewis was exemplary, and his books are among the most useful ever written for explaining the value of Christian faith to a skeptical world.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How much of the Bible is prophecy?''] <== --- Prophecy accounts for a major portion of the entire canon of Scripture. Numerous books in the Old Testament contain prophecy—some include short statements about the future, and others feature entire prophetic visions. In the New Testament, almost every book contains some prophecy, with Revelation being wholly devoted to a prophetic vision. By one count, about 27 percent of the Bible is predictive (Payne, J. B., The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy, Baker Pub. Group, 1980, p. 675). This means that, when written, over one fourth of the Bible—more than one in four verses—was prophetic. Professor and theologian J. Barton Payne lists 1,817 prophecies in the Bible (ibid., p. 674). The consistent relation of prophecy in the Bible is staggering; on top of that is the amazing accuracy of those detailed prophecies. At least one half of all biblical predictions have already been fulfilled precisely as God had declared. Because of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling these prophecies, we can be assured that He will fulfill the rest of the prophecies in Scripture without fault (see Numbers 23:19). Prophecy in the Bible can be divided into two broad groups: fulfilled and not yet fulfilled. Some examples from these generalized groups include the following: Fulfilled Prophecies: • The first coming of Christ (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:15–19; Numbers 24:17; Daniel 9:25–26; Micah 5:2). • Jesus as the Savior of mankind (e.g., Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53:4–5). • Prophecies regarding individual people, such as the doom of Jezebel (2 Kings 9:10). • Prophecies regarding Israel, such as in the case of Israel’s exile to Babylon (2 Kings 20:18; Jeremiah 34:3). • The destruction of the temple, which occurred in AD 70 (Matthew 24:1–2). • Daniel’s prophecies about the rise and fall of many kingdoms (Daniel 7:2–6, 16). Prophecies Still to Be Fulfilled: • The second coming of Christ (Zechariah 14:3–4; Matthew 24:44; Acts 1:10–11; Revelation 1:7). • The rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). • The tribulation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15–22). • The resurrections of the saved and the unsaved (Daniel 12:1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:20–23; Revelation 20:11–15). • The millennial reign of Christ (Psalm 72:7–11; Zechariah 2:10–11; Revelation 20:4). • The restoration of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31–37; Romans 11:26–27). • The new heavens and new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). Some prophecies have a double fulfillment, one nearer to the time of the prophet and one further in the future. We see this in Isaiah 7:14, for example. The birth of a child served as a sign for King Ahaz, but the prophecy also pointed forward to the virgin birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:22–23). Some interpret Jesus’ explanation of the signs of the end times as having been fulfilled in some sense in AD 70 yet also signaling a future, more complete fulfillment during the end times tribulation. Other prophecies have been fulfilled partially and are awaiting complete fulfillment. An example of this is found in Jesus’ quotation of Isaiah 61:1–2, in which He declares the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. In the synagogue, Jesus read from the scroll: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18–19). He then proclaimed Himself as the fulfillment of that prophecy. But He had stopped reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2. The reason is simple: the first part of that verse was fulfilled by Christ in His first advent, but the second half, concerning “the day of vengeance of our God,” was not. The Day of the Lord is still to be fulfilled in the future. The amount of prophecy in the Bible is one of the things that make it unique among religious books. There is absolutely no emphasis on predictive prophecy in the Qu’ran or the Hindu Vedas, for example. In contrast, the Bible repeatedly points to fulfilled prophecy as direct proof that it is God who speaks (see Deuteronomy 18:22; 1 Kings 22:28; Jeremiah 28:9). Given God’s omniscience, it should come as no surprise that the Bible contains so many clear predictions or that those predictions are literally fulfilled: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9–10).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is Prophecy?''] <== --- To prophesy is simply to speak prophecy. Prophecy is the noun, and prophesy is the verb. Prophecy at its most basic definition is “a message from God.” So, to prophesy is to proclaim a message from God. The one who does this is, therefore, a prophet. Although foretelling is often associated with prophecy, revealing the future is not a necessary element of prophecy; however, since only God knows the future, any authoritative word about the future must of necessity be a prophecy, that is, a message from God. In the Old Testament, there were prophets who simply spoke their divine messages to a king or to the people (e.g., Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha). Later, there came a series of “writing prophets” whose messages are preserved in Scripture (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, and Malachi). Quite often the prophets would preface their utterances with words such as “thus saith the Lord” (KJV) or “this is what the Lord says” (NIV). The point is that God had communicated something to the prophets, and they were speaking directly for Him. “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). According to Deuteronomy 13, there are two signs of a true prophet. First, he must not direct people to follow other gods. Second, whenever the prophet says something about future events, those events must come to pass. If the prophet promotes the worship of false gods, or if his predictions fail to come to pass, then he is a false prophet. God would often give the prophet a message about something that would happen in the short term, to give him credibility on the more long-term message. For instance, Jeremiah told the leaders of Judah that the nation would be conquered by Babylon. But another “prophet,” a charlatan named Hananiah, stood up and said the Lord had given him a different message, and claimed that Jeremiah was not a true prophet. Jeremiah told Hananiah that within a year he, Hananiah, would be dead, and within the year he died (Jeremiah 28). The fact that Jeremiah could so accurately predict the future should have given his other words more credibility. In the New Testament, John the Baptist proclaims that the Kingdom of God and the Messiah are on the scene, and he identifies Jesus as that Messiah. John is often called the last of the Old Testament prophets. In the rest of the New Testament, prophets are not mentioned very much. It seems that apostles fulfilled the prophetic role, as they spoke directly and authoritatively for God, and their words are preserved today in Scripture. Ephesians 2:20 lists the apostles and prophets as being the foundation of the church, with Jesus Christ being the cornerstone. Obviously, before the canon of Scripture was complete, God may have communicated directly to people on a more regular basis. Prophecy is listed as one of the gifts of the Spirit (see Romans 12:6–8). Of great interest today is whether or not the gift of prophecy continues or if it ceased when the foundational period of the church was complete. 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40 is the longest New Testament passage relating to prophecy. The church at Corinth was misusing this gift as well as the gift of tongues. One problem they had was that, when the believers gathered, too many prophets were speaking, and they were interrupting each other to boot. Paul says that at most two or three prophets should speak, and they should do so one at a time. Others should carefully consider or evaluate what the prophet says (1 Corinthians 14:29–31). Perhaps the best understanding is that some people in Corinth thought they were getting a word directly from God, but they could have been wrong; therefore, they needed to submit their prophecies to the judgment of the church. As in the Old Testament, if a New Testament prophecy was contrary to sound doctrine, then the prophecy was to be rejected. The instruction in 1 Corinthians 14 also suggests that a person should be cautious in speaking for God if the revelation is extra-biblical. Bearing a “message from God” does not automatically place one in a position of authority. The potential prophet should humbly submit his or her message to the leaders of the church for confirmation. Paul’s directive suggests that the gift of prophecy was already beginning to wane as an authoritative gift at the time 1 Corinthians was written. A preacher or pastor today fulfills a prophetic role to the extent that he proclaims and explains the written Word of God. However, pastors are never called “prophets” in the New Testament. The pastor can confidently say, “Thus saith the Lord,” if he follows it up with chapter and verse. Unfortunately, some pastors assume a prophetic mantle and make pronouncements that are not from God but from their own imaginations.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the difference between Christianity and Judaism?''] <== --- Of the major world religions, Christianity and Judaism are likely the most similar. Christianity and Judaism both believe in one God who is almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, and infinite. Both religions believe in a God who is holy, righteous, and just, while at the same time loving, forgiving, and merciful. Christianity and Judaism share the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) as the authoritative Word of God, although Christianity includes the New Testament as well. Both Christianity and Judaism believe in the existence of heaven, the eternal dwelling place of the righteous, and hell, the eternal dwelling place of the wicked (although not all Christians and not all Jews believe in the eternality of hell). Christianity and Judaism have basically the same ethical code, commonly known today as Judeo-Christian. Both Judaism and Christianity teach that God has a special plan for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. The all-important difference between Christianity and Judaism is the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of a coming Messiah / Savior (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Micah 5:2). Judaism often recognizes Jesus as a good teacher, and perhaps even a prophet of God. Judaism does not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Taking it a step further, Christianity teaches that Jesus is God in the flesh (John 1:1,14; Hebrews 1:8). Christianity teaches that God became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ so He could lay down His life to pay the price for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Judaism strongly denies that Jesus was God or that such a sacrifice was necessary. Jesus Christ is the all-important distinction between Christianity and Judaism. The Person and work of Jesus Christ is the one primary issue that Christianity and Judaism cannot agree upon. In Matthew 15:24, Jesus declared, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The religious leaders of Israel in Jesus’ time asked Him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus replied, “I am, ... And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:61-62). But they didn’t believe His words or accept Him as the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Hebrew prophecies of a coming Messiah. Psalm 22:14-18 describes an event undeniably similar to Jesus’ crucifixion, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." Clearly, this messianic prophecy speaks of Jesus Christ, whose crucifixion fulfilled each of these details (Luke 23; John 19). There is an amazing description of Jesus in Isaiah 53:3-6, "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." The Apostle Paul, a Jew and a strict adherent of Judaism, encountered Jesus Christ in a vision (Acts 9:1-9) and proceeded to become the greatest witness for Christ and the author of almost half of the New Testament. Paul understood the difference between Christianity and Judaism more than anyone else. What was Paul’s message? "I am not ashamed of the gospel (of Jesus Christ), because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (Romans 1:16).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Who is the Holy Spirit?''] <== --- There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. Others see the Holy Spirit as an impersonal power that God makes available to followers of Christ. What does the Bible say about the identity of the Holy Spirit? Simply put, the Bible declares that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, a being with a mind, emotions, and a will. The fact that the Holy Spirit is God is clearly seen in many Scriptures, including Acts 5:3-4. In these verses Peter confronts Ananias as to why he lied to the Holy Spirit and tells him that he had “not lied to men but to God.” It is a clear declaration that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God. We can also know that the Holy Spirit is God because He possesses the characteristics of God. For example, His omnipresence is seen in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Then in 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, we see the characteristic of omniscience in the Holy Spirit. “These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” We can know that the Holy Spirit is indeed a divine person because He possesses a mind, emotions, and a will. The Holy Spirit thinks and knows (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). He makes decisions according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. As God, the Holy Spirit can truly function as the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus promised He would be (John 14:16, 26; 15:26).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Who is the Comforter?''] <== --- The Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter” in some English translations of the Bible. For instance, the American King James Version translates John 14:26 as, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.” Similarly, the American Standard Version, King James Version, and English Revised Version all translate the Greek word paraclete as “Comforter.” Paraclete, like many Greek words, is hard to translate into English because there is no perfect English equivalent. Basically, a paraclete is “one who is called alongside”; the implication is that a paraclete gives support or help of some kind. Used only by the apostle John in his gospel and first epistle, the word paraclete refers to the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7) and, in one instance, for Jesus (1 John 2:1). In each case, the word can be translated as “Helper,” “Counselor,” “Comforter,” or “Advocate.” Translating the word as “Helper,” as the ESV and NKJV do in the gospel passages, provides a more encompassing term for the different aspects of the Holy Spirit’s ministries. He does more than comfort, after all; He also guides, seals, baptizes, regenerates, sanctifies, and convicts. Jesus stated He would send “another” paraclete (John 14:16), meaning that He Himself had served as a paraclete during His earthly ministry. He had been the One guiding the disciples, but now He would send the Holy Spirit as their Guide and Counselor and Comforter. In context, Jesus is comforting the eleven faithful disciples during the Last Supper, telling them not to be afraid and promising that their sorrow would turn to joy (John 14:1; 16:21). He would be leaving them, but another Helper or Comforter would be on the way—God would send the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 24:49). When the word paraclete is used of Jesus in 1 John 2:1, translations are nearly unanimous in using the word advocate. Jesus is our intercessor before the Father. God comforts His children. He is the “God of all comfort,” and we can know His peace even in the midst of trials: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5). God comforts us in many ways: through the wonderful promises of His Word, through fellow believers, and of course through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. The Spirit is our Comforter, and He is so much more: our Counselor, Encourager, and Helper. He is always present to bring comfort to the children of God (Psalm 34:18; 139:7–8).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Are we living in the End Times?''] <== --- The Bible prophesies of many events that will occur in the end times. These events can be categorized as natural signs, spiritual signs, sociological signs, technological signs, and political signs. We can look to what the Bible says about these things, and, if the signs are present in abundance, we can be certain that we are, in fact, living in the end times. Luke 21:11 lists some of the natural signs that will occur before Jesus’ second coming: “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” While we shouldn’t interpret every natural disaster as a sign of the end times, an increase in natural disasters seems to be a warm-up to what is coming next—“birth pangs,” as Jesus called them (Matthew 24:8). The Bible lists both positive and negative spiritual signs. In 2 Timothy 4:3–4 we discover that many people will follow false teachers. We see now an increase in cultic groups, heresy, deception, and occultism, with many choosing to follow New Age or pagan religions. On the positive side, Joel 2:28–29 prophesies that there will be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16), and we are still seeing the effects of that outpouring in revivals and Spirit-led Christian movements, and in the worldwide preaching of the gospel message. Along with the signs in the natural and spiritual realms, there are signs in society. The immorality rampant in society today is a symptom of mankind’s rebellion against God. Abortion, homosexuality, drug abuse, and child molestation are proof that “evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse” (2 Timothy 3:13). We are now living in a hedonistic and materialistic society. People are lovers of themselves—“looking out for number one”—and doing what is right in their own eyes. All these things, and many more, can be seen around us every day (see 2 Timothy 3:1–4). The fulfillment of some end-times prophecies seemed impossible until the advent of modern technology. Some of the judgments in Revelation are more easily imagined in a nuclear age. In Revelation 13, the Antichrist is said to control commerce by forcing people to take the mark of the beast, and, given today’s advances in computer chip technology, the tools he will use may very well be here already. And through the internet, radio, and television, the gospel can now be proclaimed to the entire world (Mark 13:10). And there are political signs. The restoration of Israel to her land in 1948 is the single most impressive fulfilled prophecy proving that we live in the end times. At the turn of the 20th century, no one would have dreamed that Israel would be back in her land, let alone occupying Jerusalem. Jerusalem is definitely at the center of geopolitics and stands alone against many enemies; Zechariah 12:3 confirms this: “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” Matthew 24:6–7 predicted that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” “Wars and rumors of wars” are definitely characteristic of this present age. These are just a few of the signs that we are living in the end of the age. There are many more. God gave us these prophecies because He does not want anyone to perish, and He always gives ample warning before pouring out His wrath (2 Peter 3:9). Are we living in the end times? No one knows when Jesus will return, but the rapture could occur at any moment. God will deal with sin either by grace or by wrath. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their savior will remain under the Lord’s wrath. The good news is that it’s not too late to choose eternal life. All that is required is acceptance, by faith, of God’s free gift of grace. There is nothing you can do to earn grace; Jesus has paid the price for you (Romans 3:24). Are you ready for the Lord’s return? Or will you experience His wrath?

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How to get to Heaven''] <== --- Face it. The day we step into eternity may come sooner than we think. In preparation for that moment, we need to know this truth—not everyone is going to heaven. How can we know for sure that we are going to heaven? Some 2,000 years ago, the apostles Peter and John were preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to a large crowd in Jerusalem. Peter made a profound statement that resonates even in our postmodern world: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Now as then, Acts 4:12 is not politically correct. Today it’s popular to say, “Everyone’s going to heaven” or “All paths lead to heaven.” There are many who think they can have heaven without having Jesus. They want the glory, but they don’t want to be bothered by the cross, much less the One who died there. Many don’t want to accept Jesus as the only way of going to heaven and are determined to find another path. But Jesus warns us that no other path exists and that the consequence for rejecting this truth is an eternity in hell. He told us that “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). Faith in Christ is the key to going to heaven. Some will argue that it’s extremely narrow-minded of God to provide only one way to heaven. But, frankly, in light of mankind’s rebellion against God, it’s extremely broad-minded for Him to provide us with any way to heaven. We deserve judgment, but God gives us the way of escape by sending His one-and-only Son to die for our sins. Whether someone sees this as narrow or broad, it’s the truth. The good news is that Jesus died and rose again; those who are going to heaven have received this gospel by faith. Many people today hold to a watered-down gospel that does away with the need for repentance. They want to believe in a “loving” (nonjudgmental) God who never mentions sin and who requires no change in their lifestyle. They may say things like, “My God would never send a person to hell.” But Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven, and He presented Himself as the Savior who offers the only means of going to heaven: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Who will actually enter God’s kingdom? How can I guarantee that I’m going to heaven? The Bible makes a clear distinction between those who have eternal life and those who do not: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). It all goes back to faith. Those who believe in Christ are made the children of God (John 1:12). Those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as the payment for their sins and who believe in His resurrection are going to heaven. Those who reject Christ are not. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18). As awesome as heaven will be for those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, hell will be that much more awful for those who reject Him. One cannot read the Bible seriously without seeing it over and over again—the line is drawn. The Bible says there is one and only one way to heaven—Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus’ command: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). Faith in Jesus is the one means of going to heaven. Those who have faith are guaranteed to get there. Do you trust in Jesus?

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How do I get right with God?''] <== --- In order to get “right” with God, we must first understand what is “wrong.” The answer is sin. “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3). We have rebelled against God’s commands; we “like sheep, have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6). The bad news is that the penalty for sin is death. “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). The good news is that a loving God has pursued us in order to bring us salvation. Jesus declared His purpose was “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10), and He pronounced His purpose accomplished when He died on the cross with the words, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Having a right relationship with God begins with acknowledging your sin. Next comes a humble confession of your sin to God (Isaiah 57:15). “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:10). This repentance must be accompanied by faith – specifically, faith that Jesus’ sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection qualify Him to be your Savior. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Many other passages speak of the necessity of faith, such as John 20:27; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:16; 3:11, 26; and Ephesians 2:8. Being right with God is a matter of your response to what God has done on your behalf. He sent the Savior, He provided the sacrifice to take away your sin (John 1:29), and He offers you the promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). A beautiful illustration of repentance and forgiveness is the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son wasted his father’s gift in shameful sin (verse 13). When he acknowledged his wrongdoing, he decided to return home (verse 18). He assumed he would no longer be considered a son (verse 19), but he was wrong. The father loved the returned rebel as much as ever (verse 20). All was forgiven, and a celebration ensued (verse 24). God is good to keep His promises, including the promise to forgive. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). If you want to get right with God, here is a sample prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. "God, I know that I have sinned against You and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him and His resurrection I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness – the gift of eternal life! Amen!"

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about homosexuality?''] <== --- In some people’s minds, being homosexual is as much outside one’s control as the color of your skin and your height. On the other hand, the Bible clearly and consistently declares that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1–13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10). God created marriage and sexual relationships to be between one man and one woman: “At the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’” (Matthew 19:4–5). Anything outside of God’s intent and design is sin. The Bible teaches that Christians are to live for God, deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24), including with their sexuality. This disconnect between what the Bible says and what some people feel leads to much controversy, debate, and even hostility. When examining what the Bible says about homosexuality, it is important to distinguish between homosexual behavior and homosexual inclinations or attractions. It is the difference between active sin and the passive condition of being tempted. Homosexual behavior is sinful, but the Bible never says it is a sin to be tempted. Simply stated, a struggle with temptation may lead to sin, but the struggle itself is not a sin. Romans 1:26–27 teaches that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. When people continue in sin and unbelief, God “gives them over” to even more wicked and depraved sin to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God. One of the fruits of rebellion against God is homosexuality. First Corinthians 6:9 proclaims that those who practice homosexuality, and therefore transgress God’s created order, are not saved. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as some people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That does not excuse the person’s choosing to sin by giving in to sinful desires. Just because a person is born with a greater susceptibility to fits of rage doesn’t make it right for him to give in to those desires and explode at every provocation. The same is true with a susceptibility to homosexuality. No matter our proclivities or attractions, we cannot continue to define ourselves by the very sins that crucified Jesus—and at the same time assume we are right with God. Paul lists many of the sins that the Corinthians once practiced (homosexuality is on the list). But in 1 Corinthians 6:11, he reminds them, “That is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (emphasis added). In other words, some of the Corinthians, before they were saved, lived homosexual lifestyles; but no sin is too great for the cleansing power of Jesus. Once cleansed, we are no longer defined by sin. The problem with homosexual attraction is that it is an attraction to something that God has declared to be sinful, and any desire for something sinful ultimately has its roots in sin. The pervasive nature of sin causes us to see the world and our own actions through a warped perspective. Our thoughts, desires, and dispositions are all affected. So, homosexual attraction does not always result in active, willful sin—there may not be a conscious choice to sin—but it springs from the sinful nature. Same-sex attraction is always, on some basic level, an expression of the fallen nature. As sinful human beings living in a sinful world (Romans 3:23), we are beset with weaknesses, temptations, and inducements to sin. Our world is filled with lures and entrapments, including the enticement to practice homosexuality. The temptation to engage in homosexual behavior is real to many. Those who struggle with homosexual attraction often report suffering through years of wishing things were different. People may not always be able to control how or what they feel, but they can control what they do with those feelings (1 Peter 1:5–8). We all have the responsibility to resist temptation (Ephesians 6:13). We must all be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). We must all “walk by the Spirit” so as not to “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Finally, the Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Without Christ, we are lost, whatever type of sin has entangled us. According to the Bible, God’s forgiveness is available to the homosexual just as it is to the adulterer, idol worshiper, murderer, and thief. God promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about being a lesbian?''] <== --- Some are under the assumption that, while the Bible condemns gay sex between men, it nowhere condemns being a lesbian/lesbianism. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 mention men having sex with other men, but say nothing of women having sex with other women. In the Sodom and Gomorrah account in Genesis 19, the men of the cities wanted to gang rape other men. First Corinthians 6:9 mentions effeminate men, very likely referring to homosexuals, but does not mention lesbians. So, does the Bible in fact condemn male homosexuality, but not lesbianism? Romans 1:26-27 puts this invalid assumption to rest: “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 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” (emphasis added). Clearly, this passage puts lesbianism on equal ground with male homosexuality. Lesbianism is described as women exchanging natural relations (with men) for unnatural relations (with women). According to the Bible, being a lesbian is just as sinful as being a homosexual male. There’s an implication in Romans 1:26 that lesbianism is even worse than male homosexuality. Notice the phrase “even their women.” The text seems to suggest that it is more common for men to engage in sexual depravity, and when women begin to do it, that is a sign things are getting really bad. Men usually have much stronger sex drives than women, and so are more prone to sexual deviancy. When women commit unnatural sexual acts, then the degree of immorality has truly become shameful. Lesbianism is evidence of people being given over to “the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another” (Romans 1:24).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Is Christianity True?''] <== --- The question of whether Christianity is true is profoundly significant. The answer not only impacts individual lives but also communities around the world. Examining whether Christianity is true involves a look at the foundational beliefs of Christians, scriptural reliability, prophetic fulfillment, and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. An additional consideration is the impact of the gospel on the lives of believers. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who lived a sinless and perfect life, died on the cross for the sins of humanity, and rose from the dead. Paul summarizes the gospel like this: “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV). To determine the truth of Christianity, we must assess the reliability of “the Scriptures,” as the Bible is the basis for belief. The Bible, particularly the New Testament, is one of the most well-documented ancient texts. The sheer number of manuscript copies—over 5,000 ancient Greek manuscripts—far surpasses that of any other ancient text. Due to the plethora of documents available, we can cross-reference and verify the veracity of the manuscripts. Furthermore, [[archaeological findings|Archaeology]] have repeatedly corroborated biblical accounts. As has often been said, every turn of the archaeologist’s spade seems to confirm the Bible. The discovery of the Pool of Bethesda in 1911 (see John 5:2), the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the discovery of the Pilate Stone in 1961 (see Luke 23:1–25), and the discovery of the Hezekiah Seal in 2015 provide tangible evidence of biblio-historical claims. Another compelling argument for the truth of Christianity is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the life of Jesus. Isaiah 53:5 is one such prophecy: “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (ESV). This was written almost 700 years before the time of Christ. It is remarkable, then, that it perfectly aligns with the crucifixion of Christ. Not only was Christ crucified, but He rose again on the third day. His resurrection, like His death, is not just a theological concept to help us understand God better; it is a historical event. Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17, ESV). The resurrection of Christ is supported by multiple lines of evidence: the empty tomb, the transformation of the disciples from fearful followers to bold proclaimers of the risen Christ, and Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances to individuals and groups (1 Corinthians 15:6) all provide a compelling case for the truth of Christianity. Additionally, early Christians willingly faced persecution and death for their faith in the resurrection of Christ, which speaks volumes about their conviction of its truth. The personal experiences of believers also support the truth of Christianity. Many Christians testify to experiencing a transformative personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, characterized by faith, love, and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13). These experiences, when combined with the teachings of the Bible and supported by the witness of other believers, provide additional weight to the truth claims of Christianity. Ultimately, accepting the truth of Christianity involves an element of faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (ESV). While reason and evidence can bring us to threshold of belief, we must continue forward into faith to fully embrace the truth of Christianity: “Without faith it is impossible to please him [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Archaeology''] <== --- Archaeology has been called “the Bible’s best friend,” a statement that reflects the long history of discoveries supportive of the biblical record. From the discovery of the Cyrus Cylinder in 1879, to the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, to the Pool of Siloam in 2004, archaeology has worked hand in hand with Bible scholars to provide an independent witness to the truth of God’s Word. Of course, there are some archaeological discoveries that seem to contradict the Bible. What then? Is it archaeology or the Bible that is in error? In such cases we remember that archaeologists are people, too, with their own limitations, biases, and proneness to error. Once an artifact is found, its existence and its location must be interpreted, and it is the process of interpretation that is liable to mistakes. Many secular archaeologists used to say that David was a legendary figure, on par with King Arthur, rather than a historical king. Rather, that was their position until they found the Tel Dan Stela, a basalt stone dating from the 9th century BC bearing David’s name and identifying him as king of Israel. So, up until the stela was found, archaeology did not overtly support the Bible’s references to David. But, eventually, an archaeological find showed that the Bible was true all along. David was a real person who was king of Israel, and archaeological naysayers turned out to be wrong. Many more archaeological discoveries have substantiated events and people in the Bible. In fact, archaeology has on many occasions provided tangible evidence for exactly what the Bible records. Egypt’s invasion of Israel (1 Kings 14:25); the Assyrian siege of Lachish (2 Kings 18-19); the trade relations between Israel and Sheba (1 Kings 10); the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem; and the reigns of Kings Omri, Ahab, Uzziah, Hezekiah, Ahaz, Jeroboam II, and Jehoiachin (1 and 2 Kings)—all are recorded in the Bible and all have been confirmed by archaeology. And the previously mentioned discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the most significant finds of the 20th century, was decisive proof of the reliability of the Bible’s manuscripts. Christians should understand that we cannot prove that the Bible is true scientifically. No amount of archaeology will ever “prove” the Bible to skeptics. But that should not cause us to doubt God’s absolute truth. God is the author of history, and we are assured that His record of history is an accurate account of what happened. Of course, not everything that happened in history was written in His record. Only those things were recorded that further God’s revelation of Himself and are profitable to us “as examples and . . . warnings” (1 Corinthians 10:11). In case after case, archaeology eventually catches up with the biblical account, and archaeology and the Bible come into agreement. As Christians, we must be patient and not let our faith in God’s Word be troubled by the theories of men. Archaeology has never proved the biblical account to be wrong, although, in some cases, it lacks the evidence to prove the biblical account right. As archaeologists continue to dig, we will have more and more external evidence to substantiate the historicity and truthfulness of the Bible’s record.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does it mean to exercise self-control?''] <== --- Self-control is encouraged in the Bible and is listed as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Exercising self-control essentially entails learning to say “No” to our desires when indulging them would be inappropriate and contrary to God’s design. The need for self-control encompasses both our sinful inclinations and legitimate desires. For instance, sexual desire is a legitimate urge, being part of God’s inherently good creation; however, it must be restrained unless it can be expressed within proper boundaries. In contrast, the desire to steal is an illegitimate urge and is inherently wrong. In both cases, self-control is essential. Interestingly, while modern culture generally applauds self-control in many aspects of life, it often fails to do so in the context of sexual activity among unmarried adults. The prevailing notion is that, since our sexuality is an integral part of our identity, we need not exercise restraint unless it ventures into illegal territory. However, disregarding God’s boundaries always leads to negative consequences (see Hebrews 13:4). In 1 Corinthians 7:9, Paul says regarding unmarried individuals, “But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” The two biblical options for the unmarried are 1) get married or 2) exercise self-control. Self-control is important in matters of sexuality. Ironically, contemporary culture is increasingly fixated with sex but rather dismissive of marriage. Recent statistics reveal that “2 in 5 adults think marriage is an outdated tradition” (https://thrivingcenterofpsych.com/blog/millennials-gen-z-marriage-expectations-statistics/, accessed 4/29/24). With divorces being more newsworthy than good marriages, the situation looks bleak. However, marriage is God’s idea (Genesis 2:24). While some individuals possess the gift of celibacy, our sexual desires inherently point toward a fulfilling covenantal marriage. Marriage is not a quick fix for sexual immorality, but it remains the appropriate context for the expression of our sexuality. Even in marriage, the virtue of self-control must not be denied. Adultery is a grave sin, often stemming from a lack of self-control. Thus, while Paul acknowledges the challenges of practicing self-control, it remains a fruit that manifests in our lives as we strive to please the Spirit rather than succumbing to our sinful nature. Exercising self-control yields numerous benefits, not only for the self-controlled person but also for society at large. This reinforces the idea that God’s commandments are for our well-being. Of course, our motivation for exercising self-control isn’t solely based on benefits accrued; it is our goal to become more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). Everyone, regardless of marital status or life circumstances, must learn self-control. “The grace of God . . . that offers salvation to all people . . . teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11–12).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How to treat ex-wife/husband?''] <== --- After a divorce, ex-husbands and ex-wives rarely get along amicably and peacefully. More commonly, ex-spouses experience tension and stress or even open and aggressive conflict in their relationship because of deep-rooted emotional wounds and unforgiveness. So, how should a Christian treat his or her ex-wife or ex-husband? The answer begins with living by the principle of the Golden Rule and learning to forgive. Jesus taught His followers what has come to be known as the Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12, NLT; see also Luke 6:31). God wants us to treat other people as we would like them to treat us, and that includes ex-spouses. If we are to obey the teachings of Jesus, we must be willing to take the first step in treating our ex-husband or ex-wife with kindness, patience, and acceptance—the same way we would want him or her to treat us. Living out this command is impossible without God’s help and a willingness to practice forgiveness. Why should we forgive our ex-spouse? We forgive because God forgave us. Jesus said, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14–15, NLT). Forgiveness is not a feeling but a conscious decision of your will. We choose to forgive an ex-wife or ex-husband because God commands us to do so. Forgiving does not mean forgetting. In The Christian Counsellor’s Manual (Zondervan, 1973), Dr. Jay Adams points out that God does not ask believers to forget all the past hurts inflicted by an ex-spouse. That would be impossible and, in some cases, even dangerous. We cannot simply wipe out all the painful memories. But as followers of Christ, we must do our best to leave them behind us and not dwell on them (Isaiah 43:18; Philippians 3:13). Instead of dredging up the hurts and waving them in front of our ex-spouse every chance we get, we lay them at the foot of the cross. We forgive without conditions, just as Jesus forgave us (Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37; Ephesians 4:31–32; Colossians 3:13). We choose to show mercy and forgiveness to an ex-spouse without any expectation of mercy or forgiveness in return (James 2:13). We let go and let God deal with our ex-husband or ex-wife. It’s also essential to do our best to keep our children out of the friction of a painful divorce. Be careful not to use children as weapons against an ex-spouse to spy on them or to take revenge on them. Don’t lay the heavy emotional burdens of your broken relationship on your kids. The divorce will be hard enough for them to deal with; they don’t need to be further traumatized by the emotional fallout their parents are going through divorce. Jesus calls us to be humble and self-sacrificing in our relationships with others (Matthew 5:3; Philippians 2:3–4; Colossians 3:12). This does not mean lying down and letting an ex-spouse walk all over us. Instead, it means doing our best to behave with dignity and respect and let the Spirit of Christ reflect in our words and actions whenever we are around our ex-spouse, even if he or she refuses to change or cooperate. It may also mean setting up practical boundaries, limiting our exposure to an ex-spouse, and making wise decisions about where and when to meet. God’s Word says to be humble and self-sacrificing, but we can’t do that if we insist on getting our way and having everything on our terms. The Bible calls us to lay aside our rights and desires for the good of others (Galatians 5:13–14). Our motivation for setting aside our own interests to serve others is “out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). To do this, we must daily die to our selfish desires (Romans 6:4–8; Galatians 2:20; 5:24), take up our cross, and follow Jesus (Luke 14:27). Ultimately, Jesus commands us to love not only our friends and neighbors but also our enemies (Matthew 5:43–45). We must love our ex-wife or ex-husband and pray for her or him. Sometimes, we can love them up close, but more often than not, we must love and pray for them from a distance. Navigating the challenges of a post-divorce relationship is complex and multifaceted, especially when children and stepparents are involved. Depending on the circumstances of the breakup, a particularly contentious divorce will sometimes require help or mediation. In the event you are unable to maintain a civilized relationship and open lines of communication with an ex-spouse, you should consider seeking professional Christian counseling or pastoral counseling to support and assist you through the challenges.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How many genders are there?''] <== --- The Bible asserts that there are only two genders. God’s creation of mankind, described in Genesis 1:27, makes this plain: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Male and female are the two genders. Throughout human history, most societies have agreed with the Bible that there are only two genders. There are males and females, and there are men and women. In modern times, especially in the last century, perceptions and theories have changed. Today, there is a push for people to respect the existence of many different gender identities, including, but not limited to, male, female, transgender, gender neutral, genderqueer, non-binary, agender, pangender, and so on. With so many possible genders, the word gender has become practically meaningless, at least outside of Scripture. People who believe that there are more than two genders create a distinction between sex and gender. Sex, they say, is a label we are assigned at birth. Some people are assigned male at birth, and other people are assigned female at birth, based on physical anatomy. The label is also referred to as birth sex or biological sex. Gender, the same people suggest, does not always align with a person’s assigned sex. People can identify their own gender, regardless of sex, and express it in individualistic ways. According to this view, humans decide their gender identity, but not the sex they were assigned at birth. We need to be clear on what God says about sex, gender, and gender identity. Of course, we must do with this love, care, and compassion for those who are struggling to make sense of themselves. We are to “speak the truth in love,” as Paul says in Ephesians 4:15. God defines gender within the context of creation, as He created mankind male and female (Genesis 1:27). There are undeniable biological differences between males and females. These differences extend to gender. There are differences between men and women, and God has assigned specific roles to each gender. Not only did God create males and females, men and women, but He beheld His creation and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). If God’s creation is “good,” in that it reflects God’s glory, then the attempt to fundamentally change it is not good. While there are differences between men and women, both are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This means that men and women have equal dignity. In fact, God blessed Adam and Eve rather than Adam alone and told them to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28, ESV). Of course, the very command to multiply requires two complementary genders. The equal dignity of men and women extends to their spiritual standing before God. Paul says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28, ESV). The gospel is equally available for men and women. Everyone needs to be saved from sin. The two genders, mentioned in this verse, are saved the same way. Once saved, men and women are one in Christ. There are several reasons why God created the two genders with differences. First, He created men and women with different sexual organs to procreate (Genesis 1:28). Procreation can only occur between men and women. Second, God created the two genders with differences that impart value and significance to companionship. Speaking to Adam, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone,” and then He created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. Third, heterosexual marriages represent God’s love for us. Paul says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Although many will disagree with the biblical teaching that there are only two genders, we hold fast to the truth of God’s Word. We “must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). And we do so unashamedly, as Paul did whenever he preached the gospel: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about family?''] <== --- The concept of family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical sense and in a theological sense. The concept of family was introduced in the very beginning, as we see in Genesis 1:28, "God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" God’s plan for creation was for men and women to marry and have children. A man and a woman would form a "one-flesh" union through marriage (Genesis 2:24), and they with their children become a family, the essential building block of human society. We also see early on that family members were to look after and care for one another. When God asks Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain’s response is the flippant "Am I my brother’s keeper?" The implication is that, yes, Cain was expected to be Abel’s keeper and vice versa. Not only was Cain’s murder of his brother an offense against humanity in general, but it was especially egregious because it was the first recorded case of fratricide (murder of one’s sibling). The Bible has a more communal sense of people and family than is generally held in Western cultures today, where citizens are more individualized than people in the Middle East and definitely more so than the people of the ancient near East. When God saved Noah from the flood, it wasn’t an individual case salvation, but a salvation for him, his wife, his sons and his sons’ wives. In other words, his family was saved (Genesis 6:18). When God called Abraham out of Haran, He called him and his family (Genesis 12:4-5). The sign of the Abrahamic covenant (circumcision) was to be applied to all males within one’s household, whether they were born into the family or are part of the household servant staff (Genesis 17:12-13). In other words, God’s covenant with Abraham was familial, not individual. The importance of family can be seen in the provisions of the Mosaic covenant. For example, two of the Ten Commandments deal with maintaining the cohesiveness of the family. The fifth commandment regarding honoring parents is meant to preserve the authority of parents in family matters, and the seventh commandment prohibiting adultery protects the sanctity of marriage. From these two commandments flow all of the various other stipulations in the Mosaic Law which seek to protect marriage and the family. The health of the family was so important to God that it was codified in the national covenant of Israel. This is not solely an Old Testament phenomenon. The New Testament makes many of the same commands and prohibitions. Jesus speaks on the sanctity of marriage and against frivolous divorce in Matthew 19. The apostle Paul talks about what Christian homes should look like when he gives the twin commands of “children, obey your parents” and “parents, don’t provoke your children” in Ephesians 6:1–4 and Colossians 3:20–21. In 1 Corinthians 7, the unbelieving spouse is “sanctified” through the believing spouse, meaning, among other things, that the unbelieving spouse is in a position to be saved through the witness of the believing spouse. Let’s now turn our attention to the theological concept of family. During His three-year ministry, Jesus shattered some prevailing notions of what it meant to be part of a family: "While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:46-50). Now we must clear up some misconceptions with this passage. Jesus is not saying that biological family isn’t important; He is not dismissing His mother and brothers. What He is doing is making the clear theological point that in the Kingdom of Heaven, the most important family connection is spiritual, not physical. This is a truth made explicitly clear in John’s Gospel, when the evangelist says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13). The parallels are quite clear. When we are born physically, we’re born into a physical family, but when we are "born again," we are born into a spiritual family. To use Pauline language, we are adopted into God’s family (Romans 8:15). When we are adopted into God’s spiritual family, the Church, God becomes our Father and Jesus our Brother. This spiritual family is not bound by ethnicity, gender or social standing. As Paul says, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29). So what does the Bible say about family? The physical family is the most important building block to human society, and as such, it should be nurtured and protected. But more important than that is the new creation that God is making in Christ, which is comprised of a spiritual family, the Church, made up of all people who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. This is a family drawn "from every nation, tribe, people and language" (Revelation 7:9), and the defining characteristic of this spiritual family is love for one another: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Should there be hierarchy in the family?''] <== --- The subject of hierarchy in families is sure to raise eyebrows any time it is mentioned. One reason we are often touchy about this subject is our misunderstanding of how God views hierarchy. In the world’s view, family hierarchy is synonymous with domination, control, and superiority. But those things are contrary to God’s ideal for the family. The world’s system ranks people or groups according to importance and responds to them accordingly. In God’s system, to be the greatest means we must become the servant of all (Mark 10:42–44). There should be hierarchy in Christian families, but not in the way we might naturally enforce it. When God created the family, He began with one man and one woman (Genesis 1:27). He then instructed them to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). When Adam and Eve sinned, God punished each of them in different ways. Part of Eve’s punishment was that she would be driven by a desire to control her husband, but God would place the man over her in authority (Genesis 3:16). Although this was part of Eve’s curse, it was also God’s way of protecting women in the future. He had created Eve different from Adam, and, in order for them to work together in complementary ways, only one could be in charge. Without hierarchy, we have anarchy. Ephesians 5 picks up this theme and elaborates on the roles of husband and wife. Paul begins the section on family in verse 21 with “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” With that mindset in place, we are then prepared to accept the specifics of God’s hierarchy for the family. Without a willingness to live in mutual submission, we will easily distort and destroy the dynamic by which God designed families to thrive. God gave the husband the role of servant-leader, as Jesus Christ was a servant-leader (Mark 10:45). The man’s responsibilities are to love his wife sacrificially (Ephesians 5:25), care for her as he would his own body (Ephesians 5:28–29), live with her in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7), and bring up his children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). God placed the full responsibility for the family health on the shoulders of the husband. Husbands and fathers must give an account of their service to the Lord in the way they served, led, and loved their families. To the wife, God gives the role of helper in the family hierarchy (Genesis 2:18). Rather than indicate subservience to the man, the word helper is also used of the Lord: “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20; cf. Psalm 124:8). Jesus used the term Helper to describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives (John 14:17, 26). So, while God places the bulk of family responsibility upon the husband, He places a lighter burden upon the wife and instructs her to submit to her husband’s leadership, as the husband submits to Christ in all things (Ephesians 5:22–24). A wise husband seeks his wife’s input on family decisions, but a wise wife knows when to step back after expressing her opinion. Ideally, husband and wife are in agreement about family decisions. But on those occasions when they don’t agree, a wife is freed from the responsibility once she has expressed her views. She can then trust the Lord to work on her behalf through her husband’s decisions, right or wrong. The Lord has ways of protecting an obedient wife, despite whatever consequences He must levy against an erring husband. After Christ, husband, and then wife, children are last in the family hierarchy. Children are never to rule the roost. Parents who allow their children to run wild, disobey, disrespect, and have their own way are demolishing God’s hierarchy for the family. Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” When parents require obedience from their children, they are training those children how to respond to God. God does not allow us to run wild, disobey, disrespect, and have our own way without severe consequences. Parents can model their parenting style after the heavenly Father and know they have the best possible example (2 Corinthians 6:18). God instituted hierarchy in the family for our own good. Christ must always be first and foremost (1 Corinthians 11:3). His Word and His example are to be the standard in a Christian home. As husband and wife both seek the Lord together, they share the leadership role for the home and children. When each member of the family seeks to honor his or her role as a way of honoring God, the family flourishes and everyone’s needs are met.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What are the roles of the husband and wife in a family?''] <== --- Although males and females are equal in relationship to Christ, the Scriptures give specific roles to each in marriage. The husband is to assume leadership in the home (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23). This leadership should not be dictatorial, condescending, or patronizing to the wife, but should be in accordance with the example of Christ leading the church. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26). Christ loved the church (His people) with compassion, mercy, forgiveness, respect, and selflessness. In this same way husbands are to love their wives. Wives are to submit to the authority of their husbands. “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22-24). Although women should submit to their husbands, the Bible also tells men several times how they are supposed to treat their wives. The husband is not to take on the role of the dictator, but should show respect for his wife and her opinions. In fact, Ephesians 5:28-29 exhorts men to love their wives in the same way that they love their own bodies, feeding and caring for them. A man’s love for his wife should be the same as Christ’s love for His body, the church. “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them” (Colossians 3:18-19). “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (1 Peter 3:7). From these verses we see that love and respect characterize the roles of both husbands and wives. If these are present, then authority, headship, love, and submission will be no problem for either partner. In regard to the division of responsibilities in the home, the Bible instructs husbands to provide for their families. This means he works and makes enough money to sufficiently provide all the necessities of life for his wife and children. To fail to do so has definite spiritual consequences. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). So, a man who makes no effort to provide for his family cannot rightly call himself a Christian. This does not mean that the wife cannot assist in supporting the family—Proverbs 31 demonstrates that a godly wife may surely do so—but providing for the family is not primarily her responsibility; it is her husband’s. While a husband should help with the children and with household chores (thereby fulfilling his duty to love his wife), Proverbs 31 also makes it clear that the home is to be the woman’s primary area of influence and responsibility. Even if she must stay up late and rise up early, her family is well cared for. This is not an easy lifestyle for many women—especially in affluent Western nations. However, far too many women are stressed out and stretched to the breaking point. To prevent such stress, both husband and wife should prayerfully reorder their priorities and follow the Bible’s instructions on their roles. Conflicts regarding the division of labor in a marriage are bound to occur, but if both partners are submitted to Christ, these conflicts will be minimal. If a couple finds arguments over this issue are frequent and vehement, or if arguments seem to characterize the marriage, the problem is a spiritual one. In such an instance, the partners should recommit themselves to prayer and submission to Christ first, then to one another in an attitude of love and respect.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about doing drugs?''] <== --- The Bible does not directly address any form of illicit drug use. There are no express prohibitions against cocaine, heroin, ecstasy (MDMA), or methamphetamines (Meth). There is no mention of marijuana, cannabis, peyote, magic mushrooms, or acid (LSD). Nothing is said about huffing, snorting, dropping, smoking, vaping, shooting, licking, or any other method of ingestion. This is not to say, however, that recreational drug use is permissible. On the contrary, there are several very clear biblical principles that place drug use well outside the realm of acceptable behavior. To begin with, Christians are under a universal mandate to respect and obey the laws of the land (Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; Matthew 22:21; 23:2-3; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17). The ONLY instance in which we are allowed to disobey the laws of the land is when the laws violate any divine imperatives (Daniel 3 and 6; Acts 5:29). There are no other exceptions to this rule. Contrary to popular belief, simply disagreeing with a law does not constitute a license for breaking that law. Many have argued that marijuana does not warrant prohibition. They contend that smoking pot in defiance of the law is justifiable on these grounds and in light of (what they perceive to be) the hypocrisy of outlawing weed while allowing nicotine and alcohol consumption. Those who argue this point may be sincere in their conviction, but they are mistaken nonetheless. Heartfelt disdain for the law does not justify impunity toward it, as our Lord Himself made clear. While rebuking the Pharisees for turning the Law of Moses into an excessively oppressive yoke, Christ still required His disciples to submit to their unfairly harsh demands (Matthew 23:1-36, especially 1-4). Dutiful submission to authority and patient perseverance through unjust suffering and/or perceived unfairness (1 Peter 2:18-23) is God’s high standard for us, even if that means having to abstain from marijuana in compliance with "unfair" legislation. Not only are we to submit to authority for submission’s sake, born-again Christians are further constrained by a mandate to live above reproach for the sake of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 10:32; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:3; Titus 2:1-8; 2 Peter 3:14). Needless to say, criminality is highly reproachable. Obviously, this first principle does not impact drug users living in nations where recreational drug use is legal or at least decriminalized. There are, however, more universally applicable principles. For example, Christians are all required to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, regardless of our national identity (Matthew 25:14–30). This includes our earthly bodies. Unfortunately, illicit drug use is an extremely effective way to destroy one’s health, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. As Dr. Alan Leshner, Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, "The most immediate, extensive, and long-lasting problems caused by drug abuse, both for individuals and for society, are often medical in nature. For example, known drug-abuse-related health problems and resulting lost productivity alone cost our society more than $33 billion each year. Illicit drugs directly cause many medical problems. Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine increase the heart rate while constricting the blood vessels. In susceptible individuals, these two actions together set the stage for cardiac arrhythmias and strokes. The club drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, also called "ecstasy"), which many users mistakenly believe to be safe, has caused malignant hyperthermia, permanent kidney damage, and death. MDMA also damages serotonin nerve fibers in the brain. Heroin can cause a life-threatening kidney condition called focal glomerulosclerosis. The list continues: NIDA research has shown that almost every drug of abuse harms some tissue or organ." (Addressing the Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse, NIDA Notes, Vol. 15, No. 1, March 2000; available to be read online here) Marijuana, while being the least harmful of all of the illicit drugs, is still potentially lethal. Marijuana enthusiasts ("potheads") take comfort in the fact that, unlike most other illicit drugs, it is seemingly impossible to fatally overdose on weed by means of normal consumption (i.e. smoking it). But this does nothing to diminish the potentially fatal risks of lung cancer, emphysema, and other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by marijuana smoke. While marijuana can be ingested without smoking it, thereby eliminating these risks, there still remain negative physiological and psychological consequences including damage to the reproductive system, the immune system, and cognitive ability. Beyond stewardship, as Christians, our bodies are not our own. We "have been bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), not "with perishable things like silver or gold . . . but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:17-19). Having bought us with His own life, Christ has delighted to create in us something entirely new, something somewhat bizarre. By indwelling us with His Spirit, He has turned us into organic temples of sorts. So now, caring for our health is not just a matter of good stewardship. It is a matter of reverential piety. This is both wondrous and terrifying. Another biblical principle concerns our susceptibility to deception. As fallible creatures we are prone to delusion. And since we are the objects of God’s intense affection, His enemies are our enemies. This includes THE enemy, the Devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), a most formidable and determined adversary. All of the apostolic exhortations to remain sober-minded and alert (1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8) are designed to remind us that we must be vigilant against the wiles of the Devil (1 Peter 5:8), who seeks to ensnare us through deception. Sobriety is also important for prayer (1 Peter 4:7), as is obedience to God (Isaiah 1:10-17). As for drug addiction, not all illicit drugs are physically addictive. Nevertheless, they are all psychologically addictive. While most people are familiar with physical addiction, whereby the body becomes physically dependent upon a substance in order to be able to function properly, psychological addiction is less well-known. Psychological addiction is an enslavement of the mind, often characterized by obsessive tendencies and a lack of desire to quit. While physical addiction brings the body into subjection, psychological addiction brings the will into submission. Users tend to say things like, "I could quit if I wanted to, but I just don’t want to." This attitude tends to ensure a long-term pattern of drug use whereby users become devotees in defiance of a poignant biblical principle. The fact is, no one can wholeheartedly serve two masters (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Any time spent kneeling before the god of drugs is time spent with your back towards the God of the Bible. In summary, the Bible teaches us that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:12).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about doing drugs?''] <== --- The Greek word pharmakeia appears in Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 18:23. Terms from the same root word appear in Revelation 9:21, Revelation 21:8, and Revelation 22:15. These are typically translated into English as “sorcery,” “witchcraft,” or “sorcerer.” Ancient Greek uses of pharmakeia closely mirror the generic modern English word drugs ; the same Greek root word produced English terms such as pharmacy and pharmacist. Modern use of the word sorcery evokes images of supernatural power and spells; biblical use of pharmakeia doesn’t fit well with such ideas. Rather, the term suggests various forms of drug abuse. Those might include drug use in pagan worship, as an addiction, or as a poison used to manipulate and control others. In modern English, separate terms distinguish medicines, chemicals, and [[illicit drugs|What does the Bible say about doing drugs?]]. As used in most contexts, a “pharmacist” and a “drug dealer” both distribute chemicals, but of different kinds and for drastically different reasons. Because English vernacular uses entirely different words, phrases like selling drugs evoke something illicit while taking meds or prescription drugs don’t imply anything nefarious. Ancient Greeks used words like pharmakeia to refer to that entire spectrum: from medicines to psychoactives to poisons. This makes cultural and biblical context crucial when interpreting terms related to pharmakeia. Ancient societies were no stranger to mind-altering chemicals. Archaeologists note the presence of opium, hemp, and many other substances in Bible-era cultures. These compounds were not as potent as modern options but still capable of powerful effects. For example, synthetic drugs like carfentanyl are a hundred thousand times as powerful as an equivalent dose of natural opium—this is what allows a small dart to tranquilize an elephant. But opium itself is still a strong drug. Mood-altering substances were also used in connection to ancient religious practices. Temples such as those in Greece sometimes used mind-altering drugs in fortune-telling and oracles. These may have included natural vapors and deliberately concocted mixtures. When Paul wrote Galatians and John recorded Revelation, these practices would have been part of pagan idolatry. Substances that alter a person’s perceptions can be used as legitimate medicines (1 Timothy 4:4). They can also be abused for recreation. Even worse, they can be used in a predatory manner, influencing others and taking advantage of their skewed awareness. The biblical concept of “sorcery” seems to lean toward the latter end of this spectrum. A biblical “sorcerer” could be thought of as the equivalent of a modern “drug dealer.” Or as the type of person who slips chemicals into a woman’s drink to take advantage of her. Galatians 5:20 is part of Paul’s list of contrasts to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). That list of works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21) does not appear to be random. The references are collected into groups of similar offenses. Paul begins by mentioning sexual sin, then idolatry, then “sorcery”—pharmakeia—and then division, before moving on to drunkenness and debauchery. His reference to pharmakeia is grouped closer to idolatry and sexuality than it is to drunkenness, which hints at the use of illicit drugs in ungodly spiritual practices. John’s references might also be connected to pagan worship; Revelation 9:21 comes immediately after a condemnation of idolatry. Yet this reference also sits between mentions of murder and sexual sin. Revelation 18:23 is part of a condemnation of Babylon, referring to its “deception.” The phrasing closely echoes the statement of Nahum 3:4, which refers to “charms.” The Hebrew root word used in Nahum is kesheph. That is used in reference to idolatry and often translated as “sorcery,” and is seen in 2 Kings 9:22, Isaiah 47:9, 12, and Micah 5:12. Combining these contexts, the exact meaning of pharmakeia isn’t crystal clear, but neither is it completely obscure. There’s no sense that Scripture uses terms such as pharmakeia in reference to supernatural powers. Instead, biblical “sorcery” seems to be about abusing drugs for idolatry, recreation, and/or oppression of others.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about sorcery?''] <== --- Sorcery, the use of spells, divination, or speaking to spirits, is clearly condemned in the Bible. The word sorcery in Scripture is always used in reference to an evil or deceptive practice. For example, in 2 Chronicles 33:6, King Manasseh is condemned for his many evil practices, including sorcery: “And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.” The apostle Paul lists sorcery as one of many sinful practices that mark the lives of unbelievers: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife . . . and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). Interestingly, the New Testament Greek word translated “sorcery” is pharmakeia, which is the source of our English word pharmacy. In Paul’s day, the word primarily meant “dealing in poison” or “drug use” and was applied to divination and spell-casting because sorcerers often used drugs along with their incantations and amulets to conjure occult power. Sorcerers were common in the culture of ancient Egypt (Exodus 7:11; Isaiah 19:3). We also see sorcery in the kingdom of Babylon, especially in association with King Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27:9; Daniel 2:2). Sorcery is an attempt to bypass God’s wisdom and power and give glory to Satan instead. God has no tolerance for sorcery. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, sorcery is listed among the sinful practices of the nations surrounding Israel. God calls it an abomination: “There shall not be found among you . . . anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.” Malachi also speaks of God’s judgment on those involved in sorcery: “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers” (Malachi 3:5). Apparently, sorcery will still be practiced in the end times. Spiritual Babylon, representing the false religious system of the last days, will deceive “all nations” with sorcery (Revelation 18:23) before judgment falls. The book of Revelation says that sorcerers “will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8; see also Revelation 22:15). Sorcery is clearly sinful and is not to be part of Christian living. There is a wisdom that is “earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (James 3:15), and this is what sorcery offers. Our wisdom comes from God (James 3:17), not from deceiving spirits. The power of God is much greater than the power of sorcery (1 John 4:4).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is going to happen according to end times prophecy?''] <== --- The Bible has a lot to say about the end times. Nearly every book of the Bible contains prophecy regarding the end times. Taking all of these prophecies and organizing them can be difficult. Following is a very brief summary of what the Bible declares will happen in the end times. Christ will remove all born-again believers from the earth in an event known as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54). At the judgment seat of Christ, these believers will be rewarded for good works and faithful service during their time on earth or will lose rewards, but not eternal life, for lack of service and obedience (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The Antichrist (the beast) will come into power and will sign a covenant with Israel for seven years (Daniel 9:27). This seven-year period of time is known as the “tribulation.” During the tribulation, there will be terrible wars, famines, plagues, and natural disasters. God will be pouring out His wrath against sin, evil, and wickedness. The tribulation will include the appearance of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the seven seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments. About halfway through the seven years, the Antichrist will break the peace covenant with Israel and make war against it. The Antichrist will commit “the abomination of desolation” and set up an image of himself to be worshiped in the Jerusalem temple (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10), which will have been rebuilt. The second half of the tribulation is known as “the great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14) and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). At the end of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist will launch a final attack on Jerusalem, culminating in the battle of Armageddon. Jesus Christ will return, destroy the Antichrist and his armies, and cast them into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21). Christ will then bind Satan in the Abyss for 1,000 years and He will rule His earthly kingdom for this thousand-year period (Revelation 20:1-6). At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released, defeated again, and then cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10) for eternity. Christ then judges all unbelievers (Revelation 20:10-15) at the great white throne judgment, casting them all into the lake of fire. Christ will then usher in a new heaven and new earth and the New Jerusalem—the eternal dwelling place of believers. There will be no more sin, sorrow, or death (Revelation 21–22).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about pornography?''] <== --- By far, the most searched-for terms on the internet are related to pornography. Pornography is rampant in the world today. Satan has succeeded in perverting God’s gift of sex perhaps more than any other of God’s good gifts. Satan has taken what is good and right (loving sex between a husband and wife) and replaced it with lust, pornography, and other sins. Pornography can be the first step on a slippery slope of sexual addiction and ungodly desires (see Romans 6:19). The addictive nature of pornography is well documented. The three main categories of sin are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Pornography causes users to lust after the flesh, and it is undeniably a lust of the eyes. Viewing pornography is a sexual sin, but at its root it is a heart problem. Not only is it a gratification of lust, but it also reveals a desire for validation outside of God. Viewing porn distorts one's view of self, offers counterfeit satisfaction, misrepresents the value of the opposite sex, and perverts God’s good gift of sex. The negative impact pornography has on the brain, mental health, view of the opposite sex, emotional health, and the marriage relationship reveals the true nature of pornography. God alone can heal the heart affected by any hurt, trauma, or rejection. God alone can ultimately meet the desire to be fulfilled and validated, and only He can truly satisfy one's longings and desires. Pornography does not qualify as one of the things we are to think about, according to Philippians 4:8. Pornography is addictive, and we are not to be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19). Lusting in the mind, which is the essence of pornography, is offensive to God (Matthew 5:28) and destructive (see Proverbs 6:25–28; Ephesians 4:19). For those involved in pornography, God can and will give the victory to those who seek Him. Are you involved with pornography and desire freedom from it? Here are some steps to victory: 0. Confess your sin to God (1 John 1:9). 0. Ask God to cleanse, renew, and transform your mind (Romans 12:2). 0. Ask God to fill your mind with things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable (Philippians 4:8)—and consume media that can be described that way. 0. Ask God to reveal the void in your heart you are trying to fill with pornography, and ask Him to help you find your satisfaction in Him (Psalm 16:11; 37:4). 0. Learn to possess your body in holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3–4). 0. Understand the proper meaning of sex and rely on your spouse alone to meet that need (1 Corinthians 7:1–5). 0. Realize that, if you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). 0. Take practical steps to reduce your exposure to pornographic images. Install pornography blockers on your computer, limit television and video usage, and find another Christian who will pray for you and help keep you accountable. You can find freedom from the bondage of pornography. God’s plan for your life, including His design for your sexuality, is far better than anything sin entices you with.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about fornication?''] <== --- Fornication is a term used in the Bible for any sexual misconduct or impure sexual activity that occurs outside of the bounds of a marriage covenant. Fornication is also applied symbolically in the Bible to the sins of idolatry and apostasy, or the abandoning of God. The word fornication comes from the Greek term porneia (from which we get our English word pornography) and is often linked with adultery in the Bible. It is a general term for sexual immorality. Fornication includes adultery, which is the act of a married person engaging in sexual intercourse with someone other than his or her spouse. But fornication also involves engaging in any kind of sexual relations before marriage or between two people who are not married. For instance, in the King James Version of 1 Corinthians 5:1, fornication is used twice to describe a sexual sin that was being tolerated by the church: a man was sleeping with his father’s wife. In a list of horrendous sins in Romans 1:29, the apostle Paul includes fornication, referring to all kinds of sexual immorality. Jesus mentions fornication in a list of corrupting sins that come from within a person’s heart: “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality [fornication], theft, lying, and slander” (Matthew 15:19, NLT; see also Mark 7:21). The sin of fornication violates the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14), which was intended to safeguard the integrity of the family and the marriage union. God designed sex for marriage, and marriage to be a holy, prized, and honored institution. The Bible calls husbands and wives to keep themselves exclusively for one another or face God’s judgment: “Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers” (Hebrews 13:4, CSB). Condemnation of sexual immorality is unanimous in Scripture. Those who persistently indulge in fornication will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9). Abstaining from fornication was one of four conditions required of the Gentiles to be accepted into the early church by the Jerusalem conference: “Abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well” (Acts 15:29, KJV). The Bible instructs believers to run from every kind of sexual sin, including fornication: “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people” (Ephesians 5:3, NLT; see also 1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:18, sexual sin is unique in that it is a sin against one’s own body. This idea is linked to the teaching established in the previous verses—that believers are members of the body of Christ (verses 12–17). An immoral sexual union violates the believer’s mystical “one flesh” union with Jesus Christ (verse 15). We don’t have the right to use our bodies any way we wish because we belong to the Lord. Fornication runs contrary to our new nature and identity as members of Jesus Christ’s body. Paul goes on to explain that a Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, a holy place that belongs to Jesus Christ (verse 19). We have been redeemed by God for good and righteous works and not for sin (Ephesians 2:10). In both the Old and New Testaments, Scripture uses fornication in a figurative sense to describe the corruption of God’s people with the sin of idolatry and unfaithfulness. Both Israel and the church are depicted as the Lord’s wife, or the Bride of Christ. When God’s people engage in idolatry and unfaithfulness, He calls this sin “fornication” (Jeremiah 2:20–36; Ezekiel 16:15–43; Revelation 2:14, 20–22; 17:1–18; 18:2–9).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Is artificial intelligence (AI) biblically possible?''] <== --- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a phrase referring to a program or computer system that thinks, reasons, and learns in the same way as a human being. This has long been a theme of science fiction—the droids from the Star Wars films are thinking, reasoning, emoting machines. Fictional AI often takes on a villain’s role, such as HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, the machines of The Matrix, or the character Ultron from Marvel Comics. The concept of advanced artificial intelligence is related to the idea of a technological singularity, the point at which manmade creations overtake humans in terms of reasoning ability, problem-solving, and self-development. Despite hopes and fears to the contrary, there is no reason to think that true artificial intelligence is possible, let alone actual. Many who see artificial intelligence on the horizon point to the development of machines and other technology. They note how industrial robots are faster and/or stronger than people. Calculators can perform operations with perfect accuracy and in much less time than a human being. Computers, of course, can store, recall, and manipulate data far more efficiently than can a person. AI proponents often point to computers that have beaten human opponents in contests such as chess or the TV game show Jeopardy. Following this type of reasoning, some suggest that technology may advance such that machines will be able to think as well as or better than the average person. An analogy to show how such reasoning falls short relates to animals and people. When someone says, “Machines and AI will be better or smarter than human beings,” it’s like saying, “Animals are better than humans. Cheetahs are faster. Elephants are bigger. Birds are more agile.” The problem, of course, is all of those are separate animals, and they are only “better” in separate categories. A single AI program might be “better” at chess or cooking or even making music. But for AI to be legitimately as smart as or smarter than people, a single program would need to excel in all of those things at once. Key to understanding the idea of artificial intelligence is carefully defining terms such as intelligence; in popular depictions of AI, more common terms are variations of smart or smarter. Computers often appear to be intelligent, when in fact they are performing extremely low-level thinking extremely quickly. They aren’t actually smart; they are just capable of doing certain tasks in less time than people can. There are some tasks they cannot do at all. If a person defines intelligence in a way that eliminates concepts such as morality, emotion, empathy, humor, relationship, and so forth, then the phrase artificial intelligence is not so meaningful. This is a particularly important point to keep in mind when discussing strategy games like chess or go, in which computers often defeat even the greatest human masters. This, some say, is proof that computers can be smarter than people and perhaps already are. And yet the program that bests a human in a strategy game is designed specifically for playing that game. It might win, but the human can then leave the room and do many, many other things that the machine cannot do. The software that allows the machine to succeed in a trivia game can’t tell you how to tie your shoes. Or make a sandwich. Or draw a flower. Or write a limerick. Nor can it comfort a sick child, pretend to be a character in a play, or watch a movie and later explain the plot to someone else. The truth is that those purpose-built AI computers are markedly less intelligent than the humans whom they defeated in narrow contests. Further, even the most advanced computer still pits human intelligence against human intelligence. On one side is a single person; on the other is a machine mechanically drawing on the collective intelligence of many people. A computer that beats people at chess or checkers or Jeopardy is not “smarter” than the people it beats. It’s just better at getting certain results according to the rules of that particular game. The phrase technological singularity specifically refers to that theoretical moment when artificial intelligence reaches a tipping point, after which it self-improves without human input and beyond human ability. In some cases, technological singularity is anticipated as a boon to mankind, with all humanity benefitting from the discoveries made by a vastly superior intellect. In other cases—most, in fact—singularity is feared as precipitating the downfall of the human race—as depicted in movies such as The Terminator and its sequels. A common staple of science fiction is a computer system that evolves and learns so quickly that it outruns the human mind and eventually dominates the world. The concept of technological singularity also assumes that processing power will advance forever. This is contrary to what we know about the natural laws of the universe. The rate of growth in computing technology eventually runs into the limits of physics; scientists and computer experts agree there is a “hard limit” to how fast certain technologies can operate. Since the complexity required to simulate a human mind is so far beyond even theoretical designs, there is no objective reason to say that true artificial intelligence can exist, let alone that it will exist. On a more abstract level, math and logic also strongly suggest that AI can never replace the human mind. Concepts such as Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem strongly suggest that a system can never become more complex or more capable than its originator. To make an AI better than a human brain, we’d need to fully understand and then surpass ourselves, which is logically contradictory. Spiritually, we understand our own limits because, being creations of God (Genesis 1:27), we can’t outdo God’s creative power (Isaiah 55:8–9). Also, God’s depiction of the future does not seem to include any kind of technological singularity (see the book of Revelation). Regardless of the limitations they face, researchers continue to attempt to develop artificial intelligence, and large sums are being invested in programs that promise to further work in virtual assistants (such as Alexa or Cortana), deep learning platforms, and biometrics. Not surprisingly, there is already a religion, called Way of the Future, started by a former Google engineer, that plans to worship AI and look to it as mankind’s caretaker and guide. Such futile imaginings are nothing new; humanity has often been guilty of worshiping the work of their own hands. The Way of the Future is just a modern version of carving an [[idol|Why is idol worship such a powerful temptation?]]. In short, AI might be able to perform certain, limited tasks better than a person can, but there is no logical, philosophical, or biblical reason to think it can be “better” in a meaningful sense. AI might emulate the patterns human beings use when we think, but it can never replace the prowess, dexterity, and creativity of the human mind. Despite fears and speculations, the weight of science, observation, and Scripture refutes the possibility of true artificial intelligence or a technological singularity. In short, the concept of AI makes for entertaining fiction, but not much else.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Why is idol worship such a powerful temptation?''] <== --- Ultimately, the answer to this question is “sin.” It is the sin nature of man that causes us to worship modern idols, all of which are, in reality, forms of self-worship. The temptation to worship ourselves in various ways is a powerful temptation indeed. In fact, it is so powerful that only those who belong to Christ and have the Holy Spirit within them can possibly hope to resist the temptation of modern idolatry. Even then, resisting the worship of idols is a lifelong battle that is part of the Christian life (Ephesians 6:11; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3). When we hear the word idol, we often think of statues and objects reminiscent of those worshiped by pagans in ancient cultures. However, the idols of the 21st century often bear no resemblance to the artifacts used thousands of years ago. Today, many have replaced the “golden calf” with an insatiable drive for money or prestige or "success" in the eyes of the world. Some pursue the high regard of others as their ultimate goal. Some seek after comfort or a myriad of other passionate, yet empty, pursuits. Sadly, our societies often admire those serving such idols. In the end, however, it doesn’t matter what empty pleasure we chase after or what idol or which false god we bow down to; the result is the same—separation from the one true God. Understanding contemporary idols can help us to understand why they prove to be such a powerful temptation. An idol can be anything we place ahead of God in our lives, anything that takes God’s place in our hearts, such as possessions, careers, relationships, hobbies, sports, entertainment, goals, greed, addictions to alcohol/drugs/gambling/pornography, etc. Some of the things we idolize are clearly sinful. But many of the things we idolize can be very good, such as relationships or careers. Yet Scripture tells us that, whatever we do, we are to “do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and that we are to serve God only (Deuteronomy 6:13; Luke 16:13). Unfortunately, God is often shoved out of the way as we zealously pursue our idols. Worse yet, the significant amount of time we often spend in these idolatrous pursuits leaves us with little or no time to spend with the Lord. We sometimes also turn to idols seeking solace from the hardships of life and the turmoil present in our world. Addictive behaviors such as drug or alcohol use, or even something like excessive reading or television viewing, may be used as a means of temporarily “escaping” a difficult situation or the rigors of daily life. The psalmist, however, tells us that those who place their trust in this behavior will, essentially, become spiritually useless (Psalm 115:8). We need to place our trust in the Lord “who will keep [us] from all harm” (Psalm 121:7) and who has promised to supply all of our needs when we trust in Him. We also need to remember the words of Paul, who teaches us not to be anxious about anything, but rather to pray about everything so the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, can guard our hearts and our minds (Philippians 4:6–7). There is another form of idolatry prevalent today. Its growth is fostered by cultures that continue to drift away from sound biblical teaching, just as the apostle Paul warned us, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3). In these pluralistic, liberal times, many cultures have, to a large degree, redefined God. We have forsaken the God revealed to us in Scripture and have recast Him to comply with our own inclinations and desires—a “kinder and gentler” god who is infinitely more tolerant than the One revealed in Scripture. One who is less demanding and less judgmental and who will tolerate many lifestyles without placing guilt on anyone’s shoulders. As this idolatry is propagated by churches around the world, many congregants believe they are worshiping the one, true God. However, these made-over gods are created by man, and to worship them is to worship idols. worshiping a god of one’s own making is particularly tempting for many whose habits and lifestyles and drives and desires are not in harmony with Scripture. The things of this world will never fully satisfy the human heart. They were never meant to. The sinful things deceive us and ultimately lead only to death (Romans 6:23). The good things of this world are gifts from God, meant to be enjoyed with a thankful heart, in submission to Him and for His glory. But when the gift replaces the Giver or the created replaces the Creator in our lives, we have fallen into idolatry. And no idol can infuse our lives with meaning or worth or give us eternal hope. As Solomon beautifully conveys in the book of Ecclesiastes, apart from a right relationship with God, life is futile. We were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and designed to worship and glorify Him as He alone is worthy of our worship. God has placed “eternity in man’s heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to fulfill this longing for eternal life. All of our idolatrous pursuits will leave us empty, unsatisfied, and, ultimately, on the broad road that most people take, the one that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does it mean to believe in Jesus?''] <== --- “Do you believe in Jesus?” seems like a strange question. It sounds like the same question as “Do you believe in Santa Claus?” or “Do you believe in aliens?” But the question “Do you believe in Jesus?” is asking far more than “Do you believe that Jesus Christ existed/exists?” The true meaning of the question is “Do you believe Jesus Christ is who the Bible says He is, and are you trusting Him as your Savior?” ''So, do you believe in Jesus?'' Do you believe that Jesus is God in human form (John 1:1, 14)? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), for which you deserve eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23)? Do you believe that the sacrifice of Jesus, God incarnate, is the only adequate payment for your sins (1 John 2:2; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)? Do you believe these things? If so, great, but believing the facts about Jesus is only part of the equation. Biblical faith/belief is far more than believing certain things to be true. Biblical saving faith is also trusting/relying on those facts. A chair is a good illustration. You can look at a chair and believe it is made of materials strong enough to support your weight, and you can believe that it was assembled correctly. But that is not biblical faith. Biblical faith is sitting in the chair. It is actually relying on the chair to hold your weight off the ground. Are you trusting that Jesus is your Savior? Are you relying on His death as the full payment for your sin debt? Are you depending on His resurrection as the guarantee that you, too, will be raised to eternal life after death? Not that it could ever happen, but if the “chair” of Jesus Christ were pulled out from beneath you, spiritually speaking, would you hit the ground, or are you also relying on things in addition to the chair? If you understand and believe what the Bible says about Jesus, and if you are trusting in those truths as the basis for salvation—you are saved! You “believe in Jesus” in the biblical sense. If you are uncertain if you truly believe in Jesus but you desire to, or if you feel God drawing you to faith in Jesus, the next step is simple. Believe! Trust in Jesus! Rely on Him for your salvation. Allow God to turn you from sin to forgiveness and salvation. If you would like to verbally express your new faith to God, here is a sample of what you can say: “God, I know that I have sinned. I know that my sin separates me from you. I know that if left unforgiven, my sin will separate me from you for eternity. I believe and trust that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that He died to pay the full penalty for my sins and that He rose from the dead on the third day. I am relying on His sacrifice alone to bring me into a right relationship with you. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for saving me. Help me to grow closer to you each and every day for the rest of my life.”

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the Gospel?''] <== --- The word gospel literally means “good news” and occurs 93 times in the Bible, exclusively in the New Testament. In Greek, it is the word euaggelion, from which we get our English words evangelist, evangel, and evangelical. The gospel is, broadly speaking, the whole of Scripture; more narrowly, the gospel is the good news concerning Christ and the way of salvation. The key to understanding the gospel is to know why it’s good news. To do that, we must start with the bad news. The Old Testament Law was given to Israel during the time of Moses (Deuteronomy 5:1). The Law can be thought of as a measuring stick, and sin is anything that falls short of “perfect” according to that standard. The righteous requirement of the Law is so stringent that no human being could possibly follow it perfectly, in letter or in spirit. Despite our “goodness” or “badness” relative to each other, we are all in the same spiritual boat—we have sinned, and the punishment for sin is death, i.e. separation from God, the source of life (Romans 3:23). In order for us to go to heaven, God’s dwelling place and the realm of life and light, sin must be somehow removed or paid for. The Law established the fact that cleansing from sin can only happen through the bloody sacrifice of an innocent life (Hebrews 9:22). The gospel involves Jesus’ death on the cross as the sin offering to fulfill the Law’s righteous requirement (Romans 8:3–4; Hebrews 10:5–10). Under the Law, animal sacrifices were offered year after year as a reminder of sin and a symbol of the coming sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:3–4). When Christ offered Himself at Calvary, that symbol became a reality for all who would believe (Hebrews 10:11–18). The work of atonement is finished now, and that’s good news. The gospel also involves Jesus’ resurrection on the third day. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). The fact that Jesus conquered sin and death (sin’s penalty) is good news, indeed. The fact that He offers to share that victory with us is the greatest news of all (John 14:19). The elements of the gospel are clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:3–6, a key passage concerning the good news of God: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living.” Notice, first, that Paul “received” the gospel and then “passed it on”; this is a divine message, not a man-made invention. Second, the gospel is “of first importance.” Everywhere the apostles went, they preached the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Third, the message of the gospel is accompanied by proofs: Christ died for our sins (proved by His burial), and He rose again the third day (proved by the eyewitnesses). Fourth, all this was done “according to the Scriptures”; the theme of the whole Bible is the salvation of mankind through Christ. The Bible is the gospel. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). The gospel is a bold message, and we are not ashamed of proclaiming it. It is a powerful message, because it is God’s good news. It is a saving message, the only thing that can truly reform the human heart. It is a universal message, for Jews and Gentiles both. And the gospel is received by faith; salvation is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8–9). The gospel is the good news that God loves the world enough to give His only Son to die for our sin (John 3:16). The gospel is good news because our salvation and eternal life and home in heaven are guaranteed through Christ (John 14:1–4). “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3–4). The gospel is good news when we understand that we do not (and cannot) earn our salvation; the work of redemption and justification is complete, having been finished on the cross (John 19:30). Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). The gospel is the good news that we, who were once enemies of God, have been reconciled by the blood of Christ and adopted into the family of God (Romans 5:10; John 1:12). “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). The gospel is the good news that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To reject the gospel is to embrace the bad news. Condemnation before God is the result of a lack of faith in the Son of God, God’s only provision for salvation. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:17–18). God has given a doomed world good news: the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Why is the resurrection of Jesus so important?''] <== --- The resurrection of Jesus is important for several reasons. First, the resurrection witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, then He has power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not worthy of our faith and worship. Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the hideousness that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting of death and gain the victory over the grave (1 Corinthians 15:54–55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is also important because it validates who Jesus claimed to be, namely, the Son of God and Messiah. According to Jesus, His resurrection was the “sign from heaven” that authenticated His ministry (Matthew 16:1–4). The resurrection of Jesus Christ, attested to by hundreds of eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3–8), provides irrefutable proof that He is the Savior of the world. Another reason the resurrection of Jesus Christ is important is that it proves His sinless character and divine nature. The Scriptures said God’s “Holy One” would never see corruption (Psalm 16:10), and Jesus never saw corruption, even after He died (see Acts 13:32–37). It was on the basis of the resurrection of Christ that Paul preached, “Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin” (Acts 13:38–39). The resurrection of Jesus Christ not only validates His deity, but it also validates the Old Testament prophecies that foretold of Jesus’ suffering and resurrection (see Acts 17:2–3). Christ’s resurrection also authenticated His own claims that He would be raised on the third day (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). If Jesus Christ is not resurrected, then we have no hope that we will be, either. In fact, apart from Christ’s resurrection, we have no Savior, no salvation, and no hope of eternal life. As Paul said, our faith would be “useless,” the gospel would be altogether powerless, and our sins would remain unforgiven (1 Corinthians 15:14–19). Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), and in that statement claimed to be the source of both. There is no resurrection apart from Christ, no eternal life. Jesus does more than give life; He is life, and that’s why death has no power over Him. Jesus confers His life on those who trust in Him, so that we can share His triumph over death (1 John 5:11–12). We who believe in Jesus Christ will personally experience resurrection because, having the life Jesus gives, we have overcome death. It is impossible for death to win (1 Corinthians 15:53–57). Jesus is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). In other words, Jesus led the way in life after death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is important as a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic tenet of the Christian faith. Unlike other religions, Christianity has a Founder who transcends death and promises that His followers will do the same. Every other religion was founded by men or prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we know that God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. He lives, and He sits today at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Hebrews 10:12). The Word of God guarantees the believer’s resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ for His church at the rapture. Such assurance results in a great song of triumph as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (cf. Hosea 13:14). The importance of the resurrection of Christ has an impact on our service to the Lord now. Paul ends his discourse on resurrection with these words: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can endure persecution and danger for Christ’s sake (verses 30–32), just as our Lord did. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, thousands of Christian martyrs through history have willingly traded their earthly lives for everlasting life and the promise of resurrection. The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). And He is coming again! The dead in Christ will be raised up, and those who are alive at His coming will be changed and receive new, glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? It proves who Jesus is. It demonstrates that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It shows that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees that the bodies of those who believe in Christ will not remain dead but will be resurrected unto eternal life.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''About Concise Christianity''] <== --- ''A concise reference for new and seasoned Christians.'' Click on any section heading in the table of contents and it will show its subheadings. Then click on any one of those to display it. Each page has an option to bookmark it "Save Your Place" so that the next time you return to the webpage you can click on "Go to bookmark" to return to that page. Each page has a "<-- Back to Contents" link at the bottom to return there. One or two small arrows appear at the left side on PCs or at the top on Mobile devices. They are Undo (go back a page in history) and Redo (go forward a page in history) and can be real handy. Please visit the ''<a href="https://www.gotquestions.org">Got Questions</a>'' website that has hundreds more answered questions.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about alcohol?''] <== --- The Bible really has quite a bit to say about alcohol. The word wine appears 232 times in the Bible. The phrase fermented drink, in reference to more powerful alcoholic beverages, is mentioned around 20 times. Thus, let’s take an overview of this topic. For the ancient Israelites, possessing lots of wine and new wine was a sign of God’s blessing. In Deuteronomy 7:13, as the people are faithfully obedient to the Lord, He promises to bless them and bring them material prosperity, including “new wine.” In Proverbs 3, loving faithfulness to the Lord is, again, rewarded with overflowing barns and vats brimming over with new wine (verse 10). These verses and others clearly state having wine is a sign of God’s blessing and is meant to be enjoyed. When the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem for the various feasts, they were instructed to bring or purchase wine or other fermented drink and to enjoy it and rejoice in the presence of the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:26). Jesus Himself was not opposed to drinking wine, as seen at the wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1–10). Paul encourages Timothy to “take a little wine” to help his stomach ailments (1 Timothy 5:23). These passages, as well as others, declare that God has a favorable view of wine and that it is to be enjoyed. Wine was also to be given in the various offerings commanded by God. Numbers 15:1–10 is a representative passage. As wine is offered to the Lord in loving, faithful obedience, it is accepted as “an aroma pleasing to the Lord” (Numbers 15:7). Balancing out the above statements, the Bible contains extremely strong warnings against drunkenness and addiction, both by example and precept. Genesis 9:20–27 and 19:30–38 are the accounts, respectively, of Noah and Lot getting drunk and the horrible consequences that ensued. Proverbs 20:1 gives this strong warning: “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” Proverbs 23:29 and 30 also gives a strong warning: “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger long over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.” Further, in verse 32, we are warned that wine “bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.” The Christian is instructed by Paul in Ephesians 5:18 to “not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." According to 1 Timothy 3, if a man would be qualified to be a deacon or pastor/elder in the local church, he must “not be given to drunkenness” (verse 3) and not indulge “in much wine” (verse 8). So, the Bible speaks at length about alcohol. To bring it all together, Christians can live holy, obedient lives before the Lord and drink alcohol in moderation. However, the biblical warnings and cautions against addiction and drunkenness are strong. A Christian cannot maintain a life of loving obedience and service to the Lord while engaging in the abuse of alcohol. Thus, if a Christian decides to consume alcohol, he or she is free to do so. However, if doing so puts the Christian in danger of addiction and drunkenness, wisdom requires abstention. We are also admonished to be considerate of the needs others when we are choosing to consume alcohol (Romans 14:19–21). In closing, a helpful admonition is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” If you choose to enjoy alcohol, enjoy it wisely, enjoy it in limited amounts, enjoy it in consideration of others, and make sure to enjoy it for the glory of God.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about angels?''] <== --- Angels are personal spiritual beings who have intelligence, emotions, and will. This is true of both the good and evil angels (demons). Angels possess intelligence (Matthew 8:29; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Peter 1:12), show emotion (Luke 2:13; James 2:19; Revelation 12:17), and exercise will (Luke 8:28-31; 2 Timothy 2:26; Jude 6). Angels are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14) without true physical bodies. Although they do not have physical bodies, they are still personalities and occasionally take on physical bodies. Because they are created beings, their knowledge is limited. This means they do not know all things as God does (Matthew 24:36). They do seem to have greater knowledge than humans, however, which may be due to three things. First, angels were created as an order of creatures higher than humans. Therefore, they innately possess greater knowledge. Second, the angels know what God's Word says (James 2:19; Revelation 12:12). Third, angels gain knowledge through long observation of human activities. Unlike humans, angels do not have to study the past; they have experienced it. Therefore, they know how others have acted and reacted in situations and can predict with a greater degree of accuracy how we may act in similar circumstances. Though they have wills, angels, like all creatures, are subject to the will of God. Good angels are sent by God to help believers (Hebrews 1:14). Here are some activities the Bible ascribes to angels: They praise God (Psalm 148:1-2; Isaiah 6:3). They worship God (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8-13). They rejoice in what God does (Job 38:6-7). They serve God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9). They appear before God (Job 1:6; 2:1). They are instruments of God’s judgments (Revelation 7:1; 8:2). They bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10). They aid in winning people to Christ (Acts 8:26; 10:3). They observe Christian order, work, and suffering (1 Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12). They encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24). They care for the righteous at the time of death (Luke 16:22). Angels are an entirely different order of being than humans. Human beings do not become angels after they die. Angels will never become, and never were, human beings. God created the angels, just as He created humanity. The Bible nowhere states that angels are created in the image and likeness of God, as humans are (Genesis 1:26). Angels are spiritual beings that can, to a certain degree, take on physical form. Humans are primarily physical beings, but with a spiritual aspect. The greatest thing we can learn from the holy angels is their instant, unquestioning obedience to God’s commands.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about demons?''] <== --- Demons are fallen angels, as Revelation 12:9 indicates: “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” Satan’s fall from heaven is symbolically described in Isaiah 14:12–15 and Ezekiel 28:12–15. When he fell, Satan took some of the angels with him—one third of them, according to Revelation 12:4. Jude 6 also mentions angels who sinned. So, biblically, demons are fallen angels who, along with Satan, chose to rebel against God. Some of the demons are already locked “in darkness, bound with everlasting chains” (Jude 1:6) for their sin. Others are free to roam and are referred to as “the powers of this dark world and . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” in Ephesians 6:12 (cf. Colossians 2:15). The demons still follow Satan as their leader and do battle with the holy angels in an attempt to thwart God’s plan and hinder God’s people (Daniel 10:13). Demons, as spirit beings, have the ability to take possession of a physical body. Demonic possession occurs when a person’s body is completely controlled by a demon. This cannot happen to a child of God, since the Holy Spirit resides in the heart of the believer in Christ (1 John 4:4). Jesus, during His earthly ministry, encountered many demons. Of course, none of them were a match for the power of Christ: “Many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word” (Matthew 8:16). Jesus’ authority over the demons was one of the proofs that He was indeed the Son of God (Luke 11:20). The demons who encountered Jesus knew who He was, and they feared Him: “‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ [the demons] shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’” (Matthew 8:29). The demons know their end will be one of torment. Satan and his demons now look to destroy the work of God and deceive anyone they can (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14–15). The demons are described as evil spirits (Matthew 10:1), unclean spirits (Mark 1:27), lying spirits (1 Kings 22:23), and angels of Satan (Revelation 12:9). Satan and his demons deceive the world (2 Corinthians 4:4), promulgate false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1), attack Christians (2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 5:8), and combat the holy angels (Revelation 12:4–9). The demons/fallen angels are enemies of God, but they are defeated enemies. Christ has “disarmed the powers and authorities,” and He has “made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15). As we submit to God and resist the devil, we have nothing to fear. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?''] <== --- There are two primary errors when it comes to spiritual warfare—over-emphasis and under-emphasis. Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. Others completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance. Jesus sometimes cast demons out of people; other times He healed people with no mention of the demonic. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to wage war against the sin in themselves (Romans 6) and warns us to oppose the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10–18). Ephesians 6:10–12 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This text teaches some crucial truths: we can only stand strong in the Lord’s power, it is God’s armor that protects us, and our battle is ultimately against spiritual forces of evil in the world. Ephesians 6:13–18 is a description of the spiritual armor God gives us. We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and by praying in the Spirit. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare? We are to know the truth, believe the truth, and speak the truth. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we face. We are not to waver in our faith, trusting God’s promises no matter how strongly we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. And we are to pray in the power and will of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our ultimate example of resisting temptation in spiritual warfare. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). Each temptation was combatted with the words “it is written.” The Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). A word of caution concerning spiritual warfare is in order. The name of Jesus is not a magic incantation that causes demons to flee from before us. The seven sons of Sceva are an example of what can happen when people presume an authority they have not been given (Acts 19:13–16). Even Michael the archangel did not rebuke Satan in his own power but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). When we start talking to the devil, we run the risk of being led astray as Eve was (Genesis 3:1–7). Our focus should be on God, not demons; we speak to Him, not them. In summary, what are the keys to success in spiritual warfare? We rely on God’s power, not our own. We put on the whole armor of God. We draw on the power of Scripture—the Word of God is the Spirit’s sword. We pray in perseverance and holiness, making our appeal to God. We stand firm (Ephesians 6:13–14); we submit to God; we resist the devil’s work (James 4:7), knowing that the Lord of hosts is our protector. “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How should a Christian respond to Hollywood?''] <== --- Hollywood is more than a city in California. The word Hollywood has become synonymous with glitz and glamor, as well as the extravagant lifestyles and hedonistic philosophies of movie stars and celebrities. Love it or hate it, Hollywood exerts a vast influence on popular culture in the West and around the world. We often use the term Hollywood to refer to anything pertaining to the entertainment industry, even though other cities such as New York and Nashville contribute to it also. Although there are many Christians living in Hollywood and working in the film industry, much of the entertainment produced there is completely secular. Many movies promote lavish materialism, adultery, sensuality, self-worship, and idolatry. Some Hollywood movies exhibit a blatant anti-God bias. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) abound in the movies Hollywood produces. Going to the theater can be a dangerous proposition for believers who wish to keep their minds pure. Should Christians boycott Hollywood? Should they be unthinking consumers of whatever entertainment comes out? Or should they find a middle path? In forming a response to Hollywood, there are several questions to consider: 1. What, exactly, so attracts us to Hollywood? Part of Hollywood’s appeal is the covetousness it champions. From every newsstand and television set, we are told that we should want what the celebrities have. Headlines such as “America Wants to Know!” or “The Life Every Woman Dreams Of” scream at us from checkout lines, planting the message that we cannot possibly be content if we are not following celebrities. Millions of the discontent gobble it up and, in their attempt to live like their idols, become indebted, anorexic, or promiscuous. Hollywood is in the business of creating idols and foisting them upon us whether we want them or not. God has strong words for the sin of covetousness. He included it in His Top Ten List (Exodus 20:17). Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). Covetousness is a thief that steals joy, peace, and contentment—qualities God wants His children to have in abundance (Galatians 5:22; 1 Timothy 6:6). For a Christian to become enamored with the lavish lifestyles of the rich and famous is to break God’s tenth commandment and forfeit the contentment He wants us to develop. 2. Why is Hollywood so influential? Aside from the materialism it wallows in, Hollywood has come to represent the great American fascination with entertainment. Entertainment is an idol that has crept quietly through the back door of Western Christianity. It goes mostly unnoticed as a threat because it does not wear the mask of evil. Entertainment itself is neutral. We use it to distract crying babies, quiet restless children, and relax weary workers. Entertainment can help unify a family on vacation, give teenagers something healthy to do, and bring enjoyment in stressful times. But in prosperous cultures entertainment has become an addiction. Entertainment for its own sake steals time, money, and mental energy that could be spent on more worthwhile pursuits. The world’s appetite for entertainment is Hollywood’s lifeblood. Hollywood could not sustain itself without the public’s hunger for more. As with any addiction, the craving for greater thrills increases, and that’s why the public demands spectacles that are bigger, louder, more exciting, more beautiful, and more sensual. The lust for entertainment can replace the joy of the Lord until time with God is seen as an interruption in the pursuit of pleasure. At that point, entertainment has replaced God as our supreme delight and has become an idol (Exodus 20:3; 34:14; Jeremiah 2:13). Entertainment is also wrong when we allow ourselves to be captivated by things that displease the Lord (Romans 1:32). When we excuse a movie’s sex scenes with “It had a good message” or become fans of openly immoral entertainers, we are crossing a line. We are allowing Hollywood rather than God’s Word to define our values. When making entertainment choices, one good question to ask is “If Jesus was coming to spend the weekend with me, would I be happy to share this with Him?” Would He approve of the movie? reality show? new CD? Would He buy a People magazine and feast on the stories of mate-swapping and infidelity? Would He applaud the sensual dancers on the stage? If He would not, then why do we? 3. Do we excuse language and behavior in movies and television shows that we would never endorse if it was done in our homes? If we willingly sit through acts of violence, immorality, profanity, and anti-Christian themes without it bothering us, then perhaps we have allowed the values of Hollywood to invade our lives. When we can fill our minds with vulgarities on Saturday night, yet show up for worship on Sunday morning with no awareness of the inconsistency, we have fallen victim to the lure of the Hollywood god. Philippians 4:8 instructs us about our thought life: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (ESV). Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:19). When our minds have entertained that which God calls evil, our thought life and eventually our actions will be affected. Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” How we spend our time eventually defines us. If Hollywood is not reflecting the values we claim to cherish, then we must be careful how much time we spend with it. To honor God, we must compare the values coming out of Hollywood to the unchanging standard of Scripture. Then we must “hate what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). Hollywood flaunts what God despises. Why do we suppose God is indifferent when a culture clamors for depictions of sin? As Christians, we are to seek after God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). If any form of entertainment does not support that goal, our response must be to reject it.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the Rapture of the church?''] <== --- The word rapture does not occur in the Bible. The term comes from a Latin word meaning “a carrying off, a transport, or a snatching away.” The concept of the “carrying off” or the rapture of the church is clearly taught in Scripture. The rapture of the church is the event in which God “snatches away” all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth during the tribulation period. The rapture is described primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50–54. God will resurrect all believers who have died, give them glorified bodies, and take them from the earth, along with all living believers, who will also be given glorified bodies at that time. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). The rapture will involve an instantaneous transformation of our bodies to fit us for eternity. “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). The rapture is to be distinguished from the second coming. At the rapture, the Lord comes “in the clouds” to meet us “in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, the Lord descends all the way to the earth to stand on the Mount of Olives, resulting in a great earthquake followed by a defeat of God’s enemies (Zechariah 14:3–4). The doctrine of the rapture was not taught in the Old Testament, which is why Paul calls it a “mystery” now revealed: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52). The rapture of the church is a glorious event we should all be longing for. We will finally be free from sin. We will be in God’s presence forever. There is far too much debate over the meaning and scope of the rapture. This is not God’s intent. Rather, the rapture should be a comforting doctrine full of hope; God wants us to “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

=><= ###''When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation?'' <== --- The timing of the rapture in relation to the tribulation is one of the most controversial issues in the church today. The three primary views are pre-tribulational (the rapture occurs before the tribulation), mid-tribulational (the rapture occurs at or near the mid-point of the tribulation), and post-tribulational (the rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation). A fourth view, commonly known as pre-wrath, is a slight modification of the mid-tribulational position. First, it is important to recognize the purpose of the tribulation. According to Daniel 9:27, there is a seventieth “seven” (seven years) that is still yet to come. Daniel’s entire prophecy of the seventy sevens (Daniel 9:20-27) is speaking of the nation of Israel. It is a time period in which God focuses His attention especially on Israel. The seventieth seven, the tribulation, must also be a time when God deals specifically with Israel. While this does not necessarily indicate that the church could not also be present, it does bring into question why the church would need to be on the earth during that time. The primary Scripture passage on the rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It states that all living believers, along with all believers who have died, will meet the Lord Jesus in the air and will be with Him forever. The rapture is God’s removing of His people from the earth. A few verses later, in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Paul says, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The book of Revelation, which deals primarily with the time period of the tribulation, is a prophetic message of how God will pour out His wrath upon the earth during the tribulation. It seems inconsistent for God to promise believers that they will not suffer wrath and then leave them on the earth to suffer through the wrath of the tribulation. The fact that God promises to deliver Christians from wrath shortly after promising to remove His people from the earth seems to link those two events together. Another crucial passage on the timing of the rapture is Revelation 3:10, in which Christ promises to deliver believers from the “hour of trial” that is going to come upon the earth. This could mean two things. Either Christ will protect believers in the midst of the trials, or He will deliver believers out of the trials. Both are valid meanings of the Greek word translated “from.” However, it is important to recognize what believers are promised to be kept from. It is not just the trial, but the “hour” of trial. Christ is promising to keep believers from the very time period that contains the trials, namely the tribulation. The purpose of the tribulation, the purpose of the rapture, the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:9, and the interpretation of Revelation 3:10 all give clear support to the pre-tribulational position. If the Bible is interpreted literally and consistently, the pre-tribulational position is the most biblically-based interpretation.

=><= ###''What are the strengths and weaknesses of the pretribulational view of the Rapture?'' <== --- In eschatology, it is important to remember that almost all Christians agree on these three things: 1) there is coming a time of great tribulation such as the world has never seen, 2) after the Tribulation, Christ will return to establish His kingdom on earth, and, 3) there will be a Rapture—a translation from mortality to immortality—for believers (John 14:1-3;1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The question is when does the Rapture occur in relation to the Tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ? Through the years three main theories have emerged concerning the timing of the Rapture: pretribulationism (the belief that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation begins), midtribulationism (the belief that the Rapture will occur at the midpoint of the Tribulation), and posttribulationism (the belief that the Rapture will occur at the end of the Tribulation). This article deals specifically with the pretribulational view. Pretribulationism teaches that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation starts. At that time, the church will meet Christ in the air, and then sometime after that the Antichrist is revealed and the Tribulation begins. In other words, the Rapture and Christ’s Second Coming (to set up His kingdom) are separated by at least seven years. According to this view, the church does not experience any of the Tribulation. Scripturally, the pretribulational view has much to commend it. For example, the church is not appointed to wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 5:9), and believers will not be overtaken by the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-9). The church of Philadelphia was promised to be kept from “the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world” (Revelation 3:10). Note that the promise is not preservation through the trial but deliverance from the hour, that is, from the time period of the trial. Pretribulationism also finds support in what is not found in Scripture. The word “church” appears nineteen times in the first three chapters of Revelation, but, significantly, the word is not used again until chapter 22. In other words, in the entire lengthy description of the Tribulation in Revelation, the word church is noticeably absent. In fact, the Bible never uses the word "church" in a passage relating to the Tribulation. Pretribulationism is the only theory which clearly maintains the distinction between Israel and the church and God’s separate plans for each. The seventy “sevens” of Daniel 9:24 are decreed upon Daniel’s people (the Jews) and Daniel’s holy city (Jerusalem). This prophecy makes it plain that the seventieth week (the Tribulation) is a time of purging and restoration for Israel and Jerusalem, not for the church. Also, pretribulationism has historical support. From John 21:22-23, it would seem that the early church viewed Christ’s return as imminent, that He could return at any moment. Otherwise, the rumor would not have persisted that Jesus would return within John’s lifetime. Imminence, which is incompatible with the other two Rapture theories, is a key tenet of pretribulationism. And the pretribulational view seems to be the most in keeping with God’s character and His desire to deliver the righteous from the judgment of the world. Biblical examples of God’s salvation include Noah, who was delivered from the worldwide flood; Lot, who was delivered from Sodom; and Rahab, who was delivered from Jericho (2 Peter 2:6-9). One perceived weakness of pretribulationism is its relatively recent development as a church doctrine, not having been formulated in detail until the early 1800s. Another weakness is that pretribulationism splits the return of Jesus Christ into two “phases”—the Rapture and the Second Coming—whereas the Bible does not clearly delineate any such phases. Another difficulty facing the pretribulational view is the fact that there will obviously be saints in the Tribulation (Revelation 13:7, 20:9). Pretribulationists answer this by distinguishing the saints of the Old Testament and the saints of the Tribulation from the church of the New Testament. Believers alive at the Rapture will be removed before the Tribulation, but there will be those who will come to Christ during the Tribulation. Some point to Jesus’ statement in John 6:40 as posing a difficulty to pretribulationism: “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” Jesus promises believers a resurrection “at the last day,” but the pretribulational model has believers being raised at the rapture, at least seven years before the Christ’s second coming. The answer to this involves a general use of the word day—the end times, called “the last day,” will span the entire time from the rapture to the second coming. Also, the rapture will mark the end of the church age and thus is “the last day” of this dispensation. And a final weakness of the pretribulational view is shared by the other two theories: namely, the Bible does not give an explicit time line concerning future events. Scripture does not expressly teach one view over another, and that is why we have diversity of opinion concerning the end times and some variety on how the related prophecies should be harmonized.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the end times timeline?''] <== --- ''<a href="https://www.gotquestions.org">Got Questions Ministries</a>'' takes a pretribulational approach to eschatology. From that perspective, here is the order of end-times events that the Bible reveals: 0. ''The rapture of the church''. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him (1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too. From our perspective today, this is the next event in the eschatological timeline. The rapture is imminent; no other biblical prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens. 0. ''The rise of the Antichrist''. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:20). 0. ''The tribulation''. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10). 0. ''The Battle of Gog and Magog''. In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.) 0. ''The abomination of desolation''. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17). 0. ''The Battle of Armageddon''. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62). He saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nations fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). 0. ''The judgment of the nations''. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell. 0. The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3). 0. ''The Millennial Kingdom''. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48). 0. ''The last battle''. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear. 0. ''The Great White Throne Judgment''. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire. 0. ''The new creation''. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him (Revelation 21–22). Other views of eschatology, such as midtribulationism, amillennialism, and partial preterism, will have different timelines of the end times, of course.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the Bible about?''] <== --- Essentially, the Bible is about God’s plans and purposes for fellowship with people on the earth. God created everything, including people who are made in His image and made for the express purpose of having fellowship with Him. Genesis tells of the creation of the first people, Adam and Eve, their fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, and then their fall into sin, which broke that fellowship. As a consequence of mankind’s rebellion, death and hardship entered the world. The world is not now as it was created; however, God did not simply write off Adam and Eve and all of their descendants. He continued to pursue them and draw them to Himself, in spite of their sin. The early chapters of Genesis demonstrate the depravity of mankind. Cain killed his brother Abel. Within a few generations, the world was so corrupt that God decided to wipe out everyone with a flood and start over with Noah and his family. God instructed Noah to build an ark to save his family and some animals. Even after the flood, Noah proved to be a sinful man as well. Then the population increased, and the whole world came together to build a tower “to reach into heaven.” This was humanity’s attempt to reach God on their own terms. God was not pleased, and He confused their languages, which scattered them over the earth. In Genesis 12, God singled out one man, Abraham, and his descendants to be the means by which fellowship between God and mankind would be renewed. God promised that through Abraham the entire world will be blessed. The rest of the Old Testament is the story of Abraham’s family (the nation of Israel) and God’s interaction with them. God also promised Abraham the land of Canaan as an inheritance for his descendants. The rest of Genesis tells the stories, some of them featuring glaring failures, of Abraham, his son Isaac, his grandson Jacob (later named Israel), and Jacob’s twelve sons. Some of the twelve sons sell Joseph their brother into slavery out of jealousy. God is with Joseph, and over a period of about 20 years, Joseph rises from slavery to become ruler over all of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh. When famine strikes, Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt to buy food and are reunited with Joseph, who forgives them and moves them all to Egypt where they will have food enough and to spare. Exodus begins some centuries later. The Israelites have multiplied, and the Egyptians, in fear of their numbers, have enslaved them. The Pharaoh commands all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed. One mother hides her baby boy as long as possible and then makes a little waterproof basket and puts him in the river near where the Pharaoh’s daughter comes to bathe. The princess finds the basket and determines to keep the boy, whom she names Moses and raises as Pharaoh’s grandson. Later, as an adult, Moses sees the oppression of his people and kills an Egyptian overseer who is beating an Israelite slave. Pharaoh finds out about it, and Moses has to flee the country. He spends the next 40 years as a nomadic shepherd. Then God appears to him and tells him to go back to Egypt and lead the people out of slavery. When Moses goes to Pharaoh, Pharaoh refuses to comply with God’s demands. God sends terrible plagues upon Egypt, culminating with the death of the firstborn male in each household. However, anyone, Israelite or Egyptian, who applied the blood of a sacrificial lamb on the doorposts and lintel of his home would be spared—God’s judgment would pass over that home. With the last plague, Pharaoh told the people to go, and Moses led them out. As they came to the banks of the Red Sea, Pharaoh changed his mind and came after his former slaves with his army. God parted the sea, and the Israelites walked through it on dry ground, but the sea closed in on the pursuing Egyptians, who were destroyed. As the book of Exodus continues, Moses begins the task of leading the Israelites to the land God had promised to Abraham and his descendants. On the way, they receive the Law of God, which told them how to behave righteously in order to please God. They also receive plans for the tabernacle (a mobile temple) where God would meet them. In the book of Leviticus, God gives Israel instructions on ritual and the sacrifices necessary for sinners to approach a holy God. Even though the people promise to obey and honor God, the book of Numbers highlights their repeated failures. In fact, the Israelites ultimately refuse to enter the Promised Land, thinking that the people who occupied it were too strong for them. As a result of their unbelief, the people lived in the desert for about 40 years until one generation died off. Then God took their children into the land. The book of Deuteronomy contains Moses’ final addresses to the new generation, most of whom had not experienced God’s miraculous deliverance from Egypt firsthand. The book of Joshua tells how the Israelites conquered and occupied the Promised Land through God’s strength. Judges tells of their religious compromise and worship of the false gods of Canaan. The repeated cycle in Judges is the nation’s rebellion, God’s punishment, and then deliverance through a judge after their repentance. The book of Ruth tells the story of a righteous Moabite woman who joins Israel and becomes the great-grandmother of David, who will become Israel’s greatest king. 1 Samuel is the story of the prophet Samuel and how he anoints Israel’s first king, Saul. Saul is a failure because of his disobedience to God, so Samuel anoints David. David becomes an aide to King Saul, and eventually Saul suspects that David is destined to be king, so he tries to kill him. Saul is finally killed in battle, and David becomes king. 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles tell of David’s reign. Although he has some stunning failures, he does love and honor God. God promises him that he will always have a descendant to sit on the throne. The Bible also contains a set of books known as wisdom literature. Job tells the story of a man who lost everything but continues to trust God. The point of Job is that sometimes righteous people suffer for no apparent reason—but God always has a reason, even if He does not choose to let us know what it is. Psalms is a book of prayers/hymns/poems. David wrote many of them. They include songs of praise and prayers of deliverance from many different stages of Israel’s history. Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings and practical wisdom, primarily attributed to Solomon. Ecclesiastes chronicles the futility of Solomon’s life after he fell away from the Lord. The Song of Solomon (also called in some translations the Song of Songs) is a love story that speaks of the pleasures of marriage. 1 and 2 Kings tell of the kings who follow David. His son Solomon begins well but then descends into compromise with idolatry. When Solomon’s son becomes king, the ten northern tribes split from him, dividing the kingdom into north (Israel) and south (Judah), with only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remaining faithful to David’s line. None of the kings of the northern kingdom followed the Lord, and only a few from the south did. (2 Chronicles tells more about the kings of Judah, or the southern kingdom.) There were many dynasties in the north, but all the southern kings were descendants of David. Throughout the time of the kings, God sent prophets to warn His people that judgment was coming if they did not repent of their sin. Hosea and Amos spoke to the northern kingdom. Isaiah, Jeremiah (and Lamentations, written by Jeremiah), Joel, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah spoke to the southern kingdom. (Obadiah and Jonah spoke to foreign nations.) The people did not repent, and finally God sent judgment. The northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria about 722 BC, and the southern kingdom was defeated by Babylon in 586 BC. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, and many of the people of Judah were deported to Babylon. Ezekiel and Daniel were prophets of God during this time of exile. The book of Esther is the history of Jews living in Persia during this same time. After Judah had been in exile for 70 years, God started bringing the people back to Jerusalem to rebuild. Nehemiah and Ezra record this time of rebuilding, and the prophets Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi spoke God’s word to the people during this time. All along the way, the prophets spoke of a restored kingdom, a new covenant, and a descendant of David who would rule forever. They even began to indicate that Gentiles (non-Jews) would be included in the blessing. But just how all this would come about was not made clear yet. Malachi is the last Old Testament prophet, and after him there were about 400 years without any prophetic speech recorded in Scripture. During those 400 years, Israel gained independence briefly but then was subjugated by the Roman Empire. In the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), a new prophet, John the Baptist, comes on the scene as the first prophet in four centuries, announcing that the Kingdom is at hand and that the Messiah who would rule is on the scene. He identifies this Messiah as Jesus. Each of the four gospels tells us about Jesus’ life and ministry. Although He was born in Bethlehem, that was not His beginning, for He is actually God in human flesh come to live among us! The gospels record His miracles and divine claims such as claiming to be equal with the Father, forgiving sin, and accepting worship. Jesus gathered a small group of twelve disciples to train and teach. He revealed to them that He would be killed to pay for the sins of the world. They did not understand what He was saying then and rejected the idea. How could the king, the Messiah, be killed? But, just as He said, Jesus was betrayed and crucified and then rose from the dead. Instead of instituting an earthly political kingdom, He told His disciples to spread the good news of His life, death, and resurrection to the whole world. Anyone who trusts in Him will have their sins forgiven and become part of His kingdom. When the time is right, He will return visibly and powerfully. The Old Testament Law is fulfilled by Him, and because of Him the temple as well as the sacrifices and the priesthood are obsolete. When He returns, the promised kingdom will be inaugurated. The book of Acts records the coming of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the gospel across the known world by the original disciples (apostles), minus the betrayer Judas and plus his replacement Matthias, as well as a new apostle named Paul. Paul had been a persecutor of the church, but Christ appeared to him and commissioned him to become an apostle to the Gentiles. The New Testament Epistles are letters written by the apostles to Christians in various parts of the Roman Empire, explaining correct doctrine and admonishing correct behavior. Thirteen of the epistles are written by Paul, and their titles reveal to whom they were written: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written to churches in the cities of Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, etc.; 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon were written to individuals. All of these letters explain further who Jesus is and how the gospel relates to everyday life. Several other epistles are named after the men who wrote them: James; 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2 and 3 John; and Jude. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews is unknown, but it is written to Hebrews (Jews), explaining how all the Old Testament has been fulfilled in Jesus. Revelation is the final book of the Bible. John the apostle penned it to relate visions he received from Jesus. Revelation is filled with fantastic and mysterious imagery, but it all points to the fact that one day Jesus will return, and His reign will be visible and undeniable. In Him all the promises to Abraham and to the world will be fulfilled. Those who reject Him will be banished to the lake of fire. It is because of His life, death, and resurrection that people can be forgiven and have the kind of fellowship with God that Adam and Eve first knew and then lost. At the end of it all, God will create a new heavens and new earth. The climax of the story is in Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” The Bible is a saga that spans all of human history. The story of the Bible is that our fellowship with God, which was lost in the beginning, is being restored through the ministry of Christ. This fellowship will be experienced perfectly in the re-created heavens and earth, but through the Holy Spirit, those who put their faith in Christ can enjoy a measure of that fellowship here and now.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What are the books of the Bible?''] <== --- The Holy Bible is an anthology of writings that includes 66 books in English editions. The Bible consists of two parts, the Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament includes 39 books, and the New Testament includes 27 books. In the Old Testament, there are four major divisions of books. The first division is the Pentateuch, which comprises Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The second division is called the Historical Books and includes twelve writings: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The third division is called the Poetical Books (or Wisdom Books) and contains Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs). The fourth division is called the Prophetic Books and includes five Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel) and twelve Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). The New Testament also includes four major divisions. The first division is the Gospels, which comprises Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The second division includes the Historical Book, the book of Acts. The third division is the Epistles. These include the thirteen Pauline Epistles (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon) and the eight General Epistles (Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude). The fourth division includes the Prophetic Book, the book of Revelation. These 66 books were written over approximately 1,400 years by 40 different authors in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The writings were affirmed by early church leaders (Jewish leaders in the case of the Old Testament writings). The 66 books of the Bible are the inspired words of God that are used to make disciples (Matthew 28:18–20) and develop believers today (2 Timothy 3:16–17). The Bible was not created by mere human wisdom but was inspired by God (2 Peter 1:20–21) and will last forever (Matthew 24:35). While the Bible addresses many topics, its central message is that the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, came into the world to provide the way of salvation for all people (John 3:16). It is only through the Jesus Christ of the Bible that a person can be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Can you give me a basic timeline of the Bible?''] <== --- In the most basic sense, the Bible timeline is endless and eternal, as it chronicles creation (date unknown; Genesis 1:1–31) through the end of ages (Matthew 28:20). From a more practical viewpoint, the Bible timeline on which most scholars agree begins with the calling of Abram, renamed “Abraham” by God (Genesis 17:4–6) in the year 2166 BC, and ends with the writing of the book of Revelation in approximately AD 95. Prior to Abraham’s birth, the Bible timeline beginning in Genesis contains a rich history of creation, Adam and Eve, the Fall of Man, extensive genealogies, stories of human travails leading up to Noah and the Great Flood (date also unknown), and much more. Within the period between Abraham’s birth and the apostle John’s writing of the book of Revelation, history helps to place many of the events of the Old and New Testaments on the Bible timeline. For example, Moses is estimated to have been born in 1526 BC and Joshua to have entered the Promised Land approximately 1406 BC. The period of Israel’s ten judges ended about 1052 BC, the onset of King Saul’s reign, when most scholars agree that concrete, historically verifiable dating is possible. The Bible timeline includes King Saul, the famous King David—from whose family Jesus Christ would be born—and David’s son, the wise King Solomon, presided over a united kingdom of Israel. In 931 BC, after King Solomon’s reign, Israel was divided into a northern and a southern kingdom. Various kings ruled the north (Israel) and the south (Judah) until the fall of the northern kingdom in 722 BC and the fall of Jerusalem (capital of the southern kingdom) in 586 BC. The exile of Judah lasted until about 538 BC when Persian King Cyrus directed Ezra to return to Israel and build a temple for God at Jerusalem (Ezra 1). The Jews restored Jerusalem between this time and approximately 432 BC, when the last book of the Old Testament (Malachi) was written. What follows on the Bible timeline is the intertestamental period, lasting approximately 430 years. The Bible timeline continues in the New Testament. In approximately 5 BC, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel, was born in Bethlehem. After the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, Jesus and His parents returned to Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 2:19–23). Nothing is recorded of Jesus’ life for the next decade or so, until we see a twelve-year-old Jesus astounding the teachers in the temple (Luke 2:40–52). Jesus began His public ministry in circa AD 26, beginning with His baptism (Matthew 3:13–17). Jesus’ ministry lasted about three and a half years. In the period AD 29–30, Jesus spent most of His time in Judea, preaching, teaching, performing miracles—including the raising of Lazarus from the dead—and further equipping the disciples to continue on after His death. Then come the most significant events in the Bible timeline: early in the year 30, Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem. During the last week of His life, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His friends, where He instituted the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:14–20) and gave His farewell discourse. Finally, He was betrayed, arrested, tried, crucified, and resurrected (Matthew 26:36–28:8). The risen Christ completed a forty-day ministry, which ended with His ascension to heaven (Acts 1:3–11; 1 Corinthians 15:6–7). The Bible timeline continues through the first century AD as the apostles begin to fulfill the Great Commission. Shortly after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, His apostles and followers wrote the New Testament. The first book of the New Testament to be written (either Galatians or James) could have been written as early as AD 49, or within two decades of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This means that the original texts were written by eyewitnesses providing firsthand accounts of what took place. The final book of the New Testament, Revelation, was written by John in approximately AD 95. Below is a list of major events in the Bible timeline, with the date for each. Note: All dates are approximate. Also, the dates for early human history (prior to Abraham) reflect the viewpoint of young earth creationism. 4000 BC (?)— Creation of the world 2344 BC (?)— Noah and the ark 2166 BC — The birth of Abram 2066 BC — The birth of Isaac 1526 BC — The birth of Moses 1446 BC — Israel’s exodus from Egypt 1406 BC — Israel’s entrance to the Promised Land 1383 BC — The death of Joshua 1052 BC — The coronation of King Saul 1011–971 BC — The reign of King David 959 BC — Solomon’s temple completed 931 BC — The dividing of the kingdom 875–797 BC — The ministries of Elijah and Elisha in Israel 739–686 BC — The ministry of Isaiah in Judah 722 BC — The fall of the northern kingdom to Assyria 586 BC — The fall of the southern kingdom to Babylon 538–445 BC — The Jews’ return to Jerusalem after exile 515 BC — The second temple finished 5 BC — The birth of Jesus Christ AD 29–33 — Christ’s ministry, ending in His death and resurrection AD 34–35 — The conversion of Saul of Tarsus AD 48–49 — Paul’s first missionary journey AD 49 — The Jerusalem Council AD 60 — The imprisonment of Paul in Rome AD 95 — John’s vision on Patmos and the writing of Revelation

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Old vs. New Testament - What are the differences?''] <== --- While the Bible is a unified book, there are differences between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In many ways, they are complementary. The Old Testament is foundational; the New Testament builds on that foundation with further revelation from God. The Old Testament establishes principles that are seen to be illustrative of New Testament truths. The Old Testament contains many prophecies that are fulfilled in the New. The Old Testament provides the history of a people; the New Testament focus is on a Person. The Old Testament shows the wrath of God against sin (with glimpses of His grace); the New Testament shows the grace of God toward sinners (with glimpses of His wrath). The Old Testament predicts a Messiah (see Isaiah 53), and the New Testament reveals who the Messiah is (John 4:25–26). The Old Testament records the giving of God’s Law, and the New Testament shows how Jesus the Messiah fulfilled that Law (Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 10:9). In the Old Testament, God’s dealings are mainly with His chosen people, the Jews; in the New Testament, God’s dealings are mainly with His church (Matthew 16:18). Physical blessings promised under the Old Covenant (Deuteronomy 29:9) give way to spiritual blessings under the New Covenant (Ephesians 1:3). The Old Testament prophecies related to the coming of Christ, although incredibly detailed, contain a certain amount of ambiguity that is cleared up in the New Testament. For example, the prophet Isaiah spoke of the death of the Messiah (Isaiah 53) and the establishing of the Messiah’s kingdom (Isaiah 26) with no clues concerning the chronology of the two events—no hints that the suffering and the kingdom-building might be separated by millennia. In the New Testament, it becomes clear that the Messiah would have two advents: in the first He suffered and died (and rose again), and in the second He will establish His kingdom. Because God’s revelation in Scripture is progressive, the New Testament brings into sharper focus principles that were introduced in the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews describes how Jesus is the true High Priest and how His one sacrifice replaces all previous sacrifices, which were mere foreshadowings. The Passover lamb of the Old Testament (Ezra 6:20) becomes the Lamb of God in the New Testament (John 1:29). The Old Testament gives the Law. The New Testament clarifies that the Law was meant to show men their need of salvation and was never intended to be the means of salvation (Romans 3:19). The Old Testament saw paradise lost for Adam; the New Testament shows how paradise is regained through the second Adam (Christ). The Old Testament declares that man was separated from God through sin (Genesis 3), and the New Testament declares that man can be restored in his relationship to God (Romans 3—6). The Old Testament predicted the Messiah’s life. The Gospels record Jesus’ life, and the Epistles interpret His life and how we are to respond to all He has done. In summary, the Old Testament lays the foundation for the coming of the Messiah who would sacrifice Himself for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). The New Testament records the ministry of Jesus Christ and then looks back on what He did and how we are to respond. Both testaments reveal the same holy, merciful, and righteous God who condemns sin but desires to save sinners through an atoning sacrifice. In both testaments, God reveals Himself to us and shows us how we are to come to Him through faith (Genesis 15:6; Ephesians 2:8).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the word testament mean?''] <== --- The English word testament derives from a Greek term meaning “covenant.” In Hebrew, it means “agreement,” “covenant,” or “contract.” Biblical scholars have applied testament in four distinct but overlapping contexts in Scripture: A Covenant When the word testament is used in the Bible, it most often speaks of a covenant, as in the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai when He established them as His people and gave them His laws (Exodus 19:3–6; 20:1–17; 24). It is in this context that the terms Old Testament and New Testament are explained. The Bible is divided into two parts, called testaments. The Old Testament contains all the writings associated with the covenant agreement God made with Israel in Moses’ day (Exodus 24:8). About 1,000 years after Moses, the prophet Jeremiah announced God’s promise to enter into a new covenant with His people (Jeremiah 31:31–34). That new covenant unfurls in the writings of the New Testament, which concerns the agreement God has made with humankind through Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:23–25; Hebrews 8:6–8). Scripture teaches that the new covenant has a perfect priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:24–25, 27); and a perfect sacrifice, the body and blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:12), making the new covenant far superior to the old. The old covenant is obsolete (Hebrews 8:13), but the new covenant is complete and eternal (Hebrews 9:15; 13:20). ''A Will'' In Galatians 3:15–17, the word testament refers to a will or an agreement for disposing of a person’s property upon death, as in a Last Will and Testament. Paul compares the covenant God made with Abraham to a legally binding will in which a person sets down promises to an heir. ''A Blessing'' Another framework in Scripture for the word testament is a blessing offered by a father for his children, particularly the blessing of a firstborn son. Like a will, this blessing is usually given when the father is old and nearing death, as in the blessing of Isaac upon Jacob (Genesis 27:1–46) and Jacob’s blessing of his twelve sons and two of his grandsons (Genesis 48—49). ''A Literary Genre'' The word testament, when used in the sense of a blessing or moral exhortation given as the last words of a famous person or exemplar figure, developed into its own literary genre familiar to Jewish literature. Initially, the genre revolved around the parental blessings of the patriarchs and champions of Israel, as in the final blessing of Moses upon the people (Deuteronomy 33:1–29). From there, the testament genre developed into stylistic presentations that allowed historical heroes from Israel’s past to offer teachings, wisdom, and commentary on current events. Several extrabiblical writings contain collections of these testaments, including the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Testament of Levi, the Testament of Abraham, and the Testament of Moses.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the purpose of the Bible?''] <== --- The Bible is great literature and the all-time number-one best-seller. It contains history, entertaining stories, poetry, philosophy, and personal letters. But, more than that, the Bible is God’s Word. If we have to speak of a single purpose of the Bible, it would be to reveal God to us. There are many things that we could never know about God unless He told them to us. The Bible is God’s self-revelation to humanity. The Bible also tells us who we are. It tells us of our sin and of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. Second Timothy 3:15–17 may be one of the most comprehensive purpose statements found in the Bible. The apostle Paul writes to his young assistant Timothy, “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Some of the Bible is spoken directly by God Himself, and other parts are spoken by men whom He guided—but all of it is His Word, and all of it is beneficial and authoritative. Scripture shows us the way of salvation. Furthermore, it will teach us, rebuke us when we are wrong, and train us how to do right so that we may be ready to do God’s work. Here are a few other verses from the Bible that speak of its own purpose in our lives: Following it will keep us from sin: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9). It gives us spiritual guidance: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). Some of the Bible was written specifically to give us an accurate account of Jesus so that we might believe on Him and have eternal life: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30–31). It assures the believer of his salvation: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). David delights in the Word of God and its purpose in his life: “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7–11). When Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread, He responded, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Not only does Jesus profess that the Word of God is more important than physical food, but He also refutes Satan’s temptation by quoting from God’s Word. One of the Bible’s purposes, then, is to provide all-important spiritual sustenance and help us defeat temptation. The Bible can help us see ourselves in perspective and cut through the distractions of pop culture that would lead us away from God. “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). It is not human cleverness or will-power that will change lives. God accomplishes His purposes when His Word (the Bible) is faithfully proclaimed. He will take care of the result: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10–11). The Bible is not just a list of wise sayings that can be pulled out as if from a fortune cookie. Although we can benefit from all of the Bible, not all of it is written directly to us. The Bible is a unified work and must be carefully read and studied in context. Christians who want to please God in their lives need to have a regular spiritual diet of God’s Word. Those who are not believers but who may be interested or even skeptical should read the Bible for themselves and see what it is all about.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Why did God give us four Gospels?''] <== --- (text-style:"underline")[Here are some reasons why God gave four Gospels instead of just one:] ''1)'' To give a more complete picture of Christ. While the entire Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), He used human authors with different backgrounds and personalities to accomplish His purposes through their writing. Each of the gospel authors had a distinct purpose behind his gospel and in carrying out those purposes, each emphasized different aspects of the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. Matthew was writing to a Hebrew audience, and one of his purposes was to show from Jesus’ genealogy and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that He was the long-expected Messiah, and thus should be believed in. Matthew’s emphasis is that Jesus is the promised King, the “Son of David,” who would forever sit upon the throne of Israel (Matthew 9:27; 21:9). Mark, a cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), was an eyewitness to the events in the life of Christ as well as being a friend of the apostle Peter. Mark wrote for a Gentile audience, as is brought out by his not including things important to Jewish readers (genealogies, Christ’s controversies with Jewish leaders of His day, frequent references to the Old Testament, etc.). Mark emphasizes Christ as the suffering Servant, the One who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Luke, the “beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14 KJV), evangelist, and companion of the apostle Paul, wrote both the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the apostles. Luke is the only Gentile author of the New Testament. He has long been accepted as a diligent master historian by those who have used his writings in genealogical and historical studies. As a historian, he states that it is his intent to write down an orderly account of the life of Christ based on the reports of those who were eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1-4). Because he specifically wrote for the benefit of Theophilus, apparently a Gentile of some stature, his gospel was composed with a Gentile audience in mind, and his intent is to show that a Christian’s faith is based upon historically reliable and verifiable events. Luke often refers to Christ as the “Son of Man,” emphasizing His humanity, and he shares many details that are not found in the other gospel accounts. The gospel of John, written by John the apostle, is distinct from the other three Gospels and contains much theological content in regard to the person of Christ and the meaning of faith. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the “Synoptic Gospels” because of their similar styles and content and because they give a synopsis of the life of Christ. The gospel of John begins not with Jesus’ birth or earthly ministry but with the activity and characteristics of the Son of God before He became man (John 1:14). The gospel of John emphasizes the deity of Christ, as is seen in his use of such phrases as “the Word was God” (John 1:1), “the Savior of the World” (John 4:42), the “Son of God” (used repeatedly), and “Lord and...God” (John 20:28). In John’s gospel, Jesus also affirms His deity with several “I Am” statements; most notable among them is John 8:58, in which He states that “...before Abraham was, I Am” (compare to Exodus 3:13-14). But John also emphasizes the fact of Jesus’ humanity, desiring to show the error of a religious sect of his day, the Gnostics, who did not believe in Christ’s humanity. John’s gospel spells out his overall purpose for writing: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). Thus, in having four distinct and yet equally accurate accounts of Christ, different aspects of His person and ministry are revealed. Each account becomes like a different-colored thread in a tapestry woven together to form a more complete picture of this One who is beyond description. And while we will never fully understand everything about Jesus Christ (John 20:30), through the four Gospels we can know enough of Him to appreciate who He is and what He has done for us so that we may have life through faith in Him. ''2)'' To enable us to objectively verify the truthfulness of their accounts. The Bible, from earliest times, states that judgment in a court of law was not to be made against a person based on the testimony of a single eyewitness but that two or three as a minimum number were required (Deuteronomy 19:15). Even so, having different accounts of the person and earthly ministry of Jesus Christ enables us to assess the accuracy of the information we have concerning Him. Simon Greenleaf, a well-known and accepted authority on what constitutes reliable evidence in a court of law, examined the four Gospels from a legal perspective. He noted that the type of eyewitness accounts given in the four Gospels—accounts which agree, but with each writer choosing to omit or add details different from the others—is typical of reliable, independent sources that would be accepted in a court of law as strong evidence. Had the Gospels contained exactly the same information with the same details written from the same perspective, it would indicate collusion, i.e., of there having been a time when the writers got together beforehand to “get their stories straight” in order to make their writings seem credible. The differences between the Gospels, even the apparent contradictions of details upon first examination, speak to the independent nature of the writings. Thus, the independent nature of the four Gospel accounts, agreeing in their information but differing in perspective, amount of detail, and which events were recorded, indicate that the record that we have of Christ’s life and ministry as presented in the Gospels is factual and reliable. ''3)'' To reward those who are diligent seekers. Much can be gained by an individual study of each of the Gospels. But still more can be gained by comparing and contrasting the different accounts of specific events of Jesus’ ministry. For instance, in Matthew 14 we are given the account of the feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on the water. In Matthew 14:22 we are told that “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.” One may ask, why did He do this? There is no apparent reason given in Matthew’s account. But when we combine it with the account in Mark 6, we see that the disciples had come back from casting out demons and healing people through the authority He had given them when He sent them out two-by-two. But they returned with “big heads,” forgetting their place and ready now to instruct Him (Matthew 14:15). So, in sending them off in the evening to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus reveals two things to them. As they struggle against the wind and waves in their own self-reliance until the early hours of the morning (Mark 6:48-50), they begin to see that 1) they can achieve nothing for God in their own ability and 2) nothing is impossible if they call upon Him and live in dependence upon His power. There are many passages containing similar “jewels” to be found by the diligent student of the Word of God who takes the time to compare Scripture with Scripture.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the Lord’s prayer?''] <== --- The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer the Lord Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Matthew 6:9-13 says, “This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'“ Many people misunderstand the Lord’s Prayer to be a prayer we are supposed to recite word for word. Some people treat the Lord’s Prayer as a magic formula, as if the words themselves have some specific power or influence with God. The Bible teaches the opposite. God is far more interested in our hearts when we pray than He is in our words. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:6-7). In prayer, we are to pour out our hearts to God (Philippians 4:6-7), not simply recite memorized words to God. The Lord’s Prayer should be understood as an example, a pattern, of how to pray. It gives us the “ingredients” that should go into prayer. Here is how it breaks down. “Our Father in heaven” is teaching us whom to address our prayers to—the Father. “Hallowed be your name” is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is. The phrase “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world, not our own plan. We are to pray for God’s will to be done, not for our desires. We are encouraged to ask God for the things we need in “give us today our daily bread.” “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” reminds us to confess our sins to God and to turn from them, and also to forgive others as God has forgiven us. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil. So, again, the Lord’s Prayer is not a prayer we are to mindlessly recite back to God. It is only an example of how we should be praying. Is there anything wrong with memorizing the Lord’s Prayer? Of course not! Is there anything wrong with praying the Lord’s Prayer back to God? Not if your heart is in it and you truly mean the words you say. Remember, in prayer, God is far more interested in our communicating with Him and speaking from our hearts than He is in the specific words we use. Philippians 4:6-7 declares, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''How is the Bible unique?''] <== --- One way in which the Bible is unique from other religious books is that it is the most popular book in the world despite a considerable amount of opposition waged against it. It has long been named the bestselling and most distributed book of all time. The Gideons International has distributed over 2 billion copies of the Bible and New Testaments since 1899 (www.gideons.org/about, accessed 8/11/21). In addition, the United Bible Societies distributed 160 million complete Bibles from 2010 to 2014 and 428 million Scripture portions in 2014 alone (https://ministry.americanbible.org/bible-distribution, accessed 8/11/21). The Guinness Book of World Records estimates that the Bible has been printed over 5 billion times (www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction, accessed 8/11/21). The uniqueness of the Bible extends beyond its wide distribution, however. In many ways, the Bible is more than just another book. The Bible is unique in authorship. Although the Holy Spirit is ultimately the author of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21), He used many human authors to compile the 66 books of the Bible. Around forty different human writers in the span of about 1,500 years were involved in the collection of Scripture. These writers came from different time periods, backgrounds, occupations, and geographical locations. The writers include kings, prophets, fishermen, shepherds, servants, priests, and a physician. This broad authorship explains the variety of writing styles. There is also a plethora of genres in the Bible, including poetry, prose, narrative, prophecy, and letter-style writing. The different authors and writing styles make the Bible unique from other religious books, and it’s stunning to realize that the entire canon of Scripture shares a common theme—God’s salvation of mankind—and points to a central character—Jesus Christ. The Bible is unique in content. Numerous religious texts teach good morals and righteous ways of life. Unlike other religious texts advocating good works to please an unreachable god, the Bible uniquely teaches that salvation is a gift from God that does not require human works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Whereas other religious books present a set of rules and regulations to follow, the Bible presents freedom in Christ (John 8:36). The Bible reveals that Jesus is God (John 1:1) and that He saves us through His death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). No other sacred book claims that a religious leader rose from the dead (Matthew 28:5–7; Luke 24:5–6; John 20:20; 1 Corinthians 15:4–8). The God of Scripture is not a far-off, uncaring god but the Creator of all things who is intimately involved in the lives of His creation (Psalm 139:7–12; Acts 17:25–27). No other religious text gives the assurance of eternal life (John 3:16). No other religion’s book is without error or flaw, but the Bible is inerrant and infallible (see 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). The Bible is also unique from other religious books in that it contains prophecy. In fact, by one count, about 27 percent of the Bible is predictive (Payne, J. B., The Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy, Baker Pub. Group, 1980, p. 675). This means that, when written, over one fourth of the Bible—more than one in four verses—was prophetic. Hundreds of the Bible’s detailed prophecies have come true in literal fashion. No other religious book contains prophecy to this extent. The Bible is unique in its language of writing. Most books are written in one language. For instance, the Quran of Islam was written completely in Arabic, Hinduism’s Vedas were composed entirely in Sanskrit, and the Book of Mormon was written entirely in English. In contrast, the Bible’s authors used three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The Bible is unique in its compilation. The Old Testament Scriptures were written as the prophets of God received God’s word, with little to no reliance on oral history. The New Testament Scriptures were written by eyewitnesses to the events soon after the events took place, within the first century. The manuscript evidence for the New Testament is overwhelming. There are at least 5,300 Greek, 10,000 Latin, and 9,000 miscellaneous copies of the New Testament extant today. This is in stark contrast to other ancient works, such as Aristotle’s Poetics, which only has five manuscripts preserved dating over a thousand years after the original was written. The Quran has very few early manuscripts, as the process of recording the Quran was controlled by Islamic leaders who burned any copies that contained variant readings. The Hindu Vedas were passed down orally over thousands of years before being written down. The Bible is unique in its results. God uses His Word, the Bible, to bring about the results of His choosing (Isaiah 55:11). One of those results is changed lives. Countless people give testimony around the world of freedom from substance abuse, destructive lifestyles, lying, stealing, habitual anger, etc., due to their following biblical principles and their faith in Jesus Christ. Unique among all religious texts, the Bible stands alone in presenting Jesus Christ, God’s one-and-only Son, as the only way to salvation: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). Truly, there is no other book like the Bible.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?''] <== --- When people speak of the Bible as inspired, they are referring to the fact that God divinely influenced the human authors of the Scriptures in such a way that what they wrote was the very Word of God. In the context of the Scriptures, the word “inspiration” simply means “God-breathed.” Inspiration means the Bible truly is the Word of God and makes the Bible unique among all other books. While there are different views as to the extent to which the Bible is inspired, there can be no doubt that the Bible itself claims that every word in every part of the Bible comes from God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). This view of the Scriptures is often referred to as “verbal plenary inspiration.” That means the inspiration extends to the very words themselves (verbal)—not just concepts or ideas—and that the inspiration extends to all parts of Scripture and all subject matters of Scripture (plenary). Some people believe only parts of the Bible are inspired or only the thoughts or concepts that deal with religion are inspired, but these views of inspiration fall short of the Bible’s claims about itself. Full verbal plenary inspiration is an essential characteristic of the Word of God. The extent of inspiration can be clearly seen in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This verse tells us that God inspired all Scripture and that it is profitable to us. It is not just the parts of the Bible that deal with religious doctrines that are inspired, but each and every word from Genesis to Revelation. Because it is inspired by God, the Scriptures are therefore authoritative when it comes to establishing doctrine, and sufficient for teaching man how be in a right relationship with God. The Bible claims not only to be inspired by God, but also to have the supernatural ability to change us and make us “complete.” What more can we need? Another verse that deals with the inspiration of the Scriptures is 2 Peter 1:21. This verse helps us to understand that even though God used men with their distinctive personalities and writing styles, God divinely inspired the very words they wrote. Jesus Himself confirmed the verbal plenary inspiration of the Scriptures when He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law...” (Matthew 5:17-18). In these verses, Jesus is reinforcing the accuracy of the Scriptures down to the smallest detail and the slightest punctuation mark, because it is the very Word of God. Because the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, we can conclude that they are also inerrant and authoritative. A correct view of God will lead us to a correct view of His Word. Because God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and completely perfect, His Word will by its very nature have the same characteristics. The same verses that establish the inspiration of the Scriptures also establish that it is both inerrant and authoritative. Without a doubt the Bible is what it claims to be—the undeniable, authoritative, Word of God to humanity.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the end times tribulation?''] <== --- The tribulation is a future seven-year period when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The church, comprised of all who have trusted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, will not be present during the tribulation (Got Questions Ministries takes a pretribulational approach to eschatology). The church will be removed from the earth in an event called the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Corinthians 15:51–53). In this way, the church is saved from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Throughout Scripture, the tribulation is associated with the day of the Lord, that time during which God personally intervenes in history to accomplish His plan (see Isaiah 2:12; 13:6–9; Joel 1:15; 2:1–31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is referred to as “tribulation . . . in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 4:30, ESV); the great tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of the seven-year period (Matthew 24:21); “a time of distress” (Daniel 12:1); and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7, NKJV). And we have this description of the tribulation that attends the day of the Lord: “That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry” (Zephaniah 1:15–16). The tribulation will be marked by various divine judgments, celestial disturbances, natural disasters, and terrible plagues (see Revelation 6—16). In His mercy, God sets a limit on the duration of the tribulation. As Jesus said, “Those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive” (Mark 13:19–20). Daniel 9:24–27 reveals the purpose and time of the tribulation. This passage speaks of 70 weeks that have been declared against “your people.” Daniel’s people are the Jews, the nation of Israel, and Daniel 9:24 speaks of a period of time in which God’s purpose is “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.” God declares that “seventy sevens” will fulfill all these things. The “sevens” are groups of years, so 70 sevens is 490 years. (Some translations refer to 70 “weeks” of years.) In Daniel 9:25 and 26, the Messiah will be cut off after “seven sevens and sixty-two sevens” (69 total sevens), beginning with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. In other words, 69 sevens (483 years) after the decree to rebuild is issued, the Messiah will die. Biblical historians confirm that 483 years passed from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the time when Jesus was crucified. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology, have the above understanding of Daniel’s 70 sevens. God said that 70 weeks had been determined (490 years), but, with the death of the Messiah, we only have 69 weeks accounted for (483 years). This leaves one seven-year period to be fulfilled “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy” (Daniel 9:24). This final seven-year period is what we call the tribulation—the time when God finishes judging Israel and brings them back to Himself. Daniel 9:27 gives a few highlights of the final week, the seven-year tribulation period: “[A ruler] will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Jesus refers to this passage in Matthew 24:15. The ruler who confirms the covenant and then sets up the abomination is called “the beast” in Revelation 13. According to Daniel 9:27, the beast’s covenant will be for seven years, but in the middle of this week (3 ½ years into the tribulation), the beast will break the covenant, putting a stop to the Jewish sacrifices. Revelation 13 explains that the beast will place an image of himself in the temple and require the world to worship him. Revelation 13:5 says that this will go on for 42 months, which is 3 ½ years (the second half of the tribulation). So, we see a covenant lasting to the middle of the “week” (Daniel 9:27) and the beast who made the covenant demanding worship for 42 months (Revelation 13:5). Therefore, the total length of time is 84 months or seven years. We also have a reference to the last half of the tribulation in Daniel 7:25. There, the ruler will oppress God’s people for “a time, times, and half a time” (time=1 year; times=2 years; half a time=½ year; total of 3 ½ years). This time of oppression against the Jews is also described in Revelation 13:5–7 and is part of the “great tribulation,” the latter half of the seven-year tribulation when the beast, or the Antichrist, will be in power. A further reference to the timing of events in the tribulation is found in Revelation 11:2–3, which speaks of 1,260 days and 42 months (both equaling 3 ½ years, using the “prophetic year” of 360 days). Also, Daniel 12:11–12 speaks of 1,290 days and 1,335 days from the midpoint of the tribulation. The additional days in Daniel 12 may include time after the tribulation for the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31–46) and time for the setting up of Christ’s millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4–6). In summary, the tribulation is the seven-year period in the end times in which humanity’s decadence and depravity will reach its fullness, with God judging accordingly. Also during that time, Israel will repent of their sin and receive Jesus as their Messiah, setting up a time of great blessing and restoration (Zephaniah 3:9–20; Isaiah 12; 35).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the time of Jacob’s trouble?''] <== --- The phrase the time of Jacob’s trouble comes from Jeremiah 30:7, which says, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (KJV). It is our view that the time of Jacob’s trouble corresponds to the seven-year tribulation of the end times. In the previous verses of Jeremiah 30, the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah the prophet about Judah and Israel (Jeremiah 30:3–4). In verse 3, the Lord promises that, one day in the future, He will bring both Judah and Israel back to the land He had promised their forefathers. But their return will involve many distresses: “How awful that day will be!” (Jeremiah 30:7). It will be “the time of Jacob’s trouble”—Jacob being a synecdoche for all the nation of Israel. Verse 5 describes Jacob’s trouble as a time of great fear and trembling. Verse 6 describes it in terms of the pains of childbirth, indicating a time of agony. But there is hope for the people of Israel, for the Lord promises He will save them. Even though this is “the time of Jacob’s distress” (NASB), and even though “in all history there has never been such a time of terror” (Jeremiah 30:7, NLT), God will deliver His people. In Jeremiah 30:10–11 the Lord references the blessings that will come after the time of Jacob’s trouble: “‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord.” As part of the deliverance He provides from the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Lord says He will destroy the nations who held Judah and Israel in captivity, and He will never again allow Jacob to be completely destroyed. The Lord also describes this as a time of discipline for His people. He says of Jacob, “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.” Jeremiah 30:7 says, “That day is great, so that none is like it.” The only time period that fits this description is the end-times tribulation. This time is unparalleled in history. Like Jeremiah, Jesus described the tribulation as a unique time of suffering, speaking of “great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21). The Lord also used some of the same imagery as Jeremiah. In Matthew 24:6–8, He said the appearance of false christs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes are “the beginning of birth pains.” Paul, too, described the tribulation using the simile of birth pains. First Thessalonians 5:3 says, “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” This event follows the rapture and the removal of the church in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. These “birth pains” are described in detail in Revelation 6—12. One purpose of the tribulation—“the time of Jacob’s trouble”—is to bring Israel back to the Lord (see Jeremiah 30:22; Hosea 6:1–2; Zechariah 12:10). The time of Jacob’s trouble demonstrates that God keeps His promises, judges sin, and saves those who trust in Christ. In the end times, God will pour His judgment on a wicked world, and this seven-year tribulation, from Israel’s point of view, is the time of Jacob’s trouble. In this time, God purges His chosen people of the wicked and unbelieving, but “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:32; cf. Romans 10:13). After that time of Jacob’s trouble is a time of peace, as the Lord Himself sets up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6; cf. Isaiah 11).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What is the Battle of Armageddon?''] <== --- The word Armageddon is used generically today to refer to any type of catastrophic conflict, especially if it’s seen as likely to result in widespread destruction or the annihilation of human life. In the Bible, Armageddon refers to a climactic future battle between God and the forces of evil, as recorded in the book of Revelation. The word ultimately comes from the Hebrew word Har-Magedone, which means “Mount Megiddo,” the predicted location of the battle. Revelation 16:12–16 is the record of what will happen toward the end of the tribulation, when an angel pours out the sixth bowl judgment on the earth. The word Armageddon makes its only appearance in the Bible in this passage: “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. . . . Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” In Revelation 19:11–20, a final battle occurs at Christ’s second coming as the conquering Christ defeats the forces of the Antichrist. We take this to be a description of the Battle of Armageddon mentioned in Revelation 16: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. “And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.’ “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.” The exact location of Armageddon is unclear because there is no mountain called Meggido. However, since Har can also mean “hill,” the most likely location is the hill country surrounding the plain of Meggido, some sixty miles north of Jerusalem. Throughout history, armies have fought countless battles in that region: Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, and Crusaders fought in Megiddo, as well as the armies of Napoleon. Megiddo was the site of battles during World War I and the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 (Weintraub, P., “Rewriting Tel Megiddo’s Violent History,” Discover, Sep 30, 2015). In the future, the plain of Megiddo and the nearby plain of Esdraelon will also be the focal point for the battle of Armageddon. //The plain of Megiddo, or Armageddon//, was famous for two great victories in Israel’s history: 1) Barak’s victory over the Canaanites (Judges 4:15) and 2) Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judges 7). Armageddon was also the site of two great tragedies: 1) the death of Saul and his sons (1 Samuel 31:8) and 2) the death of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:29–30; 2 Chronicles 35:22). According to the futurist interpretation of Revelation, which is our view, the Battle of Armageddon will be a real battle in the future, near the end of the tribulation. Demonic influences will cause the kings of the earth to gather their armies for an all-out assault on Jerusalem. The Antichrist will be leading the charge (Revelation 16:13–16). Jesus Christ will return to earth with the armies of heaven (Matthew 25:31; Revelation 19:14); His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4); He will defeat the forces of evil (Revelation 19:15–16); He will cast the Antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20); He will bind Satan; and He will set up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6). At Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:19), and all things will be made right.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Could an EMP attack be a part of the end times?''] <== --- Without delving too deeply into the actual science, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack would essentially fry electric circuits and knock out electricity in the affected area. Depending on how wide and for how long an area loses electricity, the effects of an EMP attack could be devastating. So much of the world relies upon electricity. Communications, banking, and transportation would be severely impacted. The Bible does not specifically predict an EMP attack in the end times. Questions concerning an EMP attack in the end times are similar to questions concerning a nuclear attack in the end times. Does biblical end times prophecy allow for it? Yes. Does biblical end times prophecy explicitly predict it? No. The Bible predicts war in the end times, and another world war is definitely possible. However, the Bible does not predict any specific modern weapons that will be used in the end times conflicts. The idea of an EMP attack is interesting, though. If EMP attacks were launched worldwide, rendering all technology useless, the world would essentially revert to a state comparable to that of 2,000 years ago. This would mean that the biblical references to swords, horses, etc., in the end times wars could be understood literally (Isaiah 2:4; Ezekiel 38:15; Revelation 14:20). But this is speculation. Most interpreters of Bible prophecy believe the Word of God is simply describing the end times wars figuratively, using terminology familiar to the people who lived at the time the prophecies were written. So, could an EMP attack be a part of the end times? Definitely. Does the Bible explicitly predict that an electromagnetic pulse will return the world to the Dark Ages during the end times? No.

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about Russia?''] <== --- With Russia back in the news in a big way, many people are wondering if recent events in eastern Europe have anything to do with end-times prophecy—and, if so, how? Much of the discussion has to do with an ancient prophecy from Ezekiel: “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3). The identities of “Gog,” “Magog,” “Meshek,” and “Tubal” are the key to fully understanding the prophecy. Gog is a person. Whoever Gog is, he is from the land of Magog and is the leader of Tubal and Meshek (some translations add “Rosh” to the list) and a confederacy of other nations: Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah (Ezekiel 38:5–6). And, whoever he is, he will have plans to “attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people,” viz., Israel (verses 11, 14, and 18). But, regardless of Gog’s plans, the Lord God is against him and will defeat him soundly (Ezekiel 38:4, 19–23; 39:3–5). Magog is a land “in the far north,” from Israel’s point of view (Ezekiel 38:15; 39:2). Most Bible commentators interpret “Magog” as Russia—and, indeed, Russia is straight north of Israel, all the way up to the Arctic Circle. According to this view, “Rosh” is a reference to Russia, “Meshek” is either Moscow or the people north of the Black Sea (the area of southern Russia and Ukraine), and “Tubal,” which is always listed with Meshek in Scripture, is identified as a city in Siberia or an area in central Turkey. Others see “Magog” as a general term used in Ezekiel’s day to identify barbarians living near the Black and Caspian Seas. Regardless of the exact locations of Magog, Tubal, and Meshek, there is no doubt that the general area includes portions of Russia and the former Soviet Union, and possibly some Arab countries. So, yes, the Bible does mention Russia, although not by that name, in connection with the end times. Ezekiel 38—39 definitely refer to a nation coming from northern Asia to attack Israel. After the Cold War, Russia lost its superpower status, making the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy seem unlikely in some people’s eyes. However, recent events have shown that Russia is gaining strength, and many believe that the invasion of Ukraine is just a first step in Russia’s plan to restore its dominance in that hemisphere. It is also interesting to note that, in the Soviet era, Moscow was solidly aligned with several Muslim countries in opposition to Israel. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia has continued to make overtures to the Muslim world. According to the Bible, there will come a time when Russia, in alliance with several other countries, will amass a huge army against Israel, with a view to plunder the Jews’ land. The nations aligned with Russia for this military endeavor are Persia (modern-day Iran), Put (modern-day Libya), Cush (modern-day Sudan), Gomer (part of modern-day Turkey), and Beth Togarmah (Armenia). Most of these nations are currently militant Islamic states with an express hatred of Israel. Ezekiel says that, when the aggressors move against Israel, a few other nations (“Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish”) will remonstrate, as will “all her villages”—possibly colonies (Ezekiel 38:13). Sheba and Dedan are associated with areas of northern Africa. Tarshish could be a reference to Spain (which colonized much of South America), Britain (which colonized the United States), or somewhere in eastern Africa. The objections to Magog’s aggression will fall on deaf ears, however, and the invasion will continue. Some commentators believe this war is one of the events leading up to beginning of the tribulation. Others believe it will occur close to the midpoint of the tribulation, since Israel will be “dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (Ezekiel 38:11)—in other words, Israel will feel secure at that time, possibly because of the covenant they have signed with the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). Either way, this battle is distinct from the Battle of Armageddon, which occurs at the end of the tribulation. God promises to destroy Gog’s army: “I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him” (Ezekiel 38:22). The bodies of the fallen army of Magog will be buried, but it will take over seven months to complete the macabre task (Ezekiel 39:12, 14). This supernatural judgment will have the effect of preserving Israel and turning many hearts to God: “And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 38:23). Many will be saved during the tribulation (Revelation 7), and the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38—39 will be one means by which God will bring people to a knowledge of Himself. There is much we do not know for certain about Ezekiel’s prophecy, including the timing of these events. However, it is clear that Russia will be involved and will in fact lead an end-times league of nations to seize Israel’s land. The prophet Ezekiel comforts Israel in much the same way as Moses had centuries ago: “The LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4).

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''What does the Bible say about China?''] <== --- Many students of Bible prophecy consider Revelation 16:12–16 to possibly refer to China in the end times: “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then . . . demonic spirits that perform signs . . . go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. . . . Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” (Revelation 16:12–16). This passage predicts a massive, climactic conflict known as the Battle of Armageddon. It occurs at the end of the tribulation, after the sixth bowl judgment. At that time, the Euphrates River will be dried up, allowing the “kings from the East” to invade the Near East and march toward Israel. It is the “kings from the East” identification that many associate with China. The Chinese army, or a Chinese-led coalition, will take advantage of the removal of a natural barrier and sweep westward to meet up with the forces of the Antichrist. When the end-times’ force from China joins with the armies of the Antichrist, the seventh and final bowl judgment will be poured out. The Lord Jesus will return, the most violent earthquake ever will shake the world, and the forces of the Antichrist and the armies of the East will be destroyed (Revelation 16:17–20; 19:11–21). It is impossible to know for sure if the Eastern confederacy of the end times will include China; however, it seems likely that China will be involved. Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in China’s power and influence. The development of enormous military strength; intimidation of Hong Kong, Tibet, Taiwan, and other regions; pursuit of global economic dominance; aggressive rhetoric on the world stage; and, of course, the persecution of Chinese Christians—all this has been characteristic of China. It is not hard to imagine that the “kings from the East” who one day march into Israel will include China. Some people identify another battle, mentioned earlier in Revelation, as a prophecy of China in the end times. The association hinges on the mention of an army of 200 million (Revelation 9:16) and occasional reports of China’s capability of equipping such a vast army. There are a couple problems with this view. One is that Revelation 9 says nothing of an army from the East; rather, it speaks of a demonic horde that destroys a third of mankind. The “horses” these beings ride are definitely not normal horses (verse 17). Also, the battle of Revelation 9 occurs after the sixth trumpet judgment; the battle of Revelation 16 involving the kings of the East occurs after the sixth bowl judgment, probably about three and a half years later. In the end times, many nations, likely including China, will try their hand at conquest. Ultimately, their fight will be against God. The tribulation will be a tumultuous time of warfare, disasters, and divine judgment. But God has it all under control, as Psalm 2:2–6 assures: `“The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.’” `

=><= (text-size:1.1)[''Masturbation—is it a sin according to the Bible?''] <== --- The Bible does not mention masturbation or self-gratification or “solo sex,” as it’s sometimes called. In its silence on the subject, the Bible does not state whether or not masturbation is a sin. Some people take the view that masturbation is a lustful act and is always wrong; others believe it involves a normal bodily function and has nothing to do with sin. A passage frequently associated with masturbation is the story of Onan in Genesis 38:9–10. Some interpret this passage to say that “spilling seed”—the squandering of semen—is a sin. However, that is not what the passage is saying. God condemned Onan not for “spilling his seed” but because Onan was rebellious. Onan refused to fulfill his duty to provide an heir for his deceased brother. The passage is not about masturbation but about fulfilling a family obligation. A second passage sometimes used as evidence that masturbation is a sin is Matthew 5:27–30. Jesus speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” While there is often a connection between lustful thoughts and masturbation, it is unlikely that Jesus was alluding to the specific sin of masturbation in this passage. Though the Bible nowhere explicitly addresses masturbation, it does outline the purpose of sex. According to 1 Corinthians 7:2–5, “Each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” Implicit in this passage are these truths: - God’s plan for sex requires relationship, namely, that of a husband and wife (verse 2). Masturbation is sex disconnected from relationship. - Foundational to God’s plan for sex is giving one’s body to another (verse 4). Masturbation is the keeping of one’s body to oneself. - The solution to a time of deprivation is to “come together” (verse 5). Masturbation is done alone, not together. First Corinthians 7:9 identifies the proper outlet for single people who struggle with sexual desire: “If they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” Paul suggests that self-control is the best avenue. To singles who lack self-control, Paul does not say, “Let them masturbate”; he says, “Let them marry.” Again, marriage is the God-given outlet for sexual yearnings. Those who believe that masturbation has no moral or ethical import argue that masturbation is a “need” akin to the need to eat or the need to scratch an itch. However, the Bible never presents sexual fulfillment as a need. On the contrary, Paul says to the unmarried, “It’s better to stay unmarried” (1 Corinthians 7:8, NLT). Certain actions often associated with masturbation are sinful and should be dealt with: lustful thoughts, inappropriate sexual stimulation, and pornography use, for example. If these problems are tackled, masturbation becomes less of a temptation. Many people struggle with guilt concerning masturbation, when, in reality, they would be better off repenting of the sins that lead them to masturbate. So, is masturbation a sin? The Bible does not directly answer this question, but there definitely are some biblical principles to apply: 0. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If we cannot give God glory for something, we should not do it. 0. “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). If we are not fully convinced that an activity is honoring to God, it is a sin. 0. “I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Christians have a responsibility to avoid anything that might enslave them. 0. “I discipline my body and keep it under control” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Self-denial is difficult, but self-discipline is worth it. 0. “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). Masturbation is almost always a sign of a lack of self-control. 0. Do “not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Galatians 5:16–17). We are called to self-denial, not to self-gratification. These truths should have an impact on what we do with our bodies. In light of the above principles, it is doubtful that masturbation can be a God-honoring activity. If masturbation could be done with: * no lust in the heart * no immoral thoughts * no pornography * no self-gratification of the flesh * full assurance that it is good and right * thanks given to God then perhaps it would be allowable. But those qualifiers seem to negate the very meaning and purpose of masturbation.

### Peter Stoner’s Calculations Regarding Messianic Prophecy Dr. Peter Stoner calculated the probability of just 8 Messianic prophecies being fulfilled in the life of Jesus. As you read through these prophecies, you will see that all estimates were calculated as conservatively as possible.<table class="minimalistBlack"> <thead> <tr> <th>Prophecy</th> <th>Details</th> <th>Estimate</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). </td> <td>The average population of Bethlehem from the time of Micah to the present (1958) divided by the average population of the earth during the same period = 7,150/2,000,000,000</td> <td>1 in 2.8×105</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A messenger will prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 3:1). </td> <td>One man in how many, the world over, has had a forerunner (in this case, John the Baptist) to prepare his way?</td> <td>1 in 1,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Messiah will enter Jerusalem as a king riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). </td> <td>One man in how many, who has entered Jerusalem as a ruler, has entered riding on a donkey?</td> <td>1 in 100 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Messiah will be betrayed by a friend and suffer wounds in His hands (Zechariah 13:6).</td> <td>One man in how many, the world over, has been betrayed by a friend, resulting in wounds in his hands? </td> <td>1 in 1,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12). </td> <td>Of the people who have been betrayed, one in how many has been betrayed for exactly 30 pieces of silver? </td> <td>1 in 1,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The betrayal money will be used to purchase a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13). </td> <td>One man in how many, after receiving a bribe for the betrayal of a friend, has returned the money, had it refused, and then experienced it being used to buy a potter’s field?</td> <td>1 in 100,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Messiah will remain silent while He is afflicted (Isaiah 53:7). </td> <td>One man in how many, when he is oppressed and afflicted, though innocent, will make no defense of himself? </td> <td>1 in 1,000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Messiah will die by having His hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16). </td> <td>One man in how many, since the time of David, has been crucified? </td> <td>1 in 10,000</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Multiplying all these probabilities together produces a number (rounded off) of 1×1028. Dividing this number by an estimate of the number of people who have lived since the time of these prophecies (88 billion) produces a probability of all 8 prophecies being fulfilled accidently in the life of one person. (text-style:"bold","underline")[That probability is 1in 10^^17^^ or 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. That’s one in one hundred quadrillion!]

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### The importance of Bible prophecy //by Joe Hawkins// In an era characterized by rapid technological advancements, increasing global tensions, and a marked decline in moral values, the study of Bible prophecy is more important now than ever before. Prophecy serves as a divine roadmap, offering believers insight into current events and assurance of God's sovereign plan. With the moral decay described by Paul in Romans and 1 Timothy mirroring today’s societal trends, understanding prophecy equips Christians to navigate these tumultuous times with hope, discernment, and purpose. <u>''Understanding Bible Prophecy''</u> Bible prophecy is a significant portion of Scripture, nearly one-third of the Bible consists of prophetic scripture. These prophecies range from the promises of the coming Messiah found in the Old Testament to the apocalyptic visions detailed in the Book of Revelation. Prophecy is not just about predicting the future; it is fundamentally about revealing God's plan and purpose throughout history. <u>''The Purpose of Prophecy''</u> ''1. Revealing God’s Sovereignty'' Prophecy demonstrates that God is in control of history. Isaiah 46:9-10 declares, "I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'" This assurance of divine sovereignty provides believers with comfort and confidence amid uncertainty. ''2. Calling to Repentance'' Many prophetic messages include calls to repentance, urging people to turn back to God. The prophets of the Old Testament, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, warned Israel of impending judgment while calling them to return to their covenant with God. ''3. Providing Hope and Encouragement '' Prophecies often include promises of restoration and hope for the future. Jeremiah 29:11, spoken to a people in exile, promises, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." ''4. Pointing to the Messiah'' A central theme of prophecy is the coming of the Messiah. Prophecies such as Isaiah 53 and Micah 5:2 foretold the coming of Jesus Christ, providing a foundation for the New Testament’s revelation of His life, death, and resurrection. ''5. Preparing for the End Times '' Prophecy offers insight into the events leading to the culmination of history. Books like Daniel and Revelation provide detailed visions of the end times, emphasizing the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom. <u>''Current Events and the Prophetic Timeline''</u> The unfolding of events on the world stage today resonates with biblical prophecies, underscoring the importance of understanding these ancient texts in the context of contemporary developments. Based on the current geopolitical landscape and condition of this world, I believe we are witnessing signs foretold in Scripture, marking the last days. ''1. Geopolitical Tensions and Middle Eastern Conflicts'' The Middle East, specifically Israel, remains a focal point of geopolitical tension, with conflicts and alliances forming that align with prophetic scriptures. Ezekiel 38-39 describes a coalition of nations led by Gog of Magog, which many scholars identify with modern-day Russia and its allies, attacking Israel in the end times. The ongoing conflicts and shifting alliances in the Middle East suggests that the stage is being set for these events. In recent years, the Abraham Accords and other peace agreements have brought significant changes to the political landscape of the region. These developments reflect the Bible's emphasis on Jerusalem as a central player in end-time events (Zechariah 12:2-3). As global leaders strive for peace, the Bible warns of a future false peace orchestrated by the Antichrist (1 Thessalonians 5:3). ''2. Rise of Globalism and the Push for a One-World Government'' The rise of globalism and movements toward a one-world government resonate with visions described in Daniel and Revelation. Daniel 7:23 speaks of a future kingdom that will devour the whole earth, while Revelation 13:7-8 describes a world government that will demand allegiance from all people. The increasing interconnectedness of nations, advancements in technology, and calls for global governance align with these prophetic visions. The concept of a one-world religion is also gaining traction as interfaith movements and ecumenical efforts seek to unite different faiths under a common banner. This aligns with the prophecy in Revelation 17, which describes a religious system that will play a crucial role in end-time events. The growing trend toward religious pluralism and the acceptance of diverse beliefs as equally valid challenge the exclusive claims of Christianity and pave the way for the prophesied deception. ''3. Natural Disasters and Pandemics'' Natural disasters and pandemics are another significant aspect of prophetic literature. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:7-8 that famines, pestilences, and earthquakes would be the beginning of sorrows. In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, alongside global health crises like the COVID-19 plandemic. These events serve as reminders of the fragility of human life and the urgency of preparing for Christ's return. Scientific studies have documented an uptick in extreme weather events and natural disasters, emphasizing the pressing nature of these biblical warnings. As the world grapples with the consequences of these disasters, believers are called to find hope and assurance in the prophetic promises of God’s ultimate redemption and restoration. <u>''Moral Decline''</u> The Apostle Paul’s letters to the Romans and Timothy provide a vivid depiction of the moral state of humanity in the last days. His writings offer prophetic insight into the spiritual and moral decline that characterizes our contemporary world. ''1. A Portrait of Moral Decay'' In Romans 1:18-32, Paul describes a society that has rejected God and embraced idolatry, immorality, and a distorted understanding of truth. This passage outlines a progression of moral decline, beginning with the suppression of truth and culminating in a debased mind that leads to all forms of wickedness. The passage begins with an indictment of humanity's refusal to acknowledge God’s truth: " because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:21). This rejection of divine revelation results in a culture that exchanges the truth of God for lies, worshiping created things rather than the Creator. Paul’s description of this moral decline is strikingly relevant to contemporary society, where relativism and secularism dominate cultural narratives. The rise of individualism and the rejection of absolute truth has led to a society where moral boundaries are blurred, and personal desires are prioritized over divine standards. ''2. Spiritual Deception and Apostasy'' In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul warns of a future time when people will abandon the faith, following deceptive spirits and doctrines of demons. He writes, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1). This passage highlights the reality of spiritual deception and apostasy in the last days. The proliferation of false teachings and the erosion of biblical truth are evident in today’s religious landscape. Many churches have compromised on essential doctrines, embracing teachings that align with cultural trends rather than Scripture. This shift away from biblical fidelity mirrors Paul’s warnings and underscores the importance of discernment and adherence to sound doctrine. <u>''The Role of Prophecy in the Believer’s Life''</u> Studying Bible prophecy is not merely an academic exercise; it is a vital aspect of a believer’s faith that offers several key benefits for believers navigating the complexities of the modern world. ''1. Hope and Assurance'' One of the primary functions of prophecy is to provide hope and assurance. The prophetic promises of Scripture remind believers that God is in control, and His purposes will ultimately prevail. In a world filled with uncertainty, prophecy offers a foundation of confidence and peace, encouraging believers to trust in God’s plan. The hope of Christ’s return is a central theme of New Testament prophecy. Jesus Himself promised, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). This assurance of Christ’s imminent return motivates believers to live with an eternal perspective, finding hope in the promise of His coming kingdom. ''2. Spiritual Discernment'' Prophetic knowledge equips believers to discern truth from deception. As false teachings and ideologies proliferate, understanding prophecy helps Christians remain anchored in biblical truth, recognizing the signs of apostasy and spiritual compromise. Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 to "test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" underscores the importance of discernment in the life of a believer. By studying prophecy, Christians can develop a deeper understanding of God’s Word, enabling them to discern truth from error and stand firm in their faith. ''3. Motivation for Holiness'' The anticipation of Christ’s return motivates believers to live lives marked by holiness and righteousness. Prophecy encourages us to be vigilant, prepared, and actively engaged in sharing the gospel with a world in need of redemption. Peter emphasizes the call to holiness in light of prophetic promises: "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless" (2 Peter 3:14). The knowledge that Christ could return at any moment inspires believers to live with integrity and pursue a life that honors God. ''4. A Call to Evangelism'' Understanding Bible prophecy also serves as a catalyst for evangelism. As believers recognize the signs of the times and the urgency of the gospel message, they are compelled to share the hope of salvation with others. The realization that we are living in the last days should prompt Christians to proclaim the message of Christ's redemptive work to those who have yet to hear. Jesus commissioned His followers with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, instructing them to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." The study of prophecy reinforces this mission, emphasizing the importance of reaching a lost world with the message of God's love and grace. In addition to personal evangelism, prophecy can inform the Church's collective outreach efforts. Churches and Christian organizations can use prophetic teachings to engage in meaningful conversations with seekers and skeptics, addressing their questions about the future and pointing them to the ultimate hope found in Christ. ''5. Strengthening Discipleship and Teaching'' Incorporating Bible prophecy into the teaching and discipleship programs of the Church can strengthen the faith and understanding of believers. By exploring prophetic passages, congregations can deepen their knowledge of Scripture and gain a more comprehensive view of God's redemptive plan throughout history. This understanding fosters spiritual maturity and prepares believers to face challenges with confidence. Effective discipleship involves equipping believers to interpret current events through a biblical lens. By teaching prophecy, church leaders can help congregants discern the signs of the times and respond with wisdom and grace. This approach encourages a well-rounded faith that balances knowledge, application, and a heart for evangelism. ''6. Avoiding Speculation and Date-Setting'' One of the most significant challenges in studying prophecy is the temptation to engage in speculation and date-setting. While prophecy provides insight into future events, it is not meant to satisfy curiosity about specific dates or timelines. Jesus Himself warned against trying to predict the exact timing of His return: " But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew 24:36). Instead of focusing on setting dates, believers are called to live in a state of readiness and anticipation, faithfully serving God and others until Christ's return. This balanced approach allows Christians to embrace the urgency of the times without succumbing to speculative theories. ''7. Interpreting Prophecy in Context'' Proper interpretation of prophetic passages requires careful consideration of their historical, cultural, and literary context. Many prophetic texts use symbolic language and imagery, which can lead to varied interpretations. To avoid misinterpretation, it is crucial to study prophecy in light of the whole counsel of Scripture, comparing it with other biblical passages and seeking guidance from reputable scholars and theologians. By approaching prophecy with humility and a commitment to sound hermeneutics, believers can gain a deeper understanding of its significance and relevance for today. <u>''Conclusion''</u> In these last days, the study of Bible prophecy is more crucial than ever for believers seeking to navigate the complexities of the modern world with wisdom and faith. As current events align with biblical predictions, prophecy offers a roadmap for understanding the times and finding hope in God's sovereign plan. By embracing the teachings of prophecy, Christians can be equipped with spiritual discernment, motivated to pursue holiness, and empowered to share the gospel with urgency and compassion. The moral decline and spiritual deception described in Paul's writings in Romans and 1 Timothy resonate with the challenges facing the Church today. Yet, amidst these challenges, prophecy provides assurance that God is in control and that His kingdom will ultimately prevail. As believers study prophecy, they are reminded of their calling to be ambassadors of God's truth and grace in a world desperately in need of redemption. By remaining anchored in Scripture and committed to doctrinal purity, Christians can stand firm in their faith and fulfill their mission to be a light in the darkness. The study of Bible prophecy is not just a matter of understanding future events; it is an invitation to live with purpose, hope, and anticipation of the glorious return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Joe can be found at: <a href="https://sweetteaprophecy.com">Sweet Tea Prophecy</a>

### Is there proof for the inspiration of the Bible? Here are some evidences that the Bible is inspired (God-breathed), as declared in 2 Timothy 3:16: 1) Fulfilled prophecy. God spoke to men telling them of things He would bring about in the future. Some of them have already occurred. Others have not. For example, the Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ’s first coming. There is no doubt that these are prophecies from God because of manuscripts dated from before the birth of Christ. These were not written after the fact but beforehand. 2) The unity of Scripture. The Bible was written by approximately 40 human authors over a period of approximately 1,600 years. These men were quite diverse. Moses, was a political leader; Joshua, a military leader; David, a shepherd; Solomon, a king; Amos, a herdsman and fruit picker; Daniel, a prime minister; Matthew, a tax collector; Luke, a medical doctor; Paul, a rabbi; and Peter, a fisherman; among others. The Bible was also written under a variety of circumstances. It was written on 3 different continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Yet, the great themes of Scripture are maintained in all the writings. The Bible does not contradict itself. There is no way, apart from God the Holy Spirit supervising the writing of the Bible, that this could have been accomplished. Contrast this with the Islamic Qur’an. It was compiled by one individual, Zaid bin Thabit, under the guidance of Mohammed’s father-in-law, Abu-Bekr. Then, in A.D. 650, a group of Arab scholars produced a unified version and destroyed all variant copies to preserve the unity of the Qur’an. The Bible was unified from the time of its writing. The Qur’an had unity forced upon it by human editors. 3) The Bible presents its heroes truthfully with all of their faults and weaknesses. It does not glorify men as other religions do their heroes. Reading the Bible, one realizes that the people it describes have problems and do wrong just as we do. What made the heroes of the Bible great was that they trusted in God. One example is David, who is described as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Yet, David committed adultery (2 Samuel 11:1-5) and murder (2 Samuel 11:14-26). This information could have easily been omitted from Scripture, but the God of truth included it. 4) Archaeological findings support the history recorded in Scripture. Though many unbelievers throughout history have tried to find archaeological evidence to disprove what is recorded in the Bible, they have failed. It is easy to say that Scripture is untrue. Proving it to be untrue is another matter. In fact, it has not been done. In the past, every time the Bible contradicted a current “scientific” theory, the Bible was proven later to be true and the scientific theory wrong. A good example is Isaiah 40:22. All the while that science declared the earth to be flat, the Bible stated that God “sits on the circle [sphere] of the earth.” The Bible’s claims of being from God should not be understood as circular reasoning. The testimony of reliable witnesses—particularly Jesus, but also Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, and Nehemiah in the Old Testament, and John and Paul in the New Testament—affirms the authority and verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. Consider the following passages: Exodus 14:1; 20:1; Leviticus 4:1; Numbers 4:1;Deuteronomy 4:2; 32:48; Isaiah 1:10, 24; Jeremiah 1:11; Jeremiah 11:1–3; Ezekiel 1:3; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16–21; 1 John 4:6. Also of interest are the writings of Titus Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who wrote during the first century A.D. Josephus records some events which coincide with Scripture. Considering the evidence given, we wholeheartedly accept the Bible as being from God (2 Timothy 3:16).

### What does it mean that Jesus saves? Jesus saves is a popular slogan on bumper stickers, signs at athletic events, and even banners being pulled across the sky by small airplanes. Sadly, few who see the phrase Jesus saves truly understand what it means. Those two words pack a tremendous amount of power and truth. ''Jesus saves, but who is Jesus?'' Most people understand that Jesus was a man who lived in Israel about 2,000 years ago. Virtually every religion in the world views Jesus as a good teacher and/or a prophet. And while Jesus was truly a good teacher and a prophet, those job descriptions do not capture who Jesus truly is, nor do they explain how or why Jesus saves. Jesus is God in human form (John 1:1, 14). He came to Earth as a true human being (1 John 4:2) in the person of Jesus Christ in order to save us. That brings up the next question: why do we need to be saved? ''Jesus saves, but why do we need to be saved?'' The Bible declares that every human being who has ever lived has sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). To sin is to do anything in thought, word, or deed that contradicts God’s perfect and holy character. Because of our sin, we are separated from God and deserve judgment from God (John 3:18, 36). God is perfectly just, so He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. Since God is the infinite and eternal Creator, all sin is ultimately against Him (Psalm 51:4), and only an infinite and eternal punishment is sufficient. Eternal death—separation from God—is the only just punishment for sin. That is why we need to be saved. ''Jesus saves, but how does He save?'' Because we have sinned against an infinite God, either a finite person (each one of us) must pay for our sins for an infinite amount of time, or an infinite Person (Jesus) must pay for our sins one time. There is no other option. Jesus saves us by dying in our place. Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself on our behalf, paying the infinite and eternal penalty only He could pay (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2). Jesus took the punishment that we deserve in order to save us from an eternal destiny separated from God. Because of His great love for us, Jesus laid down His life (John 15:13), paying the penalty that we had earned, but could not pay. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, demonstrating that His death was indeed sufficient to pay for our sins and that His life conquers death on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15). ''Jesus saves, but whom does He save?'' Jesus saves all who will receive His gift of salvation by faith. Jesus saves all those who cease trying to save themselves and fully trust in His sacrifice alone as the payment for sin (John 3:16; Acts 16:31). Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to pay for the sins of all humanity, but His gift of salvation is only received through faith (John 1:12). We must trust Him. If you now understand what it means that Jesus saves, and you want to trust in Him as your personal Savior, you can, as an act of faith, communicate the following to God: “God, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that because of my sin I deserve to be eternally separated from you. Even though I do not deserve it, thank you for loving me and providing the sacrifice for my sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, and I trust in Him alone to save me. From this point forward, help me to live my life for you instead of for sin. Help me to live the rest of my life in gratitude for the wonderful salvation you have provided. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me!”

### What is the meaning of the blood of Christ? The phrase “blood of Christ” is used several times in the New Testament and is the expression of the sacrificial death and full atoning work of Jesus on our behalf. References to the Savior’s blood include the reality that He literally bled on the cross, but more significantly that He bled and died for sinners. The blood of Christ has the power to atone for an infinite number of sins committed by an infinite number of people throughout the ages, and all whose faith rests in that blood will be saved. The reality of the blood of Christ as the means of atonement for sin has its origin in the Mosaic Law. Once a year, the priest was to make an offering of the blood of animals on the altar of the temple for the sins of the people. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). But this was a blood offering that was limited in its effectiveness, which is why it had to be offered again and again. This was a foreshadowing of the “once for all” sacrifice which Jesus offered on the cross (Hebrews 7:27). Once that sacrifice was made, there was no longer a need for the blood of bulls and goats. The blood of Christ is the basis of the New Covenant. On the night before He went to the cross, Jesus offered the cup of wine to His disciples and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). The pouring of the wine in the cup symbolized the blood of Christ which would be poured out for all who would ever believe in Him. When He shed His blood on the cross, He did away with the Old Covenant requirement for the continual sacrifices of animals. Their blood was not sufficient to cover the sins of the people, except on a temporary basis, because sin against a holy and infinite God requires a holy and infinite sacrifice. “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3). While the blood of bulls and goats were a “reminder” of sin, “the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19) paid in full the debt of sin we owe to God, and we need no further sacrifices for sin. Jesus said, “It is finished” as He was dying, and He meant just that—the entire work of redemption was completed forever, “having obtained eternal redemption” for us (Hebrews 9:12). Not only does the blood of Christ redeem believers from sin and eternal punishment, but “His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14 NCV). This means that not only are we now free from having to offer sacrifices which are “useless” to obtain salvation, but we are free from having to rely on worthless and unproductive works of the flesh to please God. Because the blood of Christ has redeemed us, we are now new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and by His blood we are freed from sin to serve the living God, to glorify Him, and to enjoy Him forever.

### How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? The Bible is the story of human history and God’s work in it. The most significant event in human history is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The story of this event permeates the text of Scripture. The creation account shows us God’s sovereignty over His creation. The fall shows us why we need a savior. The history of Israel shows two significant things: 1) the historical context of the coming of the Son of God incarnate, and 2) humanity’s inability to save itself through works, thus, its need for a savior. The gospels tell the story of Jesus the Savior on earth, and much of the rest of the New Testament teaches how to live in this age in light of Jesus’ work on our behalf. The prophecies of the Bible, particularly in Daniel and Revelation but also elsewhere, show what Jesus as Savior is saving us to (eternal paradise) and from (eternal damnation in hell). The story of Jesus saturates the metanarrative of the Bible, and prophecies of His first advent are found throughout the Old Testament. Allusions to Him also come up in micro ways, as many people and events hint at the work He would accomplish. One scholar, J. Barton Payne, has found as many as 574 verses in the Old Testament that somehow point to or describe or reference the coming Messiah. Alfred Edersheim found 456 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah or His times. Conservatively, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry. So, the question of how many prophecies Jesus fulfilled is difficult to answer with precision. Should we count only direct messianic prophecies? Do we count repeated prophecies twice? How about allusions and indirect references to the ministry of Christ? And what about types? A type is a prophetic symbol: a person or thing in the Old Testament that foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament. So, while Isaiah prophesies the Lord will offer good news for the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1), Boaz lives this out, acting as a type of Christ (Ruth 4:1–11). Below is an attempt to list the types and prophecies given in the Old and New Testaments that Jesus has fulfilled. Undoubtedly, it is not complete. But that’s one of the great things about the Bible—the more you read it, the more you see.<table class="minimalistBlack"><thead> <tr> <th>Type</th> <th>Given</th> </tr> <tr> <th></th> <th>Fulfilled</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Type: Adam is a type of Christ because both their actions affected a great many people.</td> <td>Genesis 3:17-19</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Romans 5:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb.</td> <td>Exodus 12:1-11</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 1:29-36</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: The rock that produced water for Israel points toward Jesus and the living water.</td> <td>Exodus 17:6</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 10:3-4</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: The tabernacle where God dwelt among the Israelites is a type of Jesus, God with us.</td> <td>Exodus 25:8; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:21-23; John 1:14; 14:8-11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: The feast of unleavened bread represents the purity of Jesus; Jesus’ burial is like a kernel in the ground, waiting to burst forth in life.</td> <td>Leviticus 23:6</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>1 Peter 2:22</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: The feast of first fruits represents Jesus as the first fruit from the dead.</td> <td>Leviticus 23:10</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>1 Corinthians 15:20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: Those who looked up at the snake on a pole were saved. Those who "look up" at Jesus on the cross are saved.</td> <td>Numbers 21:8-9</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 3:14-15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: Boaz is a type of Christ the redeemer.</td> <td>Ruth 4:1-11; Ezekiel 16:8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Galatians 3:13; 4:5; Colossians 1:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Type: Jonah was in the fish for three days. Jesus’ body was in the grave for three days.</td> <td>Jonah 1:17</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 12:40</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> ''Old Testament prophecies and their fulfilments in the New Testament:''<table class="minimalistBlack"> <thead> <tr> <th>Prophecy</th> <th>Given</th> </tr> <tr> <th></th> <th>Fulfilled</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>The serpent and the "seed" of Eve will have conflict; the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent. Jesus is this seed, and He crushed Satan at the cross.</td> <td>Genesis 3:14-15</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised Abraham the whole world would be blessed through him. Jesus, descended from Abraham, is that blessing.</td> <td>Genesis 12:3</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Acts 3:25-26; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised Abraham He would establish an everlasting covenant with Isaac’s offspring. Jesus is that offspring.</td> <td>Genesis 17:19</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:1-2</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised Isaac the whole world would be blessed by his descendent. That descendent is Jesus.</td> <td>Genesis 28:13-14</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:1-2; Luke 1:33; 3:23-34</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jacob prophesied Judah would rule over his brothers. Jesus the king is from the tribe of Judah.</td> <td>Genesis 49:10</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:1-2; Luke 1:32-33</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Jews were not to keep the Passover lamb overnight. Jesus was buried the day He died.</td> <td>Exodus 12:10; Numbers 9:12</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 19:38-42</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Jews were not to break the bones of the Passover lamb. Jesus’ bones were not broken on the cross.</td> <td>Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 19:31-36</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Jews were to devote the firstborn males to God. Jesus is Mary’s firstborn male; He is also the "firstborn" over creation and the "firstborn" of the dead.</td> <td>Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:13; 8:17</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 2:7, 23; Colossians 1:15-18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Moses promised another prophet like him would come. Jesus is that prophet.</td> <td>Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:16; 24:19; John 6:14; 7:40</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God told the Jews to never leave the body of someone who had been hanged overnight. Jesus was buried the day He died.</td> <td>Deuteronomy 21:23</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 19:31-36; Galatians 3:13</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The word of God will be in hearts and mouths. Jesus is the Word who is in the hearts of His followers.</td> <td>Deuteronomy 30:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 1:1; Matthew 26:26</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Moses promised God would atone for His people. Jesus’ sacrifice is that atonement.</td> <td>Deuteronomy 32:43</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised David his offspring would rule forever. Jesus is descended from David, although His literal reign has yet to begin.</td> <td>2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16, 25-26; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, 23-27; Psalm 89:3-4, 35-37; 132:11; Isaiah 9:7</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:6; 19:28; 21:4; 25:31; Mark 12:37; Luke 1:32; 3:31</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The nations, people, and rulers plot against the Lord and His anointed. The Sanhedrin, the crowd, Herod Antipas, and Pilate plotted against Jesus.</td> <td>Psalm 2:1-2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 12:14; 26:3, 4, 47; Luke 23:1, 7</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God will tell someone He is their Father. God told the crowd at Jesus’ baptism that He is Jesus’ Father.</td> <td>Psalm 2:7</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David believes God will not abandon him to the grave. Jesus rose from the grave.</td> <td>Psalm 16:9-10; 30:3; 86:13; Isaiah 26:19</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 24:6-8; John 20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David cries out that God has forsaken him. Jesus uses the same words on the cross.</td> <td>Psalm 22:1</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 27:46</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says his enemies mock and insult him. Jesus endured the same on the cross.</td> <td>Psalm 22:7</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 27:38-44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David’s tormentors tease him, telling him to have God rescue him. The people said the same to Jesus.</td> <td>Psalm 22:7</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 23:35, 39</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David describes his physical torment. The description matches the condition of someone who is being crucified.</td> <td>Psalm 22:14-15</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 19:28</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says that "dogs" surround him and pierce his hands and feet. Gentile soldiers put nails through Jesus’ hands and feet.</td> <td>Psalm 22:16</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 19:16; 20:20; Acts 2:23</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says that others divide his clothing. The Roman soldiers took Jesus’ clothes.</td> <td>Psalm 22:18</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 19:23-24</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says false witnesses will testify against him. False witnesses did testify against Jesus, although they didn’t have matching stories.</td> <td>Psalm 27:12; 35:11; 109:6</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:60; Mark 14:55-59</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says he commits his spirit to God. Jesus used the same words on the cross.</td> <td>Psalm 31:5</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 23:46</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God will protect the bones of the righteous. Jesus’ bones were not broken on the cross.</td> <td>Psalm 34:20</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 19:31-36</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David talks of being hated without reason. Jesus was hated without reason.</td> <td>Psalm 35:19; 69:4</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 15:24-25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The psalmist says his friends will abandon him. The disciples abandoned Jesus.</td> <td>Psalm 38:11; 88:18</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:56-58; Mark 14:50</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says he has come to do God’s will. Jesus came to do God’s will.</td> <td>Psalm 40:6-8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:39, 42; John 6:38; Hebrews 10:5-9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David talks about being betrayed by a friend. Jesus was betrayed by Judas.</td> <td>Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:14-16, 23; Mark 14:10-11, 43</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The psalmists say God will rescue them from the land of the dead. God resurrected Jesus.</td> <td>Psalm 49:15; 86:13</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6-8; John 20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Lord ascends on high, bringing captives with Him. Jesus ascended to heaven, and believers go to heaven.</td> <td>Psalm 68:18</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 23:43; 24:51; Acts 1:9</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says he will be rejected by his siblings. Jesus’ brothers refused to believe who He was until after the resurrection.</td> <td>Psalm 69:8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Mark 3:20-21, 31; John 7:3-5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David has "zeal" for God’s house and His honor but will be reproached. Jesus showed that zeal by cleaning out the temple and was questioned by the Sanhedrin members.</td> <td>Psalm 69:9</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Mark 11:15-17, 27-28; John 2:13-18; Romans 15:3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David talks of being fed gall and vinegar. Jesus was offered gall and vinegar on the cross.</td> <td>Psalm 69:21</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 27:34, 48; Mark 15:23; Luke 23:36; John 19:29</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Solomon asks God for foreign kings to bring him gifts and honor. The magi did so for Jesus.</td> <td>Psalm 72:10-11</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 2:1-11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Solomon tells God that as king he will deliver the needy and weak. Jesus did this.</td> <td>Psalm 72:12-14</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 7:22</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The psalmist says he will speak in parables. Jesus spoke in parables.</td> <td>Psalm 78:2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 13:3, 35</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God says He will make David His firstborn. Jesus, David’s descendent, is God’s firstborn.</td> <td>Psalm 89:27</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David’s enemies attacked him, but he refrained from responding. Jesus forgave His enemies.</td> <td>Psalm 109:3-5</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 5:44; Luke 23:34</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David asks that his betrayer’s life be short and his position be taken. Jesus’ betrayer, Judas, died, and Matthias took his place.</td> <td>Psalm 69:25; 109:7-8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Acts 1:16-20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>David says his Lord will be made a priest of Melchizedek. Jesus is a priest of Melchizedek.</td> <td>Psalm 110:4</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Hebrews 5:1-6; 6:20; 7:15-17</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The psalmist says the stone the builders reject will become the cornerstone. Jesus was rejected by the Jewish leaders, but He is the basis of God’s salvation.</td> <td>Psalm 118:22-23</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17; John 1:11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Lord will redeem Israel from her sins. Jesus redeemed Israel.</td> <td>Psalm 130:7-8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:68</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God told Isaiah the people would not understand what He was doing. Jesus used parables to keep casual observers from understanding His teaching.</td> <td>Isaiah 6:9-10</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 13:14-15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised that a virgin would conceive. Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived.</td> <td>Isaiah 7:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 1:26-35</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised to send a Son who would be "God with us" ("Emmanuel"). Jesus is that Son.</td> <td>Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:21-23; John 1:14; 14:8-11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised a "stone" that people would trip over. Jesus is that stone.</td> <td>Isaiah 8:14-15</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 21:42-44; Romans 9:32-33</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised the land of Zebulun and Naphtali and "Galilee of the nations" a light for their darkness. Jesus is that light; at the time of Jesus, Galilee was a mix of Jews and Gentiles.</td> <td>Isaiah 9:1-2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 4:12-16</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised David His Spirit would rest on his offspring. Jesus is that offspring.</td> <td>Isaiah 11:1-2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:1, 6; 3:16; Mark 1:10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gentiles will come to God. A centurion and a Syrophoenician woman came to Jesus; the Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch responded to Paul’s gospel message.</td> <td>Isaiah 11:10; 42:1; 55:4-5; Hosea 2:23</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 8:5-13; Mark 7:24-26; Acts 13:48</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised a time when the blind would see. Jesus healed the blind.</td> <td>Isaiah 29:18; 35:5</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 9:30; 11:5; 12:22; 20:34; 21:14; Mark 10:52</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised a time when the deaf hear. Jesus healed the deaf.</td> <td>Isaiah 35:5</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 11:5; Mark 7:31-37; 9:25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised a time when the lame would be healed. Jesus healed the lame.</td> <td>Isaiah 35:6</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 15:30-31; 21:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised a time when the mute would speak. Jesus healed the mute.</td> <td>Isaiah 35:6</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 9:33; 12:22; 15:30; Luke 11:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised a messenger who would announce the Lord’s coming. John the Baptist is that messenger.</td> <td>Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 3:3; 11:10; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4-6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God is the shepherd who tends His sheep. Jesus is the good shepherd.</td> <td>Isaiah 40:10-11</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 10:11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promised to put His Spirit on His servant. Jesus is that servant.</td> <td>Isaiah 42:1</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 3:16; 12:18; Mark 1:10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God’s servant will not cry out. Jesus told those He healed to remain quiet.</td> <td>Isaiah 42:2</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 12:19</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God’s servant will be gentle. Jesus treated people gently.</td> <td>Isaiah 42:3</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 11:29; 12:20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The nations will put their hope in God’s servant’s teaching. Nations put their hope in Jesus’ teachings.</td> <td>Isaiah 42:4</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 12:21</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God will send His servant as a light to the Gentiles. Jesus is a light to the Gentiles.</td> <td>Isaiah 42:6; 49:6</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 2:25-32</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The writer says he will not be rebellious or turn away. Jesus obeyed God all the way to the cross.</td> <td>Isaiah 50:5</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:39</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Isaiah speaks of one who will be beaten and spit upon. Jesus was beaten and spit upon.</td> <td>Isaiah 50:6</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant will be so abused He will not look human. Jesus was beaten, whipped, crucified, and pierced by a spear.</td> <td>Isaiah 52:14</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30; 35</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant will be despised and rejected by His own people. Jesus’ tormentors rejected Him and spit in His face.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:3</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 23:18; Matthew 26:67; John 1:11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant will bear the abuse we deserve for our physical and spiritual healing. Jesus did this.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:4-5</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 8:17; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant will bear our sins. Jesus bore our sins.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:6, 8, 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 2:24-25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant is like a lamb that does not defend itself. Although Jesus spoke during His trials, He never offered a defense.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:7</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 27:12; Luke 23:9; John 1:29-36</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant’s people did not protest His death. Only Pilate protested Jesus’ death.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:8</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 27:23-25</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant will die with the wicked. Jesus died with the two thieves.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:9, 12</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant will be buried in the grave of a rich man. Jesus was buried in the grave of Joseph of Arimathea.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:9</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 27:57-60</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God ordained that the Suffering Servant would suffer and die. God sent Jesus to die.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:10</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>John 3:16; 19:11; Acts 2:23; Philippians 2:8</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant’s sacrifice offers forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ sacrifice offers forgiveness of our sins.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:11</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Acts 10:43; 13:38-39</td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Suffering Servant will intercede for His abusers. Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified Him.</td> <td>Isaiah 53:12</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Luke 23:34</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promises a great light to pierce the darkness of Israel and the nations. Jesus is that light.</td> <td>Isaiah 60:1-3</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 4:16; Luke 2:32; John 12:46</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promises someone to declare good news for the brokenhearted, captives, and prisoners. Jesus is that someone.</td> <td>Isaiah 61:1</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 3:16; Luke 4:18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promises a "righteous Branch" from the line of Jesse who will do what is just. Jesus is that Branch.</td> <td>Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A woman will weep for her dead children. Herod killed the baby boys in Bethlehem.</td> <td>Jeremiah 31:15</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 2:16-18</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God makes a woman "encircle" or protect a man. The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Mary.</td> <td>Jeremiah 31:22</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God promises a new covenant. Jesus provides the work for that new covenant.</td> <td>Jeremiah 31:31-34 ; 32:37-40; 50:5</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Matthew 26:27-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:15-20</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

### Jesus and the Ark ''Seven clues about the rapture in the story of Noah and the ark.'' Genesis 7:1;7:4;7:16. ''Verse 1''. “Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” //CLUE 1️// Who is the ark? Jesus. (Rapture typology). The ark represents an escape from Gods world judgment, escape found only for those who are “In Christ”, abiding in Him. Those in the ark are safe (tucked away) in the Father’s house while the judgement happens on the earth. //CLUE 2️// Who is saved? The righteous. Those found within the ark, Jesus. Note: It’s HIS righteousness that keeps us safe, not ours; But we must live surrendered lives unto the Lord like Noah did to be counted worthy to escape. ''Verse 16''. “So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.” ''Verse 4''. “For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” //CLUE 3️// After they’re safe in the ark and the door is closed, does the judgement start right away? NO. It starts 7 days later. //CLUE 4️// The judgement lasts 40 days and nights (40 is God’s number of testing), this represents the 7 year tribulation on the earth to test those who’ve rejected the truth. Not to test Noah and his family. //CLUE 5️// How many living things are destroyed on the earth? ALL. The 21 judgements of God during the 7 year tribulation will do the same. ''Verse 16''. “So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.” //CLUE 6️// Male and female of ALL FLESH entered the ark. This represents males and females of ALL races, colors, nationalities, ethnicities, and ages will be raptured. //CLUE 7️// Who closes the door. GOD. When is the door closed? 7 days BEFORE the judgement. J. Bouchard

### Did Many People Disappear? ''Jesus Came. Were You Left Behind? What’s Next?'' Further details on life during the Tribulation. //By Nathan E. Jones// If you are reading this because millions of people have suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, then you are looking for answers to what has happened, why it has happened, and what will be happening next. ### What Has Happened First, as to what has happened — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has returned. For 2000 years the Bible has been proclaiming to the world that Jesus would be coming back. Jesus stated in [John 14:3], “I will come back.” Because Jesus has returned, millions of people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior, accepting His free gift of salvation, have disappeared in an event called the Rapture. You might be thinking that there was something mysterious in the sudden disappearance of millions of people, but the Bible has already explained this so-called mystery. Jesus said that when He came again, He would come for those who are saved. He said, “I will receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” ([John 14:1-4]). The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” ([1 Corinthians 15:51-52]). The Rapture happened to those of us who accepted Jesus as Savior, both those alive and those who had died since Jesus was resurrected. Both groups — living and resurrected believers — were caught up to be with Him in the air ([1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]). This all happened very quickly, like a flash of lightning. Jesus left as suddenly as He came, taking those who have accepted Him and His salvation, and leaving behind those who have rejected Him. And you, sadly, have been left behind. Well, maybe you know a loved one who has disappeared — a wife, a husband, a child, a friend — and are wondering what has become of them. In that flash, as those who had accepted Jesus as their Savior were caught up to meet Jesus in the air, they traded their earthly bodies for bodies that are perfect, imperishable and immortal (1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 15:50-55). They sit with Jesus now in Heaven at a great banquet called the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19). They will live in great joy and know no sorrow. They will be with their King and live in love forever. They are well taken care of, and you don’t have to worry about them. ### Why It Has Happened But, it is the why of the disappearances that is your cause to worry. For believers in Jesus were taken out of this world to spare them from the great wrath that has just begun to befall the planet (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10;5:9). Jesus’ return for all His true believers was just a prelude to His final Second Coming. The second phase of Jesus’ return is to set up His Kingdom on earth. Jesus’ Kingdom is why this whole thing is happening. You see, we have come to the end of one age and will soon be beginning the age of Jesus’ glorious reign right here on earth. But first, God has to deal with rebellion — sin — before setting up His Kingdom. God’s going to use this intermediate time period you now live in to pour out His wrath on mankind for its continued refusal to accept His Lordship. The time you live in is called the Tribulation. ### What It’s About What is the Tribulation all about? The unparalleled horror of the Tribulation is spelled out in detail in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Isaiah wrote that it will be a day of “the terror of the Lord” when “the pride of men will be abased” (Isaiah 2:10; 2:17;2:19). Zephaniah proclaimed that it will be a “day of wrath,” “a day of trouble and distress,” and “a day of destruction and desolation.” Men will stumble around like they are blind and “their blood will be poured out like dust” (Zephaniah 1:15;1:17). This dreary picture is echoed in the New Testament. Jesus said it will be a time of tribulation “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.” In fact, Jesus said it will be so terrible that if it were not stopped at the end of seven years, it would result in the destruction of all life ([Matthew 24:21-22]). The Apostle John states that the chaos will be so great that the leaders of the world will crawl into caves and cry out for the rocks of the mountains to fall upon them ([Revelation 6:15-16]). Why is there going to be such carnage? How could a God of grace, mercy and love allow such an outbreak of unbridled terror and bloodshed? One reason is to satisfy the justice of God. Yes, God is characterized by grace, mercy and love. God is a God of love. Jesus says so in [John 3:16], “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” But, God is also a God of justice. The Bible also says in [John 3:36], “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” It is God’s very nature to love, but also in love to see justice done for evil. ### What Comes Next So, what comes next? For starters, people are going to try to explain away the Rapture with all sorts of wild theories, like possibly Global Warming or UFOs. So-called “Christian” leaders are going to come out and say the Church is still around because they didn’t disappear. Jesus said in [Matthew 24:24] that they cannot be believed, for the times will be filled with false religious teachers. The greatest of these false teachers the Bible calls the False Prophet, and he will seemingly be able to do many miracles and will promote a one-world religion and leader ([Revelation 13:11]). Amid all the chaos from the Rapture, the Bible teaches that the world will turn to a dynamic leader to bring order and peace ([Revelation 6:1-2]). He will succeed where no other person has been able in establishing a peace treaty for Israel ([Daniel 9:27]). That treaty marks the official beginning of the 7 years that the Tribulation will last. But, the world leader, known to believers in Jesus as the Antichrist, is anything but peaceful. He will plunge the planet into nuclear world war, resulting in terrible famines, pestilence and mass death. Violence, disease and starvation will be a way of life. A quarter of the world population — almost 2 billion people — will die from this war (Revelation 6). In Jerusalem, 2 men will appear and preach there for 3 1/2 years that Jesus is the Messiah the Jews have been looking for ([Revelation 11:3]). 144,000 Jews will call Jesus their Messiah and also preach about Him throughout the whole world. Millions will accept Jesus as their Savior — hopefully you will be one of them. But, many of those millions of believers will be killed by the Antichrist for not pledging their loyalty to him by receiving his mark on either their right hand or forehead. The persecution of believers in Jesus will be awful in the Tribulation ([Daniel 7:21]; Revelation 7). Next, the greatest earthquake the world has yet experienced will devastate the planet ([Revelation 6:12-14]). Something falling from space will then burn up a third of all the world’s vegetation. A second item from space, probably a meteor, will crash into the ocean and annihilate a third of the world’s marine life and ships. A third object from space will taint the world’s water supply, poisoning millions ([Revelation 8:7-11]). The devastation to the atmosphere will block out most of the sun and moonlight so that the days appear shorter ([Revelation 8:12]). Next, some supernatural “woes” will befall mankind. First, the holding place for a demonic hoard is opened and millions of locust-looking demons pour out and sting people like scorpions. The pain will last 5 whole months. Second, 200 million riders on horse-creatures will burn and impale, wiping out a remaining third of the people ([Revelation 9:1-19]). Three and a half years into the Tribulation will see the 2 men witnessing in Jerusalem killed, but 3 1/2 days later come back to life ([Revelation 11:7-12]). It will also see the Antichrist supposedly killed and appear to come back to life as well ([Revelation 13:3]). And that’s just the first half of the Tribulation. As bad as the first half of the seven years is, the next half is even worse (Revelation 16). Those who take the Antichrist’s loyalty mark on their hand or forehead will suffer from painful boils. Those who don’t take the mark will be cut off from commerce and hunted down, but the Bible assures ([Revelation 20:4-6]) that those who take the mark have made a decision that will last forever — eternal damnation — so don’t take it! The oceans and everything in them are totally destroyed, as well as all the fresh water. The heat from the sun will become scorching. The Antichrist’s kingdom will fall into pitch darkness. An even greater earthquake than the one 7 years earlier will flatten the earth and 100 pound hailstones will crush the inhabitants. The Euphrates River in Iraq will dry up and a massive army from the East will cross and enter the Valley of Armageddon in Israel to fight the Antichrist’s army. This is what the Book of Revelation calls the battle of Armageddon. It is the moment that Jesus will gloriously return with all those who disappeared in the Rapture. Jesus Himself by just speaking will destroy the armies at Armageddon. Jesus will throw the Antichrist and the False Prophet into Hell, and Satan into a deep pit. Jesus will be victorious and all who continued to rebel will be put to death — all of them (Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-3). This is the Tribulation — the wrath of God. ### What You Can Do Now, you may be asking _“God, why didn’t you tell us all this before the Rapture so we could get ready.”_ Well, He did. The Bible clearly teaches that God never pours out His wrath without warning for He is a just and loving God who does not wish that any should perish. That is why God provided the Bible, the Good News about Jesus spreading across the planet, and the many signs alerting us to the fact that we were living on the threshold of the Tribulation and soon return of Jesus Christ. God gave the world every possible chance for 2000 years to repent of its rebellion and return to Him. But, it’s not too late for you to be with Jesus unless you’ve taken the mark. You see, this story has a happy ending. Jesus’ return at the end of the Tribulation means great joy to those who love him. Jesus will cleanse the world of evil and the damages from His wrath and restore the planet to pristine condition. Jesus will rule from Jerusalem over those who throughout human history have put their faith and trust in Him ([Revelation 20:4-6;20:9). You can be one of those people. Whether you die in the Tribulation or not, it is where you end up eternally that truly matters. Everybody who does not accept Jesus as Savior during the Tribulation will go to Hell for their rebellion. Anyone who accepts Jesus as Savior, though their earthly bodies may die during the Tribulation, will then live forever in glorified bodies with Jesus in His love and glory. Remember Jesus’ promise in [John 3:16], “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Pray now for forgiveness for your sins and ask Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life. Don’t delay! In what little time you have in this life, get a Bible or download one from [Bible.org](http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=3086), so you know God’s will for your life. Download this and everything you can from our website at [christinprophecy.org](https://christinprophecy.org/) or others like [raptureready.com](http://www.raptureready.com/) so you can know more about Jesus and what is in store for you in the Tribulation and the glorious return of Jesus. Gather quickly with others who have accepted Jesus as Savior for support and to worship together. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, we will be waiting for you on the other side of this. May God bless you and keep you. Maranatha! “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” ([Nahum 1:7])

### What is Israel's role in the end times? Every time there is a conflict in or around Israel, many see it as a sign of the quickly approaching end times. The problem with this is that we may eventually tire of the conflict in Israel, so much so that we will not recognize when true, prophetically significant events occur. Conflict in Israel is not necessarily a sign of the end times. Conflict in Israel has been a reality whenever Israel has existed as a nation. Whether it was the Egyptians, Amalekites, Midianites, Moabites, Ammonites, Amorites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, or Romans, the nation of Israel has always been persecuted by its neighbors. Why is this? According to the Bible, it is because God has a special plan for the nation of Israel, and Satan wants to defeat that plan. Satanically influenced hatred of Israel—and especially Israel’s God—is the reason Israel’s neighbors have always wanted to see Israel destroyed. Whether it is Sennacherib, king of Assyria; Haman, official of Persia; Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany; or Rouhani, President of Iran, attempts to completely destroy Israel will always fail. The persecutors of Israel will come and go, but the persecution will remain until the second coming of Christ. As a result, conflict in Israel is not a reliable indicator of the soon arrival of the end times. However, the Bible does say there will be terrible conflict in Israel during the end times. That is why the time period is known as the Tribulation, the Great Tribulation, and the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Here is what the Bible says about Israel in the end times: There will be a mass return of Jews to the land of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:3; Isaiah 43:6; Ezekiel 34:11-13; 36:24; 37:1-14). The Antichrist will make a 7-year covenant of "peace" with Israel (Isaiah 28:18; Daniel 9:27). The temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 11:1). The Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel, and worldwide persecution of Israel will result (Daniel 9:27; 12:1, 11; Zechariah 11:16; Matthew 24:15, 21; Revelation 12:13). Israel will be invaded (Ezekiel chapters 38-39). Israel will finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). Israel will be regenerated, restored, and regathered (Jeremiah 33:8; Ezekiel 11:17; Romans 11:26). There is much turmoil in Israel today. Israel is persecuted, surrounded by enemies—Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc. But this hatred and persecution of Israel is only a hint of what will happen in the end times (Matthew 24:15-21). The latest round of persecution began when Israel was reconstituted as a nation in 1948. Many Bible prophecy scholars believed the six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967 was the "beginning of the end." Could what is taking place in Israel today indicate that the end is near? Yes. Does it necessarily mean the end is near? No. Jesus Himself said it best, "Watch out that no one deceives you. . . . You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come" (Matthew 24:4-6).

### Every Day <pre>Every day we arise and realize what's at stake and the difference we can make. Every day we are given another chance, being forgiven no matter the circumstance when we pray. Every day we have a choice to be calm and hear His Voice, letting Him lead, so we can fill the most needful need. Every day we must leave ourself to find true wealth by helping those with less living under daily duress, in ways small and large. Every day we should be grateful and humble, remaining thankful as we stumble and He picks us up each and every time. mAt 9/5/24</pre>

### What is the blessed hope? Titus 2:12–13 says that the grace of God teaches us “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” This passage identifies the “blessed hope” as the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior. The word blessed can mean “happy” or “beneficial”; our hope is “blessed” in that Jesus’ return will be an amazing, joyful experience for the believer in Christ. We will be blessed beyond measure when we see Christ. The trials of this life will be over, and we will see that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). The word hope does not communicate uncertainty, as in “I hope that something might occur”; rather, it is the glad assurance that something will take place. Jesus is our hope, and no one can take that hope away. “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). The “blessed hope,” then, is the joyful assurance that God will extend His benefits to us and that Jesus Christ will return. We are waiting for this event now. Jesus said He would return (John 14:3), the angels said He would return (Acts 1:11), and the epistles say He will return. Jesus could come back at any time for His church, which includes all believers in Christ from the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 onward. This event is called the rapture. It will be announced by the voice of the archangel and God’s trumpet call. The bodies of those who have died will be raised to be joined with their souls, and then the bodies of those believers still living on earth will be changed into a body like the Lord’s resurrection body. The believers raised from the dead and the believers living at Christ’s return will meet the Lord in the air and be taken to heaven. They will “fly the friendly skies united” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). This will happen in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). Should this blessed hope of Christ’s any-time return have an effect on the believer in Jesus Christ? John wrote, “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as [Jesus] is pure” (1 John 3:3). The believer anticipating Christ’s blessed return will seek to live, in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, a life of purity. We will all stand before the Lord and give an account of how we lived for Him on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus’ imminent return should motivate the believer to live godly in an ungodly world. The word looking in Titus 2:13 is the key for that to happen. To be “looking” means that we live each day in continual anticipation and expectancy, with the conviction that Jesus could come at any time. That hope becomes a transforming reality in this life, resulting in God being glorified through us (1 Corinthians 10:31). The blessed hope brings us joy and cheers us through the trials of this world. It should also cause us to stop and evaluate our thinking, words, and actions.

### What does Christ mean? To the surprise of some, “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name (surname). “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed one” or “chosen one.” This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach, or “Messiah.” “Jesus” is the Lord’s human name given to Mary by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:31). “Christ” is His title, signifying Jesus was sent from God to be a King and Deliverer (see Daniel 9:25; Isaiah 32:1). “Jesus Christ” means “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus the Anointed One.” In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God’s service (e.g., 1 Samuel 10:1). Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in such fashion. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God’s choosing (e.g., 1 Samuel 24:6). Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to one’s consecration by God, even if literal oil is not used (Hebrews 1:9). There are hundreds of prophetic passages in the Old Testament that refer to a coming Messiah who would deliver His people (e.g., Isaiah 61:1; Daniel 9:26). Ancient Israel thought their Messiah would come with military might to deliver them from decades of captivity to earthly kings and pagan nations. But the New Testament reveals a much better deliverance provided by Jesus the Messiah—a deliverance from the power and penalty of sin (Luke 4:18; Romans 6:23). The Bible says Jesus was anointed with oil on two separate occasions by two different women (Matthew 26:6–7; Luke 7:37–38), but the most significant anointing came by way of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). Jesus’ title of “Christ” means He is God’s Anointed One, the One who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, the Chosen Savior who came to rescue sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), and the King of kings who is coming back again to set up His Kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:9).

### What does Messiah mean? Messiah comes from the Hebrew word mashiach and means “anointed one” or “chosen one.” The Greek equivalent is the word Christos or, in English, Christ. The name “Jesus Christ” is the same as “Jesus the Messiah.” In biblical times, anointing someone with oil was a sign that God was consecrating or setting apart that person for a particular role. Thus, an “anointed one” was someone with a special, God-ordained purpose. In the Old Testament, people were anointed for the positions of prophet, priest, and king. God told Elijah to anoint Elisha to succeed him as Israel’s prophet (1 Kings 19:16). Aaron was anointed as the first high priest of Israel (Leviticus 8:12). Samuel anointed both Saul and David as kings of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:13). All of these men held “anointed” positions. But the Old Testament predicted a coming Deliverer, chosen by God to redeem Israel (Isaiah 42:1; 61:1–3). This Deliverer the Jews called the Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth was and is the prophesied Messiah (Luke 4:17–21; John 4:25–26). Throughout the New Testament, we see proof that Jesus is the Chosen One: “These [miracles] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). We also hear testimonies that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). The ultimate evidence that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah, the Anointed One, is His resurrection from the dead. Acts 10:39–43 is an eyewitness testimony to His resurrection and the fact that “he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Jesus fulfills the role of Prophet, Priest, and King, which is further evidence to His being the Messiah. He is a prophet, because He embodied and preached the Word of God (see John 1:1–18; 14:24; and Luke 24:19); a priest, because His death atones for our sins and reconciles us to the Father (see Hebrews 2:17; 4:14); and a king, because after His resurrection God gave all authority to Him (see John 18:36; Ephesians 1:20–23; and Revelation 19:16). The Jews of Jesus’ day expected the Messiah to redeem Israel by overthrowing the rule of the Romans and establishing an earthly kingdom (see Acts 1:6). It wasn’t until after Jesus’ resurrection that His disciples finally began to understand what the prophecies in the Old Testament really meant the Messiah would do (see Luke 24:25–27). The Messiah was “anointed” first to deliver His people spiritually; that is, to redeem them from sin (John 8:31–36). He accomplished this salvation through His death and resurrection (John 12:32; John 3:16). Later, Jesus the Messiah will deliver His people from their physical enemies, when He sets up His Kingdom on the earth (see Isaiah 9:1–7).

### What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of Man? Jesus is referred to as the “Son of Man” 82 times in the New Testament (NIV and ESV). In fact, Son of Man is the primary title Jesus used when referring to Himself (e.g., Matthew 12:32; 13:37; Luke 12:8; John 1:51). The only use of Son of Man in a clear reference to Jesus, spoken by someone other than Jesus, came from the lips of Stephen as he was being martyred (Acts 7:56). ''Son of Man is a title of humanity''. Other titles for Christ, such as Son of God, are overt in their focus on His deity. Son of Man, in contrast, focuses on the humanity of Christ. God called the prophet Ezekiel “son of man” 93 times. In this way, God was simply calling Ezekiel a human being. Son of man is simply a periphrastic term for “human.” Jesus Christ was truly a human being. He came “in the flesh” (1 John 4:2). ''Son of Man is a title of humility''. The Second Person of the Trinity, eternal in nature, left heaven’s glory and took on human flesh, becoming the Son of Man, born in a manger and “despised and rejected by mankind” (Isaiah 53:3). The Son of Man had “no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). The Son of Man ate and drank with sinners (Matthew 11:19). The Son of Man suffered at the hands of men (Matthew 17:12). This intentional lowering of His status from King of Heaven to Son of Man is the epitome of humility (see Philippians 2:6–8). ''Son of Man is a title of deity''. Ezekiel may have been a son of man, but Jesus is the Son of Man. As such, Jesus is the supreme example of all that God intended mankind to be, the embodiment of truth and grace (John 1:14). In Him “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). For this reason, the Son of Man was able to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6). The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). The Son of Man came to save lives (Luke 9:56; 19:10), rise from the dead (Mark 9:9), and execute judgment (John 5:27). At His trial before the high priest, Jesus said, “I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64). This statement immediately ended the trial, as the court accused the Lord of blasphemy and condemned Him to death (verses 65–66). ''Son of Man is a fulfillment of prophecy''. Jesus’ claim before the high priest to be the Son of Man was a reference to the prophecy of Daniel 7:13–14, “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed” (NKJV). Daniel saw glory, worship, and an everlasting kingdom given to the Messiah—here called the “Son of Man”—and Jesus applied this prophecy to Himself. Jesus also spoke of His coming kingdom on other occasions (Matthew 13:41; 16:28). The author of Hebrews used a reference to the “son of man” in the Psalms to teach that Jesus, the true Son of Man, will be the ruler of all things (Hebrews 2:5–9; cf. Psalm 8:4–6). The Son of Man, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, will be the King. ''Jesus was fully God'' (John 1:1), but He was also fully human (John 1:14). As the Son of God and the Son of Man, He is deserving of both titles.

### Is the United States a Christian nation? Among issues debated in modern politics, few are more controversial than the role of religion. The United States, in particular, finds this subject provocative. The very question “Is the United States a Christian nation?” can be a source of debate, because the term Christian nation can be taken to mean several different things, causing the answer to vary drastically. There are three main ways to approach the question “Is the United States a Christian nation?” Each requires a different approach and results in a different answer. The first issue is whether or not the U.S. is the product of a Christian worldview; the answer is absolutely “yes.” The second question is whether or not the U.S. currently demonstrates a Christian worldview; the answer is absolutely “no.” The third angle is whether the government of the U.S. is Christian in its structure; the answer is “sort of.” ''Is the U.S. the product of a Christian worldview?'' One way to interpret the question “Is the United States a Christian nation?” is to ask if the U.S. has a Christian heritage. In other words, do the history, culture, language, and lifestyle of the nation reflect Christianity, and to what extent? This is, by far, the least controversial aspect of this issue, since the answer is so obviously and clearly “yes.” History is unambiguous in showing that the U.S. has been predominantly Christian, in a general sense, for its entire existence. The vast majority of religious expression, terminology, and practice in the U.S. has been Christian or heavily influenced by the Christian worldview. Of course, as a secular nation, the USA has allowed free expression of other faiths, to varying degrees. Yet the primary religious outlook of the American people has long been that of Judeo-Christianity. Historically, the U.S. has been deeply involved in Christian evangelism and charity around the world. It’s beyond debate, then, that the United States is a historically “Christian” nation, in terms of religious heritage. ''Does the U.S. exemplify a Christian worldview?'' Another way to examine the question “Is the United States a Christian nation?” is to ask if the U.S. currently has a Christian worldview. In other words, do the prevalent outlook, morals, lifestyle, and attitude of the nation reflect biblical, true-to-the-faith Christianity? This answer is occasionally divisive but has become less so over time. Based on current attitudes and trends, the answer is most definitely “no.” There is a massive difference between a worldview inspired by Christianity or developed from Christianity and one that is actually Christian. Many of the values Western culture finds indispensable, such as charity, altruism, respect, tolerance, mercy, peace, and so forth are historically rooted in a Christian worldview. These virtues were absent from or explicitly opposed to the pagan worldviews that Christianity replaced in the West. Insofar as the modern U.S. follows those ideals, it’s acting in accordance with a biblical worldview. On the other hand, the modern United States not only tolerates ideas contrary to Christianity, but it openly embraces and celebrates them. Sexual immorality, including pornography, homosexuality, and premarital sex, are widely accepted as normal in the U.S. Vulgarity, drunkenness, drug use, promiscuity, and other abuses of freedom are also celebrated as forms of entertainment. Atrocities such as abortion are rampant, as are instances of violence, greed, and corruption. In fact, the United States has come to the point where some of these sins are not merely accepted but consecrated; those who do not endorse fashionable behaviors are vilified and ostracized (see 1 Peter 4:4). In terms of literal spirituality, few in the United States have a truly “biblical” worldview. Self-labeled “Christians” in the U.S. tend toward a watered-down, generic, convenience-driven version of the faith. This is not to say they don’t actually believe in God or in the Bible; however, in both theory and practice, most self-professed American believers live in deep conflict with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Even worse, many in the U.S. claim the name of Christ, or even the title of clergy, yet peddle a false, self-created parody of the truth. Historians can debate at what point the U.S. “crossed the line” with respect to being a Christian nation, in terms of worldview. That being said, it’s abundantly clear that the United States of America, on the whole, does not presently exhibit a Christian worldview. ''Does the U.S. have a Christian form of government?'' The third way to examine the question “Is the United States a Christian nation?” is to ask if the United States has a Christian government. In other words, are the structure and form of the U.S. government uniquely Christian, dependent on Christianity, or inseparable from Christian principles? Ironically, this particular angle is rarely controversial, only as it is seldom considered. The answer, with careful qualification, is absolutely “yes.” In fact, the Founding Fathers were explicit about the relationship between the structure of the U.S. government and the Judeo-Christian worldview. It’s crucial to establish that not all religions are the same. It is both ignorant and bigoted to assume all faiths approach ethics and civil discourse the same way or that all religious views lead to the same conclusions. Not every religion is equally compatible with all forms of government. Gasoline engines are designed to run on gasoline. Diesel engines are designed to run on diesel fuel. These two liquids have many similarities, but are not identical. Where they differ, they do so drastically. Gasoline engines and diesel engines, likewise, are similar but diverge in critical ways. Putting diesel fuel in a gasoline engine renders it inoperative. Running gasoline through a diesel engine can destroy it. There is nothing prejudiced about pointing out the obvious: the design of these engines presumes certain fuels. When fed with something else, they no longer function as intended. In much the same way, governments are designed with certain assumptions about the worldview of the population. Attempting to manage a nation using a government incompatible with a particular culture is like putting gasoline in the diesel engine or diesel fuel in the gas engine. Not all combinations of government and religion will work. The point is not that the Constitution of the United States requires citizens or elected officials to be Christian. Nor is it that the government must be an extension of the church. Logic and common sense, however, say the United States was structured to govern a particular worldview. One of the Founding Fathers, John Adams, explained this in 1798 (emphasis added): “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” As a parallel, college classrooms often allow students to choose their own seats and to enter and leave as they wish. Given that such students are appropriately self-controlled, that structure enhances education. Applying the same structure to a classroom of kindergarteners, however, would be a disaster; there are other systems of classroom seating and control better suited to young students. Vice versa, classroom rules that allow kindergartners to thrive would be toxic for college students. In other words, governments “contend” with differing worldviews through different methods and divergent designs. As compared to the U.S., most governments impose drastically stricter control over the people. The constitutional republic of the United States, with an overt emphasis on personal freedom, is simply not “adequate” to govern a people who are “unbridled,” as Adams would say, by the ethics and morality of Judeo-Christianity. In the same vein, George Washington wrote this prayer in a letter from 1783: “That [God] would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.” Even the Declaration of Independence speaks of this reliance on a Judeo-Christian worldview. Though not a formal part of the Constitution, Jefferson’s epic work explicitly grounds rights such as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the reality of a Creator. This same worldview is reflected in other concepts fundamental to the U.S. Constitution. Ideas such as personal responsibility, rule of law, protection of the innocent, personal property, and so forth are deeply ingrained in the Judeo-Christian worldview. At the very least, the U.S. Constitution reflects a heavy influence of biblical thinking, whether or not any part of that system is explicitly drawn from Scripture. The term happiness itself is more closely tied to religion than many people realize. The word happiness is derived from the idea of outcomes and occurrences. The same idea is present in words such as perhaps, mayhap, happening, happenstance, and so forth. In Jefferson’s era, the term happiness carried a sense of divine blessing; the pursuit of happiness, then, was understood at that time to mean something more like “the pursuit of blessedness” than “the pursuit of good feelings.” The freedom being sought was very much the right to pursue a godly and moral life as each person saw fit. In contrast, religious worldviews such as Islam, Hinduism, and atheism reject, directly or indirectly, principles that the U.S. Constitution takes for granted. The fundamental ideas on which the U.S. Constitution operates are either contradictory to or absent from the central ideas of other faith systems. For instance, Islam patently rejects individual rights with respect to religion; there are mandatory consequences for Muslims who apostatize from Islam and for Christians and Jews who do not “submit.” Hinduism is rooted in the idea of karma and linked to the caste system, both of which reject the idea of persons being “created equal.” Atheism, of course, provides no basis for universal human rights, equality, or fair treatment at all. That in no way implies that Muslims, Hindus, and atheists cannot be productive and integrated citizens in the U.S. Yet the fact remains that their worldview inherently conflicts with some of the Constitution’s ideals. There is no question that the government of the United States is structured to allow great personal freedom in matters of ethics, morality, and religion. It is especially designed to prevent government from interfering with individual rights to participate—or not to participate—according to personal religious faith. At the same time, there is no question that the entire function of the U.S. Constitution presumes a citizenry guided, as Adams noted, by morality and religion. History, once again, is unequivocal: the dominant worldview of the nascent United States and its founders was Judeo-Christianity. From a “design” standpoint, the United States is not explicitly Christian in that it does not require any person or politician to be a believer. Nor does it insist that the government always be run in accordance with overtly biblical ideas. The Christian religion is not the formal basis of the U.S. Constitution. However, just as a gasoline engine is designed to process gasoline, not diesel fuel, the United States Constitution was designed to govern a predominantly Judeo-Christian people. The more the USA drifts away from this worldview, the less capable the government will be to properly function—a symptom that current events prove is the case. ''What does Christian nation mean?'' To give an appropriate answer to this question, it’s necessary to clarify what a person means when he speaks about the United States being a “Christian” nation. Various angles require different examinations and give a different conclusion. Historically, the U.S. is most certainly “Christian.” Culturally, the U.S. is absolutely not “Christian” in terms of current attitudes and behaviors. Constitutionally, the U.S. government was designed to guide a population operating under a predominantly Judeo-Christian worldview, and it shows clear evidence of influence from that faith tradition. The United States is under no obligation to keep a particular worldview. Nor is it guaranteed to maintain any sort of connection with its Christian heritage. History cannot be changed, but the decision of whether or not the U.S. will exhibit a Christian worldview will greatly impact the continuation of its particular form of government. Whether the U.S.’s constitutional republic survives, experiences drastic change, or fails entirely depends on the morality of its people.

### What is Truth? Almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on trial and judged by people who were devoted to lies. In fact, Truth faced six trials in less than one full day, three of which were religious, and three that were legal. In the end, few people involved in those events could answer the question, “What is truth?” After being arrested, the Truth was first led to a man named Annas, a corrupt former high priest of the Jews. Annas broke numerous Jewish laws during the trial, including holding the trial in his house, trying to induce self-accusations against the defendant, and striking the defendant, who had been convicted of nothing at the time. After Annas, the Truth was led to the reigning high priest, Caiaphas, who happened to be Annas’s son-in-law. Before Caiaphas and the Jewish Sanhedrin, many false witnesses came forward to speak against the Truth, yet nothing could be proved and no evidence of wrongdoing could be found. Caiaphas broke no fewer than seven laws while trying to convict the Truth: (1) the trial was held in secret; (2) it was carried out at night; (3) it involved bribery; (4) the defendant had no one present to make a defense for Him; (5) the requirement of 2-3 witnesses could not be met; (6) they used self-incriminating testimony against the defendant; (7) they carried out the death penalty against the defendant the same day. All these actions were prohibited by Jewish law. Regardless, Caiaphas declared the Truth guilty because the Truth claimed to be God in the flesh, something Caiaphas called blasphemy. When morning came, the third trial of the Truth took place, with the result that the Jewish Sanhedrin pronounced the Truth should die. However, the Jewish council had no legal right to carry out the death penalty, so they were forced to bring the Truth to the Roman governor at the time, a man named Pontius Pilate. Pilate was appointed by Tiberius as the fifth prefect of Judea and served in that capacity A.D. 26 to 36. The procurator had power of life and death and could reverse capital sentences passed by the Sanhedrin. As the Truth stood before Pilate, more lies were brought against Him. His enemies said, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King” (Luke 23:2). This was a lie, as the Truth had told everyone to pay their taxes (Matthew 22:21) and never spoke of Himself as a challenge to Caesar. After this, a very interesting conversation between the Truth and Pilate took place. “Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?’ Pilate answered, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’ Therefore Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:33–38). Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” has reverberated down through history. Was it a melancholy desire to know what no one else could tell him, a cynical insult, or perhaps an irritated, indifferent reply to Jesus’ words? In a postmodern world that denies that truth can be known, the question is more important than ever to answer. What is truth? A Proposed Definition of Truth In defining truth, it is first helpful to note what truth is not: • Truth is not simply whatever works. This is the philosophy of pragmatism—an ends-vs.-means-type approach. In reality, lies can appear to “work,” but they are still lies and not the truth. • Truth is not simply what is coherent or understandable. A group of people can get together and form a conspiracy based on a set of falsehoods where they all agree to tell the same false story, but it does not make their presentation true. • Truth is not what makes people feel good. Unfortunately, bad news can be true. • Truth is not what the majority says is true. Fifty-one percent of a group can reach a wrong conclusion. • Truth is not what is comprehensive. A lengthy, detailed presentation can still result in a false conclusion. • Truth is not defined by what is intended. Good intentions can still be wrong. • Truth is not how we know; truth is what we know. • Truth is not simply what is believed. A lie believed is still a lie. • Truth is not what is publicly proved. A truth can be privately known (for example, the location of buried treasure). The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia, which refers to “divine revelation” and is related to a word that literally means “what can’t be hidden.” It conveys the thought that truth is always there, always open and available for all to see, with nothing being hidden or obscured. The Hebrew word for “truth” is emeth, which means “firmness,” “constancy” and “duration.” Such a definition implies an everlasting substance and something that can be relied upon. From a philosophical perspective, there are three simple ways to define truth: 1. Truth is that which corresponds to reality. 2. Truth is that which matches its object. 3. Truth is simply telling it like it is. First, truth corresponds to reality or “what is.” It is real. Truth is also correspondent in nature. In other words, it matches its object and is known by its referent. For example, a teacher facing a class may say, “Now the only exit to this room is on the right.” For the class that may be facing the teacher, the exit door may be on their left, but it’s absolutely true that the door, for the professor, is on the right. Truth also matches its object. It may be absolutely true that a certain person may need so many milligrams of a certain medication, but another person may need more or less of the same medication to produce the desired effect. This is not relative truth, but just an example of how truth must match its object. It would be wrong (and potentially dangerous) for a patient to request that their doctor give them an inappropriate amount of a particular medication, or to say that any medicine for their specific ailment will do. In short, truth is simply telling it like it is; it is the way things really are, and any other viewpoint is wrong. A foundational principle of philosophy is being able to discern between truth and error, or as Thomas Aquinas observed, "It is the task of the philosopher to make distinctions" (quoted by Drewlo, E. F., in Thoughtful Adaptations to Change: Authentic Christian Faith in Postmodern Times, Friesen Press, 2017, p. 155). Challenges to Truth Aquinas’ words are not very popular today. Making distinctions seems to be out of fashion in a postmodern era of relativism. It is acceptable today to say, “This is true,” as long as it is not followed by, “and therefore that is false.” This is especially observable in matters of faith and religion where every belief system is supposed to be on equal footing where truth is concerned. There are a number of philosophies and worldviews that challenge the concept of truth, yet, when each is critically examined it turns out to be self-defeating in nature. The philosophy of relativism says that all truth is relative and that there is no such thing as absolute truth. But one has to ask: is the claim “all truth is relative” a relative truth or an absolute truth? If it is a relative truth, then it really is meaningless; how do we know when and where it applies? If it is an absolute truth, then absolute truth exists. Moreover, the relativist betrays his own position when he states that the position of the absolutist is wrong—why can’t those who say absolute truth exists be correct too? In essence, when the relativist says, “There is no truth,” he is asking you not to believe him, and the best thing to do is follow his advice. Those who follow the philosophy of skepticism simply doubt all truth. But is the skeptic skeptical of skepticism; does he doubt his own truth claim? If so, then why pay attention to skepticism? If not, then we can be sure of at least one thing (in other words, absolute truth exists)—skepticism, which, ironically, becomes absolute truth in that case. The agnostic says you can’t know the truth. Yet the mindset is self-defeating because it claims to know at least one truth: that you can’t know truth. The disciples of postmodernism simply affirm no particular truth. The patron saint of postmodernism—Frederick Nietzsche—described truth like this: “What then is truth? A mobile army of metaphors, metonyms, and anthropomorphisms … truths are illusions … coins which have lost their pictures and now matter only as metal, no longer as coins” (from On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense, quoted by Mann, D., in Structural Idealism: A Theory of Social and Historical Explanation, Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2002, p. 138). Ironically, although the postmodernist holds coins in his hand that are now “mere metal,” he affirms at least one absolute truth: the truth that no truth should be affirmed. Like the other worldviews, postmodernism is self-defeating and cannot stand up under its own claim. A popular worldview is pluralism, which says that all truth claims are equally valid. Of course, this is impossible. Can two claims—one that says a woman is now pregnant and another that says she is not now pregnant—both be true at the same time? Pluralism unravels at the feet of the law of non-contradiction, which says that something cannot be both “A” and “Non-A” at the same time and in the same sense. As one philosopher quipped, anyone who believes that the law of non-contradiction is not true (and, by default, pluralism is true) should be beaten and burned until they admit that to be beaten and burned is not the same thing as to not be beaten and burned (Avicenna, Metaphysics I, quoted by John Duns Scotus, Philosophical Writings, Wolter, A., trans., Bobbs-Merrill, 1962, p. 10). Also, note that pluralism says that it is true and anything opposed to it is false, which is a claim that denies its own foundational tenet. The spirit behind pluralism is an open-armed attitude of tolerance. However, pluralism confuses the idea of everyone having equal value with every truth claim being equally valid. More simply, all people may be equal, but not all truth claims are. Pluralism fails to understand the difference between opinion and truth, a distinction Mortimer Adler notes, “Pluralism is desirable and tolerable only in those areas that are matters of taste rather than matters of truth” insert (Truth in Religion: The Plurality of Religions and the Unity of Truth, Macmillan, 1990, p. 4). The Offensive Nature of Truth When the concept of truth is maligned, it is usually for one or more of the following reasons: One common complaint against anyone claiming to have absolute truth in matters of faith and religion is that such a stance is “narrow-minded.” However, the critic fails to understand that, by nature, truth is narrow. Is a math teacher narrow-minded for holding to the belief that 2 + 2 only equals 4? Another objection to truth is that it is arrogant to claim that someone is right and another person is wrong. However, returning to the above example with mathematics, is it arrogant for a math teacher to insist on only one right answer to an arithmetic problem? Or is it arrogant for a locksmith to state that only one key will open a locked door? A third charge against those holding to absolute truth in matters of faith and religion is that such a position excludes people, rather than being inclusive. But such a complaint fails to understand that truth, by nature, excludes its opposite. All answers other than 4 are excluded from the reality of what 2 + 2 truly equals. Yet another protest against truth is that it is offensive and divisive to claim one has the truth. Instead, the critic argues, all that matters is sincerity. The problem with this position is that truth is immune to sincerity, belief, and desire. It doesn’t matter how much one sincerely believes a wrong key will fit a door; the key still won’t go in and the lock won’t be opened. Truth is also unaffected by sincerity. Someone who picks up a bottle of poison and sincerely believes it is lemonade will still suffer the unfortunate effects of the poison. Finally, truth is impervious to desire. A person may strongly desire that their car has not run out of gas, but if the gauge says the tank is empty and the car will not run any farther, then no desire in the world will miraculously cause the car to keep going. Some will admit that absolute truth exists, but then claim such a stance is only valid in the area of science and not in matters of faith and religion. This is a philosophy called logical positivism, which was popularized by philosophers such as David Hume and A. J. Ayer. In essence, such people state that truth claims must either be (1) tautologies (for example, all bachelors are unmarried men) or (2) empirically verifiable (that is, testable via science). To the logical positivist, all talk about God is nonsense. Those who hold to the notion that only science can make truth claims fail to recognize is that there are many realms of truth where science is impotent. For example: • Science cannot prove the disciplines of mathematics and logic because it presupposes them. • Science cannot prove metaphysical truths such as, minds other than my own do exist. • Science is unable to provide truth in the areas of morals and ethics. You cannot use science, for example, to prove the Nazis were evil. • Science is incapable of stating truths about aesthetic positions such as the beauty of a sunrise. • Lastly, when anyone makes the statement “science is the only source of objective truth,” they have just made a philosophical claim—which cannot be tested by science. And there are those who say that absolute truth does not apply in the area of morality. Yet the response to the question, “Is it moral to torture and murder an innocent child?” is absolute and universal: No. Or, to make it more personal, those who espouse relative truth concerning morals always seem to want their spouse to be absolutely faithful to them. Why Truth Is Important Why is it so important to understand and embrace the concept of absolute truth in all areas of life (including faith and religion)? Simply because life has consequences for being wrong. Giving someone the wrong amount of a medication can kill them; having an investment manager make the wrong monetary decisions can impoverish a family; boarding the wrong plane will take you where you do not wish to go; and dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner can result in the destruction of a family and, potentially, disease. Nowhere are the consequences more important than in the area of faith and religion. Eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong. God and Truth During the six trials of Jesus, the contrast between the truth (righteousness) and lies (unrighteousness) was unmistakable. There stood Jesus, the Truth, being judged by those whose every action was bathed in lies. The Jewish leaders broke nearly every law designed to protect a defendant from wrongful conviction. They fervently worked to find any testimony that would incriminate Jesus, and in their frustration, they turned to false evidence brought forward by liars. But even that could not help them reach their goal. So they broke another law and forced Jesus to implicate Himself. Once in front of Pilate, the Jewish leaders lied again. They convicted Jesus of blasphemy, but since they knew that wouldn’t be enough to coax Pilate to kill Jesus, they claimed Jesus was challenging Caesar and was breaking Roman law by encouraging the crowds to not pay taxes. Pilate quickly detected their superficial deception, and he never even addressed the charge. Jesus the Righteous was being judged by the unrighteous. The sad fact is that the latter always persecutes the former. It’s why Cain killed Abel. The link between truth and righteousness and between falsehood and unrighteousness is demonstrated by a number of examples in the New Testament: • For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11–12, emphasis added). • “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18, emphasis added). • “who will render to each person according to his deeds; to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation” (Romans 2:6–8, emphasis added). • “[love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:5–6, emphasis added). What Is Truth? - Conclusion The question Pontius Pilate asked centuries ago needs to be rephrased in order to be completely accurate. The Roman governor’s remark “What is truth?” overlooks the fact that many things can have truth, but only one thing can actually be the Truth. Truth must originate from somewhere. The stark reality is that Pilate was looking directly at the Origin of all Truth on that early morning almost two thousand years ago. Not long before being arrested and brought to the governor, Jesus had made the simple statement “I am the truth” (John 14:6), which was a rather incredible statement. How could a mere man be the truth? He couldn’t be, unless He was more than a man, which is actually what He claimed to be. The fact is, Jesus’ claim was validated when He rose from the dead (Romans 1:4). There’s a story about a man who lived in Paris who had a stranger from the country come see him. Wanting to show the stranger the magnificence of Paris, he took him to the Louvre to see the great art and then to a concert at a majestic symphony hall to hear a great symphony orchestra play. At the end of the day, the stranger from the country commented that he didn’t particularly like either the art or the music. To which his host replied, “They aren’t on trial, you are.” Pilate and the Jewish leaders thought they were judging Christ, when, in reality, they were the ones being judged. Moreover, the One they convicted will actually serve as their Judge one day, as He will for all who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

### The Great (un)Known We have always known there is a great unknown, sometimes a lifelong unknown, at least until we have grown,     growing out of ourselves     putting our inner child behind     and facing the facts of life. We have always felt it, a great void to fill. Many times we scramble, doing all kinds of crazy to fill it,     but almost nothing can.     Perhaps the love of another will do,     but even that is incomplete. We have to stop running away from it or hiding from it. That great unknown, ever present, gnawing on our insides,     how empty and painful it can be.     Perhaps the Great Known     will solve the puzzle and fill the void. We all know, if we're honest, the solution to our greatest need. We see Him all around, every day, but for too long we ignore Him     until hopefully, meekly,     we just get up, open the doorway,     the one to our hearts and let Him in. Tis a solitary pursuit for most till we stop long enough to hear the absolute quiet tranquility of our aloneness.     Only then can we detect     His still small voice     and begin to learn again. What we find, Lord willing, is what we've always felt, that the great unknowns of life were created by the Great Known,     our Creator God,     who wants us to know Him     as much as He wants to know us. Unlearn this world so you can learn of its Creator. Embrace Him and tell others while time remains.     Don't get stuck     in the muck of this life,     instead look towards the life to come. mAt 10/02/24

### Is abortion murder? The subject of abortion is perhaps one of the most highly charged issues of our day. Finding an honest answer to the question “is abortion murder?” takes courage for those who have performed abortions or have had abortions themselves. The Bible is clear about the fact that murder is wrong (Exodus 20:13). However, in some cases, the Bible does not forbid killing. Soldiers representing their country were expected to kill soldiers on the opposing side (Joshua 11:20). That is not murder. Animals were killed for food and for sacrifice (Exodus 24:5; Genesis 9:3–4). That is not murder either. Murder is defined as “the unlawful, premeditated killing of one human being by another.” Murder is unlawful killing—that is, killing that is done by the judgment of one human being against another, for personal (rather than national) reasons. The Bible condemns murder repeatedly as a characteristic of a wicked society (Deuteronomy 5:17; Isaiah 1:21; Hosea 4:2; Matthew 5:21). Determining whether or not abortion is murder involves two considerations: first, whether or not a fetus in utero is actually a human being, and, second, if a fetus is a child, whether or not abortion can be rightly called murder since it is legal in most countries. If murder is unlawful killing, it would follow that a lawful killing would not be murder. One reason murder is outlawed in many places is that it is unethical for one person to unilaterally decide the fate of another. Under the Old Testament Law, a murderer was not put to death unless there were multiple witnesses: “No person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness” (Numbers 35:30). In war, soldiers do not decide to kill for their own purposes; rather, they kill in the national interest—if they fight for an honorable nation, the national interest will be to protect innocent civilians from some threat. Abortion is different. Abortion is killing based on a mother’s unilateral judgment and choice. Such unprovoked killing of the defenseless is unethical and should define abortion as murder in any society—unless the fetus is not human. If the fetus is just a mass of impersonal tissue or something less than human, ending its life would not face the same ethical challenge and would not be considered murder. So, is a fetus a human? Or is it something else? Biologically speaking, human life begins at conception. When the mother’s egg and the father’s sperm come together, they combine and create a new string of DNA that is personalized and totally unique. DNA is coded information, the blueprint for the new human’s growth and development. No more genetic material needs to be added; the zygote in the womb is as human as the mother in whose womb it dwells. The difference between a fetus and any one of us is one of age, location, and level of dependence. When a mother aborts the process of fetal development, she is destroying a unique life. The Bible clearly points to conception as the beginning of human life. Samson said, “I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb” (Judges 16:17). He refers to his unborn self as having already been what God planned him to be—a Nazirite. David says, “You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). Again, we see David referring to himself as a person in the womb. Then, he says, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). David is saying that God had all of his days planned out for him while he was still in the womb. Again, this evidence points to personhood beginning at conception, rather than at the moment of birth. We see God had a similar plan for the life of the pre-born Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The Bible considers a fetus to be an unborn child, a planned human being that God is forming from the moment of conception. This being the case, it doesn’t really matter what human jurisprudence says or how socially or politically acceptable abortion is. God’s law takes precedence. A mother who decides to abort her child is unilaterally making a decision to end another person’s life—and that is and always has been the definition of murder.

### When does a life in the womb become a human being? Where does the Bible define the beginning of human life? A look at some of the passages on this issue offers clear evidence that God defines a person as “human” from the point of conception, not merely when a child draws its first breath. A key example of this view is found in Psalm 139:13–16 where David writes, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” The psalmist uses poetic lyrics to note God creates life in the womb, meaning that we have life before birth.. God even has a specific plan for each person’s life from the point of conception, from “before one of them [days] came to be.” On the negative side, every person is also sinful from the point of conception: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). This is the doctrine of original sin, the teaching that humans are born with a sin nature. What is often overlooked in this verse is the fact that each child is considered a person at conception. Several other biblical passages refer to preborn children in the same manner as children outside of the womb. For example, John the Baptist is called a “baby,” using the same Greek word for a young infant, while still in the womb (Luke 1:41–44). Jesus is later described using the same Greek word after His birth (Luke 2:12, 16). Another example is found in the birth announcement of Samson. The Angel of the Lord told Samson’s mother, “The boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death” (Judges 13:7). Samson is referred to as a “boy” from the womb until death, indicating the time from prior to physical birth to beyond the womb. Isaiah 49:1 adds, “Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.” This “servant of the Lord” was considered called by God as a child in the womb. God told the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God “knew” Jeremiah while he was in his mother’s womb, referring to Jeremiah as a living being prior to his birth. Job poetically describes his life in the womb, saying, //“Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?” (Job 10:8–9). // God is clearly involved in the creation and development of a person from the earliest stages of formation in the womb. Human life or personhood is defined by Scripture from the point of conception.

### Is the human soul mortal or immortal? The human soul or spirit is that part of a man or woman that is not physical. The soul is central to the personhood of a human being. It is the “true self”—who a person really is. The soul is the center of life, feeling, thought, and action in a human being. Without a doubt the human soul is immortal. That is, the soul is not subject to death. Once created, the soul never ceases to exist but is everlasting. The soul is spiritual and thus has the quality of immortality. In contrast, the body is physical; the earthly body we now possess is subject to death. The immortality of the soul is clearly seen in many places in Scripture. For example, in Psalm 23:6 David says, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” In Ecclesiastes 12:7 the Preacher mentions two things that happen at death: “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” In 2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul says that to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord” (NKJV). All these passages indicate that the soul is immortal. What, then, are we to do with 1 Timothy 6:16, which says that God “alone is immortal”? We see this verse as teaching that God alone is immortal in and of Himself; that is, He alone possesses immortality as an essential part of His nature. Our soul’s immortality, on the other hand—and that of the angels—is derived from God. God is immortal in His being; our souls are immortal as a result of God’s creation. Commentator Albert Barnes put it this way: “God, in his own nature, enjoys a perfect and certain exemption from death. Creatures have immortality only as they derive it from him, and of course are dependent on him for it. He has it by his very nature, and it is in his case underived, and he cannot be deprived of it. It is one of the essential attributes of his being, that he will always exist, and that death cannot reach him” (Notes on the Bible, 1834). In John 5:26 Jesus says, “The Father has life in himself.” This is another way of saying that God alone is immortal. The immortality of the human soul, that is, its quality of continuing forever, is a reflection of God’s nature in us. God alone is without a beginning or end. All of His creatures, animal, human, and angelic, had a beginning. Our souls came into being at a certain point in history, and there was a time when our souls did not exist. Only our Creator is eternal. Other passages that indicate the immortality of the human soul include Luke 23:43, where Jesus promises one of the thieves who is dying beside Him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Obviously, Jesus believed the soul of the repentant thief was going to survive physical death. Daniel 12:2–3 says, “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” This passage promises a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. When we die, our bodies return to “dust” (cf. Genesis 3:19). From that dust the body will return to either “everlasting life” or “everlasting contempt.” We must assume the soul will be reunited with the body at that time—otherwise, the resurrected bodies would be soulless and therefore inhuman. In Matthew 25:46 Jesus said that the wicked “will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” The same Greek word, translated “eternal,” is used to describe both “punishment” and “life.” Jesus clearly taught that both the wicked and the righteous will exist forever in one of two conditions. Thus, every human being has an immortal, everlasting soul. The unmistakable teaching of the Bible is that all people, whether saved or lost, will exist eternally. The spiritual part of us does not cease to exist when our fleshly bodies pass away in death. Our souls will live forever, either in the presence of God in heaven or in punishment in hell. The Bible also teaches that our souls will be reunited with our bodies at the resurrection. This hope of a bodily resurrection is at the very heart of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:12–19).

### Can a person be born with the wrong gender? We live in a confused and fallen world, and that confusion extends everywhere, so that even the most basic questions, like “what gender am I?” become difficult for some people to answer. Some people claim they were born as the wrong gender, or at least in the wrong body. A man may believe he is actually a female, but his soul is “stuck” in a male body. Such claims receive support from others who advocate a “gender-neutral” society. But those who view gender distinctions as nothing more than arbitrary labels or a “box” to be broken out of are actively rejecting God’s design in creation. Fundamental to our understanding of human sexuality is that God created two (and only two) genders. Currently, the world likes to consider gender (based on a social construct) as having nothing to do with sex (based on physicality), but the Bible makes no such distinctions. The Bible cuts through the world’s confusion simply: “Male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). All the modern-day speculation about multiple genders—or even a gender “continuum” with unlimited genders—is unbiblical. An individual may claim to be transgender or “gender-fluid,” but that doesn’t nullify God’s design and purpose in creating him or her. Children growing up in this confused world are bombarded with messages of confusion. Little boys are told they don’t have to be boys; girls are told they might not really be girls. Whatever they feel they are is what they are—boy, girl, or a mixture of the two. The world tells them it doesn’t matter. The confusion and ambiguity are reinforced in many ways: gender-neutral days at school, the banning of terms such as boys and girls in the classroom, the proliferation of unisex restrooms, curricula that promotes homosexual marriage, etc. It’s little wonder that some people grow up struggling with their sexual identity. But our Lord warned against leading children astray: “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble’” (Luke 17:1–2). Some people today state that they have “felt like the opposite gender since they were children.” But how would one know that? To what are they comparing their feelings? How people feel is all they know, and, for each person, how he feels is “normal” for him. Any comparisons to other people’s feelings would only be an assumption. Some people may become convinced that they “felt like the opposite gender” at some point in their lives, but they don’t truly have a baseline comparison. Given enough conditioning, any one of us can be convinced that we identify more as the opposite gender. Too often, certain individuals are labeled as cross-gendered because of natural differences in mannerisms and responses, and those individuals “back-paint” the concept into their understanding of their childhood. But this reimagining of one’s childhood is different from wishing to be another gender. A person can wish he was the other gender for many reasons, but that doesn’t make it internally so. A parent can instill that desire in a child, or a child can observe benefits enjoyed by the other gender and desire them. The child can also desire to be seven feet tall, but it doesn’t change reality. The Bible says that God created “male and female” and He pronounced His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:27, 31). God’s plan was perfect, but, as with everything in mankind’s sphere, perfection was corrupted by sin. Sin negatively impacted the entirety of creation, hurting not only humanity's relationship with God, but with one another and the rest of the created order. Our world is fallen, and the effects of sin permeate everything. Diseases, birth defects, natural disasters, sinful acts, and the negative results of others' sin and our own sin can all be traced back to the fall. Sometimes these negative effects come in the form of naturally occurring anomalies; other times they are more directly traced to specific sin. Could an anomaly sometimes occur in gender, physically or mentally? We acknowledge that a person can be born with a combination of male and female organs—although one’s true, biological sex can be determined through medical tests. This we know, that we are involved in a spiritual battle for our souls. The world seeks to conform us to its mold, which is why we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1–2). Satan attempts to deceive us and urges us to question God’s plan. One of the devil’s ploys is to make us dissatisfied with how God made us. To some he whispers, “You’re fat and ugly.” To others, “You’re stupid and clumsy.” And to still others, “You look like a boy, but you’re really a girl.” In each case, the underlying message is the same: “God messed up on you.” This we also know, that the whole creation groans for release from the curse and damage of sin (Romans 8:20–22). The ruin wrought by sin is addressed through the redemption of Christ. Through salvation, Jesus Christ grants us forgiveness of sin, reverses the effect of our poor choices, and compensates for our brokenness. Each of us faces a different set of battles. Yet Christ sets us on the path to victory. Hebrews 12:1–2 states, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The cross is key. Jesus pioneered our faith, and He will perfect it. His victory will be ours as well. Some may battle heterosexual temptation, greed, pride, anger, or any number of sins. Someone else may battle gender confusion. Regardless of the battle with sin and the devil’s lies, the question we must answer is, “Is Christ and His redemptive work sufficient for our battles?” Jesus definitely claims to be sufficient for any and all of our battles, and He desires to sanctify us through His Word of truth (John 17:17). As children of God, we should be content in this life (Philippians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 12:10). We realize that we all have limitations, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But through Christ those limitations will not interfere with the plan God has for us to honor Him and serve Him. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). If a person feels he or she has been born as the wrong gender, the answer is not gender-reassignment surgery, hormone therapy, cross-dressing, etc. Those are simply worldly ways of acquiescing to the devil’s lies. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). And God does not make mistakes. The one who feels he or she was born in the wrong body needs, first and foremost, to experience the transformative power of Christ. When we “participate in the divine nature,” we escape “the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4).