We Must Teach the Old Testament Systematically—Not Superficially

(Read Part 3) In this ongoing series on developing a Biblical philosophy of ministry, we are dealing with some hot contemporary issues. Order Dr. Andy Woods' new book, "The Middle East Meltdown." What you will discover is that there is a lot of disagreement in churches today—not so much over their doctrinal statements. The disagreement is over how they have decided to do ministry—ministry practicum or a philosophy of ministry. This is important and significant to me because issues nearly identical [...]

The First Trumpet Judgment

(Read Part 31) Introduction The world is no stranger to devastating destruction. However, the future seven-year tribulation period will bring far-reaching devastation that will destroy more land and property than has ever been experienced in history. The trumpet judgments major on the prophetic concept that God will execute the destruction of one-third of a stated item or items in the world.[1] There is no indicator in Scripture that God will confine the judgments to a specific area. All Scriptural indicators point to [...]

The Seventh Seal Judgment (Part 3)

(Read Part 30) Introduction Thunder, lightning, torrential rain storms, hail, an eerie darkening of the sky and other cosmic disturbances cause many to experience great fear and angst. The Apostle John, in Revelation 8:1-6, presents the opening scene as the Lord Jesus Christ opens the seventh seal. The setting begins with complete silence, and crescendos into a major cosmic display of God’s power. We will examine the four final preparations John reveals in the opening of the seventh seal—which contains the catastrophic [...]

The Seventh Seal Judgment (Part 2)

(Read Part 29) More on The Seventh Seal Judgment Part I of the Parenthesis: Protective Sealing of the 144,0000 (Continued) Revelation 7 is categorized as a parenthetical chapter between Revelation 6 and 8.[1] The Apostle John's description of the seal judgments stops (Rev. 6:17) and he introduces two groups of people. Scripture tells us plainly that God will seal 144,000 Jewish people and will bring them through the tribulation (Rev. 14). The Bible further reveals that God will protect one-third of the Jewish people during the tribulation [...]

The Seventh Seal Judgment (Part 1)

(Read Part 28) The Seventh Seal Judgment Introduction The painful process of purging the Earth of evil begins with the first six seal judgments (Rev. 6:1-17). God inserts a parenthetical chapter (Rev. 7) before revealing the next set of more intense judgments (Rev. 8). The Apostle John describes the sealing of a group of 144,000 Jewish male virgins who will survive the tribulation period (Rev. 7:3-8; 14:1-7). He then describes a very large group of individuals that suffer martyrdom during the tribulation (Rev. [...]

Traveling to Emmaus

By PAUL J. SCHARF, M.Div. Editor in Chief Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:13) Hopeless. Helpless. That is how they felt as they began their journey away from Passover in Jerusalem on that first Easter Sunday afternoon. We know nothing about them except one of their names—Cleopas (Luke 24:18; cf. John 19:25)—and that they were "sad" (Luke 24:17). The entirety of their view of life at [...]

The Lord’s Supper: Its Fulfillment

(Read Part 1) Was the Lord's Supper instituted during a Passover meal? In Matthew 26:26, the text says that "Jesus took bread." The Greek word for bread here is ἄρτον. This is simply the common word for leavened bread. In fact, it always means leavened bread. There is another word for unleavened bread, and in fact many times in the gospels this word—ἄζυμος—is used to mean Passover (cf. Matt. 26:17). Beginning at Passover, observant Jews will not have any yeast or leaven in [...]

The Sixth Seal Judgment (Part 2)

(Read Part 27) This week we continue our consideration of the distinctly dispensational doctrine of the birthing process of the theocratic millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ. Sixth Seal: A Great Earthquake Great Upheaval of the Sun, Moon, Stars and Sky The sixth seal further reveals that the sun, moon, stars and the sky will all be affected during the sixth seal judgment. The Apostle John uses several similes to describe the changes. Notice the descriptive language that he employs in Revelation 6:12-17: And I beheld when he had [...]

Title

Go to Top