It is interesting that there are so many phrases in everyday use that can be found in the Bible.   Many may use these phrases without even thinking about where they came from and many may be atheists or agnostics anyway.   Some who may never have even opened the pages of the Bible may be surprised how many phrases contained in the Word of God have become everyday phrases in our society.

In one internet forum, a contributor observed that “In general the bible is ignored by modern society. It is ignored largely because people think its moral standards and helpful counsel is hopelessly out of date. Most people want to live their lives without anyone telling them what to do, or what not to do. That has not changed since the Garden of Eden.”   These are just some of the reasons why some never read or consult the Word of God.

Continue reading "Are there phrases in the Bible that have become normal in society today? (Part 1)"

This is a very interesting question; particularly, when we think of the ages of some of the patriarchs, and we look at the ages of people at other times during the last 6,000 years.   We want to briefly explore the question of life-spans and why King David only lived to the age of 70 when he was considered to be very old, which is not very old by today’s standards.

From the Bible, many people will know that Methuselah was the oldest man who ever lived – he was 969 years old when he died (Genesis 5:27), Jared was 962 (Genesis 5:20) and Noah 950 years old (Genesis 9:29).   The next oldest were:

Adam – 930 (Genesis 5:5)

Seth – 912 (Genesis 5:6-7)

Canaan- 910 (Genesis 5:14

Enosh – (not to be confused with Enoch) 905 (Genesis 5:11)

Mahalalel 895 (Genesis 5:17)

Continue reading "Why does the Bible say that when King David died at Age 70, he was very old?"

The “Kings of the East” are first mentioned in connection with the “beast” or the “King of the North”—a charismatic political and military leader of German or Austrian descent who will still manifest himself in Europe. The “beast” will lead ten European nations or groups of nations. He will carry out a terrible martyrdom of true Christians (Revelation 6:9-11), which might last for 3 ½ years (during the time of the Great Tribulation).

When that religious persecution of God’s servants is taking place, the beast will invade the Middle East, including Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia. He will enter the Glorious Land and conquer Jerusalem, and his forces will, at the same time, successfully attack the modern nations and peoples of Judah (the Jews) and of the House of Israel (the English-speaking nations of the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and others). The beast will apparently use nuclear weapons against the modern House of Israel, especially the USA and the UK, as all their major cities will be destroyed or laid waste in this war (compare Ezekiel 6:6; 35:4). Those of the House of Israel who survive these terrible events will become captives of the beast, mainly in Europe. The Bible does not say that the beast will use nuclear weapons against the Jewish people in Israel.

Continue reading "What does the Bible tell us about the “Kings of the East”?"

The best place to begin is by understanding where and in what context prophecy makes a reference to Egypt and the nation of Israel.

The earliest point in time that prophecy references Egypt, in respect to the nation of Israel, occurs shortly after Israel makes their escape during the time of the Exodus. Towards the end of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, Moses pronounces blessings on obedience to God and cursings on disobedience. He presents many of the curses as prophetic events, many to still take place in the future. “The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed” (Deuteronomy 28:27). “Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you” (Deuteronomy 28:60). Moses prophesies these and many more terrible consequences to Israel in his warning against disobedience. The sicknesses of Egypt can be expected in fulfillment of end-time prophecy.

Continue reading "What were the conditions like during Israel’s bondage in Egypt that will be repeated in the fulfillment of end-time prophecy?"

In other translations of the Bible, this word “repents” in the Authorized Version and in the New King James Bible can be read at times as: relented, regretted, was sorry, was very sad and had sorrow.

The first mention of this in the Word of God can be found in Genesis 6:6-7, in the Authorized Version, in regard to the people living before the Flood:

“And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”

In the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, we read:

“And it repented the Lord … grieved him at his heart. This is a strong instance of what is called anthropomorphism, an expression descriptive of human emotion or action ascribed to Jehovah… Such expressions have often given rise to superficial criticisms, depreciatory of Holy Scripture, on the part both of those who are ignorant of Oriental literature, and of those who assume that the Books of Holy Scripture must be free from the literary characteristics of the writers’ age and nationality. In this verse Jehovah is represented as intensely grieved at the frustration of His purposes for the human race. The description is given in the childlike simplicity of the language of an early age…”

Continue reading "What does it mean when we read that God repents?"

One of the most well-known biblical definitions of faith can be found in Hebrews 11:1. Even though there are additional definitions and descriptions of the meaning of faith, we will concentrate in this Q&A strictly on the above-referenced passage.

The New King James Bible renders it as follows:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

This translation uses some words or expressions which may be difficult to comprehend.

Let us begin with the word “substance” in the phrase, “the substance of things hoped for.” When you check the meaning of this word in dictionaries, you get a confusing panorama of diverse “explanations.” It is described as “that which exists independently, supporting its own attributes or accidents without needing anything else to exist.” Or, as “having real importance, independence, or value.” A “person of substance” is described as “someone who has intelligence, integrity, or significant means.” It is also defined as “core message, main idea, or true reality of an argument as opposed to its superficial presentation.”

Continue reading "What is faith?"

In this final part of this series, we will conclude with a number of further false assumptions that can be made that, when reviewed correctly, will shine a different light on these matters.

FALSE ASSUMPTION No.13

Another false assumption is that the rejection of God’s rule and preferring a human king or ruler guarantees that things will get better.

It is interesting to read in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel demanded a king. In verses 5-8, we read:

“Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’”

Continue reading "How careful should we be in making false biblical assumptions? (Part 5)"

We continue our review of biblical assumptions that, upon proper understanding, may be different from that which may have been understood by some earlier in life as being true.

FALSE ASSUMPTION No.9

Whenever you see a painting of Jesus on the cross (better: stake), generally there seems to be very little blood on His face or body. You would have thought that after all the beatings and thrashings that He had had, it would be shown clearly in any such paintings, but not so, and the reality will come as a shock to many.

Wikipedia observes that the movie “‘The Passion of the Christ’ is a 2004 American epic biblical drama film co-produced and directed by Mel Gibson from a screenplay he wrote with Benedict Fitzgerald and primarily covers the final twelve hours before Jesus Christ’s death, known as ‘the Passion’. Pilate attempts to appease the crowd by ordering Jesus flogged, and [He] is brutally scourged by the Roman guards.”

Continue reading "How careful should we be in making false biblical assumptions? (Part 4)"

We will continue to look at further false assumptions as we have done in the first two in this series of Q&A’s. 

FALSE ASSUMPTION No. 6

Apart from Christmas, the other major time for Christians is Easter, which again we will see that it is not quite what it may seem to be.  

Many believe that Jesus was crucified on Friday afternoon and resurrected on Sunday morning. But this cannot be true.

If we look at the Bible rather than man’s approach of “I think this, that or the other,” we get the correct answer.

We read in Matthew 12:39-40: “But He (Jesus) answered and said to them [some of the Scribes and the Pharisees], ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’” (Matthew 12:39-40).

Continue reading "How careful should we be in making false biblical assumptions? (Part 3)"

In the first Q&A in this series, we looked at the malevolent nature and influence of Satan the devil and started to look at false assumptions that many may make about different situations and teachings in the Bible. We know that Satan’s influence is everywhere and in every sphere, and is recognised by those faithful believers in the one true God.

Let us continue with further false biblical assumptions.

FALSE ASSUMPTION  No. 3

Many think that Jesus didn’t own a home and that He was a vagabond – a person who had no home, without a job and who travelled from place to place.    

In Matthew 8:20, we read: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’”  We read the following on page 49 in our booklet, “Do You Know the Jesus of the Bible?” 

Continue reading "How careful should we be in making false biblical assumptions? (Part 2)"