WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST OF REVELATION ? The mark of the beast is some stamp or sign, by which all its worshipers should be known. In ancient days slaves were sometimes branded, as cattle are in our own age. The brand or mark of the beast would be some indelible sign which would designate with certainty those who were subject to his authority.
Most prophecies are given as warnings of Prophets and emphasize why disaster is coming and who is with God and who is not with God and His protection. God sends His words of warning to His people normally based on their behavior. Those who are in a loving close relationship with God are protected, and those backsliding into idolatry are cursed. God no longer protects them.
Though the Old Testament has some mention of love as being the meaning of the moral law, the emphasis is on physical obedience. However the New Testament writers emphasize the deep spiritual meaning of the law. That Paul did not reject the law but amplified it- is sometimes misunderstood. Jesus in the sermon on the mount presupposes the Ten Commandments and amplifies them. Christ puts the emphasis completely on matters of the heart.
Books and movies have admonished us to follow our hearts and all our wishes will come true. Is this good advice for a true believer? Well, what should our hearts and desires set as the ideal goal? Obviously wealth does not bring happiness. One should seek our hearts desire regarding vocations and business goals etc. if they are reasonable. But getting close to God should be our hearts number one goal.
Though the Old Testament has some mention of love as being the meaning of the moral law, the emphasis is on physical obedience. However the New Testament writers emphasize the deep spiritual meaning of the law. That Paul did not reject the law but amplified it- is sometimes misunderstood. Jesus in the sermon on the mount presupposes the Ten Commandments and amplifies them. Christ puts the emphasis completely on matters of the heart.
Which set of Holy Days were used and kept by Jesus and His apostles in the New Testament era? All religions use some kinds of Holidays or Holy Days. Did the Apostles of Jesus use the Holy Days that were clearly already established and listed in the Bible or use worldly days? Did they re-label pagan days such as Christmas and celebrate them for Christ? What about Easter and Halloween? Remember the author of the NT believed in the authenticity of the Old Testament.
Two Analysis of the Weak Justifications for Sunday Worship. The second example of a meeting on the first day is often used, the resurrection was covered in part one.
During the first few decades of the New Testament church, everyone in the church were either Jews or a small number of converts to Judaism. Further, as Jews how did they view the Seventh Day Sabbath? It was unquestionably kept and supported by all sects. Jewish sects had disagreements about various doctrines like the resurrection, see Acts 23:6-8 , but all sects supported the Sabbath. Why? It was the sign signifying who was your God. Were you worshiping the true God of Israel the creator God, or...
The book of Daniel reveals details of world events many centuries before they happened. Daniel could not have known any of these details without God’s inspiration. This book verifies the authenticity of the Bible. This book was so important that the adversary of God and mankind tried to block the information from reaching the prophet. Note the tale of awesome spiritual warfare involved in His bringing these prophetic messages to this beloved prophet.
The Bible is consistent with all major science fields. Let us look at astronomy. Many of the statements we will list were written thousands of years before scientific tools existed to reveal such facts. This was supported thousands of years before Columbus proved the earth was round.
One of the major bones of contention with the people of Israel was their idolatry and a major portion of this idolatry was the Queen of Heaven.
Communities without solid fatherhood or absent fathering suffer greatly - especially the children. Young men and boys are performing worse in school than in the past, why? The rate of new young family formations is significantly lower than in the past. Why? Most of all, why are these trends of male failures not being discussed widely? Is any action plan to improve the situation existing? Young men have higher unemployment rates than women. The decline of men is getting little or no attention? T...
A common misunderstanding of the mistakes made by this Church on the mail route will be covered, but first we will look at the easy manner in which readers can deceive themselves. This congregation is lukewarm but their problem is deeper than just this one area.
The Bible makes it quite clear what this chapter is all about and it is tolerance and not about altering basic doctrines. Paul is telling these mostly gentile proselytes to Judaism and some Jews who now believe in Christ to be kind and tolerant.
Actions which automatically work are called laws. They cannot be denied. Gravity is a law, so is thankfulness. The first observable law of thankfulness is that ’Spiritual blessings come to those who are thankful’. THEY ARE HAPPIER. Therefore it is assumed that law number two is the converse ’ Spiritual Decadence comes with LACK OF thankfulness or INGRATITUDE.
Historically, clerics have misunderstood Jesus’s meaning with regard to the Law as described in the sermon on the mount. Here is the statement they have taken out of context that caused them to go into error:
The Greatest sermon that builds upon the wonderful foundation given to Moses expounds and expands the love of God. Note Deut. 6:1-6. The beatitudes as given in Mathew Five, are the prerequisites as given by our Messiah. We believe that it is the most meaningful message ever given to mankind by a loving God. Jesus prepares the audience for the message.
Antisemitism is hatred for Jewish people, it is emotional and irrational. It has persisted throughout history for thousands of years which makes it unique. Satan hates Jesus Christ who is Jewish and the entire Jewish nation because they preserved the words and Laws of God.
Paul makes a statement in his letter to the Galatian churches that can be misunderstood by those who are not fully grounded in a spiritual perspective. Some even go so far as to think it is a license to sin as long as you just believe.
In spite of being under military arrest and being transported to Rome the Apostles Paul still kept the fast or Day of Atonement. Paul was a prisoner on a ship yet did not ignore the fast day.
Jesus will win in the end. The last Trumpet is the sound of victory. It is the sound of a new age of peace and goodness and for believers, entry into the very family of God. Wow! A pattern was set by Joshua, whose name is Jesus (Greek) in Hebrew will be used by Christ in His second coming to save mankind. God told Joshua to circle Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day circle the city seven times more but be totally silent except for some trumpets blasting. Then unleash the last, long po...
Jesus declared certain inviolable standards and attitudes as prerequisites for ever entering His kingdom. This Sermon On The Mount is so spiritually rich that it requires at least two programs. These standards are our core inner selves that God demands that a believer has before ever entering His family for all eternity.
One must study God’s word with this premise. We should ask, “Why did God say that” and how can we gain deeper insight into His wisdom. It is a false assumption that the Old Testament is done away. People use this idea to get around the fourth and second commandments and stay in and with the world. Some have tried to misuse verses like Eze. 20:24-25 to support such a wrongheaded premise.
The king did a wonderful thing when He asked God for something different than most young rulers would have requested. CAN YOU IMAGINE GETTING A CHANCE TO ASK FOR ANYTHING? It was like a golden reward card from the Deity who owns the universe. What an opportunity! Note what he requested?
One of the more intriguing prophesies of the end of this age is the coming famine of the Word. We will discuss the parameters of this prophecy. They include when and how and why it will happen. Is the most Bible-oriented nation, America also starting to fall away from the Truth? We know that in the end times, the Beast will lead the world into a great falling away from the Truth. Big socialistic governments always use propaganda to mislead and manipulate the public.
It is abundantly clear in reading Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians that various ones were intentionally sending them counterfeit letters. Evil forces were deceiving them and using the Apostles name in such efforts.
Why did God not reveal to the Apostles at some point that the second coming of the Messiah was not going to happen for thousands of years? Clearly, that would have been a DE-motivator for them, and hope would be stronger otherwise. God loved and was doing what was best for them spiritually. Apostles, such as Paul, John, and Peter received revelations from God but not this information.
The last Prophet gave some startling messages to the returnees about their worship practices and inappropriate doubts of the most high God. Obeying God’s laws help us and disobeying them hurts us. God loves his people even when they ignore Him or are misguided.
Obviously, varying views exist regarding the rebuilding of the historic Temple in Jerusalem. One that many clerics in Israel support is the three Prophets approach. They believe that three prophets are a prerequisite to the rebuilding. Why do they believe this doctrine? It is based on the historical pattern which is also documented by scripture. Some assert that the three are Ezra, Haggai, and Zachariah with Malachi on the end as to how to properly worship in the rebuilt Temple. It is helpful to...
The Ten Commandments, heart of the testimony of God and spiritual love, were delivered on the first Pentecost at the giving of the Old Covenant. Pentecost was also the beginning of the New Covenant after the resurrection of Christ. The first event is the foundation for the second event. They were planned by God to work together. However one scripture is often cited to try and insert the notion that God made a mistake.
