A reading for the first week of Advent in Lectionary A is from Matthew 24. In a devotional published on Christianity Today's website by Craig Blomberg admits that while it sounds like the events in the second half of Matthew's version of the Olivet Discourse are for Jesus' first century audience, they really can't be because the "cosmic" language was not actually fulfilled....
God created trees. He made them for us: for home building, decoration, shade, construction of fences, tables, chairs, sheds, and so much more. Just because pagans might have carved up a tree to make an image of a false god to be worshipped does not mean that we can’t use them to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s “indescribable gift” to us (2 Cor. 9:15). Read Gary's article here: https://americanvision.org/posts/are-christmas-trees-pagan-1/...
Gary interviews Robert Cruickshank at a recent conference in Virginia Beach. Gary and Robert have known each other for a long time through phone calls and email but had never met personally until this interview. The two discuss how questions they had about what they were reading in the Bible led them to where they are today.
Gary discusses the classic Christmas film, Miracle on 34th Street . He points out many instances of how this film (and every film for that matter) presents opportunities for thinking through worldviews and Christian apologetics. Many questions are asked throughout the movie that may seem silly at first glance but are actually quite perceptive and help highlight the issue of ultimate authority.
In this second half of his interview with Dr. Michael Horton, Gary discusses what it means to be a Christian nation. There is much common ground between groups in America and many actually want Christian morality without Christ. This is nothing new. Christians must know biblical history as well as world history and be prepared to show how Christianity is the foundation of a proper and just civilization.
Gary was recently interviewed by Dr. Michael Horton on the White Horse Inn podcast. In this first part, Gary discusses how he came to understand the importance of politics, government, history, culture, and a biblical worldview.
Ideas have consequences and eschatology has implications. What you believe about tomorrow affects how you live today. While Gary often pokes holes in Dispensational eschatology, non-dispensationalists have their own cultural decay problems due largely to their views about the future. Obsessing about how it will all end paralyzes Christians into inactivity while the culture melts down around them.
Gary responds to two recent postings about current events and the "rapture of the church." Two important questions that should precede any discussion of the rapture is 1) what is meant by the rapture and 2) what does the Bible teach (or not teach) about it? Too often, prophecy writers and speakers assume the legitimacy of the doctrine of the rapture and look for newspaper clippings and Bible verses that seem to confirm what they already believe.
Gary concludes his discussion with Luke and Joy by addressing politics and foreign policy. Wars and national tensions are unavoidable in a sinful world, but reconciliation comes through the Gospel, not with guns.
Gary continues his interview with Luke and Joy from Apologia Radio. The conversations begins with historical artifacts and moves to how a Christian should think about national defense. A show of force is important and can help keep the peace at times, but at other times it can be a hindrance to foreign relations and evangelizing.
In this first part of an interview with Luke and Joy from Apologia Radio, Gary discusses the book, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States . While the influence of Christianity on the founding of America is undeniable, this book collects so much of that history into one volume that it is something of a library (and an education) itself. Get your copy of Christian Life and Character here: https://store.americanvision.org/products/christian-life-and-characte...
Gary responds to a recent article that claims to "deconstruct" the understanding of the Dominion Mandate in Genesis 1:28. The idea is not for one group of people to dominate another group of people, but to have authority. The author mistakes "dominion" for "domination," and the article gets only more muddled from there.
Should our faith influence how we think, move, have our being, and vote? Should Christians be politically motivated and seek to make changes in the world around them according to biblical principles? Or should we simply live out our faith quietly and privately before those around us? In this rebroadcast from early 2021, Gary discusses an interchange he had with “Chaplain Mike” on Facebook.
Gary discusses a recent appearance by Ray Comfort on the Dr. Phil Show. Ray decries the practice of "microchipping" people and how unethical and irresponsible it is (which it is) and how it "might" fulfill Bible prophecy and Revelation 13 (which it doesn't). Christians must stop looking for prophetic signs in every modern technology and start reading the biblical text as significant and relevant to those living in Israel in the first century.
Gary relates the early days of American Vision and how much it took to get a book published. Christians should take advantage of modern technology to teach and proclaim the Gospel. Just as early Christians benefitted from the roads created by the Roman Empire, so we benefit from electronic and networking advances today. This excerpt is from the Burros of Berea podcast. Listen to the full interview here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-77-testimonies-gary-demar-for-god-and-country/i...
Gary discusses the history and work of Joel Belz and WORLD Magazine. A very high-quality, bi-weekly, full-color publication, WORLD Magazine is something you want to read and have in your house. Getting good information can be difficult in today's "always on" media-saturated information blitz, but WORLD makes it fun and easy to keep up on things and share with your family and friends. Check out the WORLD Magazine website here: https://wng.org/
Gary discusses the consolidation of information and the recognition that we are in a war of ideas and worldviews. Christians often decide not to get involved, but must live with the consequences anyway. Voting isn't a long-term solution, but ignoring it isn't the right response either. It takes work: Get informed, vote, and get to work. Get informed here: https://store.americanvision.org/products/restoring-the-foundation-of-civilization...
Gary discusses the providential history of his life after high school and college and how he met and worked with Greg Bahnsen, David Chilton, Ken Gentry, and many others. This excerpt is from the Burros of Berea podcast. Listen to the full interview here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-77-testimonies-gary-demar-for-god-and-country/id1588605731?i=1000584078209...
Gary answers a listener question about 2 Peter 3 and the fire language. Will the physical earth and heavens be destroyed in a universal conflagration, or is something else being communicated here? Will God destroy his creation in order to make another one, or will He redeem the existing one? We must read 2 Peter 3 in the context of Peter's first letter, as well as the Old Testament.
The Geneva Bible is a Bible of firsts: it was the first complete English translation of the entire Bible, it was the first to include chapter and verse divisions, it was the first to add explanatory study notes throughout, and so much more. The Geneva Bible was also the Bible that helped build America. The story of the Geneva Bible is a fascinating and important part of world and Church history. Get the Geneva Bible here: https://store.americanvision.org/products/geneva-bible...
Two movies are discussed on today's episode, one recent and one from more than a decade ago. Bros and Brokeback Mountain are separated by 16 years but both were agenda-driven propaganda pieces for the homosexual lifestyle. Bros was a spectacular box-office failure for several reasons, and speaks volumes about public support for the gay ideology. Read Carl Trueman's review of Bros here and Larry David's "review" of Brokeback Mountain here ....
Gary discusses the film, The Omega Man , with Charlton Heston. Based on the book I Am Legend (with a 2007 Will Smith remake as well), the film is very prophetic considering modern climate armageddonists claiming that the "end is near" thanks to our continuing use of fossil fuels. Read Eric Peters' articles here: https://www.ericpetersautos.com/
Gary discusses a news story about the governor of New York claiming that the Bible supports abortion. Since most of her supporters have little to no real knowledge about what (or what is not) in the Bible, claims like this often go unchallenged and a whole generation of people adopt a falsehood as truth. This is nothing new. Authority figures have been claiming to speak for God ever since the beginning in the Garden of Eden.
The defeat of evil and of demonic powers is associated with Halloween. For this reason, Martin Luther posted his 95 challenges to the wicked practices of the Church to the bulletin board on the door of the Wittenberg chapel on Halloween. He picked his day with care, and ever since Halloween has also been Reformation Day. The power of Satan has been broken once and for all, and our children can mock him by dressing up like ghosts, goblins, and witches. Check out Doug Giles' amazing art here ....
Gary discusses another new book release claiming to help readers understand Matthew 24. This time it's written by Michael Youssef. Dr. Youssef claims that the modern world is getting close to being in the "end times" and that the "time is near." This is the very same language used by the Apostle John in the book of Revelation and both authors can't be right. We must allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, not modern events.
Part Two of Gary's discussion of a new book by David Jeremiah and the publishing history of (failed) prophecy books. Gary relates a conversation he had with an individual that believed Hal Lindsey's book, The Road to Holocaust , was an accurate representation of what the Bible teaches about the history of the Jewish people. Dispensationalism teaches that an unthinkable extermination of millions of Jews is still yet to come.
Gary discusses David Jeremiah's new book, which is essentially repeating the same message about being "near to the end." He also begins talking about another book written in 1989 after the failed prophecies of a prior book by Hal Lindsey. The discussion ran long so we cut decided to break this one into two parts.
A new book by Eric Metaxas makes the point that the social and political climate in America today resembles early 20th century Germany. Pastors were not unified and preaching against the concerning actions by the post WWI German government which ultimately led to the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party. Modern Christians are being taught much the same message and facing a similar tyranny. Get Gary's book, Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths...
A recent book and focus on "Christian Nationalism" is the topic of today's podcast. Gary discusses what it means to be a patriot and a Christian, and while the two are not mutually exclusive, they are also not the same thing. We can't rely on America's Christian past and heritage to save us. We must continually move forward, taking the Gospel into every area of life today and tomorrow, and bringing it to bear on every social and political trend.
Failed prophecies take a toll on those who believe them. For the last 100 years or so, Christians have been told by popular writers, speakers, and pastors that the rapture is near. While most can take it with a grain of salt, some get very bound up by fear of the "impending" event that never actually happens. These poor folks suffer from gnawing anxiety caused by RAD (Rapture Anxiety Disorder).
