“…and the sea was no more.” -Revelation 21:1 People quote this a good deal and the question regularly comes up. It is best policy to take Scripture at face value as often as possible. Sometimes, however, this requires more reading than the text we are in. This is the other side of the same coin. The technical term is “Synthesis.” It simply means all Scripture is by the same Author and will hang together. If it does not, guess where the error is. This passage is a classic example and I still hear it today, even from the pulpit. For the sea life lovers and divers among us it can…

The Book of Revelation, chapter ten, brings us one of the most frustrating passages in the history of Christendom. Frustrating because it is the opposite of a spoiler, and not really a cliff-hanger because there will be no next episode or sequel to scripture that will play out the mystery that is The Seven Thunders. In short, in a sort of interlude between the Sixth Trumpet and the Seventh, John is carried away in a vision to a shore where he encounters a mighty angel. We know this is an angel and not, as some think, Jesus, because of John’s use of the word ‘alos‘ in the Greek concerning “another”…

Fun fact. Yom Teruah is supposed to be the first New Moon AFTER the Autumnal Equinox.

There Is No “Good Friday” DID YOU KNOW… There is always a Last Supper… every year? There are some weeks with more than one Sabbath due to High Holy Days? The Hebrew (biblical) “twilight” is not the same as in the western society? That not only was the modern calendar messed up, but that even the Days Of The Week were changed? Here are some key passages to note: Exodus 12: Passover and Unleavened Bread Leviticus 23: Dates and regulations for same. God says Passover is the 14th!! Exodus 16:23 Gives “preparation day” is the day before a Sabbath Numbers 9:2, 3 says the lamb was to be eaten Nisan…

There is a persistent argument concerning Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. Again, it concerns the old saw that “this generation” Jesus is referring to means that first century generation, and therefore we can take all of Jesus’ discussion about great tribulation, etc., put a nice little bow on it and consider that entire chapter’s prophecies signed, sealed and delivered. There have been a few excellent articles, blogs and sermons preached from the Greek, how we ought to understand the meaning. So, context. One brother insisted that we should understand the context of Matthew 24 as well based upon the context of Matthew 23, and that the one gives us…

We either take God as straightforward in His Word to His saints or conclude He is engaging in subterfuge to confound us with symbolism. Many will point to certain books and passages of their choosing, or by consensus, and declare these as “apocalyptic” language. In the words of Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” “Apocalyptic” from the Greek means, “an unveiling” or “a disclosure” or “uncovering.” This is exactly the opposite of how some wish to apply it, as though God chose to shroud some passages in symbolism. Was there a literal creation or…

I WAS just asked this question concerning Matthew 24 and the Olivet Discourse: “Dave Reynolds, my apologies for misunderstanding you. How do you know from the passage or from other Scripture that it’s future oriented? Near future? Distant future? Other?” My response: I know it is Future because this disciples asked, ““Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” ,It is about The End, and all the stuff Jesus told them in the passage would happen. If it is not about The End and the sign of the 2nd Coming, then Jesus did not answer…

The Matthew 25 passage, the Part 2 of the Olivet Discourse, is where Jesus describes some of the events to take place upon his Second Coming to the earth. Let’s look: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on…

Few subjects are more controversial than the subject of the rapture of the church, whether it exists and when. Among those are the subject of whether or not the rapture is mentioned or implied in Jesus’ private discussion with disciples on the Mount of Olives. There are strong emotions on both sides of the argument (and boy, I do mean argument). Of the half dozen nuanced variations on how to approach this passage, in the interest of brevity, let’s make some assumptions. If the rapture is explicit in the passage it is usually in the wrong location. How’s that for stirring things up? There is sometimes preconceptions within a school…

Joel 3 does tell us God’s opinion concerning the dividing of His land, and it is not favorable. “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land The passage though says He will sort that out at Armageddon. That is future. Could God judge the USA? He does as He pleases. He has…