Tom Ruggirello
Hosea, A Minor Prophet with a Major Challenge
“I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God” (Hosea 2:23). On a number of occasions the heavenly Father asked some faithful individuals to do things they could not understand at the time. Those who obeyed received a profound glimpse at the wisdom of God. One such individual was the prophet, [...]
Correlating the Spring and Fall Burnt Offerings
The feasts of Israel were special observances designed to help Israel recall the many blessings and providences of God. They were observed in both the spring and fall of the year. Before addressing the feasts of Israel it may be helpful to examine the basic meaning of burnt offerings. THE PEOPLE’S BURNT OFFERINGS As described in Leviticus 1, any Israelite was free to bring [...]
Four Generations Illustrating God’s Plan
A study of Old Testament heroes is inspiring as we see their faith demonstrated in real life situations. Those described in Hebrews 11 remained true to God and the principles of righteousness in very difficult circumstances. When examining some of these examples, there is an interesting possibility in connection with the fathers of Israel. Their experiences may illustrate the plan of God. It is [...]
Man with the Writer’s Inkhorn
"Go through the midst ... of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof " (Ezekiel 9:4). The passage in Ezekiel chapter nine has intrigued Bible Students for many years. It describes a man clothed in linen who is instructed by God to go through [...]
War in Heaven
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels” (Revelation 12:7). Those who have studied the Book of Revelation will recognize this familiar phrase, “War in Heaven,” from the 12th chapter. It is a fascinating chapter and there have been various interpretations of the symbols used. The passage to be considered reads [...]
The Field of Blood
“One of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said ... What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver” (Matthew 26:14, 15). The 30 pieces of silver given to Judas have some interesting history connected with it. First, according to Exodus 21:32, thirty pieces of silver [...]
Migdal Eder (Tower of the Flock)
“And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you [...]
Rubbed Upon the Touchstone
The use of the word torment in the Bible has mislead many to believe in the false teaching of eternal torment. In the King James version, the Greek word basanos (G931, βασανος) is commonly translated torment or tormented. However, the concept of hell as a place of sorrow and pain is inconsistent with the true Biblical teaching that hell means the grave, a condition [...]
Resolving Differences at the Garden Tomb
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6). In comparing the Gospel accounts of the Garden Tomb experience some apparent differences appear. For example, the Matthew account says Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” came to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body (Matthew 28:10). Mark adds Salome (Mark 16:1), [...]
The Precious Fruit of the Earth
"Wait patiently therefore, brethren, till the coming of the Lord. Behold! the husbandman expects the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it, till he receive the early and latter harvest" (James 5:7, Wilson Diaglott). In the 0ld Testament God appointed special times for the nation of Israel to celebrate and remember certain important events. In Leviticus 23 He commanded Israel to observe [...]
Kingdom Miracles
“Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me” (2 Kings 2:9). Some of the Old Testament types are clear and strong. The picture of the Prophet Elijah is among these. His persecutor, Jezebel, was the idolatrous queen of Ahab, king of Israel. The symbolism is described in Revelation, were Jezebel represents Papacy, persecuting the true church. (See [...]
God’s Message at Calvary
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent” (Matthew 27:50,51). By orchestrating the events that occurred while Jesus hung on the cross, and upon his death, God spoke in almost a parable‑like [...]
Sennacherib’s Cylinder
“He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it” (Isaiah 37:33). Sennacherib’s Cylinder is a six-sided clay tablet discovered by Colonial Robert Taylor in 1830. It was found in the ruins at Nineveh, capital city of the Assyrian Empire. Taylor’s cylinder is presently found in the British Museum. Two [...]
A King’s Desire for His Young Son
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13). As King David approached the end of his life, he was to give a final admonition to his people and to his son Solomon, the designated heir to the throne of Israel. Having called all the princes, officers, and valiant men to Jerusalem, David spoke his last official words [...]
Glimpses of God
Strong's #3068 - Yehovah - (the) self existent or eternal, from Strong's #1961, hayah, to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass. Oldest manuscripts present the name in the form of four consonants, commonly called the Tetragrammaton (from the greek tetra meaning four and gramma meaning letter). These four letters are YHWH. The Hebrew alphabet was composed of 22 consonants. The vowel sounds [...]
Wisdom of the Seven Churches
Biblical prophecy is comprised of two aspects. One is the predictive side, where certain events are foretold. The second aspect of prophecy is the moral lesson intended. With that in mind we want to look at the seven churches and see the moral lesson in each of the messages given. In addition, there appears to be a correlation between the moral lessons from each [...]
The Eleventh Hour Worker
“When he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour ... and said ... Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. ... Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he [...]