2014 – Volume 25
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 [...]
“Aleph-Tau, Alpha and Omega, Even I”
“I am Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 1:8). It would be comforting to know that the translators of the Bible were working with the original words of the sacred canon’s prophets, evangelists, epistle authors, and particularly the text of Revelation. Sadly, this is not the case for many verses of scripture. The problem is particularly acute for the transmission of the text of Revelation. For [...]
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 [...]
“El Shaddai”
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). This Scripture is a beautifully clear and direct statement from God of His omnipotence; so we should strive for perfection before Him, simply because He is our Almighty God. Many Bible translations [...]
The Manifold Works of God
“O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches” (Psalms 104:24). Matthew Poole commented on Psalm 104 about the year 1676, saying, “This psalm declares and celebrates the wonderful and gracious works of God to all mankind in the creation of this visible world, and in the wise and powerful disposition of [...]
A Different View of Alpha and Omega
As soon as it is recognized that “A and Ω” is not supported by any of the ancient and best manuscripts of Revelation 1:11, the need goes away to allow that expression to apply to Jesus, rather than always to God.1 What results is a progression from 1:8, “I am the A and the Ω,” to adding “the beginning and the end” (21:6), to [...]
The Name of Jehovah
“And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am Jehovah” (Exodus 6:2). My observation is that many avoid all forms of Jehovah/ Yahweh/Yahavah in order to stay away from the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect. Often this may be so, as very often they lose arguments with Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Decades ago the local Baptist minister, in non-confrontational discussion, suggested that is likely why the [...]
The Prophecy of Obadiah
(Continued from the May, 2014 issue). In the May, 2014 issue, the following points were covered respecting Obadiah. (1) Edom, the subject of Obadiah’s prophecy, represents Christendom. Bozrah, the capital of Edom, represents the religous power of Christendom, Mount Seir the political governments of Christendom, and Teman is suggested to represent a Church State union of Christendom (2) Revelation 18:8 indicates that some of [...]
The Prophecy of Obadiah
“How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!” (Obadiah 1:6). Obadiah’s prophecy relates the judgment to come on symbolic Edom, which symbolizes Christendom. There appear to be four aspects of Edom in prophecy: (1) EDOM = Christendom overall — Political, Religious, Civil, Financial, Social, etc. (2) BOZRAH (Capital of Edom) = Religious Segment of Christendom (3) MOUNT [...]
Claiming His Kingship
“Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:5). Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem as King? Certainly, this had to be a confusing signal to the disciples. After seeing him ride in as king they may have thought that maybe all that talk about him coming to Jerusalem to die [...]
Elijah at Mount Horeb
“And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:8). Elijah the prophet lived during a time when Israel had strayed from the proper worship of Jehovah. Ever since the kingdom of Israel divided in the days of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the northern kingdom [...]
Queen Esther
“And [Mordecai] brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter” (Esther 2:7). Queen Esther was selected as a consort for the great king from young ladies throughout the empire. Only the fairest need apply, for [...]