2020 – Volume 31
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 [...]
Science supports the Bible: The Mother of Us All – Mitochondrial Eve
“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). “DNA” is our shorthand for the complex set of inherited instructions used by every living organism on earth. No living cell is without its own unique DNA. For each one of us, our mother and father both contribute DNA that provides instructions for the color of our [...]
Enigmatic Sayings in The Gospel of John
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54). The Gospel of John contains certain sayings of our Lord Jesus in which the same vocabulary is used with two or more different levels of meaning. These sayings may be designated as enigmatic, mysterious. This situation is similar to our Lord’s [...]
Three Doves
“At the end of forty days ... Noah ... sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground” (Genesis 8:8,9). This episode occurred late in the experience of the Flood. The [...]
The Lesser Light to Rule the Night
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night” (Genesis 1:16). The Sun dominates our daytime sky. Without its warming rays, life could not exist on Earth. It produces energy that supports life through the process of photosynthesis. The Sun has been used by God as a symbol of the Gospel message, [...]
Saul and the Witch of Endor
“Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor” (1 Samuel 28:7). Some religious people refer to the account known as “Saul and the witch of Endor” to support their [...]
Two Phases of Christ’s Return
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). When considering prophetic events post-1874, it is important to understand the time frame for the many scriptures referencing the Lord’s [...]
The Contest with Amalek
(Exodus 17:8-16) Exodus chapter 17 opens with the Israelites pitching their tents in Rephidim. Here they encountered another test of faith respecting their need for water (see Exodus 15:27 for an earlier one). They also they encountered another major threat: “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim” (verse 8).[1] The Amalekites were the aggressors. Amalek is later specifically mentioned in the Book [...]
The Law as a “Schoolmaster”
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). The Greek word translated “schoolmaster” is — παιδαγογός — paidagogos. This word occurs three times in the New Testament, Galatians 3:24, 25, and 1 Corinthians 4:15. Paul selected this word here because it beautifully describes the function of the Law to bring Israel to [...]
The Flinty Rock
“Out of the flinty rock” (Deuteronomy 32:13). Twice in the wandering of Israel through the wilderness, Moses provided water by striking a rock. The rock in each case is widely considered to be a picture of Jesus, and striking the rock a picture of his death. The first case was soon after the Israelites entered the wilderness, and the second case was near the [...]
Our Lord’s Resurrection Appearances
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life” (1 John 1:1 NIV). The Bible records ten appearances following Jesus’ resurrection.[1],[2] This is significant, because in Biblical numerology ten is associated with completeness, perfection, and fullness in [...]
Summer and Winter
A Meaning to the Seasons Ezra and Nehemiah served about 80 to 100 years after the return of Israel from Babylon. Their work was to refurbish the Temple at Jerusalem, and restore the walls of the city. Br. Ryan Hangs observed that Nehemiah 6:15, and Ezra 6:15, refer to the completion of the Wall of Jerusalem, and of the Temple at Jerusalem, respectively. The [...]
A Psalm for Solomon
“Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son” (Psalms 72:1). Psalm 72 is unique. Apparently it was one of the last psalms composed by David, near the end of his long reign of 40 years, for this Psalm expresses a prayer to God by David for the blessing of the new king Solomon, who was appointed by David [...]
Our House from Above
“If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ... in this [present house] we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1, 2). Paul discusses the “house” from above in the first eight verses of 2 Corinthians 5. [...]