Measuring the Temple
We're now on the cusp of Revelation 11, perhaps the most bewildering chapter in the Bible. We've learned about the crucial scroll (introduced in chapter 5) which contains God's plan…
The Wrong Holiday
Christmas is rapidly approaching. Most churches are well into the advent season; Poinsettias and garland adorn their sanctuaries. There is one dynamic which can be reliably observed in evangelical churches…
Translation of the Seventy
The last few weeks we've been tracing the formation of the Old Testament. Let's summarize what we've learned so far. The key criterion for inclusion in the sacred writings was…
The Hebrew Canon
Here are the closing words of the Torah: "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous…
Gentle Jesus, Meek & Mild
There is a widespread sentiment - both in our society & in some quarters of the church -that Christians ought to be "nice" people. And no doubt there is a…
Kings, Presidents and Salvation
During election season, some Christians have become fond of proclaiming that "salvation will not arrive on Air Force One." Air Force One is of course the government airliner which transports…
One Who Shall Arise to Rule Over the Nations
I recently read an article by Russell Moore entitled "Christian Nationalism Cannot Save the World." In this article, Moore offers the following definition for Christian nationalism: "the use of Christian…
The Priests of Baal
Elijah is regarded as perhaps the greatest of all the prophets in ancient Israel. He prophesied during the reign of king Ahab. The Bible does not paint a flattering portrait…
A New Hope
On May 25, 1977, the movie Star Wars was released. Written and directed by George Lucas, Star Wars is an imaginative tale which transpired "a long time ago" in a…
Descent to Desperation
On October 13, 1972, a rugby team from Uruguay was flying over the Andes Mountains to a match in Santiago, Chile. The plane was carrying 5 crew members and 40…