Month: October 2024

Red heifer stories are in the news. “The delivery of five red heifers to Israel has sparked a worldwide debate about its significance in biblical prophecy, particularly among Christians who believe a third temple will be built during the End Times, of which the New Testament says nothing. You will search the New Testament with… Continue reading Stay Away from Red Heifer Mythology

Although many Christians believe salvation was obtained at the cross, that’s technically incorrect. Salvation was certainly obtained by the cross, but it was not obtained at the cross. We can be sure of this because Paul said in AD 58–almost three decades after the cross–”Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:10).… Continue reading Salvation and the Cross

Many Christians believe the Law/Old Covenant ended when Jesus died on the cross in approximately AD 33. Another popular view is that the Law ended on Pentecost, fifty days after the cross. However, both of these views have insurmountable problems, not the least of which is that the writer of Hebrews said in approximately AD… Continue reading The Passing of the Law

The New Testament is filled with New Covenant realities that had already arrived in part (pre-AD 70), but had not yet arrived in full. Consider the following examples: Salvation had already arrived in part (2 Tim. 1:9, Titus 3:5, 1 Cor. 6:11), but salvation still had to come in full (Rom. 13:10; 1 Pet. 1:5;… Continue reading The Already and Not Yet

Let’s explore the many biblical prophecies that were fulfilled in the first century, specifically around the year AD 70. The Historical Climate in first-century Judea In Wars of the Jews, the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (AD 31-101) chronicled the war between the Jews and the Romans, which began in the spring of AD 67… Continue reading Prophecies Fulfilled in the First Century

Because of all the speculation and controversy regarding the topic of the “third temple,” I want to respond to three common questions about it. Temple Question #1: Does Ezekiel 40–47 prophesy that a third temple will one day be built for Jews? Biblical commentators differ as to which temple Ezekiel is referring to in chapters 40–47.… Continue reading The Third Temple

Since Jesus ascended to heaven in a physical body, must he therefore return in a physical body? “Now when He [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they [the disciples] watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold,… Continue reading In Like Manner

Is the infamous man of sin someone in the future…or has he already come? “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [second coming] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that… Continue reading The Man of Sin

Here’s a simple way to show the general resurrection happened in the first century. The general resurrection was one of the Old Testament promises that God made to Israel (Isa. 25:8, Dan. 12:2). And Jesus said he came to fulfill the promises made to Israel. In fact, he said not one jot or tittle could… Continue reading Resurrection Fulfilled

Does Jesus still have a fleshly body? While the Bible does not explicitly tell us what happened to Jesus’s body after the ascension (in AD 33), it does teach that Jesus no longer has a fleshly body…although he does have a body. To begin with, Christians agree that Jesus did not have a fleshly body… Continue reading In the Days of His Flesh

“I [Paul] have hope in God, which they [the Pharisees] also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:15; Acts 26:6–8). First, Paul clearly believed in the general resurrection, just like the Pharisees. However, it is equally clear that Paul defined it differently than… Continue reading Paul’s View of the Resurrection

“The key to understanding the book of Revelation has been hanging by the front door all along (the timing indicator in Rev. 1:1–3). Unfortunately, most people walk right past the key and try to climb in the window”. While Christians generally agree that most of the New Testament was written before AD 70, there is… Continue reading The Dating of Revelation

Since Jesus was the firstfruit of the resurrection–and Jesus rose from the dead physically–does this mean Christians, too, will one day be resurrected physically? “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection… Continue reading Firstfruits of the Resurrection

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let… Continue reading The Mark of the Beast

Many Christians believe marriage ends at the Second Coming, based on the following dialogue between Jesus and the Sadducees: “Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him [Jesus] and asked Him, saying: ‘Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he… Continue reading Does Marriage End at the Second Coming?

“For I know that my Redeemer lives. And He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25–26, NKJV). Many Bible commentators say this passage proves that Job expected to be resurrected physically someday. But does it really… Continue reading Did Job Expect To Be Resurrected Physically?

“Behold I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this… Continue reading Does 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 Prophesy About a Future, Physical Resurrection?

Many Christians and Jews believe war will cease after Messiah comes, based on the following passage from Micah 4:1–3 (also repeated in Isaiah 2:2–4): “1 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted… Continue reading When Were Swords Beaten Into Plowshares?

Many Christians believe that all God’s people will be resurrected on the last day of the world, based on John 6:39: “And this is the will of him [God] who sent me [Jesus], that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it [them] up on the last day” (John… Continue reading Raised Up on the Last Day

We often hear Christians saying we should bless Israel. And it’s true; we should. But who is true Israel today? It has nothing to do with one’s bloodline or place of residence. Paul said, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly” (Rom. 2:28–29). True… Continue reading Who Is Israel Today?

Will Christians get new “buildings”–that is, new physical bodies–from heaven at the Resurrection? Those who say “yes” often point to Paul’s words in Corinthians: “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this… Continue reading New Building from Heaven

Many Christians believe the “fullness of the Gentiles” refers to a set number of Gentiles that will come to the Lord. After the last Gentile is converted, then Jesus will return. The passage often used to “prove” this is Romans 11:25: “For I [Paul] do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this… Continue reading The Fullness of the Gentiles

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I… Continue reading Seeing in a Mirror Dimly vs. Perfected Knowledge

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and… Continue reading The Views of the Millennium

Eschatology memes are all the rage on Facebook. One of the most egregious is one that claims that Donald Trump is the antichrist. Some people did something similar with former President Obama and even JFK after his “mortal head wound.” The Trump antichrist memes started with Revelation 13:3 after Trump was shot in the ear:… Continue reading A Small Sample of Bad Christian Prophecy Memes and Comments

What is the New Jerusalem? Many Christians believe it to be a physical city that will one day come down from heaven. However, Jesus and the biblical writers described it as a spiritual place. For example, Jesus said: “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem,… Continue reading The New Jerusalem

Some Christians believe the parable of the wedding feast (Matt. 22:1–14) describes two judgments—one in AD 70, and another at the end of time. But is that really the case? Let’s look at the passage: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king [God] who arranged a marriage for his son [Jesus to the… Continue reading The Parable of the Wedding Feast

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you no doubt know about the Old and New Covenants. But what you may not know is that these covenants represent marriage covenants; namely, God’s marriage covenants with his people. The Old Covenant was God’s marriage covenant with Israel (mostly Jews); and the New Covenant… Continue reading What are Covenants?

“If this is all God had in mind, you can have it” – hyperfuturist Sam Frost [1] Does preterism take away the Christian’s hope? Not at all. In fact, it affirms it. Since Jesus’s prophecy of the second coming was fulfilled exactly when it was supposed to—within the lifetimes of Jesus’s first-century audiences (Matt. 10:23,… Continue reading Does Preterism Take Away Hope?

We can be confident the New Testament was written before AD 70 for a number of reasons. To start with, during his earthly ministry Jesus prophesied that Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed (Matt. 24:2–35, Luke 21:5–33, Mark 13:1–31). Yet Jerusalem and the temple—which historians agree were destroyed in AD 70—were still intact and… Continue reading The Dating of the New Testament

Many Christians believe that the “wolf laying with the lamb” is still future event. However, the Scriptural evidence shows it has been fulfilled. “6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together. 7 The cow and… Continue reading Wolves are Laying with Lambs

There are many reasons we can be confident the Bible is true. First, it contains prophecies that came to pass with amazing accuracy. Second, the Bible has gone through centuries of intense scrutiny by its critics and has shown itself reliable. Third, the writers/apostles endured torture and martyrdom rather than recanting their testimonies. Fourth, the… Continue reading Is the Bible True?

Zechariah 9–14 is another Old Testament prophecy that was fulfilled in the first century. Zechariah linked the events of this prophecy to a specific time period or generation by the repeated use of the term “in that day” (Zech. 9:16; 12:3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11; 13:1, 2, 4; 14:6, 8, 9, 13). And the… Continue reading Zechariah 9–14: Fulfilled!

“So also is the resurrection of the dead…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not… Continue reading The “Spiritual Body” Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:42–46)

“Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21) This passage is often used to “prove” a future physical resurrection. Paul talks about “being conformed to His [Jesus’s] death…if, by any means, I may obtain… Continue reading The Transformation of Lowly Bodies (Philippians 3:21)—Physical or Spiritual?

There’s a lot of confusion about Hades, but it simply refers to the realm of the dead (or place of the dead). The Old Testament equivalent is called Sheol. This is where the dead went before the time of Jesus, or more specifically, before Jesus completed the atonement. The story of The Rich Man and… Continue reading Hades / Sheol

Revelation 17:1 Come, I [the messenger of Revelation] will show you [John] the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in… Continue reading The Harlot, Mystery Babylon, and the Seven-Headed Beast