- JACOB: SCOUNDREL OR SAINT?
In a marriage arranged from “on high”, Isaac, at the age of forty, would marry Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, Abraham’s brother’s son. They had a great desire to have children, but for twenty years Rebekah had been barren. They sought the LORD that her inability to conceive would be removed. God granted their petition, and ...
- Old Testament & New Testament: What Should We Understand about the Bible?
As the preacher approached the pulpit, he placed his Bible on the platform, looked at the congregants in front of him, and said, “Open your Bibles to the Old Testament.” The next Sunday might be the same procedure with the difference being, “Open your Bibles to the New Testament.” It matters not what book would ...
- The Anti-Missionary Movement
BACKGROUND
For centuries, there have been arguments against the belief that Jesus is the Messiah. Certain individuals in the Jewish community have not only entered into debates over this issue but pamphlets and books have been written trying to refute the belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
Debates such as the one between Justin Martyr and Trypho ...
- OBJECTION: “You Can’t be Jewish and Christian!”
“NO, YOU CAN’T!!!”
“No, you can’t what?”
“You know what I’m talking about, the question you’re asking on your sign. ‘Can you be Jewish and Christian?’ You can’t be both!”
I feared the gentleman might have a stroke. His face was red, his blood pressure was obviously up, and his anger was evident.
“Why can’t you be both Jewish ...
- Anti-Semitism and Evangelicalism
I received letter from a pastor in northern California. I have preached at this church many times and the pastor has a love for Israel and the Jewish people, for many years hosting an “Honor Israel” conference. He was concerned about an unsolicited DVD that was sent to the church, and hundreds of other independent ...
- PSALM 24
In the pursuit of everyday life, mankind is oblivious to the sovereignty of the divine King of kings. The world, and its problems, seems to continually turn with no answers to the dilemmas of life. Islamic terrorism, the cultural and philosophical divide between liberals and conservatives, and economic crises nationally and individually are just some ...
- ISAIAH 49: THE SERVANT’S CALLING
“Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made ...
- REVELATION: THE SEAL JUDGMENTS
In Jewish writings there are many references to a time of suffering before the advent of the Messiah. A couple of references will illustrate this concept.
Raphael Patai, in his book The Messiah Texts, said about the Messianic texts, “The idea became entrenched that the coming of the Messiah will be preceded by greatly increased suffering…This ...
- ISAIAH: An Overview
It is certainly not hyperbole when many commentators refer to Isaiah as the prince of prophets. His writings will take you from the depths of sin, hypocrisy, and political and religious degradation to the heights of righteousness, holiness, and Messianic grandeur. Isaiah is the prince of prophets!
The themes of this book include Messiah and His kingdom; God’s ...
- Zephaniah 1
The first chapter of Zephaniah brings us front and center with the theme of this book – the
“Day of the LORD.” There are two parts to the “Day of the LORD.” One of unparalleled wrath and judgment from God followed by great blessings from God. The focus of this first chapter is on the unparalleled ...
- ELIJAH AND PASSOVER
With anticipation the young children look toward the door of the home. It is the time of the Passover Seder when a child goes to the door of the house, opens it, and looks outside to see if Elijah will join us for this Seder. The hope for many of the children is very real. ...
- FEAST OF SHAVUOT
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Ye shall ...
- ADONAI
“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” Deuteronomy 10:17
Adonai is the plural of Adon and means master, ruler or lord. It speaks of (having) authority or rule. In the Jewish Bible it is used, at times, of other entities such as ...
- Y’SHUA
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and promised him, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins,” Matthew 1:21, the impact of naming the Messiah, Jesus, is missed by most students of the Bible.
As is ...
- WHY DECEMBER 25TH?
It has become almost universal in agreement that Jesus was born on December 25th. Children sing about this in their church Christmas plays. Secular media commentators reference this day as Jesus’ birth during the Christmas season. Even the “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” signs suggest this time of year is special because it ...
- THE SON OF MAN
A common refrain throughout the Word of God is the term Son of man. In the Old Testament the term is used almost exclusively of the prophet Ezekiel. In the New Testament the term is used exclusively of Jesus with one possible exception.
Son of man is used no less than 192 times in the entire Bible – 108 ...
- IDENTIFYING THE MESSIAH – WHO? HOW?
“The Messiah is dead!”
“The Messiah is dead!”
As the word filtered throughout the community, denial was paramount in the minds of many of the believers. “It can’t be! Just yesterday we were greeting him with, ‘Long live our master, our teacher, our rabbi, the king Messiah forever and ever.’” However, as the news became a reality ...
- OBJECTION: “The Servant of Isaiah 53 is not the Messiah!”
In searching the web about articles on Isiah 53, I came across this comment in the comments section of an article:
Can you show any verse where Isaiah says Jesus/Yeshua is the Servant. Isaiah specifically says; “You are My servant, O Israel” (41:8) “You are My servant, Israel” (49:3) see also Isaiah 44:1, 44:2, 44:21, 45:4, 48:20 The Bible is filled with ...
- Psalm 118
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth forever.
5 I called upon the LORD in ...
- Rejection and Reception: Zechariah 13:6-9
“And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, ...
