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Scripture Revealed

A Revelation of Jesus Christ - Revelation 1:1

Category Archives: Bible Studies

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Numbers In Scripture: The Number 40

The Word of God is amazing. Throughout the scriptures, there is patterns and symmetry that prove that it is inspired. We can see God’s designs and patterns not only through types and parallels but also in numbers and the meaning of names of people and places. I believe these are part of the “deep things of God”:

1 Corinthians 2:7-10 (KJV) – “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

It is important to note that parallels and patterns should never be used to form doctrine. However, they should be used to support what has been already been revealed by God’s Spirit through the clear teaching of the Word. 

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God’s Land Promise to ABRAHAM – Fulfilled?

For many years, I believed that the scriptures taught that God had never completely fulfilled the land promise that He made to Abraham. This is what I was taught to believe and what, I in turn taught others. Now we all know that God will not go back on His promises. So assuming this teaching is true, then at some point in the future, God will have to keep His promise that He made to Abraham. This “promised land” will have to be given to Abraham’s descendants. Did God fulfill His promise to Abraham? Or should we look to the future for this fulfillment? What do the scriptures reveal? Get your Bibles out! Let’s start in the book of Genesis.

Land Promise Given to Abram/Abraham

The first mention of a land promise is in the twelfth chapter of Genesis.

Genesis 12:5-7 (KJV) – And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.



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Water Baptism – Burial

This is the third article in a four-part series addressing the subject of salvation and what it means to “believe the Gospel”. The first article was entitled Salvation – the Gospel. The second article was entitled Repent and Believe the Gospel!

The next step on our journey to the gospel plan is water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Baptism was preached by Peter in Acts 2:38.

Acts 2:38 (KJV) – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

 

Total Immersion

The proper method of baptism is by total immersion. This is how we identify with the burial of Jesus Christ. The word “burial” means: to put a dead body in the earth, a tomb, etc.; to hid or cover; to immerse. The only mode of baptism that can qualify as a “burial” is total immersion.

Romans 6:4-5 (KJV) – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.



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What’s the Milk and Meat of the Word?

I don’t know about you, but I sure do like a thick, juicy steak every once in awhile. But with the current price of beef being sky high, it’s a rare treat. Drinking milk is another thing altogether. I consider milk a breakfast drink, something I rarely drink for lunch or dinner. I like milk with my cereal. Paul, the Apostle, mentioned “meat” and “milk” in two separate books of the Bible, 1st Corinthians and Hebrews. Paul contrasts “milk” and “meat” to make an important spiritual analogy. Paul, in his address to the Corinthian church, wrote:

 

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (KJV) – “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

The word “milk” in the above quote (Greek gala) means the basic, elemental teachings of Christianity first learned by new believers according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments.

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Teachers – Beware!

 

 

Teachers hold a critical place within the New Testament Church. The scriptures mention “teachers” often, sometimes reminding them of their grave responsibilities. Paul, the Apostle, the writer of over half of the New Testament was certainly one of the fore most teachers. Paul had this to say to the Corinthian Church:

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 12:27-29 (KJV) – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

Here in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 Paul is teaching what comprises “the body of Christ”. “Teachers” are the third group of church members mentioned. Then Paul asks a rhetorical question: “Are all teachers?”.

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Salvation – The Gospel

Scripture imagesSalvation – The Gospel

This is the first in a four part series on “The Gospel”. What is the Gospel? Well, the English word gospel means “good news” or “good message”. And as such it is a correct translation of the original Greek word euangelion (Strong’s #2098). The basic biblical definition of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV) – “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Here Paul, the Apostle, outlines the doctrinal significance of the Gospel as part of the historical account of the early Church.

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Are We in the Laodicean Church Age?

For many years, I believed and taught that the seven churches mentioned in the second and third chapters of Revelation were sort of time clock of the church age in progress. I believed that God purposely selected them for a definite and distinct purpose: to give a complete picture of church history from the beginning to end. The last church the Lord Jesus Christ addressed was the church at Laodicea. The Laodicean church was the “lukewarm” church. Revelation 3:15 says it this way: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot”. This teaching regarding the “church ages” is part of dispensationalism. Dispensationalism is a Christian, Biblical interpretation that believes that God has related to human beings in different ways under different Biblical covenants in a series of “dispensations,” or periods in history. As a system, dispensationalism is expounded in the writings of John Nelson Darby (1800–82) and the Plymouth Brethren movement and propagated through works such as Cyrus Scofield’s Reference Bible.

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Tongues – Sign of the Infilling of God’s Spirit?

I can still remember the first time I heard about “tongues”. A high school friend of mine was relating how his mother, and some of her friends had spoken in “tongues.” I can vividly remember thinking “what in the world is that all about”! I was very curious to learn more about this speaking in “tongues” stuff. My friend related how his mother and her friends had spoken in “tongues” after receiving the Holy Spirit. Wow! The idea of “tongues” is weird I thought. I was about 16 years old at that time. It would be another 15 years before I understood what “tongues” were all about.

Acts 2:1-4 (KJV) – “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.



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“There Should Be Time No Longer”

Revelation 10:6 (KJV) – “And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.“

A close friend of mine asked me to consider what Revelation 10:6 means in regards to the statement that “there should be time no longer”. Her thinking was that this verse is prophesying that in our future, we will get to the end of time. Time would cease to exist. The implication was that this earthly realm and our existence would end. My response to her was “Let me study the scriptures”.

My first task was to look up this scripture in other Bible translations besides the King James Version. Then I would consult Bible commentaries to see how noted Bible scholars interpreted Revelation 10:6 in regards to”time being no more”. First let’s look at some other popular translations:

Searching Other Bible Translations

American Standard Version (ASV): Revelation 10:6 – “And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer:”

Amplified Bible (AMP): Revelation 10:6 – “And swore in the name of (by) Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens (sky) and all they contain, and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea and all that it contains.

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The Case for a Restored Nation of Israel – Scriptural Evidence for a Prophesied Return?

Proof Texts?

Some suggest that the Bible prophesies of a “last days” regathering of the Jewish people to Israel. Various “proof texts” are cited to support this belief. In examining these “proofs”, we find that these scriptures were either already fulfilled during one of the Old Testament exiles or that they foretold of the coming promises of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus’ focus was not on a physical land, but on a spiritual existence in His people!

The 1st Return Of The Jews
The Jews were living as exiles in Egypt when Moses brought the 12 tribes back to the land of Canaan in 1445 BC.

The 2nd Return Of The Jews

The Jews were living as exiles throughout the vast Babylonian Empire which Isaiah perceived as the four corners of the world when Ezra brought only 3 tribes back to the land of Israel in 536 BC. These were the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. The other tribes were lost forever. Just prior to 70 AD, Herod destroyed the remaining tribal records, especially those of Levi, the priestly tribe.

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