Scripture Revealed

A Revelation of Jesus Christ – Revelation 1:1

Category: Bible Studies

Water Baptism – Burial

An 1890 sketch for St. Vladimir's Cathedral, Kiev: The Baptism of Saint Vladimir by Viktor Vasnetsov.
An 1890 sketch for St. Vladimir’s Cathedral, Kiev: The Baptism of Saint Vladimir by Viktor Vasnetsov.

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

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What’s the Milk and Meat of the Word?

Milk and Meat of the Word
                    Milk and Meat

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 (...)

Teachers – Beware!

Jesus the Master Teacher
Depicted is Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount in which He commented on the Jewish Law.

 

 

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?”. The obvious answer is “no”, all are not teachers nor should they be. Paul again mentions the function of “teachers” in the book of Ephesians chapter 4:

Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV)” – And he gave some,

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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. But to convey what is good about the “good news” we need to explain the meaning of these historical (...)

Are We in the Laodicean Church Age?

Seven Churches of Asia
The seven churches of Asia in stained glass in York Minster by John Thornton

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.

I believed that the seven churches John writes to in the second and third chapters of Revelation are not just churches (...)

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

Image of the Pentecost. Duccio di Buoninsegna (1308).
Image of the Pentecost. Duccio di Buoninsegna (1308).

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. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit

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“There Should Be Time No Longer”

meltingclock
Salvador Dali’s painting ‘The Persistence of Memory”

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 (...)

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

Tissot_The_Flight_of_the_Prisoners
An artist’s depiction of the deportation and exile of the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah to Babylon and the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple.

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 (...)

Rules for Understanding the Bible

booksHave you ever wondered why there are so many different interpretations of the word of God? Differing interpretations ultimately result in different denominations. The Holy Scriptures will reveal themselves to those who “study to show themselves approved” by “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim.2:15). This article will discuss eight rules that should be at the center of all biblical interpretation. These rules did not originate with this writer. But they have been accepted and used by scholars from Socrates to our present day. Not only can these rules be applied to the Bible but also to any legal or historical document. Break these time tested rules and you will find yourself lost and off into left field and possibly even in a religious cult.

A Sure Word

2 Peter 1:19-21 (KJV) – “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:

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Blood Moons – Apocalypse Now?

blood moonSigns in the Heavens

The subject of “blood moons” has certainly been in the news lately. Many well-known ministers have gone on record with predictions related to the four “blood moons”. Books have been recently published on the subject.  In fact a movie has even been made.

Most proponents of the “blood moon” lunar eclipses  claim that the four blood moons that have appeared and will soon appear in the skies over America are evidence of a future “world-shaking event.” Some tie these lunar “tetrad” events to biblical prophecies found in Ezekiel chapter 38.  Some declare that Russia and Iran will be totally destroyed during this coming Ezekiel 38 battle.

What’s a Blood Moon?

The blood moons are part of a tetrad, a set of complete and consecutive lunar eclipses that will begin on April 15 and continue at roughly six-month intervals until October 2015. According to NASA, seeing four complete lunar eclipses in a row is very rare. The skies were tetrad-free from 1600 to 1900. But in the 21st century, there will be many.   However, total lunar eclipse tetrads occurred on Passover and Tabernacle festival dates in AD 162–63, 795–96, 841–43, and 860–61, during which no outstanding (...)

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