Christian Author, Philosopher, and Apologist
In the discussion of God’s existence, the evidence that proves this certainty is resident within a variety of sources. This brief article notes a short list of the hundreds that are available in order to make the most logical and empirical conclusions in the smallest space possible. Let us begin with a logical examination of the facts: Continue reading “The Ease Of Proving God Exists From Empirical Evidence”
After writing several books regarding the Messianic Prophecies which Jesus fulfilled in the New Testament scriptures, I am still amazed by those who assert that Jesus did not fulfill any of these predictions. One of the texts that is most profound in validating Jesus as the Messiah, is observed in the descriptions of the prophet Isaiah in chapters 52 and 53. This morning I was reading through these verses in The Living Bible and I was struck by their exact portrayal of the actual events that took place in Jesus’ life.
It is impossible to discount the fact that Isaiah wrote these texts more than 700 years before Jesus was born. In fact, all of the scholarly Rabbi’s in Israel attributed the text of Isaiah 53 to the Messiah up until the 12th century. It was at that time that a change occurred where these men began to assert that Isaiah was describing the nation of Israel, not the Messiah. This becomes tenuous when we consider that verse 8 describes the Servant dying for the sins of Israel. If we insert Israel into this verse we have Israel dying for the sins of Israel. This is further illustrated by the following verse (9) that would require Israel would be innocent of sin and therefor suffering unjustly.
Verse 8: “For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.”
Verse 9: “He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.But he was buried like a criminal …” Continue reading “The Death and Resurrection of the Messiah Predicted by the Old Testament”
There is something resident within us that wants perfection. We see it in our mind as we observe things around us that are not perfect. We feel uncomfortable when entering a hotel room that is old, dirty, and unkempt. We feel displeasure when lied to. There is a righteous anger that mounts upon our heart when we see or hear about a child or elderly person that has been abused.
Perfection is an ideal that we all want, yet accept that we can never apprehend. Why is it that we earnestly desire perfection and feel disappointed, angry, or perplexed when every human being we meet is incapable of this perfection?
There is an organization called: S.E.T.I., “Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,” a group, located in Berkley California, who are dedicated to probing the Universe for signs of intelligent life.
On the night of August 15, 1977, at the Ohio State University “Big Ear” Radio Telescope Observatory, Jerry Ehman was searching the skies for an alien signal. The observations he made on that night were recorded on a printout that has been preserved until today. Continue reading “Palm Sunday: The Arrival of the Messiah”
There is a curious paradox that is presented in the pages of the Bible that a great majority of people have not understood. Jesus described a physical birth that every person will experience; and a second spiritual birth that is necessary in order to obtain eternal life. Jesus said that because of our sin and sin nature, we are all already under the condemnation of God and dead in our sins.[1] Once we understand who Jesus is and the reason that He came into the world, we have the opportunity to be born again a second time. At that moment, our spirit within that was formerly dead, comes alive. Continue reading “Born Once; Die Twice. Born Twice; Die Once”
If you are a Christian, you were born extremely rich. The day that you first trusted in Jesus as your Savior, you began a new life as the son or daughter of the Greatest King who has ever lived. Possessing great riches is not enough to live a truly satisfying and purposeful life. We must also gain knowledge and wisdom; to know how to live. In order to fully understand the riches that are ours, we must read the bankbook and discover what God has deposited into our account because of what Jesus has accomplished for us.[1]
Many years ago, one of the world’s richest men, discovered a list of priceless items that he wanted for his collection. He dispatched his trusted employee to travel the world until he found these items and bring them back to his home. After a long and exhausting search, the items were discovered—all in the same location. The employee returned to his boss and reported: “Everyone of these treasures that you were seeking, are already yours. They have been in your warehouse for quite some time.”
In Christ, everything that we are searching for in our life, is already ours…
One of the many treasures that we possess, is the certain knowledge of God’s power and ability to order and bless our lives. There is no greater place to learn about the Lord’s capacity to direct our lives, than seeing this capability demonstrated by the fulfillment of His prophetic word. Many people misunderstand the purpose of these prophecies of the Bible as an attempt to predict the future. This was not the intended purpose of God’s prophetic word. The Lord was desiring that every person might know Him and be able to trust in what He has promised us. How better to prove this ability than to speak about things that are yet to come; and fulfill His word, with extreme precision. Continue reading “The Secular Record of History, Proves That Jesus Rose From The Dead”
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Today, we are witnessing the unfolding of phenomenal events around the world:
One: a nuclear proliferation treaty with Iran, which greatly jeopardizes Israel.
Two: an American president who is perceived as weak and unwilling to take any serious military action to stop Russia or Iran.
Three: Russian president, Putin, who is using this weakness of president Obama, to move into the middle east.
Four: Increased violence in Israel by Palestinians that may lead to a new war in the Middle East.
These events will only spell certain danger for Israel. The prime minister of Israel; Benjamin Netanyahu, understands this threat. It is certain that he is near the time when he will order a pre emptive strike against Iran. This will draw Russian into the conflict, and likely begin the events of God and Magog, which are destined to be fulfilled just prior to, or just after, the beginning of the seven year Tribulation period. This event may, in fact, be the reason that a seven year peace treaty is signed between Israel and the surrounding nations. This seven year treaty will be the beginning of the seven year Tribulation. Before this event takes place, Jesus will return to remove His church from the world.
We are living during some of the most exciting days of human history. Although the world is not looking for the return of Jesus, we who know Him and love Him, are ever-watching for His soon return. When we see events that are taking place around the world and compare these things with what the Bible states about the last days, we are struck by the similarities.
“Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive
when he returns, we can live with him forever.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:10
Concerning the return of Jesus to the earth, here is what we know for certain: He came before, He promised to come again.
History is replete with many myths. There is no shortage of colorful people who have made grandiose claims over the years of recorded history. There are many critics of the Bible today who claim that Jesus is a fictitious person who never existed. When we examine the actual facts of antiquity, we find that Jesus not only existed and is a genuine person, history has left us a tremendous amount of proof for His existence. The detailed records of the Roman Senate, as well as the Jewish Talmud, both contain specific references to Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. These records are not complimentary nor sympathetic parties, but adversarial and hostile witnesses who describe Jesus as a false prophet, a disrupter of the peace, and the cause of great uprising in Israel during that period of history. The Romans and the Jews had no desire to preserve any record of Jesus life or death, yet this is precisely what they accomplished by their antagonistic comments in their preserved documents.
The records of the Romans and the Jews, both reveal that Jesus was in Jerusalem during the same period of time that the New Testament narrative places Him there.
Near the end of His ministry, Jesus promised His followers that He would come again when everything was ready. There were many events of world history that needed to take place first, before He could return. When theses things were completed, He said that He would come again.
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. —John 14:2-3
When we speak of the “Last Days,” we should understand that this period of time began with the arrival of Jesus on the earth the first time. The last days will be concluded by “The Day of the Lord,” during the Tribulation period. The day of the Lord is specifically detailed in the book of Revelation chapters 6-19.
Some of the confusion over the timing of the Rapture has resulted from a lack of knowledge regarding the term: “The Day of the Lord.” This term is always used to describe the return of the Messiah to the earth, at the end of Daniel’s seventieth week; the seven year tribulation period. In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, Paul describes a very specific event in which He states that this information he is giving us, came directly from Jesus (by the word of the Lord).
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. —1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
The Greek word for “caught up” is Harpazo.
Harpazo means “to be snatched away or taken away by force.”[1] It is a word in the Greek language that is used to describe a general who takes hostages by force. Harpazo is also used in the New Testament as translated—by force.
When this verse was translated from Greek into Latin, the word that the translators used here for “caught up” was the Latin word “Rapturo,” which is where the English word “Rapture” originated from. This is why we use the word “Rapture” to describe the event of Jesus’ return for His church, as described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
“We’ll be ‘caught up’ (Rapturo) with them (together with our loved ones) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Once again, this event is not the Second Coming of Jesus that is commonly spoken of. At the Rapture, we meet Jesus in the air, the atmosphere above the earth; not “tera firma,” earth itself.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. —1 Thessalonians 4:17
Jesus is coming for His church prior to His return at His second coming, when He will be returning with His church.
Notes:
[1] New Testament Greek Lexicon, Strong’s Number: 726
David’s description of the Shepherd in the 23rd Psalm who cares for and loves His sheep, is a fitting illustration of the Messiah’s love and care for His sheep, who He came to redeem.
Sheep are undoubtably the dumbest and most helpless of all animals. Unable to care for themselves, they will soon perish without the attentive care of a good shepherd. Sheep cannot find food or water for themselves; they must be led to green pastures and cool waters. Very often sheep will fall and turn upside down with their hooves pointing into the air. Unless the Shepherd comes to their rescue and turns them right side up, they will die. David referred to this frequent event as being “cast down.”
Psalms 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
On four occasions, David asks of his own soul; why are you cast down?
Psalms 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
David had apparently seen the sheep many times in this precarious position with their feet pointed up into the air—hopeless, and helpless unless he came as their shepherd and turned them right side up. This reminded him of those times when his own heart was discourage—turned upside down, and God came as his Shepherd to give him hope and help. Continue reading “How Greatly You Are Loved”
The stunning accuracy in the Lord’s prediction of the precise events of Tyre as told by Ezekiel–were fulfilled to the letter by the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar, and later by Alexander the Great.[1] After thirteen years of unsuccessful offensives by Nebuchadnezzar against Tyre, Alexander destroyed the city in one of the most brilliant engineering feats of all history. Taking the rubble onshore from the former old city of Tyre, Alexander build a causeway out to the new city of Tyre one half mile offshore, and besieged and captured the once impregnable city.[2]
Amongst the incredible prophecies of the Old Testament which Jesus fulfilled–there are a few which defy logic. How could a person engineer the events of their own death so that a normal procedure of that death would be omitted?
The Old Testament prophecy of the Passover Lamb–which Jesus perfectly fulfilled:
Numbers 9:12 “They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.”
How Jesus orchestrated this event in the narrative of the New Testament:
John 19:31-33 “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.”
Happenstance–or a supernatural engineering of events? Continue reading ““Not One of His Bones Shall Be Broken””
