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What do you do when your faith feels lifeless and everything around you feels spiritually dry? In Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, God reveals that structure and effort alone can't bring life - only His Spirit can. This message traces the story from creation to new creation, showing how the same breath that formed humanity and raised Jesus now gives life to God's people today.
Have you ever felt stuck at the spiritual shoreline, hesitant to venture deeper with God? In Ezekiel's powerful vision of a river flowing from God's temple, Pastor Randy unveils how this ancient image speaks to our modern spiritual journey. Through vivid imagery of waters rising from ankle-deep to swimming depth, we discover God's invitation to move beyond comfortable Christianity into transformative faith. Whether you're testing the waters of faith or ready to dive deeper, this message reveals how God's river brings life wherever it flows—restoring dead places, multiplying growth, and bringing healing to every area it touches. Don't miss this compelling exploration of what it means to truly trust God beyond the safety of the shore. Watch or listen now to discover your next step deeper into God's purposes!Thank you for tuning into today's message at Bold City Church! We pray it encourages you in your faith. Share with a friend who could use these words, too! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @boldcitychurchDownload our app on iOS and Android
Don't Bow to the Beast (1) (audio) David Eells 3/4/26 I want to talk to you about refusing to bow to the Beast, but we will first go over a little background. Many Christians are deceived about the Bride and the leadership of the church. We know God is raising up a new leadership, a Man-child ministry in these days that's going to be the first fruits of those to walk in the steps of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 16 that He was going to come again as a baby, a Man-child, born to a woman. We read in Revelation 12 that the Man-child is born at the beginning of the Tribulation Period and that the Man-child leads the woman through the wilderness. In studying the Book of Esther, we've learned that “Mordecai” in Hebrew means “little man” and in Persian means “little boy.” Persia was the Beast kingdom that he was under at the time. Both of those mean “Manchild.” In Esther 2:5, it says that Mordecai was in Shushan, the palace. He wasn't just a commoner; he was a ruler, somebody under the king who probably had to do with ruling over God's people. In Esther 2:19-20, it says that he also sat in the “king's gate,” which was the place of government, where the rulers of the conquered nations gathered before the king. Mordecai raised up Esther as the Bride and he “nourished her,” the original word says. He prepared her for this time and he continued to guide her steps all the way through the Book of Esther, all the way through their tribulation. Also, Hegai, the king's chamberlain, was very pleased with Esther, and she required nothing but what Hegai provided. And we need nothing but what the Holy Spirit provides us with. (Rom.8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. This Bride and Man-child are the “sons of God” for whom the creation has been awaiting, the fullness of the sonship of Jesus Christ manifested in His people. In fact, the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon, the Bride who was chosen from among all the fair virgins of the kingdom, was called his “perfect one” (Song of Solomon 5:2). God is going to perfect, to mature His people. Esther was chosen out of all the fair virgins of the kingdom “because the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her Queen” (Est.2:17). But even then she was under the guidance of Mordecai and in verse (20) … Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. So we see that the job of the Man-child is to raise up the Bride and guide her. The Man-child is the head of the Bride, much like the False Prophet is the head of the Harlot. There is a corporate body of apostate people, called the Harlot, and the head of that body is its so-called Christian leadership, which is leading it astray. The Bride is Jerusalem and David was the head of Jerusalem. When Jesus came, He sat upon the throne of David and He was the head of the Bride. John the Baptist said, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29), as he saw Jesus leading the disciples. That's a short background, somewhat, and there's much more to the Book of Esther. (Est.3:1) After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. These princes were the people who ruled over the kingdoms over which Ahasuerus ruled, and among those princes was Mordecai, who was over the people of God. Now we see that Mordecai and Esther are two entities whom God uses to save the rest of the people of God from destruction by the Beast. The Beast that was to destroy them is represented here by Haman, who is a corporate body, just as Mordecai represents a corporate body of people. Why would God advance Haman above the other princes? Because throughout history, God has raised up a Beast kingdom over His people in times when His people were in apostasy. Why is God calling His people out of the Harlot? (Rev.18:4) … Come forth, my people, out of her…. It's because there is such an apostasy in the Church, and they've turned away from the Word; they've gone after religions. They are in apostasy and God is calling His people out of that. This is what the Tribulation is for. Every time God's people have become a harlot, He raised up a Beast to come against them: from Egypt, to Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and now the end-time Rome. We're seeing a worldwide revived Roman Empire being raised up again for the purpose of sanctifying His people and bringing them to repentance. The raising up of Haman, with his authority to destroy the people of God, is what brings God's people to repentance. (Est.3:2) And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate (That's the place where government was, where all the representatives of the nations saw the face of the King.), bowed down, and did reverence to Haman (the Beast); for the king had so commanded concerning him. In Rom 13 we are told to submit to the powers that be. He had given Haman authority over God's people. People don't think that the Lord gives authority to evil in the earth, but He does, and it's for the purpose of bringing repentance. (Job2:10) … What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil… God does bring evil against His people as a chastening and a method to bring them to repentance. So all the King's servants who were in the King's gate bowed down to the Beast, But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence (Est.3:2). I would say bowing down with reverence should be given nly to God. However, submitting to man's kingdoms is necessary to obey the Lord. This is something we find all through the Scriptures. Mordecai, as a type of the man-child, refused to bow down to the Beast. We see the example of Joseph, who was sold into bondage by the Harlot, Potiphar's wife, and came to the position of authority like Mordecai. We see the example of Jesus, who didn't bow down to the Beast; and Moses, who didn't bow down; and Daniel – all these are types of the Man-child, who refused to bow down to the Beast. (3) Then the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? (4) Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. Who is this accusing Mordecai to the Beast? You remember throughout history how the apostate brethren of Joseph persecuted and came against him and sold him into the hand of the Beast; and the apostate brethren of Jesus, the leadership of apostate Israel, accused Him to the Beast. We're seeing the same thing here; history keeps on repeating. We're not talking about rebellion against Constitutional, political authority here. We're talking about rebellion in terms of not bowing down religiously, of not worshipping the Beast as God. Today, there is a spirit of worship of the Beast by Christians, and there has been for many centuries. Patriotism, pledging allegiance, all these things that saints in past days would never have thought of doing, God's people today think nothing of. They don't understand that there's only one Kingdom – the Kingdom of God – which we should be representing. (5) And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. (6) But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. Notice that the head over all God's true people is represented here by Mordecai. In the rest of the story, Mordecai and Esther save all of these Jews from the Beast. Does that mean that all of what we loosely call Christians are going to be saved from the Beast? No, but the true Jews, those who are circumcised in heart, not in flesh, are all going to be saved. All Israel (Romans 11:26) is going to be saved – everybody who is grafted into the olive tree called “all Israel.” They'll be saved from the Beast in one form or another. We see here that Mordecai is one of the princes who sat in the king's gate to represent his people. He was among the other princes who were accusing him. In Ezekiel 17, I've shared a revelation the Lord gave me concerning the Beast of D.S. Babylon, who has brought God's people into bondage. We know that when Babylon conquered the nations, it not only brought apostate Israel into bondage, but they brought people like Daniel and the Hebrews, who were appointed people of God in their time, under the thumb of the Beast kingdom. When we talk about Mordecai, we're talking about the good leadership, but what about the bad leadership that accused him? (Eze.17:2) Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel; (3) and say, Thus saith the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar: (4) he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants. This represents the Great Eagle of America which is the head of D.S. Babylon, bringing the leadership of God's people into bondage. In the natural, it's happening; natural Israel is more and more under Kazarian D.S. dominion. Something else is also happening, and that is, that spiritual new testament Israel said to be circumcised in heart is being brought more and more under the dominion of the latest Beast government. Media-Persia of Cyrus/Trump is conquering Babylon, thank God. In fact, as we keep reading, it says (11) Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, (12) Say now to the rebellious house…. Why is it that God is permitting Beast governments to bring under their authority the spiritual people of God and the “letter” people of God, the natural Jews? It is because they are rebellious houses. The letter Israel is a type and shadow for spiritual Israel. They've rebelled against the covenant that God has given. (12) Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Babylon. So the king and the princes of both spiritual and natural Israel have been under the dominion of Babylon. What makes a beast a beast? The flesh is in control over the spiritual. The Alliance of nations under Cyrus/Trump is about to be a GESARA covenant. Although we will benefit from this covenant to rebuild the Kingdom of God, it will not last. The next seven verses go on to talk about a covenant that was broken in the middle, exactly as we would expect if it were Daniel's 70th-week covenant of the end-time broken in the middle. God also rebukes them for breaking His covenant and then He talks about another leadership that He's raising up. We just saw the apostate leadership, the king and the princes, brought under the dominion of Babylon, but He talks about a new leadership here. (22) Thus saith the Lord God: I will also take of the l7ofty top of the cedar (An evergreen type of eternal life), and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain. That's referring to the mountain representing the Kingdom of God, spiritual Mount Zion. This was the same description (cropping off the topmost twigs) that God gave in verse four here, referring to the apostate leadership of Israel/Church, but now the Lord speaks of a type of the Israel/Church's new leadership. So, once again, He is talking about a new leadership, “the topmost twig.” (23) In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shade of the branches thereof shall they dwell. (24) And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it. God is bringing down a false leadership over the true people of God, and He's raising up a new leadership. This is just as it was in the days of Jesus and Moses, when the apostate leadership persecuted the Man-child Jesus and then His disciples. In the same way, in the end-time, God is going to bring down the high and the lofty and raise up the lowly to take that position who will walk in the steps of the Lord Jesus, the Man-child of Revelation 12. He came as a Lamb but now as a Lion. We just had a prophecy of the coming Lion, who come manifested in His Man-child body. So we see here two groups in captivity. In the time of Esther, there were two groups in captivity, and the one persecuted the other, just as the False Prophet in Israel, the Sanhedrin, persecuted the Man-child ministry of Jesus. We see the same thing with Mordecai and these servants of the king who accused him to the Beast. Jesus was accused to the Beast by the corporate False Prophet of Israel. Also, we can go to Daniel and see that when Babylon took God's people into captivity, there was the good thrown in with the bad. (Dan.1:1) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (the “Great Eagle” in Eze 17.) unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. (2) And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god. (3) And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in [certain] of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles; (4) youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace…. There it is! These are people whom God is raising up who are spotless and blemishless, and they're not equated with the Jewish king and his princes, who were also taken captive. That's the way it was with Daniel. (6) Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (7) And the prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave [the name of] Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, [of] Shadrach; and to Mishael, [of] Meshach; and to Azariah, [of] Abednego. Next, these four had to be proven because they wouldn't be defiled by eating the king's food. They wouldn't partake of the Babylonish king's dainties and, since they wouldn't be defiled, they also didn't bow down to the image of the Beast. It's important to know that what we eat is what we are, and if we partake of a beastly doctrine that enables our flesh to rule, we will become a member of the Beast. Our flesh is a member of the Beast kingdom – it is an enemy of God; it's at enmity with your spirit. Partaking of fleshly doctrines is partaking of the Beast's dainties. Anyway, there was nothing but good said about these four Hebrews. (17) Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. … (20) And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm. (21) And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. What we see in the Book of Daniel – twice, in chapters 3 and 6 – is exactly what we see concerning the accusations against Mordecai, the Man-child, by the other leaders. What happened in Jesus' day, when He was accused by the other rabbis, the apostates (and accused to the Roman Beast, too, by the way), we see also in Daniel. The three Hebrews represented the people who would not bow down. Daniel was obviously in leadership, but the three Hebrews refused to bow down to the image of the Beast in Daniel chapter three. It was the image of the Beast because it had the number of the Beast. (Dan.3:1) Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore (60 - there's “6”) cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits (there's “6-6”): he set it up in the plain of Dura…. “Dura” means “a circle,” which reminds us of the earth, and the Gematria for “the earth” or “the world” is 600. So there you have a representation of the world adding up to 666. We're talking about the image of the Beast, and it's made up of, if we look carefully in chapter two, all the peoples and all the kingdoms, one right after another. Now notice who was commanding the people to bow down to this image: (4) Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages…. The word “herald” is the only Greek word in this text, and it's the New Testament word for “preacher.” So we have apostate preachers over the people of God, commanding them to bow down to the image of the Beast. This is like pledging allegiance. Not everybody bowed down, just as we saw with Mordecai. The other servants of the king who stood in the king's gate bowed down. This was the leadership of the apostate people of God, or the False Prophet. They bowed down to Haman, but Mordecai, the Man-child, refused. We see that they commanded them to bow down, and the people all bowed down, except for the three Hebrews. (8) Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews. They were accused because they refused to bow down to the image of the Beast. Now, God saved them and brought a witness through them of His power to save, even in the fiery furnace that was heated seven times hotter, as in the seven years of the Tribulation Period. “Times” is used in Revelation 12:14, for instance, as in “a time, times, and half a time,” speaking of years. So “seven times” in this text speaks of the Tribulation Period. The three Hebrews refused to bow down. They served the king, obeyed and submitted to the government of the king, but when it came to bowing down, they refused. The world is going to demand this; they're going to make their generic god, and everyone is going to have to serve it and be at peace with others and not witness to others and so on. We have another witness of Daniel himself, who was a type of the Man-child. Daniel refused to bow down, and the same situation happened. There were others with him, who were leaders, who accused him before the Beast: (Dan.6:1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; (2) and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one (“Throughout the whole kingdom” could be an application of what we loosely call “the Kingdom of God.”); that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. (3) Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. (4) Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Praise God! Those were the false prophets who corresponded to the false prophets in Jesus' day, who sought occasion for false witness against Jesus, and since He had committed no sin, they had to falsely accuse Him. It was the same with Daniel here. The head of the Harlot was the false prophets and false leaders who were accusing Jesus, How is the faithful city become a harlot! … (Isa.1:21). God's people had become a harlot because they had apostatized and were committing fornication with the world. They were receiving the seed of the world, the seed of the Beast kingdom. (Dan.6:5) Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. (6) Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. (7) All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel only bowed down to his God; he only asked of his God; he wasn't going to treat the king or the Beast as a god. (8) Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (9) Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. (10) And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem;) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. So he only knelt down to the God of Israel. He refused to bow down to the image of the Beast. (11) Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. (12) Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (13) Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. (14) Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him. Notice that it wasn't the Beast that wanted to destroy the Man-child; it was his own brothers. Joseph's brothers were the ones who sold him into bondage to the Gentiles. And, accordingly, Pilate wanted nothing to do with crucifying what he called Jesus, this righteous man (Mat.27:24). The apostates twisted his arm, exactly as they are doing here. We are headed to the exact same time, when the false leadership over God's people is going to be used to persecute the true leadership. Although all of them are going to be under the same Beast government rule, the leadership of the apostate people of God, just as we saw with Mordecai, is going to bow down to the Beast. Amazingly, people whom you and I have called Christians and thought were Christians will be part of a great falling away. The 10 northern tribes worshipped the image of the beast and were part of a great falling away. They bowed down to the golden calf, or the image of a beast. Now the same thing is happening to what we loosely call Christianity; they have built and bowed down to their golden calf. It's a work of man's hands. It has nothing to do with God or His Word that He created in the very beginning, as far as Christianity is concerned. It's something that they have made themselves, and because it's their own, they're going to want to protect it and defend it and their livelihood along with it. The Man-child ministry is going to be a threat to that because of the truths that will come forth, just as they came out of Jesus. The Bible spoke about Jesus, how He opened His mouth, and things that were hidden from the foundation of the world were revealed. Things that have been hidden are going to be revealed, but also, things that have been hidden in God's people are going to be revealed by this great falling away and by the apostates' siding with the Beast against their brethren. They are Judases, sons of perdition, false prophets. The point here in Daniel is that he still refused to do anything but bow down only to the real, true God, not to just any ruler or generic god, not even to any god that they might call “Jesus.” Many religious images of Jesus are not Him at all. When we read the Bible, we see the true Jesus and His crucified life. That contrasts with what we see now in Christianity. Will the current leadership continue to bring a reproach on Christianity by living so lavishly and fleecing so many people? That's not walking in the steps of Jesus; that's not the crucified life. These people defend that lifestyle as spiritual, and it's a shame. How many airplanes can a person use? God is sending the Beast not only because of the leadership, but also because of the people who don't understand that they should not support people who do such things. The crucified life that Jesus and His disciples walked was a simple life without all the accoutrements of Babylon. They didn't have the fancy temple and the big synagogues, but they had the truth. That was part of the trial. There is a great apostasy, a rebellion, in the church. They're in love with the world, and the things of the world, and the Bible says, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1Jn.2:15). God is proving just who it is who loves Him. The Bride, in the Song of Solomon, ran fanatically after the Bridegroom, so much so that she surprised the other queens, virgins, and concubines. They thought that one Jesus was just as good as another. But the other Jesus' are made by man. They give Jesus a character that's contrary to Scripture, a contrary doctrine, and so on. Well, Daniel wouldn't bow down, so he had to be thrown into the lion's den and, as you know, God preserved him. God sent His angel. (Dan.6:18) Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. (19) Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. (20) And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? (21) Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. (22) My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. (23) Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God. (24) And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den. That's very similar to Revelation 17:16, where the Beast devours the Harlot. The apostate leaders who accused Jesus were then destroyed, and as we know, there's a great and terrible Day of the Lord coming, when that's exactly what's going to happen. The Beast is going to devour and destroy the Harlot and burn her flesh with fire. So the Beast was basically made a believer in the God of Daniel, just as in the time of Nebuchadnezzar; and, by the way, Daniel chapter seven speaks of the end-time. We know the timing of Daniel's Tribulation because he gets a revelation of the four Beasts, and from his time, which was the time of Babylon onward, is when his revelation started. His vision didn't start with the Egyptian and Assyrian Beasts, which were two that came before Babylon. The Beasts of Revelation, however, start with those two that came before Babylon. Daniel mentions the four Beasts that lead up to the end-time Beast. There was the lion with eagle's wings (Babylon) that was conquered by the Media-Persian bear, then by Greece, then Rome. He was prophesying again of the image of the Beast. In today's end-times, these entities are still with us. The Lion with Eagle's wings is the British Empire, and the Eagle's wings are the present head of the British Empire and America. This is the Great Eagle, which was then and will be today conquered by the Medo-Persian Bear. So not only were these historic, from Daniel's day on, but they're also an end-time revelation of what's going to happen. We find that this last Beast that he talks about, which was Rome, devours the whole earth. The last Beast, he tells us, was headed up by 10 horns, exactly like Revelation 17. The 10 horns are the ten kings that rule over the Beast kingdom. Among those 10 horns comes up a little horn (Daniel 7:8) that's different, it says, from the rest of the horns. That little horn is a ruler among rulers that will be diverse from all of the 10, and it is the corporate False Prophet. (Dan.7:21) … The same horn made war with the saints…. There it is again! They'll make war on the Man-child and the saints, which is exactly what we see in the rest of the Book of Esther. (Dan.7:23) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth…. We have had the United Nations, whose place is being taken by the Alliance of nations. The whole earth is inside the body of the last Beast. GESARA Law was signed unanimously by all 209 countries in 2015. Remember that in Daniel's vision of the legs of the image of the beast, Rome lasted from the thighs all the way down to the toes – the iron that was mixed with the clay. It is different in these days because now it has covered; it has devoured, the whole earth. And among those 10 kings is the little horn that comes up to make war on the saints. (Dan.7:20) ... Before which three fell, even that [horn] that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. (21) I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; (22) until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. So we see the Beast has been given authority to crucify Christ once more. It says that he “prevailed against them.” This False Prophet and the Harlot beneath the False Prophet have been given authority to crucify the flesh of the saints. It doesn't necessarily mean that all will die; that's not the point here. The point is the crucifixion of the flesh of the saints. The Church is in rebellion because the flesh rules. The Beast, in a spiritual way, is ruling over them already because their flesh rules over them already. There has to be a crucifixion for us to bear fruit and come into the Kingdom; therefore, God is raising up this whole worldwide kingdom to come against His people. The little horn represents a religious entity because it's different from the other horns. They are corporate bodies of secular rulers, but the little horn is a corporate body of religious rulers who will bring God's people to their cross, much like they did to Jesus in His day. This is the seed of that same Sanhedrin that's being raised up in our day, no different from the earlier one. The Sanhedrin in natural Israel has been raised up again, and the Sanhedrin in spiritual Israel has been raised up again, too, to crucify the body of Christ again. God just repeats history in larger and larger ways. The spiritual man is not going to be conquered, and the quicker we learn to submit, the more we will be like Daniel, in that the lions' mouths will be closed. The Beast will not be able to devour Daniel. The fire of the fiery furnace, heated seven times hotter, will not be able to devour the three Hebrews because they have refused to eat the king's dainties and they refused to bow down to the image of the Beast, just like Daniel. What we see in Esther is clearly a prophecy of the end-time. The persecution that was raised up against Mordecai, who was over all God's people of the kingdom, will be repeated in our day. Remember, the Beast decided to kill the people of Mordecai. The people of Mordecai, of whom we are speaking, include the Bride, but just as Jerusalem is only part of the Kingdom, the Bride is only part of the people of Mordecai. Not everybody in the Church is going to follow the Man-child. All the righteous Jews in the rest of the kingdom will be delivered from the Beast through the righteous leadership of Mordecai, the Man-child, and Esther, the Bride – a leadership that refused to bow down and a people that refused to bow down, respectively. The true people of God will not bow down. The rest will worship the image of the Beast; they will bow down. God is sending a separation in the form of this image of the Beast. The people who have no faith in their God, no commitment to their God, will find it easier to justify themselves and bow down to the image of the Beast, even change their doctrines, if necessary, and submit to the Beast kingdom. The true people of God are represented by the people of Mordecai, who discover that this leadership is truly the right leadership, like the people who followed Jesus in His day. This represented a people from among natural Israel who were a first fruits to follow Jesus diligently, just as it will be in our day. (Joh.3:29) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom…. Even if a person didn't come up to the standard of the Bride which Jesus raised up, He sent them forth unto every place He was about to go to fulfill the Great Commission. The apostles raised up the five-fold ministry as the leadership for the rest of spiritual Israel, just as the latter-day apostles will for the Church. We have some great days coming, some wondrous days. In Esther 3:7-8, it is also revealed that God's people had been rebellious, and that's the reason this is coming today. The best thing we can do is learn to serve the true and living God. Don't bow down to the Beast.
In Ezekiel's first vision, he looks up into heaven and he sees a throne and there was one on the throne. He sees the preincarnate Jesus and immediately he falls on his face, but the hand of the Lord was upon him. Grab your Bible, turn to Ezekiel 1, and follow along with Pastor Mike.
In Ezekiel 42:15–20, the temple's outer boundary is measured on all four sides to separate the sanctuary from the profane.God establishes clear boundaries around His holiness.A call to reverence, separation, and guarding His presence.
Scripture Reference: Ezekiel 10:1-4, 43:1-5 Visions of glory are a powerful human motivator. In Ezekiel’s prophecy, God's glory leaves because of sin, yet returns in promise. In Christ, God's glory takes up residence not in a temple of stone but in His incarnate body—and through Him, in us. Sermon Points: Glory Examined Glory Lost Glory Regained
GET JANET WILLIS'S BOOK: https://amzn.to/3YqWCSs Ezekiel's city and John's city: • Ezekiel's City DESCRIBED as John's New Jer… SUPPORT OUR FREE CONTENT: https://www.alankurschner.com/partner/ GET OUR BOOKS: https://amzn.to/43pbG6b GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES: http://eepurl.com/bCU7qT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: / @bibleprophecyanswers Why There Is No Temple in the New Jerusalem City This episode of Bible Prophecy Answers tackles a focused question many readers of Revelation ask: Why is there no temple inside the New Jerusalem? The host frames the discussion around Revelation 21:22, where John describes the climactic city of God's future kingdom and makes a startling observation—he “saw no temple” in the city. Rather than treating that detail as symbolic filler, the episode argues it is theologically intentional and prophetically consistent with the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel's end-times vision. From the start, the host notes that the series is exploring themes like new creationism, premillennialism, the New Heaven and New Earth, the millennium, and the New Jerusalem. The goal is not to avoid prophecy details but to interpret them carefully—“nothing more or nothing less”—because God includes details for a reason. Revelation 21:22: The Lord God and the Lamb Are the Temple The core text is Revelation 21:22, where John says the New Jerusalem contains no temple, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” That statement becomes the foundation for the episode's primary answer: Why no temple? Because a temple is not needed in the New Jerusalem. In the biblical storyline, a temple functions as a sacred space that mediates God's presence among His people. But in the New Jerusalem, God's presence is immediate and direct. The city does not require a separate structure to represent or localize God's dwelling, because God Himself—Father and Son—fulfills what the temple always pointed to. This interpretation highlights a major biblical theme: the movement from limited access to God's presence toward full access, culminating in the restored and permanent fellowship between God and humanity. Ezekiel's Vision Supports the “No Temple in the City” Detail A major argument in the transcript is that Ezekiel and John are not contradictory; instead, Ezekiel provides a background framework that helps explain John's description. Ezekiel separates the temple from the city The host emphasizes that Ezekiel distinguishes the temple from the city. In Ezekiel's prophetic tour, the angelic guide shows a structured sacred region that contains multiple elements in relationship—but not identical location. This matters because it supports the idea that even if a temple exists in Ezekiel's vision, it is not necessarily inside the city itself, which aligns with John seeing “no temple in it” (in the city). In other words, the “no temple” detail is not a problem to solve by dismissing Ezekiel or spiritualizing John. Instead, the episode proposes a straightforward reading: temple and city are distinct but near each other. The Holy Allotment: Ezekiel 45 and the End-Time Sacred Plateau One of the transcript's most important concepts is the Holy Allotment (referencing Ezekiel 45:1–7). Ezekiel describes a large square portion of land—notably described as being on a plateau—set apart as uniquely holy. Within this Holy Allotment, Ezekiel's vision includes both sacred and civic components. The city structure and its tribal gates Ezekiel describes a city-like structure with three gates on each side, named for the twelve tribes of Israel. This echoes the broader biblical theme of covenant identity and God's faithful restoration of His people. The host notes that the city aspect in Ezekiel often gets overshadowed by the heavy attention given to the temple measurements, but it should not—Ezekiel's city has a function, and that function ties into end-time governance and God's dwelli...
In Ezekiel 34:1–10, God delivers a powerful warning to the spiritual leaders of His people. These verses reveal how false shepherds fed themselves instead of caring for the flock, leaving God's sheep broken, scattered, and vulnerable.
In Ezekiel 33:1–20, God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman over Israel, calling each believer to awareness, repentance, and responsibility. This chapter reminds us that hearing God's Word is not enough — obedience and heartfelt repentance are what determine life or death. Today, we reflect on how these truths apply to our daily walk and the coming of the Lord.
In Ezekiel 32:17–32, the vision moves from earthly downfall to eternal consequence. Pharaoh and Egypt descend into the realm of the dead, joining Assyria, Elam, Edom, and other once-feared nations. Those who spread terror in the land of the living now lie in silence, bearing their shame. This powerful passage reminds us that pride, power, and violence cannot escape God's judgment. In the end, all nations must answer before the Lord of heaven and earth.
In Ezekiel 31, God speaks to Pharaoh through the rise and fall of Assyria, comparing a once-mighty empire to a towering cedar in Lebanon. Nourished by God, admired by nations, and unmatched in beauty, the cedar grew tall — but its heart grew proud. When greatness forgot its Source, judgment followed.
In Ezekiel 32:1–16, God commands a lament for Pharaoh and Egypt—not a warning, but a funeral song. Once powerful, feared, and admired, Egypt is brought low by the sovereign hand of God. Through vivid imagery of darkness, silence, and downfall, this passage reminds us that no nation or ruler stands above the Lord. Pride collapses, glory fades, but God remains supreme. This episode calls us to reflect, humble ourselves, and recognize the Lord before silence falls.
In Ezekiel chapter 30, God declares the coming Day of the LORD against Egypt and all who trusted in her strength. This chapter exposes the danger of pride, false security, and misplaced trust. Egypt's power, idols, and alliances collapse under divine judgment, reminding us that human strength is temporary, but God alone reigns forever.
In Ezekiel 29:17–21, God reveals a hidden truth behind world events—nothing done in His purpose goes unnoticed. Even a pagan king, unaware of God's plan, becomes an instrument in His hands. Babylon's long and exhausting labor against Tyre is acknowledged by the Lord, and Egypt is given as wages. Yet in the midst of global judgment, God speaks hope over Israel, promising renewed strength and restored voice. This passage reminds us that God rules history, rewards unseen labor, and remains faithful to His people—so that all may know He is the LORD.
There are several passages in the Old Testament that clearly indicate animal sacrifice will be re-instituted during the millennial kingdom. Some passages mention it in passing as the topic of the millennial kingdom is discussed, passages like Isaiah 56:6-8; Zechariah 14:16; and Jeremiah 33:15-18. The passage that is the most extensive, giving the greatest detail, is Ezekiel 43:18-46:24. It should be noted that this is part of a greater passage dealing with the millennial kingdom, a passage that begins with Ezekiel 40. In Ezekiel 40, the Lord begins to give details of the temple that will exist during the millennial kingdom, a temple that dwarfs all other temples previously built, even Herod's temple that was quite large, which existed during the earthly ministry of Christ.
In Ezekiel 29:1–16, God speaks against Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt—a powerful empire that claimed glory for what God alone had given. Through striking imagery, the Lord exposes pride, false security, and misplaced trust. Egypt, once confident in its strength and the life-giving Nile, is humbled and brought low, yet not destroyed without purpose. This passage reminds us that nations rise and fall, alliances fail, but the Lord alone is sovereign. When human pride claims God's glory, He intervenes so that all may know: He is the LORD.
In Ezekiel 28:1–10, God confronts the ruler of Tyre for a heart lifted up in pride. This passage reveals how wisdom, wealth, and success can deceive a person into taking God's place. Through this warning, we are reminded that no human authority can replace the sovereignty of God.
On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/09/25), Hank shares his thoughts on the coming of Christ in flesh. The reason we rejoice at Christmas is because the baby born to Mary and Joseph was no ordinary child. This baby was the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of Immanuel: “God with us.” Although John's Gospel does not include a narrative of Jesus' birth, the doctrine of the Incarnation is beautifully summed up in his introduction: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The clear testimony of Scripture is that, in the Incarnation, Christ was one person with two natures; fully God and fully man. As Theanthropos, the God-Man, Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life and died a sinner's death to atone, once for all, for the sins of humanity.Hank also answers the following questions:What happens to our soul when we die? What about the spirit? Frank - El Paso, TX (5:27)Can you explain what it means when Jesus says the days will be shortened in Matthew 24:22? Kyle - St. Louis, MO (7:28)Should we continue to observe the Sabbath as Jesus and the apostles did? Raul - Nashville, TN (15:13)Is the story of Jesus copied from stories of Egyptian gods? Paul - Birmingham, AL (18:48)In Ezekiel 29, is the destruction of Egypt something that happened in the past, or will this happen in the future? Lynne - Cheyanne, WY (22:58)
In Ezekiel 37 we see a powerful truth: the bones came to life because the prophet obeyed the command of God and spoke what God told him to say. The breath—the very Spirit of God—came only after the word was spoken in faith. Obedience activates what God has already planned to do. Amos 3:7 reminds us that the Lord does nothing without revealing His plans to His servants. He is still speaking, still revealing, and still calling His people to prophesy His word into dead places. This message calls us to obey even when we don't feel like it, to speak the truth of God when our flesh resists, and to do what God asks without letting our physical condition hold us back. Like the five wise virgins who kept oil in their lamps, we must stay prepared and full of the Spirit. Even on the worst day of your life, learn to worship, pray, and invite the Lord to breathe on what seems lifeless.
This week we kick off our new series, The Gratitude Challenge, by taking a closer look at something we usually overlook, our breath. In Genesis, God breathes life into dust. In Ezekiel's vision, His breath turns dry bones into living people. And in John 20, Jesus breathes His Spirit into His followers.We'll talk about how gratitude starts with things that we might overlook, like the everyday gifts God gives: air in our lungs and the Spirit that fills our hearts. Because what you look for is what you see.Join Pastor Gerber as we explore how learning to see and thank God for the “ordinary” things changes how we see everything. Genesis 2:5-7 Acts 17:22-31 John 20:19-23
Send us a textHave you ever found yourself standing at the edge of what God is asking — hesitant to step deeper?In Ezekiel 47, the prophet sees a river flowing from the temple — ankle-deep, knee-deep, waist-deep — until it becomes a river so deep it can only be swum in. That river represents the Spirit of God, flowing with healing, life, and restoration.In this episode, I'm sharing what it's looked like in my own life to let go of control and trust God enough to step where I can no longer touch the ground. Because the truth is — full surrender isn't just about faith; it's about healing.Maybe God is inviting you, too, to take one more step. To move from standing in safe, shallow waters to being fully immersed in His presence — where healing begins and life flows again.Let's walk together into the river that makes everything come alive.
The breath of God represents His divine power to create, sustain, and renew life. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes into Adam, and humanity becomes alive—every living soul depends on God's Spirit. Job 33:4 and Psalm 104:29–30 emphasize that the same breath that gives life also sustains it; when God withdraws His Spirit, life ends, but when He sends it forth, renewal and creation begin again. God's breath also reveals His truth and power through His Word and Spirit. As written in II Timothy 3:16, all Scripture is “God-breathed,” and carries divine authority to teach, correct, and transform. In Ezekiel 37, God's breath revives dry bones, symbolizing His ability to restore what is spiritually dead. And, when Jesus breathes on His disciples in John 20:22, He imparts the Holy Spirit, giving them new spiritual life and purpose. The breath of God is both the source and sustainer of all life—physical and spiritual. From creation to Pentecost, it is portrayed as the active presence of God working within creation and humanity. This breath continues to give vitality, faith, and renewal to all who receive it.
On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (10/23/25), Hank shares on the meaning of Jesus' ascension into heaven.Hank also answers the following questions:Since Jesus' resurrected body is physical, does that require a location with respect to where He ascended to in heaven? Ron - Austin, TX (3:19)In Ezekiel 1:4-14, is Ezekiel seeing a UFO? Jerry - Calgary, AB (8:12)How should I respond to Christians who are judgmental? Didn't Jesus say that we should not judge? Angie - St. Claire, MO (15:11)Will Christians who smoke go to hell? Angie - St. Claire, MO (16:29)Is it bad to stop going to church and worship at home instead to avoid judgmental people? Angie - St. Claire, MO (19:51)
God did not wait until Jesus' earthly ministry to use parables. In Ezekiel 4-5, we see two visual parables commanded by God to be enacted by the prophet. What were they? Parables of judgment, for God never ignores sin…not even the sin of His own people. Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/preach-the-word/id1449859151?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aSveQvIs7SPHWB4UcmSUQ
2 Chronicles 8 told of Solomon's accomplishments in the administration of his realm. Verses 1-2 tell us that 20 years were spent in the building of Solomon's own house and the Temple of the LORD. Verses 3-10 describe king Solomon's industriousness in providing for his kingdom. Verse 11 states that king Solomon built a separate palace for Pharaoh's daughter who seems to have been the love of his life and the wife spoken of in Psalm 45 and in the Song of Solomon. Verses 12-15 says that at the beginning of his rule Solomon was active in promoting the worship of Yahweh his God. Verse 16 returns to king Solomon's greatest accomplishment in the building of the Almighty's House. Verses 17-18 tell of the great golden wealth that came annually to Solomon. In Ezekiel 43 we have the climax of the prophecy with the King of Glory coming to his temple through the East Gate from whence it had left in chapter 10 verse 4. Also read Psalm 24 which was originally composed by David as it spoke of the glorious arrival of the ark in Jerusalem: see also Psalm 132 and 1 Chronicles 16. It is likely that this Psalm may be sung to celebrate the arrival of the King of Glory via the eastern gate as the temple is inaugurated. This eastern gate of the Sanctuary is reserved for the Messiah. We also have the arrangements for the altar, as there will be animal sacrifices in the kingdom. Animal sacrifices in the Kingdom, pointing backwards to Christ just as those under the Law of Moses had pointed forwards to him. In John 9 we have the 6th sign in the healing of the blind man. The discussion in this chapter is similar to the pattern established in chapter 5. Both the blind man and his parents are persecuted by the rulers for accepting Jesus. The formerly blind man gives a remarkable and compelling testimony that Jesus must be from God. The religious leaders spitefully cast out the man who has dumbfounded them with scriptural logic. Our Lord later finds this man in the temple so as to complete his restoration. These events most likely happened at the feast of the Dedication. John 10 is the magnificent account of Jesus being the door and the Good Shepherd. Christ had come that believers might have life and have it more abundantly verses 10-11. Our Lord by laying down his life for his sheep secured for believers that wonderful hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Once again the theme of chapter 10 contain echoes from and are an elaboration of chapter 5 i.e. that his sheep will recognise his voice. In the purpose of bringing salvation to believers he and his Father are one i.e. united - but our Lord's power is derived from his Father. The Jews reacted to our Lord's words and by claiming that he was speaking blasphemy. Jesus proves from Psalm 82 that the judges of Israel were called "god" as they spoke God's Word. The chapterfinishes with Jesus going across the Jordan for some months - in Perea - where he remains until the events of chapter 11 would bring him back.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
What if the most dangerous thing about a nation isn't its armies, but its envy? In Ezekiel chapter 35, the spotlight falls on Edom—Mount Seir—and a hard truth emerges: God confronts “everlasting enmity,” the kind of hatred that celebrates another people's pain and seizes land under the cover of their loss. We walk through the text line by line and place it in the larger arc of Ezekiel—early judgment on Judah, mid‑book oracles to the nations, and a turn toward restoration—showing how Edom becomes a cautionary tale for every era.We trace Edom's story from Esau and Idumea into the first century with Herod to show that old rivalries have long tails. Then we grapple with God's charges: love of bloodshed, arrogant words against Him, and a bold claim on land He calls His own. It's not a blanket defense of Israel's behavior—Ezekiel spends chapters condemning Israel's sin—but it is a clear boundary against identity‑driven hatred and opportunism. If repentance spared Nineveh, Ezekiel suggests that contempt and violence summon justice. And when nations mock Israel's ruin, they risk mocking Israel's God, who says, “I have heard it.”This conversation leans into the nuance our moment needs. We separate principled critique from corrosive prejudice, ask why the land matters in Scripture, and consider how God's governance of history weighs motives as well as actions. The takeaway is both sobering and hopeful: God judges envy and bloodshed, guards His name and His promises, and prepares a path toward restoration in Ezekiel chapter 36 of — His “I will,” not Israel's merit.If this episode challenged your assumptions or clarified your thinking, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a rating or review so more listeners can join the conversation. What question do you want us to tackle next?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve
1 Chronicles 26 commences with the divisions of the gatekeepers. We may consider this role to be of insignificance, however it was a vital role in Temple worshipping. The gatekeepers would only admit those who had a sincere love of God and His Truth: John verses :21-24. Such wonderful men as the sons of Korah became gatekeepers after putting the LORD before family loyalty. Consider their words in Psalm 84 verse:10 "I would rather be a gatekeeper in the House of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness". These words have their background in Korah's rebellion spoken of in Numbers 16. It would seem that David's administration is a pattern for Messiah's i.e. our Lord Jesus Christ in the kingdom age. The Hebrew word David' means 'beloved' and so it seems that the arrangements that David made for his kingdom are a type of those of God's Beloved Son. In Ezekiel 35 we have judgment on Edom (Esau), or Mount Seir. Of all Israel's neighbours those who have shown the most inveterate hatred have been the Edomites (see Malachi 1). The whole of the prophecy ofTop of the DocumentObadiah tells of a perpetual hatred, which knew no bounds in finding ways to destroy their brother, Israel. The Edomites stand as the great archetypal enemy of Yahweh. No wonder there will be great rejoicing in the whole world at their destruction. In the first eleven verses of Philippians 3 we have extreme language used by the Apostle in relation to his foes - who Paul says are savage dogs. Those Judaizers gloried in all their fleshly achievements. By contrast Paul counted such attainments as he had (and they were a very impressive list) to be futile refuse. The Apostle is waiting for the righteousness that only comes through faith. Paul says that in knowing Christ and aligning himself with our Lord's values is all that matters. The Apostle wanted a resurrection like Christ's - i.e. to stand out from among the dead ones. And to that end Paul would press to strive for the upward calling in his Lord. This calling involves a citizenship of the heavenly kingdom that will be established on earth when the Saviour returns and changes the body of our humiliation to be like unto his own glorious body (see 1 John 3 verse 1-3). In chapter 4 Paul beseeches two fine sisters, who could not get on with one another, to reconcile for the sake of the ecclesia. He thanks the Philippians for their continued generous support in contributing to his preaching, upkeep and welfare. Our God will in His time recompense those who put the success of the gospel foremost. Let us pause and ponder the sentiments of verse 13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
In 1 Chronicles 16 we have the ark finally arriving at Zion after the disastrous first attempt. It was placed in the tent David had pitched for it. And after the spirit of the Melchizedek king priest, David as a great sign of fellowship offers to all the people bread (meat) and wine (in the form of clusters of raisins). Burnt offerings and thanksgiving offerings accompany these actions and all the people receive portions of these offerings. Verses 8 to 35 record David's Psalm of thanksgiving, which was sung by the 24 orders of priests (previously organised by Samuel and David). The people enthusiastically respond in verse 36, "AMEN". The praise for Yahweh's 'chesed' - "loving kindness" continues. Psalm 132 was composed to commemorate the bringing of the ark to Zion - read it and marvel as it speaks of the righteousness andTop of the Documentsalvation, that will be ushered in when the glorious Kingdom of the Son of God comes. The Psalm needs to be read in conjunction with 1 Chronicles 17. In Ezekiel 28 we have a parabolic taunt against Tyre. In the days of Solomon, they shared in the brotherly covenant and cooperated in all things. Deterioration came between the kingdoms, as evil kings came to reign. The language is picturesque, but when read carefully, totally understandable. Verse 2 addresses the prince of Tyre - a man. Commercial and maritime wisdom abounded in this city state. They were not supernatural for the account says that they were slain by the sword. From verses 12-19 the Tyrians were in Eden - a geographic region described in Genesis 2. Then the chapter tells us of judgments on Sidon, Tyre's sister city. When Yahweh brought these judgments Israel would be regathered and restored. In Galatians we have one of the earliest books of the New Testament to be written- perhaps as early as AD42 depending upon the theory which adopted. The book must have been written after the Jerusalem' Conference, which was about the date mentioned previously. Galatians is the second of three treatises on the Atonement i.e. how sinners can be made right with God - the others being Romans and Hebrews. All three books are based on Habakkuk 2:4, "The just shall live by faith". The emphasis in Romans is the JUST...; in Galatians it is ... LIVE by faith; and in Hebrews.. live by FAITH. The problem of Judaism is addressed in this book. The Judaizers, Paul's constant foes, taught salvation was by works of the Law, and not by faith. They preached that Christ and belief in him were insufficient to save - that the keeping of the Law was also necessary in order to be saved. In Galatians 1 Paul establishes his credentials and says how he was called to the gospel. Paul also indicates that a curse would rest on anyone preaching a variant of the only true gospel. The Apostle explains that the gospel message was given him in Arabia by direct revelation i.e. personally taught it by Jesus Christ - none of the other Apostles were in any way connected with his instruction. Chapter 2 teaches us of the firm stance that Paul took on not circumcising Titus. The chapter also spoke of Peter's equivocation and hypocrisy, when confronted by false brethren called Judaizers. Read verses 15-21 aloud. Pause and ponder. Let each of us determine to live our life in Christ Jesus as the great Apostle did.
1 Chronicles 9 records the genealogies of the returned exiles and repeats Saul's genealogy. The returning exiles is a catalogue of the faithful who had endured the 70 years in Babylon and had come back to Judah and Jerusalem with a strong desire to be Yahweh's faithful remnant who would never allow God's people to be ensnared by idolatry. These returned exiles would have included many children of faithful Jews who had been educated in the hope of finding themselves among those who returned to establish Judah and Jerusalem once more. In Ezekiel 22 we have a description of the defilement of the land through blood shedding. All that mattered to Judah's inhabitants at that time was getting gain and it mattered not how many people were trampled and slaughtered because of their covetousness. The LORD God laments that there was not a single individual who would stand in the breach for Yahweh's righteousness. Luke 19 records the story of tiny Zacchaeus who had climbed the mulberry tree to catch sight of Jesus, who was to pass by among the crowd. The Lord, who was always able to read people's minds, stopped underneath the tree where the tax gatherer was. Jesus says, "Today I must dine at your house". In a statement of true repentance Zacchaeus indicates how he would pay recompense to any who he may have defrauded. Zacchaeus uses the language of the trespass offering. A great feast was hastily organised by the collector of excise. Jesus dines with him and a number of other publicans. There is a play on words throughout this chapter centring around the word "seek". Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus and instead Jesus saw Zacchaeus. Jesus had at last personally called Zacchaeus - who had already changed his ways. So much so that Jesus called him "a son of Abraham" who like Zacchaeus refused unwanted gain verses Genesis 14 verses 23. The chapter next follows the parable of the ten Minas which Jesus spoke because of the disciples' false expectation that the kingdom of God would immediately appear. It is based on the well-known historical circumstances surrounding the life of Herod Antipas. The parable is based on the utilisation of abilities distributed by the Lord. The enemies of the kingdom were slaughtered before the king. The Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly upon a donkey, which had never been ridden - to the acclaim of the multitude waving palm branches and reciting the words of Psalm 118 and Zechariah 9. Next Jesus pauses as he came over the brow of the hill and caught sight of Jerusalem. Our Lord wept over the city with great tenderness. Christ explains his love and desire for that city. But he says that like the leprous house the stones would have to be torn down one by one. The next time his people would see him would be a time of Jewish conversion and repentance when they will from their hearts then say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh". This will mean blessing for the whole world - at last. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
1 Chronicles 3 records the sons of David and their genealogy through Solomon to Zerubbabel the Governor under the returned exiles from Babylon around 537 BC. Jeconiah was a descendant of king Solomon David's son. But that man was disinherited by the LORD, who said of Jeconiah verses "write this man childless ... no son of his will prosper, nor sit on David's throne verses Jeremiah 22 verses 24-30. The two branches of David's family came together in Zerubbabel by way of a Levirate marriage. Matthew 1 records Jesus' legal right to the throne through Joseph (the guardian of our Lord) as recorded there. Whereas Luke 3 records Mary's genealogy and therefore that our Lord Jesus Christ's actual ancestral line through Nathan David's son. In Ezekiel 16 we have a description of Israel Yahweh's faithless wife. Her descent is said, spiritually, to be from Amorite stock - the earliest of the Canaanitish nations (meaning "great of mouth") and the Amorites were of giant stature as Deuteronomy tells us. Israel's father is said to be a Hittite from the powerful kingdom of the Hathi originally in Turkey and among the mightiest empires of that time - rivalling Egypt. Yahweh Israel's Sovereign Lord had pity on His people and took her unto Himself as His wife in love. How did Israel repay her God's loving kindness; only by scorning Him and prostituting herself without payment. God would judge her as the profligate covenant breaker that she was. But her younger sister, Judah, behaved no better. The Almighty describes them as being of the same sisterhood as Sodom, whose abominable lewdness was legendary. Nonetheless the time would come when the repentant daughters would again be covenanted by the everlasting kindness of Yahweh in the Kingdom of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 12 the Lord counsels regarding the destructive teachings of the Pharisees. Our Lord Jesus says to his followers to have no fear when they are tried and killed by the religious authorities. This is because our Father has power over everything - including life and death. When giving testimony before rulers believers would be aided in their witness. In the parable in this chapter of the rich fool (based on the life of Nabal in 1 Samuel 25) our Lord refuses to arbitrate in a property dispute between two brothers. Instead, Jesus turns the opportunity into a discussion about the dangers of covetousness and the need to be rich in loving service to God at all times. Christ urges the disciples to be free from anxiety. Look at nature and the Almighty's abundantly providing out of His richness. Disciples need, as wise and faithful servants, to be in a state of continual readiness for their Lord's coming. A constant challenge for disciples is that often times family opposition will be the result of a person's acceptance of Christ. As disciples we must be alert to the era in which we live. Our Master is standing at the doorpost of our hearts and knocking Revelation 3 verses 20-21. Finally, if believers find themselves in a dispute, they need to quickly reach agreement with their adversaries, or the results may be much worse. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
The Chronicle's account does not begin with the genealogy of Saul, the nation's first earthly king, as we might have expected, since he was disgraced and taken away by God in Yahweh's anger. It rather begins with the Almighty's chosen king - the man after His own heart. It tells us of David's thirteen wives and seventeen sons and the circumstances that brought one of David's younger sons, Solomon, to succeed him on the throne. It also outlines the genealogies of some of his prominent wise counsellors and of David's administration. In Ezekiel 15 we find a short but powerful parable about the vine that tells us that the wood from the is useless for making anything. The vine is also very poor in its use for kindling heat. The vine has but one use; to produce fruit and the kingdom of Judah had shown that they were useless in this respect. The vine is an oft used symbol of God's people, Israel - Isaiah 5; Psalm 80 etc. The same lessons must be applied to spiritual Israel - those who have embraced the gospel message verses Matthew 21 verses 43. We come across it in each of the four gospel accounts. The greatest lesson on our need for fruitfulness comes from the Master teacher verses John 15 verses 1-11. We can only produce fruit by abiding within the Vine of our Father's planting i.e. of ourselves we can produce fruit, but in our Lord Jesus Christ we can and will by his grace do. In Luke 11 we start with a record of, what is termed, the Lord's Prayer. It is a model prayer, not a mantra to be repeated without thought. It commences with an acknowledgement of the Father's awe-inspiring status. Then follows petitions for the Almighty's will to be fulfilled on earth, as it is in heaven. The kingdom will come when Messiah returns in glory. Lastly are personal petitions for forgiveness and for food. The prayer closed with an acclaiming of the praise, greatness and glory of our Sovereign. Then follows teaching about generosity among friends and our need to be seekers, askers and knockers on doors. Our Father is generous and gives only benefits to His children. Upon curing a deaf-mute Jesus is accused of doing it by a demon power Beel-zebul - the Lord of the dung heap. This was equivalent to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells his enemies that if he was casting out diseases by a demonic power then Jesus would be a destroyer of the kingdom of the enemy who had "inflicted" those who suffered. No, just as the magicians of Egypt at the time of Moses were forced to acknowledge - "this is the finger of God". A parable of the need to fill our cleansed and empty house with good things after the sweeping out of evil is next mentioned in the chapter. The Lord says that happiness lies in hearing and keeping the Word of God. Then follows Christ's telling the hearers of the sign of the prophet Jonah. There is more to this sign than would first seem apparent verses 1) Jonah from Gath-Hepher which is in Galilee where our Lord's ministry thrived verses see John 7 verses 52; 2) Jonah means 'dove' the evident sign at Jesus' baptism; 3) the overwhelming majority of Jesus' disciples were Galilean as Isaiah 9 verses 1-7 predicted; 4) Jonah spent three nights in the belly of hell i.e. inside the belly of the great fish before being symbolically resurrected. The chapter then instructs us to be single minded seekers. The record in this chapter concludes with the pronouncing of woes upon the Pharisees and the Lawyers because of their hypocrisy. Rather than having the effect of curtailing them in their behaviour these evil men sought even more to provoke our Lord.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Ever wonder what happens when God steps into the kitchen? In Ezekiel chapter 24, we discover a divine cooking lesson with profound implications. God uses the vivid metaphor of a rusty cooking pot to illustrate Jerusalem's impending destruction—a powerful image that exposes the corruption permeating the holy city. The rust-encrusted pot symbolizes Jerusalem's spiritual pollution, so deeply entrenched that ordinary cleansing methods prove futile.The message intensifies as God pronounces judgment with sobering finality: "I will act, I will not relent, I will not pity, and I will not be sorry." These words reveal a dimension of divine character often overlooked in contemporary theology—a God whose patience, while vast, has boundaries. After centuries of ignored warnings and continued idol worship, God's judgment arrives with devastating clarity.The chapter takes a heartbreaking turn when God commands Ezekiel to become a living object lesson. God takes Ezekiel's wife suddenly and forbids the prophet from publicly mourning—an extraordinary departure from cultural norms that would have shocked witnesses. This painful demonstration serves a dual purpose: it mirrors how the exiles will lose their beloved temple and illustrates how the survivors of Jerusalem's fall will have no opportunity to properly mourn their losses before being marched into captivity.Throughout this exploration of divine judgment, we confront the fundamental spiritual choice that remains as relevant today as it was in Ezekiel's time: Will we submit to God and receive His cleansing forgiveness, or persist in our ways and eventually face His cleansing wrath? The imagery may be ancient, but the spiritual principle transcends time.Join us as we unpack this challenging passage that concludes God's messages against Jerusalem before He turns His prophetic attention to the surrounding nations. Whether you're a seasoned Bible student or just beginning to explore Scripture's depths, this episode offers profound insights into divine justice, human accountability, and the unwavering character of God.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, “September 16th, 2025,” host Hunter invites us to gather around the Scriptures and discover what God is saying to us on day 260 of our journey. We'll explore detailed visions of the temple in Ezekiel 40 and 41, the blessings of Psalm 128, and the promise of a new heaven and new earth in Revelation 21. Hunter walks us through these passages as our Bible reading coach, highlighting how the temple—once the epicenter of sacrifice and divine presence—is ultimately eclipsed by Jesus, the true source of life, light, and hope. Heather joins to share a personal reflection on change, using a story about Portland's migrating swifts as a reminder of God's enduring faithfulness amidst life's transitions. Together, we close with heartfelt prayers and encouragement to embrace the new seasons God brings. Settle in as we warm our hearts by the fires of God's love, and remember—no matter what changes, you are loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The story of sacrifice is no more. That's what stands out in today's readings—a whole narrative built around altars, offerings, and a temple, with its Most Holy Place, fades away. In Ezekiel, we see exact measurements for the place where heaven and earth would meet, the space where God would, by design, invite broken humanity into his holy presence through sacrifice. The temple stood as the epicenter of Israel's worship and God's bridge to his people. Every room, every altar, every detail pointed forward, always and only ever pointing us to him—the Lamb. But in Revelation, John sees something altogether new. The story changes. There is no more temple, because there is no more need for it: “I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Even the sun and the moon, those keepers of time, are no more. All that once gave structure and symbol to history has been eclipsed. Darkness, suffering, and death are gone. The instruments of sacrifice have given way to the fullness of what they pointed towards—Jesus himself. What remains? Life. The Lamb's Book of Life. Jesus, the Lamb, has brought history to its completion. All stories are now dissolved into his, and only he remains, shining brighter than the sun, illuminating the city, and infusing every moment with the glory of God. The story of God's unfailing love has reached its apex, and you have been woven into that story. Your name, written in his book, means you share his eternal life and light. So now, we are called to live in that light, to abide in him, to let his life become ours. All other stories fall away. The seasons change. The world shifts around us. But here is something that endures, unchanging: you are written into the very life of Christ. The Lamb is your temple. The Lamb is your life. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
When life feels dry, God is still able to breathe new life into dead places. In Ezekiel 37, the valley of dry bones shows us that what looks hopeless can rise again. This message will challenge you to speak life, trust the Spirit, and believe revival is possible. No matter how dry your season feels, God's breath changes everything.Join us Sunday's 8:15 | 10:00 | 11:45 Authentic Church 2416 N Center St Hickory, NC 28601 (Beside Planet Fitness) GIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.
The record tells us that at Hezekiah's death his son Manasseh began to reign, aged 12. His mother's name was Hephzibah, meaning 'my delight is in her'. What joy must those final years of Hezekiah's have been? But sadly, Manasseh's rule was steeped in idolatry and blood shedding. Read the LORD's summary of that bloodthirsty king's rule in verses 11-15. The streets of Jerusalem flowed with blood under this king. History records that the prophet Isaiah fled from this evil man and hid in a hollow tree. The king gave orders to saw the prophet in half (cp Hebrews 11 verses 37). However, despite 55 years of evil at Manasseh's end God forgave him because he repented and that final turning to God saw him being taken from prison to Jerusalem - see 2 Chronicles 13 verses 10-13. Ezekiel explains why in chapter 18 verses 4-23 read and ponder. But the people of Judah, having revelled in idolatry for so long, could not change their behaviours. Manasseh's son Amon succeeds him ruling for two years before being slain by the king's own servants. In Ezekiel 11 judgment is pronounced upon Judah's wicked counsellors who mistakenly saw themselves as untouchable. The prophet Ezekiel counsels Judah to settle in Babylon for the 70 years. The length of the exile that Jeremiah had prophesied. But the arrogant rulers in Judah said that no destruction could ever come to them. It was essential to totally overthrow these wicked people and to make a new start with the remnant, who were to be the returning exiles. Luke 7 begins with the healing of a faithful and loved Roman Centurion's servant. The Centurion had built a synagogue for the Jewish people - most likely in Capernaum. As a man in command and also under the authority of Rome he saw our Lord Jesus Christ as the emissary of God. Jesus announces that the Centurion's faith exceeded any faith that could be found in Israel. This Centurion was truly the seed, and heir of Abraham's kingdom (Romans 4 verses 13; Genesis 12 verses 3). In the town of Nain Jesus raises a widow's son. In this and many like incidents our Lord Jesus was learning how painful it would be for his Father to see His only begotten Son die. Messengers are sent to our Lord Jesus Christ from a disconsolate John the Baptist, who was languishing in Herod's prison at Machaerus. Jesus immediately performs many miracles before John's messengers and refers them to Isaiah 61. The Lord then remonstrates with the crowd on their fickleness - Jesus and John are both the Father's wise children. Not a greater man than John the Baptist had ever been born of a woman, except the Messiah himself. The chapter next says that a sinful woman, who comes into the house of Simon the Pharisee, anoints Jesus' feet in love - and because of her great love she is forgiven greatly for her sins. Luke is telling us in this chapter of three confrontations our Lord had with the Pharisees occurring in the house of a Pharisee - Luke 7; 11; 14. Simon the Pharisee and those with him are instructed by Christ on the basis of divine forgiveness i.e. love. Let us pause, ponder and learn this. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
At the age of 26 Josiah began to utilise the faithful craftsmen to repair the temple. Hilkiah the High Priest finds the Book of the Law (possibly the very one written by Moses about eight and a half centuries earlier). That precious book is handed to Shaphan the scribe to take it to king Josiah. Shaphan reads it before the king who rends his clothes. Josiah knows how greatly Judah has sinned against their God. Josiah sends to Huldah the prophetess, who tells them that judgment is unavoidable, but that it would be postponed until after Josiah's death because of his humility before his Sovereign. 2 Kings 23 records the reforms of Josiah all of which had been declared earlier to Jeroboam 1 by the unnamed prophet who came from Judah. Josiah causes all Judah to listen to and comply with the words of the newly found Book of the Law. The king, Josiah, finds the tomb of that prophet who had foretold these events and leaves his bones to lie undisturbed - this being symbolic of resurrection (Psalm 34 verses 20-22). Josiah keeps a Passover like none throughout the 430 years of history of the two kingdoms - Israel and Judah. Josiah dies in a battle against Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt. God had warmed Josiah not to meddle with Pharaoh Neco. But this was a bad error of judgment from Josiah that led to his tragic and premature death verses referred to in Isaiah 57 verses 1. Eliakim was placed, as a vassal of Neco, on the throne for three months; and Judah is put under tribute. Eliakim is removed and replaced by Jehoiakim. In Ezekiel 12 we have an enacted parable telling of the extremities and sufferings occasioned by the siege. Ezekiel portrays by his actions the outcomes of Jerusalem's siege. A very small remnant of Judah would be saved. Ezekiel shows that the profligate and weak king Zedekiah is to be taken into captivity. The statement was made by the false prophets that it would be a long time before the Almighty would bring such judgment on His people. Not so says Jeremiah who is asked by Yahweh to show the people of Judah the hardships that were to come and the scarcity of food. Luke chapter 8 begins by naming some of the women who accompany our Lord and his Apostles. Among them was Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's nobleman (consider some of the difficulties this may have occasioned - perhaps very similar to Obadiah, the steward of Ahab, who had fed 100 of Yahweh's prophets during the great drought). The Parable of the Sower is taught, as the basis of understanding all of our Lord's parables. As we have seen it can be called the parable of the soils as the seed sown is the same - it was the response of the 4 soil types that differed. The chapter then records an explanation from Jesus as to why our Lord spoke in parables. It was to reveal the message to the seekers and to confound the self-righteous. The teaching by parables is a fulfilment of Christ's mission and is explained in Psalm 78 verses 1-4 and Isaiah 6 verses 1-13. Then follows the parable of the lamp on the table which outlines the disciple's responsibility to spread the Gospel. Jesus' mother and brothers, being concerned for him, seek to curtail his preaching. They are told to join the supporters rather than those who are slowing down God's work. Next Jesus calms a storm demonstrating that he is indeed the Son of God (see Psalm 107 verses 23-32). The chapter then says that he heals the man called Legion. Whose curing is proved by the destruction of the pigs. The Jews should not have been breeding these as the Law of Moses forbad it. The record follows with the curing of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years (note Luke's ironic comments about his fellow doctors). Then Jesus raises the twelve-year-old daughter of Jairus (whose name means 'enlightenment') and presents her alive to her parents. Christ shows that he is indeed the Good Shepherd of John 10 when he said to the child "little lamb arise".
In 2 Kings 15 we are told of Azariah's 52-year rule over Judah, which was after the same manner as his father. Azariah's reign had little effect on the nation's behaviour. He died a leper living apart from his people. In the north, 38 years into Azariah's rule, Zachariah had an inglorious 6 months of evil rule before being smitten by his servant, Shallum - who took the throne in the 39th year of Azariah (also called Uzziah). Shallum too was slain by Menahem, who took his place. The emerging pattern of the north is of violent instability which spiralled rapidly towards a final disintegration. The Assyrian king, Pul, came and put Israel to tribute. In Ezekiel 5 we read of another enacted parable. The prophet takes some of his hair and divides into 3 parts - one third was hacked with a knife, indicating destruction by the sword; another third was thrown in the wind, speaking of scattering; yet another third was burnt in the fire. But a few strands of hair, representing the remnant of the nation that was to be saved. Those hairs were to be bound in the prophet Ezekiel's robe. In Luke 1 the beloved doctor (not an Apostle) gives his account. Luke sets out in order of happening of events in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. The written account is to Theophilus - a name meaning 'a lover of God'. Some have suggested that Theophilus was a high ranking Roman official. Whether this is true or not, the book is addressed to us, as lovers of God. Verses 5-18 tell of Zacharias, the priest and his temple service. Those verses tell us that the aged priest and his wife Elizabeth, had no children as she was barren. The angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias and foretells him of the birth and mission of John the Baptist - the son that was to be miraculously born to this old man and his barren wife. Because Zacharias doubted the angel's words, he was struck dumb till the day of John's birth. Note John's mission was said to be the fulfilment of Malachi 4 verses 5-6. The angel Gabriel was next sent to the wonderful Mary. This faithful young woman had been chosen by Yahweh to be the mother of His Son. This birth too was to be brought about by an even greater miracle. Read the angel's words aloud in verses 30-33 - ponder the import. Mary accepts the message and as the handmaid of the LORD she says that she will humbly comply. Mary's cousin Elizabeth, who was herself 6 months pregnant, is visited by Mary and together these two faithful women praise and exalt God; and spiritually encourage each other. Mary's song of praise giving is recorded in verses 46-55. Compare Mary's song and words of rejoicing with Hannah's song told to us in 1 Samuel 2 verses 1-10. John is born and named. Then his father Zacharias' tongue is loosed. Consider his remarkable prophecy of the work of the two greatest men ever born. The record brings together a significant number of Old Testament scriptures. Read these words in verses 68-79 and ponder the greatest epoch of spiritual ministries of all time, that was to emerge in the ministries of these two servants of the Almighty.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/
In our two chapters from 2 Kings 11 and 12 we have the story of the faithful boy king, Joash, who came to the throne at the age of seven. We also have the elimination of the remnants of Ahab's household in Judah - that is of Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. The treacherous Queen thought she had destroyed all the seed Royal in Judah. But the faithful high priest Jehoiadah, together with his remarkable and equally faithful covenant wife Jehosheba (Joash's aunt) hid and protected the heir to the throne in the temple of Yahweh). Upon the heir reaching 7 years of age the high priest set in train events that saw Athaliah's destruction, and the true monarchy restored. The remainder of the chapter records the covenant that Jehoiadah made with the people in concord with the king to remove Baal worship from Judah. Joash rules faithfully for forty years because of the faithful influence of his uncle on him. However, despite the removal of Baal worship, idolatry still persisted with many of Judah. Under Joash's influence he arranged for the temple to be repaired from funds voluntarily placed in a wooden box. The workers were paid from this, and accounting was not required due to their honesty. Joash bought time for the Kingdom of Judah from becoming subjects of Ben-Hadad and by paying tribute. The servants of Joash conspire against him and replace him with his son, Amaziah. In Ezekiel 2 we read of the prophet's commissioning as a priest. Ezekiel is called 'son of man' - a frequently used title of our Lord Jesus Christ. This title is emblematic of one, the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, whose mission would be so difficult, and so critically strategic to Yahweh's saving of the world from sin, that it necessitated that God be his Father in order for him to have the capability to successfully undertake the mission, without ensuring his success in any way, from his own love and complete trust and obedience of his Father. Ezekiel's mission was, as was Christ's, to a rebellious people who would refuse to listen. Ezekiel is told by the LORD that he will be savagely opposed by his people, but he is not to be afraid as the Almighty will be with him. In the test of time as Ezekiel's words from his Sovereign come to pass the nation will know that Yahweh's prophet will be vindicated in their midst. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul encourages extreme generosity in giving support to the poor believers of Jerusalem. Paul had seen the need for this fund for some time and had arranged for the Gentile ecclesias to share their material wealth in the same way that God had blessed the Gentile believers in Christ in partaking of the Hope of Israel - the gospel that had been preached to Abraham and his seed. The Apostle says that generosity is of our Heavenly Father, who provides unstintingly for all of His children. Consider this, all we have is God's anyway; and not our own. When we give it is only what He has first given us. And if we feel we cannot give then think again. Our Heavenly Father is always able to recompense faithful service. But our greatest reason for giving is out of our gratefulness to Him for what He has given us in His Son. Chapter 9 verses 15 ESV read aloud - "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!" Pause and Ponder. We too can show our gratitude to our Father by generously supporting through prayer and contributing of our abundance to our needy brothers.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/
In Ezekiel chapter 38, God warns about a major war in which the enemy will try to wipe out Israel. There is a lot of debate about when this war will break out. There are four clues that can help us to know the general timeframe of the Ezekiel 38 war. Let's find out more about these clues now—here, on Foreshadows Report!Learn more about Steve and his books at https://SteveMillerResources.comProduced by Unmutable™
Friday, 29 August 2025 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42 “Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And you behold! Solomon's greater is here” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the account of Jonah's preaching and how Nineveh repented at it. He then noted that a greater than Jonah was there with them. He now reiterates this general thought, beginning with, “Queen, south.” The queen of the south is identified in 1 Kings 10:1 – “Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.” This woman came to discover if the reports of Solomon's wisdom were true. She was, in essence, a woman in search of discovery greater than silver or gold. Rather, she was looking for wisdom and truth concerning the human condition in relation to their Creator. As such, it says, “concerning the name of the Lord.” One can see her mind asking, “Is Israel's God the true God?” It reflects the search of those in humanity who truly want to know if the knowledge of the Most High can be ascertained or not. As it says several times in various ways in Scripture – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 Sheba is probably in the area of Saudi Arabia today. This can be discerned from Isaiah 60:6, which refers to other known areas in that general location. This woman traveled from this location specifically to obtain wisdom. It can be deduced from Jesus' words that she found it because it says that “she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it.” It is the same thought as in the previous verse concerning the men of Nineveh. Whereas the men of Nineveh would rise in judgment against those of Israel whom Jesus came to reveal Himself to because they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah, this queen would do so, “for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom.” A new word, peras, an extremity, is used. It is from an obsolete derivative of peiro, to pierce. Like the proverbial Starship Enterprise, one can think of a trek piercing the unknown, even until the end of the trek. This woman came from an area lying at the extremity of Israel's knowledge of the inhabited world to simply hear Solomon's wisdom in relation to the Lord God of Israel. Understanding this, Jesus finishes with, “And you behold! Solomon's greater is here.” What is it that Jesus has done, both with the previous verse and this one? He has made an implicit claim to deity. Jesus first spoke of the “proclamation of Jonah” and then that “Jonah's greater” was there. Here, He refers to “Solomon's wisdom” and then says that “Solomon's greater” was there. Jonah's proclamation was the proclamation of the Lord. Jesus is actually not referring to Jonah the man, but his position as the Lord's prophet. As it is said in Jonah 1:1, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah.” Of Solomon's wisdom, it says, “behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12). Jesus claims a proclamation greater than that of Jonah. But Jonah's proclamation was that of the Lord, albeit indirectly. Jesus claims a wisdom greater than Solomon's, but it was the Lord who gave Solomon that wisdom. The meaning is that Jesus claims to be the Source of wisdom itself. He is the Lord God. The men of Nineveh discerned this. The queen of the south discerned this. However, the men of Israel, representative of that generation, were unable to do so. Thus, those who received and accepted the word and wisdom of the Lord from Nineveh and the south would be there at the judgment of Israel, condemning them for their total lack of discernment. The very people of the Lord, and who possessed the oracles of God, were to be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:13) for failing to see who Jesus is. Note: As promised in a previous commentary, after this commentary, the timeline of Jesus' Passion will be provided. Keep it handy, as it is something people around the world continue to misunderstand to this day. Life application: In both the previous verse and this one, there is no article before the subject. It simply says, “Men, Nineveh” and “Queen, south.” Saying it this way provides emphasis to His statements. But why would Jesus refer to them this way? The answer lies in who His audience is. Jesus is speaking to the scribes and Pharisees of Israel. They have the law. They are the religious elite of the “chosen people.” By making His declarations, He is essentially saying, “The Gentiles immediately and completely perceived what you are unable to discern.” To this day, the people of Israel have the exact same information that the Gentile peoples of the world possess in order to discover if Jesus is God or not. They, however, have rejected that information and refuse to acknowledge their Lord. They are determined to shun Him, rebuild a temple for worship that rejects Him, and attempt to find justification through their own merits by observing a law that only pointed to Him, awaiting His fulfillment of it. The book of Hebrews clearly and unambiguously tells what the penalty for such a crime against Him is – “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-29 Pray for Israel. They need Jesus. Lord God, You have patiently waited for Israel to turn to You for salvation. Many have begun to do so in recent years, but the nation is still fighting against Your truth. We pray that the good news will spread greatly before the rapture comes, and Israel must endure the trial that lies ahead. Amen. TIMELINE OF JESUS' WEEK OF PASSION Misconceptions - 1) Sign of Jonah / Three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40 – a: The sign of Jonah is not the Lord's time in the belly of the great fish. It is the message He preached and which will be rejected. Jonah cried out, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” As is consistent in the Bible, it was a warning, a day for a year. Israel would be destroyed in 40 years. With a cursory look at Jesus' words in Matthew, the sign seems to be His death and resurrection. But Luke leaves out both the time frame and the entire account of the fish. When he does this, he clears up the context – that the sign of Jonah is his preaching, and what that preaching stated… that destruction was decreed in 40 days. The preaching to the Ninevites was the sign. When Israel disobeyed in the wilderness, they were given a day for a year punishment for every day that the spies were gone. It was 40 days, and thus 40 years of punishment. In Ezekiel chapter 4, he was told to lie on his right side for 40 days, signifying a day for a year of punishment for Judah. He was told to do the same for his left side, but for 390 days. It was a day for a year for the house of Israel. Together, they form the prophetic basis for the return of Israel in 1948. Forty years after Jesus' words, for a day, Israel was destroyed and carried away into exile. The Romans came in and did what Nineveh was spared of. God's judgment fell heavily upon them for failing to repent, receive their long-awaited Messiah, and conform to the will of God, which is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ. b: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40 This is an idiomatic expression. It does not mean literally three days and three nights. This is a misunderstanding of the phrase as it relates to Biblical time. It's important to note that this verse is from Matthew and is directed to the Jewish people, Jesus as King. Hebrew idioms would have been understood and not needed any clarification or verbal amending. To the audience, Matthew was writing that any part of a day is considered to be inclusive of the whole day. It's no different from the terminology we use today. If I arrive in Florida on a plane at 11:30 pm on 11 April, during a later conversation, I would still say I was in Florida on that day. The biblical pattern of “evening and morning” being a day goes back to the first chapter of the Bible and includes an entire day, regardless of what part of a day one is referring to. If you want to understand the term day and night as an idiomatic expression, simply type “day and night” into your Bible search engine and see how many times, throughout the Bible, the term is used in this way. It goes on and on. Jeremiah does a great job of using it in this way. Study! The same verse, as recorded in Luke, says, “And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” Luke 11:29-32 As you can see, Jesus explicitly states that the sign is the preaching of Jonah. In this instance, Luke was not writing only to Jewish people, but predominantly to non-Jewish people – Jesus as the Son of Man. Therefore, the terminology is amended to avoid confusion. This occurs many times in the gospels, and therefore, the addressees (or the background of the writers themselves) need to be identified to understand proper terminology. The same phrase is given in Esther 4:16 – “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” This is then explained in Esther 5:1 – “Now it happened on the third day (b'yom ha'shelishi) that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.” As you can see, what she said in verse 4:16 is explained as an idiomatic expression in verse 5:1. This same phrase is exactly repeated in the NT 13 times – “On the third day,” not “After the third day.” 2) High Sabbath. John 19:31 – “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.” The second issue to be resolved is that some scholars claim that John “appears” to place the crucifixion on a different date than the other writers. Because of this, an attempt was made to insert a second type of Passover meal, or a second Sabbath, into the Bible. This supposedly helps the Bible out of an apparent problem. However, no such meal, or Sabbath, is identified in the Bible at any time. Nor is it necessary to make something erroneous like this up. The Bible identifies the timing of the entire Passion Week, dispelling the problem. The terminology for “Preparation Day” used in all four gospel accounts absolutely clears this up and will be noted as we go on. The terminology "high Sabbath" is pointing to the fact that the Sabbath (there is only one Sabbath, Saturday) coincided with the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a "holy convocation" according to Exodus 12:16 and Leviticus 23:7. There are only six times in the Bible that something is called a Shabbath Shabaton, or “Sabbath of complete rest.” Four of them speak of the Seventh Day Sabbath, one concerns the Day of Atonement, and the last speaks of the seventh-year Sabbath rest for the land. Thus, there is no second Sabbath. A holy convocation is not a Sabbath. On a Sabbath, meals could not be prepared. However, Exodus 12:16 says – “On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.” 3) Four days. Exodus 12:3 – “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.'” This requirement has nothing to do with the Passover at Jesus' time. Nothing in Scripture can be used to justify what is commonly taught, saying that the Passover lamb was selected each year to test it for defects. The opposite is true. The lamb was selected because it had no defects. Thus, this has nothing to do with Palm Sunday and the subsequent days leading up to Passover. Rather, this animal was selected early to ensure that every household had a lamb before the plague of darkness that fell on Egypt. It is never mandated again. People bought their lambs in Jerusalem from keepers of the flock who had already inspected them. Further, they did it within a day of the Passover. There are four things that occurred at the first Passover that are not required in the annual celebration found in Leviticus 23 – The eating of the lamb in their houses was dispersed through Goshen. Taking the lamb on the tenth day. The striking of its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. And, Eating it in haste. The four-day requirement never occurred again. There is no biblical support for it. People have picked and chosen selected verses, without following through on the study, to come to an incorrect conclusion on this. Chronology of the Events – 1) The easiest way to identify the day of Passover from the gospels is by reviewing the term “Preparation Day.” It is in all four gospels, and it exactingly identifies the day of the Passover – Matthew 27:62 – “The next day, the one after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.” This was the day after the crucifixion. Matthew says it is the day “after Preparation Day.” After this is recorded the day after the Sabbath (Matt 28:1, the first day of the week). Mark 15:42 – “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached...” This is the day of the crucifixion. Mark says, “It was Preparation Day.” Mark 14 ends on the night of Christ's time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 15:1 then identifies that it is “immediately, in the morning,” meaning Preparation Day. Luke 23:54 – “It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” This is the day of the crucifixion. Luke says, “It was Preparation Day.” Luke 23:56 then says that they rested on the Sabbath, and then He was raised on the day after the Sabbath, Sunday, the Lord's Day, the first day of the week (Luke 24:1). John 19:14 – “Now it was Preparation Day of the Passover.” This is the day of the crucifixion. John says, “It was Preparation Day.” This definitively, and without any chance of coming to any other conclusion, identifies the day as Friday, followed by the Saturday Sabbath. As sad as it is that this is denied by many, it is what the Bible actually teaches.. The four gospels are harmonious in this, and it is… irrefutable. However, the rest of the Passion week identifies this as well. And so, let's break all this down. Here's what you need to know: Paul plainly states that the Feast of Firstfruits is a picture of the resurrection: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 The feast of Firstfruits was a Sunday according to Leviticus 23:15 – “From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks.” Note: the Sabbath referred to here is a Saturday. We don't need to go any further there to know this is correct and that Christ rose on a Sunday. Here is the math from the gospel accounts. It's all there in black and white and very easy to look up – **“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.” John 12:1 This would have been a Sabbath day (Saturday). **“The next day, the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.” John 12:12 This would have been 5 days before the Passover, meaning Sunday (Palm Sunday), as the Passover would have started Thursday night at sundown and run until Friday night at sundown (remember biblical days start at sundown). The account couldn't be clearer that the next day after the Passover was a Sabbath. This is indicated several times. As I said, some people have attempted to use the terminology in John (it was a “high day” or a “special Sabbath”) to indicate that it could have been a day other than a Saturday. All special Sabbaths are specified in Leviticus and don't necessarily fall on Saturdays. However, the term “Sabbath” as used in the other gospel accounts indicates a Saturday. There is nothing to support, anywhere in Scripture, that there were two Sabbaths in a row on this particular week. Further, the special Sabbaths in Leviticus do not apply here. As I said, one is the Day of Atonement, which occurs in the seventh month. The other is a Sabbath for the land every seventh year. Neither applies. In fact, such an analysis does an injustice to the reading of the text. Therefore, the special Sabbath occurred on a regular Sabbath day (Saturday). As I said earlier, it was a great (high) Sabbath because it coincided with the holy convocation, which is the first day of Unleavened Bread. From this, we can give the entire week's schedule (refer to the cited verses in your own Bible to familiarize yourself with what's being said) – Sabbath 6 before // John 12:1 - ...six days before the Passover. Bethany/Lazarus. Sunday 5 before // John 12:12 & Mark 11:10 - The next day... Palm Sunday/Riding the donkey. Monday 4 before // Mark 11:12 Now on the next day... Jesus cursed the fig tree. Tuesday 3 before // Mark 11:20 Now in the morning... The withered fig is identified. Wednesday 2 before // The gospels are silent on what occurred on this day. Thursday 1 before - Passover starts at Sundown //Mark 14:1 After two days it was the Passover... (this is the first timing mentioned since Mark 11:20, which was Tuesday). - Note: Pay special attention to the fact that in the following accounts, Mark is using Jewish time (sunset to sunset and John is using Roman time – from midnight) – Mark 14:12 - "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread when they killed the Passover Lamb." Here, Mark, like Luke, unites the Passover with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. John 13:1 - "Now before the Feast of the Passover..." Both Mark and John are speaking of the same day – The meal, washing of feet, Gethsemane, etc. ***Christ was crucified during this same 24-hour period, but it was obviously after the final night at Gethsemane and then the illegal trial. Mark is speaking of this event from sundown, John is speaking of it in Roman time (this is obvious because they use different terminology for the same meal where Judas left to betray the Lord… can't miss this point and get it right). 6 days before – Saturday 5 days before – Sunday 4 days before – Monday 3 days before – Tuesday 2 days before – Wednesday 1 day before – Thursday The Day – Friday The problem with people believing that John was speaking of a different day (as mentioned above) is that they miss the fact that the terminology for the day is different based on the author. To clear up any misunderstanding here, one needs only to compare the uses of the term “Preparation Day.” Once one does this, there are no discrepancies in the accounts. Go back and review what I said about that earlier. The timeline is set, it is irrefutable, and it is the only biblical option. Anything else inserts unbiblical information into the record. Based on the biblical evidence, 1) There is no discrepancy between any of the accounts. 2) Jesus was crucified on a Friday. 3) Jesus rose on a Sunday. Again, the Bible says 13 times that He was raised “on” the third day. This is mentioned by Jesus Himself as well as the apostles. Therefore, it must have been Friday that Christ was crucified. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, please don't believe (as some have claimed) that Christ rode the donkey into Jerusalem on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. This would have been the Sabbath. If He did, He would have violated the law – “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.” Deuteronomy 5:12-14 There is no need to make the assertion that it was a Saturday unless you simply wanted to finagle the dating. There is also no biblical provision for an exemption to the commandment prohibiting working a donkey.
Thursday, 28 August 2025 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. Matthew 12:41 “Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation and they will sentence it, for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah. And you behold! Jonah's greater is here!” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus noted that just as Jonah was in the belly of the great lunker three days and three nights, He would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Next, He continues His address to the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation.” The location Nineveh is introduced here. The name Nineveh may be a word of foreign origin, but if connected to Hebrew, its meaning is Offspring's Habitation. As the Bible is written from a Hebrew perspective, the Hebrew name is what is to be considered. Nineveh is a city that was built at the earliest times of man after the flood. It was noted as being built by Nimrod in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:11. It is noted in 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jonah, Nahum, and Zephaniah, but the main biblical accounts of Nineveh are recorded in Jonah and Nahum. Jesus is referring to the account in Jonah, saying that the inhabitants of Nineveh will arise to judge the generation of Israel in which He came. And more, He next says, “and they will sentence it.” The verb katakrinó, to judge against, is introduced. In judging against, it means an unfavorable verdict is rendered, leading to condemnation. Condemning or condemnation in the Bible is often associated with eternal punishment. This is not always the case when the word is used. To condemn means expressing disapproval, censuring, sentencing, etc. The context will derive the meaning. In this case, Nineveh will be a part of the judgment and sentencing of Israel's people at Jesus' time. The reason is, “for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah.” Another new noun is stated, kérugma. It signifies a proclamation. Preaching is a type of proclamation. Jonah was sent to NinevehJonah to speak a word of the Lord against Nineveh. This was his kérugma, his proclamation – “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.'” Jonah 1:1, 2 “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!'” Jonah 3:4 As noted in the Matthew 12:39 commentary, Jonah's time in the belly of the lunker is not the sign of Jonah. The sign of Jonah is something Nineveh was aware of. They had no idea that Jonah was in the lunker's belly. The sign of Jonah is the kérugma, the proclamation, of Jonah. But more, it is specifically what the proclamation stated, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” As noted in the Matthew 12:38 commentary, a sign is something that stands for something else. It may be a miracle or a wonder, but a sign points to another thing, such as “this indicates this.” Jesus clearly states in Luke 11:30-32 that the preaching of Jonah is the sign, just as Jesus' preaching to the people of Israel is the sign. Jonah preached and promised destruction in forty days. Jesus preached and promised destruction as well. The sign of Jonah is the preaching, which, if rejected, would lead to destruction after forty days. Jesus' time in Sheol, followed by the resurrection, simply bears witness to the truth of Jesus' preaching, which was to an already unbelieving people. His words of the kingdom and reconsideration to “this generation” are the ultimate sign to them. Other prophets spoke in the name of the Lord, but Jesus spoke in His own name and under His own authority as the Son, and so He next says, “And you behold! Jonah's greater is here!” The warning to reconsider or be overthrown turned out to be a day for a year, just as it was in the Old Testament. When Israel disobeyed in the wilderness, they were given a day for a year punishment for every day that the spies were gone. It was forty days, and thus forty years of punishment. In Ezekiel chapter 4, he was told to lie on his right side for forty days, signifying a day for a year of punishment for Judah. He was told to do the same for his left side, but for three hundred and ninety days. It was a day for a year for the house of Israel. Together, they formed the basis of the prophecy concerning the return of Israel in 1948. Forty years after Jesus' words, a day for a year, Israel's temple was destroyed, and the people were carried away in exile. The Romans came in and did what Nineveh was spared of. God's judgment fell heavily upon them for failing to reconsider, receive their long-awaited Messiah, and conform to the will of God, which is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Life application: The sign of Jonah is the preaching of Jonah. The word of God, spoken to Israel in fulfillment of Scripture, and under the full authority of the Messiah who had been promised since the very beginning of man's time on the planet, was the sign. The resurrection simply proved it. It is the word that conveys this to us. Thus, the word is its own sign to the people of the world. In essence, “I have used My people, Israel, to be a sign to the world as a proof that My word is true and that it is to be understood and accepted as such.” The sign of Israel is a sign that is not yet fully fulfilled. To assume that the church has replaced Israel reflects a fundamental flaw in Christian understanding. It fails to match the reality of what is coming upon the world in the tribulation and millennium. Be sure to have your theology concerning Israel properly aligned with what God is doing in the world. Otherwise, events that lie ahead will leave you surprised and confounded. “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:34-36 Lord God, thank You for being with us as we engage with Your word. On our own, it is often hard to see what is being conveyed. Add on top of that, innumerable incorrect analyses of what is being said have been loaded upon us. Help us cut to the heart of what You are telling us by reminding us to stay in and study Your word all our days. Amen.
In Ezekiel 16-18, what is all the imagery talking about? What does it mean that "the soul who sins shall die?" and "Does God take pleasure in the death of the wicked? In today's episode, Emma Dotter and Watermark member Brett Bruster answer these questions and discuss best Bible study practices for challenges passages, like here in Ezekiel. Additional references: Exodus 20Check out the Ezekiel commentaries by Daniel Block: https://a.co/d/an7FOseTo dig in deeper, check out: www.bestcommentaries.comYou can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources!https://www.jointhejourney.com/Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981dfCheck out the study sheet for the book of Ezekiel: https://assets.ctfassets.net/t8fa2ob1jrlx/1nfYhjBL8GoghOiWIQ8idp/72e3e691a949f1ca64db8f43b2a07eda/26-Ezekiel-Study-Sheet.pdf
Fr. Mike shows us from our reading of Jeremiah that when we give our hearts and minds over to idols we become foolish. The way of man is not in himself, we need the Lord to guide and correct us. In Ezekiel, we read about the vision of the measuring of the temple and Fr. Mike shows us how the early Church Fathers would read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament. Today's readings are Jeremiah 10-11, Ezekiel 40, and Proverbs 15:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
In Ezekiel 47, the prophet, along with his angelic guide, witnesses a river of living water flowing from the temple. Sitting on the bank of the river with the angel, Ezekiel observes that the river brings life to everything it touches. In the Gospels, Jesus often referred to himself as living water. This wasn't just a casual use of a metaphor; it was a deliberate theological statement that connected his ministry to ancient prophetic promises.Support the show
Fr. Mike explains the significance behind the mention of bones in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In Jeremiah, we learn that the bones of God's people are scattered because of their worship of false gods. In Ezekiel, we see the prophet prophesy over the valley of dry bones and the Lord's Spirit restoring and moving within them. Today's readings are Jeremiah 8, Ezekiel 37-38, and Proverbs 14:33-35. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike points out that the prophecy from Isaiah 61 is fulfilled by Jesus (as described in Luke 4). In Ezekiel, Fr. Mike draws our attention to the importance of the Sabbath as the sign of the covenant with God. The readings are Isaiah 61-62, Ezekiel 20, and Proverbs 13:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Ever wondered what would happen if God sent His prophet to the barbershop? In Ezekiel chapter 5, we witness one of Scripture's most unusual prophetic demonstrations as Ezekiel is commanded to take a sword, shave his head and beard, and perform a series of symbolic actions with his hair.Far from being merely theatrical, this peculiar haircut serves as a powerful visual prophecy about Jerusalem's impending destruction. The sword used as a razor foreshadows the violence awaiting the city. The careful weighing of the hair on scales represents divine judgment against God's standard. Each third of the hair meets a different fate – burning, cutting, and scattering – vividly illustrating the three ways Jerusalem's inhabitants would perish: by fire during the siege, by sword in battle, and through exile to foreign lands.Most poignant is the small remnant of hair Ezekiel tucks into his garment hem, symbolizing the faithful few God would preserve. Yet even from this protected remnant, some hairs are cast into fire, delivering a sobering message that even God's people aren't immune from accountability.The prophecy pulls no punches with its graphic language of famine, wild beasts, and God declaring "my eye will have no pity and I will not spare." This rarely-preached aspect of God's character challenges our modern tendency to emphasize divine love while ignoring divine justice. As one listener noted, "We've created a caricature of God as a sugar-coated uncle who brings presents on our birthday."This episode forces us to wrestle with difficult questions: How do we reconcile God's love with His wrath? Why don't churches address God's judgment more often? What does this mean for believers today who think membership in God's remnant guarantees immunity from consequences? Join us as we reason through these challenging passages and discover their timeless relevance for contemporary faith.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve
What does it mean to truly consume God's Word? In Ezekiel's remarkable commissioning narrative, we witness a prophet who literally eats a divine scroll as preparation for ministry.After experiencing the overwhelming majesty of God's presence in chapter 1, Ezekiel finds himself face-down in worship. But before he can speak for God, something extraordinary must happen. The Spirit enters him, setting him on his feet and empowering him for the challenging task ahead. This powerful sequence reveals a timeless principle: no one can stand before God or perform His work without divine empowerment.God doesn't sugarcoat Ezekiel's assignment. Repeatedly referring to Israel as "rebellious," "stubborn," and "obstinate," God prepares the prophet for significant resistance. Yet whether they listen or not, Ezekiel must faithfully deliver the divine message.The most striking element comes when God extends a hand holding a scroll covered with "lamentations, mourning and woe." Ezekiel is commanded to eat it – a vivid metaphor for internalizing God's message before proclaiming it. This symbolic action connects directly to Revelation 10, where John experiences a similar prophetic meal, highlighting the continuity between these apocalyptic books.For believers today, this passage offers profound insights about spiritual nourishment. Just as physical sustenance requires daily intake, our souls need regular feeding on Scripture. Through devotional reading, systematic study, memorization, or verse-by-verse exploration, we must internalize God's Word for it to transform us from within.Join us as we explore how God prepares His messengers through the power of His Spirit and the nourishment of His Word. Whether you're facing your own "rebellious house" or simply seeking deeper spiritual sustenance, Ezekiel's commissioning offers timeless wisdom for every believer's journey.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve
“On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: ‘Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!’ The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.” (Jonah 3:4–5 NLT) The Old Testament prophet Jonah very reluctantly went to the city of Nineveh to warn that God was going to judge its people in forty days. Jonah was reluctant because he understood God’s nature. He knew that if the Ninevites repented, God would forgive them and spare them His judgment. That’s not the outcome Jonah was rooting for. He hated the Ninevites and wanted to see them face God’s judgment. Jonah understood that he served a merciful and loving God. The fact that God was sending him to warn the Ninevites to repent instead of just judging them was evidence of His compassion and concern. Sure enough, Jonah’s worst-case scenario became a reality. The people of Nineveh repented from their sins and the king commanded his subjects to “pray earnestly to God” (Jonah 3:8 NLT). As a result, God lifted His judgment from the people of Nineveh. People in our culture today would have you believe that the God of the Bible is a vengeful deity who revels in His power to bring death and destruction on anyone who dares to disobey Him. Scripture itself paints a different picture. The God of the Bible is holy and just. Sin cannot exist in His presence. And He demands that all sin be punished. In Romans 6:23, the apostle Paul tells us that the punishment for sin is death. But the God of the Bible is also loving in a way that we cannot fully comprehend. He sent His Son to take the punishment we deserve for our sin and to die in our place. God sacrificed His Son so that anyone who believes in Him can escape judgment and have eternal life. In Ezekiel 33:11, God said, “I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live” (NLT). The apostle Peter, in talking about why Jesus hasn’t returned yet, said, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). Everyone has sinned, so everyone deserves God’s punishment. If you receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you receive eternal life in Heaven with Him because your punishment has already been taken by Him. If you reject Him, you will face God’s punishment yourself—that is, eternal separation from Him. God has gone to unimaginable lengths to save you from His punishment. The next step is yours. If you confess your sins, turn away from them, and trust in Jesus, you will never have to worry about God’s judgment. Instead, you’ll discover the depths of His mercy, grace, and love. Reflection question: How would you explain God’s holiness, justice, and love to someone who knows little about Him? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Human beings are evil. We are hardwired to curate our self-image, excuse our failures, and cling to the stories that make us feel good about ourselves. The truth is, we are hypocrites—fluctuating between condemning unspeakable horrors, often hidden from public view, and idolizing the very politicians and institutional cowards who cause or permit them.The same psychological games we play to deceive ourselves work flawlessly when we're told to choose the “lesser of two evils” during election season.Listen to yourselves, habibi. You reject Scripture—yet somehow affirm its judgment against you when you call one of your human choices the “lesser of two evils.”You hypocrite.Most people will never acknowledge their complicity in the killing fields of Gaza. It's far more comfortable to live in self-deception than to face the truth about the monsters we really are.Evil functions under a triple constraint.First: your reflection, shown in a natural mirror, not of your own making. You want to look away, to forget what you see. So, you rush to the second constraint: the mirror of your fairy tales—the one that says you are the “fairest of them all.” Or worse, the artificial mirrors in your data centers, which regurgitate what everyone wants to hear, calibrated to the desires of monsters.Between these two lies the third constraint: your neighbor. The neighbor who also sees your reflection, not in the natural mirror of Scripture, but in how you behave when you follow yourself, even though they are as blind as you.In the end, the natural mirror does not care if you “speak the truth.” It already knows that you, like your virtue-signaling, murderous, failed politicians, are blind, arrogant, and evil.The mirror has only one objective: to force you to see the truth it reflects about you, and not to let you look away. Can you accept this? Can you sit with it? Or will you, once again, project your truth onto someone else caught in the same triple constraint?You hypocrite.You blind fool.On that day, no amount of pleading will bring you comfort.This week, I discuss Luke 8:31.Photo by Kyle Johnson on UnsplashShow Notes“They were imploring him not to command them to go away into the abyss.” Lk 8:31.“For if anyone is a listener of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; (τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γενέσεως — literally, “the face of birth” or “natural face”) for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” (James 1:23–24)παρακαλέω (parakaleō) / נ–ח–ם (nūn–ḥet–mēm) / ن–ح–م (nūn–ḥāʾ–mīm)Encourage, exhort, and comfort. Feel regret, be sorry, and console yourself. Provide comfort. Saul disobeyed God's command by sparing King Agag and taking spoils from the battle. God, through Samuel, declares that he regrets [נִחַמְתִּי (niḥamti)] making Saul king:“I regret [נִחַמְתִּי (niḥamti)] that I have made Saul king, because he has turned back from following me and has not carried out my commands.” And Samuel was furious, and he cried out to the Lord all night. (1 Samuel 15:11)Later in 1 Samuel 15:30, Saul, like Legion, makes a self-serving plea, concerned with his reputation rather than divine obedience.David's so-called consolation [נִחַם (niḥam)] in 2 Samuel was not repentance or discernment—it was political sentimentality disguised as pastoral care. It resembled the rhetoric of a liberal American politician who publicly laments starving children in Gaza, yet quietly approves weapons sales, enforces food embargoes, and suppresses dissent.David had a soft spot for Absalom, even though Absalom murdered his half-brother Amnon in a revenge killing for the rape of their sister Tamar. Instead of submitting to God's instruction, David inserted himself as judge and jury, led not by divine command but by personal affection and public image. This sentimental indulgence led to Absalom's exile, his orchestrated return, and eventual rebellion—a direct consequence of David's failure to uphold justice according to the Lord's command, rather than his personal “consolation.”And the heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted [נִחַם (niḥam)] regarding Amnon, since he was dead. (2 Samuel 13:39)Pharaoh, in the following example, is lexically analogous to Legion in Luke 8:31, who pleads not to be judged, but to seek relief from consequences in lieu of repentance. In Ezekiel, Pharaoh observes other fallen nations, tyrants, and armies defeated, and finds a twisted comfort in their shared destruction:Pharaoh will see them, and he will be comforted [וְנִחַם (weniḥam)] for all his hordes killed by the sword—Pharaoh and all his army,” declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 32:31)In this final example from Lamentations, a destroyed Jerusalem calls for God's wrath to fall upon her enemies. But unlike Pharaoh, who found twisted comfort in the judgment of others (Ezekiel 32:31), this plea arises under the unbearable weight of divine chastisement. As it is written:“The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against his command. Hear now, all you peoples, and see my pain; My virgins and my young men have gone into captivity.” (Lamentations 1:18)The call for vindication is not a boast but a plea, spoken on the lips of the harlot city—Jerusalem—who confesses her guilt and urges the Lord to act. Her cry for the nations to “become like me” is an appeal to divine vengeance, not for destruction's sake, but to expose their harlotry, undo their rebellion, and make possible their submission to God's command, which Jerusalem itself foolishly rejected:People have heard that I groan; there is no one to comfort me [מְנַחֵם (menaḥem)]. All my enemies have heard of my disaster; they are joyful that you have done it. Oh, that you would bring the day which you have proclaimed, so that they will become like me. (Lamentations 1:21)Luke 8:31, ἐπιτάσσω, Legion “pleads” for consolation in Luke. In Qur'an 7:14–15, this motif corresponds to a mashal with a different root, أ–م–ر (ʾalif–mīm–rāʾ), where Iblis “begs” God for respite: ن–ظ–ر (nūn–ẓāʾ–rāʾ).He said, “Grant me [أَنظِرْنِي (anẓirnī)] respite until the Day they are resurrected.”ἐπιτάσσω (epitassō...
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