Bibliology

Joseph’s Prophetic Dreams and Their Fulfillment

Genesis 37-50 records the incredible account of Joseph, his dysfunctional family, and God’s faithfulness through it all. Joseph’s prophetic dreams during his youth sustained him in his making wise choices...
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Joseph’s Prophetic Dreams and Their Fulfillment
Eschatology

The Fulfillment of Daniel’s “70 Weeks” Prophecy

One unique and interesting facet of biblical literature is the existence of predictive prophecy. I am always encouraged by the cohesiveness of God's word when I read in Scripture of...
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The Fulfillment of Daniel’s “70 Weeks” Prophecy
Eschatology

Fulfilled Prophecy in Daniel 2 & 7

The hiker who ascends the lofty mountain and pauses to view the landscape below him can see in one panoramic view the entire forest and its relationship to the landscape...
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Fulfilled Prophecy in Daniel 2 & 7
Eschatology

Isaiah’s Amazing Prophecy of King Cyrus

Isa 44:28: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation...
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Isaiah’s Amazing Prophecy of King Cyrus
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The Value of Bible Software for Ministry, Part 1

Never before has there been a more exciting time to study the Word of God. Resources that at one time were available only to a few privileged people are now available to anyone with a computer. Over the last two decades, Bible software has made incredible leaps in providing students of the Word of God with powerful tools for exegesis. Both of us have used Bible software programs extensively in our education, teaching, and church ministries. Barely a day goes by when we are not using our respective research programs for classes, sermon and lesson preparation, scholarly research, or simply for devotions.

When Does (the Sanctity of) Life Begin?

When life begins is a question of current interest in theology, science and the media. The issue is clouded by emotion and personal beliefs. Some contend that life begins at conception. Some believe life begins at birth. Others say the beginning of life occurs in various stages of individual development. The “beginning of life” is germane to stem cell research, cloning, abortion rights, and euthanasia. As with many controversial issues, a clear understanding is seldom achieved. Definitions are, many times, drafted to suit a particular personal belief or political position.

The Meaning of 1 John 3:9

Four Views That Appeal To This Verse 1. The works-righteousness view This view teaches that one earns or keeps salvation by good works, and thus that the person who chooses to sin has forfeited any right to heaven. This view contradicts the Bible’s clear teaching on salvation as God’s gift through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), purchased for us not by our works but by the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross (Romans 3:24–25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24). 2. The instantaneous sanctification/Wesleyan view This view states that it is possible for a believer to have an experience following conversion in which the principle or root of sin is removed and replaced by love for God.

Economic Wisdom as an Analogy to Prudence of Separation, Part 2

We have previously demonstrated that economic prudence involves the judicious allocation of limited resources. Economic wisdom also reminds us that personal freedoms must be balanced by public necessities and a shared communal well-being. Samuel Gregg argues that “it is irresponsible for people studying public policy from a Christian perspective to ignore not only the self-evident fact of scarcity but also the likely economic consequences of different choices.”1 Therefore, economic ethics “involves discerning the object of an act and the intention underlying the act, as well as considering the side effects of the act and the circumstances surrounding it.”2

Economic Wisdom as an Analogy to Prudence of Separation, Part 1

Sound economic theory assumes the fundamental and undeniable reality of “limited resources.” Lionel Robbins, former Chair in Political Economy at the London School of Economics, defined economics as “the science which studies human behavior as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.”1 Robbins wrote, “But when time and the means for achieving ends are limited and capable of alternative application, and the ends are capable of being distinguished in order of importance, then behavior necessarily assumes the form of choice.

Real Religion, Part 2

Care for widows should be viewed from two perspectives immediate and long term. First, the death of the husband must be addressed. The wife’s world is devastated. Her lifelong companion and provider is gone. Words do not do justice to the instant, entire, irreversible change that occurs at the moment a woman loses her mate. Special consideration must be given to this time and the immediate days and weeks that follow. Immediate Ministry We must realize that a woman instantaneously experiences a transition from dependence to an independence for which she is not prepared.

Real Religion, Part 1

The Faith Pulpit presents topics of interest to pastors and interested lay men and women. These two articles should especially benefit those ministering to ladies who have lost their husbands. Readers are welcome to photocopy these articles to make them more widely available. It is our prayer that Dr. Schmidt’s treatment of this vital subject will be a help and encouragement to you as you minister to others, particularly to widows. The word religion usually makes Bible believers nervous. The word is usually associated with man’s attempt to earn God’s favor, but the New Testament does use it a few times in a positive way.

Reviewing Five Rapture Positions, Part 2

IV. The Post-Tribulational View The fourth view to be considered is the Post-Tribulational view, which teaches that the rapture and the second coming are aspects of a single event occurring at the end of the Tribulation period. Christ returns to the clouds, the church meets him in the air, and together they return to the earth. Perhaps the best known contemporary post-tribulational writer is Robert Gundry. His main argument is that, “Direct, unquestioned statements of Scripture that Jesus Christ will return after the tribulation and that the first resurrection will occur after the tribulation, coupled with the absence of statements placing similar events before the tribulation, make it natural to place the rapture of the Church after the tribulation” (The Church and the Tribulation, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Corporation.

Reviewing Five Rapture Positions, Part 1

The rapture of the church is not an incidental but a fundamental doctrine of the New Testament. It is the greatest hope that Christ gave to the church. The biblical writers speak of it as a blessed hope (Tit 2:13), a purifying hope (1 Thess 4:18), a comforting hope (1 Thess 4:18) and a sure hope (2 Pet. 1:19). Since there is much confusion among Christians concerning the rapture, the following study should be helpful in clarifying the subject. This article will briefly examine five views regarding the rapture, including each position, its proponents, supposed proofs, and any problems associated with each view.

The Relationship of Resurrection to Judgment

It is not my intention to discuss all of the judgments that I believe Scripture describes. Nor is it my purpose to defend premillennialism, which is the belief that Christ will return to resurrect and glorify His saints and then set up a one thousand-year reign upon the earth. This article assumes that the premillennial view is correct. Premillennialism necessarily teaches two future resurrections—the resurrection of believers before the one thousand-year kingdom, and the resurrection of unbelievers following that kingdom. In this article I will demonstrate the inconsistency of affirming premillennialism, with its two distinct resurrections, while also affirming that there will be only one general judgment during which all humanity will stand and be judged.