Tag Archives: Israel

Ezekiel's Two Sticks

Ezekiel 37:15-28 and Elements of God’s Future Promises to Israel

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The Prophet Ezekiel was called to an unusual but important ministry to the captives of Judah in Babylon. Despite his unusual methods (e.g., symbolic acts) and extraordinary visions (e.g., Ezek 40–48), his overall message is clear and provides insight into God’s plan for Israel.   The Context of Ezekiel’s Prophecy of the Two Sticks Ezekiel was taken captive in the second wave of the Babylonian Captivity when King Jehoiachin was taken captive in 597 BC (Ezek 1:2). Ezekiel then spent the remainder of his life in exile in Babylon, ministering to the captives that lived by the river Chebar (1:1, 3).
Ruins in Israel

Why the Promises to Israel Matter Today

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Orthodoxy1 always precedes orthopraxy.2 Correct doctrine always precedes correct practice. No one can function with biblical practice and methodology without first having correct beliefs in place. Wrong theology will ultimately lead to errors in practice. Virtually every aberrant practice can be traced back to errors of theology. This truth is seen throughout Bible history and well as church history. This principle of ministry serves as an undeniable truth for every aspect of both doctrine and practice. Theology is about connections within doctrines and these connections inevitably end up in the practice of ministry.
Jesus' Triumphal Entry

Fulfilled Messianic Prophecies from the Book of Zechariah

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Among the most intriguing prophetic sections of the Bible are the prophecies of Zechariah which are contained in the book that bears his name. Zechariah is teeming with Messianic prophecies, recording some of the most detailed Messianic predictions. Some of Zechariah’s prophecies await future fulfillment (e.g., Zech 14:1-4). However, many of Zechariah’s Messianic prophecies relate to the first advent of Christ and are specifically identified as fulfilled by the Gospel authors in the events surrounding Christ’s Passion.1 Our modest goal of this study is to survey Zechariah’s fulfilled, first-advent Messianic prophecies and to offer some principles that we can learn from these passages.
Virgin in Isaiah 7

The Virgin in Isaiah 7:14

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INTRODUCTION According to the Gospel of Matthew, the virgin Mary was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. Jesus the Messiah was miraculously conceived, and, several months later, God was with us. The birth of the Messiah took place in this way, according to Matthew 1:23, in fulfillment of a prophecy—“Look! The virgin will be pregnant and give birth to a son. They will call his name ‘Immanuel’ which is translated, ‘God with Us.’” From Matthew’s account, the virgin birth of Jesus the Messiah is miraculous but simple, and straightforward.
Babylonian King

Israel’s Future Enemy: The King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:4–21

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The Bible has much to say about Israel—past, present, and future. This small plot of land, this scattered people throughout the world, are precious in the sight of the Lord (Zech 2:8). The prophets prophesied a bright future filled with abundance and blessing. On the eve of blessing, however, will be a time of great trial. The persecutor of Israel will prevail, conquering rulers, brutally ruling over his own people, and leading a worldwide persecution of the Jewish people. Israel’s deliverer will not come from a political alliance, but from the true King of Kings who will usher in a time of eternal blessing.

Fundamentalism and the Hermeneutics of Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism

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Introduction Fundamentalism has never embraced one uniform system of theology. My purpose here is to provide an overview and comparison of Covenant Theology (henceforth, CT) and Dispensational Theology (henceforth, DT) used by many fundamentalists throughout its history. While some fundamentalists today attempt to eschew any (rigid) theological system, in actuality everyone uses some type of grid (a set of suppositions) to interpret Biblical passages. Often the difference between those who embrace established theological systems and those who do not is that the latter do not realize they are using such a grid and have not thought through the Bible in a systematic way.

The Tour of a Lifetime

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The heart of an Israel tour is to observe the topography, geography, and culture which provide unparalleled insight into the Bible. When we are there, we do not use PowerPoint slides; we simply point and say, “That is where it took place.” Such “hands- and eyes-on” experience takes your knowledge of the Bible to a whole new level in just a few days. Every day seems like a Sunday worship service as we go from site to site and learn new truths about the Bible.

The Future Kingdom in Zephaniah

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The question of the literalness of the prophecies concerning Israel’s future is a major theological issue today. That issue is a key distinction between dispensational and Reformed/Covenant views of eschatology. In this article Dr. Ken Rathbun, a graduate of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary and the academic dean of Fairview Baptist Bible College in Jamaica, explores the prophecies related to Israel’s future in Zephaniah 3. His careful interpretation provides a paradigm for interpreting other prophetic passages. In his second article he looks at the implications of a dispensational approach to prophecy.

The Israelite Prophecies: A Cause for Rejoicing

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Bible-believers differ in how to interpret prophecy. These differences are not merely academic. They affect a person’s view of the end times, the Old Testament, the future of Israel and the church, and even God Himself. The opposing viewpoints are characterized under the theologies of covenant theology and dispensationalism. From my study of the Scripture, I am committed to dispensationalism so far as it reflects a consistently literal interpretation of the Scriptures. I believe dispensationalism offers the best framework in which to understand how God interacts with various people groups throughout His revealed history.

What Is New Covenant Theology?

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Over the past few years, the Faith Pulpit has alerted its readers to some aberrant theological movements and positions, e.g., the Emerging Church, the New Perspective on Paul, and the Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic. These views may seem obscure at first, but they eventually make their way into the life and practice of a church. Several elements of the Emerging Church movement are already showing up in churches outside that movement. This issue of the Faith Pulpit examines another doctrinal issue that pastors and church leaders should be aware of.