The NIV Does Not Call Jesus Satan – Isaiah 14:12 & Revelation 22:16

I have heard this accusation for the third time this week and I want the truth to be put out there clearly and concisely so that if people google this subject hopefully they don’t find all the misinformation out there but get the truth. Here is how this argument against the NIV usually goes. The [...]

What is Your Most Encouraging Verse in the Bible?

What has been the most encouraging verse in the Bible to you? Here are some of my favorites:

1 Peter 1:3-4 – “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his [...]

Big Bird Might Just Be the AntiChrist

In light of the last post critiquing the ridiculous video about how Barack Obama is supposedly the antichrist, I thought I would construct a case for Big Bird being the antichrist.

I have never heard bigbird confess Jesus as Lord. That is the first telling sign that big bird might just be the antichrist (2 John [...]

God’s Desire to Dwell With Us

One concept that runs through scripture from Genesis to Revelation is God dwelling or being present with his people. We see God being present with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:8-9). We see it in Moses’ days when the presence of God was represented in the tabernacle, specifically the ark. Once [...]

Thirsting for God & Restless Life Syndrome

I have heard a lot of people talk about hungering for God. There are examples in scripture where we are told we need to hunger for God and for righteousness (Matthew 5:6, John 6:25ff). Thirsting for God is used in scripture more often than hungering for him. The reason for that may be that thirst [...]

N.T. Wright on Emotionalism

From his chapter on A World Reborn: Revelation in Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship:
We have allowed our proper dislike of emotionalism to deceive us into trying to ignore our emotions. But if Good Friday and Easter don’t stir our emotions, then the tyrant has indeed enslaved us. We have become like a garden paved [...]

What Does Paul refer to as “Scripture” in 2 Timothy 3:14-17

I recently received this email from a friend of mine,
Matt,
I have a question about 2 Timothy 3:14-17, which reads:
“14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become
convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and
how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able [...]

Revelation 5 – The Scroll and the Lamb

To see the previous posts in this series (Chapters 1-4) see here. For the text of Revelation 5 click here.
In Revelation 4, John was taken up into the heavenly throne room where he saw God and the four living creatures (angels) who were giving praise to God. John saw the 24 elders who gave their [...]

Revelation 4 – The Heavenly Throne Room

Following the seven letters begins a section that is primarily set in heaven. John is taken by the Spirit to the heavenly court of God. John sees someone on the throne and begins to describe what he sees in language loaded with covenantal significance:

4:3 – rainbow (sign of the covenant with Noah)
4:5 – lighting, thunder, [...]

Revelation 3 – 7 Churches, 7 Letters

Revelation chapter 3 continues the 7 letters with letters to Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. For the text of Revelation 3 click here.
The Church in Sardis:
This city of Asia Minor, once the capital of Lydia, had its historical shares of ups and downs. The church in Sardis had its share of ups and downs as well. [...]