Politics and Apologetics Press by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=2030

Politics and Apologetics Press

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

For over 27 years, Apologetics Press has endeavored to defend the Christian Faith against the challenges of evolutionists, atheists, agnostics, humanists, and skeptics. We remain committed to demonstrating the accuracy of the Bible and the truth of the Christian religion. We continue to challenge the false claims of scientists in their rejection of the biblical account of Creation. Apologetics Press is not a political organization and has no interest in becoming one. However, in Satan’s perennial ploy to disguise evil and subvert people through deceit and calumny, he has managed to politicize moral and spiritual issues. More than ever before in American history, fundamental moral/religious issues have been hijacked by the politicians—forcing Christians to grapple with the dissonance created by loyalty to political party on the one hand, and loyalty to God on the other. The old adage—“politics and religion don’t mix”—has become a nonsensical concept as Christians increasingly are being forced to face up to their responsibility to react to the political forces that have encroached on Christian morality. Specifically, the two premiere moral issues that have been politicized are (1) homosexuality and the definition of marriage, and (2) the treatment of the unborn via abortion and embryonic stem-cell research. Christians must face the fact that, on these two issues alone, the very survival of America is at stake (see Miller, 2005; Miller, 2006). On these two crucial matters, Apologetics Press must, and will, continue to speak out.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Assessing the November, 2006 elections from a spiritual/religious perspective cannot help but bring some alarm and sadness. True, seven more states (bringing the total to 26) passed state constitutional amendments that define marriage as a man and a woman (Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Sadly, Arizona voters (by a narrow margin—51.4% to 48.6%) failed to pass a marriage protection amendment (“Marriage Protection...,” 2006). With elation, Victory, the nation’s largest LGBT [Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender—DM] political action committee reported: “In 15 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBTofficials grow from 49 to more than 350. Roughly 22% of all Americans are represented by an openlyLGBT elected official” (“Gay Candidates...,” 2006).

One bright spot: When Dr. Frank Kauffman, assistant professor of social work at Missouri State University, demanded that his class sign a letter affirming that homosexuals make healthy foster parents, student Emily Brooker refused. Pronounced in violation of the social workers’ code of ethics, she sued the school for violating its own policies regarding freedom of speech and expression on campus. Surprisingly, the case was settled when Brooker was offered a generous settlement (which included free school tuition and living expenses), and professor Kauffman was removed from the classroom (“Missouri State Settles...,” 2006).Nevertheless, the war over human sexuality remains at a high pitch.

ABORTION & EMBRYONIC STEM-CELL RESEARCH

Those who are making war on the unborn scored unfortunate victories in the recent election (“Bad Night...,” 2006). By a narrow margin, Missourians authorized the legalized killing of human embryos for their stem cells. In South Dakota, the dignity of the unborn was dashed when citizens failed to uphold a ban against abortion. In both California and Oregon, teenage girls were given the “right” to have abortions without their parents’ knowledge or consent. Even now, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to uphold the ban on the unbelievably barbaric procedure of partial-birth abortion.

These events are tragic circumstances for a nation that once openly avowed attachment to God and Christian virtue. The downward spiral into moral depravity stands in such stark contrast to the origins of America. The Founders would be horrified. After serving two terms as vice-president alongside President George Washington, on October 11, 1798, the second president of these United States, John Adams, delivered a speech to military officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts: “[W]e have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.... Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (1854, 9:229). When Christian religion and morality no longer characterize the people and are therefore excluded from the political process, we can fully expect the nation, in time, to collapse.

While the ultimate solution to our nation’s woes is recommitment to God and the moral precepts of the Bible, one immediate strategy ought to be that Christians do more to control the political forces that are running amok. In the words of President James A. Garfield:

Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If that body be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature.... [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation...it will be becausethose who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces (as quoted in Taylor, 1970, p. 180, emp. added).

On Friday, June 20, 1788, in the Virginia convention assembled to debate ratification of the federalConstitution, James Madison reminded his colleagues of the only ultimate safeguard for national preservation:

But I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom. Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks, no form of government, can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men; so that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them (Elliot, 1836, 3:536-537, emp. added).

Judging by the recent nationwide elections, the virtue, intelligence, and wisdom of a sizable number of Americans has been called into question.

REFERENCES

Adams, John (1854), The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, ed. Charles Adams (Boston, MA: Little, Brown, and Company).

“Bad Night for Parents and Unborn Children” (2006), Traditional Values Coalition, November 9, [On-line], URL: http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2928.

Elliot, Jonathan, ed. (1836), The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution (Washington, D.C.: Jonathan Elliot), [On-line], URL: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lled&fileName=003/ lled003.db&recNum=547&itemLink=r%3Fammem%2Fhlaw%3A@field% 28DOCID%2B@lit%28ed0032%29%29%230030003&linkText=1.

“Gay Candidates Win in Record Numbers Across U.S.” (2006), Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, November 8, [On-line], URL: http://www.victoryfund.org/index.php?src=news&prid=183& category=News%20Releases.

“Marriage Protection Amendments Win In 7 of 8 States” (2006), Traditional Values Coalition, November 9, [On-line], URL: http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=2929.

Miller, Dave (2005), “Is America’s Iniquity Full?” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL:http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/305.

Miller, Dave (2006), “Destruction of Marriage Equals Destruction of America,” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3105.

“Missouri State Settles Lawsuit with Emily Brooker” (2006), Missouri State University Office of University Communications, November 8, [On-line], URL:http://www.news.missouristate.edu/releases/27833.htm.

Taylor, John (1970), Garfield of Ohio: The Available Man (New York: W.W. Norton).

Fighting the Crowd Over a Young Earth by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=882

Fighting the Crowd Over a Young Earth

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

It is difficult indeed to find any common ground between evolutionists and creationists. In fact, the two groups disagree on just about every subject in the Universe. But there is one area where they see eye to eye: the age of the Earth. Now, of course, they do not agree about how old the Earth is, but they do agree that if it has an age measured in thousands of years rather than billions, then evolution never could have occurred.

Therefore, evolutionists use every means at their disposal to “prove” that the Earth is very, very old. In Darwin’s day, the age of the Earth was around 20 million years. It is interesting to note, however, that from a scientific viewpoint, the age of the Earth has effectively doubled approximately every 15-20 years—so that planet Earth should be celebrating approximately 5 billion years of existence (or 250 times as old as it was thought to be during Darwin’s day).

TRUE SCIENCE AND THE AGE OF THE EARTH

Even though most science textbooks and journals teach that the Earth is billions of years old, many scientific findings do not agree. In fact, there are over a hundred different scientific methods for calculating the age of the Earth, and roughly 70 of those render an age of the Earth measured in thousands of years, not billions.

One of the strongest scientific arguments for a young Earth comes from the field of human population statistics. According to the records that are available, the human population on Earth doubles approximately every 35 years. If you break down that figure, it represents an annual increase of 20,000 people per every million (Morris, 1996, pp. 317-320). Let’s suppose that humankind started with just two individuals (we will call them Adam and Eve, for the sake of argument). And suppose that they lived on the Earth 1 million years ago (some evolutionists suggest that man, in one form or another, has been on the Earth 3-5 million years, but we will use the more conservative figure of 1 million). Suppose, further, that an average generation was 42 years, and that each family had an average of 2.4 children (they probably had many more than that but again, we will use conservative estimates). Allowing for wars, epidemic diseases, etc., there would be approximately 1 x 10⁵⁰⁰⁰people on the Earth today! That number is a 1 followed by 5,000 zeroes. But the entire Universe (at an estimated size of 20 billion light-years in diameter) would hold only 1 x 10¹⁰⁰ people.

On the other hand, if one set the age of the Earth at about 6,000 years, the current world population would be approximately 4.34 billion people. Evolutionary figures thus would imply an Earth population 10⁴⁹⁰⁰ times greater than would fit into the entire Universe! The question is: which of the two figures is right on target, and which could not possibly be correct? Allowing for an Earth measured in billions of years compromises both the biblical text and the scientific evidence. It is a young Earth after all.

REFERENCE

Morris, Henry M. and John D. Morris (1996), The Modern Creation Trilogy—Volume 2: Science & Creation (Green Forest, AR: Master Books).

The Essentiality of Evidence in Christianity by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=2138

The Essentiality of Evidence in Christianity

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Though “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” is mind-boggling, and though “His judgments and His ways” are “unsearchable” and “past finding out” (Romans 11:33; Deuteronomy 29:29), and even though finite man will never fully be able to wrap his mind around a holy, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient Creator, nevertheless, God has consistently dealt with mankind in rational ways providing the evidence needed for a reasonable faith. Consider, for example, how God has always ensured that enough evidence was available for honest, truth-seekers to know that He exists (cf. Proverbs 8:17; Matthew 7:7-8). Paul wrote: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20, emp. added). Since the time of Adam and Eve, mankind has been able to clearly see how “the things that are made” testify on behalf of a powerful, invisible Creator. As the psalmist proclaimed: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth. And their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). The reason why “thefool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1, emp. added), is because God has always given man adequate evidence for His existence. Sadly, the foolish person dismisses the evidence.

When the prophet Samuel addressed the nation of Israel at Saul’s coronation, he did not merely deliver an emotionally based speech. He commanded them, saying, “[S]tand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord” (1 Samuel 12:7, emp. added). Similarly, Isaiah wrote: “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow’” (Isaiah 1:18, emp. added). Consider also the stark contrast between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In hopes of getting the attention of the bogus god Baal, these emotionally charged, pretend prophets “leaped about the altar,” “cried aloud,” and “cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them” (1 Kings 18:26,28)—all for naught. Elijah, on the other hand, had a rational faith that was grounded in the Word of God. He said to God, “I have done all these things at Your Word” (1 Kings 18:36, emp. added). His personal faith, as well as the message of faith that He preached, were rooted and grounded in the Heavenly revealed, rational Word of Almighty God. Biblical faith, after all, “comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

This same kind of rational, evidence-based faith and preaching can be found in the New Testament. Consider the actions and teachings of Jesus. He could have merely announced to the world that He was the Messiah. He could have only told people that He was the Son of God. He could have expected everyone simply to believe His claims that He was Heaven-sent, and never given His contemporaries any proof for His deity. However, even though there were occasions when Jesus chose not to offer additional proof of His deity (because of the hard-heartedness of many of His hearers; e.g., Mark 8:11-12), Jesus understood the essentiality of evidence. During His earthly ministry, He repeatedly gave ample proof of His deity. He noted how John the Baptizer bore witness on His behalf (John 5:33). He said, “[T]he Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me” (John 5:36, emp. added; cf. John 1:32-33; Matthew 3:16-17). He spoke of how “the Scriptures…testify of Me” (John 5:39, emp. added), and specifically noted how “Moses…wrote about Me” (John 5:46, emp. added). He also noted how His miraculous works bore witness to His deity (John 5:36). Jesus performed many miracles that demonstrated His power over nature, disease, demons, and death. He understood that His own verbal testimony alone would not convince anyone in a court of law (John 5:31; cf. Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15). Thus, at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem He told the unbelieving Jews, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:37-38, emp. added). Sadly, His foolish, stubborn enemies repeatedly rejected the irrefutable evidence that Jesus presented on His behalf.

Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus presented for His divinity was His miraculous resurrection. He could have risen from the dead and never appeared to anyone on Earth. He could have departed from the tomb and allowed speculation to run wild. Christianity could have begun on the back of uncertainty and mysticism. Instead, Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God…by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). He appeared alive to Mary Magdalene, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to the apostles, to James, and to over 500 disciples at once, most of whom were still living and could be questioned several years later when Paul, who also witnessed the risen Savior, wrote 1 Corinthians (15:5-8). Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3, emp. added), because He is the Head of a reasonable religion. The excitement, energy, and courage that early disciples manifested was grounded in the rock-solid proofs of Jesus’ resurrection (among other things, e.g., fulfilled prophecies). The emotional, energetic, evangelistic faith of 21^st-century Christians must likewise be rooted firm and deep in evidence.

Jesus was not the only New Testament figure who demonstrated the necessity of a knowledge-based faith. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John packed their gospel accounts with confirmation of Jesus being the Christ. Consider just the beginnings of these four books. Matthew began his account of the Gospel by genealogically proving that Jesus was the promised seed of Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1-17). He then noted how Jesus was born of a virgin, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:18-25). Mark began “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) by quoting Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. Mark proved propheticallythat John the Baptizer was “the voice of the one crying in the wilderness,” and Jesus was “the LORD” (1:3). Luke also opened his account of the Good News with an appeal to evidence, knowledge, and understanding.

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed (1:1-4).

Then there is John’s gospel account, which, from beginning to end, is packed with proof that Jesus is the miracle-working Son of God (1:3: 2:1-11; 20:30-31; 21:25). In fact, the stated purpose of his record of the various miracles of Christ (and there were many others John did not mention) was so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (20:30-31). If biblical faith is merely “a firm belief in something for which there is no proof,” which is one definition Merriam-Webster (on-line) gives for the word “faith” (2011), then why did John and the synoptic writers spend so much time offering proof for Who Jesus is? Answer: Because the truthful, reasonable facts of God, His Word, and His Son are the foundation of real faith (John 8:31-32; 17:17; Romans 10:17).

When the apostle Paul stood before Festus and King Agrippa, he spoke of those things “which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23-24). However, as Paul “made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!’” (26:24). How did Paul respond? Did he answer with a mere emotional appeal? Did he welcome the idea of an unreasonable, unverifiable Gospel? Not at all. Paul humbly, but confidently, replied: “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason” (Acts 26:25).

CONCLUSION

Sadly, most accountable people in the world will never accept the mountain of evidence for Christianity and become Christians (Matthew 7:13-14). But, those of us who choose to put our faith in God, Jesus, and His Word, can do so because “the truth” can be known (John 8:32), rightly obeyed (Romans 6:17; 10:12-13), and logically defended (1 Peter 3:15).

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=519

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Who could forget God’s promises to the “father of the faithful?” Not only would God bless all nations through Abraham and give his descendants the land upon which Abraham’s feet had trod, but God also would cause Abraham’s descendants to multiply so that they would be as countless as the stars of the sky. In Genesis 15:5, we read God’s promise to His friend Abraham: “Then He [God] brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ ” The prophet Jeremiah referred to a similar promise that God issued to David, in which He explained that the stars “cannot be numbered” (33:22). Indeed, that the stars are numberless comes as no surprise to those of us who have seen pictures taken from the Moon, or peered into other galaxies through million-dollar telescopes.

Yet, the idea that the stars could conceivably be counted remained firmly planted in the minds of some all the way up until the early 1900s. In chapter 12 of his exciting book, Why the Bible is Number One, Kenny Barfield catalogs a host of ancient, and not-so-ancient, personalities who attempted to count the stars. One such Greek astronomer, Hipparchus, almost two centuries before Christ, went on record in multiple ancient sources with figures anywhere from 800 to 1,080 for the total number of stars. Barfield sites other ancient writers such as Chang Hing, who put the number around 2,500 “not including those which the sailors observe.” The idea that the there existed a fairly small number of stars conceivably countable by humans was quite a prevalent notion.

It is humorous today to compare the actual estimated number of stars to those figures garnered from the ancients. With our modern knowledge we have estimated that there are over 25 sextillion stars (25 with 21 zeros after it)! Indeed, the Bible was correct when it commented that the stars “cannot be numbered.” And, even though the promises to Abraham and David were not uttered with scientific information as their primary concern, it is true that whenever the Bible speaks on such matters, it always is scientifically accurate. What else would we expect from the “Father of lights?”

REFERENCES

Barfield, Kenny (1997), Why the Bible is Number 1 (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock).

From Mark Copeland... "MINISTERING SPIRITS" Terms And Descriptions Of Angels

                         "MINISTERING SPIRITS"

                    Terms And Descriptions Of Angels

INTRODUCTION

1. The subject of angels has certainly become a popular one...
   a. Bookstores are filled with books dealing with angels
   b. Popular TV shows and movies depict angels working in our lives
      ("Highway To Heaven", "Touched By An Angel", "The Preacher's
      Wife", "It's A Wonderful Life")

2. Angels were an important part of the Jewish religion...
   a. Angels assisted with the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai - cf.
      Deut 33:2; Ps 68:17; Ac 7:53; Ga 3:19
   b. They appear throughout the history of Israel, coming to Abraham,
      Daniel, and many others

3. Angels also serve an important role in the Christian faith...
   a. They are described as "ministering spirits sent forth to minister
      for those who will inherit salvation" - He 1:13-14
   b. They have certainly ministered in the past - cf. Lk 1:11-38
   c. They will certainly minister at the time of Christ's return - cf.
      Mt 13:36-43

4. But to what extent do they minister in the present...?
   a. This is a subject that is prone to much speculation
   b. It is easy to get caught up in idle myths and fables
   c. About which we are warned to avoid - cf. 1Ti 1:3-4; 4:7; 6:20;
      2Ti 2:16; 4:3-4
   -- Yet angels are a Biblical subject, therefore worthy of careful
      consideration

[With a desire to be content with what the Bible reveals on the subject
of angels, we begin this study with a look at some terms and
descriptions regarding angels...]

I. TERMS USED IN CONNECTION WITH ANGELS

   A. THE WORD 'ANGEL'...
      1. The Hebrew word malak (found 103 times in the OT) simply means
         "messenger"
         a. It can refer to a human messenger - 1Ki 19:2
            1) It is applied to the prophet Haggai - Hag 1:13
            2) It is applied to a priest - Mal 2:7
            3) It is applied to both John the Baptist and Jesus in
               prophecy - Mal 3:1
            4) The name of the prophet Malachi comes from the same word
         b. It can refer to a divine messenger - Gen 28:12
            1) Supernatural or heavenly beings sent as messengers to men
            2) Agents who carry out the will of God - ISBE
      2. The Greek word angelos likewise means "messenger"
         a. The word occurs 175 times in the NT
         b. Of men, it is used only 6 times in the NT

   B. OTHER TERMS APPLIED TO 'ANGELS'...
      1. Sons of God - God's sons by virtue of His creation 

         - cf. Job 1:6; 38:7
      2. Holy ones - suggesting they belong to God, 'set apart' for His
         purposes - Ps 89:5,7 (NASB, NIV)
      3. Watcher, watchers - likely referring to angels - cf. Dan 4:13,
         17,23
      4. Host - denoting the armies of heaven, which likely included
         angels - cf. 1Sa 17:45
      5. Archangel - used twice, once in connection with Michael 

         - 1 Th 4:16; Jude 9
      6. Prince, chief princes, great prince - used in the book of
         Daniel - Dan 10:13,21; 12:1
      7. Paul used terms that may refer to angels 

         - cf. Col 1:16; Ep 1:21; 3:10
         a. Principalities (archai)
         b. Powers (exousiai)
         c. Thrones (thronoi)
         d. Dominions (kyriotetes)
         e. Powers (dynamesis)
         -- Yet these are sometimes distinguished from angels (Ro 8:38;
            1Pe 3:22), and at times described as negative forces (Col 2:
            15; Ep 6:12)

[It quickly becomes apparent that the Bible has a lot to say about
angels.  More about angels can be gleaned from the Bible as we
consider...]

II. DESCRIPTIONS OF ANGELS

   A. THEIR NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES...
      1. They are spirit beings
         a. Called "spirits", suggesting they do not have corporeal
            bodies  - He 1:14
         b. Though they did reveal themselves at times in the form of
            human bodies - Gen 18:3
         c. They do not function as human beings in such things as
            marriage - Mk 12:25
         d. They are not subject to death - Lk 20:36
      2. They are created beings
         a. They are part of the creation that is to praise Jehovah
            - Ps 148:1-5
         b. They were created by Christ, among all other things - Co
            1:16
      3. They are innumerable
         a. An innumerable company - He 12:22
         b. John's descriptions suggests their number is countless 

            - Re 5:11
      4. They are a higher order than man
         a. Man was created lower than the angels - He 2:6-7
         b. Angels are not capable of death - Lk 20:36
         c. They have greater wisdom, though limited 

            - 2Sa 14:20; Mt 24:36
         d. They have greater power, though it too is limited - Mt 28:2;
            Dan 10:13
      5. They always appeared as men
         a. Never as women or children, always clothed
         b. Other than Cherubim and Seraphim> (whose classification as
            angels is suspect), they never have wings - though cf.
            Re 8:13; 14:6
         c. Many times they were so disguised as men they were not first
            identified as angels - Gen 18:1-2; 19:1; He 13:2

   B. THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS...
      1. The archangel, the "great prince"
         a. Michael is called the archangel - Jude 9; cf. 1Th 4:16
         b. Michael is called the "great prince", who watched over
            Israel - Dan 12:1; cf. 10:21
         c. Michael is mentioned in Re 12:7
         d. Some (JWs and others) believe Michael was the pre-incarnate
            Christ
      2. The chief princes
         a. Of whom Michael was one - Dan 10:13
         b. Some would include Gabriel in this classification
            1) The angel sent to explain visions to Daniel 

               - Dan 8:16;9:21
            2) Who also made announcements to Zacharias and Mary 

               - Lk 1:19,26
      3. The princes
         a. The term applied to angels in the book of Daniel 

            - e.g., Dan 10:13,21
         b. Also to what appear to be evil angelic forces 

            - cf. Dan 10:13,20-21
      4. The Angel of the Lord
         a. An angel who seems to speak as the Lord Himself 

            - e.g., Judg 2:1; Gen 16:10-13
         b. Leading some to wonder if this was the pre-incarnate Christ
      5. Cherubim?
         a. Thought by some to be an order or class of angels, though
            others hold them to be a higher class of heavenly beings
            than angels
         b. Whose purpose was to be "proclaimers and protectors of God's
            glorious presence, His sovereignty, and His Holiness"
            - C. Fred Dickason
         c. In the Bible...
            1) They stood guard at the Garden of Eden - Gen 3:24
            2) Their golden figures covered the mercy seat above the ark
               in the tabernacle - Exo 25:17-22
            3) Their designs graced the walls and veils of the
               tabernacle, and later in the temple 

               - Exo 26:1,31; 1 Kin 6:23-35; 7:29,36
            4) They attended the glory of God in Ezekiel's vision 

               - Ezek 1:1-28; cf. 10:1-20
         d. Their description fits those of the four living creatures in
            Revelation rather than angels - cf. Re 4:4-6
      6. Seraphim?
         a. Six winged creatures attending the Lord in Isaiah's vision
            - Isa 6:1-13
         b. Whose name literally means "burning one", also considered by
            many as a higher class than angels
         c. Their work was to "praise and proclaim the perfect holiness
            of God" - Dickason
         d. Their description is also akin to those of the four living
            creatures in Revelation rather than angels - cf. Re 4:8-9
      7. Satan and his angels
         a. Many believe that Satan is a fallen angel
            1) That he is "Lucifer", a name applied to the king of
               Babylon - Isa 14:1-12
            2) That he was among the highest of God's creation, a cherub
               whose fall and judgment is applied figuratively to the
               king of Tyre - cf. Ezek 28:11-19
         b. Satan does have his angels, for whom condemnation awaits
            - cf. Mt 25:41; Re 20:10
         c. The doctrine of Satan and his angels (along with demons)
            will hopefully be examined in another study

CONCLUSION

1. With this brief introduction it should be apparent that...
   a. The Bible has much to say about angels
   b. It is easy to speculate about angels

2. My hope and prayer is that our future studies will...
   a. Focus on what the Bible actually reveals
   b. Avoid the vain speculation that is condemned

In the course of our study, we should never forget the One who deserves
our greatest attention:

   "For to which of the angels did He ever say: 'You are My Son,
   Today I have begotten You'? And again: 'I will be to Him a Father,
   And He shall be to Me a Son'? But when He again brings the
   firstborn into the world, He says: 'Let all the angels of God
   worship Him.'" (He 1:5-6)

Have we joined the angels in worshipping the Son, through our own faith
and obedience...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

From Gary... GOD IS GOOD!!!!

The year is almost gone; many things have happened over the past 365 days and we all have a tendency to dwell on the past at this time of year. The past can be either good or bad, but I think most of us focus on negative things. God, however, is the originator of GOOD THINGS!!! 

Remember...

Genesis, Chapter 1 (WEB)

 31  God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. 

and

Matthew, Chapter 22 (WEB)

 23  On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.’  25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother.  26 In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh.  27 After them all, the woman died.  28 In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.” 

  29  But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.   30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.   31  But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,   32  ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 

God is the author of THE GOOD- even life beyond this life!!!

Again, remember...

Romans, Chapter 8 (WEB)

 28  We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.  29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. 

  31  What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  32 He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?  33 Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.  34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

  35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36 Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”  37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The older I get, the faster my life seems to pass before me, but I need to focus on what God has done, will continue to do and will ultimately complete in the future. 

Believe it, trust in it and share it- GOD IS GOOD!!!!

From Gary.... Bible Reading December 29

Bible Reading   

December 29

The World English Bible

Dec. 29

Zechariah 9-12

Zec 9:1 An oracle. The word of Yahweh is against the land of Hadrach, and will rest upon Damascus; for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Yahweh;

Zec 9:2 and Hamath, also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.

Zec 9:3 Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like the dust, and fine gold like the mire of the streets.

Zec 9:4 Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and he will strike her power in the sea; and she will be devoured with fire.

Zec 9:5 Ashkelon will see it, and fear; Gaza also, and will writhe in agony; as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed; and the king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will not be inhabited.

Zec 9:6 Foreigners will dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

Zec 9:7 I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also will be a remnant for our God; and he will be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

Zec 9:8 I will encamp around my house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for now I have seen with my eyes.

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zec 9:10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow will be cut off; and he will speak peace to the nations: and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Zec 9:11 As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.

Zec 9:12 Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope! Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.

Zec 9:13 For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me. I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

Zec 9:14 Yahweh will be seen over them; and his arrow will go flash like lightning; and the Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south.

Zec 9:15 Yahweh of Armies will defend them; and they will destroy and overcome with sling stones; and they will drink, and roar as through wine; and they will be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar.

Zec 9:16 Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land.

Zec 9:17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.

Zec 10:1 Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time, Yahweh who makes storm clouds, and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.

Zec 10:2 For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore they go their way like sheep. They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.

Zec 10:3 My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; For Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.

Zec 10:4 From him will come forth the cornerstone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.

Zec 10:5 They shall be as mighty men, treading down muddy streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because Yahweh is with them; and the riders on horses will be confounded.

Zec 10:6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back; for I have mercy on them; and they will be as though I had not cast them off: for I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.

Zec 10:7 Ephraim will be like a mighty man, and their heart will rejoice as through wine; yes, their children will see it, and rejoice. Their heart will be glad in Yahweh.

Zec 10:8 I will signal for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they will increase as they have increased.

Zec 10:9 I will sow them among the peoples; and they will remember me in far countries; and they will live with their children, and will return.

Zec 10:10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and there won't be room enough for them.

Zec 10:11 He will pass through the sea of affliction, and will strike the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile will dry up; and the pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.

Zec 10:12 I will strengthen them in Yahweh; and they will walk up and down in his name," says Yahweh.

Zec 11:1 Open your doors, Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars.

Zec 11:2 Wail, fir tree, for the cedar has fallen, because the stately ones are destroyed. Wail, you oaks of Bashan, for the strong forest has come down.

Zec 11:3 A voice of the wailing of the shepherds! For their glory is destroyed: a voice of the roaring of young lions! For the pride of the Jordan is ruined.

Zec 11:4 Thus says Yahweh my God: "Feed the flock of slaughter.

Zec 11:5 Their buyers slaughter them, and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, 'Blessed be Yahweh, for I am rich;' and their own shepherds don't pity them.

Zec 11:6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land," says Yahweh; "but, behold, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbor's hand, and into the hand of his king. They will strike the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them."

Zec 11:7 So I fed the flock of slaughter, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one I called "Favor," and the other I called "Union," and I fed the flock.

Zec 11:8 I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.

Zec 11:9 Then I said, "I will not feed you. That which dies, let it die; and that which is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let those who are left eat each other's flesh."

Zec 11:10 I took my staff Favor, and cut it apart, that I might break my covenant that I had made with all the peoples.

Zec 11:11 It was broken in that day; and thus the poor of the flock that listened to me knew that it was the word of Yahweh.

Zec 11:12 I said to them, "If you think it best, give me my wages; and if not, keep them." So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

Zec 11:13 Yahweh said to me, "Throw it to the potter, the handsome price that I was valued at by them!" I took the thirty pieces of silver, and threw them to the potter, in the house of Yahweh.

Zec 11:14 Then I cut apart my other staff, even Union, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Zec 11:15 Yahweh said to me, "Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd.

Zec 11:16 For, behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those who are cut off, neither will seek those who are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat sheep, and will tear their hoofs in pieces.

Zec 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded!"

Zec 12:1 An oracle. The word of Yahweh concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him says:

Zec 12:2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and on Judah also will it be in the siege against Jerusalem.

Zec 12:3 It will happen in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it.

Zec 12:4 In that day," says Yahweh, "I will strike every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

Zec 12:5 The chieftains of Judah will say in their heart, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Yahweh of Armies their God.'

Zec 12:6 In that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem.

Zec 12:7 Yahweh also will save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem not be magnified above Judah.

Zec 12:8 In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of Yahweh before them.

Zec 12:9 It will happen in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zec 12:10 I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.

Zec 12:11 In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

Zec 12:12 The land will mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

Zec 12:13 the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart;

Zec 12:14 all the families who remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Dec. 29

Revelation 19, 20

Rev 19:1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God:

Rev 19:2 for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."

Rev 19:3 A second said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever."

Rev 19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, "Amen! Hallelujah!"

Rev 19:5 A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!"

Rev 19:6 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!

Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready."

Rev 19:8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Rev 19:9 He said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' " He said to me, "These are true words of God."

Rev 19:10 I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, "Look! Don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."

Rev 19:11 I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.

Rev 19:12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.

Rev 19:13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called "The Word of God."

Rev 19:14 The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.

Rev 19:15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.

Rev 19:16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Rev 19:17 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, "Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God,

Rev 19:18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, and small and great."

Rev 19:19 I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army.

Rev 19:20 The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Rev 19:21 The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.

Rev 20:1 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.

Rev 20:2 He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years,

Rev 20:3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time.

Rev 20:4 I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

Rev 20:7 And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison,

Rev 20:8 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Rev 20:9 They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them.

Rev 20:10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Rev 20:11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.

Rev 20:12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works.

Rev 20:14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Rev 20:15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.