can be confusing. It takes much study to put it all together. God knows this truth. He uses milk and meat allegorically to represent scriptural depth. Like newborn babies that consume milk from the mother’s breast, people that are new to Bible study must have patience and try not to digest the hard stuff too quickly. This will build confusion and the untruth that scripture contradicts itself and is not literal.
Scripture builds upon itself like Isaiah the prophet states. It explains itself when studied diligently. Indeed it is difficult even for those that have studied a long time. Take the time to understand the basics before biting off more than you can chew. Meat takes much chewing. Beginners are wise to remain in the Gospel of John and the book of Romans at first. All the basics are there, and then branch out. Always ask for God’s help in understanding his truths.
There are no contradictions in the Bible and it is literal. God does use analogies, metaphors, and parables but he is sure to let the reader know exactly when he is doing that. Otherwise, he means exactly what he says. I find Ezekiel especially challenging. If new Christians open to Judges chapter 19, they may slam the Bible closed and run from it.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:2, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” God says that we will find him when we seek him with all our heart. It is a good thing that understanding the entire Bible is not a condition of salvation. Believing in and accepting God’s gift of his son, Jesus, to atone for our sins is the ticket. You will surely want to spend time daily studying the scriptures, old and new. He gave us the Bible for the purpose of knowing him and his will. Dig in and be fed; nothing else really matters.
Week 6
Scripture text—Mark 14:61–62
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Easter week is the most important few days in all of history, the basis for Christianity. Thirty-three years after being born humbly in a barn in Bethlehem, our Savior completed his mission to take the sins of humankind onto himself. After three days, God brought him back to life from the grave to become the first fruit of the resurrection. Now those of us who believe and trust in him will live forever, and not just in spirit. Christ invited his disciples to touch his body afterwards to see and believe it was flesh. We will receive new bodies as well, incorruptible, immortal bodies in which to enjoy eternity with him. First Corinthians 15:54 says, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The first time Christ came to earth was in humility to give the New Covenant. He is returning again. When he does it will be in great power and majesty. All will see him and most will mourn because of him since they have not believed in him. Hebrews 10:31says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
If you do not know Christ, the Easter season is a perfect time to learn about him and invite him to govern your life. Find a Bible faithful church near you. Read the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. At that first Good Friday he went to his death quietly like a lamb to a slaughter. He knew he must obey his mission and suffer the curse of crucifixion so that we can claim his blood as the covering for our sins when God asks why we are worthy of Heaven. In ourselves we surely are not. His death is God’s unimaginable gift to each of us. Please accept it.
Week 7
Scripture text—Luke 16:23–24
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in torment in this flame.
Jesus talked much about Hell. It is a real place that God created as punishment for Satan and the angels that rebelled with him (Matt 25:41, Rev 12:9). It will be a hot place where people that fail to recognize Jesus as Lord will spend eternity.
In the final chapter everyone will get bodily resurrected and face God’s judgment. Hopefully you will have the blood of Christ to atone for your failings so he will allow you into his blessed presence. Have faith in his blood to save you.
The story in Luke 16 should be studied in its entirety from 19–31 to get the full gist of the story. The point is that the rich during their lives often do not recognize a need for God while the poor more often cry out to the living God. Worship of material items and prestige push God aside. “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matt 19:24, Mark 10:25).
The story also shows that upon death our fate is settled. The rich man went immediately into the flame and Lazarus, the poor beggar, was with Abraham enjoying Heaven. The rich man’s plea for a drop of water was denied. The chasm between Heaven and Hell is fixed. He also asked for his living brothers to receive a visit from Lazarus’s ghost to warn them. This request was denied as well. Abraham reminded the condemned man that the word of God has already warned them. There are other places in scripture where God reminds humankind that nature itself declares God loudly to the creatures of the earth (Ps 19:1, Rom 1:19–20). Get on the winning side.
Week 8
Scripture text—1 Thessalonians 4:16–18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
These words refer to the rapture (transport) of the church of Christ. I wanted to write this so that if one day suddenly millions of people are missing from the earth, those left behind will know that the event has been predicted in the Bible. The explanations that will surface after the event will be false.
All prophesies in the Bible come to pass. We can know with confidence that God will complete the plan he outlined in his Word. Many books have been written on this topic. Study Bible prophesies to know. What a pleasure to learn that God has given us our history in advance.
Rapture is a man-made name given to the event of transportation described in many places throughout scripture. A few places to study are Matthew 24, 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. Transport is the clear message. Throughout human history two people have been transported in this way without facing physical death. Enoch and Elijah were favored by God and taken by him directly, the way Christians can expect to be taken before God’s wrath is unleashed on our planet. Learn about Enoch in Genesis 5:24 and Elijah in 2 Kings 2:1–11.
In story after story in the Bible, God’s own are removed prior to his wrath. It is not a fantasy of escapism but God’s modus operandi. The kingdom of God will be played out as he told us. Jesus will be the ruler on earth as he is in Heaven. Do we not pray this in the Lord’s Prayer practically without thinking about the meaning of the words?
It will be such a blessing to be among his before the rapture. It will be terrible for those who decide for Christ afterwards during the time of the great tribulation. It is all available to know. The Bible can be confusing. If you have trouble, use a prophecy guide that will point you to the places to study in the Word.
