The Seven Churches of Asia (Faithful Churches)

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

The book of Revelation was addressed to seven churches in Asia (Revelation 1:4, 11).  “Asia” referred to the Roman province of Asia, located in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).  Seven open letters were included in this book.  These letters evaluated, and exhorted the seven churches.  The letters appear to have been written in a geographical sequence. Ephesus was the nearest to the isle of Patmos from where John received the revelation (Revelation 1:9).  Ephesus was addressed first, followed by the rest in a geographically clock-wise order [(1) The church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7); (2) The church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11); (3) The church in Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17); (4) The church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29); (5) The church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6); (6) The church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13); (7) The church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)].

This series will follow a different order. We’ll divide the seven churches into three groups.  Group One: The faithful churches. This group includes Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11), and Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13).  Group Two: The loveless, lifeless and lukewarm churches. This group includes Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7), Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6), and Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).  Group Three: The liberal and worldly churches.  This group includes Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17), and Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29). As we consider each of these groups, ask yourself, “into which group would the spirit place this church, the South Anchorage church of Christ?”

 Group One: The faithful churches. There are only two churches that received no rebuke.

Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)

Modern name: Izmir

About the city: This city was Asia’s greatest seaport. It had surpassed Ephesus, which was located 50 miles south, when Ephesus’ harbor had become silted. The soil was fertile and grew grapes. The city had a medical school, public library, a theater which seated 20,000. The city was the birthplace of Homer, and had built the Homerium, a structure in honor of the famed writer.  The streets were wide and paved. The population in John’s day was between 180,000 and 200,000 (today, 2,000,000).

Religiously, there were numerous pagan temples dedicated to various gods including: Cybele, Zeus, Apollo, and Aphrodite. The temples of Cybele and Zeus were connected by a street of gold (cf Revelation 21:21). This was the place where the worship of Rome started (29 B.C.). There was a temple erected in 26 A.D. to Tiberius Caesar and his mother Julia.

The message: (1) Jesus knew what they were enduring (Revelation 2:9). They were enduring tribulation (crushing pressure), poverty (commercially boycotted), blasphemy of Jews (opposed, spoke against). (2) Jesus also had experienced suffering (Revelation 2:8 cf Hebrews 12-1-4). (3) They were going to experience more persecution (Revelation 2:10). Note: In 155 A.D. Polycarp, a bishop of the church in Smyrna, refused to renounce Christ and bow to Caesar saying, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior… You threaten me with fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in judgment to come… come do what you will,” and with these words he was burned. It is said that the Jews zealously gathered the wood for the fire, even though it was the Sabbath. (4) In Jesus’ estimation, they were rich in what truly mattered (Revelation 2:9; cf. Revelation 3:17; Matthew 6:19-ff; Matthew 16:21; Luke 12:13-ff; Luke 16:19-ff). (5) Remain faithful regardless of physical cost. A crown of life awaits the faithful (Revelation 2:10). A lake of fire, a second death awaits the unfaithful (Revelation 2:11 cf. 20:13-14).

Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)

Modern name: Alah – Shehir

About the city: The city name means “brotherly love.” The city received its name from the great love that existed between two brothers. Eumenes II was the King of Lydia in the second century B.C.  (Pre-Roman Empire). A false report circulated that he had been assassinated. Younger brother, Attalus II accepted the crown. However, Eumenes II returned from Greece alive and well. Some wanted Attalus II to remain king. However, he relinquished the crown to his brother. This is how the city got its name. The city was located 105 miles east of Smyrna. The land was known for its grape production (said to have vineyards covering an area 58 miles long by 46 miles wide). The Cogamus, the local river, was known for its fresh water turtles. The city was built-in a hilly area (elevation 952 feet) and on a fault line. The city was completely destroyed by earthquake in 17 A.D., but was rebuilt. Population figures are unknown. The city seems to have been relatively small. It did not have any courts of its own; but was under the courts of Sardis, which was located about 28 miles to the northwest.

Religiously: Bacchus (aka Dionysus), the god of wine, was worshipped in this city. This god’s image was inscribed on their coins.

The message: (1) Jesus knew what they were doing (Revelation 3:8). (2) They’re reminded that Jesus has ultimate authority (Revelation 3:7). (3) They had little strength (Revelation 3:8).  Perhaps, they were few in number. Perhaps, they were financially weak. (4) They had kept the word faithfully (Revelation 3:8, 14). (5) An open door had been set before them (Rev. 3:8). The reference is to evangelistic opportunity (Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:2-3). Watch the fact that this door was open due to their faithfulness (Revelation 3:8). (6) They had difficulty with the Jews (Revelation 3:9 cf. 2:9). The Jews would be humbled (Genesis 37:1-11; Isaiah 45:14; 49:23; 60:14). (7) They would be spared the great trials others would face (Revelation 3:10). (8) They still needed to be careful not to let others take their crown (Revelation 3:11 cf. 2:10). (9) If they overcame the trials and temptations of life(Revelation 3:12 cf John 16:33; 1 John 2:13; 2:14; 4:4; 5:4; 5:5; Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21; 12:11;  21:7), they would be greatly blessed. They would have a new name written upon them [(Revelation 3:12), many think this is an allusion to history. When Philadelphia was destroyed in 17 A.D., Tiberius rebuilt it. There was a proposal to rename the city Neocaesarea (New Caesarea) in his honor. However, what awaits is New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12 cf. 21:2, 10; Hebrews 11:10; 12:22)]. Moreover, they would be pillars in the temple of God (Revelation 3:12).

These two churches received a good review and no rebuke. Would we?

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Born of God

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

There were certain Pharisees who once tried to justify themselves by saying, “We are Abraham’s descendants” (John 8:33 cf. 3:8). Jesus acknowledged the biological connection saying, “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants” (John 8:37). However, He denied the spiritual connection replying, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God, Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father … You are of your father the devil” (John 8:39-41a, 44a). Their deeds more closely connected them with the devil than with Abraham.

The book of 1 John used this same type of language. It might be thought of as a spiritual paternity test. Do our deeds more closely identify us with God or the devil?

1. “Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29).

This book was written to those who had obeyed the gospel plan of salvation (cf. 1 John 2:12). These words were designed to provide evidence that one could spiritually be identified with God.

The one spiritually identified with Him lives a life which practices righteousness. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another” (1 John 1:6-7). “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

2. “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).

The one spiritually identified with Him does not sin. The literal language is “does not keep on sinning,” that is—live a life of sin.

Why not? The answer is that “His seed,” that is the word of God (cf. Luke 8:11) lit. “Keeps on remaining in him.” This one has let God’s word find a home in his heart (cf. Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16a).

The one spiritually identified with Him cannot sin. That is, cannot live a life of sin. The wording “cannot” sometimes denotes deliberate will or purpose (Luke 14:20; Mark 6:5 cf. Matthew 13:58). The reference has nothing to do with it being impossible to sin, even once. The reference is to the restraint the child of God has so long as God’s word is at home in his heart (cf. 1 John 5:18). He will not live a life of sin. He will not even desire such a life.

3. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

The one spiritually identified with Him exhibits love. “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now” (1 John 2:9). “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was the wicked one and murdered his brother … whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:11-12a, 15). “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar … And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21). Bill Lockwood once pointed out “The grand mistake of the Baptist pulpiteers is the utilization of passages (such as 1 John 4:7) that refer to the continual obedience of the child of God trying to make them germane to the process of conversion of the non-Christian.”

4. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 Jn. 5:1).

The one spiritually identified with Him believes (lit. “continues to believe”) that Jesus is the Christ. He accepts Jesus as the Christ. Jesus said, “he who receives me receives Him who sent me” (John 13:20). One cannot be identified with Him, and reject His Messiah.

John is not saying that mere intellectual acceptance of Jesus as the Christ is enough. He has already set forth the need for obedience (1 John 1:6-7; 2:3-4; 3:24a), and love (1 John 4:7-8 cf. 2:10-11), and confession (1 John 1:9; 4:15).

5. “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).

The one spiritually identified with Him overcomes the world. The reference is to living the Christian life despite living in an unfriendly environment.

There are many things to overcome in this life—evil (Romans 12:21), the evil one (1 John 2:13), false teachers (1 John 4:4), and the tribulations of life (John 16:33). The victory is to those who overcome (Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21). We need strong faith. This is the key to overcoming the trials and temptations of the world.

6. “Whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself” (1 John 5:18).

The one spiritually identified with Him does not literally—“keep on sinning”. That is, he does not live a life of sin. Instead, he keeps or guards himself. “Pure and undefiled religion before God involves ‘keep(ing) oneself unspotted from the world’” (James 1:27). “For this is the will of God … that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor … For God did not call us to uncleanness but in holiness. Therefore, he who rejects this does not reject man, but God …” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).

Can people see that you are the offspring of God?

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Eight Enabling Traits (Matthew 5:3-12)

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

Those who will be spiritually blessed possess eight traits in common.

1. They depend upon God: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). The word translated ‘poor’ indicates dependency. The word was used of beggars who depended on society for subsistence. Until one sees how lost he is without God’s mercy and grace, one will not accept God’s offer of salvation.

2. They are genuinely sorry over their sins: “Blessed are they that mourn” (Matthew 5:4). Sin is no laughing matter. One needs to be tender-hearted enough to weep over sin.

3. They humbly let God direct them: “Blessed are the meek” (Matthew 5:5). The word meek doesn’t mean weak. It was used of strength which could be controlled. It was used of oxen and horses which would pull a plow or a chariot. One needs to allow God to be Master.

4. They greatly desire to be right with God: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). The original words used here are of the most extreme hunger and thirst. How greatly do you desire to be right with Him?

5. They are beneficent: “Blessed are the merciful” (Matthew 5:7). They care about people. The care about those in physical need (Luke 10:30-37; Galatians 6:10; James 2:13-17; 1 John 3:17-18). They care about those in spiritual need (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:20). Understanding the mercy of God, they stand ready to forgive others (Matthew 18:21-35; Colossians 3:12-13).

6. They are pure in thought: “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). The heart is the source of actions (Proverbs 4:23). One needs to be cautious on what he thinks (Philippians 4:8).

7. They seek peace with others: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). They strive to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). “Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

8. They are prepared to suffer for righteousness rather than compromise: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake…blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely foy My name sake” (Matthew 5:10-12). Our commitment should lead us to be “faithful unto death” if necessary (Revelation 2:10).

These are characteristics that we each should seek to possess. If you are looking for areas to grown in this next year, work on these characteristics. You will be blessed by so doing.

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Hades, Heaven and Hell

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

What awaits on the other side? What do we know about the hereafter? What does the Bible say?

Hades

When Jesus died, He went to Paradise (Luke 23:43). Yet, He had not gone to the Father (John 20:17-18). He had been to hades [(Acts 2:29-32 cf. Matt. 16:18, 21). The KJV uses the word ‘hell’. This is not an incorrect translation. Hell in the 1600’s referred to that which is out of sight, the unseen realm].

The word hades means the “unseen.” It is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word “sheol.”

All men go to this unseen realm upon death. It is the “house appointed for all living” (Job 30:23). Men are gathered in this place [(Gen. 15:15; 25:8; 31:29; 49:33; Num. 20:24; 27:12-13) Notice the words “gathered unto his people”]. People have been gathering in this unseen realm since the death of Abel. “There are three things that will not be satisfied, four will not say enough: Sheol…” (Prov. 30:15-16 NASB).

There are two compartments to this unseen realm. (1) Some exist in Paradise (Luke 23:43),Abraham’s bosom [(Luke 16:22) This is language of closeness and fellowship with Abraham. See John 1:18; 13:23]. (2) Others are in torments (Luke 16:23).Sinful angels are held in tartarus [(2 Pet. 2:4 cf Jude 6) The KJV renders this ‘hell’. It is a holding place until judgment. Whether this is the same place called torments is unclear].

Heaven and Hell are still to come. Hades is a temporary waiting place (Rev. 20:12-13). I’ll use this illustration: Imagine a person staying in a nice hotel while his mansion is being prepared; or, imagine one being held in a jail before being transferred to prison.

If one’s destiny is determined at death, then what is the purpose of the judgment scene? It is the day when all of humanity will stand before the Great Judge. At that time the reason for the Judgment will be announced before all humanity. The great parting with then take place (Matt. 25:31-36).

Alexander Campbell said, “…to explain the term hades, it must be observed that there are three states of human spirit entirely distinct from each other. The first state of human spirits is in union with an animal body. This state terminates at death. The second state is that in which human spirits are separated from their animal bodies. This commences at death and terminates with the resurrection of the body. This is precisely what is called hades. The third state commences with the reunion of the spirit with the body, and continues ever after. Hades is said to be destroyed when this third state commences (A. Campbell, Living Oracles, appendix p. 58 quoted by Thomas Warren, Immortality – All of us will be Somewhere Forever, p. 146).

Heaven

The term ‘heaven’ refers to a high place. The word is used in different ways in the Bible. It is used of: (1) The atmosphere of the earth (Gen. 1:20; 2:1, 19; Jer. 4:25; Deut. 4:33; Luke 9:58). (2) It is used of space beyond the atmosphere (Gen. 1:14-17; Deut. 18:3; Psalm 19:1-6; Matt. 24:29). (3) Paradise [(Luke 23:43 cf. 2 Cor. 12:1-6) Note: This could not have been heaven where God is, for notice – John 1:18; 6:46; 1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 4:12]. (4) The place where God dwells (Matt. 5:16, 45, 48; 12:50; Heb. 8:1; 1 Peter 3:22, etc.). It is this last heaven that we are interested in at this time.

Jesus is right now at the right hand of the Father (Matt. 19:28; 24:44; 25:31; 26:64; Mark 12:36; 14:62; 16:19; Acts 2:30, 33-34; 7:55-56; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:22; 1 Peter 3:22; Rev. 3:21). We can be with Him (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:24; 1 Thes. 4:17; Rev. 21:22-27; 22:1-5). We can be in heaven.

Why should we want to go to heaven?

(1) It is a place where God shall wipe away the tears from our eyes (Rev. 21:1-4). This life is filled with many sorrows and heartbreaks. Job said, “Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:11). The suffering of this world does not compare with the glory that is coming to the faithful (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17).

(2) It is a place without decay (Matt. 6:19-20). All that we see around us ages and decays. This includes our possessions. This includes our bodies. We have the promise of an inheritance which is “incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away” (2 Pet. 1:4). Neither moth, rust, nor thieves will be a problem (Matt. 6:19-20). We’re promised incorruption and immortality (1 Cor. 15:33; cf. 2 Cor. 5:1). “The tree of life” is there (Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14 cf. Gen. 2:9; 3:22-24). (3) The wicked will not be there (Rev. 21:8; 21:27; 22:15). So much of the misery in this world is a result of evil workings of men and women. Rape, child molestation, murder, robbery and other evils exist in this world.

The unrepentant will not be allowed to enter this place. Some wonder why these there might not turn and do evil. Brother Kerry Duke has written, “One helpful factor is that in heaven Christians will not face the temptations that are peculiar to life on earth. The will no longer be subject to the desires of the fleshly body and the lure of material things. In heaven, they will have spiritual bodies (1 Cor. 15:35-58; Phil. 3:21) and will be equal to the angels (Luke 20:36). They also will not have to contend with the devil, since he will have been cast into perdition (Rev. 20:10). However, these differences do not fully receive the problem. The angels did not possess fleshly bodies, yet they sinned, and the devil was not deceived by some prior ‘tempter’… The scriptures clearly teach that free beings may so abuse their conscience that they become incapable of repentance (Jer. 13:23; John 12:39-41; Eph. 4:19; 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 6:4-6; 2 Pet. 2:14). If free beings in this life may become incapable of turning to God, why cannot free beings in heaven be incapable of turning away from Him? Man’s safe state in heaven is the result neither of an inherent property nor a supernatural transformation. It is the product of a unique combination of a faithful response to the period of probation, and the full, immediate realization of the fate of the wicked. The probation develops genuineness of faith and love; the powerful realization of the fate of the wicked will provide a lasting impression of awe. Though we already know the fate of the wicked, after death we will more completely understand the heinousness of sin” (God at a Distance, p. 78-80). Is this the answer? I don’t know for sure. Perhaps, we just have to make it there to understand. However, one thing I know is that evil will not dwell there.

(3) It is a place of beauty. It is a city of pure gold (Rev. 21:18) with a street of pure gold (Rev. 21:21). The city wall is of jasper (Rev. 21:18). The foundations of the wall are adorned with all kinds of precious stones: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryy, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst (Rev. 21:19-20). The city gates each are of one pearl (Rev. 21:21). This I do not believe to be literal language. This is earthly language to tell us of the richness and beauty of this place that awaits. Many enjoy vacationing in beautiful places upon this earth, but how beautiful heaven must be! There we can find comfort and rest (2 Thes. 1:7; Heb. 4:9; Rev. 14:13).

(4) it is a place of fellowship with the best people this world has ever known. “Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 8:11). Won’t it be wonderful to be with those “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38)?

The question is sometimes asked, “Will we know one another in heaven?” I believe that we will. Consider the following points: (1) Nothing in the Bible indicates that we won’t. (2) Identity seems to be maintained in the hadean realm. Think about (a) The rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). (b) Samuel, Moses and Elijah all appeared from hades (1 Sam. 28:7-12; Luke 9:28-31). (c) Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob continue with identity on the other side (Ex. 3:6 cf. Luke 20:27-28; Matt. 8:11; Luke 16:19-31). (3) Paul would boast in the day of the Lord Jesus of his brethren (2 Cor. 1:14b). Their being in the presence of the Lord was his hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing (1 Thes. 2:19-20 cf. Phil. 4:1). How would he ever know that they made it? How would he be able to boast of them? Unless he would be able to recognize them on the other side. There are many mysteries about the other side. However, it seems that recognition will exist.

(5) The Father, Jesus the Lamb, and the Spirit will be there. We’ll be with our Creator. We’ll be with God who planned this glorious existence for us. We’ll be with the One who endured the agony of the cross so that we might receive forgiveness of sins and be able to enter into this glory. As Paul said, “For who I suffer the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:8) even so we should be motivated.

Really not much is said about heaven in the scriptures. However, enough is said to let us know that we should want to be there.

Hell

The original word we’re interested in is the Greek ‘geenna’ which is from the Hebrew ‘Ge Hinnom’ (that is the Valley of Hinnom). The Valley of Hinnom was a very real place. It was located just outside of Jerusalem.

At one point in Jewish history, idolatrous Jews practiced idolatry in this valley. Worship of Baal and Molech took place in this place. Human sacrifices took place here (2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chr. 28:3; 33:6; Jer. 7:31; 32:35). Robert Taylor Jr. has written, “Depraved idolaters among the Hebrews had frequently been known to remove precious babies from the bosoms of weeping mothers to serve as burnt sacrifices…” (The Doctrine of Final Things, p. 44). It was in this valley “where Topheth stood, a huge altar-pyre for the burning of the sacrificial victims” (ISBE Vol. 3, 2075). Josiah ended these practices (2 Kings 23:1-20, see esp. v. 10).

Later this valley was used as a garbage dump for Jerusalem. Robert Morey has written, “Because of these horrible idolatrous practices, the Valley of Hinnom was hated and considered ‘unclean’ by pious Jews. In Christ’s day, thishatred of the Valley of Hinnom caused the valley to become the town dump where all the garbage of Jerusalem could be thrown. Unclean corpses as well as normal garbage were thrown into it. Because garbage was constantly being thrown into the valley, the fire never stopped burning and the worms never stopped eating.” (Death and the Afterlife, p. 87).

At some point before the time of Christ, Gehenna also began to be used as a picture of where the unrighteous go. Robert Morey has written, “Gehenna came to be understood as the final, eternal garbage dump… Arndt and Gingrich also pointed out that the Jewish belief, before Christ, placed the last judgment of the wicked in the Valley of Hinnom. They concluded that it means ‘the place of judgment’” (Death and the Afterlife, p. 87, 88).

Why should we work to avoid hell?

(1) It is described in the most unattractive terms. It is described as the garbage dump of Jerusalem, the Valley Hinnom, complete with “fire” and “worms” (Mark 9:44, 46, 48), and “smoke” (Rev. 14:11). It is also described as a place of darkness (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; Jude 13).

(2) It is a place of misery. There will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28). The wicked face torment on the other side (Luke 16:23-f; Rev. 14:10; 2 0:10), and tribulation (2 Thes. 1:6-9). There will be no rest day or night (Rev. 14:11).

Some have wondered if hell is a place of literal fire. I do not believe that the language is literal. Robert Morey has written, “Since hell is a future reality which no one has yet seen, the authors of scripture and the Master Himself used what was available in the situation to describe the awfulness of ultimate separation from God” (Death and the Afterlife, p. 30). Again, “Christ used the mental picture of worms and fire connected with the city dump in the valley of Gehenna to illustrate the doctrine of everlasting punishment. Christ was not teaching that hell will involve literal worms…” (ibid).

(3) It is a place where one will be separated from the righteousness (Luke 13:28) and joined with the likes of murderers, thieves, homosexuals, and whoremongers (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8; 21:27; 22:15). There will be a great parting (Matt. 13:24-ff; 13:47-ff; 25:31-ff).

(4) It is a place which was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10 cf. 20:15). Not only will one be with evil men, he will be with the “Prince of darkness”.

(5) It is a place where one is separated from fellowship with God (Matt. 25:41; 2 Thes. 1:9). Nothing could be sadder than to hear those words, “I never knew you: depart from me” (Matt. 7:23).

(6) It is a non-ending sentence. However long heaven will be, that is how long hell also will be (Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:46; Rev. 14:11 cf. 14:13). It is not a place which is temporary. It is not a place where time is served and then one can pass over into heaven. It is everlasting.

Some have wondered if hell is eternal on-going punishment, or if it is eternal only in the sense of consequence (that is the wicked are burned up or annihilated). Things to consider: (1) There is language which seems to suggest an eternal on-going punishment (Rev. 14:11). (2) Annihilationists argue that the wicked will be destroyed [(appolumi) Matt. 10:28]. However, this is the same term used for the “lost sheep”, “lost coin”, and “lost son” [translated ‘lost’ (Luke 15:6, 9, 32)]. They were not annihilated but lost. W.E. Vine’s, “The idea is not extinction, but ruin, loss, not of being but of well being”. (3) Annihilationists have also appealed to the word “destruction” [(Olethros) 2 Thes. 1:9]. However, something can be destroyed without ceasing to exist (cf. Jer. 48:8 LXX). (4) Annihilationists have also appealed to the word “perish” (e.g. Rom. 2:12; 2 Cor. 2:15; 2 Thes. 2:10). However something can perish without ceasing to exist. Milk can perish but that does not mean that it has ceased to exist. Note: the word that is most often translated perish is apollumi (as under 2). (5) Annihilationists have appealed to the word “consume” as in Hebrews 12:29. Again, it can be said that something can be consumed without ceasing to be (Ps. 78:45; Lam. 3:4 ‘old’ is lit. consumed; Ezek. 13:13).

One thing is absolutely certain. Enough is said to cause us to want to avoid this place. It is worth whatever we have to give up in this life to avoid it (Mark 9:43-38). There appears to be something worse than death which await’s the unrighteous (Mark 9:42; Matt. 26:24; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 14:11; Dan. 12:2).

Some have wondered if there are degrees of punishment. I do believe that there are (Luke 12:42-48; Heb. 10:29; Mark 12:38-40). However, I wish to avoid such altogether.

Others have wondered how we could possibly enjoy heaven knowing that others we’ve known are in hell. (1) One suggestion is that we will not recognize who is and is not in heaven. Guy Woods remarked to this by saying that if we did not recognize others in heaven “instead of solving the difficulty (this) increases it; for, if we are unable to recognize any of our loved ones there, we must then be uncertain whether any of them are there, even if they are…” (Shall We Know one Another in Heaven, p. 20). (2) A better solution is expressed by brother Woods, “When the mists have cleared,… we shall then be able to see clearly that those who are not in heaven do not deserve to be there” (ibid, p. 21). This is a Biblical concept (Ezek. 14:21-23).

Numbers

Billions and billions of people have lived on this planet since the dawn of creation. How many will be in heaven? The answer is ‘few’ [(Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 13:23-24) on the term ‘few’ see 1 Peter 3:20; Also Ex. 38:26 cf. Num. 14:29-30; 26:65; 32:11-12]. How many shall be in hell? The answer is ‘many’ (Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 13:23-24). Tyler Young has written, “Who will be in hell? In short, most. Sitting through a multitude of funeral services, as most of us eventually do, we get the distinct impression that practically no one goes to hell.But according to Jesus, the tragic reality is that most people will choose the broad way through the wide gate which leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). We take no pleasure in this sad fact; it grieves our God and breaks our hearts. We all have loved ones who have died lost or are still alive and headed for hell. But we cannot change the truth that only those who love and obey Jesus Christ can avoid the fate we all deserve but which Jesus died to prevent. And if we have loved ones that end up in hell, one thing is certain: they will not want us to follow them there (Luke 16:27-28)” [from the bulletin article Hell: The ‘Infinite Lie’].

Robert Morey introduced his book “Death and the Afterlife” by suggesting that there is a real need to teach on this subject. He indicates that in time past there was general acknowledgement of what the scriptures taught on this subject. Then some began to down play the ‘negative side’ of the Gospel. No longer did they urge folks to flee from the wrath to come. Instead they emphasized the ‘positive side’ of God’s love to the exclusion of anything else. Hell was rarely preached on by some. This led to ignorance and doubt about the concept of hell, and even outright denial. He said it is only by affirming what the Bible teaches that the situation can be corrected. Folks, the man is not a member of the church of Christ but I do believe that he has it correct.

Conclusion

It is my prayer that looking at these things motivates us to strive with all might to be in heaven in the end and avoid hell.

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Nativity Questions

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

This time of year many think about the birth of Jesus. We’ll take this writing to address a few questions.

1. Was Jesus born on December 25th?

It seems unlikely. Shepherds did not have their sheep in the fields in the winter months, especially at night (cf. Luke 2:8-9). Adam Clark commented, “on this very ground the nativity in December should be given up” (Vol. 5, p. 370).

“No one is certain why December 25 was chosen. There is nothing in the New Testament to indicate that this is the date of the Nativity. It is believed that the efforts of early Christians in Rome to change pagan customs into Christian rites led, in the 4th century A.D., to the adoption of December 25th… This date was probably chosen because, according to the calendar then in use, December 25 was the winter solstice… the sun-worshipping pagans had celebrated this day…” (The New Book of Knowledge. Vol. 3, p. 290).

God has not specified the date of Jesus birth. He has not told us to keep such a day.

We are, however, to remember Jesus’ death by observing the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week (Acts 20:7 cf. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). We should be content to worship in an authorized manner.

2. What is the significance of the virgin birth?

The Bible affirms the virgin birth (Luke 1:26-35; Matt. 1:18-23, cf. Isa. 7:14).

The Messiah was to have a two-fold nature. (1) He was to be of the seed of woman (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; cf. Gal. 4:4). He’s called “man” (1 Tim. 2:5). (2) He was to be called Emmanuel (Isa. 7:14) “Which being interpreted is ‘God with us'” [(Matt. 1:23). [Note: The reference to Emmanuel does not mean this would be what he was primarily called. A similar situation is found in Solomon who was to be called Jedidiah, meaning ‘beloved of the Lord’ (2 Sam. 12:24-25)]. His goings forth were “from old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2). God became flesh (John 1:1, 14; 1 Tim. 3:16 KJV). A body had been prepared for atonement (Heb. 10:5-7 cf. Psalm 40:6-8 LXX).

3. What was the star of Bethlehem ?

I’ve heard, through the years, many theories. Some have suggested a unique alignment of planets (Note: The Hebrews did not distinguish between stars and planets). Others have postulated that it was a comet.

I have difficulties with such explanations. J.W. McGarvey has written, “When the magi left Jerusalem the star ‘went before them, and came and stood over where the young child was.’ This could not be true of a real star, because a real star cannot move on before men, and stand over a particular house so as to distinguish it from other houses. A child, looking at a star near the horizon, may imagine that it hangs over a certain house; but when (he) walks up to the house (he) finds that the star is as far off as before and is hanging over another house” (Matthew and Mark, p. 26). The star seems to have appeared and disappeared to the magi (Matt. 2:1-2, 9-10). Herod and his men seem not to have noticed this unusual star. Moreover, if the star was visible and obviously hanging over one house, then why didn’t his men simply go there upon the news of the magi (Matt. 2:1-10)? This seems to have been a supernatural occurrence visible only to the wise men, or at least close enough to guide them. It may have been somewhat similar to the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire (Ex 13:21-22; 14:19,24; 33:9-10; Num 12:5,10; 14:14; Deut 31:15; Neh 9:13,19; Ps 78:14; 99:7; 105:39).

4. Were the shepherds and the wise men present near the same time?

I do not believe that they were. The shepherds went to Jesus the night he was born, and found him lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes (Luke 2:7-17). The wise men found Jesus in a house (Matt. 2:11). It seems possible that Joseph and Mary had relocated to Judea from Nazareth (Notice Joseph seems to have wanted to return from Egypt into Judea . It took God’s instructions to get him to settle in Galilee Matt. 2:19-23).

5.  How many wise men were there?

The Bible doesn’t say. Some have inferred that there were three from the mentioning of three gifts (Matt. 2:11). However, such is an unwarranted assumption, and is not implied.

What was the significance of these three gifts? Much speculation has occurred. Many believe that the gold may have been used to support the family in their flight to Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15). Such is speculation, though possible.

6. Were Joseph and Mary poor?

They absolutely were. This is evident from the record (Lk. 2:22-24 cf. Lev. 12:1-8).

However, notice what qualities they did have. (1) She was pure (Lk. 1:34). (2) She was worshipful of God (Lk. 1:46-ff). (3) He was just (Matt. 2:19). (4) He listened to God ( Mt. 1:20-25; 2:13-15; 2:19-23). (5) They followed the law of God (Lk. 2:21-24; Luke 2:41) and man (Lk. 2:1-5). (6) They proved to be good parents (Lk. 2:52). (7) Joseph worked for a living (Mt. 13:53).

Perhaps, we emphasize the wrong qualities. When God sent His son into the world, He chose qualities for the guardians of His son which many overlook. These are qualities we should each strive to possess.

7. Who is Santa Claus?

“Santa Claus” is an Americanized term for “Saint Nicholas.” He was a real man who lived in Myra , Asia Minor ( Turkey ), during the 4th century A.D. The story goes that he learned of a poor man, who had three daughters unable to marry due to lack of dowry. Nicholas on three successive evenings supposedly slipped bags of gold through their window (one of which fell into a stocking which had been hung up to dry). Giving is honorable (Acts 20:35).

A word of caution: Parents be careful how you handle the Santa Claus thing. Many parents tell their children that Santa Claus is real. They assign God-like qualities to him. He knows when the children have been naughty. He knows when they’ve been nice. He rewards accordingly. However, the children grow up and learn that the whole thing was a make-believe fairy tale, even a hoax. Yet, these same parents say very similar things about God. He sees all (Prov. 15:3). He rewards accordingly to deeds (Matt. 16:22; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:17). Some may come away saying, “this is just another fairy-tale”. Saturate your children with proofs of God’s existence so that they may build a “rock solid faith”, and not regard such as just another fairy-tale.

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What to do With the Word

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

“All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable …”

(2 Tim. 3:16).

     Two things are affirmed: (1) Inspiration. The word translated “inspiration” (theopneustos) literally means, “God breathed”. Geisler and Nix explained, “It does not mean, as the English word ‘inspire’ might imply, that God breathed in the word but rather that the very words were breathed out” [A General Introduction to the Bible, p. 35 (cf. Mt. 4:4)]. The word translated “scripture” (graphe) appears 52 times in the New Testament, and without exception, it refers to the writings of the Bible. It is used in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Notice: 1 Tim 5:18 quotes Deut. 25:4 and Lk. 10:7 and refers to them as scripture. Notice: It is used of the writings of Paul, 2 Pet. 3:15-16). The word “scripture” in the New Testament functions as a technical term for the writings of the Bible. (2) Profitability. There are some things unprofitable spiritually speaking (see 2 Tim. 2:14 cf. 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; 6:20; Tit. 1:14). However, the words inspired of God are profitable.

Profitable for what?

(2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Therefore …

(2 Tim. 4:2)
  1. Doctrine/teaching            1. Preach the word
   2. Reproof            2. Convince/reprove
    3. Correction           3. Rebuke
    4. Instruction/training       in righteousness           4. Exhort
5. Equipping for every good work           5. Maintain good works Note: This is not taught in 2 Tim. 4:2, but is taught throughout 1, 2 Timothy and Titus. See: Tit. 3:8; 3:14; cf. 1 Tim. 2:10; 3:1; 5:10; 5:25; 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:21; 4:5; Tit. 1:16; 2:7

   Definitions

1. Doctrine. Vine’s “either (a) that which is taught …, or (b) the act of teaching, instruction.”

2. Reproof. Arndt-Gingrich, “bring to light, expose, set forth … convict or convince someone of something, point something out to someone.” Thayer, “A proof that by which a thing is proved or tested … (or) of an inward result of proving viz. a conviction.”

3. Correction. The term was used of restoration of a building or rebuilding a city. Vine’s, “Lit. a restoration to an upright or right state.”

4. Instruction/training. Thayer, “training and education of children.” Arndt-Gingrich, “upbringing, training, instruction … in our lit. chiefly as it is attained by discipline, correction.”

5. Preach. Vine’s, “Be a herald.” TDNT, “It is important that heralds deliver news or pass on messages strictly as they are given to them.” A good preacher does not create a message but acts as a messenger. The message does not belong to him. Note: The terms teaching and preaching are paralleled. The modern differential usage is not made here.

6. Reprove. See reproof above.

7. Rebuke. Thayer, “To tax with fault.” Denny Petrillo, “to warn … it implies a sharp, severe rebuke” (Commentary on 1, 2 Timothy and Titus, p. 146). Wayne Jackson, “to express strong disapproval” (Before I Die, p. 277).

8. Exhort. The word literally means “to call to the side.” It can refer to calling one aside to encourage, or to teach, or to admonish. Notice in context it is paralleled with instruction or training.

How are you using God’s word?

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Why?

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

An elderly couple returning from visiting family are killed in a car crash. A young family is killed when a tornado rips through their house. A young mother is swept away by a tsunami. A young father is killed in a terrorist attack. A young woman is raped and murdered. A young man is killed in a random act of violence. A child is killed in a dog attack. Toby Keith sings, “Well a man comes on the 6 o’clock news said ‘somebody’s been shot, somebody’s been abused, somebody blew up a building, somebody stole a car…’” Tragedy strikes in many different forms, but whatever the form, it is common for man to cry out, “Why?”

Why would a good God allow such evil, pain, and suffering to exist on earth? Epicurus struggled with this saying, “God either wishes to take away evils and is unable; or He is neither willing nor able; or He is both willing and able. If He is willing and unable, he is feeble, which is not in accordance with the character if God; if He is able and unwilling, He is envious, which is equally at variance with God; If He is neither willing or able, He is both envious and feeble, and therefore not God; If he is both willing and able, which alone is suitable to God, from what source then are evils? Or why does He not remove them?” (Thomas Warren, Have Atheists Proved There Is No God? p. 4).

Why Do We Suffer?

There is not one, but many earthly causes fort man’s suffering. Let’s notice several:

1. Many suffer due to their own personal choice(s) in life.

Consider: (a) The murderer, thief, evildoer, or busybody may reap the consequences of actions in this life (1 Peter 4:15). (b) The drunk or drug addict may bring many woes upon himself (cf. Proverbs 23:29-ff). (c) Those who choose to smoke may suffer respiratory problems. (d) The promiscuous may develop an S.T.D. or unwanted pregnancy. (e) Those who build their houses without good foundations may suffer loss (Matthew 7:24-27). (f) Those who build below sea level or in a flood plain may suffer disaster.

2. One may suffer due to the choice(s) of another (or others).

Consider: (a) One can be murdered, as Stephen was by the mob (Acts 7:57-60). (b) One can be raped, as Tamar was by Amnon (2 Samuel 13). (c) Wives are battered and children are abused through no fault of their own. (d) Drunk drivers kill.

3. One may suffer due to the choice(s) of a previous generation.

Consider: (a) God told the Israelites “your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness” (Numbers 14:33, cf. Exodus 20:4-6). (b) Later, Israelites would say, “our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their iniquities. Servants rule over us” (Lamentations 5:7-8). While they did not bear the guilt of their parents sins (Ezekiel 18:20), they did bear the consequences. (c) Children are born with problems due to prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol.  (d) Children are born with HIV infection. (e) All of humanity suffers due to the effects of the global flood and the reshaping of the earth’s topography (cf. Psalm 104:5-9 NASB). Wayne Jackson has written, “Had it not been for man’s evil, the flood would never have come; the features of the earth would not have been so altered; and man would not be suffering the consequences thereof today!” (The Book of Job, p. 118).

4. One may suffer as a result of living in a physical world which is operating according to physical laws.

Consider: (a) Gravity is a part of this world. Gravity allows us to dwell upon this earth. Gravity can also cause objects to fall and such may result in death (Like 13:4). (b) Fire can be used to cook and warm the bones. Fire can also kill (Job 1:16). (c) Water can be used to sustain life. Water can also drown (Exodus 15:4). (d) Stones can be used to build a house. Stones can be used to stone a man to death (Acts 7). (e) Food can be used to sustain life. Food can be misused resulting in obesity and heart disease.

5. Some suffering comes as a direct result of living a godly life.

Consider: (a) “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). (b) “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God ” (Acts 14:23, cf. 2 Timothy 4:18; 2 Peter 1:10-11). (c) “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

6. Some suffering may by due to Satan’s attacks (Job 1:9-22; 2:1-10). Satan attacked Job’s family, wealth, and health in an effort to get him to turn against God.

Why Does God Allow Such?

Some make the assumption that if God is omnipotent (all-powerful), then He should immediately eliminate all evil, pain, and suffering upon this earth. However, could there be reasons that God allows evil, pain, and suffering to continue in this world?

1. Pain plays a role in physical preservation.

Pain is the body’s warning that something is wrong. It prompts one to remove his hand from a hot stove top. It informs the body that food and water is needed. It informs us that a body part has been injured and needs attention.

2. Pain and suffering can be used (if properly viewed) to spiritually mature us.

When tragedy strikes, man is reminded of the brevity and uncertainty of life. James writes, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” ( James 4:14).  This should prompt man to wisely use time (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5). We should not “let the sun go down on (our) wrath” (Ephesians 4:26).

Tragedy also reminds us that we should live out our lives prepared for eternity, because we know not how long we each will have on this earth. “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

Suffering helps us to understand how God views sin. Think of the suffering of Jesus upon the cross who “bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). I could never grasp how terrible sin is to God without the suffering of Christ.

Suffering can be used to develop certain spiritual characteristics. Patience can be developed through suffering ( James 1:2-3; Romans 5:3-4). Arrogance and pride can be quenched through suffering (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Prayer and humility before God sometimes is a result of suffering (2 Chronicles 33:9-13; Jonah 2:1-2; Psalm 119:67-71). Seeing the sinful suffer may prevent me from following the same course.

Suffering in others can prompt us to be benevolent and compassionate beings (Luke 10:30-37; Romans 12:15). It can help us to not be wholly self-absorbed.

Kerry Duke has written, “God has provided man with an environment capable of building in him qualities suitable for another realm” (God At a Distance, p. 12).

3. Suffering may fit within God’s plan of volitional balance.

Kerry Duke explains, “It was not enough for God merely to create man as a free moral agent. To exercise his will in the truest sense, he must have an environment perfectly suited for this purpose” (ibid, p. 13).  Again, “just as the earth is neither too close to nor too far away from the sun, man in a spiritual sense is neither too close to God nor too far removed from Him” (ibid. p. vii). “To preserve freedom, God does not overwhelm man with a direct manifestation of Himself. Just as a piece of metal that is too close to a magnet cannot resist being drawn to it, man could not avoid believing in God if he were to experience the unveiled essence of deity. On the other hand, if man had no revelation from the Creator, he would be incapable of finding and serving Him” (ibid, p. 43). God  could have created an environment with trials so severe that our souls would be so crushed or preoccupied that obedience to His will would have been virtually impossible. But God designed the physical environment after neither of these extremes” (ibid, p. 143).

Some have wondered why God allows the righteous to suffer. However, if God removed all suffering from the righteous, would there really be volitional balance?

4. Life is best viewed as a test.

“Just as men test silver and gold for their genuineness, the Lord tests the genuineness of the heart (Zechariah 13:9; Psalm 66:10). Tribulation is pictured by Peter as a trial of fire that is for mote important than the testing of gold (1 Peter 1:7). …  We are compelled in the face of trials to declare the heart’s true desires. Tribulation quickly unmasks us of any pretense. Of course, God knows our hearts before we respond to the trial (Note: the trial itself may mature us. See point 2 above. B.H.). But when we react to a trying situation, we declare unequivocally to the world and to ourselves who we really are. Trials bring to the surface the good or bad qualities that lie undetected deep inside the soul” (Duke, p. 142).

5. God provides man with opportunity to repent.

Some wonder why does not God simply eliminate the sinful. If God eliminated each and every person the minute he sinned, no adult reading this now would be alive. God has provided man with the opportunity to repent (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). Some will. Others will not.

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Why I Believe – The Bible (Part 2)

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

If the Bible is from God, then one should be able to find unity and accuracy in the message. This is exactly what one does find. The unity and accuracy of the Bible is amazing.

Unity

“The Bible was written by more than forty different men from practically every walk of life. Nehemiah was a royal cupbearer. Peter was a fisherman. Luke was a physician. Matthew was a tax collector. Solomon was a king. Moses was a shepherd. Paul was a tent maker….They wrote in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), from at least two continents (Europe and Asia), over a period of time that spanned approximately sixteen centuries (1500 B.C. to A.D. 100). And they covered topics as diverse as eschatology, soteriology, theology, psychology, geography, history, medicine, and many others. All of this being true, one might expect that so diverse a group of men, writing on so varied a group of subjects, over such a lengthy span of time would have produced a book that would be a tangled mishmash of subject more often than not marred by an incredible number of inconsistencies, errors, and incongruities. Yet, this hardly is the case. In fact, quite the opposite is true” (Bert Thompson, in defense of the Bible’s inspiration, pp. 26-27)

1. There is unity in the core message. “The book of Genesis tells of man’s fall into a sinful state. In Exodus through Deuteronomy, by the giving of the law, sin is defined and vividly characterized. The historical books of the Old Testament portray man’s inability to justify himself on the basis of law-keeping, hence they underscore the need of a justifier. The Prophets herald the coming of that illustrious justifier…The Gospel writers inform us that Christ has come bringing justification. The Book of Acts demonstrates how first-century men and women appropriated Jehovah’s justifying grace unto themselves through loving obedience. The various Epistles to churches and individuals instruct saints how to grow toward spiritual maturity, and finally, the Revelation pictures the ultimate and complete triumph of our great God over all his enemies.” (Wayne Jackson, Fortify Your Faith, pp. 58-59).

2. There is unity in incidentals.

A. The eighth plague on Egypt destroyed the barley, which was “in head” and the flax, which was “in bud” (Exodus 9:31). Forty years later, when the Israelites entered Canaan it was harvest time (Joshua 2:6; 3:15; 4:19 cf Exodus 12:1-3). A large amount of charred grain was found by Bryant Wood in Jericho (see Joshua 2:6, 3:15; 5:10 cf 6:24)

B. Mark speaks of “green grass” in recording the feeding of the five-thousand (Mark 6:39). John indicates that it was near the Passover feast, which is in the spring, that this feeding occurred (John 6:4).

The Bible is consistent even in incidental details.

Accuracy

1. The Hittites: The Bible mentions the Hittites over forty times. Yet, critics said that there was no evidence of these people. A. H. Sayce and Hugo Winckler confirmed the Hittites existence. Archaeology has now found the Hittites Capital in Turkey.

2. David: He is mentioned over a thousand times in the Bible. Yet, where was the tangible proof of his historicity? A Syrian record of David was found in 1993 by Avraham Biran.

3. Jehu: He was found in an Assyrian inscription by the archaeologist Henry Layard. A black limestone block pictures a man bowing before the Assyrian King. The inscription reads “Tribute of Jehu Son of Omri.”

4. Hezekiah: British Colonel R. Taylor discovered the Sennacherib annals. In this the Assyrian king boasts conquering forty-six Judean cities and having Hezekiah “Shut up in Jerusalem…like a bird in a cage.” However, he never speaks of actually conquering Jerusalem. I wonder why not? (cf. 2 Kings 19; 2 Chr. 32).

5. Jehoiachin: King Nebuchadnezzar took him captive to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-16). A Babylonian record of food rations was found and translated by Robert Koldeway and Ernest Weidner. Jehciachin, King of Judah, is mentioned.

6. Proconsul (Acts 13:4-7): Some critics said that the proper title was Propraetor. “Augustus Ceaser had divided the Roman provinces into two great classes – Senatorial and Imperial. The Senatorial provinces were governed by Proconsuls and the Imperial provinces were governed by Propraetors or consular legates. The claim was thus made that Cyprus was Imperial, so Luke had mistakenly employed the wrong title. It is now known…that whereas Cyprus was made and Imperial province in 27 B.C., five years later Augustus gave it to the Senate, in exchange for Dalmatia…from that date it was…governed by Proconsul…A coin from Cyprus mentions Proculus the successor of Sergius Paulus, and calls him Proconsul of Cyprians” (Wayne Jackson, Biblical studies in Light of Archaeology, pp. 46-47).

7. Politarchs (Acts 17:4-6): This is the original term which is typically rendered “Rulers of the City”. The Thompson Chain Reference Bible said “For many years modern critical scholars pointed out that this term or title was not found in all Greek literature, and therefore Luke had made a mistake…Later, however the title was found inscribed on various ruins in Thessalonica.” Thessalonica was a free city. It called its city-board members “Politarchs”. Luke was correct.

8. Proconsul (Acts 18:12): Luke, once more, is accurate. “Early, under Tiberias, Achaia had been on Imperial province (Tacitus 1. 76), administered by a ‘legate,’ but in A.D. 44, Claudius conferred ‘senate’ status upon the province (Suetonius, Claudius 23), and these were governed by ‘Proconsuls’” (Wayne Jackson, The Acts of The Apostles). F.F. Bruce points out “Luke…one of the most remarkable tokens of his accuracy is his sure familiarity with proper titles…This was by no means such an easy feat in his days as it is in ours, when it is so simply to consult convenient backs of reference (or internet B.H.) The accuracy of Luke’s use of the various titles in the Roman Empire has been compared to the easy and confident way in which an Oxford man in ordinary conversation will refer to the heads of Oxford colleges by their proper title – the Provost of Oriel, the Master of Balliol the Rector of Exeter, the President of Magdalen, and so on. A non-oxonian…never feels quite at home with the multiplicity of these offered titles. But Luke had a further difficulty in that the titles sometimes did not remain the same for any great length of time; a province might pass from Senatorial government to administration by a direct representative of the emperor” (The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable, p.82).

Comparison to Others

1. The accuracy of the Bible is amazing. Nelson Glueck “No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference” (Randall Price, The Stones Cry Out, p. 323). William Albright – “Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought about increased recognition of the Bible as a source of history” (ibid, p. 325).

2. Adam Clark speculated that the moon was inhabited by intelligent beings (Commentary on Gen. 1:16).

3. Samuel Johnson in his Grammar of the English Tongue Said “ ‘H’ seldom, perhaps never, begins any but the first syllable.” (Wayne Jackson, Fortifying Your Faith, p. 62).

4. Tacitus in his History and Description of Germany “Made so many errors concerning the geography of Germany that modern scholars are shocked” (ibid).

5. Encyclopedia Britannica when first published “Contained so many mistakes regarding places in America, that the publishers of the New American Cyclopedia issued a special booklet listing the blunders” (ibid).

6. Herodotus is considered an important ancient source. Yet, relying on second-hand information he wrote of ants as large as foxes that bring up gold in India (3:102), and sheep, in Arabia, whose tails were so large that shepherds made wooden carts for them lest they drag the ground (3:113).

7. Archaeology has not in any way verified things found in The Book of Mormon. In truth, the Smithsonian Institute issued a statement saying “The Smithsonian Institute has never used The Book of Mormon as a scientific guide. Smithsonian archeologist see no direct connection between archeology of the New World and the subject matter in the book” (godscience.org)

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Why I Believe –The Bible (Part 1)

Posted on December 1, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

The Bible claims to be inspired of God. Over 2700 times the Bible says, “Thus says the Lord” or “The Lord said” or “The word of the Lord” or the same similar claim to the message being from God.

God Says                   Scripture Says

 Genesis 12:3                           Galatians 3:8

    Exodus 9:16                         Romans 9:17

 Scripture Says                  God Says

       Genesis 2:24                       Matthew 19:4-5

         Psalm 2:1                          Acts 4:24-25

      Psalm 95:7-8                          Hebrews 3:7-8

God Spoke                        Moses Said

 Exodus 20:1, 12                            Mark 7:10

 Leviticus 20:8-9                             Mark 7:10

  (Exodus 21:17)

 Deuteronomy 17:2, 3, 6                       Hebrews 10:28

However, not all claims are true. So why should I believe that the Bible is from God?

Prophecy

A study of Biblical prophecies can be a faith building exercise. There are numerous prophecies, for instance, about the Christ.

1. In his death, “he was numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Jesus was crucified with two robbers (Matthew 27:38).

2. His hands and his feet were to be pierced (Psalm 22:16). Such in context occurs before death. The Jews executed by (a) stoning (Exodus 17:4; Deuteronomy 13:10; (b) burning (Leviticus 20:14; 21:9); and (c) sword (Exodus 32:27). They did not crucify. The Encyclopedia Americana records “The history of crucifixion as a mode of punishment for crime must be studied as a part of the Roman system of jurisprudence… The Hebrews, for example, adopted or accepted it only under Roman compulsion; under their own system, before Palestine became Roman territory, they inflicted the death penalty by stoning” (8/253 quoted by Josh McDowell, Evident That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, pp. 161-162). Josh McDowell writes, “Thus, the type of death pictured in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 did not come into practice under the Jewish system until hundreds of years after the account was written” (ibid).

Note: It is true that the Jews hanged criminals on trees. However, such was not done to execute. This was done following death to warn others (Deuteronomy 21:22-26 cf. Genesis 40:19; Joshua 10:26).

3. He was buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:8). Jesus was (Matthew 27:57-60). This is remarkable. A condemned man allowed an honorable burial. Michael Wilkins and J. P. Moreland write, “If the burial of Jesus in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea is legendary, then it is strange that conflicting traditions nowhere appear, even in Jewish Polemic” (Jesus Under Fire, p. 149).

4. There was to be a missing body (Psalm 16:10 cf. Acts 2:25-34; 13:33-37). Even hostile sources admit that the body was missing. A Jewish source—Toledoth Yeshu says, “A diligent search was made and he was not found in the grave where he had been buried” (recorded by Kyle Butt and Eric Lyons in Behold! The Lamb of God, p. 140).

Many, many prophecies such as these exist in the Bible. Try to find anyone who fulfills each of the prophecies about the Christ. You’ll only find one. Only Jesus fulfills all of the prophecies.

Objection—Maybe these “prophecies” were written after the time of Jesus. Such will not work. Josh McDowell has answered, “If you are not satisfied with 450 B.C., as the historical date for the completion of the Old Testament, then take into consideration the following: The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, were initiated in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.). It is rather obvious that if you have a Greek translation in 250 B.C., then you had to have a Hebrew text from which it was written. This will suffice to indicate that there was at least a 250 year gap between the prophecies being written down and their fulfillment in the person of Christ” (ibid., p. 144).

Objection—Maybe Jesus deliberately tried to fulfill these prophecies. Josh McDowell answered, “The above objection might seem plausible until we realize that many of the prophecies concerning the messiah were totally beyond the human control of Jesus, such as—place of birth (Micah 5:2); time of birth (Daniel 9:25; Genesis 49:10);betrayal; manner of death (Psalm 22:16); people’s reaction (mocking, spitting, etc.); burial” (ibid., p. 166).

Scientific Accuracy and Foreknowledge

When one reads from the ancient world, one finds that superstitions and scientific inaccuracies abounded. The Papyrus Ebers, an Egyptian medical book from 1552 B.C., advises that “to prevent the hair from turning gray, anoint it with the blood of a black calf which has been boiled in oil, or with the fat of a rattlesnake” (S. L. McMillen, None of These Diseases, p. 9). The Bible does not contain such nonsense.

1. Genesis 1:9—“Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together in one place, and let dry land appear.”

Today, we know that the oceans are not really separate bodies of water, but join together. How did Moses know this without advanced cartography or satellite technology?

2. Isaiah 40:22—“It is He (God) who sits above the circle of the earth.”

The word “circle” could be rendered “sphere”. How did Isaiah know the earth was a sphere? Some of the ancient world believed the earth to be flat.

3. Psalm 8:8—“… paths of the sea.”

Matthew Fontain Maury (1806-1873) was motivated by this verse to search for and find the Gulf Stream flow. There is a monument in Richmond, erected by the state of Virginia, to this man. The base of the monument is inscribed with Psalms 8:8.

4. Leviticus 12:3 (cf. Genesis 17:12; 21:4)—Israelite parents were to circumcise their male children on the eighth day of life.

Why not the sixth or the tenth? Was this day arbitrarily picked?

Today, we know that vitamin K and prothrombin are essential to efficient blood clotting. It is on the fifth through the seventh day of a male-child’s life that vitamin K begins to be produced at normal levels. It is only on the eighth day that prothrombin climbs above normal levels. In times before modern medicine, this would be the optimal time for surgery.

Lucky guess?

5. Genesis 3:15; 38:8-9—Both male and female are said to have “seed”.

Today, we know that in ordinary reproduction a child inherits chromosomes from both genders.

However, this was not always known. In ancient Greece, Democritus and others believed women to be mere incubators, and that only men possessed the seed of life.

Examples like these could be multiplied many times over.

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How Fortunate We Are

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

Do we realize how fortunate we are to have such easy access to the Bible? Studies indicate that over 90% of Americans possess a Bible.

The cost of the Bible in the middle Ages was very high. Philip Schaff has written, “One of the chief causes of the prevailing ignorance was the scarcity of books. The old libraries were destroyed by ruthless barbarians and the ravages of war. After the conquest of Alexandria by the Saracens, the cultivation and exportation of parchment or velum, which took its place, was so expensive that complex copies of the Bible cost as much as a palace or a farm. King Alfred paid eight acres of land for one volume of a cosmography. Hence the custom of chaining valuable books, which continued to the sixteenth century” (History of the Christian Church, vol. 4, p. 603).

The cost, at times, was not just in money. It was a hardship and life. Many paid dearly to have the Bible in their own tongue.

John Wycliffe (1320-1384) wanted the common man in England to be able to read the Bible in his own language. The Catholic Church’s Bible was in Latin. Wycliffe wanted the people to look to the Bible for authority, and not to the church. He declared, “If there were one hundred popes and all the friars were turned into cardinals their opinion ought not to be acceded to in matters of faith except so far as they are based on scripture” (Matthew, The Eternal Kingdom, p. 225). Wycliffe translated the Latin Vulgate into English. “He knew no Hebrew and probably no Greek. His version, which was made from the Latin Vulgate, was the outgrowth of his burning desire to make his English countrymen more religious and more Christian (Schaff, vol. 6, p. 342). “The New Testament was first finished, about the year 1380; and in 1382, or soon afterwards, the version of the entire Bible was completed (Kenyon, Our Bible and The Ancient Manuscripts, p. 200). In 1385, he was excommunicated by the Catholic Church (Gerald Pinson, The Book, p. 70). The hatred continued even years after his death. “Thirty-one years after his death the Council of Constance condemned him as a heretic and ordered his bones removed from their tomb, burned, and the ashes thrown in the Severn River” (Mattox, p. 225). “The Constitution of Oxford in 1408 forbade the reading of any Bible in the vernacular, or common language (Pinson, p. 721). “Those who possessed any of his writings (were) made subject to punishment by death” (Mattox, p. 225).

William Tyndale (1495-1536) had a desire “to give the English people a translation of the Bible based not on Latin but upon the original Greek and Hebrew (Neil Lightfoot, How We Got the Bible, p. 77). Once a religious leader opined, “we would be better off without God’s law than without the Pope’s law” (Pinson, pp. 86-87). Tyndale responded, “I defy the pope and all his laws. If God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth a plow to know more of scripture than the great body of the clergy now know” (ibid). Tyndale had difficulty accomplishing his translation work in England. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 1524. Thus he fled to Germany (Pinson, p. 90).  “Tyndale completed his New Testament translation in 1526, with portions of the Old Testament to follow … copies of Tyndale’s work were smuggled into England…. Tyndale was betrayed by one thought to be a friend, kidnapped, imprisoned, strangled, and burned at the stake on October 6, 1536. His final words were, “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes” (Terry Hightower, A Handbook on Bible Translations, p. 158).

We are truly fortunate to have such easy access to the Bible. But, do we read it?

A story is told of a devout father whose son was studying for the ministry. The son decided to go to Europe for an advanced degree and the father worried that his simple faith would be spoiled by sophisticated, unbelieving professors. “Don’t let them take Jonah away from you,” he admonished, figuring the swallowed-by-a-great-fish story might be the first part of the Bible to go. Two years later when the son returned, the father asked, “Do you still have Jonah in your Bible!” The son laughed, “Jonah! That story isn’t even in your Bible!” The father replied, “It certainly is! What do you mean?” Again the son laughed and insisted, “It’s not in your Bible. Go ahead, show it to me.” The old man fumbled through his Bible, looking for the Book of Jonah, but he couldn’t find it. At last he checked the table of contents for the proper page. When he turned there, he discovered the three pages comprising Jonah had been carefully cut from his Bible. “I did it before I went away,” said the son. “What’s the difference whether I lost the book of Jonah through studying under non-believers or you lost it through neglect?”

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