All blog posts in the category "End times"

Eschatology, or the study of the end-times

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Advent begins next Sunday!

Posted on November 24, 2012

As a young boy, I eagerly anticipated Thanksgiving evening's desserts and Christmas morning's presents. But as I've grown older I've begun to more deeply appreciate the "reason for the season", as the coined Christian phrase goes. And as I have studied the life of Christ these past couple of years a different anticipation has arisen in my heart around the holidays - an excitement of the season of Advent.

Advent is a term originally derived from Latin meaning "coming" or "arrival". During Advent, the church celebrates and contemplates Jesus' first coming and joyfully...

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Musings on yesterday's eclipse

Posted on May 21, 2012

eclipse.jpg

Yesterday much of the Far East and the Southwest US experienced an annular solar eclipse, often described as a "ring of fire" because of the way the moon blocks out most of the sun, leaving a bright ring around it in the sky. Much of the event was also visible here in Missouri, beginning around 7:30pm and lasting for 45 or 50 minutes.

I was able to view the eclipse at my folks' house where they have an open view of the western sky thanks to the rolling Missouri plains. We took turns looking...

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How Jesus celebrated the new year

Posted on January 2, 2012

The modern new year is an interesting phenomenon. Millions and millions across the world gather to celebrate the changing of a number. Calendars, mobile phones, and checks for the next 364 days will now prominently display a "2" at the end of the date. Somehow this man-made milestone gives permission to so many for a drunken revelry followed by new "resolutions" to change eating and workout habits, most of which have no real impetus and never see any real fulfillment.

However, Jesus is not reevaluating His life, His words, or His plan for the days ahead. With so...

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Taught by grace

Posted on June 30, 2011

Undoubtedly we’ve all had a memorable teacher in our lives at one point or another, whether in school growing up, on the job, or at a later point on our life. Teachers, instructors, mentors, and tutors all serve a common purpose – to make the seemingly complex and difficult into something tenable, simple, and attainable, and then to see their students be successful in what they’ve learned.

In writing to Titus, the Apostle Paul spoke of a teacher that every Christian who has trusted in Jesus for salvation has available to them - the grace of God:

“For...

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The gift of faith

Posted on May 12, 2010

When you think of and pray for the gift of faith, what comes to your mind?

For the patriarchs, faith was more than having confidence that God was going to heal them or save their friends. It was much more than knowing that money for the bill would come in at the last minute. Hebrews 11, the great “hall of faith” chapter, gives us a glimpse into God’s ultimate purpose in giving the gift of faith. It always resulted in a steadfast confidence in the...

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Hope, our anchor in discouragement

Posted on March 23, 2010

On Sunday, the United States Congress passed a bill that allows federal funds to be used for abortions. President Obama will sign that bill into law today. Many look at this new reform as a severe blow to the long-time efforts of lobbyists, activists, and the pro-life movement in America. Some in the church of Jesus are also very discouraged, as many have been contending in prayer for righteous leaders, the ending of abortion, and the reversal of the “death decree” to babies in the womb for years.

While this is certainly disappointing news to me, it is not surprising nor does it...

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The world economy and the signs of the times

Posted on March 17, 2009

I don’t often write here on the signs of the times (not because I don't want to, but that's a subject for another day) but it’s been very interesting to watch how the media has been covering every single aspect of the world’s troubled economy recently. I’ve read articles on how it compares to the times of the Great Depression in the US in the early 20th century. I’ve also read practical articles on how to live off of $10 per day, and some humorous ones including how to make a prom suit out of duct tape.

It does not take any prophetic anointing to discern that that these times...

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The Fear of the Lord

Posted on February 24, 2009

I'm realizing lately that I have not sufficiently wrestled with Jesus' words in Matthew 24:21-22:

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
(...

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Walking Worthy

Posted on February 2, 2009

We just started our monthly 3-day fast together as a community, and more and more I am discovering God’s wisdom in the “seeming weakness” of prayer. Telling God what He told us to tell Him, skipping a few meals, and spending time reading and praying through the Bible seems like a foolish waste of time to the natural mind. Yet I’m finding that it is truly the pathway to a vibrant heart full of life, peace, and joy.

Today I was reading through Luke’s gospel when I flipped ahead a few pages to...

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The Narrow Gate

Posted on January 29, 2009

A friend the other day asked me an interesting question – “Do you think you have the right eschatology to be saved?” It’s a genuine and very real question to ask because of Jesus’ own words about deception coming at the end of the age. But I responded:

“My eschatology is definitely wrong in areas, but the way to be saved is not by having the perfect understanding of all of the end-time events.”

In pondering and searching out my answer a bit more, I came across...

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