The idea that particular angel is assigned to each person or believer was popular during the medieval era but suffered under the theological housecleaning of the Reformation. Only one distant reference to the possibility occurs in Matthew 18:10.
Continue reading DOES EVERYONE HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL?
THEIR BACKGROUNDS
From the moment the Israelites left Egypt, danger followed them all the way. Between the Egyptian army pursuing them and the dangers in the wilderness, the Israelites were a crowd of scared, tired people. They had seen God’s power in Egypt, but they were walking into the unknown. Seeing the cloud during the day and the column of fire during the night was probably a great comfort. The pillar of cloud and fire functioned as a reminder of God’s guiding and protective care, shown in Exodus 14:19, the pillar interposed between Israel and the pursuing Egyptian army, striking fear into the camp of Egypt and encouraging the Israelites.
Continue reading JESUS AND THE PLLLAR
Herod Agrippa II was only seventeen when his father, King Herod Agrippa I died, Emperor Claudius, a close friend of Herod’s father, wanted this young man educated in Rome to assume his father’s throne. But advisers convinced Claudius that the boy was too young. Six years later, in AD 50, Claudius give Herod some territory to rule in what is now Lebanon. Herod later traded that for regions in northern Israel and Syria.
Continue reading LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT (HEROD AGRIPPA II)
The grandson of Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa is best known for being the first to execute one of Jesus’ disciples. “He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter” (Acts 12:2-3). An angel freed Peter.
Continue reading A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT (HEROD AGRIPPA I)
The NT distinguishes between demonic possession and physical disease. Matthew 4:24 states that Jesus healed “all those who were afflicted, those suffering form various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics” (HCSB). Thus the theory that demonic possession should be equated with epilepsy or any other neurotic ailment is weak. Some of the demons made assertions of Christ’s divinity when the disciples did not show such recognition. Mental or physical illness would not impart this type of knowledge (Mark 5:13; Luke 4:33-35; 8:29-33).
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (DEMONIC POSSESSION PT2)
“The pit” is called “Sheol” in some translations, and this psalm presupposes that actual places exist in the realm of the spirit. Not quite.
Continue reading WHERE IS “THE PIT”?
Old Testament law distinguished between sins of ignorance, or sin unintentionally (Lev 4:2, 13-14; Num 15:24-29), and premeditated sins (“sin presumptuously” or with a high hand, Num. 15:30-31). Sins committed in ignorance incur guilt (Lev 4:13,22,27); however, the sacrificial system provided atonement for such sin (Lev 4; 5:5-6). In contrast, “high-handed” or “presumptuous” sin is an affront to the Lord punishable by exclusion from the people of God. The Law provided no ritual cleansing for such sin (Num 15:30-31).
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (IGNORANCE)
During Old Testament times, the Jews divided the night into three “watchers” or divisions of time (read Exodus 14:24). But after the Romans occupied their territory, they adopted the Roman pattern of the four-watch night.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS & CURIOSITIES (NEW TESTAMENT WATCHERS)
“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise” (Jeremiah 17:14).
When our bodies are injured, we know to go to the nearest hospital for help. When our souls are sick, where do we go? We will find no help at the Regional Medical Center. Only God can help the soul and His hospital for the sin-sick is the church. Eugene Peterson was right when he said, “The Sunday morning congregation is a hospital” (Hos. 6:1; Mk. 2:17; Lk. 4:18). How is the church like a hospital?
Continue reading GOD’S HOSPITAL