Theology & Doctrine
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Rapture: Delusion or Reality in Light of Bible Prophecy?
Many people have been taught that God’s church and His people will disappear, be “caught up” in a secret rapture, seven years before the loud, visible return of Jesus Christ (His second coming). According to this theory it’s a silent rapture first, then seven years of tribulation, then the second coming. Hypothetically, those who miss the rapture will have…
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Bread of Life Scripture: Finding Strength in God’s Word
What is the bread of life mentioned in Scripture? The Apostle Paul tells us that the children of Israel in the wilderness “did all eat the same spiritual meat” (1 Corinthians 10:4). The Lord promised to give them food saying, “Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you,” He “commanded the clouds from above and…
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Time of Trouble: End-Time Events and God’s Promise of Deliverance
As the mark of the beast is enforced, “there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.” Jesus also warned of the same: “For then there will…
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Seven Last Plagues: God’s Final Judgments Before the End
As probation closes, the fierce “four winds” of violent human passion are let loose. The seven last plagues fall upon the world and plunge humanity into a state of “great tribulation”. The restraining work of the holy angels are ended. The influence of the Holy Spirit is withdrawn from earth. Satan has complete control. The political…
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Death Decree: A Final Test of Faith Before Christ’s Return
With Satan now presiding over a one-world system of false worship, God’s faithful people will come under the increased persecution as they boldly resist the union of church and state and declare that the reigning “Christ” is, in fact, the devil personating Christ. Finally, the false Christ will command and demand an extermination program—a death…
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Close of Probation: A Final Moment Before Christ’s Return
Once every decision is made, probation will close. The enforcement of the mark of the beast will draw a clear line between the true gospel of love and liberty, in contrast to the false gospel of fear and coercion. This global crisis of conscience will drive every living human being to a character-sealing decision. The…
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Satan’s Deception: The Impersonation of Christ in the End Times
As the crowning act of Satan’s deception, he will appear on earth claiming to be Christ. He will manifest himself in supernatural form, unlike any spectacle humans have ever witnessed. He will perform “miracles” and speak eloquently of peace, making the delusion almost overmastering. Then, as the world is hammered with calamities, the false Christ…
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God’s Character: How His Justice and Love Are Vindicated
Jesus came to our world to magnify, glorify, and vindicate God’s character. By His life, death, and resurrection He demonstrated that “God is love”, in the most beautiful sense imaginable, ruling out fear and force as motivations for worshipping God. Jesus proves that God’s favor cannot be merited or earned, by anything humans might do, for the simple…
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Mark of the Beast: Understanding Its Enforcement in the Last Days
The essence of God’s character is love. From this premise arises the sublime truth that God, while possessing all power, only desires love-motivated worship. God’s law is a law of liberty, not of force. Wherever the true gospel is known and received, there is liberty. The gospel, therefore, stands for the separation of church and state,…
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Sealing of God’s People: A Mark of Loyalty Before the End
As the loud cry and the latter rain exert their influence, the followers of Jesus become more and more deeply settled into the truth about God’s good character of love. They become immovable, with intelligent loyalty and trust toward God. As a result, they become impenetrable to Satan’s deceptions. This sealing of God’s people shows that the believers…
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What Is the Latter Rain in the Bible? Understanding God’s Final Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
The ancient kingdom of Israel and its surrounding territories looked forward to two vital rains each year. The “early rain” fell at sowing time, causing seed to germinate and welcoming a season of growth. The “latter rain” ripened the grain for the sickle, welcoming a season of preparation and harvest. These rains dictated the cycles…
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Calamities: Are Increasing Disasters a Sign of the End Times?
Jesus foretold that natural, economic, and military calamities will multiply and intensify, like a woman’s contractions in labor, leading up to the Parousia and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. E.G. White indicates that the world will be catapulted to its end by means of a “sudden and unlooked for calamity” of either natural, economic, or…
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False Revivals: Discerning Truth from Deception in the Last Days
As the true gospel gains influence, Babylon loses credibility, and the earth becomes more and more enveloped in disaster, Satan will instigate false religious revivals. Getting “back to God” will be advanced as the solution to humanities woes, but on the premise of a false gospel or merit and appeasement. The false idea will be advanced that through revivals, God’s anger…
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Luke 15: The Lostness of Both Sons in the Parable
In Luke 15 we see that the older brother became angry and refused to go into the father’s feast, after the return of his wayward younger brother. Jesus often speaks of sin and salvation under the metaphors of being lost and found. Gratefully, in Luke 15 there are three parables that Jesus tells the religious…
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Legalistic Christian: Self-Centered or Other-Centered Faith?
As one contemplates the mess this world is in, with its social unrest, disparities, pandemics, earthquakes, famine and pestilence, one realizes that for the current situation to change, for there to be a better, more civil world, it will require a power outside of the carnal, self-centered, or even legalistic Christian human condition for a…
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God’s Covenant: More Than a Real Estate Contract
God’s covenant with His people is unilateral. God to man. It is 100% of grace. Man has nothing of value to bring. It is not a transaction. It is unmerited favor. It is not a real estate contract, where we believe that because of our good behavior we earn and are entitled to a free…
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Confession, Repentance, and Forgiveness: What Comes First?
The underlying message for us is that God’s forgiveness has no limit just as His agape love has no limit, for God is love! When we come to see more of the depth of His love and His sacrifice then our hearts and minds will be changed and as new creatures in Christ, we also,…
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Atonement: The Cross as the Ultimate Expression of God’s Love
To study and appreciate the love of God and His atonement will be the theme studied in all eternity. Here are some precious thoughts for our contemplation, praying that the Holy Spirit would touch our hearts and minds: Christ’s physical suffering on the cross, terrible as it was, played no part in our atonement. The…
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The Cross: At the Center of Controversy and Atonement
The very heart of the New Testament is the cross. This is a subject that am incapable of understanding. My heart is desperately wicked, I am evil and sold under sin. I have prayed that you in the following Bible study will see glimpses of the love of God for humankind and His plan for…
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Cryptocurrency: Its Role in End-Time Events and Christ’s Return
The growth of cryptocurrency has been exponential with previous naysayers, investment firms, banks and governments now beginning to jump on board. What is cryptocurrency and specifically what is Bitcoin? Each Bitcoin is basically a computer file which is stored in a ‘digital wallet’ app on a smartphone or computer. People can send Bitcoins (or part of one) to your…
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God’s Grace: The Final Message That Hastens Christ’s Return
In the Old Testament the Israelites repeatedly vowed to keep the law of God given on Sinai. Repeatedly they failed, leading to the place where they were unable to recognize the Messiah when He came. He came to His own and His own received Him not. The old covenant was a belief that I can…