Apocalyptic ice cream flavors: How does the world end? Naturalist: Climate change. Hollywood: Aliens/extraterrestrials. Western Christian: Tribulation/rapture. 1st-century Jewish: Messiah descends with fire/angels to regather Israel and restore creation. I prefer the last one. - Joshua Hawkins

Jesus and the apostles remained steadfast and faithful even in the midst of oppressive regimes, government overreach, and unjust laws. They knew that God had appointed a Day to definitively deal with humanity's wickedness. We do well when we imitate them. - Joshua Hawkins

The scattering was literal:–so also will be the gathering.

The pulling down of Zion was literal:–so also will be the building up. The rejection of Israel was literal:–so also will be the restoration. - J. C. Ryle

 My teaching on Psalm 118. Notes. Audio 1, Audio 2. 

“A man really believes not what he recites in his creed, but only the things he is ready to die for” - Richard Wurmbrand

"Thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted...until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him." // Ezekiel 21

"David's throne must at least mean the peculiar sovereignty of Messiah over the literal Israel; the peculiar dominion which He is to exercise over the tribes and Land over which David ruled. At least it means this, else it be as vague a term as could be employed." -Horatius Bonar 

Pride is the carbon monoxide of sin. It silently and slowly kills you without you even knowing. -Timothy Keller

"Brethren, no truth ought to be more frequently proclaimed, next to the first coming of the Lord, than His second coming; and you cannot thoroughly set forth all of the ends and bearings of the first advent if you forget the second." -Charles Spurgeon

The hearers of Jesus' words or recipients of Paul's letters understood their words a certain way because of their age, world, culture, and context. Sound interpretation begins by asking "what did it mean for them?" and then seeking meaning for us today. Not the other way around.

-Josh Hawkins

Israel is the missing piece in ecclesiology, pneumatology and eschatology. For 1900 years they've been doing theology without considering the mystery re: Abraham's natural kids. Paul says that leads to arrogance (Rom. 11:25). And arrogance leads to blindness. Open our eyes Lord. - Ron Cantor

Why should you be surprised at the extravagant, unconditional affections the Father has for you? You have the blood of Jesus on your life! - Bob Sorge

"Paul is always writing in the fullness of doxological overflow." -John Piper

From the strands of seemingly disparate and mundane events—a famine that leads to exile, ten years of barrenness, bereavement, the persistence of a Moabite girl, the field in which she happens to glean—Yahweh has woven a magnificent tapestry of mercy. - Dr. Jim Hamilton on the book of Ruth

 

Why we can have such confidence in the scriptures. 

God’s throne is the epicenter of joy in the universe, and those nearest His throne enjoy the greatest measure of joy available. He is the very fountain of joy. - Mike Bickle

Mirroring her Messiah, "After his anguish, he shall see light and be satisfied (Isaiah 54)."

Jerusalem’s beautification comes on the heels of Jerusalem’s chastisement. - Dalton Thomas

His (Paul's) consistent references to the day of the Lord (cf. Rom. 2:5, 13:12; 1 Cor. 1:8; 3:13; 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; Eph. 4:30; Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16; 1 Thess. 5:2ff.; 2 Thess. 1:10; 2:2f.; 2 Tim. 1:12, 4:8), the coming judgment (cf. Rom. 2:16; 3:6; 8:23; 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:4; 6:2; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:9; 2 Tim. 4:1), the resurrection of the dead (cf. Rom. 6:5; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:12ff.; 2 Cor. 4:14; Phil. 3:11, 21; 2 Tim. 2:18), and the messianic kingdom (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; 15:24, 50; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; Col. 4:11; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 4:1, 18) reveal his apocalyptic hermeneutical assumptions. He was theologizing within a preconceived, and widely presupposed, view of God, history, and the future. -John P. Harrigan

“We can distill from this mass of writings a general pattern of Endtime events, themselves amplifications of themes shaping the older prophetic paradigm of Exile and Return. Before the End comes, the righteous will suffer persecution at the hands of the wicked. Suddenly, though, things will begin to reverse. The Day of the Lord will arrive, when the world will be convulsed by celestial and terrestrial catastrophes: earthquakes, plagues, darkness at noon, falling stars. . . . With the resurrection of the dead, the judgment of the wicked, and the vindication of the righteous, Israel will reassemble, all twelve tribes, and return to the Land. God’s spirit will pour out onto “all flesh” (Joel 2:28). The redeemed will gather in Jerusalem, at a rebuilt or renewed temple. Peace unalterably established, the entire world, human and divine, will acknowledge and worship the god of Israel” - Paula Fredricksen 

The final theophany of God will bring with it final judgment and reckoning—the ultimate denouement of the error of Eden. - John P. Harrigan

There are two groups of people associated with the name of Christ who will be disqualified on the last day: those who presume upon the sacrifice and those who set aside the sacrifice. - John P. Harrigan Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Paul

"Whenever you and I begin to try to manage God’s kingdom for him, we find the divine scepter too heavy for our little hands to hold." — Charles Spurgeon 

Make disciples. Let God bring the kingdom of God. 

For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous ripped out of it. - Proverbs 2

Maranatha.  

No man’s ministry is a failure, however meager the results, if he has been faithfully and earnestly preaching the gospel of the grace of God, holding up to dying, sinful men God’s message of redeeming love. Such a ministry is not, could not be, a failure. - Francis Grimke

My message on the "Icons of Evolution" Video. 

“We’re not doubting that God will do the best for us; we’re wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” - C.S. Lewis 

Theology 101: Dying and going to heaven is not resurrection. It’s death. Resurrection is resurrection. -Dr. Michael Svigel

When you look at the cross you can’t help but tremble under the weight of this obvious truth: God does this kind of thing with His favorites. - Bob Sorge

Theology 101: If the resurrection of your body is not part of your soteriology, somewhere you got it wrong. -Dr. Michael Svigel

The words of the gospel, even right words anointed by the Holy Spirit, must be substantiated and demonstrated by righteous deeds derived from holy intentions. Those who proclaim the hope of the age to come must actually live for the age to come. - John P. Harrigan

The different aspects of the cross...are not mere metaphors, images, or figures of speech. They are different aspects of real history, based upon real events, involving real persons, culminating in a real Day.  -John P. Harrigan