Taken in its first century Jewish apocalyptic context, the Sermon on the Mount shows the God of Israel's zeal for the covenant he made at Sinai with the people of Israel. The Torah was not done away with. God still intends to set Israel apart and make them a light to the nations. - Joshua Hawkins

“The desire to be first is a disqualification for Christian leadership.” - D.A. Carson

Kingdom now theology inevitably results in atrocities. Only Jesus has the right to judge. - Joel Richardson

Read and tremble.

“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46

And shall we think these brief four score are the main reason for being? - John Piper

“None of the prophets seems enamored with being a prophet or proud of his attainment. The prophet bears scorn and reproach (Jer 15:15). He is stigmatized as a madman by his contemporaries… (Am 5:10)” - Abraham Heschel

“God knew what we were before conversion – wicked, guilty, and defiled; yet He loved us. He knows what we will be after conversion – weak, erring, and frail; yet He loves us.”- J.C. Ryle

Our missiology must be grounded in a firm Israelology. -Gabe Cali

BibleArc-Bracket of Matthew 24

If you want to understand the rapture you need to become a good student of the resurrection! - Brandon Emch

The early apostolic Church was thoroughly futurist, and thoroughly premillennial, but they were also thoroughly engaged. - Joel Richardson

I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. (Zech. 12:10)

BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (Rev. 1:7)

You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy. - Isaiah 

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake these to everlasting life. - Angel in Daniel

Some argue that certain passages in the New Testament suggest Jesus redefined "the kingdom of God" to be something "within you" or something that "comes upon you".

However, there is strong evidence to *not* read these few texts in that manner.

Jesus didn't redefine anything. - Josh Hawkins

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime... But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh... (Romans 13:12-13)

“It can be difficult for Christians to accept that Jesus was not a Christian like them but, unlike them, was Jewish and deeply absorbed in a set of beliefs and practices that are unfamiliar to contemporary Christians. 

Christianity as we know it today did not exist at the time of the New Testament. There were those who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel, but Christianity as a religion distinct from Judaism only emerged centuries later.”  - Matthias Henze

Peter the apostle: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

"God cannot deal with Israel and omit the nations. By necessity the one is contingent upon the other. Therefore, no nation is exempt from inclusion, and must consider its course relative to Israel especially in that final sifting of Israel through the nations." - Art Katz

Christian, whatever befalls you, whoever abandons you, do not lose heart. Your Mediator and Saviour will love you to the end, He will not waver, and His reign is certain. It will be well for those who persevere in faith. In a short time you will see Him, and your joy will be full. - BA Purtle

Movements, fads, and methodologies will flash and plummet like shooting stars. 

Let us stick to believing and preaching the whole counsel of God, especially focused on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ the righteous.

So shall we be immovable in every age, unto the very end. - BA Purtle

Don't let your Bible collect dust on the shelf

To understand biblical eschatology, we need to move beyond the categories of modern Christian thought and think in terms of the motifs, symbols, and narratives that informed the eschatological worldview of Jesus himself, as a first-century Jewish man living in the Land of Israel.  

And like many Jewish people in his day, when Jesus was thinking of the end of this age and the establishment of God's kingdom, at the forefront of his mind was the original Passover story.

-Travis M. Snow

Many of us have our own pet sins, but if you indulge them long enough you'll be the one being walked, not the one holding the leash. - Nick Uva

Jesus says,

"Ask…seek…knock."

The Greek verbs could be translated as

"keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking."

Christ is wanting an ongoing conversation,

not just a one-time request. - Chad Bird

...the dead were still dead in Luke’s day, just as much as Israel remained dispersed and exiled. 

Luke, however, holds on to the joint hope in the revival of the dead and the rebirth of Israel...

Hope remains. God will have the final word.  - Isaac Woliver

"If one must have the NT to tell us how to interpret the OT, then it stands to reason that no godly Jew before Jesus and the Apostles could rightly understand their own Scriptures, and the covenant oaths should not have formed the basis of their faith". -Paul Martin Henebury

Theology 101: In two centuries, the church grew from a single room in Jerusalem to countless congregations in Africa, Europe, and Asia without any government aid or acts of terror. - Dr. Michael Svigel

Christ came (sacrificially), and he will come again (apocalyptically). This is what Paul meant when he proclaimed to Jew and Gentile alike, “ Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age” (Gal 1:4).

From “ Extending Mercy to the Gentiles” - John P. Harrigan

All people serve their ambition. In that matter, there are no atheists. There are only people who know, and don’t know, what God they serve. - Jordan B Peterson

There is no getting around the necessity of the local church or the necessity of leadership in the local church. The Bible itself prescribes them. But it also defines them, and not everything that calls itself Christian leadership in the church is the genuine article.

Therefore, do not follow a man (or a team of leaders) merely because he has gifting, zeal, charisma, or vision-casting abilities.

The rubric for knowing if a man should be shepherding the flock is simple: sound doctrine and a godly life. These are not ambiguous, ethereal or subjective things. They are what 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1 (among other texts) spell out. If a church is healthy, there will be ample opportunities for these characteristics to be seen in the life of a prospective or appointed leader. 

Such was the case with Paul: "You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake." (1 Thess. 1.5b)

If a man can't be known in these ways, if he's a "green room personality," if no one knows him apart from an inner-circle of yes-men; if you cannot see that his doctrine is sound, and that, imperfect as he is, he is trustworthy and godly, he should not be leading the church/ministry, nor should you partner with, affirm, or regard him a leader. 

If he and his ministry are so large and move so quickly that none of his co-leaders or congregants have a finger on the pulse of his marriage, his parenting, his personal holiness, his encouragement/discouragement levels, his interactions with the saints, and he cannot be known as a brother, he is already in the danger zone. If he himself is not "a man under authority," (e.g. the authority of the Word, the authority of the local church), then he bears no authority from God himself. Period.

An elder/pastor must remain a brother amongst brothers, though he be a father to many. He must remain a sheep amongst the sheep, though he be a shepherd. The want of this reality has been the seedbed of many a scandal and the cause of a host of moral maladies which belittle the name of God in our cities. Lord, help us! We must return to the main and plain of Scripture when it comes to the fellowship of the saints, and the way in which churches are to be led.

This is fundamental and clear, but the excitement produced (and the selfish-ambition that is titillated) by certain men and their churches/organizations often dupes sincere believers into following them, even to tragic ends. 

These matters are not just ecclesiological preferences, saints. They are matters of life and death for many, matters that pertain to God's very glory, and matters that affect the Church, "which He purchased with His own blood." 

As always, brothers and sisters, let holy Scripture (and all of holy Scripture) be your authority and guide. The Good Shepherd speaks clearly, kindly, and commandingly in its pages. - BA Purtle

Try not to conduct yourself in such a manner that people don’t care if you’re treated poorly. - Nick Uva

Within their native apocalyptic framework, Jews, like Paul, anticipated the messianic age with a restored Temple. He didn't see the body or the church as a *replacement* of the Temple, but uses it to describe individuals and the assembly precisely because of its ongoing sacredness. - Joshua Hawkins

My teaching on Jesus's rejection at Nazareth from Luke 4. Notes. Audio 1. Audio 2. 

“Paul departed and went from one place to the next, strengthening all the disciples.” Acts 18:23

Whom will you make strong today?

Take some strengthening word of Scripture with you and at the right moment speak it. - John Piper

Biblical hope: The world will NOT be this way forever

Apocalyptic Evangelism | Joel Richardson

Remember the game "telephone" kids like to play? The word "orange" might go around the circle and come out as "elephant" at the end.

For 1st century Jews, "the kingdom of God" meant something very specific. Today, the meaning comes out as something almost unrecognizable to them. -Joshua Hawkins

...rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ... (1 Peter 1:13b)

Read without prejudice, a single verse can take apart today's twin false hopes of (a) avoiding end-time persecution and (b) birthing His kingdom without Him. - Nick Uva

A church that has forgotten its transient status in the world

…will inevitably become friends with it.

“ʏᴏᴜ ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛᴇʀᴇꜱꜱᴇꜱ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱʜɪᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ɪꜱ ʜᴏꜱᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ɢᴏᴅ? ᴛʜᴇʀᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴡʜᴏᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡɪꜱʜᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴇᴍʏ ᴏꜰ ɢᴏᴅ.”

— ᴊᴀᴍᴇꜱ 4:4

-Aaron in Writing

Jewish eschatology in the Second Temple Period was largely what we would call "premillennial" and Jesus fit within that Jewish stream.

Also, the earliest church fathers who spoke to the issue were premillennial, so that tells you most of what you need to know. - Travis M. Snow

Fellowship in…

Submit to…

Worship with…

Build up…

Make disciples in and through…

…a local church.

The local church is one of the chief means by which God keeps and sanctifies His children.

Don’t do Christianity without it.

-BA Purtle

If it wasn’t obvious, in the days ahead the Lord will bring the Church to the full embodiment of his beatitudes. A Church in sackcloth.

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

Psalm 147:5

-TJ Sewob

Paul: "To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you."

Peter: "I think it right... to stir you up by way of reminder..."

Pastors, don't aim for novelty. Not all broken records are ills. Some play glorious songs that fortify faith and redound to eternity. - BA Purtle

“Jesus answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.’” Matthew 12:39

Why adulterous?

Jesus is the Bridegroom come for his bride.

But she has a preferred boyfriend.

And so pretends to need extra proof that Jesus is her betrothed. - John Piper

Daniel petitions God to act righteously by showing mercy to Israel and delivering them from their enemies...

God’s glory is at stake in Jerusalem, and Daniel wants Jerusalem restored because he loves God’s glory.

-Dr. Jim Hamilton

A Tale of Two Messiahs

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

There was a time in my life when I pictured Pentecost as the breakthrough moment for the Holy Spirit in the life of God’s people. Pre-Pentecost, the Spirit was in heaven. Post-Pentecost, the Spirit finally began his work on earth.

I was wrong. Dead wrong. The Holy Spirit has been active in the world since the beginning.

As in, literally, The Beginning. Genesis 1:2, “The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” In Hebrew, the word ru’ach (רוּחַ) can mean wind, breath, spirit, or Spirit, depending upon the context. Sometimes, as at the Red Sea, I suspect a double meaning is intended, for God sent a strong east ru’ach (wind? Spirit?) and made the sea dry land (Exod. 14:21). And “at the ru’ach [breath? wind? Spirit?] of your nostrils the waters piled up” (15:8).

The Spirit is all over the Old Testament, equipping the builders of the tabernacle (Exod. 31:3), coming upon prophets (Num. 24:2), giving strength to judges (Judg. 6:34), clothing a priest with courage (2 Chron. 24:20), giving visions to Ezekiel (11:24), rushing upon David (1 Sam. 16:13). David prays that God will not take his Holy Spirit from him (Ps. 51:11) and that this same Spirit will lead him (143:10). If you are reading Bible in One Year with me, in one of today’s chapters, Isaiah speaks of the Spirit being poured out from on high (Isa. 32:15).

When we read in the NT that “the Spirit had not [yet] been given” (John 7:39), this is talking about the spectacular miracle of Pentecost, not that the Spirit was somehow trapped in heaven until then.

By his Spirit, God the Father has always been active in this world: creating, guiding, comforting, inspiring, and leading. Fill our hearts with your Spirit, dear Father, that he may lead us into the life of Jesus, that there we may find peace and joy that know no end. -Chad Bird

The fact that [while Daniel was praying] Jerusalem was in ruins called forth faith that it would again be restored because the God who had set His name on the city was the continuing, unchanging God, in control of history. - Joyce Baldwin, Daniel

My teaching on Jesus's preaching in Nazareth from Luke 4. Notes. Audio 1. Audio 2. 

If we don't love Christ's "first appearing," His life, death, and resurrection, and if we do not love His "appearing" to us today in the Gospel, in the Scriptures, in prayer, and in the Church; our love for His future appearing can be little more than eschatological curiosity. -BA Purtle

"Without doubt, they [the Jews] will return to their own land; because when their unbelief ceases, their dispersion, the dreadful and signal punishment of their unbelief, will cease too. . . . And as they have hitherto continued a distinct nation that they might continue a visible monument to His displeasure, for their rejecting and crucifying their Messiah, so after their conversion will they still be a distinct nation, that they may be a visible monument of God's wonderful grace and power in their calling and conversion.

But yet, we are not to imagine that the old walls of separation will be set up again. But all nations will be as free to come to Judea, or to dwell in Jerusalem, as into any other city or country, and may have the same privilege there as they themselves. For they [the Jewish people] shall look upon all the world to be their brethren, as much as the Christians in Boston and the Christians in other parts of New England look on each other as brethren." 

"Nothing is more certainly foretold than this national conversion of the Jews is in the eleventh chapter of Romans. And there are also many passages of the Old Testament that can't be interpreted in any other sense, that I can't now stand to mention. . . . The world affords nothing else like it- a remarkable hand of providence. When they shall be called, then shall that ancient people that were alone God's people for so long a time be God's people again, never to be rejected more, one fold with the Gentiles, and then also shall the remains of the ten tribes, wherever they are, be brought in together, and shall be united as one people as they formerly were under David and Solomon (Hos. 1.11), and so in the last chapter of Hosea, and other parts of his prophecy."

"And it is the more evident, that the Jews will return to their own land again, because they never have yet possessed one quarter of that land, which was so often promised them, from the Red Sea to the river Euphrates (Ex. 23.31; Gen. 15.18; Deut. 11.24; Josh. 1.4). Indeed, it was partly fulfilled in Solomon's time, when he governed all within those bounds for a short time; but so short, that it is not to be thought that this is all the fulfillment of the promise that is to be. And besides, that was not a fulfillment of the promise, because they did not possess it." 

(The Works of Jonathan Edwards: Apocalyptic Writings, ed. Stephen J. Stein; New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1977-- 5:135., etc.)