False prophets are mentioned frequently throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. Scripture warns believers to be on guard against those who falsely claim to speak for God. Here is an overview of some of the key passages in Scripture that discuss false prophets and false prophecy. Old Testament Warnings About False Prophets In the Old Testament, God instructed the Israelites to not listen to prophets who led them away from the true God. For example: Deuteronomy 13:1-5 warns that false prophets will arise who perform signs and wonders to lead people astray. God’s people are told…
Author: Emma Price
The “Macedonian Call” refers to a vision that the apostle Paul received as recorded in Acts 16:9-10. In the vision, Paul saw a man from Macedonia pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” This vision is significant because it marks a major shift in the spread of the gospel from being mostly among Jews to expanding to the Gentile world. Some key things to know about the Macedonian Call: The call came at an important transitional moment. Up until this point, Paul’s missionary journeys had focused on Jewish communities and converts. But now the gospel was beginning…
The Old Testament contains many prophecies and foreshadowings of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world. Here are some of the key ways the Old Testament points to Jesus: Genesis 3:15 – The Protoevangelium After Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, God pronounced a curse on the serpent who had tempted them. Within this curse is the first prophecy of Christ’s coming: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15 ESV). This passage hints…
The gospel of the kingdom refers to the good news that God’s kingdom has come and will come fully through Jesus Christ. It is the central message Jesus proclaimed during His earthly ministry according to the Gospels. The kingdom of God involves God’s reign and rule over all creation, which brings redemption, restoration, and reconciliation through Christ. Here is an overview of key elements related to the gospel of the kingdom: The Kingdom of God In the Old Testament, God was recognized as the true King over Israel and all the earth (1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalm 10:16). However, due to…
Inaugurated eschatology is a theological concept that refers to the partial fulfillment of God’s kingdom promises that were initiated with the first coming of Jesus Christ. The term “eschatology” refers to the study of end times and last things. Inaugurated eschatology holds that while Christ’s death and resurrection launched the kingdom of God, the full consummation will only occur at the second coming of Christ. This view stands in contrast to two other major eschatological positions. Realized eschatology believes that God’s promises have been completely fulfilled already, while future eschatology sees the kingdom as entirely future and not yet inaugurated.…
The concept of a supercontinent, consisting of all the present-day continents joined together in one massive landmass, is well established in modern science. This hypothetical supercontinent is known as Pangaea or Pangea. But what does the Bible have to say about Pangaea? While the Bible does not directly mention Pangaea by name, a close examination of the biblical texts reveals some intriguing clues that resonate with the scientific concept of a unified primordial continent. The Creation Account The creation account in Genesis 1 describes how God created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them in six days. On the…
What is the Star of David and is it biblical? The Star of David, also known as the Shield of David or Magen David, is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism. It is shaped like a hexagon, with six points forming a star. The hexagram has been in use as a Jewish symbol since the 17th century, but its origins go back much further in history. The Star of David is not mentioned by name or appearance in the Bible. However, there are connections between the symbol and biblical references that have led to its adoption as…
The Israelites were instructed by God to completely destroy the Canaanite people when they entered the Promised Land. However, the biblical account shows that the Israelites did not fully carry out this command. Instead of destroying the Canaanites, the Israelites took many of them as slaves. This apparent contradiction between God’s command and the Israelites’ actions has puzzled Bible readers for centuries. A close examination of the relevant biblical passages provides some insight into why the Israelites disobeyed God’s instructions regarding the Canaanites. God’s Commands to Destroy the Canaanites On several occasions as the Israelites prepared to enter Canaan, God…
The verse in question, Colossians 1:17, states “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” This verse speaks to the preeminence and sovereignty of Jesus Christ in relation to all of creation. There are several important truths contained in this concise statement about the supremacy of Christ: 1. Christ existed before all things To say Christ is “before all things” means He existed before anything was created. This affirms the eternal pre-existence of Christ. He was not created, He has always been. The apostle John wrote in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word,…
This is a complex issue with reasonable arguments on both sides. Ultimately, the Bible does not give a definitive age when women should stop teaching boys in a church context. There are several factors to consider: The Bible affirms women teaching The Bible affirms women teaching and leading in various contexts. Deborah was a judge and prophetess who led Israel (Judges 4-5). Priscilla helped teach the eloquent Apollos about Christian doctrine (Acts 18:24-28). Older women are instructed to teach younger women (Titus 2:3-5). So women teaching men is not categorically prohibited in Scripture. The Bible restricts women teaching in church…