Amasa was an important biblical figure who played a role in the histories of both King David and King Solomon. He was the son of Abigail and David’s nephew Jether (1 Chronicles 2:17). Amasa’s story is told primarily in 2 Samuel chapters 17-20 and 1 Kings chapter 2. When David’s son Absalom rebelled against him, Amasa was appointed as commander of Absalom’s army (2 Samuel 17:25). This was likely because Amasa, as David’s nephew, gave legitimacy to Absalom’s claim to the throne. However, Absalom’s attempted coup ultimately failed when Joab, the commander of David’s forces, killed Absalom against David’s orders…
Author: Emma Price
The idea that certain prophecies in the Bible have a double or dual fulfillment is an intriguing concept for Bible students. Essentially, it means that a particular prophecy was fulfilled once in the near future following its pronouncement, but then finds an additional, ultimate fulfillment later on. Unpacking this idea more fully can help us better understand God’s Word and His purposes in inspiring the biblical prophets. What is biblical prophecy? First it is helpful to understand what biblical prophecy entails. Biblical prophecy often involved God revealing events that would occur in the future through dreams, visions, direct words, signs,…
The book of Revelation contains some fascinating symbolic language and imagery that has led to much discussion and debate over the centuries. One particular phrase that has garnered attention is the reference to a period of “forty-two months” found in Revelation 13:5. In this verse, when speaking of the beast, it states: “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.” This odd and specific timeframe of forty-two months has understandably led many to wonder what it could signify. There are a few key things to understand…
The question of whether the Roman emperor Nero was the antichrist foretold in biblical prophecy has fascinated Christians for centuries. While the Bible does not explicitly name Nero as the antichrist, some key passages have led many to speculate about his connection to this end-times figure. First, it is important to understand what the Bible says about the antichrist. The word “antichrist” is found only in the letters of John in the New Testament. 1 John 2:18 states, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore…
Bereavement is a painful yet inevitable part of the human experience. When we lose someone we love, whether suddenly or after a long illness, it causes deep grief and mourning. The Bible has much to say to comfort and guide those going through bereavement and grief. First, the Bible validates that grief is a normal and appropriate response to loss. When Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, died, Jesus himself wept (John 11:35). This shortest verse in the Bible speaks volumes – Jesus did not rebuke the sisters, Mary and Martha, for their loud weeping when their brother Lazarus died…
Romans 1:18 states, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” This verse speaks to the tendency of humankind to reject the truth about God and His righteousness, instead embracing ungodliness and unrighteousness. The act of suppressing the truth is an act of willful rebellion against what God has clearly revealed about Himself and His standards. To “suppress” something means to consciously and intentionally restrain, inhibit, or prevent something from being revealed, expressed, or actualized. When people suppress the truth, they are actively working to…
The words of Jesus in Matthew 12:37 provide an important warning about the power of our speech and how we will be held accountable for what we say. In this verse, Jesus declares, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” This teaches us that the words we choose to speak have eternal implications. The Context of Jesus’ Statement To properly understand Jesus’ statement in Matthew 12:37, it is helpful to examine the context surrounding it. In Matthew 12, Jesus had just healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath,…
1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” This verse speaks to young people in the church and encourages them not to allow others to look down on them or dismiss them due to their youth and perceived inexperience. Instead, Paul challenges Timothy and other young believers to live in such a way that they earn respect and set a positive example for others in the congregation. There are several key points we can take away from this verse: Don’t…
The reference to Bel bowing down and Nebo stooping comes from Isaiah 46:1, which states: “Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.” To understand this verse, we need to know a bit about who Bel and Nebo were in the ancient Near Eastern context. Bel was another name for Marduk, the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon. Nebo was his son and associated with wisdom and writing. Both Bel and Nebo were prominent gods worshipped by the Babylonians. In Isaiah 46, God is speaking…
The “mushroom Jesus theory” is a fringe hypothesis that proposes psychedelic mushrooms influenced early Christianity. This theory speculates that Jesus and his followers used hallucinogenic mushrooms like psilocybin as religious sacraments, and that mushroom imagery and symbolism can be found throughout the Bible and Christian iconography. The main arguments of the mushroom Jesus theory are: The manna that God provided for the Israelites in the desert as described in Exodus 16 resembled the physical properties of psylocibin mushrooms. Manna was described as small round things that appeared after morning dew. The Bible says manna tasted like wafers made with honey,…