The pretribulational view of the rapture, also known as pretribulationism, is the belief that Christian believers will be raptured (taken up to meet Christ) before the tribulation period begins. This view holds that the rapture is imminent and could occur at any moment. Here are some of the key strengths and weaknesses of pretribulationism: Strengths It claims to take a literal interpretation of Bible passages about the timing of the rapture, such as 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 which speaks of believers being “caught up” to meet Christ. It allows for the rapture to be imminent, in that no prophesied events have…
Author: Matt Primack
Conceit, or being conceited, is a sin that is strongly warned against throughout Scripture. At its core, conceit is an attitude of pride, arrogance, and self-importance. A conceited person has an exaggerated sense of their own abilities, accomplishments, and worth. They are prideful, haughty, and see themselves as superior to others. The Bible has a lot to say about the dangers of conceit and offers wisdom for combatting this destructive mindset and behavior. Old Testament Warnings Against Conceit In the Old Testament, conceit is associated with self-sufficiency – trusting in one’s own wisdom and resources rather than relying on God.…
Jesus Christ is given the name “above all names” in Philippians 2:9-11, which says “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This indicates that Jesus has been given a position of authority and power higher than any other name or being. Here is an explanation of the significance of Jesus having the name above…
Baptism and communion are two practices that have been part of the Christian church since its earliest days. They are sometimes referred to as “ordinances” or “sacraments,” and there has been much debate over their exact nature and purpose over the centuries. This article will examine what the Bible says about baptism and communion and whether or not they can be considered “means of grace” through which God imparts spiritual blessings. The Meaning of “Means of Grace” In Christian theology, a “means of grace” refers to any practice or activity through which God grants spiritual blessings, sanctification, or growth in…
The story of Saul and the evil spirit that tormented him is found in 1 Samuel chapters 16-18. Saul was the first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. However, Saul disobeyed God’s commands and was told that his kingdom would not endure (1 Samuel 13:13-14). God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king, David, who was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). This set into motion a series of events that led to an evil spirit tormenting Saul. Chapter 16 describes David being anointed as the next king. The Spirit of the Lord…
What does the Bible say about boldness? The Bible has a lot to say about being bold and courageous in living out our faith in God. Here is an overview of some of the key passages in Scripture that address the topic of boldness: In the Old Testament, God repeatedly commands Joshua to “be strong and courageous” as he prepares to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 31:6-7, Joshua 1:6-9). This showed that boldness would be required for Joshua to carry out the task God had called him to. David also demonstrated boldness and courage in facing Goliath,…
The name Peniel appears only once in the Bible, in Genesis 32:30. After wrestling with a mysterious figure through the night, Jacob says, “So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.'” The name Peniel means “face of God.” This passage comes within the larger story of Jacob returning to the land of Canaan after living with his uncle Laban for many years. As Jacob nears the territory of his estranged brother Esau, he sends messengers ahead to try and make peace. The messengers…
The book “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” was written by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln in 1982. It puts forth a hypothesis that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene, had children with her, and that their descendants are alive today. This idea has been labelled as pseudohistory and pseudotheology by most historians and theologians. The Bible does not support the key claims made in “Holy Blood, Holy Grail.” Nowhere does the Bible state or even imply that Jesus was married or had children. The canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which are the earliest and most historically reliable sources…
Theological reflection is the process of thinking critically and prayerfully about God, the Bible, and Christian faith and practice in order to discern God’s voice, will, and direction for our lives. It involves examining our beliefs, experiences, and practices in light of biblical truths and integrating what we are learning into how we think and live as followers of Jesus. There are several key components to theological reflection: Examining Our Experiences We all have experiences in life – encounters with others, challenges we face, decisions we make, events that happen around us. Theological reflection starts by intentionally examining these experiences…
Black liberation theology is a theological framework that originated in the 1960s and 1970s which interprets the Bible and the message of Jesus Christ through the lens of the oppression and liberation of black people. It emerged from the civil rights movements in the United States and interprets theology from the perspective of African Americans and their struggle against racism and injustice. Some of the key themes in black liberation theology include: God Identifies with the Oppressed Black liberation theology emphasizes that God identifies with the oppressed and marginalized in society. Passages such as Exodus 3:7-8 highlight how God saw…