Millennialism is the belief that Jesus Christ will return to earth and establish a kingdom that will last for 1,000 years. The term comes from the Latin word mille, meaning “thousand.” This belief is based on Revelation 20:1-6, which describes a 1,000 year period when Satan will be bound and saints will reign with Christ. There are generally three main views on the millennium within Christianity: Premillennialism Premillennialism is the belief that Jesus will physically return to earth before (pre) the millennium starts. His return will usher in a period of great tribulation on earth. At the end of the…
Author: Mike Solis
Vandalism is the action of deliberately destroying or damaging public or private property. This includes graffiti, destruction of objects, and defacement of things that do not belong to oneself. Though commonly viewed as a petty crime, vandalism can have serious legal and ethical implications according to biblical principles. The Bible does not explicitly mention vandalism, since this term is modern. However, there are several passages that speak to the behaviors and attitudes associated with vandalism. At the heart of it, vandalism demonstrates a lack of respect for authority and order, and a disregard for the rights and property of others.…
Jethro is an important figure in the Old Testament, most known for his relationship with Moses. He is introduced in Exodus 2 as the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law. While the Bible does not provide much biographical information about Jethro, the passages where he appears reveal important details about his character, wisdom, and influence. Exodus 2 describes how Moses fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Moses settled in the land of Midian and married Zipporah, one of Jethro’s seven daughters. Moses worked as a shepherd for Jethro for around 40 years (Exodus…
The prince of Persia is a mysterious figure mentioned in Daniel 10 in the Old Testament. This chapter describes a vision that the prophet Daniel received, and refers to a spiritual battle taking place involving angelic beings. Specifically, the prince of Persia seems to refer to a powerful spiritual entity that was opposing God’s purposes for the nation of Persia at that time. Let’s look at the background of Daniel 10. The book of Daniel records the experiences of Daniel, a Jewish exile who served in the courts of foreign empires that had conquered Judah. Daniel 10 takes place in…
The question of whether Christians should consider alternative medicine is an important one. On the one hand, God has gifted humans with intelligence, wisdom, and resources to develop effective medical treatments. On the other hand, some alternative medicines are rooted in non-Christian worldviews and may conflict with biblical principles. As with any area of life, Christians should evaluate alternative medicines carefully through the lens of Scripture. The Bible does not explicitly prohibit or endorse alternative medicine. However, there are several biblical principles that can guide Christians in this area: 1. Value God-given wisdom and discernment Proverbs encourages the pursuit of…
The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC or CRCNA) is a Protestant Christian denomination in the Reformed tradition. It was founded by Dutch immigrants in 1857 and currently has over 1,000 congregations across the United States and Canada. Some key beliefs and practices of the CRC include: Bible – The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God, which reveals God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. CRC holds to biblical inerrancy. Creeds – In addition to the Bible, the CRC adheres to three historic Reformed creeds: the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort.…
Middle knowledge refers to God’s knowledge of what creatures would freely do in any situation in which they might be placed. The concept was developed by 16th century Spanish Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina as part of his attempt to reconcile divine sovereignty and human freedom in salvation. Molina argued that in addition to God’s natural knowledge (knowledge of all necessary truths) and free knowledge (knowledge of what God freely decrees to create and do), God has middle knowledge – knowledge of what every possible creature would freely choose to do in any set of circumstances. According to middle knowledge,…
Personal evangelism refers to the practice of Christians sharing the gospel message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ on an individual, personal level. The basic goal of personal evangelism is to lead others to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Here is a more in-depth explanation of personal evangelism and what the Bible teaches about this important part of the Christian life: The Great Commission and Our Role After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of…
The anointing is a significant concept in the Bible that has great meaning for Christian faith and practice. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about the anointing: The meaning of “anointing” The word “anoint” in the Bible literally means to rub or pour oil on a person or object. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil to set them apart for service to God and to symbolize their appointment by God to their office (Exodus 29:7; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 19:16). The oil was seen as a symbol of the Holy…
The Bible teaches that salvation comes through God’s grace and is received by faith in Jesus Christ. This essential Christian doctrine is summarized in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Understanding the meaning of this profound truth is crucial for every believer. Salvation is by Grace Grace refers to God’s unmerited favor and kindness towards us. Even though we are sinful and separated from God, He chose to provide salvation for…