Revelation chapter 12 describes a vision that the apostle John saw of a woman, a dragon, and a child. This is a highly symbolic vision that has been interpreted in different ways by Bible scholars, but there are some key points we can understand from the text: The Woman Clothed with the Sun John sees a vision of a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head (v. 1). The woman is pregnant and cries out in pain as she is about to give birth (v. 2). Many…
Author: Mike Solis
The term “parousia” refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is derived from a Greek word that means “coming” or “arrival.” The Parousia is when Jesus will return to earth in glory and power to judge the living and the dead. This event is one of the central teachings of Christianity and is mentioned in various places throughout the New Testament. The Parousia is distinct from Christ’s first coming, when He was incarnated as a human being and gave His life on the cross for the sins of the world. At the Parousia, Jesus will return bodily and…
The Bible has a lot to say about fornication, which is broadly defined as any sexual activity outside of marriage. Here is an overview of some key biblical principles and passages related to fornication: Fornication is sinful The Bible consistently presents fornication as sinful and contrary to God’s design for sexuality. For example: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;” (1 Thessalonians…
King Ahaziah was the son of King Ahab and Jezebel and the eighth king of Israel. He ruled over the northern kingdom of Israel for a brief period of around two years in the 9th century BC. Ahaziah’s story is recounted in several books of the Bible, primarily in 1 and 2 Kings. Here is an overview of who Ahaziah was and what the Bible records about his life and reign: Ahaziah’s Family Background Ahaziah was part of the Omride dynasty in Israel. He was the son of the infamously wicked King Ahab and his Phoenician wife Jezebel (1 Kings…
Running a Christian business according to biblical principles can seem challenging in today’s competitive marketplace. However, God’s Word offers clear guidance on conducting business matters with integrity, excellence, and love for others. Here are some key principles from Scripture that should characterize a Christian-owned and operated company. Honesty and Truthfulness One of the most fundamental principles for Christian business is maintaining high standards of honesty and truthfulness (Proverbs 12:22). This means accurately representing products and services, honoring commitments, and avoiding misleading claims or deception in advertising and promotions. Handling finances with transparency and properly reporting earnings are also essential. Overall,…
Zechariah 14:4 states: “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.” This verse has led many to believe it refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In looking at the context of Zechariah 14, we see that it is depicting events that will take place on the “day of the Lord” (v.1). This phrase…
The verse in question, James 2:19, states “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” This verse comes in the context of James’ discussion on the relationship between faith and works. James argues that genuine, living faith will inevitably be accompanied by good works. To make his point, James highlights that even demons have an intellectual belief in God, yet they tremble at the thought of God because their belief does not lead to a heart transformation. This raises the critical question – what does it mean that even the demons believe? First and…
The book of Acts provides insight into why the believers in Samaria had not received the Holy Spirit in Acts 8. To understand this, we need to look at the background, the passage itself, and the significance. Background In Acts 1:8, Jesus told his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The gospel was first preached in Jerusalem in Acts 2-7. Then in Acts 8, the gospel began to spread to Samaria. Samaritans and Jews generally…
The Bible contains a significant amount of prophecy, with estimations ranging from about 27% to over 30% of the Bible containing prophetic writings. This includes major portions in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, there are 17 prophetic books that contain messages from prophets inspired by God to declare His word. These include: Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi These books contain prophecies about Israel, judgments against nations, the coming Messiah, and the end times. Key prophecies include Isaiah’s prophecies about the Messiah, Jeremiah’s warnings…
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Christian churches. It is the largest and most influential Christian church in Serbia. Let’s take a closer look at the history, beliefs, practices, and role of the Serbian Orthodox Church: History The roots of the Serbian Orthodox Church date back to the spread of Christianity into the Balkans in the 1st century AD. According to tradition, the Apostles Paul and Andrew preached in the region. Over the following centuries, many dioceses were established under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In 1219, the Serbian Orthodox Church was…