In Zechariah 5:7-8, the prophet Zechariah receives a vision of a basket with a lead cover being lifted, revealing a woman sitting inside the basket. This woman is described as “Wickedness” and the angel tells Zechariah that she represents the wickedness of the whole land. This has led many to wonder why wickedness is being personified as a woman in this passage. There are a few potential reasons why wickedness may be portrayed as a woman here: 1. Feminine word for “wickedness” in Hebrew The Hebrew word translated as “wickedness” in this passage is a feminine noun – “rish’ah.” Since…
Author: Mike Solis
The Bible warns that in the end times, prior to the return of Jesus Christ, there will arise false teachers and false prophets who will perform signs and wonders to deceive people into following false christs and false doctrines. This warning is found in several key passages: Matthew 24:23-24 says, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22 says, “For false christs and…
The Bible has a lot to say about retaliation, which is the act of getting revenge or seeking vengeance against someone who has wronged you. Overall, the Bible strongly warns believers against personally retaliating and instead trusting God to enact justice in His timing. Old Testament Teachings on Retaliation In the Old Testament, the law authorized retribution under the principle of “an eye for an eye” (Exodus 21:24). This law was given to limit vengeance by ensuring the punishment did not exceed the crime. However, even in the Old Testament, God preferred mercy over vengeance (Hosea 6:6). Proverbs instructs us…
Forgetting the benefits and blessings of God is a common struggle for many Christians. Life gets busy, problems arise, and it’s easy to lose sight of all that God has done for us. Psalm 103 provides insight into how we can actively remember God’s benefits so that thankfulness and praise will flow from our hearts. What are the “benefits” of God? Psalm 103 goes on to elaborate on some of these benefits we are not to forget: Forgiveness – “who forgives all your iniquity” (v.3) Healing – “who heals all your diseases” (v.3) Redemption – “who redeems your life from…
The Bible has a lot to say about affliction and suffering. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical teachings on this topic: Affliction comes from living in a fallen world Since Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world and corrupted God’s perfect creation (Genesis 3). Ever since then, affliction and suffering have been constant realities in this fallen world. All sickness, disease, natural disasters, relational brokenness and conflicts ultimately stem from the presence of sin in the world (Romans 5:12). As long as we live in a fallen creation, we will…
Caesarea Philippi was a city located at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon, near one of the main sources of the Jordan River. Though originally known as Paneas, the city was renamed Caesarea Philippi by Philip the Tetrarch in honor of Caesar Augustus around 3 BCE. The city held religious and political significance during the time of Jesus and is mentioned specifically in the Gospel accounts. The most well-known Biblical event associated with Caesarea Philippi is Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah, as recorded in Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, and Luke 9:18-21. After asking his disciples who people say…
In our continued exploration of who Jesus is according to the Bible, today we will focus on Jesus as the Messiah. The Old Testament contains many prophecies about the coming Messiah, and the New Testament reveals how Jesus fulfilled these prophecies. Jesus is the Promised Messiah The Old Testament points to a coming Messiah or “Anointed One” who would redeem God’s people. This Messianic hope developed over centuries through the prophets. Isaiah 11:1-5 prophesies that the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon the Messiah, giving him wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. Micah 5:2 predicts…
Cain is one of the most well-known figures in the Bible, as he was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve and the first murderer, having killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis 4. After Cain killed Abel, God punished Cain by cursing him to be a fugitive and wanderer on the earth. But one detail that often gets overlooked is what ultimately happened to Cain – how did his life end? The Bible does not explicitly say how Cain died or give the details surrounding his death. However, some…
The Mark of the Beast The “mark of the beast” is referenced in Revelation 13:16-18: “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (ESV) This passage has…
What is Christian Eschatology? Christian eschatology is the study of the destiny of humankind as it is revealed in the Bible, focused primarily on the end times. The doctrine of the end times, often called eschatology, encompasses a wide range of beliefs about the timing and nature of end-time events, such as the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the rapture, the tribulation, the millennium, and the end of the world. While views on eschatology differ among Christian denominations, key aspects include: The Second Coming of Christ Christians believe Jesus will physically return to earth someday, an…