Edom is a region and people group that plays an important role throughout the Bible. The name “Edom” means “red”, referring to Esau who sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of red stew (Genesis 25:30). Here is an overview of the significance of Edom in the Bible: Edom’s Origin Edom traces its origin back to Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah and the older twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 25:19-26). After selling his birthright to Jacob, Esau moved to the hill country of Seir where he established the region of Edom (Genesis 32:3, 36:8-9). The Edomites…
Author: Richard Curi
Black magic, also known as dark magic or dark arts, refers to supernatural powers used for evil and selfish purposes. The Bible condemns all forms of witchcraft, sorcery, divination and occult practices as abominations to God (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Here’s an overview of what the Bible says about black magic and related topics: witchcraft, sorcery and magic are sinful The Old Testament prohibited all kinds of witchcraft, sorcery and magic arts practiced in neighboring pagan nations. God considered these practices as spiritual adultery and idolatry. Consulting mediums, spiritists, fortune tellers and sorcerers was punishable by death (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26, Leviticus…
The Lakeland, Florida revival led by Todd Bentley in 2008 sparked much controversy within the Christian community. Supporters claimed it was a genuine move of God marked by signs, wonders, and miracles. Critics argued it went against Scripture by emphasizing experience over sound doctrine. So was Lakeland a true biblical revival? To answer this, we must examine the leadership, teachings, and fruit of the Lakeland Outpouring according to the standards of God’s Word. Background on Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Revival Todd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries in British Columbia in 1998. He held revivals marked by unorthodox ministry practices…
The omnibenevolence of God is a key doctrine in Christianity that speaks to the perfect goodness and love of God towards His creation. To say God is omnibenevolent means that He is entirely or unlimitedly benevolent, loving, and good. This doctrine is rooted in a number of biblical truths about the nature and character of God. First and foremost, the Bible declares that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This foundational truth about God’s essence means that His core nature is one of perfect, sacrificial, unconditional love towards human beings and, more broadly, towards all of His creation. He does…
The Assyrians were an ancient people who inhabited parts of Mesopotamia and the Near East. They established the powerful Assyrian Empire, which dominated the ancient Near East during the Iron Age from around 900 BC to 612 BC. The Assyrians played a major role in the Bible and biblical history. They are mentioned frequently throughout the Old Testament, often as enemies and conquerors of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Some key things to know about the Assyrians in the Bible include: Origins and Early History The Assyrians traced their origins back to the 25th century BC, when the ancient…
Natural theology is the study of what God has revealed about Himself through nature, without relying on special revelation found in Scripture. It seeks to understand God and His attributes by observing the natural world He created. Some key aspects of natural theology include: Evidence of God’s Existence Natural theology argues that the existence, wisdom, power, and goodness of God can be inferred from the order and complexity of the natural world. For example, the apparent fine-tuning of the universe for life suggests a wise and purposeful Creator. The existence of objective moral values implies a transcendent moral lawgiver. Beautiful…
Bibliolatry refers to excessive reverence or devotion to the Bible itself, rather than the divine truths contained within it. The term combines the Greek words for “book” (biblio) and “worship” (latreia). While the Bible is central to the Christian faith, some Christians argue that treating it as an idol or elevating it above God is a form of idolatry. The Bible itself condemns idolatry and emphasizes that God alone is worthy of worship (Exodus 20:3-5). However, some Christians have placed undue focus on the Bible itself, rather than using it as a means to grow closer to God. Possible signs…
The concept of “soul sleep” refers to the idea that the soul enters an unconscious state or sleep after death, remaining in such a state until the resurrection of the dead. This view stands in contrast to the more common Christian belief that the soul continues in a conscious state after death, either in heaven/paradise or hell. The doctrine of soul sleep has been advocated by some Christian groups throughout history, including Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. But what exactly does the Bible have to say on this subject? There are a few key biblical passages often cited in support…
The concept of an “angel of death” is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, there are passages that refer to angels having some involvement with death. In the Old Testament, the destroying angel that God sent to kill the firstborn males of Egypt during the 10th plague (Exodus 12:23) is sometimes referred to as the “angel of death.” However, the text does not use that term specifically. It simply refers to “the destroyer.” In 2 Samuel 24, God sends an angel to inflict a plague as punishment for David taking a census of Israel. This angel is not called…
The Pharisees were a religious group in Judea during the time of Jesus. The term “pharisaical” refers to characteristics and behaviors associated with the Pharisees that Jesus and the New Testament writers criticized. Here is an overview of what it means to be pharisaical from a biblical perspective: Hypocrisy and Outward Righteousness A core issue Jesus had with the Pharisees was their hypocrisy. They appeared outwardly righteous by heavily observing religious rituals, traditions, and the law. However, inwardly their hearts were far from God (Matthew 23:25-28). Pharisees would tie up heavy burdens on others through legalistic demands but not lift…