Seraphim are a type of angel mentioned in the Bible. The word “seraphim” comes from the Hebrew word “saraph” which means “to burn.” This refers to their appearance as described in Isaiah 6:2 – “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.” Seraphim are part of the highest rank in the angelic hierarchy and serve as the caretakers of God’s throne. Their key characteristics include: They have six wings (Isaiah 6:2) They surround God’s throne, singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” (Isaiah 6:3)…
Author: Tim Collings
The Parable of the Mustard Seed is one of the shorter parables of Jesus Christ, found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Despite its brief nature, this parable contains a profound truth about the kingdom of God. This parable is found in Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19. In each account, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed which, though tiny, grows into a large tree that provides shelter for many birds. On the surface, Jesus seems to be making a simple comparison about small beginnings leading to great endings. However, when we examine…
The Bible presents the devil, also known as Satan, as a real spiritual being who opposes God and seeks to harm humanity. However, the devil is also sometimes used symbolically to represent evil, temptation, and adversarial forces in general. There is debate among Christians as to whether the devil is a literal individual or more of a personification of evil. There are several passages in the Bible that present Satan as a literal being. For example, in the book of Job, Satan appears before God in heaven and receives permission to test Job’s faith by attacking him (Job 1:6-12). The…
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant is a story that Jesus told to highlight the importance of forgiveness and mercy. It is found in Matthew 18:21-35. The parable begins with Peter asking Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him. Peter suggests forgiving up to seven times. But Jesus responds, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). This established that forgiveness should be abundant. To illustrate His point, Jesus then tells the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished…
Is there activity of demonic spirits in the world today? The Bible has much to say about the existence and activity of demons and evil spirits. Here is an overview of key biblical teachings on this topic: The Origin of Demons The Bible indicates that demons are fallen angels who rebelled against God along with Satan (Revelation 12:7-9). Jude 1:6 refers to angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling. These angels now reside in darkness and are kept in eternal chains. Demons are evil, unclean spirits under the command of Satan, the ruler…
The Genesis Apocryphon is an ancient Jewish text that retells stories from the Book of Genesis. It is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea in the 1940s and 1950s. This text has captivated biblical scholars because it sheds light on how some ancient Jews interpreted the Genesis narratives. Here is an overview of what the Genesis Apocryphon is and why it is important for understanding the Bible. Discovery and Description of the Genesis Apocryphon The Genesis Apocryphon scroll was acquired by Bedouin tribesmen in 1947 and brought to the attention…
The Parable of the Growing Seed is found in Mark 4:26-29. Jesus tells this parable to teach an important lesson about the kingdom of God. Here is the full text of the parable from the English Standard Version (ESV): And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once…
The fiery furnace incident is recorded in Daniel chapter 3. King Nebuchadnezzar had constructed a large golden image and commanded all the officials in his kingdom to worship it when certain music played. However, three Jewish men named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship the idol. As punishment, the king ordered them to be thrown into a blazing furnace. The men were bound and cast into the furnace, but miraculously emerged unharmed. Throughout this account, Daniel is conspicuously absent. Where was he during this crisis? The text does not specifically say, but we can infer a few possibilities: 1.…
Hosea was a prophet in the Bible who lived and prophesied during the reigns of the kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah over Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash over Israel. He prophesied for several decades around the 8th century BC leading up to the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians in 722 BC. Here are some common questions people have about the prophet Hosea and the book that bears his name: Who was Hosea? Hosea was a prophet who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel during a turbulent time spiritually…
Confessing our sins is an important part of the Christian faith. When we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). But what about confessing to those we have specifically sinned against? Does the Bible teach that we need to confess our sins to others as well? There are several passages in Scripture that speak to this issue: Ask Forgiveness from Those We’ve Wronged Matthew 5:23-24 says “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before…