Two rocks float through silent space, unaware that they will soon cause a scientific debate millions of miles away on earth. On earth these two small asteroids added together may weigh only a few hundred pounds. The conclusions that can be drawn from them, however, might be weighty enough to overthrow a powerful theory.
Problem: In Revelation 10:6 we read “that there should be time no longer.” In the hymn, When the Roll is
Called Up Yonder the lyrics are as follows: “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time
shall be no more.” Often we hear Bible teachers say that when we enter eternity there will be
no more time. Yet is this what the Bible says?
There is a kind of swagger in modern evangelicalism that I’ve grown to despise. It’s the swagger of people who speak as if God is pacing the floors of heaven wringing His hands, desperately hoping somebody down here with a fog machine, a sermon series logo, and a half-baked marketing strategy can finally help Him “reach this generation.”’
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Problem: While dispensational commentators often believe that these “stars” are actual physical objects—perhaps missiles or meteorites or something else falling from the sky to poison the waters (v.11), other commentators hold that these are simply angels. In Revelation 9:1, we read that the “star” from heaven is actually an angel.
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From films to social media to sports, our culture often celebrates pride over humility, sarcasm over vulnerability, and self-reliance over a genuine awareness of our need for God. Yet Scripture turns that narrative upside down. The Bible reveals a God who longs to pour His strength into our lives—but that can only happen when we recognize our weakness and acknowledge our emptiness apart from Him. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
Problem: We have 14 names of tribes of Israel in the Bible: Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Dan, Levi, Joseph, Manasseh, Ephraim, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, Judah, and Benjamin. The Books of Moses clearly tell us that the Tribe of Joseph = Manasseh and Ephraim (Joseph’s two sons), who are called half-tribes for this reason, but both receive land (whereas Levi doesn’t, inheriting cities throughout Israel, to serve as priests, being dedicated to God).
You are my servant, I have chosen you. (Isaiah 41:9)
Problem: In this passage, John mentions a specific group of 144,000 believers. Is this an exact number, and does it mean only this many will be saved? If not who are they?
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Much advice exists to educate us on how we can strengthen our marriages over time. This information is important to heed, but implementing daily habits into your routine serves to fortify your marriage in the long run as well.
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| Israel’s Twelve Tribes (Genesis 49) | Tribes Mentioned in Revelation 7 |
|---|---|
| Reuben | Reuben (vs 5) |
| Simeon | Simeon (vs 7) |
| Levi | Levi (vs 7) |
| Judah | Judah (vs 5) |
| Zebulun | Zebulun (vs 8) |
| Dan | |
| Gad | Gad (vs 5) |
| Asher | Asher (vs 6) |
| Naphtali | Naphtali (vs 6) |
| Joseph (father of Ephraim & Manasseh) | Joseph (v.8) |
| Manasseh (vs 8) | |
| Benjamin | Benjamin (vs8) |
Introduction
Abortion is legal to some extent in all but 21 countries. Worldwide, roughly 46 million babies are destroyed in the womb each year. About one in five pregnancies end in abortion. The overwhelming majority of abortions are done as a means of birth control and convenience.
Advocates of this view point out that the Lamb (Jesus) was mentioned closely in context (v.1). This figure rides a white horse, which also fits with Christ’s second coming when he comes in judgment. In Revelation 19:11, we read that Christ returns on “a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” The “conquering” of this rider is, under this view, the spread of the gospel upon the Earth (Mt. 24:14). The Greek term nikao is used of believers “overcoming” the world.
Advocates of this view make a number of observations. First, the term nikao (“conquering and to conquer”) is positive 13 of 15 times in its usage in the book of Revelation. Up until this point in Revelation, it has been consistently positive. Second, the victor’s crown (Greek stephanos) was promised to believers earlier in the book (Rev. 2:10; 4:4, 10). Third, this view correlates with the gospel reaching all nations, which was also predicted as a precursor by Jesus (Mt. 24:14). While this isn’t the view of this author, it is plausible. This author holds to the third view.
First, the archangel commands this figure to “Come” (v.1). This hardly fits with the notion that the figure is Christ, who is greater than angels (Heb. 1:4ff). Angels wouldn’t boss Christ around.
Second, John says that “a crown was given to him” (v.2). This implies that he doesn’t have the authority in and of himself. Instead, God gave him this authority. This conception of delegated authority fits with the second angel in verse 4 (“it was granted to take peace from the earth… and a great sword was given to him…”), and the fourth angel of verse 8 (“Authority was given to them…”). This also fits with chapter 13, where God allows the beast to make war with the saints and “overcome” (Greek nikao) them (Rev. 13:7). This is the same Greek word used in verse 2 to refer to the rider “conquering” (Greek nikao).
Third, this rider carries a bow (v.2), while Christ carries a sword (Rev. 19:15).
Fourth, the context of the passage deals with other riders, who are clearly not Christ or even godly angels.
Moreover, we do not see the symbolism of the white horse to be significant in referring to Christ. In ancient times, a conquering king would ride on a white horse. Walvoord writes, “In biblical times it was customary for a conqueror to ride in triumph on a white horse.” Thus for these reasons, this author holds to the third option. The rider of the second horse is the Antichrist, or some other evil ruler.
1 Walvoord, John. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. JFW Publishing Trust. Chicago, IL. 1966. 126.
Problem: Christ is “the beginning of the creation of God” (KJV, NKJV, NASB).
Christ is “the ruler of God’s creation” (NIV).
Christ is “the Origin, Beginning and Author of God’s creation” (Amplified Bible).
Christ is “the Originator of God’s creation” (Holman Christian Standard Bible).
There are several thousand species of wasps that lay their eggs inside crop pests or use the pests for food. These wasps have become a popular form of natural pest control among farmers and gardeners.
Come, my beloved, let us go out into the fields … Let us … See whether the vines have budded.
(Song of Solomon 7:11)