Gary discusses education and how children are being taught today compared to 50 years ago. If we follow modern histories of education in the time leading up to and following the Reformation, science took a back seat to progress. The main line of argument is that the study of science was antithetical to the study of the Bible. Of course, this is contrary to the facts of history. Most of the finest [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 69 Gary discusses another “key” prophetic sign that many say is happening in our present day. There is not a single verse in the New Testament that supports the claim that there is prophetic significance in Israel’s restoration as a nation. Beyond A.D. 70, Israel as a nation plays no prophetic role. The New Testament only addresses Israel’s n [...]
Gary is interviewed by Rick Welch of The Burros of Berea podcast about old Christmas movies. Most evangelicals tend to think in “words.” This is certainly understandable because of the Protestant focus on the Bible as the sole authority (sola Scriptura) and the Lutheran concept of the “priesthood of all believers.” When this is applied to storytelling and film, this primary focus on word over imag [...]
The following is an excerpt from American Vision’s new book, The Greatest and the Least: A Biblical Theology of John the Baptist, by Eric Rauch and Zach Davis: In the New Testament, we find the familiar stories of the miraculous births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Luke gives the most information (Luke 1–2) and Matthew adds a bit more to our understanding of the historical events (Matthew 1 [...]
Gary discusses different immutable aspects of monetary policy and economics. The modern world has debased its coinage. No nation’s mint issues silver coins as common coinage—only as collectibles. By the mid-1960’s, silver coins were replaced by central bank counterfeits. In 1965, most money was not coinage, as is true today. Most money was a combination of paper currency and bank checks. Printed c [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 68 Reading the Bible is more than just understanding the words on the page. The first place to start in learning how to interpret prophecy is to learn how to interpret the Bible, because the Bible is the best interpreter of itself. This statement seems so obvious, and yet many people fail to follow it. When the subject of prophecy comes up, some eager pr [...]
Gary and Kim Burgess conclude their discussion of 1 Corinthians 15. Paul still fully expected to be alive in his earthly body at the parousia of Christ as based on the direct warrant of Christ Himself in texts like Matthew 10:23, 16:27-28, and 24:34. This is precisely why Paul deliberately used “we” language in both 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15. For this we say to you by the word of the [...]
Gary comments on an article that claims the current “replacement theology” affecting the Church is replacing Christ with Israel. If Israel is the fig tree in Matthew 24:32, then Israel is the fig tree in 21:18–20 where Jesus says, “‘No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.’ And at once the fig tree withered.” The fig tree of Matthew 24 was a leaves-only tree. There was no frui [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 67 Gary picks up where he left off last week, discussing modern prophetic speculation about current events, which, in reality, is nothing new. Many reasons could be put forth to explain why our Christian counterparts of long ago were wrong about what they believed to be prophetic certainties. The signs seemed to fit the times. How can we avoid their mist [...]
Gary continues speaking with Kim Burgess about 1 Corinthians 15 and the timing and nature of the resurrection. This eschatology debate is not going to have any hope of getting anywhere if we simply argue back and forth among ourselves over a series of isolated proof texts. The solution to this deep and complicated debate is not simply going to be a matter of comparing this verse with that verse in [...]
Gary discusses the current state of eschatology debates online. A post on a Facebook page had an interesting discussion on Luke 17 and its relationship to Matthew 24-25 and Greg L. Bahnsen’s view of that relationship. Dr. Bahnsen took the view that Luke 17:22-37 refers to the Second Coming while Matthew 24:1-34 refers to the judgment on Jerusalem that took place before that first-century generatio [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 66 Gary discusses how “end-times” prophecy is overflowing on social media lately and how many are claiming that we are in the last days. In each new prophecy book that hits the bookstores we are told that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. The authors point to various signs that they say are compelling evidence that Jesus’ ret [...]
Gary continues going through 1 Corinthians 15 with Kim Burgess. In this episode, they discuss death as being the final enemy. In Acts 24:14-15, Paul says this: “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men [...]
Gary continues his discussion with Kim Burgess on 1 Corinthians 15. One cannot say that it was all done at the cross or that it was all done at the ascension, or all done at Pentecost, and that is it, and then we move on. No, it was not. The covenantal consummation of this accomplishment of redemption was still being expected by the saints, post-AD 30, as they all were looking to the events that w [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 65 Gary shares his takeaways and summary of the recent discussion/debate he had with Douglas Wilson in Moscow, Idaho. What verse goes with the Nicene Creed’s “He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead”? Where in the NT does it say Jesus will “come again”? Of course, based on Matthew 16:27, Jesus [...]
Gary begins a series of podcasts on 1 Corinthians 15 with Kim Burgess. The New Covenant order could not and would not be fully in place, established and ready to go, unless and until the prior Old Covenant order was fully removed, historically and visibly. This means that, vastly important as all these events surely were, it took more than the cross, the resurrection, the ascension of Christ, and [...]
Guest article by Bruce Axtens As I am sure you are all aware, the chapter and verse numbers in your Bible aren’t inspired. They weren’t part of the originals. After centuries of various ad hoc mark-ups and divisions, one Stephen Langton, in the 12th century, came up with the chapter numbering that we still use today. Then in the 1500s, Robert Estienne, devised a verse numbering. This also became s [...]
In a conference talk recorded years ago, Gary discusses the Battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39. Most interpreters have tried to find the fulfillment in events of their day using current events as the interpretive grid. For example, in the fourth and fifth centuries, Gog was thought to refer to the Goths and Moors. In the seventh century, it was the Huns. By the eighth century, the Islamic em [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 64 Gary gives his “state of the union” of current teachings about Bible prophecy coming from non-Dispensational critics. Debates continue over which biblical passages refer to the AD 70 judgment coming of Jesus and those that refer to what is commonly called the yet Second Coming of Jesus. As I have repeatedly pointed out, there is no unanimo [...]
Martin Luther posted his 95 challenges to the wicked practices of the Church on October 31 for a reason. He picked this day intentionally, and ever since Halloween has also been Reformation Day. The supernatural power which energizes God’s kingdom is never bound by political rhetoric: “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20). The battle against the kingdoms of [...]
