The ‘Jesus Revolution’ and the Always Soon Coming of Jesus

The ‘Jesus Revolution’ and the Always Soon Coming of Jesus

Listen to the podcast on this topic here The Asbury Revival and the release of the film The Jesus Revolution have gotten a lot of media attention. The reviews of the Jesus Revolution have been good. With Kelsey Grammar, fortunately replaced Jim Gaffigan, playing Chuck Smith (1927-2013), it should be good in terms of production value. Here’s the storyline: Inspired by a true movement, JESUS REVOLUT [...]

The Restoration of Israel

The Restoration of Israel

With AD30 in the rear-view mirror and AD70 still to occur, the New Testament documents are written during a short time period with a high level of expectancy and imminency. Kim Burgess continues his look at Romans 11, especially verses 25-26. Salvation comes to the Gentiles through the Jews, not in spite of them. Paul says he was in chains “for the hope of Israel” in Acts 28:20. So wha [...]

What Does the Bible Teach?

What Does the Bible Teach?

The FIRST of several podcasts about the “Three Questions Letter” controversy has been made public for all the world to see. By scrolling down to the end of this article, you will find the link. I will be recording a SECOND podcast to be posted soon after. Depending on how far I get in the SECOND podcast, there will most likely be a THIRD. What I can guarantee is some very interesting i [...]

Gog, Magog…Russia and the Rapture?

Gog, Magog…Russia and the Rapture?

We repeatedly find prophecy writers who try in vain to apply Old Testament fulfilled prophecies to current events. What’s surprising is that they claim to interpret the Bible literally. For them horses mean “horsepower,” bows and arrows mean “missile launchers and missiles,” and chariots mean “tanks.” But in the case of Ezekiel 38-39, these prophecy speculators really get things wrong. The God and [...]

The Fullness of Israel

The Fullness of Israel

Biblical eschatology has been studied, discussed, and debated for millennia. No chapter is more pivotal—and controversial—than Romans 11. It has been used for nearly every future scenario and scheme in biblical prophecy. Oddly, with as much focus as there seems to be on Israel in most systems, they usually miss the point Paul is making and the context of what he is actually saying throughout the e [...]

Do Luke 17 and Matthew 24 Describe Different Comings of Jesus?

Do Luke 17 and Matthew 24 Describe Different Comings of Jesus?

A post on a Facebook page has 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 generation passed away (24:34). Kenneth Gentry agrees with Dr. Bahnsen. K [...]

The Hope of Israel

The Hope of Israel

Kim discusses Hebrews 9, Acts 2-3, 2 Peter 3, and other NT and OT passages regarding the biblical understanding of Israel. Building on what he’s already taught in earlier podcasts, he continues his exegetical case for covenant hermeneutics. The consummation of Israel’s eschatology opened the door for the restoration of the nations, which is still ongoing today. Click here for today’s e [...]

To Serve Man

To Serve Man

Gary discusses comments by John Kerry made recently at Davos 2023. Metaphysical explanations are becoming credible, even in a time when secularism has become the nation’s official civil religion. But one show, The X-Files, accomplished the metaphysical reentry with an interesting twist that keeps one foot in both worlds. The rationalist Dana Scully is pitted against the open-minded genuine seeker [...]

Why Creation and Eschatology Can’t be Separated

Why Creation and Eschatology Can’t be Separated

The Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed describe God as “Creator of heaven and earth”/ “Maker of heaven and earth.” Nothing is said about the age of the earth. The Westminster Confession of Faith states the following, but does not say anything about how old the earth is: It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, [...]

Does God Understand Time?

Does God Understand Time?

Gary responds to recent article by John Piper, which is an excerpt of his new book, Come, Lord Jesus. The biblical writers are straightforward in their claim that certain prophetic events were to happen “soon” for those who first read the prophecies. The eschatological events were near for them. No other interpretation is possible if the words are taken in their “plain, primary, ordinary, usual, o [...]

Separating Fact from Fiction

Separating Fact from Fiction

(The following is the preface to a new edition of Left Behind: Separating Fact from Fiction. The book is currently in production and will be available in print next month.) I thought we were done with the Left Behind film franchise that started in 2000 with Kirk Cameron who played Buck Williams in three films, a television journalist investigating the sudden disappearances of millions of people. L [...]

AI and God's Revelation

AI and God's Revelation

Gary discusses a recent article about artificial intelligence that raises many important points and Gary takes it in several different directions. Marvin Minsky of MIT “believes that humans are nothing but meat machines that carry a computer in their head” also made of meat. Minsky, who is an atheist and works in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), “claimed that people should give their mon [...]

How Should the Greek Word 'Mello' be Translated?

How Should the Greek Word 'Mello' be Translated?

There’s a debate going on about the translation of the Greek word mellō. Depending on the context, mellō can mean “about to” and “on the point of being done.” At times mellō is not translated and has the meaning of “necessity.” By reading some (most?) translations, the reader unfamiliar with Greek would never know mellō is used in some passages since it is often untranslated. For example, in Revel [...]

What Do We Do Now?

What Do We Do Now?

Gary participated in a round-table discussion recently about Christian worldview and cultural response. Too many Christians believe that what they believe personally has no bearing on the political sphere. It was one of the reasons that often Christians opposed slavery personally but did not oppose it politically. They believed there were two standards—one for the Church and one for the State. The [...]

Is a One-World Government Around the Corner?

Is a One-World Government Around the Corner?

I received the following in an email: The Vatican is pushing for the establishment of “a supranational authority” with worldwide scope and “universal jurisdiction” to guide economic policies and decisions. (i.e., a one world bank) I know that some of you will be mad at what you are about to read. That’s OK. I don’t mind. Now is the time to prepare for what may be some very difficult living conditi [...]

What are the Two Ages in Matthew?

What are the Two Ages in Matthew?

Gary answers a listener question about the difference between how the word “age” is understood in Matthew 13 and Matthew 24. Typically, the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matthew 13 is often understood as describing the full course of redemptive history leading to the end of our world. It seems, however, that everything in Matthew’s Gospel — from fleeing the wrath that was “abou [...]

Thinking Outside the Categories

Thinking Outside the Categories

Gary answers a listener question about resources that best represent and present the dispensational premillennial position. In order to understand a thing aright, it is always helpful to seek to understand its purpose according to its designer and builder. Eschatology is a theological discipline that is concerned with discovering the divinely revealed, long range purpose of the world and of histor [...]

Castaways in a Suicidal Culture

Castaways in a Suicidal Culture

Gary discusses an article on the Front Page Magazine website about the current state of craziness in western culture. The Stylites lived on pillars (stylos is the Greek word for “pillar”). These “pillar saints,” as they were called, followed the example of a recluse named Simeon who lived in the fourth century. Simeon’s desire to be a super-spiritual saint began when he was a boy. He chose the lif [...]

"World" and the Legacy Standard Bible

"World" and the Legacy Standard Bible

Gary responds to a listener from Australia that asks about how certain Greek words are translated in the new Legacy Standard Bible. An indispensable rule in Bible interpretation is understanding a text in terms of its original setting and audience, always asking the question, “How would those who first picked up copies of the gospels and epistles have understood what they were reading?” Louis Berk [...]

Will the United States Succumb to “Secular Fundamentalism”?

Will the United States Succumb to “Secular Fundamentalism”?

Will America suffer the same fate as Europe and the rise of what Karen Armstrong calls “secular fundamentalism”? We seem to be headed in a similar direction with the secularization of our schools, courts, media, and politics. Christianity in America, like Christianity in Europe, is under attack. We see it every day. Judges are being scrutinized for their religious beliefs, especially on abortion, [...]