The First-Century Jewish Church and Hope for the World

The First-Century Jewish Church and Hope for the World

For many centuries, it’s been the belief of the church that the world is waiting for a wholesale conversion of Israel that will transform the world. You can find this view in the Westminster Larger Catechism, Question and Answer 191. Romans 11:15 is often interpreted this way: “For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Not all [...]

Jesus Offended Many People With the Truth

Jesus Offended Many People With the Truth

Democrats have frequently turned to Jesus and the Bible to support their causes. They campaign in Black churches. They love religious voters who vote for abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and governmental tyranny masquerading as “social justice.” How many times have we heard how the Christmas story is about immigration or how socialism is supported by the Bible? When Hillary Clinton was [...]

The Hypocritical Hate of the Left

The Hypocritical Hate of the Left

Gary discusses several recent articles about the new Speaker of the House and how he claims that the “Bible is his standard.” All talk about human rights comes from those nations that have had a Christian base. The most familiar philosophy of human rights is found in the Declaration of Independence (1776). “All men,” it states, “are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rig [...]

Southern Poverty Law Center Turns Blind Eye to Real Hate

Southern Poverty Law Center Turns Blind Eye to Real Hate

Any time the liberal media want to disparage the right side of the political spectrum, they call on a pool of go-to guys and gals to make their case for them. It’s not news reporting; it’s ideological position marketing. One of those groups is the hard-left and anti-Christian Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC is in the money raising business for every known and unknown left-wing cause. I [...]

The Christian Life and Character

The Christian Life and Character

Gary discusses the historical conditions and motivations behind The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States. When B.F. Morris began work on his book, American Christians were retreating from Bible-based involvement in social action, education, intellectual pursuits, the shaping of culture, and political thought and action. Many in the old “main-line” Protestant [...]

The Bible and Self-Defense in Days of Rage

The Bible and Self-Defense in Days of Rage

“When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.” In Maine, another rampaging murderer entered a ‘Gun-Free Zone’ and did what evil people do. They don’t care about laws; that’s why they murder people! ‘Gun-Free Zones’ are an open invitation to crazy people and those with deep-seeded grudges. The Left’s solution? Take defensive weapons away from everyone! Those living on the border with Gaza [...]

The Pledge that’s a Lie

The Pledge that’s a Lie

Over time, the Pledge of Allegiance has changed. The original Pledge read as “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The word “to” was added before “the Republic” in October for the public recitation. This is the only difference from the original published version. “My flag” was changed to “the flag” in 1924 [...]

Is Ezekiel’s Gog and Magog Battle a “Realistic Scenario”?

Is Ezekiel’s Gog and Magog Battle a “Realistic Scenario”?

“Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security concludes the Gog battle is a ‘realistic scenario,’” a recent article from WND reports. “The study forecasts the toll of a massive nuclear war.” Christian prophecy writers have been making similar claims for decades. Are they right? Before we get into the meat of the controversy, it should be noted that in the premillennial and dispens [...]

The Danger of Prophetic Inevitability

The Danger of Prophetic Inevitability

Gary discusses Dwight Wilson’s 1977 book, Armageddon Now. As a premillennialist himself, Wilson was able to see clearly the many mistaken prophecies of his own tradition. The doctrine of the clock of prophecy is central to dispensational theology. But what no paperback dispensationalist prophecy book of the This Time, Armageddon Really Is Near! variety ever discusses is that orthodox dispens [...]

The “Hands Off” Approach Regarding Jews During World War II

The “Hands Off” Approach Regarding Jews During World War II

I’ve always said that prophetic views have real world consequences. This is especially true when it comes to popular prophecy beliefs and their relation to prophetic inevitabilities. When Jesus told His disciples that the temple would be destroyed before their generation passed away, He issued a warning. Leave the city. The final warning was when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20). Th [...]

What's Next for Israel (According to Popular Prophecy)

What's Next for Israel (According to Popular Prophecy)

In a debate I had with Dr. Michael Brown, I asked him what he thought of the supposed future Jewish holocaust that’s part of premillennialism’s prophetic system based on Zechariah 13:8-9: “It will come about in all the land,” Declares the LORD, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, [...]

Ignoring Biblical History

Ignoring Biblical History

Gary discusses a new article by Greg Laurie that makes the (same old) argument that modern events “could be” fulfilling biblical prophecies. 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 [...]

The Future of Israel Re-Examined

The Future of Israel Re-Examined

A daily double: an article and a podcast! The article is from the July 1991 issue of James Jordan’s Biblical Horizons newsletter. It shows how Jordan’s thinking and views of the whole debate over ancient and modern Jews and the state of Israel changed from his previous views that essentially followed the Puritans and the Westminster Divines. It is vital that Christians understand this [...]

Pulpits and Politics

Pulpits and Politics

Gary discusses an article from the Christianity and Civilization series about politics, Christians, and activism. In Genesis 1:1, God set up two realms, heaven and earth. The goal of history is not for earth to be forsaken, but for heaven to impress its pattern on earth. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, ” we pray. The duality of heaven and earth is to be resolved, e [...]

The Gaetzful 8 and Political Christians

The Gaetzful 8 and Political Christians

Gary discusses the recent ousting of Speaker McCarthy and what political writer Jason Whitlock calls the “Gaetzful 8.” Whitlock compares the 8 to Gideon’s 300 and the idea of the remnant. Gideon is called Jerubbaal, the Baal-Fighter. He is going to war against Baal, in the confidence God had given him the night before. They rose early, with the sun. The rising of the sun is a pic [...]

Native Americans Want Redskins Name Reinstated

Native Americans Want Redskins Name Reinstated

Personally, I don’t care much about the names of buildings or sports teams. If residents of a city, municipality, or state want to rename a building after Barack Obama, as some in a town in NJ want to do, I’m fine with it so long as it doesn’t cost me any money. The name change won’t do one thing for black people. They won’t get a better education (see test scores Baltimore Maryland public schools [...]

Good News in the News

Good News in the News

Gary highlights a few recent news articles that are actually encouraging. “Society” possesses no will of its own, but reflects the people’s will. The will of the people is either based on the autonomous will of men or reflects the will of the Triune God of Scripture. E.C. Wines (1806-1879) writes: In political, as well as physical science, there are certain great principles, true or false, from wh [...]

The Leftist Caricature of Conservatives

The Leftist Caricature of Conservatives

It’s not hard to find people who are ignorant about other people’s beliefs. All you have to do is watch man-in-the street interviews. A good portion of the population is ignorant about a whole range of topics. Even students at some very prestigious universities are more familiar with the latest Taylor Swift event and love interest than with what’s happening with Ukraine, the Bidens, the plummeting [...]

The Media's Political Echo Chamber

The Media's Political Echo Chamber

Gary discusses an article about the upcoming presidential election and the fatigue about the entire process being experienced by the majority of voters. There are problems with some kinds of circular arguments. But you might be surprised to know that you can’t help arguing in a circle. At some point, everyone has to argue in a circle. Why? Because everyone has certain assumptions. No one is neutra [...]

Expressive Individualism: Me, Myself, and I

Expressive Individualism: Me, Myself, and I

Gary interacts with Carl Trueman’s newest books about “expressive individualism” and the modern “truth” of the interior self. The greatest offense to the unbeliever is the Christian’s insistence that there is only one truth. The statement that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only light seems rather closed-minded. For secularists, it seems reasonable tha [...]