apologetics | Paul the Poke

Archive for apologetics

Celebrating Ten Years!!! BE A Berean

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags Acts 17, apologetics, Berea, Berean, God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, Jesus Christ, Sons of issachar on August 18, 2020 by paulthepoke

August 2020 marks the 10th year of the website and related social media outlets. The results are clearly the work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.

First of all, thank you to all who read, comment and share with others. The website started with an email list of about 60 friends and family.

The idea of a website was hatched by a young man attending church with me. His name is Chris Frost. He encouraged me to write. Chris is now a Pastor in Tehachapi, California at Mountain Bible Church. https://www.mountainbiblechurch.org/

A shout out goes to Matt Weinreich. Back in the day (March 2016), Matt was a limo driver. The concept of the social media platforms was Matt’s idea. He developed the plan in a party bus over a Dr. Pepper while on a break during a job. The links below are the rest of the story.

https://www.facebook.com/PaulLLehr

https://www.facebook.com/Paulthepoke-1671336659778515

Tweets by PaulthePoke

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-NrXlCSttXZtZ6QYICUkFA/

I would like to thank Trey Smith at the God in a Nutshell project for taking a chance on me as a writer and editor of his website. The exposure provided by his social media outlets for 4 years is tremendously appreciated.

Thanks to Greg Lewis and Jonathan Rovetto for their support, insights and marketing analysis.

Lastly, a massive thank you to all the contributing authors. These folks come from a diverse background and provide quality, thoughtful content. Thanks to Christine McDonald, Joshua of Ghana, Matt Weinreich, Michael Douville, Michael Stone, Mickey Sutliff (responsible for logo design), Paul Beverly, Phil Kulis, and Rodna Epley.

Along the way, three books have been published. See the links at the bottom of the post.

If someone would have told me 10 years ago the materials and content provided would have reached tens of millions in over 190 countries I would have laughed. RIGHT!!!

This is the first post. This is how it all began…

BE a Berean!!!

Acts 17:10-11 But the brothers at once sent both Paul and Silas to Berea during the night; who having arrived went into the synagogue of the Jews. And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with all readiness, daily examining the Scriptures if these things are so.

This is the point of the blog. Don’t take my word for it, look it up, and verify. The culture loves to say, “Well that is just your interpretation.” Personally, that is code for “I really don’t know what it says.” This is a cop-out. The culture loves to say, “My God would or would not do…”

Is that the God of your mind or is that the God of the Bible? If one’s ethics and morals are not consistent with Scripture, then that mindset becomes idolatry and it is not the God of the Bible. What do you think about Scripture? Make a decision based out of knowledge and not somebody’s opinion or personal ignorance.

1 Chronicles 12:32a And of the sons of Issachar, having understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do.

The sons of Issachar are one the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. Issachar is a son of Jacob (Genesis 30:18). His name in Hebrew means “he will bring a reward.” The sons of Issachar are the descendants. These sons read the Word. They knew what the times had to offer because they read and believed in God’s promises through His Word.

Matthew 16:1-3 And having come the Pharisees and Sadducees tempting, asked Him to show them a sign out of the heaven. But answering, He said to them, Evening coming on, you say, Clear sky, for the sky is red. And at morning, today a storm, for the sky is red, being overcast. Hypocrites! You indeed know how to discern the face of the heaven, but you cannot the signs of the times.

Jesus held the religious leaders of His day accountable to know His arrival was here. The Bible foretold in prophecy the arrival of the Messiah and His character and deeds. One prophetic example is…

Isaiah 7:14 So, The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold! The virgin will conceive and will bring forth a son; and she shall call His name Immanuel (meaning “with us is God”).

Yes, Jesus is God.

The same is true for us today. God has not changed. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever.

We are accountable to what is stated in the Bible. What does the Bible say about the times we are living? Does it have anything to say?

Welcome and please feel free to comment and share with others. God praises those who verify His Word. Look it up, does the Bible really say… ???

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfected, being fully furnished for every good work.

2 Comments »

Resurrection…What’s the Point?

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy with tags 1 corinthians 15, apologetics, blood, cross, death, Easter, faith, Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Romans 6, sin on March 27, 2016 by paulthepoke

1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;

The Greek word for “resurrection” is anastasis. It means: raising up, rising (e.g. from a seat); a rising from the dead; that of Christ; that of all men at the end of this present age. –Strong’s Concordance

The resurrection of Jesus is the power of God. The resurrection validates and authenticates Christ’s death on the cross which is the payment for sin.

So what if Jesus was not raised from the dead? What’s the big deal about the resurrection? Who cares? Scripture states twice in the below verses, we are wasting our time with Christianity and the Bible if the resurrection is not true. Without the resurrection, we physically die and our bodies are eternally buried. We are dirt and worm food. Job 21:26 Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them. Our bodies become the byproduct of worm digestion…

1 Corinthians 15:14b …your faith is also in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

1 Corinthians 15:17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

Without Jesus’ resurrection, our faith is described as “vain” and “worthless”.

The Greek word for “vain” is kenos. It means: empty, devoid of truth; contains nothing; empty handed; without a gift; fruitless; no purpose.

The Greek word for “worthless” is mataios. It means: devoid of force, truth, success, result; useless, of no purpose.

This is our faith without the resurrection of Christ. Without Jesus’ resurrection, there is no hope for our bodies. We are dead and buried, a corrupt, sinful mess.

If we are not resurrected in the future, then Christ’s resurrection did not occur. That’s the security and truth of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Adam introduced sin to humanity. The result of sin was bodily death. Genesis 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.

As believers in Christ, our soul and spirit are separated from the body at the point of physical death.

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

1 Corinthians 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” The Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah 25:8.

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? –Hosea 13:14

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Greek word for “victory” is nikos. This is the word for the brand name Nike. Jesus’ resurrection is the power over death and sin. Christ is without sin (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5). He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17, Romans 10:4). He is the victory.

The promise of the resurrection is glorification, the reconnection of our body, soul, and spirit.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/05/11/resurrection-witnesses/

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/04/26/resurrection-for-all-part-2/

http://paulthepoke.com/2012/04/05/resurrection/

Leave a comment »

Isaiah 8:14-16 The Rock

Posted in Gospel, Isaiah with tags apologetics, faith, Gospel, Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 8:14, Israel, jerusalem, Jesus, Prophecy, rock, Romans 9:33, salvation, zion on April 27, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 8:14 “Then He shall become a sanctuary; but to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, and a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

In Romans 9, the Apostle Paul is quoting from Isaiah 8:14 in the initial half of the verse. Then Isaiah 28:16 is quoted in the back half of the verse. Romans 9 tells us who this “rock” or “stone” is. It is Jesus. Paul connects the dots of the two verses.

Romans 9:33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

He is sacred and holy like a sanctuary. The phrase “a stone to strike” was prophetic when written by Isaiah. The grammar of the phrase in Hebrew refers to the stone being struck a fatal blow. He is an obstacle to the Jewish people. Jews by and large do not believe He is their Messiah. They remain hostile to His name.

The Hebrew word for “snare” is pach. According to Strong’s Concordance, it literally is a bird trap. Figuratively, it can mean an agent of calamity. He is the bait for the destructive trap to the people of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 8:15 Many will stumble over them, then they will fall and be broken; they will even be snared and caught.”

Verse 15 restates the outcome of the Jewish people. Jesus will be an obstacle. Great numbers will trip over “the rock”. They will be crippled and crushed, shattered into pieces.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

The “stone” is tested and tried. The cornerstone is described as yaqar in the Hebrew. Yaqar can mean: valuable, prized, weighty, precious, rare, splendid, costly, or glorious. The syntax in the original Hebrew language states the “rock” was firmly, intentionally, and intensively placed. We know today, He was sent and set by the Father. The condition is the same whether it is the New Testament or the Old Testament. Believe in “The Rock”.

Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

This is an official, sealed, and legal document as far as God is concerned. It was completed once in the past and the results are binding today and forever more.

“It is finished,” Jesus (John 19:30).

Leave a comment »

The Resurrection, An Enemy’s Perspective Part 2

Posted in Gospel with tags apologetics, Caiaphas, Chief Priest, Easter, Gospel, Jesus, Matthew 28, Pharisees, Pilate, Resurrection, Roman Guard on April 6, 2013 by paulthepoke

Matthew 28:11-15 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

Note the response of the priests and Pharisees. They did not try to deny or refute the claims of the soldiers. The Jews did not try to sway or change the story. The soldiers were believable. I think I would have some serious conviction if I had seen what the soldiers saw. The soldiers knew Christ’s body was missing. They had been literally shaken to their core by an earthquake. And they saw a bright, white being that was ridiculously strong. They knew better than to try and mess with it.

The Pharisee response, give the Roman guards lots of money. The soldiers are paid to lie. They could not have the truth out in the open.

Question, how many grave robbers would it have taken to pull off the job of stealing a body? There would need to be forces to take out the Roman guards. There would need to be several men to remove the sealed stone. Do you think all skilled Roman soldiers would have fallen asleep on the job knowing the consequences? Say they were asleep. Do you think the guard would have awakened with all the racket of somebody trying to steal a body?

The Jews said they would cover for the soldiers in regards to their superiors. The Jews knew the soldiers would pay a hefty price for failure when it came to their superiors, their lives. The Jewish leaders were willing to step in on behalf of the soldiers and deal with Roman leadership to quiet this talk of resurrection. Both parties just wanted “The Resurrection” to go away.

Here are some things the Jewish leaders did not do. One, they did not produce a body. Two, they did not form a search committee and go looking for Jesus. If His followers took the body, it should have been easy to find. Three, they fought the early church and the apostles at every opportunity.

Leave a comment »

The Resurrection, An Enemy’s Perspective Part 1

Posted in Gospel with tags apologetics, Easter, Gospel, Jesus, Matthew 27, Pharisees, Pilate, Resurrection, Roman Guard on March 30, 2013 by paulthepoke

Let’s look at those who were hostile or indifferent to Christ. What was their response to the resurrection? Let’s set aside the hundreds of eye witness accounts of believers or followers of Christ who saw a resurrected Jesus. What does the Bible have to say about non-believers? What was their response and perspective after the death of Jesus? The religious Jews and their power base were threatened by Jesus. He was moving in on their turf. The Pharisees wanted any memory of Jesus to be completely sealed in a tomb. The Romans wanted political and military control of the region. The last thing the Romans wanted was upheaval and a social uprising. They were interested in “keeping the peace” as they saw it.

Matthew 27:64-66 “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

The Pharisees have a request after the death of Jesus. To kill Him was not satisfactory. The Jews were bent on squelching any “resurrection”. Pilate was likely agreeable to the Jews’ request just to get them out of his hair. He washed his hands of Christ’s pending death and claimed innocence of His blood (Matthew 27:24).

Pilate issued a Roman guard to protect the tomb. A guard was usually four men. These men were skillfully trained. Failure to perform their duty resulted in torture and death in front of their peers. The size of the average stone used to seal a tomb during Jesus’ day was approximately 1.5-2 tons. This would have taken several men to complete the job. The tomb was sealed by the Roman Empire. If the Roman seal was broken, death by upside down crucifixion was the penalty. McDowell, J., Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1972, 1979.

Matthew 28:2-4 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

These were Roman soldiers. These were the most skilled, deadly, and armed military men of their day. But they had an encounter with something they had not seen before, a being capable of moving a sealed, two ton stone. This thing was bright, white hot and came with an earthquake. It dropped out of the sky. It was a picture of eerie calm. The angel sat on the grave stone it moved, not exactly a hostile or defensive posture.

Leave a comment »

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Posted in Gospel with tags apologetics, Easter, God, Gospel, Jesus, Resurrection on April 3, 2012 by paulthepoke

As we approach the holiday of “Easter”, many will ask “, What does a rabbit have to do with Jesus, why are eggs involved, and why did Jesus have to die?”

There are many traditions as to how “Easter” gets its name. Ishtar (Easter) is the Babylonian queen of heaven. She is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. Astarte (Easter) is the Syrian sun goddess, known as the queen of heaven. According to legend, she allegedly laid a golden egg which became the sun. There is also a pagan tradition concerning a bird who wanted to be a rabbit. The goddess Oestre (Easter) turned the bird into a rabbit. According to legend, this rabbit could still lay eggs. From this, the egg became a symbol of the start of new life, rebirth, and fertility. A rabbit became a symbol of fertility and new life. What does any of this nonsense have to do with Jesus? Absolutely Nothing!!!

One small problem, the early Christian church joined the fun and adopted the egg as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. This has done nothing but add to the confusion to the point and purpose of Jesus’ death.

Why did Jesus have to do die? This point is specific and clear according to the Bible. At this time, I will let the Bible speak for itself.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

Hebrews 9:26b … but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Just in case anyone is wondering, the message of a sacrificial death for sin rings loud and clear in the Old Testament in Isaiah. Look at the detail of these verses. This was written approximately 700 years before Christ. It reads as a narrative of the events along with the accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Isaiah 53:3-12 He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.

But wait, there is more…

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a SECOND time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Just believe it (John 3:16).

Leave a comment »

Genesis 2:2-3 The Sabbath

Posted in Creation with tags apologetics, creation, Genesis, God, Sabbath, sabbath day, week on December 27, 2011 by paulthepoke

Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

God has set the pattern of the work week. This pattern of a seven day week is wired into our being. The other facets of how we mark time have astronomical markers; the day (sun), month (moon), seasons (equinox) and year (completed monthly cycle). The week does not have an astronomical marker, it is different.

Our calendars work with seven day weeks, not five or eight or whatever. Man has tried to alter this concept of the seven day week. One example is the Soviets during the 1930’s. The comrades tried calendars with five day and six day weeks. The idea was for continuous work, 24 hours a day, non stop. The plan was for improved economic output. Somebody was working at all times, every day. The result was decreased productivity and more mechanical breakdown.

God did not rest because He was fatigued or exhausted. That tired argument is put to sleep in Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. The Sabbath is a notification that the creation is completed. His work is finished.

The pattern of rest on the seventh day is repeated over and over throughout the history of Israel. Here are just two of many examples.

Exodus 20:8-10 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.” Note all people and animals are included. It is a universal concept.

Exodus 31:16-17 “So the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” Due to the everlasting nature of this covenant, one gets the idea that the Sabbath will be reinstated in the future when Christ returns. Based on this verse, we should be observing it today.

By the way, God takes the Sabbath very seriously. This is not a warm, fuzzy McDonald’s jingle “You deserve a break today” mentality. Exodus 31:15b …whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. By this standard, how many of us would be around to read this? I know I would be gone. God is not asking us to do hard, physical labor or some unreasonable task. We are being asked “to rest” one time in seven days.

2 Comments »

Genesis 1:31 – Genesis 2:2 Creation Completed

Posted in Creation with tags apologetics, creation, Darwin, Evolution, Genesis, God on December 7, 2011 by paulthepoke

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Look at the word all or “kol” in the Hebrew. As defined by Strong’s, it means: all, the whole, any, each, every, anything, totality, everything. Who made it all?

Notice, it is God who made it. The grammar in the Hebrew is stated as a simple action verb. God made it, straight forward and no tricks. It is just not complicated. This did not occur by random chance. This was orchestrated by God. The creation account is complete at this point. Species do not mutate from here. There are no transitional species noted.

“Not one change of species into another is on record… we cannot prove that a single species has been changed.” –Charles Darwin, My Life & Letters, Volume 1, p. 210.

All of this is “good” or “towb” in the Hebrew. It is defined in Strong’s Concordance as: good, pleasant, agreeable (to the senses); pleasant (to the higher nature); rich, valuable in estimation; appropriate, becoming.

The completion of this day is not just good but very good. Previous days in the creation week were “good”, but at the end of day six, it is exceedingly good. See the word “very” or “m@`od” in the Hebrew. It means: exceedingly, much. In today’s vernacular, amazing, abundant, or awesome would be possible descriptions.

And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. The sun sets and the next day starts.

Genesis 2:1-2a Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; …

Leave a comment »

Genesis 1:29 The History of Food

Posted in Creation with tags apologetics, famine, food, Genesis, PETA, vegan, vegetarian on November 16, 2011 by paulthepoke

Genesis 1:29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

God’s original intent for humanity was to be a vegetarian, specifically a vegan. PETA should love God’s word. Meat is not included on this menu. Vegetation was so plentiful, there was enough food for all of creation. But, because of sin and as time marched on, food became more scarce and harder to come by. This is evidenced in Genesis 5:29 Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.” Just a few generations in, humanity is already realizing the effects of the curse. Work is hard.

Meat was not introduced into the diet until after the Flood. This is approximately 2,000 years after Creation. That figure can be obtained by adding up the years of genealogies in Genesis. Observation is courtesy of Ken Ham, The Genesis Solution.

After the Flood and with the introduction of the Law, God placed limits on the kinds of animals man could eat. Leviticus Chapter 11 gives many details of what can and cannot be eaten. Here are a couple of examples. Leviticus 11:3-4 ‘Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat. ‘Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you.

Fast forward to the day of Peter after Christ has died on the cross for sin. Christ has fulfilled the Law. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Peter in Acts 11 has an encounter with the Lord regarding the Law and unclean food. Restrictions on food consumed are being lifted. Granted, the greater issue is not about food but food is used as the example. Acts 11:6-9 and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. “I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ “But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’ There is less food available.

Moving ahead at least two thousand plus years from Peter, the tribulation looms. Food will continue to become more scarce. Joel 1:10-12 The field is ruined, The land mourns; For the grain is ruined, The new wine dries up, fresh oil fails. Be ashamed, O farmers, wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley; because the harvest of the field is destroyed. The vine dries up and the fig tree fails; the pomegranate, the palm also, and the apple tree, all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up from the sons of men.

Joel 1:16-20 Has not food been cut off before our eyes, gladness and joy from the house of our God? The seeds shrivel under their clods; the storehouses are desolate, the barns are torn down, for the grain is dried up. How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle wander aimlessly because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep suffer. To You, O LORD, I cry; for fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness and the flame has burned up all the trees of the field. Even the beasts of the field pant for you; for the water brooks are dried up and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

The lack of food is so great, humanity becomes the hunted by animals. Revelation 6:8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

During Christ’s Millennial Kingdom conditions will improve with food becoming more abundant. A couple of examples are as follows. Amos 9:14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit.

Ezekiel 36:29-30 “Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations”.

Eternity future shows us an environment without the curse. The result is perpetual fruit during all months of the year. There will be no more thorns and thistles. The toil of work will be gone. The circle is complete and restored. Revelation 22:1-3a Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse…

2 Comments »

Apostle Paul, Resume

Posted in Gospel with tags apologetics, Apostle Paul, Gospel, Jesus, New Testament on November 9, 2011 by paulthepoke

The Apostle Paul (name means short) is the author of 13 letters in the New Testament. Scholars argue that he is possibly the author of Hebrews as well. Paul was born as Saul in the city of Tarsus in the region of Cilicia (Acts 22:3). Tarsus is located near the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea. He was born a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). He grew up in Jerusalem and studied under the famous teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and he was a member of the Pharisees (Philippians 3:5). Paul’s father was a member of the Pharisees (Acts 23:6). Extra Biblical source (Holman Bible Dictionary) indicates that Paul’s family was moderately wealthy deriving their income from leather goods and tent making. Paul by trade was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). He did not marry (1 Corinthians 7:8). Paul was a Roman citizen and he used this to his advantage on his travels (Acts 23:27).

Prior to his conversion, Saul was not a friend of believers in Jesus. He arrested and imprisoned believers. He was extremely zealous and had passion for Judaism. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews (Philippians 3:5). Approval of death and persecution of believers was given by Paul. He chased, persecuted, and blasphemed them to distant cities. Paul even described his own behavior as exceedingly mad or furious (Acts 26:10-11). He was present at the stoning of the martyr Stephen (Acts 7:58). In retrospect, Paul considered himself not fit to be an apostle because of his actions (1 Corinthians 15:9). Of all of the sinners, he is the chief or foremost (1 Timothy 1:15).

His conversion and belief in Jesus as the Messiah took place on the road to Damascus. Jesus Himself provided all the proof Paul would need to become a believer: a bright light, a voice, and identification. He was blinded and healed a few days later in Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). After his conversion, he spent three years in Arabia (Galatians 1:17).

Paul frequently reminded readers that he was called to be an apostle by the will of God in the introduction of his epistles. Specifically, he was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47-48; Romans 11:13; 15:16).

Paul made four missionary journeys. He traveled in the Roman province of Galatia during his first trip, specifically in south, central Asia Minor. On the second trip, Paul travels through Asia Minor and enters into southeast Europe. Specifically, he travels into the regions of Macedonia, Achaia (the modern day coastal areas of Greece). Ultimately, Paul ends up in Rome via ship on the Mediterranean Sea.

To say Paul suffered many hardships during his travels is an understatement. He was persecuted and jailed many times over. He escaped with his life on many occasions. Paul was expelled from cities and left for dead. Riots resulted because of his belief in Christ and the stance he took. He received 39 lashes five times, was beaten with a rod three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and nearly drowned. He faced dangers from robbers, fellow countrymen, foreigners, false teachers, wildlife, and sea life. Paul was often hungry, thirsty, cold, naked, weary, and suffered pain (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Paul was constantly kept in check by the “thorn” in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Paul also provides a definitive statement on what the gospel is. God provided the solution to the sin problem at the cross of Jesus Christ. When Christ died on the cross He paid the penalty for all of our sins, past, present and future. Christ was buried. Christ was raised from the dead. The Bible calls this message the “good news” or the “gospel”. Man is saved on the condition of believing (putting faith in) the gospel –1 Corinthians 15:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16.

Christ’s resurrection validates His payment for sin on the cross. The resurrection confirms the fact of the good news.