“There are more things in heaven and on earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” William Shakespeare Things seen and things unseen Before proceeding to the concluding subjects of the study of Revelation chapter 20 – the battle of Gog and Magog and the final judgement which takes place before the new heaven […]
God’s promise to Israel fulfilled through Joshua – part 7 of ‘The Hope of Israel’
October 5, 2012 by
(This is an edited version of chapter 7 of Mauro’s book.) Verses 43 to 45 of Joshua 21, throw light on the question we are investigating, namely the future hope of the Jews. The passage has already been mentioned in passing, but its importance demands a more extended consideration. Its value for our present purpose lies […]
Keeping the Feasts?
October 5, 2012 by
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are […]
John’s Baptism
October 5, 2012 by
The Greek word βάπτισμα (baptisma) was specifically devised to describe the practice of immersing proselytes in water. The Law of Moses prescribed washing in many cases where cleansing and purification were required. For example, for contact with a dead body (Numbers 19:11-12) and for nocturnal emissions (Deuteronomy 23:10-11). These washings never brought about a permanent […]
Peace & violence in Islam & Christianity
October 5, 2012 by
At a recent debate organised by the Islamic Propagation Centre (Lenasia, 27 June 2009), the Muslim speaker suggested that God’s instructions to Israel to ‘utterly destroy’ the inhabitants of Canaan and to ‘kill everything that breathes’ is no less violent than anything the Koran is so often accused of propagating. At the same debate someone […]
More on God’s warnings through Moses – Part 6 of ‘the Hope of Israel’
October 5, 2012 by
(This is an edited version of chapter 6 of Mauro’s ‘The Hope of Israel’.) We have already seen that, by the covenant of Sinai, God offered Israel the highest of all blessings, but upon the express condition of obedience; the terms being, ‘If you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My Covenant’ (Ex. 19:5-6). […]
Instruction about baptisms – What did tongues signify
October 5, 2012 by
In our previous study we saw that it was spontaneous prophesying rather than tongues that marked the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The speaking in tongues did however have its own significance, which we consider here. We start by remembering the events that took place on the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured […]
The Millennium (Part two) – the First Resurrection and the Second Death
October 4, 2012 by
An exposition of Revelation chapter 20 “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and […]
When will these things happen – Matthew 24 and the vindication of Messiah
October 4, 2012 by
‘Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on […]
God’s warnings through Moses – Part 5 of ‘The Hope of Israel’
October 4, 2012 by
(This is an edited version of chapter 5 of Mauro’s book.) God’s covenant at Mount Sinai was very broad in scope, extending to the entire community that left Egypt with Moses, but was conditional in character, i.e. the performance of its promises by Jehovah was dependant upon certain express conditions, which the Israelites bound themselves […]
