This question is usually prompted by the biblical teaching of a judgement day for mankind when Christ returns. More recently the question is also prompted by the commercial success in the USA of the ‘Left Behind’ Christian fiction novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, which present Protestant dispensationalist End Times teachings such as a “pretribulation”, […]
What does Jesus mean by “see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before” (John 6:62)?
The words “where he was before” are one of the strongest and most popular proof texts for the belief held by groups with Arian theology (such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and some less orthodox Trinitarians) that Jesus himself as Son of Man had a personal preexistence in heaven before his birth. This isn’t the place to […]
Was Paul a member of the Sanhedrin Council?
I believe it is quite likely that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin council. I think this for the following reasons: Paul cast his vote against the Christians, showing that he belonged to some sort of decision making group. Acts 26:10-11: I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving […]
Why is the Holy Spirit sometimes called the Holy Ghost?
Nowadays, the word ghost typically refers to ‘An apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image’.1 However, this hasn’t always been the case. A long time ago, the words spirit and ghost meant the same thing. The main difference between them was […]
What are all the promises in the Bible?
There are too many promises in the Bible to list. Here is a selection of promises, on the Coffs Harbour Christadelphians website. For more information, see: How many promises are in the Bible? God’s promises (external link) Your share in God’s promises (external link)
Do “Blood Moons” foretell major events and the end of the world?
No, “Blood Moons” do not foretell major events in history, and nor do they foretell the end of the world. The “Blood Moon” theory* is suspect for a number of reasons. Here is one of them (for more, see here): the “Blood Moon” theory falls far short of what is actually in the Biblical descriptions. […]
Is there any evidence that John, the disciple of Jesus, was black?
No, there isn’t; but there is evidence that John was a Jew. Jesus’ ministry was primarily exclusive to the tribes of Israel (Mat. 15:24). As John and the other disciples were people Jesus came to minister to, John would have been a Jew. Jesus probably selected the twelve disciples to represent Israel in some way […]
What were the coverings mentioned in Numbers 4:6,8,10-12,14,25 made of?
No one really knows. As Gordon Wenham says in his commentary on the book of Numbers:1 As the different translations make plain, it is uncertain what the outer cover was made of. Hebrew taḥas (RSV goatskin) was taken by the early versions to be a colour. But early Jewish scholars suggested that taḥas was the […]
Other than Cain and Able, how many brothers killed their brothers in the Bible?
Here is a list of some brothers who killed their brother/s, although I’m sure I’ve missed some: Men of Levi (not necessarily literal brothers) Exo 32:26-29 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. […]
Were Gentiles excluded from entering the synagogue?
During the time of the second temple (c. 516 BCE to 70 CE) Gentiles were excluded from entering the Temple past the outer court (which was known as the Court of the Gentiles). But there are numerous cases in Scripture of Gentiles attending synagogues around the Roman world. Of course, there could well have been […]