The future king of Israel is here named “David” reflecting God’s promise that an heir of David will rule over Israel (cf. Jer 33:17; Luke 1:32). The prophecy is not about David himself, but about his heir, the future king of Israel — that is Jesus.
Which numbers in the Bible are literal and which aren’t?
The only way to tell the difference between literal and figurative is context. For example, when we find something in a historical book, like the book of Kings, then it is likely to be literal. When we find something in a poetic book, like Psalms, then it is likely to be figurative. However, even then […]
Why are there so many religions and so many conflicting subsections within them?
The simple answer is that there are so many different religions because they are run by humans. Humans are fallible, so not everyone will arrive at the same conclusions. If we believe that God allows us the freedom to choose for ourselves then it is inevitable that there will be many different views about God […]
Why the addition of the Pericope Adulterae into John 7-8?
The story of the woman caught in adultery (John 7:53-8:11) is not included in some of the earliest manuscripts. It was included by Jerome in his translation of the NT and so was in place c.380, if not earlier. If this section was not originally part of John’s gospel, is it an authentic testimony about […]
Who will be raised at the resurrection?
Both righteous and unrighteous will be resurrected, as these verses demonstrate: John 5:26-29 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (27) And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. (28) Do not marvel at […]
Are only the baptised judged at the start of the thousand years?
Revelation 20:4-5 says: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark […]
Where did God come from?
The simple answer is that God did not come from anywhere — God is eternal. For a longer answer, we might look to the Cosmological Argument, which is one of the common arguments for the existence of God: Premise 1: Everything that has a beginning has a cause. Premise 2: The universe had a beginning […]
Why is the age of the universe so different to the age of the Earth?
According to current scientific estimates the Earth is around 4.5 billion years old and the universe is around 13.75 billion years old. If these calculations are correct, even approximately so, then there were billions of years between the creation of the universe and the formation of our planet. Even then the Earth would wait over […]
What is the history of the doctrine of the ‘pre-tribulation secret rapture’?
The doctrine of the ‘pre-tribulation secret rapture’ is the belief that faithful Christians will be removed suddenly and secretly from the earth prior to a time of ‘tribulation’ which will immediately precede the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Although the concept of believers being removed from the earth at the time of Christ […]
Are the bread and wine just symbols, or are they really Jesus’ flesh and blood?
The bread and the wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus. When Jesus spoke these words, he had not yet been sacrificed. Luke 22:19-20: And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. […]