Is Genesis important to Christian faith?

Every single doctrine within the Word of God is founded first in Genesis. To destroy Christian belief, the foundation of Genesis must be attacked by God’s enemies. They are doing just that. It is imperative that strong Christian leaders support the foundation of the Word of God with precision and dedication to upholding His things.

It is important to remember that Genesis is the foundation of the Word of God, which makes Genesis the foundation to message of Jesus Christ. If we are to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ fully, then we must not allow anyone to chip away our foundation in an attempt to knock down the Scriptures of Truth.

Genesis reveals sin and error that was introduced into mankind as a result of the disobedient actions of the first man and woman created in His image. Today, we see the results of that fall in vivid color and sounds, as we are pummeled with chaos and worldliness all around us. The carnal ways that man has evolved has come from the perfect creation of God, and disintegrated into the perverse ways of fallen man that we see prevail today. Genesis is relevant for us today, to remind us of God’s first intent, and to give us a solid base to found our walk with Jesus Christ upon.

Is it important to know the Earth's date of creation?

The time period between Adam and Noah is impossible to fix accurately. Evolutionary geologists make ridiculous estimates ranging anywhere from 100,000,00021 to 24,000,000 years, 22 to 100,00023 to 4,974 years.24 Most dates of creation center between Ussher’s 4004 B.C. and the evolutionist’s 4,500,000,000 B.C., which creates an infinite problem between time and philosophy.

To believe these numbers would require the scholar to make two arbitrary presuppositions. First, it would have to be based upon uniformitarian geology that is centered upon all natural processes remaining essentially unchanged. If this assumption is not taken, then all modern chemical and radiological dating techniques are suspect, and another means of establishing time sequence would need to be formed. The second presupposition requires the scholar to assume Genesis 5 and 11 are sequential and unbroken, which would allow a basis for chronological dating.

Neither of these two presuppositions appear viable. The geological record of earth history points to major catastrophes which have sufficiently interrupted natural processes, which prevents unbroken, reliable data from being applied in an uniform measurement. Scripture genealogies are also notorious for their schematic arrangement and omissions, therefore, prevent the second presupposition from being applied.

I don’t think it is as important for a person of faith to know the date of creation, as it is for a Christian to know how to defend the Creation account in the Bible. The worldly and wicked are doing everything they can to remove the foundation of faith. One of their “funky” science conclusions that the earth is so preposterously ancient that it tries to remove the Truth of Creation and thus destroy the things our faith is based upon. Modern science is creating an atmosphere of false but sophisticated sounding theories which denies the historical and scientific truth of Genesis. This has caused many Bible scholars to make concessions to science, which abandons the literal interpretation of the Word of God. It is imperative that we have the defenses of Truth always in our responses when Science gets things all mixed up.

Are you teachings of the Spirits of the LORD God new revelation?

The study of the Spirits of the LORD God is one of my favorite studies. I spent a year, away from the world, and fully involved with the moving of the Spirit in writing this one. When it came time to put it online, I published it confidently. But then, I began receiving letters about how this teaching had never been seen before, and for that reason was suspect. I had no idea. I figured that all Bible students of the deep things of God received this same information.

At first, I became nervous about the challenges that came my way concerning the different Spirits of God. But after awhile, I began realizing the great teachings that God gave particular people as a result of looking upon Him in this manner. There are no words that any of us can use to describe our LORD God. He is too magnificent, too glorified and too holy for us to look upon His Face. However, there are parts of Him that show to us; I doubt that we have seen them all. Those parts of Him that are visible to us are the moving of His Spirit.

His Holy Spirit is quite visible to believers, and those of us that have been blessed to stand in His moving can never doubt His actual Presence. However, He wanted me to know Him deeper; He wanted to reveal to me more of whom He was, and to teach it to those who wanted to know. He took His visible Holy Spirit and caused me to look deeply into His Word to find the nature of that Spirit.

When I first started my search, I was astounded. I had no idea, either. He moved me to find all of the “Spirit” words in the Bible that are associated with Him. Soon, I started recognizing that every time a Spirit of God was mentioned, a name was given with it. I categorized these names, some capitalized in the Bible, and some not. I took inventory of their different movements and different purposes, and in the middle of my study recognized with certainty that the LORD God was introducing Himself to me in a way that I could come closer to Him.
The verse that began it all was Isaiah 11:1-5…

“1 ¶ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5 KJV)

When I realized that the Lord Jesus Christ did not have all of the Spirits of God with him while he walked upon this earth, then I was finally able to understand it all. We know that Jesus Christ had the full nature of God while he was in Heaven, and we know that he gave up that nature to come to earth, and we know upon His Resurrection, he once again received the Nature of God. But while he was on this earth, he had His Spirits of Wisdom and Understanding, Council and Might, and Fear of the Lord resting upon him, guiding him towards His Father in Heaven. I started right at that point, and studied the different characteristics of each. That led to the full accounting that I have written about in my study.

Is each of these Spirits part of the Holy Spirit that we recognize? Mostly. We don’t observe the Spirit of Fear or the Spirit of Bondage, because it is placed upon non-believers. But, I believe that most people that are familiar with the Holy Spirit have access to these various Spirits that are identified in the Word of God. I believe that the Holy Spirit carries these Spirits to us as He moves through us, if that makes sense.

In the final analysis, the way I look upon the Holy Spirit today, is the way I want the people that love me most in this life to look upon me. I don’t want them to gobblygook everything together and define me with one dimension. I want them to look upon all of my parts, and know me inside, and recognize that I am a living, breathing, significant being that has layer upon layer of Spirit within me. Today, I hope that others see that most of my spirit is conformed to the Spirit of God, and when they look upon me, they see layer upon layer of Him.
This is what I found within the layers of His Holy Spirit that is revealed in the Word of God…

Revealed Spirits of the LORD GOD
Adoption - Makes Christian a child of the LORD GOD and gives the right for inheritance
Bearing - Upholds worker as he accomplishes the Works of the LORD GOD
Bondage - Maintains the Muslim servants and disobedient Jews
Burning - Purges impurities from the righteous and holy
Counsel - Teaches path to judgment which leads to knowledge and understanding
Creation - Makes all things to be given life through the touch of the LORD GOD
Deep Sleep - Obscures spiritual awareness of Jews to allow salvation to Gentiles
Deliverance - Enables escape from forces that control or restrain LORD GOD's Works
Discerning Spirits - Judges and identifies all things spiritual
Evil - Causes trouble to come to a person's life to make him seek refuge in the LORD GOD
Faith - Implants confidence of Jesus Christ and salvation to all Christians
Fear - Prevents faith and gives control to the Spirit of Bondage
Fear of the LORD - Causes the hatred of evil and paves the way for Spirit of Wisdom
Grace - Instills the LORD GOD's influence upon a person's heart and brings salvation
Goodness - Teaches the LORD GOD's Will and instructs in the way to go
Hardening - Prevents understanding to facilitate implementation of the LORD GOD's Will
Healing - Makes well and restores to health the physical, spiritual and eternal
Holiness - Effects resurrection from death through the giving sacred purity to Christians
Judgment - Determines and judges sins of men and earth through Jesus Christ
Knowledge - Distinguishes good from evil and measures works through Jesus Christ
Life in Christ Jesus - Causes Christians to walk the way of Jesus Christ, free from sin
Love - Shares agape love with LORD GOD's people and prepares them for other Spirits
Might - Controls right hand of LORD GOD to accomplish His Works through Jesus Christ
Ministry & Miracles - Supplies spiritual nourishment to increase LORD GOD's Works
Persuasion - Manipulates situations to allow man's true character to be revealed
Power - Goes forth to accomplish the Works of the Spirit of Might
Promise - Seals the LORD GOD's Abraham blessing to Christians through Jesus Christ
Prophesy - Speaks the Word of GOD, foretells events, and testifies on Jesus Christ
Raising - Stands up men in higher position over others
Sanctification - Makes and helps maintain purity and holiness
Supplication - Brings fervent and reverent prayer to the LORD GOD's ears
Sword - Emits the righteous holy power from the Word of God
Tongues - Speaks of mysteries to the LORD GOD in a language not known by man
Interpretation - Interprets mysteries spoken by Spirit of Tongues to man
Truth - Comforts Christians, provides access to the LORD GOD and Jesus Christ, gives spiritual gifts, reveals truth, convicts world of sin, glorifies Jesus Christ, as the Holy Ghost
Understanding - Prepares the way to receive the presence of the LORD GOD
Wisdom - Makes priestly mediators, and gives revelations and knowledge to Christians

LORD GOD's Spirits which rested upon Jesus on earth
Spirit of the Lord
Spirit of Wisdom
Spirit of Understanding
Spirit of Counsel
Spirit of Might
Spirit of Fear of the LORD
Spirit of knowledge

Jesus Christ's Spirits which rest on Christians on earth
Spirit of Christ
Spirit of truth
Spirit of life
Spirit of adoption
Spirit of promise
Spirit of grace
Spirit of holiness

The evil spirits of Lucifer on earth
spirit of antichrist
spirit of divination
spirit of unclean devil
spirit of infirmity
spirit of the world
spirit of error

This is my foundation. It is difficult for me to look upon the Holy Spirit with another man’s eyes, because I know Him intimately because He has shared these parts with me. So when other commentaries mention the Holy Spirit as a one-layered Being, they are writing about what they know, and it is Truth according to what has been revealed to them. But when I write about the Spirits of God, I too am writing about the Truth, because it is what He chose to reveal to me. And now, apparently, He is choosing to reveal to you. Looking forward to your questions and our discussion!

Kathy L. McFarland

Christianity vs. the Roman Culture

Every spiritually Faithful Christian is as different from every person of the world, and experiences some of the same clashes as the Roman Culture and early Christianity experienced. The nature of the conflict is the same, even if the focus is skewed by modern-day applications. My comparisons are possibly skewed from the worldly perspective with a certain prejudice toward my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but measure true with the Word of God.

Christianity that is true to Word of God, is and always has been, in direct contrast to the Roman mind, and is now completely opposite when compared to the World–Power mindset. Where the Roman/World mind strives to influence the world through their Empire, Christianity strives to
bring the influence of the LORD God to those who belong to Him. While the Power Thinkers of Carnality build their monuments of mankind’s greatest achievements, the Christian Faithful struggles gallantly to build the foundations of Jesus Christ. As the world of powerful entities come together to form even greater power through the influence of secular enjoyments and pastimes, Christians separate themselves from the worldly and worship a God that the carnal will never know.

The spiritually faithful strive daily to get it right; to walk the walk with Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God. They form opinion and ideas based on that Word. They boldly declare the Word of God as He moves them to share. They support their opinions with His Word, and maintain a public and open accountability for all to see.

The Roman/Worldly powers strive to conform daily to their carnal ways. Often in secret they walk the walk of seekers of pleasure and power, and in view project an openness and acceptance with all popular ideas and mediums. They form opinion on things they have been told by others and viciously attack those who do not conform to their ways.

How easy it must be to be a citizen of the world! How uncomplicated it would be to be led by the nose of the popular and powerful majority, where every nuance, every dream, every breath is controlled by the imperialistic society! Where authority dictates the differences between people are forever erased through the acceptance of every lifestyle, of every perversion, of every cultural difference and the subdued citizen is elevated to a status higher than God.

The struggle of Christianity to overcome the forces of the world continues today, and the history of the early church and its difficulty with the Roman culture echo on. However, as Christians we must remember that this world houses two separate peoples; the faithful belonging to the LORD God and ruled by Jesus Christ that are a part of the Kingdom of God, and the secular, carnal, and imperialistic world of man who rules their kingdom as one would expect through the repeats of history. This is not our world, but soon our Kingdom will come!

Kathy L. McFarland

We must clean our plates!

As the Holy Spirit moves to feed the hunger of Christians who seek His teachings, some are given great portions of meat, and some small drinks of milk, but all have ample portion supplied. He gives the perfect portion for that time and place that the Christian is at.

We must always be careful to eat every morsel in the day that it is given, and not put off learning until tomorrow. When it is rejected, the teachings intended for that day become useless bits of left over nothingness, just like the leftover manna uneaten by the Israelites in the Wilderness. (Exodus 16:13-21)

When Christians fail to even gather their daily bread, it disappears and cannot be gathered the next day. There is only one way to gather that food, and that is through the active seeking to eat. If you are seeking to eat, then you must open up the Word of God, you must consider His Things, you must prayerfully submit to His leadings, and you must separate yourself from the world and embrace the things of His Spirit.

This is an important, and often neglected, part...when He sets that food before us, we must eat it all! We must not glance at the clock and worry about fixing the next dinner! We must not hurry through the process to attend to worldly matters. Every morsel of food that is given us by the Holy Spirit has come from the LORD God, and is glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ; every morsel should be valued highly, and respected completely.

“13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.” (John 16:13-15 KJV)

When we hurry with our meal, and leave crumbs behind, is it not an insult to the provisions given by Him? We make always make sure we clean our plates completely, and give thanks before and after we eat!

Kathy L. McFarland

Separating Light from Darkness

God did not create light and darkness. The LORD God made light, and then divided the darkness from it.

3 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5 KJV)

This is an important concept, because it shows the process that occurs with born-again believers as they receive enlightenment and illumination through the Holy Spirit.

It was when the LORD God was actively moving across His beloved waters, when light was created; possibly He had contemplated to the point of natural desire to see more within His Creation or maybe through His moving upon the water He received enlightenment that created light automatically from His absolute Being. Certainly, we will not be able to grasp that exact moment when God was moving upon the waters and in one moment light surged into creation and illuminated His makings.

This surge of light was good. By God analyzing its goodness suggests that it was not something planned and known prior to its creation, but rather appeared through God’s making, and caused Him to examine it. When He examined it closely, he saw it was good, and he saw that it contained darkness.

He divided the light from the darkness, and in the large scheme of revelation, He called the light Day and the darkness Night, and that was the first day of His Creation.

However, that very act of creation of Day, and the separation of darkness from it, bringing night, can be applied to a deeper understanding of light and darkness. Light is created, darkness is separated from it.

Light illuminates and enlightens. Darkness covers and hides the ability to understand. In the light of day, there is understanding and perception. In the darkness of night, there is ignorance and adversity.

Throughout the Word of God, Light and the darkness that is separated from light, is represented symbolically, typologically, and literally. Specifically for this discussion, however…

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5 KJV)

“But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV)

“19 ¶ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21 KJV)

“1 ¶ Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-7 KJV)

As you all are aware, this is just a small sampling of proofs that those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ walk in the light, and receive knowledge and understanding through the Holy Spirit moving within us. Those who do not have the Holy Spirit, are in darkness, and no amount of study or smarts will get them any closer to His Truth. It takes the Holy Spirit within believers, guiding them to truth, by separating the darkness from the light, and allowing it to illuminate and enlighten according to His Will.

Kathy L. McFarland

The Conversation between the Upper Room and the Intimate Prayer

In John 17, Jesus Christ is saying a prayer, and it is evident that it is not in the Upper Room with a crowd of people. He is not talking to “them” about anything, but rather is talking to the LORD God in an impassioned and intimate prayer, that at most was heard by John.

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.”

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare [it]: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:1-26 KJV)

Dr. Elmer Towns, Liberty University, suggests that this intimate prayer took place inside the Holiest of Holies within the Temple. I respectfully disagree with his opinion; I find it impossible for his words to be recorded by John, if he indeed prayed them inside the Temple. If John were in the Temple with Him, he would have died from the glory of the LORD. If John were outside the Temple, he would not have heard the prayer, and be able to record it. Because no other Gospel writer captured this intimate prayer in detail, the most revealing and important prayer that Christ has prayed in front of a witness, then no one else witnessed it.

One then must conclude that at some point, Jesus prayed a very impassioned prayer that was intended for the ears of God and not for the ears of man. John Calvin believes that the conversation with his disciples, including this prayer, took place in the Upper Room (Calvin 106,163). However, if that were the case, this intimate prayer would have been recorded in other writings; also, it would have been the first time in the Word of God that Jesus Christ communed with His Father with such deep spiritual conversation with His Father in the presence of others. Merrill Tenney links this prayer with the upper room transition period as the most likely spot that this prayer was said (Tenney 161). However, it seems unlikely that such a significant moment of Christ’s deepest prayer could happen so casually among gathered disciples.

Instead, I believe that Jesus Christ went to a place of peace. He prayed to reach His Father in the most intimate and peaceful of settings. He only needed to connect, to climb a spiritual mountain and seek after the LORD God. He did that, by looking to Heaven with his eyes, which placed his soul on the mountain, away from his body and away from his human nature and away from this life. This is so important! He was vulnerable! His soul communed with God, but his body was unprotected.

He asked Peter, James and John to watch...to guard his vulnerability because he had no safe mountain to climb...and he had the deepest of prayers to speak. They slept...but before John's eyes closed (Holy Bible Matthew 26:26-46), he heard one of the most powerful prayers recorded in the Bible, and snippets of that prayer are recorded in the Gospels, with the most personal and greatest accounting recorded in John 17:1-26.

I am firmly convinced of this fact; such a deep and intimate prayer of the Son of God being spoken to His Father at the most crucial time in the History of Man would not be done in front of a group of witnesses. Thus, if the prayer was spoken in the Garden, then the time between chapters 14 and 18 in the John reflects the walk to the Garden. I have no problem connecting chapters 14-16 with the conversation between Jesus Christ and his disciples as they journeyed to Gethsemane. However, to suggest that the prayer was said anywhere but the Garden, confuses the known nature of Christ and his relationship in prayer to His Father.

So, to me there is no difficulty as the chapters 14-16 of John record the journey to the Garden, and Chapter 17 records the beginning prayer in the Garden, and Chapter 18 is when his prayer has ended. The only confusion then becomes the confrontation place of Judas. Jesus crosses back over the brook Cedron, either into another garden or part of the bigger Garden of Gethsemane that was familiar to Judas as a favorite place of Christ (Holy Bible John 18:1). Matthew 26:47 indicates that the transition from the prayer in the Garden to the confrontation with Judas was quick; thus, the meeting must have been very close to the actual Garden. Certainly, this creates some difficulty in bringing the location of the Garden together with the location of Judas’s kiss of betrayal. However, this difficulty does not corrupt our known nature of Christ and is relationship with the Father. It is a more palatable difficulty for me than the interpretations of those suggesting the prayer took place in front of the disciples in the Upper Room or in the Holiest of Holies where no one would have witnessed or even the spur-of-the-moment reflections of Jesus along the path to the Garden.

Works Cited
Calvin, John. Calvin's Commentaries. Vol. XVIII. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005. 22 vols.
Holy Bible. The King James Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1988.
Tenney, Merrill C. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981.

Kathy L. McFarland

The Most Perfect Tabernacle

Hebrews 9:11-12 is the perfect Scripture to answer the symbolism underlying the Feast of Tabernacles. The tabernacle of old that was with the Israelites in the Wilderness and formed upon brick and law was replaced by the perfect most Tabernacle of Jesus Christ. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. (Holy Bible, Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV)

However, there is a deeper symbology within the expression of the ideas celebrated in the Feast of Tabernacles. It is the journey of the Israelites in the Wilderness that is remembered with the Feast, as they take refuge in temporary shelters together, and share their memories of the days of wandering through the wilderness for forty years.

The Jews, even today, recall the providence of the LORD God, as He led them by His light in both the day and night (Exodus 13:21), just as Jesus Christ leads his followers with the brightest light of God. It was at the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus presented himself as this “light of the world,” as great candles lit up the courtyards filled with tents every night (Tyndale, 202). This light of Christ was shared amongst his followers, and became illumination for the lost to find their way to God (Matthew 5:14-16).

We must remember that the wilderness journey tested the obedience of the Israelites, as Moses promised God’s protection, while they doubted His promise in their thirst. It was the striking of a rock in Horeb that water flowed freely to His people as a direct proof of His omnipotent provisions. This freely flowing water is increased through the foundation of Jesus Christ, as his living waters bring healing and salvation to his believers through the Word of God (Jer. 17:13-15). The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles remembers the tents, the water, and the light that sustained them through the harsh conditions of their wilderness travels.

Interestingly, the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated with a daily ritual where two priests turn their face toward the west and say, “Our fathers when they were in the place turned toward the east, and they worshipped the sun toward the east; but as for us, our eyes are turned toward the Lord (Tyndale, 219). Yet, it is their turning of their backs on Jesus Christ as he announced his identity as Messiah in these festival days that marks the occasion yearly. The perfect Tabernacle has revealed Himself, yet they continue to turn their back on Him, in their imperfect worship of God. By banishing Christ from their presence, the wicked priests and scribes retain possession of the outward temple; but they are greatly deceived, when they think that they have a temple in which God does not dwell” (Calvin, 363).

Jesus celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, and adhered to the laws of celebration that the LORD God demanded (Lev. 23:33-44) Calvin suggests that since Christ was subject to the Law, in order to redeem us all from its bondage, he wished to omit no part of the observation of it (Calvin, 282). Certainly, Christ’s adherence to Law offered him an opportunity to advance the Gospel and spread the news that the perfected tabernacle was now in their presence.
As the Palm branches are waved by the Israelites, rejoicing before the LORD God during this seven day feast, one is reminded of another time when the rejoicing was expressed in similar
manner. Christians celebrate the arrival of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem on the week beginning the expression and sacrifice of his passion, by waving palm branches themselves, to remember as the multitude of old spread their garments and branches from the trees in his path, as he rode the ass into their presence as King (Matt 21:7-9) So the very celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles that the Israelites hold each year to remember their journey through the wilderness, is recognized by Christians as the celebration they express in their worship of the LORD God through the most perfect Tabernacle of Jesus Christ.

Works Cited:

Calvin, John. Calvin’s Commentaries: John, Vol. XVII. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 2005.

Kruse, Colin G. The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: John. England: Inter-Varsity Press. 2003.

Holy Bible: The King James Study Bible. Trans. King James Version. Liberty University. Thomas Nelson. 1988.

John: The Most Jewish and Mystical Fourth Gospel

Israel Abrahams, the distinguished Jewish scholar, believed that “But for St. Paul's attitude of hostility to the Law, but for the deep-seated conviction that the Pauline Christianity was a denial of the Jewish monotheism, the Jew might have accepted much of the teaching of Jesus as an integral part of Judaism (Abrahams). His statement “To us Jews, the Fourth Gospel is the most Jewish of the four” shines light to the connection of the Jewish belief and mysticism to the Book of John and the possibility for influence to the Jewish reader.

Abraham’s startling declaration, that claimed the Book of John to be more Jewish, was made in a paper read to the Theological Society in 1923 or 1924. This claim ran contrary to everything scholars had been saying concerning the nature of the two books for a generation (Neill).

Specifically, Abrahams might have been speaking of three distinct themes contained within the fourth Gospel, the Book of John (Kruse).

1. The Old Testament references and allusions. ( John 10, Ezekiel 34; 3:14)

2. The expression of deep understanding of the symbolism intertwined with Jewish festivals which Jesus’ spoke (Tabernacles - John 7) (Dedication - John 10:22-39)

3. Jesus using the argument of rabbi’s to debate the Jews (John 5:31-47)

Although these three focuses identify a part the Jewish nature of the accountings, it probably does not explain Abraham’s analysis completely. One must surely consider the mystic nature of both the writings and the author of John with his focused symbolism and number usage throughout the text.

While the Book of John might well reflect the Jewish traditions and symbolisms, it still remains a powerful tool to teach the Word of God to a new convert. The focus on the doctrine of Christ with consideration to the power he receives from the LORD God as his life, teachings, crucifixion and resurrection unfold, assures the newly converted of certain salvation. John Calvin says that while the first three gospels “exhibit his [Christ’s] body, John exhibits his soul (Calvin).” What better way to teach a new soul the things of Christ, than to use a book written by a mystic follower of Christ, whose focus on the inner things mattered greatly and were expressed so deeply by John. While the accountings of specific events as reflected in the other three Gospels matter also to Christians, the Book of John touches our souls, and allows us to connect to our Savior and our Lord in the deepest of ways.

Works Cited:

Abrahams, Israel. The Project Gutenberg EBook of Judaism. 10th ed. 24 Aug 2008
<>.

Calvin, John. Calvin’s Commentaries: John, Vol. XVII. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 2005.

Kruse, Colin G. The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: John. England: Inter-Varsity Press. 2003.

Neill, Stephen and Tom Wright. The Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861-1986, 2nd ed.
Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1988.

Creation and Science: Interpreted Correctly, They Agree!

Both the Bible and the most up-to-date scientific research agree on several points. We exist...the world and universe exists...and something made them exist. When you realize that nothing can create nothing (even in the most scientific of experiments where atomic and genetic matter is manipulated to become something else) then you must look for something to cause the existence that both the Believers in God and the worldly reasoners of scientific inquiry know must exist.

Some Believers suggest that there is no scientific proof that the age of our universe is as old as Science proclaims. They point to a faulty system of measure, that was originally based upon a faulty starting point; thus the universe cannot be nearly as old as stated. Many Believers have problems with the "six days of creation" conforming to the scientific claims of a universe that is billions of years old.

Logically, if one does not have the exact substance with a known age of a billion years, then one has to guess as to the age of different things. But let's say that some certainty can exist as to the age of the universe according to scientific application. The Believers position does not suffer from this billion-year age attached. Just as when we speak of the "Day of the Comet" or the "Day of Infamy" or the "Day of Dinosaurs," is the same way the Hebrews used the word "day" when they recorded the Word within the first Bible. Sometimes "day" in Hebrew meant twenty-four hours, and sometimes "day" in Hebrew meant very long, definite times. Since Science cannot confirm exactly the age of the universe, and Believers cannot confirm exactly the period that is spoken about in Genesis, then there is room for agreement by both sides.

There are at least 41 features of the earth and the solar system that must be just right, or life could not have ever existed. Logically, our fine-tuned universe was ordered by a Creator who caused all parts to operate exactly together. Take a simple watch, and break it with a big hammer, placing the parts in a bag. As the bag is shaken, what are the odds that the watch will come back together and state the correct time? Much simpler odds than would be required for the universe to come together randomly and form life in an accidental combination of particles to form life. That randomness is a big problem for scientists to explain to Believers in a convincing and reasoned way, and most don't even attempt.

The Creation of Man is where Believers get it as wrong as the Scientists. Even the Bible speaks of God's pleasure as He watched His Creation evolved; a development that grew to delight Him so much that He Created the life after the pattern of that evolution. Once Believers realize that God's Creation of everything, even as it evolved, is still His creation. However, everything that evolved up to His active creation of man, was a creation of life without His breath placed within. His Hands created everything that exists. His breath was placed in His Created Man. Realization of that, allows the creationists and the evolutionists to reach a common ground that supports both belief systems.

On the other hand, Science has jumped to great speculation concerning the workings of evolution. While evidence exists that changes evolve within a species, there is absolutely no evidence that species evolve into others. Huge gaps between fossil records of advanced species, coupled with the fact that no new species show up ever, in spite of a concentrated effort to locate them, does not bode well for the hypothesis of the speculating scientists. Since the creative works of the LORD God ceased after the seventh day of creation, no new species has ever shown up to replace those lost to extinction. In fact, we lose more to extinction every day. Rather than the word "evolution" being used to describe changes since the beginning of Creation, it might be more appropriate to describe these differences as "de-evolution," since that is the process that can be proven in science today. The perfect creation of the LORD God has de-evolved since the beginning, and will continue that de-evolution until all things are made righteous and restored upon the New Heaven and New Earth.

I know I have made many unsupported statements that I cannot defend because I am not a scientist. However, I have made many statements today, that I can defend, because I am a teacher of the Word of God. For the things of Science, listen carefully to the experts and make them prove the things they say. For the things of God, listen carefully to the experts and make them prove the things say.

My proof is in the Bible, in the account of Creation in the first few chapters of Genesis. I have done a detailed study of "The Creation of Light, Heavens and Earth, Seas, Sun, Moon, and Stars"
and "The Evolution and Making of Natural Life Common Man and the Creation of Spirit Filled Man in the Likeness of the LORD GOD." Check those out for my proof, and make the Scientist prove the things he can; interpreted correctly both Creation and Science can agree!

Kathy L. McFarland

The Value of a Dead Man in Tokyo, and the Mona Lisa

Years ago, I was walking in Tokyo’s Ueno Park, and a dead man lay upon the sidewalk. Apparently deceased, with rigor mortis setting his joints solidly, the view was surreal as his well-pressed suit arm was raised as if he was reaching out to pedestrians to shake their hands, and to be noticed lying upon the crowded sidewalks. As one walker after another approached the decaying body of the dead, but apparently affluent man, their direction of travel would be diverted slightly with an even slighter glance, and they would walk past him without horror or care. This tender and focused culture shocked me with their indifference to one of their own laying dead upon the sidewalk, and wisely discerning it best to act as the culture I was visiting, I walked on to my destination.

I had ridden the crowded Tokyo subway for one reason…to see the “Mona Lisa” which was on loan to the Ueno Art Museum. Shaken from the shock of a culture’s lack of care toward it’s dead, my emotions were running up and down like a roller coaster by the time I had entered in the museum. As I walked passed the statute of Rodin’s “The Thinker” (either a copy, or maybe also loaned to the museum), I marveled at the Japanese artists that surrounded the statue on all sides, with easels and oils capturing the artist’s views. Every painting was different, and every sketch with a perspective of the artist that changed as I walked the circle.

The crowd began moving toward the gallery where the famed “Mona Lisa” was attached to the center, lit wall of a grand hall. It was the only picture on display, and the lines of people there to see it slowly moved past, stopped often and gave reverence to a surprisingly tiny painting, and the scene reminded me of state funerals of a society’s beloved. More often than not, the stoic Japanese, both men and women, would pause for a moment in front of the picture, and you could see their breath exhale in an escape of extreme moving, and tears would form in their eyes. Anticipation enveloped me as I watched them, and as I approached the painting, I excitedly waited to feel the same thing.

It was my turn to stand in front of the famous painting of the woman who did not smile. Nothing happened. I had no tears, I had no release of extreme pleasure, nor did my soul leap. The painting mattered nothing to me. What mattered to me, is that a dead man was lying upon a sidewalk, and I had walked past him to pleasure myself with a beauty that culture has declared with value. It had no value to me, but the drama of a human life that lay dead on a sidewalk in the busy Tokyo street was valuable to me; and that was where I returned to wait for help to come, and I stood watching and valuing a life that I did not know, but surely must have had value because it was created by my Lord.

I am actually a little ashamed that I didn't realize my values immediately and stop in the first place. I have all kinds of excuses...I was young, I was in a foreign culture and felt a little lost, excited to reach my destination, and I suspect I probably had a little voice reminding me that "he was dead anyway, what could I do."

By returning and standing by the body until authorities removed it, I hope I was at least offering contemplation to the value of life. Certainly, the U.S. Embassy and my commanding officers had to consider my values when they got a bill for the burial expenses of the man I had discovered. Apparently, Japanese tradition charges those who last have control of a dead body for burial fees. By me standing over the body in declaration of my values, his value became the United States responsibility.

Regardless of the trouble that came my way, inside my own soul, it made a difference, and I gotta believe that it made a difference to some passerby, or some military finance officer, or maybe to someone I tell the story to. My love for art continues, and I jump at chances to go to museums. My value for art, however, does not take precedence over my values of Christ, and that was a lesson I learned in the strangest of ways in my young faith, in the busy city of Tokyo.

How do citizens of a powerful nation speak of such high ideals, while at the same turning a blind eye to the lower end of a culture's spectrum?

I know I betray my Republican Conservatism, but if we do not start focusing more on the social issues in our country, and start standing up for the homeless, lost, orphans, widows, disabled, and crazy, then we are going to lose ourselves. We can have the greatest works of art produced in our country, the smartest books, and most entertaining movies, but if we don't start looking at real life and reflecting the impoverished with reality rather than illusion, our culture will one day die a pathetic death.

We must value life over illusion. There are three natures to the travel of light...the reflection, the transparent, and the absorption. For so long, light shined upon the things wrong in our country is absorbed with a brighter light of better things changing focus. As part of a Christian culture, we must shine the light of Christ to illuminate reality, and make it shine in focus and transparency, so the value of life matters once again.

Kathy L. McFarland

1 ¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; {assembly: Gr. synagogue}
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: {in…: or, well, or, seemly}
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? {of the: or, of that}
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? {blaspheme: or, revile, or, slander}
8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. {he that: or, that law which}
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. {rejoiceth: or, glorieth} (James 2:1-13)

Betrayal brings wickedness and Satan's control

Everybody that loves and respects me and desires to be in my life knows four certain things about my nature…

1. I forgive seventy times seven as Jesus instructs when a person with contrite heart asks

2. No matter what you have done, I continue to love and pray for you

3. Betrayal and rejection are the things that cross my line; when that line is crossed I remove myself from your life and consider that you have chosen a plan of wickedness.

4. If you are wicked, you will be excluded from my presence until you repent, confess and return toward your walk with Jesus Christ

Now many of you "soft hearts" will start hollering that it doesn’t sound too Christian to turn away from family. However, family doesn’t betray; enemies do. Betrayal means that you purposely bring treachery within the relationship with the intent to harm, in the guise of love and caring. To me, and to those I am closest to, betrayal is just about the worst thing you can do. A Trojan horse of love with the hidden wickedness preparing to pounce, leaves a soul untrusting, shaken and vulnerable and the rape of betrayal places a Christian in dangers that are often not even planned. Now before you judge me too harshly, consider the betrayal of Jesus Christ.

“21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.” (John 13:21-27 AV)

By this time at the Last Supper, Jesus knew many things that were to come that would lead to His Crucifixion. The one thing that troubled his spirit was his betrayal. Sometimes when we examine the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we focus on the spitting and beatings at the hands of the Roman soldiers; often we revisit the horrible pains of hanging upon the cross, or his innocent blood shed as he bore the world’s sins upon his body. These things are worthy and righteous to reflect upon.

However, take a moment and consider the troubled heart of Jesus when one of his beloved disciples betrayed him with purpose by a kiss. By just intending to betray, Judas gave entrance of Satan into his body and control of his spirit from then on. One can sense the utter sadness of Jesus as he realized his loved one would betray and reject both his teachings and his love. Betrayal is wicked, and it gives Satan control. Just as surely as Jesus instructed Judas “That thou doest, do quickly,” is just as surely as I tell others who choose to reject my teachings and love. What you do, do quickly, and know with certainty, that at the moment of intent to betray, Satan and his vehicle will be barred from my presence and the presence of my loved ones until repentance is at hand.

Kathy L. McFarland

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (Luke 12:51-53 AV)

Are women second-class Christians in the Kingdom of God?

A young convert has come to me with a question about a seeming conflict of scripture passages. I'm not sure how to address this; I can surely use your input. These are the passages: 1Cor.14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 1Cor.11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. Gal.5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. God's blessings, Janice.

Let's start with 1 Cor 11. Notice how there are different outward standards for the man and the woman. Paul makes the point that regardless of the outward differences between men and women, there is no differences in their spirits. The reason he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians was because of the division within the church. His words to the Corinthians are often interpreted incorrectly by well-meaning but mistaken fundamentalists who suggest a significant division between men and women. Actually, it is the reverse; Paul is trying to heal the division; interestingly, he actually states the equality of womens' spirits to mens' by cautioning them to cover their heads in church.

In 1 Corinthians 11:10, the Greek word exousia means (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:— authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. It is a powerful word that represents a woman's spirit, and she must cover her head for one reason...to avoid confusing the angels during worship. If her head is uncovered, she reflects the glory of the man, the man reflects the glory of the LORD God. Both reflections are of the same nature, and the angels are unable to distinguish between the two reflections. (1 Cor 11:7).

Paul stresses the equality of sexes, but distinguishes differences in their functions. Men and women have different responsibility and accountability, but neither sex is superior to the other. Paul is encouraging the divine order of things that is the shadow of the relationship between the LORD God, Jesus Christ, and the Church. It is that relationship that is stressed when men and women's natures or position in the Kingdom of God are compared. However, (this is so very important to understand), when the Bible speaks of the "Man" or "Men" of God, in most cases they are speaking of Women of God also.

God doesn't think of women as second class Christians, and he doesn't forbid them from coming to Him, standing strong in faith, walking forward toward Him, or accomplishing great works in His name. In fact, some of the strongest Christian works of past history are accomplished by women, and glory has been brought to Him as a result of their efforts.

It is confusing for the women of today to understand why they would be excluded from preaching in the churches. Many women rebel against this restriction, and with a "I'll show the world I can preach as good as a man" attitude, bull their way forward, and accomplish good things when judged from the standards of men, but lacking when measured with His Word.

It all boils down to the Will of God, and His Ways. His Word has prohibited women from speaking in churches (especially with regards to prophesy, speaking in tongues and interpreting within the church from an authority position) (I Cor 14:34-35). But notice the power of women outside the Church Office of deaconed managers. Watch how they raise the preachers to preach, and write the books that lead the saints, and stand firm against tyranny and persecution. Marvel at the women who balance life and provide a foundation of Jesus Christ for their families and friends in the midst of turmoil and strife.

Women are beloved by God, and used by Him. The simple restriction prohibiting holding an authority office within the church, is balanced with extra opportunities to serve Him, that a man would never be able to achieve...

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:10-31)

The Word of God is clear on the virtue of righteous women, and the power of spirit that is equal to men, and a faith that is so strong it upholds the spiritual lives of those He brings to her. Christian women must not get too caught up in jealousy or feelings of unworthiness because of the few prohibitions contained specifically toward them in the Word of God. The opportunities of spiritual service and opportunity far exceed the few restrictions that God has placed upon women, as His Will and Ways are expressed through His Word.

Kathy L. McFarland

What does prophecy in Scripture mean exactly?

Student's Question..."Can I know what Prophecy exactly mean, It is said Saul Prophesied with a company of prophets , It is also said King David appointed Prophets( Can somebody appoint Prophets ?),It is also said that the spirit of Moses was poured on 70 elders who prophesied (What did they prophesise about) Kindly give me some detailed description of what is prophecy and what they mean in different passages of the Bible."

You have asked a general question and many specific questions. As you probably are aware by now, Becker Bible Studies Teachers start with big concepts and work down to very specific explanations; in fact, our studies bring focus to the smallest points of Scripture to reach deep understanding and mysteries that is normally overlooked in the study of general Scripture.

As tempted as I am to explain the specific instances that you bring up, I would be doing you a disservice. Because your questions begin with a lack of knowledge of what a Prophet really is, lets start there. This will be a large lesson in itself. Then if you are still interested in going deeper, write me another letter, and we will take it from there. By the way...welcome to Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians!

Definition of Prophecy

The word "prophet" derives from the Greek word "to announce." A prophet of the LORD God spoke His words. The prophet spoke the words of God, not his own. He was a mouthpiece which God declared His message to men.

Now prophecy has both a broad and a narrow meaning. The broad meaning can be defined as to "forth-tell", and the narrow meaning means to "fore-tell."

Often in today's spiritual gatherings, especially in the Pentecostal churches, the broad meaning of prophecy is common, as they "forth-tell" the messages they believe the Holy Spirit is revealing to them. A good way of understanding the general from the specific is to realize that forth-telling involves knowing the Will of God, and "fore-telling" contains insight into the future plans of God. Forth-telling challenges and exhorts men to accomplish the Will of God, fore-telling predicts the future and prepares the believer for the things to come.

The specific meaning of prophecy as used in Old Testament times, is much more limited in nature...it actually meant that the LORD God was speaking through certain men prophets, and giving them special words to deliver that would "fore-tell" things that were going to happen in the future. It is these supernatural predictions that both strongly prove that the Bible is the Word of God, and also provide the framework for the things to come that Christians must watch for.

Old Testament Prophets

There are 17 "writing" Prophets books in the Old Testament.

The five major prophecy books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Daniel, and Ezekiel.

The twelve minor prophets include Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Most of the writing prophets fit into II Kings, Jeremiah’s Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel, however, come during the seventy-year captivity; Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi prophesied after the captivity during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The Purpose of Old Testament Prophecy

The books of prophecy stress the future messianic life of Israel. They proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ as the coming King (Zech 9;9), the "Anointed One" (Daniel 9:26) the "Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:6) and the "Son of Righteousness" (Mal 4:2.) They tell about Jesus Christ dying (Isa 53, and reigning forever (Isa 9:7.) Old Testament Prophets announce Christ's birth by a virgin (Isa 7:14), in the city of Bethlehem (Mic 5:2), His Crucifixion (Zech 12:10), and His coming kingdom (Dan 2:44; 7:13-14)

The books of prophecy look forward to Jesus Christ as the coming Messiah. Old Testament prophecy accurately predicts the unfolding Will of the LORD God, because it is His words given to His chosen prophets to reveal. Jesus Christ is the center and the spirit of every prophecy spoken by the LORD God through His prophets. The anticipation of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament through prophecy became the realization of Christ in the New Testament through witness.

Four hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, prophecy stopped. This period of quiet is known as the "silent years" when God did not speak through the Prophets of Israel, but rather began the work on the Gentiles to prepare them “when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son.” (Gal 4:4)

The rest of the story becomes Prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of the LORD God, whom was existent before the creation of the world. (John 1:1.) Prophecy is the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Kathy L. McFarland

Kairos - In God's Appointed Time

Almost every living soul has moments of Kairos - instances where a person is so dramatically overwhelmed with life events that time stands still and is no long relevant. When the things of common, normal life cease, and a person's focus is directed on one defining, specific, notable and special moment that has deep significance to him, as life itself is put on hold, and the drama of kairos unfolds.

Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the "right or opportune moment." It is used to define a specific time that exists in between regular time ("Chronos"); a moment of undetermined period of time in which something unique and special happens. A watershed moment that affects every aspect, forever more, of the person's life, and is measured with the nature of time that is defined by quality rather than quantity. It's the experience of time that occurs between the clicking seconds and moving hands; time stand stills as life unfolds and takes eternal significance. When our loved ones die, it happens. When we are faced with a truth that is so horrific that our normal minds can hardly grasp, it happens. When we are faced with a life change beyond our control, when our souls are overwhelmed with sadness and lostness, when change abruptly comes to us unawares, the time of kairos transcends the defined time of man.

Time is elusive to mere mortal man. We have measured it since ancient time with the sun and the seasons, and as our minds developed so did our timepieces. It was only in the twentieth century, when the thoughts of brilliant minds speculated that our timepieces were not as reliable as the sun the we circle. Albert Einstein thought it possible for time travel, and others thought with him to a place in space where his hypothesis might be proven true. Scientists measured the atomic clock of an airplane traveling around the world with one set firmly upon the ground, and found a loss of time in the airplane. Soon, exacting mathematic calculations were perfected for the measurements in space as the speed of light was correlated with time, and the movement of both more deeply understood.

We know that if an astronaut flew 2 1/2 years at the speed of sound into space, then turned his spaceship around, and flew back to earth in another 2 1/2 years, then five years would have been lived by the astronaut. But, when he exited his spaceship, 31 years would have past on earth, and he would have traveled to his past. Time travel is not an imagination, but a relevant and possible truth, that is now in the forefront of scientific exploration than ever before.

The LORD God is omniscient and knows all things, a truth that all believers in Him are certain. The Calvinist would argue that it makes no difference in human freedom, because there is no choice in the end, since He knows all and chooses life to occur according to His Will only. The Scientist might declare the success of evolution to define life in the time of man. The Atheist might conclude that life is to be lived now, with no consideration of time be given.

What if our newest understandings of time were applied to the ways of our LORD God. What if the aspect of kairos was the movement of God Himself, as the defining moments in life are without the restriction of time? What if His Will is moved and offered to those in the time of kairos, and the decisions to accept His way forever joined to Him through time eternal? What if it was Him that stopped time for our souls, to allow us to face the horrific, confusing, difficult, trying, emotional, life-changing events to give us an opportunity to reflect, analyze and respond with clear mind and intent?

The Word of God speaks of times of kairos.

In the defining moment for the world, when time surely must have paused and the most life-changing event of the Gospel began...

“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)

Time was fulfilled, and for a moment, the time of Kairos was at hand. Life hushed and time stood still as the Son of God began his ministry that would lead to the fulfillment of His Father's Will.

In fact, we are warned by our Savior in how to respond when the time of Kairos comes upon our spiritual recognition at the beginning of End Times.

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by.” (Luke 21:8-9)
We're promised times of Kairos when we need refreshing from the terrible times that involve our natural lives and our separation from God seems so far from Him...
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19)

The mystery of time is able to be explored, understood and known through the deep study of His Word. The Kairos word is used 81 times (Strong's Hebrew - #2540) in the New Testament Bible, and in each instance, we realize through our studies that it is a time stopping event, a significant and special adjustment of time, made by the LORD God Himself to move His Will at the beat of His Timepiece.

The LORD God is all knowing, and His Nature of Omniscience possible because time does not contain, control, nor move Him. He is the God of Time, and moves it according to His Will.

Kathy L. McFarland

In the beginning was the Word

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4 av)