“This is the written account of Adam’s family line.” -Genesis 5:1 The first family tree strikes us as odd for one major reason–the people are really, really OLD. In fact, some of the names listed reach over 900 years of age, something unthinkable in modern times. The big question is whether these ages are to be taken literally or whether something else is at work. If they are literal, then the early generations of the earth clearly held some amazing... Read more
1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. -Genesis 4:1-2 God’s order was man, woman, marriage, and now children. The pain of childbearing was included as part of the curse; the joy of having children is a blessing of God. Unfortunately, the first family’s children did not begin... Read more
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” -Genesis 3:13 Genesis begins with God, continues with people, then a serpent, then sin. The world has never been the same. God made a world he called “good,” and created Adam and Eve in his own image. But something went wrong. Very wrong. Adam and Eve were given one rule. They broke it. Then they blamed a snake. But this was no ordinary snake. It talked.... Read more
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh... Read more
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1 The Bible shows no doubt regarding who created the universe: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” These words function as an overarching title to what follows, revealing a single God with a singular mission–to create a universe of his making for his pleasure. Often, interpreters find themselves caught up in elaborate battles regarding the age of the universe or the science involved in the... Read more
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. -Revelation 22:20-22 The New Testament appropriately ends with a vision of God with his people in a new heavens and new earth. Upon the end of the vision, John concludes with saying, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” In these four words, he unfolds three insightful ideas. “Amen.” The word that concludes our... Read more
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.... Read more
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” -Revelation 20:10 Satan’s days are numbered. There will come a day when he, along with the beast and false prophet, will be sentenced to eternal suffering. The good part? Evil is not eternal for the believer. We endure suffering, but only temporarily. The bad part?... Read more
“11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were... Read more
“Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.” -Revelation 18:20 Near the end of God’s judgments upon the earth, Babylon (whose identity many debate, though it is clearly the “bad guy” in the story) is destroyed in a powerful demonstration of the Lord’s power. As a result, there is a call not to mourn, as we might expect, but to rejoice. Why... Read more
Holy Writ
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