Posted on by Angela

Understanding Biblical Prophecy by Dr. David Jeremiah: review

This was a free download from NetGalley in exchange for a written review. 

This was a 30-day study over the events of the end time calendar. Dr. Jeremiah covered in 30 days the major events surrounding the end of the age. He covered such things as the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, the Seventy Weeks, Armageddon, the fall of Babylon, the Millennium, and many others. Understanding Biblical Prophecy is not intended to cover each of these topics exhaustively, but, rather, to impact the learners living for where they are in their lives now.  

The study is divided into four sections. These include context, reflect, apply, and ahead. In the context section, Dr. Jeremiah sets up the study with background information or details regarding the study topic. It is a short section serving as an introduction to the study. The reflect section consists of four questions intended to drive the study deeper into God’s word and give the learner time to reflect on the content of the study. The apply section also consists of four questions, and these are meant for the learner to apply the study to their own life. How the study can be applied to individual lives today. The ahead section is a summary of the lesson and ends with promise and hope and a glimpse ahead of the next lesson. This format is easy to follow and provides depth in individual or group study. Each study contains a box at the top containing a verse box, and the end of each study contains a closing verse box and a quote from the day’s lesson.  

Questions are thoughtful. The digital version allows availability to answer within the guide itself which is something I had not encountered with a digital study guide, but found to be a great feature. The learner can enter thoughts and answers directly into the guide without needing to have an extra journal, unless of course that is desired. The time needed to complete each day depends on the learner’s time needed to complete the questions for reflection and application but should run fifteen to thirty minutes on average.  

I enjoy Dr. Jeremiah’s publications, and this was no exception. I would gladly recommend this study to anyone who is new to a study of eschatology. This study, Understanding Biblical Prophecy, provides a wonderful introduction to the study of last days with a balanced approach to personal reflection and application.  

I would rate Understanding Biblical Prophecy by Dr. David Jeremiah 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this study to anyone over the age of 16 only because of the level of learning. My hope is that anyone who participates in this study grows more in their understanding of the last days and that their faith will become more certain as we wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

All for One  

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Hope – The First Week of Christmas

Hope. The first candle of advent represents hope. It points us to the birth of Jesus and his promised return. He was the longing of Israel, their Messiah. He lived as a man and died for our sins, for our redemption. He promised to come again. There are many verses in the Old Testament referencing Jesus’s first advent. There are even more concerning his second advent, his return. So, we light this royal purple candle with hope in his second coming.  

Hope is not to be confused with faith. It seems many try to use the words interchangeably. While they are closely related, they are not the same. Faith is present. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith this way: 

Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. 

Faith is the here and now belief of the future. The future is the area of hope. Hope is not wishful thinking. “I hope it doesn’t rain this weekend.” “I hope we have a white Christmas.” Hope is the certainty that what we have put our faith in will come to pass. The writer of Hebrews expresses it this way, 

Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering,  

for He who promised is faithful; 

Hebrews 10:23 

We can proclaim our hope in the promises of Christ and the Bible because we have faith that what he says is true. He does not lie. When he promises salvation to those who call on his name, we can take him at his word and hope in his salvation. Our faith presently is in Him. Our hope is in Him that when we pass from this life, he will take us to be with him.  

So, as the first candle is lit this week, what are you hoping for? What are you expecting? Is your faith in the One who makes your hope certain? Are you treating hope as wishful thinking? Take time this advent season to refocus on the One who makes our hope secure. He came once and promised to come again. Light a candle and hope.  

All for One  

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Third Verse Devotion: Are You Washed

The greatest anticipation of Christians is the return of Jesus. We have been expecting his return since his ascension 2, 000 years ago. I know some might say he is slow in his return, yet Peter already had an answer for that very argument.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

His delay is for those who have yet to believe. The Lord will keep all his promises, including his promise to return. He doesn’t want any to perish in an eternity away from him, so he waits. He gives ample opportunity for unbelievers to come to him in repentance for salvation. One day the clock will run out and he will return. As sure as I type these words, he will return. Our hymn today asks the question, Are you ready?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
and be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When he comes have you done what you needed to in preparation? Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 of the second coming in relation to ten virgins five had extra oil and five did not. When the bridegroom came the hour was late and five virgins trimmed their lamps with their extra oil and went out to meet him. The remainder did not have enough oil. They tried to borrow some from the other five but there would not have been enough for all of them. They were told to go to the market and purchase more. While they were out, the bridegroom came, and the party went in and shut and locked the door. Finally, they came and knocked on the door begging to be let in but were refused. They weren’t prepared, they weren’t ready in advance of his coming.

The second part of the line is “will your robes be white” and harkens to Revelation and perhaps Isaiah. In Revelation chapter 7, John looked and saw a great multitude. Look at Revelation 7:9

…I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands…

John was asked by one of the elders with him if he knew who they were, he answered he did not. The elder responded with,

“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

There is a time coming when a great tribulation will fall on the earth. A man of lawlessness will reign for a short time. Any who profess to believe in Jesus during that time will suffer for their belief like never before. These martyrs for the name of Jesus are the ones who are referred to here. Earlier in chapter 6, John had witnessed those who had been martyred crying for justice. At this time, they were also given a white robe. (Revelation 6:11)

This idea can also be found in Isaiah 1:18,

Though your sins are as scarlet,
They shall become as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be like wool.


When we are covered in the blood of Jesus, we are made new again and made white as snow. Our sins are no more. We will be ready for the bridegroom and our robes will be white. Then we will be ready for the mansion bright. Jesus talks about that mansion in John chapter 14. He has been talking to his disciples about going away to prepare a place for them and he says this,

John 14:2

In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.

The many rooms translated in the New American Standard is often translated mansions in other versions. It means he is preparing a place for us. Whether it is a room or a mansion, he has us in mind, and it will be magnificent. It will be a place beyond our wildest dreams. So, if he has gone to prepare a place for his believers, doesn’t it stand to reason he will come back for them? Yes, he will.

 I don’t know when but someday Jesus will come back for his church until then let me encourage you to be ready. Be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Let your robe be white and be ready for the mansions bright. O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Angela