The Path to Sunday – Mark Hulme vision.org
In Christian tradition, the shift from Sabbath observance on Saturday to worship on Sunday has deep historical roots, shaped by events and decisions of early Christian councils. The 4th-century Synod of Laodicea, especially Canon 29, declared that Christians should work on the Sabbath and honor Sunday as the Lord’s Day. Those holding onto the seventh-day Sabbath risked exclusion from the Christian community. The Council of…
The Day of Atonement: Removing the Enemy, Reconciling All to God – Mike Bennett lifehopeandtruth.com
The Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur in Hebrew, is the fifth annual holy day listed in Leviticus 23:26-32. It falls on the tenth day of the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar, which varies in our commonly used calendars. The Old Testament rituals for this day are detailed in Leviticus 16, where the high priest makes atonement for the people. In the New…
Holy Days: Trumpets cgg.org
Church members approach various biblical festivals with different moods. Passover and Unleavened Bread invoke somber reflection, emphasizing the sacrifice of God and His Son compared to our imperfection. Pentecost brings a sense of excitement as we consider the arrival of the Holy Spirit to guide us. The Feast of Trumpets, however, is characterized by exuberance as we anticipate Christ’s return and our glorious resurrection. Nevertheless,…
Dante Alighieri and The Divine Comedy – Daniel Tompsett, Donald Winchester vision.org
Dante’s Divine Comedy has significantly shaped the Christian belief in the immortal soul. This epic poem, authored by Dante Alighieri in the 14th century, remains a pinnacle of Western literature, blending theology, history, and allegory. The poem’s setting is Easter in 1300, though it was written over the next two decades. Dante’s exile and his disputes with the Church, particularly Pope Boniface VIII, lent the…
Pentecost Pictures the ‘Firstfruits’ in God’s Plan – Richard H Sedliacik hwalibrary.com
God’s unfolding master plan is visible through the seven annual festivals that represent His salvation plan for humanity. These festivals remind us of our journey to become spirit-born members of His divine family. The Passover marks the start of this plan, reminding us of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. Following forgiveness, we cleanse our lives of sin, symbolized by the Feast of Unleavened Bread….
What Do I Have to Do to Be Heard? – Jeremy Lallier lifehopeandtruth.com
In this world of complex one-sided conversations, reaching those with real power can seem impossible. With billions of people facing unique issues, direct communication with world leaders isn’t feasible. However, collective voices can’t be ignored. Even though marches and protests can’t guarantee change, they demand attention. But more than being heard, we want to be understood and valued. Yet, the ones in power often can’t…
Why Christ Used Parables cogiw.org
In this article, the author discusses the notion of Jesus speaking in parables and why most people were prevented from understanding their meaning. Contrary to the common belief that parables were used to make the message clearer, scriptures indicate that Jesus used parables to obscure the meaning from the majority of mankind. (Matthew 13:10-13 and Mark 4:11-12) Jesus revealed that His disciples – those the…
Five Doctrines Which Identify God’s Church – Gary L Alexander hwalibrary.com
The linked Good News article from 1974 summarizes five key doctrines that are unique to the Church of God, as distinguished from counterfeit teachings of so-called Christianity. They are helpful reminders of the core defining doctrines of the true Body of Christ. PLAN OF GOD The weekly Sabbath and annual Holy Days describe God’s plan for humankind through seven steps and three annual seasons. The…
Seven Signs of the End-Time Antichrist – Wallace G. Smith tomorrowsworld.org
In the linked article, Wallace Smith sheds light on the Antichrist and the Beast Power, significant figures in the biblical prophecy concerning the end times. These powerful entities play a crucial role in the events leading up to the culmination of human history. The Antichrist, a charismatic and deceptive leader, will emerge in the last days, captivating the world with his charm and promising solutions…
Solving Our Conflict with God – Gary Petty churchofgodnetwork.org
The notion that God accepts us as we are and allows us to remain unchanged is false. Our inherent hostility towards God and our inability to submit to His ways ultimately prevent true inner peace without reconciliation. Our hostile nature is often translated in The Old Testament as “abomination,” which means behaviors and attitudes detestable to God. Behaviors described as such include idolatry, homosexuality, witchcraft,…
“We’re Coming for Your Children!” – Scott Ashley ucg.org
In the summer of 2022, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus faced criticism for an online music video in which members sang about indoctrinating children. The controversial lines spoke of converting children subtly; “You think that we’ll corrupt your kids if our agenda goes unchecked. Funny, just this once, you’re correct.”. After the fact, the group claimed it was satire, but the intent behind the…
Knowing – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Throughout Christ’s life He had a single motivating drive and purpose. John summed up that purpose toward the end of his gospel when he said “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God…” (John 13:3) Christ was focused on that pivotal event that would make available an incredible choice…
“He Gets Us” . . . But Do We Get Him? – Kendrick Diaz lifehopeandtruth.com
This article discusses the recently launched “He Gets Us” ad campaign. The stated goal of this campaign is to reintroduce people to the Jesus of the Bible. Unfortunately, the approach that is often taken by these campaigns is to highlight specific traits of Jesus while ignoring the sum total of why He actually came. A watered down version of the Man. This contextually lacking and…
Is There A Secret Rapture Coming? thebiblesaysthat.com
Many Christians mistakenly point to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in support of the idea of a secret rapture. There is a lot packed into these verses but a secret rapture is not one of them. For one, it confirms the biblical teaching that the dead are in the grave and not in heaven or hell, specifically pointing to the dead in Christ – “And the dead…
The Book of Revelation Unveiled podcasts.apple.com
The Book of Revelation seems like confused, fantastical imagery. But it can be understood. While the end-time events it foretells are terrifying, the ultimate message of the book is that God will institute universal peace, prosperity and cooperation over all the earth when Jesus Christ returns. It reveals how this wonderful new world will be established and why it will never be destroyed or superseded…
Implications of the Gospel of the Kingdom – David Grabbe cgg.org
The word gospel means “good news,” but conflicting ideas exist about what that is. Most consider it simply to be that Jesus died for the sins of humanity, which is indeed good news. But the good news that Jesus himself brought was about the Kingdom of God; that is, God’s rulership. God promises to claim rule over all the kingdoms and nations of this world….
The Falling Away – David Grabbe cgg.org
The Apostle Paul prophesied in the Bible about a great “falling away” before Christ’s return, wherein a “man of sin” would be worshipped as god. Sinful men of this type have risen up to lead church congregations to believe lies at various times. Is that what Paul meant? A bigger, more universal event that is unique in history is more likely, because this personality will…
The Problem With Abortion Is Bigger Than Abortion – Jeremy Lallier lifehopeandtruth.com
For most Christians, the contentious subject of abortion has been approached with myopic fervor. The ending of abortion is seen as an end all good on its own. As highlighted by this article and the study it quotes, abortion is just a piece of the puzzle and is the result of a much deeper problem. A published study, that produced ire on both sides of…
Dropping The Ball On New Year Celebrations – Gayle Hoefker ucg.org
For much of the world January 1st is the accepted and celebrated start of a new year. At the stroke of midnight, a new day and new year is brought in with cheers, singing, drinking and fireworks. What could be the harm? Through its pagan roots, its traditions closely tie it to that of Christmas. The problem with these celebrations is that they act as counterfeits…
Christmas: Does It Matter? – Brian Orchard vision.org
Most never question the traditions they keep. For many, their personal enjoyment of a holiday is all the convincing needed in whether they partake in a day or not. Is that enough? For example, are the neatly wrapped and packaged traditions of Christmas, that are enjoyed and loved by so many, enough to embrace a day that’s pagan customs are at odds with the person…