Read Bible for Yourself

In Acts 1:5, 6, we encounter the disciples who were convinced that the resurrected Jesus Christ was about to restore Israel as a kingdom. Some 500 years before this, the armies of Nebuchadnezzar had effectively ended the nearly 500 years old reign of kings in Israel, and exiled the Israelites. Although they returned to rebuild the destroyed temple about half a century later, they never had a legitimate king again. During the time of Jesus, even the Herods who ruled in Jerusalem were considered despots shored up by Rome rather than legitimate sovereigns. The Jews therefore always looked forward to a legitimate ruler described their Scriptures to deliver them.  Jesus indeed is the said deliverer but He was about a kingdom far wider and beyond what was then left of the Promised Land Joshua took. At age 33, He was not about to depose Herod or defeat Rome with His 12 disciples and about 100 or so other followers. Such restoration is clearly what the disciples thought of when Jesus said they

 OR  DIVIDED BY UNEQUAL EMPHASES The Gospel message is so rich and promising that some adherents tend to be mesmerized into sheltering in sections, which they emphasize, creating denominations. Emphases then turn to creeds. There's still nothing wrong with this until creeds demonize other equally essential aspects of the Gospel. James captures this tendency, citing the OT Law, for example: "For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law."(James 2:11 NKJV) Why look down on aspects of the Law, if you live by the Law? Indeed, why look down on aspects of the Gospel, if you live by the Gospel? And indeed, why wilfully transgress the Law or the Gospel, if you believe both to proceed from God? Jesus said: "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; b

BIBLE IN HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY - The Case of King Hezekiah of Judah Extra-biblical sources specify Hezekiah by name, along with his reign and influence. "Historiographically, his reign is noteworthy for the convergence of a variety of biblical sources and diverse extrabiblical evidence often bearing on the same events. Significant data concerning Hezekiah appear in the Deuteronomistic History, the Chronicler, Isaiah, Assyrian annals and reliefs, Israelite epigraphy, and, increasingly, stratigraphy". Archaeologist Amihai Mazar calls the tensions between Assyria and Judah "one of the best-documented events of the Iron Age". Hezekiah's story is one of the best to cross-reference with the rest of the Mid Eastern world's historical documents. Archaeological record A cuneiform inscription mentioning in detail the tribute sent by Hezekiah, king of Judah, to Sennacherib is in the British Museum. A seal impression dating back to 727–698 BCE, reading "לחזקיהו

  THE BIBLE IS BOLD 1. There is GOD who created all things. 2. We HUMANS are created in God's image. 3. We have suffering on Earth because we SIN. 4. The wages of sin is death, so each person needs a sinless SAVIOR. 5. The nation of ISRAEL is God's pioneer missionary group to the world. 6. Out of Israel was born JESUS CHRIST, the only Savior of the world. 7. Some people will imitate or MOCK Christ's work of salvation. 8. This world will end with a JUDGMENT DAY for all who ever lived on Earth. 9. There will be a RESURRECTION to either everlasting life or everlasting contempt. 10. Those who can be saved are those who give up sin and sincerely strive for CHRISTLIKE righteousness. #BibleBriefs365

  HE IS LORD! Jesus According to all the Writers of the New Testament JESUS: You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. John 13:13 NIV David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”' Mark 12:36 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18 NIV You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31‭-‬33 NIV PETER: Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. Acts 2:36 NIV PAUL: and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:11 NIV JAMES: My b

  Marriage is: Home making Companionship Living for others Improving temper Personality building Discovering durability Community leadership Clan and nation building Sharing hopes and fears Good legacy preservation Raising responsible people Forging formidable alliances Trimming unhealthy excesses Unearthing productive capacity Maximizing resource usefulness You can lose all these Usually in revenge Without respect When you just Divorce #DivineRhymes