Bible Reader

Revelation 2

  • Perhaps the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah is skipped over by some who would rather not hear its proclamations of judgment: judgment on Judah (Zeph 1); judgment on the Gentile nations (Zeph 2:4-15); judgement on Jerusalem (Zeph 3:1-7); judgment on the nations: “All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.” (Zeph [...]

  • Toriano Mayo wrote a new blog post: Why Do You Try to Save Yourself by Works: Yes You Christians   1 year, 2 months ago · View

    You know, something has been striking me recently as sort of surprising, and really disturbing. There are so many people who claimed they are saved by grace, but then they go on living, as if they were saved by works. We see this same problem in Galatians, and for some reason we think we are far [...]
  • Richard Venable posted an update about Numbers 22-24 in the group AvatarLiveoak Bible Church:   1 year, 8 months ago · View

    Balaam is an interesting character, but this passage is definitely confusing. I think it is easy to just read this passage and think that Balaam is a good guy. He tells Balak he won’t help him, then when he finally goes with Balak, he blesses Israel instead of curses them. Sounds like a good guy. But every other passage in the Bible about Balaam (for instance, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11, Revelation 2:14) speaks of him as very evil.

    So this is one of those passages to me that shows how easily we can totally misread parts of the Bible because we lack the context that the original readers had. It is a reminder of how much care we should put into our reading of the scriptures, and not just read haphazardly.

  • natalie wrote a new blog post: verge conference   2 years ago · View

    i’ve been at the verge conference about missional living for the past few days. it was really good to get my mind more focused on living on mission for Christ and church planting. here are just a few of the many, many take-away points… if you love your mission more than your Savior, your Savior will [...]

  • David V wrote a new blog post: Jesus Rules   2 years, 4 months ago · View

    Though there is much that can be said about Revelation chapter one I’m not wanting to examine it all in depth.  However I would like to point out two things that strike me regarding what John says about Jesus. The first is that he is “the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the [...]

  • David V wrote a new blog post: Revelation: Some Historical Context   2 years, 4 months ago · View

    It is time for me to begin my study of Revelation.  First, I’d like to provide some historical context.  The book itself names the author as John and states that the vision therein occurred on the island of Patmos.  I completely believe that this John is the apostle though I know that this is sometimes [...]

  • Carolyn Anne Venable wrote a new blog post: False Doctrines & Prophets   2 years, 9 months ago · View

    Here’s a new category to add to the previous chart for the seven churches : the false doctrines and/or false teachers that infiltrated the early church. Ephesus was warned against Nicolaitans and false apostles. Smyrna was warned against “those who say they are Jews, and are not.” Pergamum was warned against Nicolaitans, the “teaching of Balaam” and idols. Thyatira was warned [...]

  • Carolyn Anne Venable wrote a new blog post: Seven Churches Chart   3 years, 2 months ago · View

    I love charts because it helps me to see the big picture in a glance. Years ago, I made a chart of the various characteristics of each Church as described in Revelation 2-3. Unfortunately, that style chart doesn’t fit into this blog format so I’ve revamped it somewhat. Because the Lord admonishes us to “hear what the Spirit says [...]