Who was John The Apostle?

 The Apostle John is an extremely important figure when it comes to our knowledge about what Jesus did and taught.  He is also extremely important in early church history.  He was the son of Zebedee and Salome. His brother was James, who was also one of the Twelve Apostles.  He was ready for anything did the most he could out of his love for Christ. 

Is The Watchtower organization of God?

If a religion completely dependent on who the Watchtower claims to be (sole divinely inspired interpreters of Gods word) conflicts with what is stated in their own bible translation and contain errors in their teachings, can they be of God?  The question really is, if they were found to be false, are their followers truly genuine truth seekers who have the freedom to see it?

The Season of Advent

 Following the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles that remind us of things still to come; Advent reminds us to prepare our hearts to remember who already came and who will come again.  The weeks of the four Sundays before Christmas is known as Advent.  It is an extra-biblical season and by no means is required for Christians to celebrate but is up to the conscience of each person (Romans 14:5–6).  This article will get into the history behind Advent and its meaning.

The End Times P1: Jesus' Outline

The highly discussed and debated issue with in the church and between other religions is the study of The End Times also known as Eschatology.  The Apostles ask Jesus directly.  Right after Jesus tells them Jerusalem will be destroyed (happened in 70AD), they then start to wonder and ask in Matthew 24:3 "...what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”.  There are four predominate theories of how The End Time will happen and in this article we will look at what Jesus revealed first.  Jesus graciously gives us an outline of what will take place before The End Time happen and how it will unfold.

What Did Papias of Hierapolis Teach?

Papias is an important figure in the early church.  He was born around 70AD and died around 163AD.  He was a disciple of John The Apostle and friend of Polycarp who was also a disciple of John and Aristion (one of the 70 apostles).  He helpped lead the church around the same time Ignatius of Antioch was teaching.  He had access to The Apostles, disciples of the Apostles, and other eye witnesses.  He even spoke with the Apostle Philip's daughters in Hierapolis.  His understanding and insights are key influences on the continuation of the person, teachings, and works of Jesus Christ.  Although his writings were lost after the middle ages, they were still preserved in the quotes of other church leaders writings.  His insights have been continued on in the church through Polycarp, Irenaeus, Eusebius and all the other early church teachers.

Jesus, The One Like a Son of Man

Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man; but what does that mean?

For the Jewish people around 25 AD living under the oppression of Rome, they would have known Daniel 7 very well.  They have been taught about their slaver in Egypt, Babylon, and now currently under the rule of Rome.  Daniel 7:13 gave them hope of a coming person; "ONE LIKE a son of man".  This individual was not a man but was LIKE a man and he was coming.  This One like a son of man was given authority and sovereign power over all people and all people will worship him (Daniel 7:14).  After continued slavery by different nations through their history, this individual would usher in a kingdom that would never be destroyed.  This person is the messiah the save them from Roman rule and establish their nation again.

Jesus Is Coming Back!

This is His promise and God is completely faithful to his promises.  Jesus is coming back.  Jesus first came to pay for the sins and ransom all those who believed through history.  He came as the faithful suffering servant of God.  But that wasn't the end of God's revealed plan for humanity.  In the future ordained time He will return to judge the world and rule as king over all creation.  Just as his first purpose was revealed and prophesied in scripture (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7), the second purpose is also (Zechariah 14:4).  Just as the first purpose of coming into the world was perfectly fulfilled (John 1:1-20), the second purpose will be also (Zechariah 12:10) and the whole world will know (Revelation 1:7).

What Will Happen At His Second Coming?

What Happens When We Die

It is the completion of God's plan for those who came to faith in Jesus Christ.  For God, the plan began before the creation of the world, but for the person it began when they were lead to faith by God's Grace in Jesus Christ.  From that moment on, their lives are changed.  Though still with a sinful nature, they are enabled to be free from its enslaving grasp. Free to recognize it, fight it, and empowered to resist.  Free to come to God for mercy, forgiveness, and to receive his Grace, forever.  As they went though life, God continually sanctified them and matured them in faith.  Finally at the end of their life in the world, God will do yet another thing for them: Its called Glorification.  This is our hope that has yet to be revealed.

Statement of Faith: Things to Come

           The blessed hope and literal return of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13), the personal and imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to rapture His saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:2). Will then forever be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-5:2).  The visible and bodily return of Christ to the earth with His saints to establish His promised millennial kingdom (Zechariah 14:4-11;1 Thessalonians 1:10;Revelation 3:10,19:11-16,20:1-6). We believe in the physical resurrection of all men—the saints to everlasting joy and bliss on the New Earth, and the wicked to eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46;John 5:28-29;Revelation 20:5-6,12-13).