Tag: Prophecy

Bible Studies

Advent 2025: In the midst of plunder; a promise of peace  

Loring Schultz

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7 NLT – Hope in the Messiah – Nevertheless, – Bible Gateway

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” Isaiah 9:2 NLT

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

A very familiar passage of the coming Messiah is found in Isaiah chapter 9. Part of this passage reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” (kjv) The child Jesus was born. God’s Son Jesus was given for us. This is a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, but not the only prophecy fulfilled in this portion of scripture. There is a backstory we should also glean from it.

The prophet Isaiah was prophesying to the ten tribes of Israel of their coming destruction  by the Assyrian king and his army. Having disobeyed God repeatedly after constant warnings, Israel was now about to be plundered and taken captive by Assyria. But the announcement of their pending doom also comes with a promise of peace. The land will once again be filled with glory. “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.” (Is.9:1 nlt)

Zebulun and Naphtali were the most northern tribes on the northeast border of the Sea of Galilee. Isaiah addressed them as they will be the first ones to encounter the invading Assyrian army. Dark days are ahead of them, but light is coming in the promised Messiah walking and preaching through the land of Galilee. Matthew records this fulfillment of prophecy, “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali…… the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” (Mt.4:15-16 nlt) This same light shines on our dark souls plundered by sin. It is the promise of peace and reconciliation with God through our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. God has fulfilled His promise of peace to us, have you accepted His Son who was given.

A Christian Perspective

2131

Loring Schultz
Photo AI Generated

On this day 30 years ago, history was made in major league baseball. Cal Riken Jr. nicknamed ‘Iron Man’ surpassed the ‘Iron Horse’ Lou Gehrig for the most consecutive games played at 2,131. Gehrig’s record stood for 56 years and never a thought that it would ever be broken, but on a late summer evening in September the record fell and another set for the next ‘Iron Man.’ Riken Jr. continued the streak to 2,632. Many are now saying that record will never be broken, and I agree with that.

Human achievements are celebrated worldwide. ESPN had one the most watched games on the network as it was seen in and outside the United States. President Bill Clinton was in attendance along with other dignitaries and a sold-out Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. All were waiting to witness history in the making when the game became official after the fifth inning. History was made, a great human achievement recognized, celebrations galore, and a new record placed in the history book. But this record like all others in history will not stand forever. There is one who will come to rule that will wash away all human achievements.

Biblical prophecy predicts the future reign of Jesus Christ on the earth in the millennial period. Past achievements may be remembered, but they won’t matter. What will be reality is Christ ruling on the earth in peace and justice with all the glory going to Him. The Bible also says after the millennium there will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev.21:1) It is said records are made to broken and that is true. All earthly accomplishments and records will be broken and vanish forever, even the ‘Iron Man’s.’

Devotionals

The Prophets Have Spoken

Loring Schultz

“And He said to them, ‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?’” Luke 24:25-26 NASB

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

Interest in the return of Christ has peaked again over the last few weeks for many Christians around the world. Tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran have escalated on top of the current crisis with the terror group Hamas. We are living in uncertain times for sure, but only the Lord God knows for sure when the end will come for this world and Christ begins to reign in His kingdom.

Christians can know for certain, and even non-Christians can know that these events will indeed happen. The Bible is filled with all sorts of prophecy concerning what we call ‘the end times.’ A thorough look through the Old Testament gives us a preview of the expected Messiah who was to come and is to come. All the prophecies concerning the birth of Christ has come true. All the prophecies of His death and resurrection have come true. So, there is no doubt the prophecies of the end times ending with Jesus’ reign on earth will also come true.

The New Testament book of Revelation is where most people go to read about those future events. Revelation is a book of prophecy as any in the Old Testament, John himself writes, “And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book:” (Rev.22:18 nlt) In one of Daniel’s visions in the Old Testament is a prophecy of Jesus’ death, “After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing,” (Dan.9:26 nlt) And in the same vision, we have a peak into the much further future of the tribulation, “The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.” (Dan.9:27 nlt) This is a prophecy of the antichrist. We can trust the prophets, for they have spoken. It will certainly come to pass.

Devotionals

Truth Thrown to the Ground    

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 8:9-14 NIV – Out of one of them came another horn, – Bible Gateway

“Because of rebellion, the LORD’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Daniel 8:12 NIV

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

Interpretation of Biblical prophecy is not a subject to take lightly but should be taken it very seriously. Much of Biblical prophecy is hard to understand and explain, but not all of it. God has spelled out future events for us to understand to the best of our ability with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. With that being said, there are many interpretations of Scripture concerning the end times among some of the most gifted scholars and theologians throughout history. Are some right and others wrong? How about you, are you right, are you wrong? The debate goes on.

God gave us the Bible, to understand. If we cannot understand what he wrote to us, then what is the benefit of having it? I concede, not every Christian understands everything in Scripture, but there is enough we can understand with the Spirit’s help. Daniel’s visions of prophecy sound too confusing to comprehend, but that may not always be the case if we think them through. Today’s short reading in Daniel chapter 8 predicts the persecution of the Jews in the second half of the second century B.C. from Antiochus IV the ruler of the Seleucid kingdom. Antiochus’ actions included destroying copies of Scripture and entering the most Holy Place sacrificing pigs on the altar. Some see similarities to antichrist in the last days of the tribulation. This could be true.

What do you know for sure? Daniel 8:12 says, ‘truth was thrown to the ground.’ We know in those last days, as is the case today, the truth of God’s Word will be denied. Christians will be persecuted during the tribulation as they are today, a false god will be worshiped, and truth will be thrown to the ground. So, don’t worry if you don’t understand it all. Rejoice in what you know.

Devotionals

It’s Time to Know Your Future

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 7:1-8 NLT – Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts – Bible Gateway

Photo by Xan White on Unsplash

There was a saying back in the day, ‘if you want to know what the Bible says about the future, just watch the evening news.’ That still applies today by opening our cell phones to our favorite news and information app. If you want to know what the Bible says about the past, just open a history book or watch a documentary on the History Channel. You’ll find history predicted in the Holy Scriptures.

A perfect example is the prophet Daniel’s visions in the Old Testament. Daniel saw a vision of God’s plan for the future kingdoms of the world. First revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar in a dream then revealed to Daniel in a vision for him to interpret it. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue in the form of a man describes four future kingdoms. Daniel, years later, saw a vision of four beasts coming out of the water, all different from one another, and representing the same four future kingdoms.

In reading our text from Daniel we see history unfolding in the prophet’s visions. The first beast was like a lion describing the Babylonian Empire in Daniel’s time, vicious and powerful. The second like a bear with three ribs in its mouth of conquered nations is the Medo-Persian Empire from 539 B.C. – 330 B.C. The third beast Daniel saw was the Greek Empire led by Alexander the Great, 330 B.C. – 63 B.C. in the form of a leopard representing the speed in which he took power. And the fourth beast is unidentified but is a terrifying, dreadful, and very strong beast. The Roman Empire fits this description as the legs of iron in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. History teaches us these events occurred. The Bible teaches us these events were predicted through the prophets before they occurred. Scripture predicts the future with total accuracy. Daniel and the rest of the Old Testament prophets have it all laid out for us in the Bible. It’s time for all of us to know our future.

Devotionals

Matthew’s Gospel; Prophecy Fulfilled 

Loring Schultz

“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” Zechariah 9:9 NLT

            The result of the 2020 Untied States Presidential election is still being disputed some three years later. The media and politicians are labeling those who disagree with the outcome as ‘election deniers.’ The deniers’ rejections are founded on witness statements, number of ballets casts in conjunction with voter rolls, missing ballets, voter machine irregularities, mail-in ballots, and other missteps by election officials. Those who accept the results claim the lack of evidence to irregularities or misconduct proves the election is valid. I suppose it will continue to be disputed for years to come for we live in an imperfect and fallen world, and as much as we try to get things right our fallen nature always gets in the way.

            The gospel of Matthew was written by one of Jesus’s followers, and it bears his name the disciple Matthew. The book’s main purpose is to prove Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, the King of the Jews to a Jewish audience. Just as in our day there were those who rejected Jesus as King, the Jewish Messiah who was to come. We could call them ‘prophecy deniers.’ They rejected Jesus who had been prophesized to come all throughout the Old Testament. The disciple John wrote, “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” (Jn. 1:11 NLT)

            Matthew presented plenty of evidence from the Old Testament in his writing starting with Jesus’s genealogy proving His royal lineage. In Matthew 21 we have an undeniable prophecy seen and fulfilled as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what is known as Holy Week. From the Old Testament book of Zechariah, Matthew records the events from that day which was prophesized years before. “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’” (Mt. 21:5 NLT)

            Though we may have difficulties in our fallen world to find and prove evidence which cannot be disputed, there is plenty of evidence in the pages of the Old Testament proving that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the King of the Jews and the Savior of the world. Will you continue to be a ‘prophecy denier’ if you tend to be one, or will you trust the findings in Scripture which are true and infallible and accept Him as your Savior, Lord, and King.  

Read Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus’ Triumphant Entry, Prophecy Fulfilled: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A1-11&version=NLT