The reality of outward trials and inward temptations calls for something more than an initial experience with God. His wisdom is needed every day. Colossians 1:9 records Paul’s prayer for the church of Colossae, a prayer that makes an important distinction. He prays that the Colossians will be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” As … [Read more...] about Plan to Read the Bible in 2020
Bible teacher and pastor Dr. David Jeremiah provides practical tools to study the holy Scriptures and meditate on timeless truths.
Bible
40 Bible Verses for Navigating God’s Promises and Blessings
Second Peter 1:3-11 is a remarkable passage of Scripture. It starts with a promise, ends with a blessing, and lists eight things we need to add to our faith to move from the promise to the blessing. What is this promise? Peter vows that those who intently pursue spiritual growth “will never stumble” on their journey “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus … [Read more...] about 40 Bible Verses for Navigating God’s Promises and Blessings
Will Elijah Return During the Tribulation?
It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but it is also a form of deception. Satan’s fall from heaven was fueled by his desire to be like God (Isaiah 14:13-14). Since then he has counterfeited God’s power in order to deceive mankind. As the Battle of Armageddon draws near, Satan’s trickery will include imitation of God’s signs and prophecies. The Old … [Read more...] about Will Elijah Return During the Tribulation?
What Does the Bible Say About God’s Promises?
We’ve all done it. Maybe we promised to take the kids to the movies, but the show they wanted to see was sold out. Perhaps a traffic jam caused us to miss an important celebration. Or maybe a long overdue coffee date had to be rescheduled because of an illness. We don’t intend to break our promises, but sometimes unforeseen obstacles make it impossible to keep … [Read more...] about What Does the Bible Say About God’s Promises?
10 Encouraging Verses and Devotionals About the Second Coming of Christ
The study of biblical prophecy provides encouragement for today and hope for tomorrow. Knowing that one day our Lord will welcome us to the Holy City with open arms is not just good news, it’s the best news imaginable! I hope you will use these specially selected devotionals as you reflect on that marvelous truth. Day 1: No Condemnation There is therefore now no … [Read more...] about 10 Encouraging Verses and Devotionals About the Second Coming of Christ
34 Scriptures for Understanding and Finding Peace
Samson was betrayed by a beautiful woman. David was hunted by Saul and eventually by his own son. Job lost his family and fortune. All but one of the disciples were martyred. It’s no secret: God’s people experience pain and hardship. How can we be at peace when our world is crashing in around us? The Bible offers wisdom that has the power to steady us in any storm. When we … [Read more...] about 34 Scriptures for Understanding and Finding Peace
Seven Churches of Revelation Bible Study
Rome and the surrounding territories became increasing hostile to Jesus’ followers after His death. According to tradition, every disciple, except one, was martyred for his faith, and that disciple’s fate wasn’t much better—John was exiled to a rocky, inhospitable island called Patmos. During this exile, Jesus Christ spoke to John in a vision. He revealed far-off future events, … [Read more...] about Seven Churches of Revelation Bible Study
7 Biblical Answers for Dealing With Adversity
Perhaps the only thing worse than experiencing adversity firsthand is watching a loved one go through difficulties. What can you do? What should you say? Should you say anything at all? Each circumstance requires sensitivity and prayer. There are no easy answers, but God’s Word provides reliable advice for every situation. Here are a few pointers to get you … [Read more...] about 7 Biblical Answers for Dealing With Adversity
Women in the Bible
Recognizing the Women God Chose to Include in His Story of Redemption Quick—name three women who were prominent in the early days of American history and three who have been prominent in the modern era. From the early days we might note Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Betsy Ross. (Can you name more? See the 2008 book by an influential female journalist, Cokie Roberts, … [Read more...] about Women in the Bible
The True Meaning of Easter and Seven Signs That Jesus Rose From the Dead
Every year thousands of people travel to the Italian Alps to ascend a mountain which passes through the “stations of the cross.” Eventually they come to the foot of an outdoor crucifix, and there they meditate on their faith. One day a tourist noticed a trail leading away from the cross. Determined to find out where it would lead, he fought through all the … [Read more...] about The True Meaning of Easter and Seven Signs That Jesus Rose From the Dead
The False Prophet in the Book of Revelation
A principle of reading and interpreting the prophetic portions of the Bible is that every prophetic event casts its shadow. That means, while the event itself happens in a moment of time, there are shadows of that event which touch those who live prior to the event. For example, the seven-year period known as the Tribulation will officially begin in a single moment with the … [Read more...] about The False Prophet in the Book of Revelation
What is the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation?
There are many events described in the book of Revelation. One of them is the Great White Throne Judgment, described in Revelation 20. The Great White Throne Judgment is an event where those who did not know Jesus as their Savior during their life will come before the Lord and be judged by Christ. Christians will not be judged at this time—they will be judged before that, … [Read more...] about What is the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation?
4 Steps to Reviving Your Faith From John’s Letter to the Church of Sardis
Relying on past success is a recipe for destruction—just ask the city of Sardis. Strategically located on the banks of the gold-laden Pactolus River, Sardis was once the prosperous capital of Lydia’s empire. At its peak, history suggests Sardis’s king Croesus financed construction of the Temple of Artemis—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Croesus’s father, King … [Read more...] about 4 Steps to Reviving Your Faith From John’s Letter to the Church of Sardis
4 Signs of Faithfulness From John’s Letter to the Church of Philadelphia
Modern church life is quite different than life in the early Church, but believers today should emulate the faithfulness of the church at Philadelphia. Christ commended the believers for four principles that are often lost among the practices and programs of modern church culture. Although Christ addressed Revelation 3:7-13 to the church in Philadelphia as a body, His words … [Read more...] about 4 Signs of Faithfulness From John’s Letter to the Church of Philadelphia
3 Ways to Read Your Bible
The American philosopher Mortimer Adler (d. 2001) wrote and edited scores of books, including the 60-volume Great Books of the Western World series. So no one questioned his qualifications when he wrote one of his most popular volumes, How to Read a Book—a guide to getting the most out of any book. If it helps to have a plan for reading books written by human authors, how … [Read more...] about 3 Ways to Read Your Bible
How to Study the Bible
Some students of God’s Word have been reading and studying the Bible as long as I have or longer — more than six decades now. If so, you’ve noticed the same thing I have: Bibles have changed. Not the text of Scripture, but what’s included along with the text has changed. A Ribbon Runs Through It When I was young, everybody pretty much had the same Bible: a large, black, … [Read more...] about How to Study the Bible
4 Lessons From Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
One Man Against the World - 1 Kings 18:1-40 Have you ever felt as if everyone is against us, as Christians? With immorality spreading, does it feel like many people are against the truth of the Bible? Elijah felt the same in his day. In the time of Elijah, the nation of Israel was ruled by King Ahab, who did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, along with his wife Jezebel (1 … [Read more...] about 4 Lessons From Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
The 144,000 in the Book of Revelation
Like many of the topics in Revelation, there is much mystery surrounding the 144,000 mentioned in chapters 7 and 14. Who are they? What is their significance? What will be their objective? Will they be protected? Will they have any effect on the lost people of the Last Days? Although we do not know everything about the events that will take place and those involved, the Bible … [Read more...] about The 144,000 in the Book of Revelation
The Second Coming of Christ
Mentioned throughout Scripture, especially in the New Testament, the Second Coming is a future event that will take place as Christ returns to earth in all His glory at the final judgment. At that time, He will make right all the wrongs in our world. This event will occur after the Tribulation, when Christ defeats the Great Dragon, and before His one-thousand-year reign on … [Read more...] about The Second Coming of Christ
What Is the Millennium? 7 Answers to 7 Questions
Can you imagine a world with no fear? No disease? No pain? No worry? That is what the Millennial Kingdom will be like. For a thousand years, there will be peace—we will live in a perfect world with Christ as our ruler. It is something we can look forward to when our lives are difficult and when our world is filled with chaos, immorality, and despair. As we go through hard … [Read more...] about What Is the Millennium? 7 Answers to 7 Questions
Benefits of Biblical Prophecy in the World Today
Doom and gloom? That’s how many think of the book of Revelation. Oftentimes, Christians shy away from the study of prophecy because they believe it is too complex or irrelevant to spend time examining. But this is not true. Revelation gives us insight into things that will come to pass and helps us understand the things that are happening in our world. It gives us heavenly … [Read more...] about Benefits of Biblical Prophecy in the World Today
What Does the Bible Really Say About Guardian Angels?
Is there one particular angel whose God-given assignment is serving me—just me? One of the most common beliefs about angels is that each of us has a guardian angel. But the Bible does not explicitly state this. As far as I can determine, there are just two verses in the Bible that indicate there might be guardian angels in the world today: The first is Matthew 18:10 and the … [Read more...] about What Does the Bible Really Say About Guardian Angels?
Angels in the Bible
Evangelist Billy Graham reports that "when my maternal grandmother died, the room seemed to fill with a heavenly light. She sat up in bed and almost laughingly said, 'I see Jesus. He has his arms outstretched toward me. I see Ben [her husband who had died some years earlier], and I see the angels.' She slumped over, absent from the body but present with the Lord."1 The … [Read more...] about Angels in the Bible
What Is the Book of Revelation About?
Have you ever found the idea of studying the book of Revelation quite daunting? Have you ever thought, “Why should I study prophecy?” Because of its complexity, oftentimes people avoid examining it—with the assumption it was written only for Bible scholars and theologians—which leads for many to be uninformed, unbelieving, and uninterested in it. A while back, I met one of our … [Read more...] about What Is the Book of Revelation About?
The Tower of Babel Story for Kids
Genesis 11:1-9 Do you know what happened in the book of Genesis when people thought they could build a tower to the heavens and show God and others their greatness? Keep reading to find out... After the flood, God told Noah and his family to have children and spread out around the world. But instead, the people settled in one place. Then, they began building a tower so … [Read more...] about The Tower of Babel Story for Kids
An Assurance of Salvation Verse to Know by Heart
1 John 5:11 Have you ever doubted your salvation? Perhaps your faults or failures have made you wonder if God has changed His mind about you. The good news is eternal life is a gift from God, not contingent who we are, but on our believing in who Christ is. So how do we stand steadfast in this knowledge? One of the greatest ways to remain assured of salvation is by … [Read more...] about An Assurance of Salvation Verse to Know by Heart
10 Bible Verses Every Kid Should Know
It’s not unusual to sing along to our favorite songs or say our favorite lines from movies. Maybe you can say your favorite book or bedtime story by heart because you love it so much. While it’s fun to have all those things we love in our mind, it’s even more important to memorize the Word of God. The Bible says its words are living and active. That means the Bible can give … [Read more...] about 10 Bible Verses Every Kid Should Know
Understanding the 66 Books of the Bible – Hebrews
The president of a Christian university was famous for telling discouraged students: “It’s always too soon to quit.” Those words ring true for all of us, because life is difficult and we sometimes want to give up. Hebrews was written to tell us to persevere, to keep going, to focus on our great high priest, and to run with patience the race before us. According to background … [Read more...] about Understanding the 66 Books of the Bible – Hebrews