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
Bible teacher and pastor Dr. David Jeremiah provides practical tools to study the holy Scriptures and meditate on timeless truths.
Bible
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
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
Seven Churches of Revelation Bible Study
While exiled on the island of Patmos, the apostle John received a revelation from Jesus Christ that we now call the book of Revelation. In this vision, Christ gave John seven messages for seven first-century churches in Asia Minor. Read on to discover why Christ wanted to speak to these seven churches and what the messages mean for us today. 1. Ephesus - The Loveless Church … [Read more...] about Seven Churches of Revelation Bible Study
4 Lessons From Elijah and the Prophets of Baal
One Man Against the World - 1 Kings 18:1-40 In our day and age, 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 … [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
The Second Coming is an event in the future that will take place as Christ returns to earth in all His glory at the final judgment and make right all the wrongs in our world. The Second Coming is mentioned throughout Scripture, especially in the New Testament—it will occur after the Tribulation, when Christ defeats the Great Dragon, before His one thousand-year reign on earth. … [Read more...] about The Second Coming of Christ
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, at … [Read more...] about What is the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation?
The Millennium
Can you imagine a world with no fear? No disease? No pain? No worry? That is what it will be like during the Millennial Kingdom. For a thousand years, there will be a time of peace—we will be living in a perfect world with Christ as our ruler. The Millennium is something we can look forward to when our lives here on earth are difficult and our world seems to be filled with … [Read more...] about The Millennium
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
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
13 Scriptures for Understanding and Finding Peace
If you feel discouraged, hold fast to this: real peace is possible! Of that the Bible assures us. Here are 13 verses for understanding and finding peace that steadies us in all circumstances. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and … [Read more...] about 13 Scriptures for Understanding and Finding Peace
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