Posted by: thaishin | January 6, 2016

Ram and Goat in Daniel 8

Question from listener on moody radio:

I am wondering about Daniel’s vision of the ram and goat and the goat with a little horn in Daniel chapter 8. Who does all these animals represent and what is the beautiful land? What are the events that have already taken place or are they yet in the future?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

The answer is in Daniel chapter 8 and it starts with a lopsided ram. It has 2 horns and it says in verse 3 that the horns were long and one was longer than the other and the longer one came up last and that’s speaking about the Medo-Persian empire, which was the empire that came and dominated the land of Israel and the world after 539 BC. The Medo-Persian empire came after Babylon. That kingdom was conquered and taken over by the next animal, which is a goat. The ram was charging to the west, to the north and to the south. Why was it not charging to the east? It is because the ram is from the east, it is starting from the fertile crescent from the east where Persia is. The male goat comes and appears from the west, that is from Greece, across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. It is conquering very quickly. The goat has a conspicuous horns between its eyes and it came to the ram which had two horns, seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with savage fury. The goat has a conspicuous horn, that’s its first king. The passage tells us later on that that is Alexander the great. The prophecy during the time of Daniel about the events of the Medo-Persian empire took place around 120 years later. What is the beautiful land? The beautiful land is Israel. The events have already taken place. Out of the goat comes four kingdoms, four horns. One of which is Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus Epiphanes is the little horn of this passage who is destroyed by God for his oppression of the Jewish people in the land of Israel.

The answer was given on Moody Radio openline on Dec 26, 2015.

 

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Posted by: thaishin | December 30, 2015

Is there more to Isaiah 7:15-16?

Isaiah 7:14 is the verse prophesying the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus:

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  -kjv

A moody radio listener ask if there is more to the verse of Isaiah 7:15-16 following Isaiah 7:14?

Isaiah 7

15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.  -kjv

15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.  -niv

15 By the time he learns to reject what is bad and choose what is good, he will be eating butter and honey. 16 For before the boy knows to reject what is bad and choose what is good, the land of the two kings you dread will be abandoned.  -hcsb

Answer from Michael Rydelnik on this question:

It is a pretty detailed exposition that you will need to do and we can do a whole hour on it easily. Here’s what it is: Isaiah is told to go to King Ahaz, the wicked king, in offering the sign that God will deliver him from the present attack by his enemies. Isaiah is told to bring his son with him, Shearjashub. Ahaz was asked to test God by asking Him for a sign but he refuses and Isaiah turns from speaking in the singular as in King Ahaz to the whole house of David in Isaiah verse 13 as in ‘you all’. The Lord is going to give the house of David, ‘you all’, a sign, that is the birth of the Messiah by the virgin in verse 14. Then Isaiah says when he, that is,the Messiah, rejects what is bad and choose what is good, that is when he’s coming to an age of moral knowledge, he will be eating butter and honey. The thing is when you look at the later part of the passage when Assyria comes to judge the land, they are going to shave the land and there won’t be any domestic agriculture. The Israelites are just going to eat only curds because they are still going to have cattles and goats and they are going to get dairy from that. In other words, curds and honey are the foods of oppression. What verse 15 is saying that the Messiah will be born and grow up under Roman political oppression. From verse 15 to verse 16, Isaiah goes back to the singular and he is now talking to Ahaz again and refers to Shearjashub again and prophesy that when he gets to the age of knowing right from wrong, the two kings King Ahaz dread will be abandoned.

This segment is heard from Moody Radio openline on 26 Dec 2015

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Posted by: thaishin | December 26, 2015

Is our faith given by God or can we grow it?

Question from moody radio listener:

Romans 12:3 says we are distributed a certain amount of faith but Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing the word of God. If we are distributed our faith, then it cannot grow but can our faith grow?

Answer from the two Michaels from open line moody radio:

Romans 12:3 the phrase measure of faith is really debated. I think the best understanding of that phrase in Romans 12:3 is not so much that we are given an amount of faith though that is frequently understood that way. The idea is the word measure can actually mean an instrument that we can measure ourselves against and what we can measure ourselves against is faith, that is saving faith. We are all saved by grace through faith, then we are going to think accurately and humbly about ourselves. So if we see ourselves against the standard of saving faith, then I am no better than Rydelnik and Rydelnik is no better than me and we are no better than you are because we are saved by faith. Having said that, that’s about saving faith but in Romans 14, we have another aspect of faith – our strongly held spiritual beliefs or opinions. In Romans 14:1, it says as to one who is weak in faith, welcome him but not to quarrel over his opinion. One person has faith that he may eat anything while the weak person eats only vegetable. So we have here people who are strong in their spiritual beliefs and others who are weaker and even others who are weak can grow strong as they become informed about what scripture says about the host of different issues. Their strength can grow and develop but that’s a different aspect of faith than saving faith. I think God imparts to us the ability to have saving faith. I am not sure that that grows but our ongoing relationship with God based on our knowledge of the truth of the word, that can grow and that can deepen and become much stronger.

Romans 12

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  -kjv

Romans 10

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  -kjv

Romans 14

1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. -kjv

Above explanation given on moody radio openline on December 12, 2015.

 

 

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Posted by: thaishin | December 25, 2015

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Today is 25 December 2015

Blessed Birthday to our Lord and Saviour!

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Posted by: thaishin | December 19, 2015

Why did God become a man?

Hebrews 2:5-18 gave four reasons why God became a man.

1) The first reason God became a man is to restore humanity’s lost dignity found in Hebrew 2: 5-10

Hebrews 2

5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  -kjv

2) The second reason is God became a man to make humanity part of God’s family found in Hebrews 2:11-13

Hebrews 2

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.  -kjv 

3) The third reason is God became a man to free us of the enemy’s grip found in Hebrews 2: 14-15

Hebrews 2

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  -kjv

4) The fourth reason is God became a man to help us in our weakness found in Hebrews 2: 16-18

Hebrews 2

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.  -kjv

This exposition was given on openline moody radio Dec 12, 2015

 

 

 

 

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Posted by: thaishin | December 16, 2015

Everlasting Father

Question from openline listener:

Does Isaiah 9:6 give the actual names of Jesus? Why is he called everlasting father?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Isaiah 9:6 declares the titles of the coming king, just like the king and queen of England has royalty titles, Jesus has his royal throne names. The best way of understanding the hebrew passage in the phrase ‘Everlasting Father’ here is the meaning: father of time or father of eternity. For example, he is the father of our country means that he is the beginner of our country. So the father of eternity means that Jesus created time because in Colossians says that God the Father made the world through His Son. It does not mean Jesus is God the Father. Hence, the very first things that God created was beginnings. Jesus/God created time and They existed before time.

Isaiah 9:6

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  -kjv

Colossians 1

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:   -kjv

 

The above question was asked on openline on Dec 12, 2015 on openline moody radio.

 

 

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Posted by: thaishin | December 11, 2015

Prophesied by name

Isaiah 45

1Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;  -kjv

1“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:  -niv

1The Lord says this to Cyrus, His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him and the gates will not be shut:  -hcsb

Observations and comments:

  1. King Cyrus was named in this prophecy of Isaiah 45:1. Isaiah was written around 700 BC and Cyrus the great came and had his victory over the Babylonians in 539 BC, around 160 years later. King Cyrus was used by God to liberate the Israelites from the Babylonians.
  2. King Cyrus was also mentioned in Ezra. Isaiah was written a bit earlier than Ezra.
  3. Daniel was reading the book of Jeremiah, so he was probably reading Isaiah.
  4. Were Ezra and Daniel contemporaries? Ezra was slightly later than Daniel, maybe in the later days of Daniel’s life as Ezra’s time period and Daniel’s time period overlap.

Heard this over moody radio openline on Dec 5, 2015.

 

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Posted by: thaishin | December 5, 2015

No longer an old testament Sabbath

Question: I wonder why with the reformation and the protestant movement, why did they not go all the way to changing the Sabbath to the correct day since we are standing on the word throughout the whole thing?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Are we still under the Torah, the Pentateuch, the law of Moses today? The answer is yes and no. The yes part is it is God’s word, it is authoritative in our lives and we need to read the laws of the Torah as wisdom. On the other hand, the law of Moses is not the constitution that we live under. The bible says that when the Messiah came, he render the law of Moses inoperative. That’s Ephesians 2: 14-15. The idea is that we are not under the old testament operating system but under the new covenant. It says in 2 Corinthians 3 that God render inoperative the laws engraved in stones. That’s the ten commandments. Why do we observe nine of the ten commandments? That’s because nine of them are repeated in the new testaments. The only commandment not repeated is the Sabbath commandment. Romans 14 suggests that one man may honor one day above the rest and another might treat all days as the same. This suggest that we take the wisdom principle of resting at least one day of the week. The Sabbath thus does not have to rest on a Saturday. The new covenant just dropped the law of the Sabbath because Exodus 31 says the Sabbath is the sign of the Mosaic Law and it is because we are under the new covenant, the Sabbath under the Mosaic law is not repeated.

Ephesians 2

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  -kjv

Romans 14

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  -kjv

Exodus 31

16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days theLord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.  -kjv

This question was asked on moody radio openline on Nov 14, 2015.

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Posted by: thaishin | November 28, 2015

The virgin birth predicted

Isaiah 7

13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.  -kjv

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,  -niv

13 Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? 14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. 15 By the time he learns to reject what is bad and choose what is good, he will be eating butter and honey.  -hcsb

Observations and comments:

  1. The opinion of some people is that Isaiah 7:14 says that only a young woman will bear a son. The hebrew word used here is almah. Every usage of the word “almah” in the hebrew bible and not one you can find a description of a young woman who is sexually active when she is called an “almah”. So every time you see the word “almah”, you will associate it with a young woman who is a virgin. So the word “almah” has a specific meaning of a young woman who is sexually pure.

Heard this from moody radio chicago openline on Nov 14, 2015.

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Posted by: thaishin | November 21, 2015

Did the Lord Jesus actually go to hell?

The belief that Jesus went to hell between his crucifixion and resurrection, also known as the “harrowing of hell” has been believed since ancient times and is found even in the apostle’s creed.

The verse in Luke 23:43 and Luke 23:46 teaches that Jesus went to His father’s presence immediately after he died on the cross.

Luke 23

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.  -kjv

Luke 23

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  -kjv

The verses that people who believed in the “harrowing of hell” cited were: Ephesians 4:9, 1 Peter 3:19-20 and John 20:17.

Ephesians 4

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  -kjv

This verse is referring to the incarnation, when Jesus became man and not Jesus descending to hell.

1 Peter 3

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  -kjv

This verse is not talking about Jesus preaching in hell but rather that Jesus is preaching through Noah in the past to the people who were still alive in the days of Noah but who rejected the teachings of Noah and hence are now “spirits in prison”

John 20

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.  -kjv

This verse is not talking about Jesus’ spirit has not been to the Father but that Jesus is telling Mary Magdalene that she should stop clinging unto him because His bodily resurrection is still in the future. In other words, Jesus is saying that “Mary, you can let go of me because for the next forty days, I will still be with you”

Hence, there is no biblical basis for the “harrowing of hell” and even the later version of the apostle’s creed was wrong.

 

 

 

 

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