AI: “The Shakers, or United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, are a 18th-century Christian sect founded in England and known for communal, celibate, and pacifist lifestyles, along with ecstatic, trembling worship. Founded by Mother Ann Lee, they aimed to create heaven on earth through gender equality, communal ownership, and simple, industrious living. Founded in 1747 in Manchester, England, as a branch of Quakers, they moved to America in 1774. They believed that God is both male and female and that Mother Ann Lee was the female embodiment of Jesus’ 2nd appearing. They believed the Second Coming was not a physical, apocalyptic return of Jesus, but a spiritual rebirth that already occurred in the person of Mother Ann Lee. Practiced strict celibacy, requiring members to be unmarried and adopt children or gain converts, and held all property in common. Known as “Shaking Quakers” for their emotional, chaotic, and physical worship services involving dancing, whirling, and trembling to “shake off” sin. Emphasized gender and racial equality, with men and women sharing leadership roles. Famous for their simple, functional furniture design, architecture, and agricultural success. At their peak in 1840, they had over 6,000 members in 19 communal villages across the United States. Today, the faith has nearly disappeared, but their legacy lives on through their furniture, music, and simple design philosophy.As of late 2025, there are three active Shakers remaining in the world, all living at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester, Maine, the last active Shaker community. This small community relies heavily on volunteers and visitors to maintain its historic site museum, which draws thousands annually.”

Shakers believed Jesus was the male manifestation of the “Christ spirit,” representing the first Christian Church, but not divine in the traditional Trinity sense. They viewed him as a celibate example, whose incarnation marked the beginning of a new spiritual, non-carnal life, with the Second Coming fulfilled in their leader, Mother Ann Lee. Shakers did not believe Jesus was God, but rather a human infused with the divine Christ spirit. Jesus established the first Christian church, which Shakers believed apostatized (fell away) shortly after his death. Shakers taught that Jesus lived a life of absolute purity and celibacy, establishing a model for overcoming the “original sin” of sexual intercourse. Shakers viewed themselves as the “Second Church” or the “Millennial Church” that continued the work begun by Jesus. The Shakers (United Society of Believers) generally did not subscribe to the traditional Christian doctrine that Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for the sins of mankind. Instead, they emphasized that salvation was achieved through personal, daily effort, confession of sins, and following the celibate, sinless example of Jesus. Shakers believed in working out their own salvation through confession, confession, celibacy, and rigorous, holy, daily living. They focused on the idea that each individual must walk the same path of self-denial and perfection that Jesus did. Shakers believed that the original sin was sexual, and therefore, overcoming “lust” through absolute celibacy was a key part of the path to salvation. Therefore, while they revered Jesus, their theology focused more on spiritual resurrection and behavioral transformation than on the substitutionary atonement of his death.”

In. other words, they don’t believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross It is basically a salvation by works system. That and their belief that Mother Ann was an embodiment of Jesus definitely makes them a cult. Cults like the Shakers are fascinating. Their synchronized line type dancing in their worship assemblies is just he opposite of the Quakers sitting silently meditation, waiting for the Spirit to move someone to give a word or sing a song. They split off the Quakers and wer basically “Shaking Quakers”. I guess they wanted more emotion in their assembies!

Which could bring up another discussion: the role of emotion in worship assemblies today. The 16 day Asbury Revival in Wilmore, Ky in February, 2023 at Asbury University is estimated to have drawn 50,000–70,000 visitors to a town of 6,000 people, with over 200 other institutions represented. There have been studies about the lasting effects of the revival, some very good that led to transformed lived and service, and some emotion that died out quickly even leaving many disillusioned. Megachurches rely on emotional, band led singing but they follow up with conversions and community service. Some churches practice tongue speaking, which would surely stir up emotion but are they really speaking in the same tongues as found in the early church? I personally do not think so. Those tongues were actual human languages and tongue speaking today is not languages. It is also interesting that often many are speaking in tongues at the same time even though 1 Corinthians 14 gave instructions to only have 2 or 3 tongue speakers at the most in an assembly, and those only speaking one at a time.

I thought this was great from AI (from some articles somewhere!). “Emotions in worship assemblies serve as a natural, authentic response to encountering God, engaging the heart, mind, and spirit rather than just the intellect. While encouraging sincere expression of joy, gratitude, and contrition, they should not be manufactured or manipulated to “create an atmosphere”, serving instead as a means of deepening understanding of divine truth. Music plays a significant role in drawing out emotional responses on a visceral level, often making singing a high point of emotional engagement. While emotions are important, they must not become the primary goal (emotionalism) or replace the need for theological understanding. Emotions in worship are meant to follow facts and be rooted in God’s character and actions, rather than being fickle or self-focused. In essence, emotions are a vital, God-designed component of worship that, when authentic, enhance a person’s engagement with the divine, making them a necessary, but not the ultimate, part of the worship experience.”

I hope you don’t mind me pulling so much from AI but why re-invent the wheel. AI scans many great articles and seems to usually come up with great material, so I use it and add my own thoughts.

Does your worship assembly stir up your emotions?

Matthew 24 is key to all eschatology:  Here is the equence of events in Matthew 24 : 

1 The gospel would be preached to the whole world and then “the end would come”. 24:¹⁴ This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Colossians 1:23 Paul said that had been fulfilled by the time he wrote Colossians in 60 AD. That would be the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD, not the end of the world. The old covenant was valid for the Jews till 70 AD. Hebrews 8:13, written about 60 AD, said, 8:¹³ When He said, “A new covenant (i.e. the new covenant promised in Jeremiahs 31:31-34),” He has made the first obsolete (the old covenant). But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.” It did officially disappear in 70 AD. The temple was destroyed, no more animal sacrifices since then, no more priests. No one could even try to keep the Law of Moses after that.

2 The abomination of desolation predicted by Daniel would be fulfilled within the generation that Jesus was speaking to. Matthew 24¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet.” The “abomination of desolation” is mentioned 3 times in Daniel 9,11,12. 1) Daniel 9:²⁴ “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. ²⁵ So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress. ²⁶ Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. ²⁷ And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.” Notice this abomination of desolation would be at the same time as the destruction of the city (Jerusalem) and sanctuary (the temple) by the peole of some prince. That prince will be Titus who led the Romans armies in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. Notice that the Messiah (Jesus) would be cut off (die) at the end of the 69th week, which would be 30 AD. That leaves a 70th week, but the 70th week ends with the abomination of desolation of the temple. When would that be? Jesus said that all the events predicted in Matthew 24 would be fulfilled in that generation. Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Genea always in the NT refers to a 40 year period. So the abomination of desolation had to be fulfilled with 40 years after Jesus’ prediction. So it had to be the desolation of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD. The Roman army brought their military standards, which featured images of the Emperor (worshipped as idols by soldiers), into the Temple area, marking it as a “desolation”. Maybe the soldiers even offered sacrifices to their standards (Josephus). Even if we are unsure about the 7 weeks and 62 weeks part, we can be sure that the 70th week ended at 70 AD. That destroys all the false predictions of the 70th week being in our future! The 70th week would be the last 7 years beore 70 AD which woud be 63-70 AD. That leaves a gap between the 69th and 70th week, but that is to be expected. After Jesus’ death at the end of the 69th week in 30 AD, there was an indefinite period until the 70th week would begin which would end in 70 AD. That would force people to be ready at all times during that gap between the 69th and 70th week. Notice that the end of the 70th week (70 AD) would “seal up vision and prophecy” (Daniel 9:24). There would be no more prophetic visions or predictions to be fulfilled after 70 AD. All the New Testament books were written before 70 AD. All the writers of the New Testament died before 70 AD. EvenJohn the apostle died before 70 AD. Papias (60-130 AD) said that John died at the hands of the Jews just as his brother James died (Acts 12), just as Jesus had predicted that the two brothers would die a martyr’s death just as Jesus would (Mark 10:35-40). That could only be before 70 AD since the Jews would not have the power to kill him in the year 100 AD, which is what tradition says that he lived to (and that he died a peacefu death). If he died a peaceful death, then Jesus’ prophecy would fail to come true. 2) Daniel 11:³¹ Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. Again, fulfilled in 70 AD. 3) Daniel 12: ¹¹ And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Again, fulfilled in 70 AD. All of Daniel 12 is predicting “the end time or the end of the age” (12:4, 9, 13). Matthew 24:14 Jesus said that the end would come within that generation (24:30) so “the end” is the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD, not the end of the world.

3 An unparalleled (in the history of the Jews at least) tribulation on the Jews within that generation. Matthew 24:²¹ For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” This was a tribulation of the Jews, not Christians as many try to apply it to today. Daniel 12 predicted this tribulation of the Jews to occur at the end of the age (70 AD). Daniel 12:And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” Daniel 12:7 it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.” (the holy people would be the Jews who would be smashed). But wasn’t the Holocaust (7 million Jews killed) worse than AD 70 (one million Jews killed)? The Jews as a nation were no longer God’s holy people or nation when the Holocaust occurred. Again, this tribulation in Matthew 24:21 had to happen within that generation (24:34). So the tribulation happened from 66-70 AD, happened to the Jews in all Palestine and Jerusalem, and there are no prophecies predicting some tribulation in our future as many preach today.

4 The Son of Man would come and the stars would fall. Matthew 24:²⁹ “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Again, this coming of Jesus (the 2nd coming) had to be fulfilled in that generation (24:30), so it must be his coming in judgment on the Jews in 70 AD. This is consistent with all of Jesus’ other 3 predictions that his 2nd coming would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to. 1) Matthew 10:²³ “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.” 2) Matthew 16:²⁷ For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds. ²⁸ “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Young’s Literal Translation). The Greek word translated “about to” is mello and in the New Testament always mean “about to happen”. Young’s Literal Translation translates it correctly though most translations translate it incorrectly as “is going to come”. Some try to say this was fulfilled in the transfiguration (Matthew 17) but 16:27 involves judgment and that didn’t happen at the transfiguration but it did happen in 70 AD with the judgment of the Jews. This clearly shows that some of those listening to Jesus would still be alive at his 2nd coming. If not, then Jesus is a false prophet just as the atheists and unbelieving Jews claim. 3) Matthew 26:⁶⁴ Jesus saith to him (Caiaphas), `Thou hast said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.’ Caiaphas might not have lived to 70 AD (tradition says he died long before 70 AD but perhaps Jesus was speaking to those with Caiaphas, some of whom would live till 70 AD and his 2nd coming). I always challenge people to show me any verse in the gospels where Jesus predicts a coming back that is not within the generation of those he was speaking to. The apostles also taught an imminent 2nd coming. The early Christians expected the 2nd coming to be in their lifetime. Why wouldn’t they since that is what Jesus and the apostles taught them?
The stars also had to fall within that generation (24:30) and they did not literally fall to the earth. This is typical apocalyptic language as used of judgments in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 19:1 describes God coming in the clouds which is very similar wording to what is found in Matthew 24 but in Isaiah it has reference to the destruction of Egypt.” Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light (fulfilled with the fall of Babylon in 536 BC).” Isaiah 34:4 And all the heavenly lights will wear away, and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; all its lights will also wither away (fulfilled in the judgment of nations in Isaiah’s time).” So the stars did fall figuratively within that generation at 70 AD. Notice the timing: Jesus would come “immediately after the tribulation”. If the tribulation was the horrors the Jews faced in the wars of the Jews from 66-70 AD, and it was, then Jesus’ coming had to be immediately after that and not 2,000 years later. That fits 24:30 that this had to happen within that generation. Notice “they will see Him coming in the clouds”. Similar to Revelation 1:⁷ Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.” Acts 1:11 This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” 1) Whatever this means, it happened within that generation (24:30) so we must figure out what it meant in 70 AD at his 2nd coming. Many have a preconceived idea of everyone on earth seeing the literal body of Jesus coming down at His 2nd coming, but that is not what the passage means. 2) It simply means that all who were responsible for piercing (crucifying) Jesus (i.e. the Jews) of the tribes of the earth (i.e. the Jewish 12 tribes) would see Jesus coming (figuratively) in judgment using the Romans. They would mourn when that happened. In that sense, every eye of the Jews in the city did see His 2nd coming in 70 AD. Someone might say, “That sounds like the supposed invisible coming of Jesus in 1914 that the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach.” Not really, b/c nothing at happened on earth in 1914 as evidence of a 2nd coming. But in 70 AD, the proof of his 2nd coming was obvious in the destruction of the temple and the city, and the killing of one million Jews.

5 All these predicted events in Matthew 24 had to be fulfilled within that generation. Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The Greek work is genea and in the New Testament it always refers to a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period. Period! No exceptions to that. Matthew 1 lists 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus, which is about 2,000 years. Hebrews 3:9 Where your fathers put Me to the test, and saw My works for forty years.¹⁰ Therefore I was angry with this generation”. In Matthew 23, just before the left the temple and made the predictions in Matthew 24, Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes. His final word was that they would be punished for the sins of the nation for the last 1500 years, for the murers of the prophets from Abel to Zechariah. He said, Matthew 23:³⁶ Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Isn’t it obvious that he is talking about that specific generation of evil Jews that he would punish in 70 AD? Matthew 24:34 uses that same word genea in the very next chapter. Would that not also be that specific generation of Jews in that next 40 years? Jesus often called the Jews of that generation an adulterous and evil generation. I am amazed when I hear preachers on TV say that Jesus’ 2nd coming is imminent today. They use Matthew 24 to try to prove that. They will quote Matthew 24:34 to say that Jesus is predicting the 2nd coming to be within the generation of those listening to the preacher’s prediction of imminency. So they are saying that the word genea means 40 years. But if it means 40 years today, why did it not mean 40 years back then when Jesus predicted that? If it means a specific “last generation” (i.e. last generation before the 2nd coming) today, why did it not mean that back when Jesus spoke it?

6 The rest of the chapter (vs 36-51) is still talking about that same 2nd coming of vs 1-35. Still a coming within that generation and not some “3rd coming” at least 2,000 years later (as of today). Matthew 24:37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.” Why would vs 37 and vs 39 be introducing a 3rd coming at least 2,000 years later. He is discussing the coming that he has just predicted to happen within that generation, is he not? Some say that vs 1-35 indeed predict AD 70, but that vs 36-61 predict another coming that is still in our future, but that is not true Notice the 2nd coming will be like the days of Noah in which the wicked were taken (killed, i.e. the evil people before the flood) and the righteous will be left (i.e. Noah and his family). The evil Jews would be taken (killed by the Romans) and the righteous will be left (i.e. surive the destruction of Jerusalem: according to Eusebius all the Christians in Jerusalem escaped the city, heeding the warnings given them in Matthew 24, when they had the chance and fled to Pella). Those who teach a rapture at the 2nd coming teach it totally backwards. They say the righteous will be taken (raptured) and the wicked will be left on earth, which would not fit the 2nd coming that Jesus is talking about. So is the doctrine of the rapture of Christians before the 2nd coming even valid? It is based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1) f the 2nd coming was in 70 AD, then this passage occurred in 70 AD regardless of how it happened. It was fulfilled at 70 AD and is not something to happen at some future coming of Jesus. 2) This passage can’t be introducing a future coming of Jesus past 70 AD since nowhere else in the New Testament predicts such a coming. This passage must be referring to the same 2nd coming in 70 AD that all the NT predicts. 3) What does it mean if it happened in 70 AD (and it did happen in 70 AD)? A common practice was that a king or nobleman would visit a city. The people in the city would go out to meet him and then the king would accompany them back into the city to spend time with them. That is what this passage is talking about. Jesus would come in the clouds in 70 AD. Christians alive at that time would meet him (figuratively) and then Jesus would go with them to where they lived on earth and make his presence with them. It is not talking about Jesus meeting them and taking them up to heaven. So there is no rapture before 70 AD as many teach (Tim LaHaye Left Behind).

Luke 21 is a parallel chapter to Matthew 24, but it does add a few things. Luke 21:²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. ²¹ Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; ²² because these are days of punishment, so that all things which have been written will be fulfilled. ²³ Woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people; ²⁴ and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Notice that this says that the desolation of Jerusalem will be when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies. That had to happen within that generation. Luke 21:³² Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.” (just as in Matthew 24). So this can only be the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem in the 5 month seige in 70 AD before they broke through the walls, destroyed the city and temple, and killed one million Jews. Notice that Jesus says that all things that have been written (which would be Old Testament predictions) would be fulfilled by 70 AD. The Old Testament predicted the destruction of Jerusalem several times: Daniel 9,11,12; Zechariah 14; Isaiah 26-29; Ezekiel 38,39. So those AD 70 predictions had to come true by AD 70. Of course, all the Messianic predictiions would also be fulfilled by 70 AD. If whoever the Messiah will be does not come by 70 AD, then he can’t come! That is a real dilemma for the Jews who don’t believe that Jesus is the real Messiah. They are left with no temple and no hope of a real Messiah coming some day in our future. Many Jews have abandoned the very idea of some Messiah person coming some day. Revelation 10:7 says that when the events predicted in Revelation (i.e. the predictions about 70 AD) that the mystery of God as spoken through the old testament prophets would be finished. Notice that Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles. That would have to be the Romans. Revelation, which is about predictions of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD, predicts this same thing. Revelation 11: ² Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations; and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.” That verse also shows that the temple was still standing when the book of Revelation was written, which was probably about 63 AD. Notice that Jerusalem would be trampled until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The meaning of that is debated. A similar phrase is used in Romans 9:²⁵ For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved.” This is a very controversial verse. I think it means when the Gentiles have been brought into the church fully in 70 AD. During the transition period from 30-70 AD they were brought in gradually by the preaching of the apostles and that process was completed fully by 70 AD.

If you have any interest in eschatology at all, I hope this helps. If what you hear from preachers is confusing to you, I hope this helps. If you are not interested at all in eschatology, that is fine. But someone needs to correct all the false teaching about eschatology that leaves people confused.

Also, understanding the fulfilled predictions of Matthew 24 to be 70 AD helps bolster my faith in Jesus as the Prophet and faith in the Bible that records all these predictions to know that they were all fulfilled in 70 AD. That in turn helps bolster my faith in the main message in the Bible, which is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross. I have a friend who says that understanding all this basically saved his faith since he was having so many questions about Bible predictions. It has to bother you as a Christian when an atheist says that Jesus is a false prophet b/c his predictions of his imminent 2nd coming did not come to pass. The atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell argued that Jesus could not be considered the “best and wisest of men” partly because he believed Jesus predicted his second coming would occur within the lifetime of his followers, a prediction that did not come true. Russell argued that Jesus clearly believed his second coming would happen “in clouds of glory” before all the people then living had passed away, citing Matthew 16:28 (“There are some standing here which shall not taste death till the Son of Man comes into His kingdom”) as a primary example.” (AI) Even the Christian C.S. Lewis famously addressed Matthew 10:23 (along with similar verses) as “the most embarrassing verse in the Bible,” acknowledging the apparent, mistaken prediction of an immediate return by Jesus. He argued this honesty suggests the Gospels are reliable, as creators of a forgery would likely have removed such a difficult, time-sensitive prediction.” That is really twisted logic! Lewis is saying that Jesus was mistaken in his prediction. But instead of saying that makes Jesus a false prophet (which it would), he says it just shows the integrity of the gospel that they would record a false prediction by Jesus but ignoring that he is admitting that Jesus was a false prophet!!! What do you think an atheist like Russell would say about that logic??????

WHO WAS WILIAM MILLER AND WHAT WAS THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT? A Baptist preacher William Miller (1782-1849 AD) predicted the 2nd coming to be sometime between 1843 and 1844, but it didn’t happen. That came to be called “The Great Disapppointment”. Many lost their faith in the Bible since they thought Miller had accurately predicted the Daniel 8 prediction of 2300 days and nights until the sanctuary that would be overthrown by the “little horn” (who would claim to be equal to God) would be restored. Now Miller used the day=year principle (which isn’t always proper to use but is at other times) to start with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC and going forward 2,300 years to get a date for the 2nd coming around 1843-1844. He convinced several hundred thousand Christians in different denominations along the East coast that his interpretation of Daniel 8 was correct. Many sold their possessions prior to 1843 and waited on their rooftops for Jesus to return in 1843, but it didn’t happen even up to 1844. My last blog article “The Great Disappointment of 1843 and Daniel 8” gives my interpretation of the 2300 days if you care to read it.

But this article deals with the 7th Day Adventists religion. AI: “After the 1844 “Great Disappointment,” a group of Adventists, including Ellen G. White, James White, and Joseph Bates, continued studying prophecy, focusing on the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) and Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, eventually organizing formally in 1863 in Battle Creek, Michigan. A remnant of these Adventists concluded the date was correct but the event was the beginning of Christ’s final judgment in heaven, not His earthly return. Key figures like Joseph Bates and Ellen G. White emphasized the biblical seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) as part of this “present truth,” alongside the soon-coming “advent” (return) of Jesus. Believers in these distinct doctrines officially organized as the “Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1863.”

ELLEN G. WHITE AND THE GREAT CONTROVERSY. “Ellen G. White was a foundational prophet and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, providing visionary guidance, shaping core doctrines, and inspiring global mission through prolific writings and counsel that unified early believers and established the church’s identity, particularly in areas like health, education, and lifestyle, influencing its growth into a worldwide movement. She wrote extensively about the imminent Second Coming of Jesus, encouraging believers to prepare, but she never set a specific date after the failed 1844 Millerite predictions. Her book The Great Controversy details the cosmic struggle between Christ and Satan, from its origins in heaven to its conclusion on Earth, covering Christian history (the The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, details the cosmic struggle between Christ and Satan, from its origins in heaven to its conclusion on Earth, covering Christian history (covering the The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White, a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, details the cosmic struggle between Christ and Satan, from its origins in heaven to its conclusion on Earth, covering Christian history (covering the Reformation, Protestantism, Wycliffe, Huss, and Luther), prophecies to be fulfilled toward the end of the earth’s history, and Seventh-day Adventist doctrines, serving as a key text in Adventist theology about sin, redemption, and the final conflict. Perhaps you found a copy of The Great Controversy placed in your mailbox by the SDAs.

SABBATH KEEPING. The book highlights the Sabbath (Saturday) as a central point of controversy, with the enforcement of Sunday observance leading to the final conflict. Keeping the Sabbath became a core doctrine of the SDA movement, and still is. Seventh-day Adventists strictly observe the Sabbath, keeping it on Saturday (the seventh day) from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, as a holy day of rest, worship, and fellowship, based on the Fourth Commandment and the example of Jesus, distinguishing it from Sunday worship. They rest from secular work, focus on spiritual activities like church services, nature, family, and Bible study, and see it as a memorial of creation and a sign of God’s covenant.”

INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT AND UNCLEAN MEATS: “Another key doctrine is Investigative Judgment, or Sanctuary Doctrine, which states that since 1844, Christ has been examining the lives of professed believers in the heavenly sanctuary to determine who is worthy of eternal life. Ellen G. White taught that in 1844, while Jesus did not return to earth for his 2nd coming as William Miller predicted, Jesus in 1844 moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary to begin an “Investigative Judgment” of believers’ lives. Investigative judgment would end just before Jesus’ future 2nd coming. Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) do not eat pork, along with other “unclean” meats like shellfish, based on biblical dietary laws in Leviticus 11, viewing these prohibitions as health principles to glorify God and prepare for Jesus’ return, though vegetarianism is also strongly encouraged.

I think that covers the history and main doctrines of the SDA movement. Let’s examine the doctrines.

1 Sabbath keeping. Yes the Jews were commanded to “observe the Sabbath and keep it holy” (the 4th of the 10 commandments of Exodus 20). But Gentiles were never commanded to keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a special sign between God and Israel. Exodus 31: ¹⁶ So the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a permanent covenant.’ ¹⁷ It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” SDAs teach that the Sabbath was kept from the beginning in b/c of this verse in Genesis: “Genesis 2:² By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” But Nehemiah 9 says that God made known the Sabbath to the Jews on Mt Sinai. Nehemiah 9:13 Then You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven; you gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments.¹⁴ So You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, and gave them commandments, statutes, and law, through Your servant Moses.” In Genesis 2:2-3 Moses is simply telling why God chose the Sabbath as a special day for the Jews but he is not saying that Sabbath keeping began in the Garden for all people. We don’t read of any of the patriarchs keeping the Sabbath in the book of Genesis. Yes, Jesus was a Jew still living under the Law so He kept the Sabbath. The Law of Moses was in effect for the Jews up to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Paul, even as a Jewish Christian, kept the Law and the Sabbath. But Gentile Christians were never required to keep the Law of Moses or the Sabbath. Nor are we Gentile Christians required to keep the Sabbath today. It is fine if Christians decide to keep the Sabbath today, but they should not bind Sabbath keeping on Gentile Christians or condemn them for worshipping on Sunday. Paul told Christians not to judge each other over observance of days. Romans 14:⁵ One person values one day over another, another values every day the same. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord.” Many Gentile Christians see a great benefit in keeping the Sabbath today.

DID CONSTANTINE START SUNDAY WORSHIP? SDAs believe that the Roman Catholic Church and Constantine (4th century) changed the Sabbath worship to Sunday associating that with the mark of the beast in Revelation, linking it to Satan and sun worship. Christians began worshipping together on Sunday, as 2nd century church history confirms, b/c Sunday was the day Jesus arose from the dead. early Church Fathers like Justin Martyr 160 AD)and Ignatius (early 2nd century) in the 2nd century explicitly documented that Christians regularly met for worship on Sunday, the “Lord’s Day,” to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection, shifting from Jewish Sabbath practices for most believers. Paul was specifically speaking of the weekly collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem to be collected every Sunday (the first day of the week) in 1 Corinthians 16:Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well. ² On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections need to be made when I come.”  That does confirm that the Corinthian Christians were assembling on Sundays every week to take the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11)and edify one another. So Constantine did not start Sunday worship in the 4th century as SDAs claiim.

2 Not eating unclean meats like pork (Leviticus 11). The law of not eating unclean meats was a law given to Jews, not Gentiles. It was not a law given to Gentiile Christians under the new covenant which replaced the old covenant. Paul said that Christians can eat anthing God created as long as they give thanks for it. 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, ³ who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; ⁵ for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” Paul specifically condemned those who bind food restrictions on new covenant Christians. If any Christians choose to not eat unclean meats, that is fine; they just should not condemn others who do eat unclean meats like pork. SDAS should be commended for their emphasis on healthy eating, but not on the false reason they use (Leviticus 11) as a basis for their teaching.

3 Investigative judgment. Hebrews 9 refutes this doctrine. Hebrews presents Jesus as our High Priest. The writer says that Jesus, at the time of writing, had already entered the Holy of Holies in heaven to offer his blood to the Father as the sacrifice for out sins. That would have occurrred after he was riased and ascended to the Father. Hebrews 9:¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; ¹² and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place (i.e. the Most Holy Place where the Father dwells) once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Holy Place (again, the Most Holy Place where the Father dwells) year by year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” The Levitical, Aaronic High Priest entered the Most Holy Place into the presence of God, the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant, to offer blood to cleanse the sins of the nation on the Day of Atonement each year. Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in heaven once for all time after he arose and ascended to the Father. That had already happened by the time Hebrews was written in about 60 AD and not in 1843. The whole doctrine of investigative judgement was simply an attempt to reinterpret the failed prophecy of the Great Disappointment instead of just calling it what it was, i.e. a prediction by a false prophet William Miller. The date 1843 has nothing to do with the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy or of Jesus entering the Holy of Holies in heaven in 1843.

IS THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS MOVEMENT A CULT: There are about 24 million SDAs worldwide in 210 countries and territories. AI: ” Seventh-day Adventists teach that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that it’s a free gift received by believing in His atoning sacrifice, not earned by works, though obedience to God’s law is seen as the natural fruit and evidence of this saving faith, not its cause. They believe Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection provide the only means for forgiveness, justification, and eternal life, vindicating God’s law while offering mercy.” Is the SDA movement a cult? That is a debated topic. Having a latter day prophetess Ellen G. White is a sign of a cult, but their belief in salvation by grace through faith makes them more mainstream Protestantism. There laws on Sabbath keeping, not eating unclean meats, and even investigative judgment would not necessarily make them a cult unless they made those laws a source of division and condemning all other Christian denominations.

WHO WAS WILIAM MILLER AND WHAT WAS THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT? A Baptist preacher William Miller (1782-1849 AD) predicted the 2nd coming to be sometime between 1843 and 1844, but it didn’t happen Many lost their faith in the Bible since they thought Miller had accurately predicted the Daniel 8 prediction of 2300 days and nights until the sanctuary (i.e. the temple which would be overthrown by the “little horn” who would claim to be equal to God) would be restored. Now Milller used the day=year principle (which isn’t always proper to use but is at other times) to start with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 457 BC and going forward 2,300 years to get a date for the 2nd coming around 1843-1844. He convinced several hundred thousand Christians in different denominations along the East coast that his interpretation of Daniel 8 was correct. Many sold their possessions prior to 1843 and waited on their rooftops for Jesus to return in 1843, but it didn’t happen even up to 1844. Where did Miller go wrong in his interpretation of Daniel 8?

THE DANIEL 8 PREDICTIONS WOULD BE FUFILLED AT THE END TIME? If I may, here is what I think Daniel 8 was really predicting. One clue is the phrase “the end” and the “final period of the indignation at the appointed time of the end”. Gabriel told Daniel when this would all be fulfiled: 8:17 “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.” 8:¹⁹ And he said, “Behold, I am going to inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end.” When was this appointed time of the end? In the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple. He also predicted “the end”: 24:¹⁴ This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” That end, along with all the events predicted in the chapter, would have to happen within the generation of those he was speaking to at that time. Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The Greek word for “generation” is genea and it always refers to a 40 year period or the people living in a 40 year period when used in the New Testament. So “the end” that Jesus predicted had to come about within the next 40 years after he made the predictions in Matthew 24. So he is not talking about the end of the world. He is talking about the end of the Jewish Age, the end of the old covenant (Hebrews 8:13, written about 60 AD, predicted that the old covenant was “about to disappear” and it did when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD), the end of the old heavens and earth (i.e. the Jewish system of God ruling the earth; Peter predicted the destruction of the old heavens and earth, i.e the Jewish system, that would occur in 70 AD even though many wrongly think Peter is predicting the literal burning up of the earth). All those things would indeed occur 40 years after Jesus predicted them when the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. The gospel was indeed preached to the whole world by 70 AD as confirmed by Paul in Colossians 1:23 “the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” The apostle Peter, in. about 60 AD, said in 1 Peter 4:⁷ The end of all things is near.”, so he is also by inspiration predicting the end of the Jewish Age and old covenant. Peter wrote this about 60 AD and “the end” happened in 70 AD.

DANIEL 7,8 THE LITTLE HORN: Daniel predicts the coming of the “little horn”. Daniel 8:⁹ And out of one of them came a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. ¹⁰ It grew up to the heavenly lights, and some of the lights, that is, some of the stars it threw down to the earth, and it trampled them. ¹¹ It even exalted itself to be equal with the Commander of the army; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown.” This little horn would be a Roman emperor who would overthrow the sanctuary (i.e. the temple) and claim to be equal to God. The “little horn” of Daniel 7 and 8 is the Roman Emperor Titus who did indeed allow himself to be worshipped as god. He is the one who led the Romans in the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. Titus is the one Daniel predicted to overthrow the sanctuary (i.e. the temple) in Daniel 8:¹¹ It (the little horn) even exalted itself to be equal with the Commander of the army; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown.” Titus was also the “man of sin” in “2 Thessalonians 2:³ No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” Paul added: 2:⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work”, proving that this man of sin was someone living at the time of writing of 2 Thessalonians in 52 AD. Only Titus fits this description of the man of sin.

WHEN WAS THE 2300 DAYS PROPHECY FULFILLED? So what about the 2300 evenings and mornings for the santuary to be restored in Daniel 8:14 For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored”? Miller said that was the 2300 years from 457 BC to 1843 AD. I think this refers to an actual 2300 days, not 2300 years. I believe that it refers to the 7 years of the final period before 70 AD, i.e. 63 AD to 70 AD (7 years x 360 days/year is about 2300 days).

DANIEL 9:24-27 THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION AND THE 70 WEEKS PROPHECY: Daniel had predicted in Daniel 9:24-27 that a prince would destroy the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary (the temple) at the end of the famous 70 weeks prophecy. He called that event the “abomination of desolation”. Jesus, again in Matthew 24, told us when that prediction was fulfilled. Matthew 24: ¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.” That had to happen within that generation, within the next 40 years (Matthew 24:³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”) If not, then Jesus is a false prophet just as the Muslims, uneblieving Jews, and atheists claim. But it was fulfilled in 70 AD. Back to Daniel 9. Daniel broke down the 70 weeks into 3 periods: the first 7 weeks, the next 62 weeks, and then the final 70th week. At the end of the 70th week the abomination of desolation would occur, which Jesus said was fulfilled in 70 AD. Even if we aren’t sure about the meaning of the timing in the breakdown into 7 weeks and 62 weeks, we can be sure when the 70th week ended. It ended with the abomination of desolation in 70 AD That means that all those who predict that the 70th week is still to be fulfilled in our future are wrong.

THE 70TH WEEK BROKEN INTO TWO PARTS: I believe that the day=year principle can be properly applied to the 70th week which means the 70th week was 7 years. It would be the 7 years from 63-70 AD. Daniel even predicted that something would happen in the middle of the 70th week. Daniel 9:²⁷ And he (the prince to come who would destroy the city and sanctuary) will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering.” I believe this prince is Titus who did the “abomination of desolation” of the temple in 70 AD The period between 63-70 AD was broken down into 2 parts. The first 3 1/2 years from 63-66 AD was a period when the Jews and Romans were still “getting along”. The Jews even had a daily offering for the emperor in the temple up to 66 AD. AI: “the Jews stopped daily sacrifices for the Roman Emperor in Jerusalem in 66 AD, an act seen as open rebellion and a primary trigger for the First Jewish-Roman War, initiated by Zealots led by priest Eleazar, signifying defiance against Roman rule despite Rome’s official tolerance for Jewish religious practices like these imperial offerings.” That stopping of the offering in 66 AD would be in the middle of thet last 7 year period before 70 AD, just like Daniel predicted.  Then the Jewish-Roman War begin in 66 AD and lasted 3 1/2 years leading up to the final abomination of desolation in 70 AD. The book of Revelation, which was written before 70 AD, predicted that last 3 1/2 year war leading up to the final destruction of the city and temple. Revelation 11:1 Then there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. ² Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations (i.e. the Romans); and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months”  42 months is 3 1/2 years. Daniel 12 also spoke of this same 3 1/2 years from 66-70 AD. Daniel 12:⁴ And thou, O Daniel, hide the things, and seal the book till the time of the end (i.e. the same “end” of the Jewish Age in 70 AD that Jesus predicted)” (Young’s Literal Tsl). 12:7 After a time, times, and a half, and at the completion of the scattering of the power of the holy people (i.e. the Jews who were killed by the Romans, about one million according to Josephus) by Titus and the Romans in 70 AD).” This “time, times, and half of a time” matches the 3 1/2 years from 66-70 AD during which this scattering of the power of the holy people, the Jews, was fulfilled.

DANIEL 12: THE END OR TIME OF THE END, THE UNPARALLELED TRIBULATION OF THE JEWS, AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD IN 70 AD: Daniel 12:⁹ And he saith, `Go, Daniel; for hidden and sealed [are] the things till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:¹¹ and from the time of the turning aside of the perpetual [sacrifice], and to the giving out of the desolating abomination, [are] days a thousand, two hundred, and ninety.” This “desolating abomination” in vs 11 can only be the same “abomination of desolation” in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15, which was the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. That was also the “end time” predicted by Daniel and by Jesus (Matthew 24:15). Daniel was told, Daniel 12:¹³ But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.” If this end of the age was in 70 AD, how did Daniel “rise at the end of the age”? The answer is found in Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time (i.e. the “end time just discussed in Daniel 11:35, 40 at which time the abomination of desolation would occur, 11:31) Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. ² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” Jesus predicted that same unparalleled destress on the Jewish people in Matthew 24:²¹ For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” That tribulation had to occur within the next 40 years (24:34 within that generation) and did indeed occur with horrible suffering by the Jews at the hands of the Romans from 63-70 AD. AI: “Flavius Josephus extensively documented the severe suffering, internal strife, famine, and massacres among Jews leading up to and during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, portraying widespread moral decay and lawlessness as divine punishment, with atrocities committed by Jewish factions (Zealots) against each other, creating conditions for the horrific famine and violence described in The Jewish War.” But what about the holocaust in WWII? 7 millions Jews were killed by Hitler. Was that not worse than the one million killed by the Romans in 70 AD? I believe that Jesus is specifically predicting the tribulation on the Jewish nation while the nation was still God’s holy nation and kingdom. That ended in 70 AD as God took the kingdom from the Jews and gave it to a spiritual kingdom, the church. Matthew 21:⁴³ Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit (i.e. to the church).” Peter told the scattered Jewish Christians, ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). The holocaust was not a tribulation sent by God. to punish the Jews as His old covenant theocratic nation. The holocaust was a horrible suffering of the Jews but not one predicted by the prophets or by Jesus.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE OLD COVENANT DEAD IN 70 AD: Back to Daniel 12:² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” This predicted resurrection of the righteous and the wicked was also to occur at the end time in 70 AD. All the dead of the old covenant were kept in the hadean world, waiting for their resurrection in 70 AD to receive their final sentencing of eternal life or eternal damnation. That is the place probably that Jesus referred to in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 12 with a place of temporary safety in “Abraham’s arms” for the beggar Lazarus and torment for the rich man in Hades. Daniel 12:2 predicted a resurrection of the old covenant dead to occur at the end of the age in 70 AD. Did that happen? Yes it did. This is the resurrection Paul spoke of in Acts 24: ¹⁵ having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous.” The Greek translated by Young’s Literal Tsl as “about to be” is the Greek word mello, which always in the new testament refers to something about to happen or a place someone is about to come to. So Paul is saying that the resurrection of the dead was about to happen as he spoke. Was he a false prophet or just mistaken? Of course not. He is talking about the Daniel 12:2 predicted resurrection of the old covenant dead that would occur in 70 AD. Paul is saying that predicted resurrection was about to happen when he spoke. He said that in about 60 AD and the resurrection of Daniel 12:2 occurred in 70 AD, so that fits the “about to happen” prediction of Paul. Daniel would be raised in 70 AD to receive his reward of eternal life. 12:¹³ But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

I know this is long and tedious reading. You might not even be interested in William Miller’s failed prediction. You might not even be interested in where he went wrong in his interpretation of Daniel 8. You might not believe that my interpretation of Daniel 8 is correct. But I do hope that this article has spurred some to do a deeper study of Daniel8, Matthew 24, and Revelation.

In the next blog, I will discuss the main religious group that came out of the Great Disappointment of 1843, i.e. the 7th Day Adventists. They put an interesting twist on that event and added some things that shoud be discussed. Until next time

Psalm 103 is one of my favorite psalms. It has so many valuable topics and truths.

The Hebrew word for ” bless” is barak: To bless, to kneel. It can be God blessing man or man blessing God. It can be used 4 ways: 1. to kneel (the primary meaning)
2. (implication, man toward God) to bless God as an act of adoration
3. (implication, God toward man) to bless man as a benefit
4. (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)

Psalm 103 is the 2nd use of those 4: blessing God. What does “blessing God” mean? AI: “Blessing God means to adore, praise, exalt, and thank Him for His greatness and gifts, acknowledging Him as the source of all good, often involving deep reverence, worship (like kneeling), and expressing profound gratitude with your whole being, as seen in the Psalms. It’s an act of honoring Him from a right relationship with Him, distinct from God’s blessings upon us.”  Psalm 100:4: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!“. Psalm 34:1 Contains the promise, “I will bless the LORD at all times”. How do you begin each day? Thinking about what you have to do that day? Just going through the morning rituals without even thinking about God? Thinking about the probems you are facing? Complaining about things? Or do you start with a few moments of blessing God?. Kneeling might help. Do you start thanking God for all His “benefits” (gemul: Recompense, reward, benefit, dealing). That is an interesting word b/c it implies that the Lord is rewarding you for your faith and devotion (as if you are earning them or deserving of them). But isn’t that what Hebrews 11:6 states? ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” The Greek word for “rewards” is misthapodotés: Rewarder. It is only used one time in the New Testament: someone “paying what is due; a rewarder“, a paymaster. We can’t earn our salvation or earn God’s blessings, but He does give material and spiritual benefits to those who seek Him. In that sense, our blessings and benefits are a reward for our fear and obedience to God. Always give thanks and praise for those benefits. Never start a day without doing that. Do that at different, random times during each day. Cell phones and social media are a big hindrance to our using spare time moments during the day to praise and thank God. When we have a spare moment, we pull out our phones and start social networking when we could be using that spare moment to praise and thank God.

The Psalmist then reminds us of the compassionate and forgiving nature of God. He recalls the incident with Moses in Exodus 33-34. Moses was weary of leading the constantly complaining, rebellious, and idolatrous Israelites in the wilderness. He begged God to show him a special vision of God’s presence and glory to enable him to lead the people. God told him to go to a rock where God would allow him to see God’s “back” (but not His face for no man can see the face of God and live). God would pass by Moses in that rock and make known His nature and ways. Moses would get that special gimpse of God that he needed to lead the people. But God also revealed the fundamental truths (Exodus 34:6,7) of His nature as He passed by. These truths in Exodus 34:6-7 are cited several times in the Old Testament (Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Nahum 1:3; Jonah 4:2). Jews don’t call Exodus 34:6-7 a specific name, but it’s known as the revelation of God’s “Thirteen Attributes of Mercy”. These attributes, revealed to Moses, form a core theme in Jewish liturgy, especially during the High Holidays, representing God’s patient, merciful, and forgiving character that extends grace even to those who don’t deserve it, while also holding people accountable.”

Yes, God forgives but God also gets angry at sin and will “visit the iniquity of the fathers God has gotten very angry at sinners in the past and no doubt does so today. He “displays his wrath every day” (Psalm 7:11) in righteous indignation against the evil. God was very angry with the northern kingdom Israel. 2 Kings 17:18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only. The Lord became very angry with Moses when he kept making excuses for not going to Egypt to tell Pharoah to let God’s people go free: Exodus 4:¹⁴ Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses.” No doubt the Lord is very angry at the many sins of our liberal nation, calling “evil good and good evil”. No doubt He is very angry with churches and people that support LGBTQ+. He probably gets angry with me when I do the same sins over and over, but fortunately God is “slow to anger” and will not “harbor His anger forever”. Psalm 30:5 “His anger lasts a moment, but His favor a lifetime”. Isaiah 57:15 “I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. ¹⁶ For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry.” God comes off His high and holy place in heaven and makes his forgiving presence with us (God dwells in us) to revive our guilt ridden spirits. He lets us know that He is not always angry with us but loves and forgives us.

The Father’s love is unconditional, but notice that His forgiveness of our sins is conditional. That forgiveness is for those “who fear Him”, who keep His covenant, who obey His precepts. For those He removes their sins as “far as the east is from the west”. How far is that? East and west are directions, opposite directions. Technically, east continues east infinitely, and likewise for west. So picture a line with infinity (an arrow pointing east) on one end and infinity (an arrow pointing west) on the other end. Your sins are forgiven from one directional infinity to the other. Hebrews 8:12 even says that He will remember our sins no more: “For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, and their sins I will no longer remember.” I think that just means that He will never bring them up again so as to condemn us for our sins. Sometimes we act like we forgive someone but then bring up their past mistakes. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) We have the continual 24/7 cleansing of our sins by the grace of God and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We should be sorrowful when we sin, confess our sin, and repent of our sins, but no one does all that perfectly But we don’t have to do that perfectly The heavenly Father “knows how we are formed”, i.e. He knows our weaknesses and is understanding and compassionate when we sin. An earthly father knows the weaknesses of his children and forgives them over and over when they do wrong b/c of those weaknesses. He treats each child differently based on their weaknesses and strengths. The Father does the same. I often think about how sinful I am. I still commit some of the same sins now as I did 50 years ago when I became a Christian. I still struggle with the same lusts and temptations over and over. I question, “How could the Father keep forgiving me of the same sins even when I don’t try as hard as I could to stop them?” But He does keep forgiving me. Micah gives another picture of God’s forgiveness. Micah 7:18-19: “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant…You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our iniquities underfoot and throw all our sins into the depths of the sea”.

Then comes an amazing comparison of the love of the Father to the love of earthly fathers. Earthly fathers are encouraged to mirror the Heavenly Father’s love, providing spiritual, emotional, and wise guidance. Unfortunately many chlldren grow up without loving fathers: maybe overly harsh, cruel. demanding fathers. Ephesians 6:4 “Do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord”. Maybe absentee fathers who just weren’t present in their children’s lives much. Maybe fathers who left their wives and split their homes, leaving the children questioning the value of familial love. But a loving earthly father mirrors the heavenly Father’s love. Such a father never quits loving his children no matter what they do. He might disapprove of what they do or even be forced to administer “tough love” in extreme cases, but he will always be ready to forgive and restore even wayward children. The parable of the prodigal son demonstrates that. The father in that parable is God the Father, and he immediately forgave his wayward son who had taken his share of his inheritance and squandered it and was returning home hoping just to be a servant and have food to eat. Instead, the father killed the fatted caff and made a feast. Unfortunately the older brother did not have that love for his younger brother. The older brother represented the Pharisees who were criticizing Jesus for eating with sinners. Charles Dickens and Ralph Waldo Emerson praised that parable as one of the greatest short stories ever told.

BTW a side story: AI: “Martin Luther deeply struggled with viewing God as a loving Father due to his own harsh, authoritarian earthly father, Hans Luther, whose stern discipline mirrored Luther’s view of a wrathful, judgmental God, making the concept of divine grace a massive breakthrough as he realized God’s love was freely given, not earned through works or fear. This personal conflict fueled his spiritual despair, as his intense efforts as a monk only intensified his sense of sin and God’s distance until he discovered justification by faith.” Even if a child did not have a loving earthly father, he can still find one in the loving heavenly Father. It might be more difficult for him, but it should make the love of the heavenly Father even more amazing.

Psalm 103:19-22 ends with a call for the angels and for all of God’s creation to “Bless the Lord”.

This was long but what a great psalm. Perhaps you can see why I consider it one of my favorite, if not most favorite, psalms.

AI: “Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus began his invisible reign as King of God’s Kingdom in heaven in October 1914, marking the start of the “last days,” a pivotal time foretold in Bible prophecy, leading to Armageddon and the establishment of God’s earthly paradise, ending sickness, poverty, and death, with 144,000 (from Revelation 7:4; 14:1-5) anointed ones ruling alongside Christ in heaven, while the majority of faithful followers (the great multitude in Revelation 7:9-17) live forever on the paradise earth. Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) believe they represent God’s true Kingdom on Earth, viewing themselves as its subjects and representatives, actively living by its laws and preaching its message, even though the Kingdom itself is a heavenly government established in 1914 with Jesus as King, meant to replace all human governments. They see themselves as the only ones truly following Christ’s commands and God’s will for this “last day” period, organizing themselves as God’s visible earthly agency. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe those not among the 144,000 (who go to heaven) or the “great multitude” (who live on paradise Earth) will face destruction (annihilation) at Armageddon or are part of those who are simply disobedient and will not survive to see the new world. “The early JW leader Rutherford predicted that a grreat resurrection would occur in 1925 but that didn’t happen. Later publications, particularly in the 1960s, built anticipation for 1975 as the 6,000th anniversary of Adam’s creation, suggesting Armageddon could occur then, leading to widespread excitement and disappointment when it didn’t happen.” Rutherford published a book in 1920 “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”. He was obviously wrong about that also. While 1914 remains central, earlier predictions (like 1925, 1975) were later abandoned as specific end-times markers, though the core belief in 1914’s significance endures as the beginning of Christ’s kingship.”Thus they believe that the “2nd coming” occurred in 1914 but was an invisible coming.” Jehovah’s Witnesses have many other unusual beliefs. “They believe that pledging allegiance or saluting a flag is a form of worship directed toward an object or nation, which the Bible prohibits, reserving worship for God alone.” They believe that taking blood transfusions is a sin, based on their interpretation of Bible verses commanding them to “abstain from blood” (Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10, and Acts 15:28, 29).

There are so many false teaching in all this. In Matthew 4:17 Jesus predicted ““Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (at hand in some translations). Jesus said in Mark 9:1  “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power.” Unless Jesus was a false prophet (which he wasn’t), then Jesus’ kingdom was set up while some of those listening to him speak were still alive. That kingdom was a spiritual kingdom, the church. In John 18:36 Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world”. It was established in Acts 2 in 30 AD (not 1914 AD) when 3,000 were baptized for the remission of sins and became the first church. Thus Paul would say that the Colossian Christians were in that kingdom. Colossians 1:¹³ For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The apostle John said in Revelation 1:5 To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— ⁶ and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” JWs teach that the kingdom did not exist until 1914 and that contradicts all these passages.

JWs see themselves as the only true restored followers of Jesus but Christians in the book of Acts and the New Testament were true followers of Jesus 2,000 years ago and we have had 2,000 years of faithful Christian followers of Jesus since then. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the 144,000 are indeed members of their religion. They take that as a literal number but they don’t take the part in Revelation 14:4 to be literal: ³ And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to learn the song except the 144,000 who had been purchased from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are celibate.” Also the book of Revelation is about things that were going to happen shortly, soon after the time of writing of the book. Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place. ³ Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 22:⁶ And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. ¹⁰ And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. So the 144,000 would be some people from the first century and not future JW members at least 2,000 years later.

JWs teach that Jesus’ 2nd coming was in 1914. But Jesus predicted that his coming back would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to (Matthew 10:23; 16:27,28; 24:30-34; 26:64). 3 times in Revelation Jesus said “I am coming quickly” (thus an imminent 2nd coming) (Revelation 22:7,12,20). He did not delay that coming. Hebrews 10:37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” Many Christians will admit that Jesus said that his 2nd coming was imminent within the generation of those he was speaking to, but then they will say that He delayed his coming. But Hebrews 10:37 refutes any such “delayed coming theory”. The fact that Rutherford made false predictions about Jesus coming back in 1925 and then in 1975 should be enough to tell you that the JWs are based on false prophets. Why should anyone follow their teachings if they have been shown to be false prophets?

Peter told Christians in 1 Peter 2:¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.¹⁷ Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” Yet the JWs dishonor our country and our government by their refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance or salute the flag. Peter told them to honor the king even though that king was an emperor at that time who claimed to be God and who was part of the Roman Empire that persecuted early Christians

There are so many things false in the teaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are encouraged by their leaders to go out knocking on doors, passing out JW literature. So if they knock on your door, show them love but be ready to challenge their teachings with Biblical passages. JWs also teach that Jesus was “a” god, the first thing created by the Father, but not equal to the Father. 2 John warned Christians about those who deny the Deity of Jesus: 2 John ⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸ Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. ⁹ Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; ¹¹ for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”
Many JWs leave the JW faith and are shunned or disfellowshipped by their family and church. Be ready to help a JW member who has left that religion.

It should be noted that the JWs were connected with the Great Disappointment of 1844. “Jehovah’s Witnesses are connected to the Great Disappointment of 1844 because their movement, the International Bible Students Association, grew out of the fragmented Millerite movement that was shattered by the failure of William Miller‘s prophecy (that Jesus’ 2nd coming would be in 1843-44), with Jehovah’s Witnesses founder Charles Taze Russell being heavily influenced by other Millerite remnants who sought to reinterpret biblical prophecy after the disappointment, leading to new Adventist-rooted groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses.” In other words they tried to minimize the impact of Miller’s failed predictions by their teachings that Jesus came back in 1914 invisibly, etc, still teaching an imminent 2nd coming just at a later date in 1925 or1975.

I hope this has been beneficial. You might not even know a member of the JWs, but be ready if one comes knocking on your door!

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, because of the person who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be eliminated, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.”

The hebrew for “upset” is charah: To be hot, to burn, to be angry, to be kindled: to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy — be angry, burn, be displeased, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, be wroth. It is used 90 times in the OT: most often describing anger, but at times pointing more broadly to intense indignation or grief.

That’s a good word to describe how I feel about government spending and the church business! Maybe how you feel aso. Not just disagree or sad or grieved about how things are going, but anger. That stuff makes me angry and often out of my anger I harshly judge and criticize people and the way things are done. That makes me miserable at times. But David said “do not get upset” over evil people and things. 

We must turn those things and people over to God. Quit trying to control things. Let God be in control. He might be allowing bad things to happen to punish or humble people, and there we are going against His will.  Let God determine the outcome. Let go and let God.

Wait patiently on the Lord to act. Maybe I have a leak in my plumbing. It is a serious leak so I call a professional plumber. If I have confidence in the plumber coming and fixing the leak, then I just sit back and try to wait patiently till he gets to my house. But if I don’t have confidence that he will get here quickly, or if I don’t trust him to fix it properly, then I will probably try to fix it myself and make it even worse b/c I am not a plumber. Or maybe he is coming, but doesn’t come as quickly as I want him to. I get upset, maybe angry.

We can’t fix all the evil in the world or church. Government spending, waste, and the deficit. Churches using most of their collected money on themselves instead of helping the poor, heping persecuted Christians worldwide, drilling wells, and printing Bibles. Churches going LGBQT. We can get upset and angry but that only makes us miserable. If we trust in the Lord to fix things then we will do anything that we can do to make things better, but then we will calmly sit back and wait on him to act. If things don’t get fixed quickly, then we can assume that the Lord has a reason to let things get worse. If that happens, we still relax, knowing that God is in control. We will look for reasons that God is allowing evil and then we try to help God in whatever He is doing. But bottom line, we leave things that upset us with God. We will “rest” (damam: To be silent, to be still, to cease, to be quiet) and wait for Him to act. The Hebrew word for “wait” is interesting: chuwl: To twist, whirl, dance, writhe, travail, be in anguish, be pained. You might be in anguish and inner turmoil while you wait on the Lord, but if you trust Him then you will wait. James 1:Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; ²⁰ for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.”

Does that make sense? 

I don’t just get frustrated with things: I get angry. That word “upset”.  All that does is bring me down It eats at me so much that I can’t see the positive that is still out there amidst all the bad stuff. I need to work on not being upset over things!

So how do you react to things that grieve you, that. frustrate you, that bother you, that go against how you think things should be done?

AI: “The Baháʼí Faith is a global religion founded by (a self proclaimed prophet) Baháʼu’lláh in 19th-century Iran, centered on the core belief in the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humanity, promoting unity, justice, equality (especially of women and men), and harmony between science and religion, viewing all world religions as part of a single, progressive divine plan. Baháʼís focus on spiritual development, community service, and building a peaceful, unified world, practicing daily prayer, fasting, and communal worship without clergy, adhering to a strict ethical code.”

From wikipedia: “The Baháʼí Faith has three central figures: the Báb (1819–1850), executed for heresy (by a Persian Muslim firing squad b/c they considered the Bab to be a threat to Persian Islamic faith), who taught that a prophet similar to Jesus and Muhammad would soon appear; Baháʼu’lláh (1817–1892), who claimed to be said prophet in 1863 and who had to endure both exile and imprisonment; and his son, ʻAbdu’l-Bahá (1844–1921), who made teaching trips to Europe and the United States after his release from confinement in 1908. After ʻAbdu’l-Bahá’s death in 1921, the leadership of the religion fell to his grandson Shoghi Effendi (1897–1957). Baháʼís annually elect local, regional, and national Spiritual Assemblies that govern the religion’s affairs, and every five years an election is held for the Universal House of Justice, the nine-member governing institution of the worldwide Baháʼí community that is located in Haifa, Israel, near the Shrine of the Báb.

According to Baháʼí teachings, religion is revealed in an orderly and progressive way by a single God through Manifestations of God, who are the founders of major world religions throughout human history; the Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad are cited as the most recent of these Manifestations of God before the Báb and Baháʼu’lláh. Baháʼís regard the world’s major religions as fundamentally unified in their purpose, but divergent in their social practices and interpretations. The Baháʼí Faith stresses the unity of all people as its core teaching; as a result, it explicitly rejects notions of racism, sexism, and nationalism. At the heart of Baháʼí teachings is the desire to establish a unified world order that ensures the prosperity of all nations, races, creeds, and classes.”

This chart does a great job of showing how the Baha’i faith looks at progressive revelation via the founders of the world’s major religions.

I find the Baha’i faith fascinating. It is the perfect religion for those who don’t want to judge or condemn any of the world’s main religions or the faith of anyone in those religions. Perfect for those who believe that there are “many roads to God”. The logic is that there are many roads leading into Huntsville, Al. Roads from the south, north, east, and west. But they all end up in the same place, Huntsville, right? Is that true of all the world’s religions even though they teach totally different doctrines on salvation and faith? Perfect for those who reject the exclusivity claims of Christianity. One Christian lady changed to Buddhism b/c she despised the Christian claim that Jesus was the only way for salvation. She did not examine the evidence or rationale behind that claim. She just didn’t like the idea of any religion claiming to be the only true religion.

Baha’ism honors 9 world religion founders: Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, the Bab, Bahaullah (the founder of Bahaism). According to Bahaism, each of these brought genuine revelations from God, but none of them brought all of God’s truth and none of them brought the one and only true religion. AI: “Baha’is believe there’s one God who reveals His will progressively through different divine messengers for different ages, bringing teachings suited for humanity’s spiritual development at that time. Each Manifestation fulfills the promises of the one before and announces the coming of the next, building upon past teachings. Baháʼís believe these past spiritual teachers brought divine guidance suited to their times, encouraging the study of other faiths to find shared truths and promote unity, while emphasizing the core spiritual principles remain constant across religions. Baha’i Faith teaches that all major religions come from the same God and contain fundamental truths, viewing them as progressive stages of one divine religion, with Baha’u’llah’s revelation being the latest for humanity’s current stage.”

Christians do believe in progressive revelation from God. Moses brought the Law and the old covenant for the Jews, but then Jesus came with the new covenant. Gentile Christians do not have to obey the animal sacrifices, etc. of the old covenant, so indeed the Mosaic law was only for a limited, specified time before Jesus came. Christianity claims to be the last of God’s progressive revelation. Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.” Jesus in turn gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles to miraculously inspire them to deliver all the truth of the new covenant for all time. John 16:¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” That completed God’s progressive revelation to man, once for all time. Jude 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.” According to the Bible, there would be no more progressive revelation after the apostles. Period. No more prophets delivering new revelations from God. That rules out the Popes whom Catholics claim to give continuous new revelations from God on doctrinal issues given through countless papal decrees or bulls. That rules out Islamic claim that Muhammed was God’s final prophet, some 600 years after Jesus, and that the Koran, not the Bible, is the last of God’s progressive revelation and that we should follow the Koran. Islam does believe that Moses and Jesus were prophets with progressive revelations from God but they reject Jesus’ claim that he was the Son of God and that the New Testament was the last of God’s progressive revelation. Islam would also reject all the other world religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and even Bahaism. It was a Persian Muslim group that excecuted the Bab in 1850. Judaism (except for Messianic Jews) reject that Jesus came as the Messiah with new revelations from God that they should start following. On and on we could go.

None of the other major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism) would claim progressive revelation of truth. Hinduism just has its gods and goddesses, reincarnation, karma, dharma, and epic tales. Buddhism has the teachings of the Buddha to give enlightenment and the release from suffering. Zoroaster started preaching one God, Ahura Mazda. We could add many other world religions that Bahaism doesn’t specifically name as one of the 9 major religions, such as Shintoism, Taoism, Confucianism, Sikhism, etc.

But the idea that all the world’s religions just gave revelations from God for their specific times and that they all somehow harmonize into one final revelation from God, uniting them all in Bahaism, is just contradictory. Muslims and Jews reject Christian claims. Shintoism follows the sun goddess Amaterasu and all the kami spirits. That contradicts the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian claim that there is only one true God, the God of the Bible (Yahweh to the Christians and Jews, Allah to the Muslims-though Allah is not the same as Yahweh). The Hindus have 3 main gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Do we need to honor those gods as part of progressive revelation or was that just a need for ancient times in India.

Those contradictions and questions don’t even include modern day prophets like Joseph Smith and Mormonism. Or Ellen G. White and 7th Day Adventists. Or Rutherford and Russell, the founding prophets of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Would the Baha’i faith say that those prophets of those groups were part of God’s progressive revelation and had truth from the one true God? How could Bahaists reject those latter day prophets?

But here’s “the catch” (a hidden problem or negative in an otherwise solution that sounds good on the surface but is “too good to be true”). Only one of those 9 world religions honored by Bahaism claims to be the only true way to God. John 14:⁶ Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” So the Baha’is can’t include Jesus as one of the 9 world religions that each brought some truth from God but not the only truth. But then we have to ask, can Jesus’ claim of exclusivity be proven? The answer is “yes” There are many proofs to Jesus’ claim, but the main one is his resurrection from the dead. Paul preached on Mars Hill to those who worshipped many Roman gods. He told them that following Jesus was the only way to eternal life. He said that Jesus’ resurrection proved that. Acts 17:³⁰ So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, ³¹ because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.” There are many convincing proofs that Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus died and was raised from the dead. Name another world religion whose leader, prophet, and founder has such proof. In other words, Bahaism sounds “too good to be true” since it offers a belief that allows its followers to not condemn any of the world’s relgions. But the catch is that it, as well as any other of the world’s religions, have no proof that any of their revelations are really from the one true God. Only Christianity has such irrefutable proof.

Not only that, the real issue is this: only Christianity teaches that one is not saved by what he does. Most of those world religions teach that their followers should do good and be good persons. Buddhism has the Buddha’s 8 noble truths: right speech, right actions, etc. as well as not lying, stealing, or gossiping. Zoroaster taught his followers to do good works, good deeds, and good words. Confucius taught his followers to respect others. Taoism taught the 3 jewels: compassion, modesty, and humility. Sikhism taught followers to be kind, to live an honest life and work hard. Mormons are usually very moral people. But here’ the other catch. Being a good person as a follower of those religions doesn’t save you from your sins. Those religions might promise faithful followers a better reincarnation or inner peace or just a better way of living, but none of them offer the forgiveness of sins from the one true God, Yahweh. Only Christianity offers that. But how is Christianity different from those religions? Aren’t Christians also taught to be kind, honest, good words, good works, etc. Yes. Aren’t they taught to seek inner peace of mind? Yes. But in Christianity, we are not saved by our goodness or good works. We are saved 100% by the unearned grace of God through putting our faith and trust in Jesus as God’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins. We are not saved by what we do, but by what Jesus did for us on the cross. No other world religion has such a plan of salvation. That is what makes Christianity unique. Most any of the major world’s religions can help you be a better person, but only Christianity can saved you from your sins.

So Christianity has exclusive claims of being the only true faith, and has the proof to back up those claims So examine the proofs before you reject the exclusive claims of Christianity. Of course one must come to believe that Jesus did die and be raised in order to be saved. Here is the major difference in Islam and Christianity. Islam claims that Jesus was not the Son of God, but Jesus claims that he was. Islam claims that Jesus was not even crucified, certainly not raised from the dead. Islam claims that eternal rewards will be based on keeping the 5 pillars of Islam, a works system of salvation. Islam does not believe that one is saved from sin by faith in the vicarious offering of Jesus on the cross. Each person must decide to follow Jesus or Muhammed, and I respect that choice. But I wish all Muslims could see the grace of God that comes from putting faith in what Jesus did on the cross. All those in the other world religions must realize that their good works can’t save them. They must examine their religion to see if it is from God or man, to see if their religion has miraculous proof that it is truly a revelation from God that they can stake their eternal futures on. Many are dong that and finding salvation through Jesus. Christians should be utilitizing all our resources to spreading the gospel message to all the countries dominated by all those world religions. Getting the Bible to them in their own languages so they can examine the claims and proofs of Christianity. It’s too bad that churches are spending 80% of their collections on buildings, staff, etc. instead of spreading the gospel and supporting missionaries That’s another blog I guess.

Let’s dig into Isaiah 24-29. It will be digging deep, but here we go. Most think Isaiah 24-29 is one section predicting one future event. Some say it has a dual fulfillment, but I don’t believe that to be the case. If an Old Testament prediction is about a specific event, like the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), then it can have one and only one fulfillment. Isaiah 24-29 is predicting one specific event to occur in Isaiah’s future, and has no dual fulfillment. But what is that one future event that is predicted in those chapters? Let’s start digging.

Here are some of my conclusions on this section.

1 The predicted future (Isaiah’s future) events in Isaiah 24-29 would all occur at the same time. It says “on that day” several times (24:21; 25:9; 26:1; 27:1,13; 28:5. The phrase doesn’t necessarily mean one 24 hour day, but it does mean a specific period of time in the future. I might say, “in my dad’s day” and you know that means, not a 24 hour day, but period of time in his ife. The event(s) in all 6 chapters are said to be fulfilled in the future at the same time. But when is that time of fulfillment. Keep digging.

2 The destruction of Jerusalem and a judgement of the evil Jews is the main event predicted to happen in Isaiah’s future. 24:12; 25:2,12; 29:1-3,7 (Ariel is Jerusalem in these verses). Isaiah was written about 700 BC so I suppose it could be predicting the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC, but there are reasons to believe that it is predicting the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD and not the destruction in 586 BC. The reasons are given below. BTW this destruction is describe in figurative language (24:19 the earth is broken apart and split, which is typical figurative language used of the judgement of nations in the Old Testament). Keep digging.

3 Isaiah 28:16 predicted that a precious cornerstone will be laid in Zion in Isaiah’s future, and that prediction was fulfilled in Jesus being the cornerstone of the church. Isaiah 28:“Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.
The one who believes in it will not be disturbed.” 1 Peter 2:6 quotes this verse and says that this prediction was fulfilled in Jesus being the chief cornerstone of the church. If Isaiah 28:16 is a prediction fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah, then it stands to reason that all 6 chapters will be fulfilled when the Messiah Jesus came. Keep digging.

4 Isaiah 25:7 predicts that in Isaiah’s future death will be swallowed up for all time, and that is a prediction fulfilled in 70 AD. Isaiah 25:7 “Now the Lord of armies will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, and refined, aged wine.⁷ And on this mountain He will destroy the covering which is over all peoples, the veil which is stretched over all nations. ⁸ He will swallow up death for all time.” Jesus came to abolish spiritual death. Jesus began His reign over His spiritual kingdom, the church, when he ascended to the Father after his resurrection. He would reign till He conquered all his enemies. The last enemy to conquer was death (1 Corinthians 15:25,26). Actually He had already abolished death for believers during the transition period from 30-70 AD. 2 Timothy 1:10: “He has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”. But spiritual death would not be officially destroyed until His coming in 70 AD to judge the Jews, using the Romans, at the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem. Then, in 70 AD, spiritual death would be destroyed once for all time and immortality would be given to believers and to the righteous dead of the old covenant who would be raised in 70 AD just as Daniel predicted in Daniel 12:2. (Isaiah 26:19 predicted that resurrection to happen in 70 AD: “Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.”) Paul even says that some of those he was writing to at Corinth would still be alive to experience that immortality. 1 Cor 15:⁵¹ Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” He then says that in 70 AD at Jesus’ coming that Isaiah 25:7 would be fulfilled (and he quotes that verse) and that spiritual death would be destroyed. 1 Cor 15:⁵⁴ But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written (in Isaiah 25:7): “Death has been swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; ⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Law was the source of spiritual death and the Law ended in 70 AD. After 70 AD, there was no more temple (it has never been rebuilt), no more animal sacrifices, and no more priests. The writer of the book of Hebrews said that, at the time of writing of the book (about 60 AD), the Law and the old covenant was “about to disappear”. Hebrews 8:¹³ When He said, “A new covenant (the prediction of a new covenant made in Jeremiah 31:31-34),” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.” It officially did disappear and end in 70 AD. At the same time in 70 AD, spiritual death was destroyed once for all time. This fulfillment of Isaiah 25:7 in 70 AD shows that Isaiah 24-29 was a Messianic prediction and not the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. I am always amazed at those who say that Jesus has not defeated death yet. He defeated spiritual death for all believers. John 11:John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to her (i.e. to Martha), ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live'”, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” Jesus did not come to destroy physical death. Believers still die physically, but they will live on spiritually forever after physical death. Have we dug deep enough to discover the meaning of Isaiah 24-29? I hope so.

The conclusion then is that Isaiah 24-29 was a Messianic prediction to be fulfilled with the coming of Jesus the Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The 6 chapters are filled with figurative language that is hard to understand the exact meaning of, but we know that it has already been fulfilled in 70 AD. Most importantly these chapters in Isaiah tell us that Jesus is the cornerstone of the church and that spiritual death has been defeated once for all time. The predictions in Isaiah 24-29 were made in 700 BC, about 800 years before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. This is another amazing example of fulfilled prophecy in the Old Testament.

Maybe you never ever studied Isaiah 24-29. I hope this study helps you understand these chapters but also to find some nuggets of truth in the amazing word of God. Keep digging deeper into the word of God and you will find many more treasures of truth.