Does the Bible command anyone to have a wedding or tell us what to do at such an event? It is true that the Bible contains no specific command requiring persons to participate in a public ceremony like a wedding in order to become husband and wife. It is also true that the Bible contains narratives […]
What happens during the millennium? I’m confused. Please help. Your clearly stated question is one that might be asked by many earnest Bible students. Our shorthand reply aims to anchor the one thousand-year reign of Christ — the millennium — in several Bible texts that offer broad answers. Our first and last texts are bookends […]
Does Scripture teach that we will be reunited with loved ones in the kingdom of heaven? When people say, “Daddy’s happy now. He’s with Mother again,” I just smile. I would dearly love to see my parents again, but I can’t think of where the Bible tells me so. Is there any basis for thinking […]
What is preterist eschatology, and what is CoG7’s view? Eschatology is the study of end things in Christian life (state of the dead, resurrection and immortality) and the study of end times in world history (Christ’s return, millennium, resurrections of the dead, final judgment, and eternal kingdom). The word preterist indicates what is past, or […]
Does being made righteous refer to a status or a process? The short answer is both. Let’s take a closer look at this great word, starting with its background in the Old Testament. In both Hebrew and Greek, the basic meaning of righteousness is “conformity to a norm.” In its biblical context, the norm that […]
What roles do natural disasters, tragic accidents, plagues like COVID-19, and other human sufferings play in God’s will or plan? Scripture offers no single, simple solution to this question. Consider these oft-heard answers, open your Bible, and see how they stack up against the Word. Human suffering demonstrates God’s wrath and punishment for sin. […]
Is the Sabbath a “shadow”? A recent BA article said it was. A shadow is a shaded image cast by light rays striking a body or object. In biblical study, the words type and shadow can refer to a person, event, or item that serves as a pattern, preview, or lesser image of a later, […]
Are there prophets today? Many Christians would say no — outright. Cessationism is the view that the spiritual roles and gifts of prophet and prophecy, among others, were unique to and reserved for the New Testament era. With the Christian church established and the canon of Scripture completed in the first century, these operations of […]
If the Ten Commandments are for Christians, why aren’t the feast days? With many Christians, we view the Ten Commandments, summarized in the Great Commandment of Jesus to love God and neighbor, as God’s will for all people at all times. The Ten Commandments, written on stone, held a central place in the old covenant, […]
How does Paul’s teaching on mutual submission in Ephesians 5:21 relate to his instructions on submission within specific authority structures just afterward (v. 22 — 6:9)? In Ephesians 5:21, Paul moves from general instructions for all believers to how these apply in specific relationships. To understand his words, we must read them in context. […]
