The Gospel Of Repentance

Chapter 3 -   The prophet speaks against Judah and Israel. The rulers do not show justice, but practice evil and devour the people like savage beasts resulting in God not hearing them when they cry out vs 1-4. The false prophets would declare peace if they were fed, but would declare war, if they weren't. These false prophets would ultimately be embarrassed because they didn't have a true word from the Lord vs 5-7. Micah made it clear that he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and declared God's truth vs 8. Chapter 4 - In the end times (Millennium), nations will come to Israel to learn God's law. War will end. People will be at rest finally. The Lord will bring back all his captives to where he has scattered them. Chapter 5 - The prophet predicts the coming of the Messiah vs. 2. Israel's enemies will be destroyed in the last days for plundering them. Israel is referenced as lion and young lion. Israel will be restored to their own land vs 5-9....

Micah who was a Hebrew prophet name means, “Who is a God like You?” prophesied in the eighth century B.C. Micah prophesied prior to the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Chapter 1 -  God through the prophet pronounces judgment on the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria) vs. 6&7. Primarily he’s dealing with the southern kingdom of Judah. The prophets laments for both nations, and says not to tell their neighbors they hear and rejoice over nations demise, vs. 8-13. The end of the chapter deals the prophet telling the people they need to deal with their sin by going into deep mourning about their iniquities. This was a sign of genuine grief for sin vs. 16. Chapter 2 -  Because the evil rich robbed the poor, God is going to judge them by a turncoat (i.e. enemy) to plunder them and remove their boundaries; their apportioned land will be taken, vs 1-5. The people also listened to false prophets instead of true, hindering God’s mess...

The majority of leaders and parishioners in the Church say we’re required to tithe, that is one is to give a tenth of their income to God every week. But, I ask the reader the following questions: When and where did the tithe originate? Who was it for? And, what was it’s purpose? Before answering those questions, let’s site the most popular verse regarding tithing, Malachi 3:8-10: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, “In what way have we robbed You?” In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation (i.e. Israel, not the church). Bring all the tithes in the storehouse that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be enough room for you to receive it (italics added). It’s unfortunate that this passage regarding the tithe has been isolated in light of so many other passages in the...

What is water baptism? What is it’s purpose? Who can participate? The word baptism comes from the Greek word baptisma which means to submerge or immerse. This also is in reference to John’s baptism and Christian baptism. There’s no mention of baptism in the Old Testament. The first time we encounter baptism is in the gospel of Matthew where we find John the Baptist baptizing in the Jordan River. The purpose for this was for repentance of sins, and to prepare the participant for the Messiah (Matthew 3:5-6). John’s baptism was incomplete and was never meant to save or take away sins. In short, water baptism can not save anyone (emphasis added)! For if it could, Jesus dying on the cross and shedding his blood would have been in vain.   John declared to the religious leaders that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). In fact, when Jesus approached John to be baptized, John tried to prevent him and replied, “ I need be baptized by you, and you’re...

                                                          THE BOOK OF JONAH Commentary: Jonah was a Hebrew prophet  whose name means dove. He was the son of Ammitai. The time of Jonah’s one prophecy was in the latter part of the eighth century B.C. God commanded Jonah to prophecy against Nineveh; an evil gentile city in the country of Assyria. Jonah refuses to travel there which was eastward, so instead, he heads to a town named Joppa (today Jaffa), boards a ship, and heads west toward Tarshish he hopes to run from the presence of the Lord.                                       ...

There is a disturbing verse in Mark 13:32 that reads, “But of that day and that hour know no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven,  neither the Son (italics added), but the Father.” Now you as well as I believe Jesus Christ knows all things since he’s God manifested in the flesh correct? So why doesn’t he know the day and the hour of his return to the earth? I’ve come across some views for the reader to think about.  1. Jesus is not God – This would be the view of non-believers and skeptics of the gospel. Looking at       the verse on the surface without further examination, would lead many to believe that this erroneous claim is true. Everything time Jesus uses the phrase, “I am”, he’s affirming his deity. He uses this phrase seven times in the gospel of John. Even the Father God calls Jesus God twice in Hebrews 1:8-9. View number one is thrown out. 2. Jesus chose not to know – Jesus in his hum...

Often times the rapture of the Church and second coming are used interchangeably. That is a mistake. These are two distinct events in the future regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and his Church.  Let’s break it down. The English word rapture does not appear in the bible. It’s a transliteration of the Latin word Rapio which means to seize, snatch away with force. The Greek term is Harpázō which contain the same meaning, to spoil, to seize, to catch away. The verses that deal with the rapture are I Corinthians 15:51-53 and I Thessalonians 4:16-18. I Corinthians 15:51-53 – Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (a euphemism for death), but we shall be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and the mortality must put on immortality. I Thessalonians 4:16-18 – For the Lord himsel...