The MILLENNIUM: REIGN of the MESSIAH - Part Twelve: Concluding the Old Testament Examination

By James Fire

After eleven articles we are nearing the end of the Old Testament survey on the doctrine of the Millennium. We will examine the primary passages left in the minor prophets (from Hosea to Malachi) and then venture into the New Testament (this will start in Part 13) and see what we can learn about this glorious time in that part of canon.

There are some who believe the promised kingdom of Israel, with the LORD reigning from Jerusalem is over; that all these verses in the Old Testament that declares this promise are null and void under the New Testament because the Jews rejected their Messiah.

Nothing could be further from the truth – as we have seen, and shall continue see!

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TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – CHAPTER 2: The Seven Churches - Part One

Here we will begin to examine the seven churches. I have previously studied these churches on my blog FROM The MIND of FIRE, so we will simply repost those articles here, beginning with letters of the churches as they were written in Chapter Two (the titles of these messages are hyper-linked; click on those to read the entire articles). Bear in mind that each of these is a complete study in themselves, so it will take you quite a while to get through them. Four of the seven churches are included in this TTUF study:

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter Two

Contributing commentaries by Sonny Islas and James Fire

Mp3 audio teaching of GENESIS 2 by Lambert Dolphin 

Commentary on GENESIS by Ray Stedman  

Chapter Two – Sonny Islas

Genesis chapter 2 is the creation account in more detail - specifically in regard to plant life, animals, man, woman and life in the garden. The account in Chapter One is chronological, for it lists each of the six days and what God accomplished in each of them. Chapter Two isn’t chronological, but gives attention to what the LORD intended for us to focus on.

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TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – CHAPTER 1

So, we begin with the exposition of this marvelous book of prophecy! When I was a new believer in Christ, eschatology – or the prophetic study of “last things” – was an early favorite of mine. I consumed everything I could get a hold of by way of books, tapes and VHS tapes. It’s still a tremendous favorite of mine and quite to the contrary of the belief of some, prophecy IS our business and it IS VERY practical!

Study of last days prophecy is in part, what is required in spiritual vigilance; looking for the coming of the LORD with a strong sense of expectancy, and this hope has a purifying, practical effect on the saint:

1 JOHN 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

And we are commanded by our LORD to “watch and pray” in regard to His Return (MARK 13:33; LUKE 21:36).

We must and will resort to Scripture and careful observation of what the text actually says, and not what we may think it means.

A close eye on the original Greek for many of these passages and words will be necessary as well as comparison with parallel texts found in the Old Testament and New. Just as the Holy Spirit inspired John to write this book, we likewise need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand it.

I do believe however, that for most of this book, especially from Chapter 6 and onward, the fullness of understanding will be granted to those who will be living through this time, as they are the ones who will need it the most. For us, the church of Jesus Christ, His body, His bride, these latter chapters are in a sense, academic – holding to a ‘pre-tribulation’ view, we understand that the admonitions and warnings are not for us, but for those who will face this dreadful time under the reign of anti-Christ.

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Introduction and Chapter One

Contributing commentaries by Sonny Islas and James Fire

Chapter One – by James Fire

INTRODUCTION:

Genesis means “beginnings” and in the case of this first book of the Bible, it means the beginning of creation, the beginning of mankind, and most importantly, the beginning of the revelation of God and His truth.

Genesis is the first of five books written by Moses, along with Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, together known by the Jewish people as the Torah and the Torah itself as the beginning of the TaNaKh (or as we call it, the Old Testament) – T = Torah (Teaching); N = Nev’im (Prophets); K = Ketuvim (Writings).

The first ten chapters of Genesis form the foundation of all the major doctrines of the Bible: theology – the study of God*; anthropology – the study of mankind; hamartiology – the study of sin; soteriology** – the study of salvation; angelology – the study of angels (holy and fallen); ecclesiology – the study of the church, represented in type by the first husband and wife, Adam and Eve symbolizing Christ and His bride, the church; eschatology – the study of last times or last things: these things are foreshadowed and foretold even in these ten chapters of this first book of the Scriptures!

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TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – AN INTRODUCTION

~ By James Fire

This is an extremely exciting opportunity for me because this is the first time ever, I will be embarking on a verse by verse, expositional study on the Book of Revelation. I’ve taught chapters, and portions of Scripture from this book over the years, but never in its entirety – until now!

Of all the books of the Bible, this seems to be the one most often neglected by the church. Many pastors claim that it’s too mysterious, hard to understand, etc. Others think a study of this book will ‘scare Christians’. 

I find it ironic however, that even the very word ‘revelation’ means “a disclosure” that is, to reveal something – not to make obscure or mysterious (and thus, “hard to understand”). Yet there is a reason why this book is hard for some to understand – and we’ll get into that briefly in just a moment. 

As for being ‘scary’, this is the revelation of Jesus Christ, and while there are truly terrifying events that will take place during this seven-year period, for the child of God, this should hold no fear. While this testimony declares the coming of the wicked one, the anti-Christ and his rule under the power of Satan over all the world, ultimately this book is about the coming of our LORD and Savior – our Blessed Hope!

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