Episodios

  • Old vs. New Covenant: Understanding the Shift in God’s Plan (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

    Old vs. New Covenant: Understanding the Shift in God’s Plan (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
    Mar 10 2025
    📖 Old vs. New Covenant: Understanding God’s Redemption Plan The transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant is one of the most profound shifts in biblical history. Why was a New Covenant necessary? How does it transform our relationship with God? Let's unpack Jeremiah 31:31-34, exploring how Jesus's Last Supper fulfilled prophecy and established a better covenant for believers. https://youtu.be/04ZpwaZQnHI Table of contentsLasting Change Must Begin with the HeartThe Heart’s ImportanceThe Old Covenant Didn’t Change the HeartThe Old Covenant Reveals Our SinfulnessThe Most Important Verses in the Old TestamentSix Ways the New Covenant Is Not Like the Old CovenantUnlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, God Does the WorkSecond, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, the Focus Is InwardThird, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit Teaches UsFourth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, Christ is the Only MediatorFifth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, We Become the Priests, Temple, and SacrificesSixth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, Sin Is ForgivenFootnotes The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan law and policy institute. They published an article titled Prison and Jail Reform. Here’s a surprising part of the second sentence of the article: “Prisons often provide little to no effective rehabilitation.” This is an astonishing admission from a secular research institute about the ineffectiveness of our prison system! Why don’t prisons work? There is a saying that the heart of every problem is the problem of the heart. Prisons don’t work because they don’t deal with people’s hearts. Lasting Change Must Begin with the Heart If punishment could change people’s hearts, we could provide prison sentences long enough for inmates to return to society as model citizens when released. The best example in Scripture of punishment not changing the heart: Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. That is an incredible indictment. Things were so bad that God had to flood the earth. I can’t imagine a worse punishment than a global flood, which is to say that if a punishment could change man’s heart, a global flood should. The water subsided. Noah and his family got off the ark. Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings to God. Then we read: Genesis 8:21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. This is what God said in His heart, which means it isn’t my, Noah’s, or Abraham’s. Even this catastrophic punishment didn’t change man’s heart. Not long after the flood, what sins do you start seeing? Polygamy, incest, prostitution, and homosexuality. So you ask, “If the flood wouldn’t change man’s heart, what was the point?” God didn’t bring the Flood to change man. He brought the flood to remove the demonic influence in the world, and it worked. You don’t see demonic influence again until Christ’s First Coming, when the demonic realm flared up against the kingdom of God coming from heaven to earth. If punishment could change hearts, what parents wouldn’t keep spanking their children until their hearts changed? We hope punishment, whether prison systems or spanking, is a deterrent and provides outward change. But we would be foolish to think it provides any change inwardly. Only the Gospel can do that. The Heart’s Importance Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do (all outward behavior) flows from it. That is incredible. We are not told that some things we do, or even most, flow from our hearts. Everything we do flows from our hearts. All outward behavior originates inwardly. The way we talk, act, dress,
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    20 m
  • Jesus Celebrates Passover: The Spiritual Meaning of His Last Supper (Luke 22:7-18)

    Jesus Celebrates Passover: The Spiritual Meaning of His Last Supper (Luke 22:7-18)
    Mar 3 2025
    What is the true meaning of Jesus’s Last Supper and Passover? Luke 22:7-18 reveals the deep spiritual significance of the Last Supper, how it fulfilled the Passover, and what it means for believers today. Learn why Jesus earnestly desired to celebrate this meal with His disciples before becoming our Passover Lamb and how it foreshadows the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven. https://youtu.be/NWk8lTM16GU Table of contentsJesus’s Passover Preparation Instructions to Peter and JohnBe Encouraged By Jesus’s Sovereignty and ComposurePassover's Comparison with the Triumphal EntryWhy Did Jesus Earnestly Desire to Celebrate Passover with the Disciples?Jesus Earnestly Desired to Celebrate Passover Because It Looked Back on Israel’s DeliveranceJesus Earnestly Desired to Celebrate Passover Because It Looked Forward to Jesus Becoming Our Passover LambJesus Earnestly Desired to Celebrate Passover Because It Looked Forward to the Marriage Supper of the LambThe Passover Will Be Fulfilled at the Marriage Supper of the LambWhy Draw Attention to Christ as the Lamb?Why Use the Word Marriage ?Aren’t All God’s Words True?Christ, Our Passover Lamb, Delivered in a True and Greater Way Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper, is the clearest depiction many Christians have of Jesus's final meal with His disciples. While it is regarded as a masterpiece, da Vinci's painting is historically inaccurate, and the details are misleading. For instance, here are some mistakes: The painting shows daylight outside the window, but the Last Supper occurred at night. The painting shows Jesus and the disciples sitting on benches around one long rectangular table, but Jesus and His disciples reclined around a low table on pillows or couches. The painting shows thirteen Renaissance Italian men in oriental attire within a Florentine palace, but Jesus and the disciples were Jewish men in an upper room in Palestine. To complicate matters further, Dan Brown authored the best-selling fiction novel The Da Vinci Code, which also became a major Hollywood film. In it, he asserts that Christianity was built on a cover-up. He proposes that the church has conspired for centuries to conceal evidence that Jesus was a mere mortal, married to Mary Magdalene, and had children whose descendants reside in France. Da Vinci allegedly sought to reveal this cover-up, supposedly embedding clues in paintings like The Last Supper. In this artwork, Mary Magdalene is claimed to be the figure beside Jesus, rather than the apostle John. Amid the confusion generated by both da Vinci and Dan Brown, many of us have our ideas about the Last Supper. I was raised in the Catholic Church, which shaped my understanding of Jesus celebrating the Passover with His disciples. Even if you were raised in a Protestant church, you might misunderstand some details. We should set aside our preconceived notions and impressions about this meal to focus on the biblical account because it is the only reliable source of information regarding what transpired and why. With that in mind: Luke 22:7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Passover was the first of the spring feasts on Nisan 14, or March 30th. The feast of unleavened bread began the next day, Nisan 15, and lasted for one week until Nisan 22, from Friday to Friday. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began the day after Passover. When people prepared for Passover, they also prepared for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Over time, these two feasts began to be viewed as one feast lasting eight days, with the people simply calling it Passover. Luke 22:8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” Luke 22:9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” From the previous chapter, we know that Jesus taught in the temple during the day and went to the Mount of Olives at night.
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  • Why Did Judas Betray Jesus Christ? Uncovering the Truth (Luke 22:1-6)

    Why Did Judas Betray Jesus Christ? Uncovering the Truth (Luke 22:1-6)
    Feb 24 2025
    Why did Judas betray Jesus? Understand one of the most tragic and evil acts in history. Drawing on Luke 22:1-6 and other scriptural insights, we learn Judas’s betrayal was not simply an act of greed but resulted from a complex interplay of unbelief, Satan’s influence, bitterness in the hearts of the religious leaders, and disillusionment. https://youtu.be/8YGeaWHt_rg Table of contentsJesus Modeled Faith and WisdomJudas: The Religious Leaders’ Solution to Their DilemmaSatan Entered Judas Because He Was an UnbelieverThe Religious Leaders’ WickednessThe Leaven of Bitterness Grew in the Religious Leaders’ HeartsJudas Betrayed Jesus Because of Satan’s InfluenceJudas Betrayed Jesus Because of GreedJudas Betrayed Jesus Because He Was Disillusioned with HimJudas (Might Have) Betrayed Jesus to Get Him to ActJudas Committed the Evilest Act in HistoryReligious and UnsavedThe Application for Us Capt. Scott O’Grady was an American fighter pilot who was shot down over Bosnia in 1995 during the Bosnian War. When he ejected, he realized the Bosnians would be searching for him since they had witnessed his plane explode. Rubbing dirt on his face, he hid face-down as enemies approached his parachute, shooting their rifles mere feet from his hiding spot multiple times to try to flush him out or kill him. He had only his essential survival gear: a radio, pistol, map, compass, and a survival kit containing food and water-purifying tablets. Knowing that moving during the day was too risky, he traveled at night and concealed himself during daylight. He ate leaves, grass, and bugs and collected the little rainwater he could with a sponge in plastic bags. He used his radio sparingly to avoid detection, sending brief signals in hopes that NATO forces would pick them up. The dense forest and mountainous terrain made it extremely challenging to locate him. A NATO aircraft detected his radio signals, leading to his rescue after six grueling days. Capt. O’Grady’s story garnered national attention, and the 2001 film Behind Enemy Lines is loosely based on it. I’m not minimizing the danger Capt. O’Grady was in, but when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was behind enemy lines, and I would argue that the danger He was in was even worse: Luke 19:47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. The religious leaders have wanted to murder Jesus since early in His ministry, but they couldn’t because of the people. A public arrest would risk backlash from those who think so highly of Christ. In Luke 20:9-18, Jesus preached the parable of the vineyard owner and said the vineyard owner, representing God the Father, would destroy the tenants or religious leaders for murdering His Son. We can only imagine how much this would further upset the religious leaders. Look how they responded in Luke 20:19: Luke 20:19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. Again, we see why they couldn’t do anything to Jesus yet. It is shocking to think about: the religious leaders had no fear of murdering the Son of God, but they were terrified of the people. Jesus Modeled Faith and Wisdom Consider how Jesus responds to the opposition: Luke 21:37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him. Luke added this at the end of the chapter to inform us of how Jesus handled the situation He was in. Although Jesus’s teachings in the temple were popular, they only increased the opposition against Him. He was safe during the day because of the crowds, but when the crowds went home in the evening,
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  • In Daniel 9:24 What Does It Mean to Finish the Transgression, Make an End of Sins, Make Atonement for Iniquity, Bring in Everlasting Righteousness, Seal Up Vision and Prophecy, and Anoint the Most Holy Place?

    In Daniel 9:24 What Does It Mean to Finish the Transgression, Make an End of Sins, Make Atonement for Iniquity, Bring in Everlasting Righteousness, Seal Up Vision and Prophecy, and Anoint the Most Holy Place?
    Feb 20 2025
    Daniel 9:24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make atonement for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy place." The six things listed are divided into two groups: the first group of three is negative and relates to sin. It's important to understand each! Table of contentsThe First Group of ThreeFinish the TransgressionMake an End of SinsMake Atonement for IniquityThe Second Group of ThreeBring in Everlasting RighteousnessSeal Up Vision and ProphecyAnoint the Most Holy Place Daniel 9:24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make atonement for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy place." The Hebrew word for weeks is šāḇûaʿ and it means seven like our word dozen means 12, so it’s saying 70 sevens, or 490. Daniel’s people would be the Jews and Daniel’s holy city would be Jerusalem. So this is not a prophecy primarily for Gentiles or the church. The only way Bible prophecy makes sense is by understanding God has a separate and distinct plan for the Jews and the church. The second half of the verse lists six things that will mostly be accomplished during the 70th week, which is discussed in Daniel 9:27. The six are broken up into two groups. The First Group of Three The first group of three is negative and relates to sin. Finish the Transgression Daniel 9:24b to finish the transgression Notice two things. First, it says transgression, a type of sin where people sin willfully when they should know better; it’s like people see the line but step over it anyway. Second, transgression is singular because it refers to one specific transgression of the Jews. No matter how many sins the Jews have committed, there’s one transgression that trumps all others combined and that’s their rejection of Jesus. And it’s the same today: if someone isn’t a believer, no matter how many sins are in that person’s life, there’s only one sin that matters at that moment, and it’s that person’s rejection of Christ…because that is the sin that determines where they spend eternity. Consider: John 16:9 [Jesus said], “When the Holy Spirit has come, He will convict the world of sin, because they do not believe in Me.” That doesn’t sound like it makes much sense. Still, Jesus says it because even though there are tons of different sins, the one sin that matters is whether we believe in Jesus, and that’s why that’s the sin the Holy Spirit is going to convict the world of because if you believe in Jesus, I don’t want to say your other sins don’t matter. Still, IN A WAY, they don’t matter because they’re forgiven and paid for by Christ. And if you don’t believe in Jesus, your other sins don’t matter in a way because you’re going to be condemned for not believing in Jesus anyway: John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him This is why the Unpardonable or Unforgivable Sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. It refers to people deliberately, willfully rejecting the Holy Spirit’s work in pointing them to believe in Christ. That’s the sin they can never be forgiven for because they will have rejected the one way God has chosen to give us salvation. This means that by the end of the 70th week, the Jews will have received their Messiah. Make an End of Sins Daniel 9:24c to put an end to sin, There will also be an end to the Jews’ other sins because coming to Christ, or conversion, produces sanctification. Make Atonement for Iniquity
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    1 h y 1 m
  • We Obey What We Fear: A Biblical Truth About Faith and Obedience

    We Obey What We Fear: A Biblical Truth About Faith and Obedience
    Feb 17 2025
    Do you know what truly shapes our obedience? Our actions are governed by what we fear. Drawing from the timeless examples of Abraham, the Hebrew midwives, Pharaoh, Saul, and even the religious leaders, we learn that obedience to God flows from a genuine fear of Him—and not from our fear of man. Why? because we obey what we fear. https://youtu.be/qGrBmyob1o8 Table of contentsAbraham Obeyed God Because He Feared HimThe Midwives Obeyed God Because They Feared HimPharaoh Disobeyed God Because He Didn’t Fear HimThe Israelites Would Obey God If They Feared HimSaul Disobeyed God Because He Didn’t Fear HimThe Religious Leaders' Hatred for JesusThe Religious Leaders Obeyed the People Because They Feared ThemWe Obey God If We Fear HimThe Whole of Duty of Man Let me share four of the strangest fears I read about and observe how they affect people’s lives. Nomophobia is the fear of being without your cell phone. People with nomophobia experience excessive anxiety about not having their phone, their battery running low, or their phone being out of service. They have difficulty going anywhere or doing anything without frequently checking their phones. I wish Katie had this fear so I could reach her more easily. One of her most common statements is, “I can’t find my phone.” Arithmophobia, derived from arithmetic, refers to an intense fear of math. Individuals with this phobia experience anxiety when doing math or interacting with numbers. Katie often sends the kids to my office for help with math, and a few seem to have this fear. Arithmophobia can significantly affect a person’s life because many tasks and jobs require dealing with numbers. Xanthophobia is the fear of the color yellow. Individuals with this phobia fear yellow objects like school buses and flowers. These people avoid the color at all costs and find yellow foods distressing. Xanthophobia can disrupt daily life because yellow items are found everywhere. Ablutophobia is the fear of bathing. We can imagine how this fear impacts the lives of those who have it and those around them. We have a child, and I’m not going to tell you whether it’s our oldest, who claims to be afraid of holes. Because I love this child and don’t want her to live in fear of something absurd, I told her there’s no such thing as a fear of holes. Unfortunately, we live in a world where anything can be labeled as a phobia. So when I took out my phone to search the Internet, prove to my daughter that she has nothing to worry about, and help her overcome this irrational belief, I discovered trypophobia. Trypophobia is the fear of irregular patterns with numerous holes, such as those found in sunflowers, honeycombs, sponges, and seedy fruits. If fears did not affect our lives, they wouldn’t matter. But because fears shape our decisions, they matter greatly. The Bible doesn’t mention any of the fears I just discussed, but it does teach that what we fear controls us. I want to show you some examples and discuss their application to our lives. Abraham Obeyed God Because He Feared Him Genesis 22:2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Because God commanded Abraham to sacrifice the son he loved, we would be led to believe that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac because he loved God so much. He loved God even more than he loved Isaac. But look at Genesis 22:11 to see what the Angel said when he stopped Abraham: Genesis 22:11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that YOU FEAR GOD, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” James 2:23 calls Abraham the friend of God. This leads me to believe that Abraham loved God. That’s not a question in my mind.
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  • Jesus Said to Stay Awake and Be Watchful: Are You Ready? (Luke 21:34-36)

    Jesus Said to Stay Awake and Be Watchful: Are You Ready? (Luke 21:34-36)
    Feb 10 2025
    Discover the powerful call to vigilance. Jesus commands us to "stay awake and be watchful" so that we are always ready for His return. In this message, learn how being alert—watching rather than merely predicting—produces obedience and prevents disobedience. Drawing on teachings from Luke 21 and other prophetic scriptures, this sermon challenges us to live each day in anticipation of Christ’s imminent return. Learn how spiritual watchfulness can transform your life and prepare your heart for the blessed hope of His coming. https://youtu.be/Pg3hPQBSasg Table of contentsJesus Said We Can Tell When His Return Is NearBe Watchful Versus PredictingAvoiding Being Weighed Down By Dissipation, Drunkenness, and the Cares of this LifeBeing Watchful for Christ’s Return Produces ObedienceIgnoring Christ’s Return Leads to DisobediencePray (Stay Awake) to Escape TemptationChrist Expects Us to Stay Awake SpirituallyThe Relationship Between Staying Awake and PrayingEvery Generation Is Supposed to Believe They’re the LastChrist Returns Soon or Quickly?Regardless of When Jesus Returns I was always happy to see my students read C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when I taught elementary school. I loved the allusions to Christianity, and Aslan remains one of my favorite fictional pictures or types of Christ. Consider this exchange between Susan and Mr. Beaver about Aslan: “Who is Aslan?” asked Susan.“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver, “Why don’t you know? He’s the King. It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus.”“Isis he a man?” asked Lucy.“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lionthe Lion, the great Lion.”“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is hequite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”“I’m longing to see him,” said Peter, “even if I do feel frightened when it comes to the point.”1 I like how Mr. Beaver describes Aslan: not safe but good. I also like how Susan describes seeing Aslan as frightened but still longing to see him. As we come to the end of the Olivet Discourse and think about Christ’s return, maybe this is how we feel about seeing Him, too. Later in the book, I believe C.S. Lewis was trying to convey a lesson about readiness when Peter faces his first battle against a monstrous wolf that threatens all the creatures and the children. Peter is afraid, yet he charges at the monster anyway and kills it after a fierce struggle. Out of breath but relieved, Peter turns and sees Aslan “close at hand.” Aslan immediately says, “You have forgotten to clean your sword.” Blushing, Peter notices that the sword is “smeared with the wolf's hair and blood,” so he bends to wipe it clean. After this, Aslan knights Peter and says, “Rise up, Sir Peter Wolf’s-Bane. And whatever happens, never forget to wipe your sword.” I believe Aslan was trying to teach Peter a lesson about being prepared. Jesus does the same in this morning’s verses. Of all the ways Jesus could conclude the Olivet Discourse, He tells us to do two things: stay awake and be watchful. Jesus Said We Can Tell When His Return Is Near Consider this theme that sets up this morning’s verses. In Luke 21:8-11 Jesus looked to the far future and described the birth pains that precede His Second Coming, or precede the birth. He said there would be false christs, wars, and tumults. Then, in Luke 21:25-27 He described more signs associated with His Second Coming:
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    25 m
  • The Parable of the Fig Tree: A Warning for the End Times (Luke 21:29-33)

    The Parable of the Fig Tree: A Warning for the End Times (Luke 21:29-33)
    Feb 3 2025
    Are we in the End Times? The Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 21:29-33 serves as a warning and guide for recognizing the signs of Christ’s Second Coming. Jesus rebuked people in His day for failing to discern His First Coming, and He expects our generation to recognize the signs leading to His return. In this message, Pastor Scott LaPierre explains how this parable is misinterpreted, what generation Jesus referred to, and why His words are more certain than creation itself. https://youtu.be/AjvvztD2qNM Table of contentsJesus Expected the People in His Day to Recognize His First ComingJesus Expects Us to Recognize His Second ComingIs the Parable of the Fig Tree About the Generation that Sees Israel Become a Nation in 1948?Is the Parable of the Fig Tree Promoting Full Preterism?Which Generation Did Jesus Refer to in the Parable of the Fig Tree?The Parable of the Fig Tree Might Refer to the Race of the JewsThe Parable of the Fig Tree Likely Refers to the Generation that Sees the Signs OccurJesus Spiritually Established the Kingdom at His First ComingJesus Will Physically Establish the Kingdom at His Second ComingJesus’s Words Are More Certain than Creation ItselfJesus’s Return Completes Our Redemption Edgar C. Whisenant was a NASA engineer and Bible scholar who predicted that the rapture would occur between September 11 and 13, 1988, during the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah. He authored the book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. Three hundred thousand copies were distributed to pastors nationwide, and 4.5 million copies were sold in bookstores and other outlets. The book climbed to number two on the Christian Bookseller Association's list. Whisenant said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town…[I]f there were a king in this country and I could gamble with my life, I would stake my life on Rosh Hashana 88.” When September 13 came and went, Whisenant claimed that the event would still occur, revising his prediction to October 3. After October 3 passed, he stated his calculations were off by one year because he hadn’t accounted for the absence of a year zero. Following this, he published The Final Shout on September 1, 1989. Whisenant’s conclusion was primarily drawn from the parable of the fig tree. Before we jump into the parable, let's consider some related verses Jesus preached earlier. Jesus Expected the People in His Day to Recognize His First Coming Luke 12:54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? In the first century, there was no Weather Channel. Predictions were based on the appearance of clouds and winds. Jesus’ listeners understood. Rain would come if a cloud formed in the west over the Mediterranean Sea. A heat wave was approaching if a warm wind blew south from the Arabian desert. Jesus applauded their ability to discern the weather but rebuked them for being unable to discern the present time. Notice that it says present time—singular. The NKJV says, “This time.” The NIV, Amplified, and NASB say, “This present time.” Jesus isn’t discussing discerning various times or seasons. He’s referring to His day and those who failed to recognize His First Coming. The irony is they could tell whether it would be hot outside, recognize when the weather would change, predict a storm, and identify good days for planting and harvesting, but they couldn’t tell when the Messiah had come. When our kids can’t do something, we don’t typically criticize them. Instead, we teach them how to do it. For example, if our kids don’t know how to run the lawnmower, we don’t criticize them when the lawn isn’t mowed.
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  • The Return of Christ: When the Son of Man Comes (Luke 21:25-27 and Daniel 7:9-14)

    The Return of Christ: When the Son of Man Comes (Luke 21:25-27 and Daniel 7:9-14)
    Jan 27 2025
    What does the return of Christ really look like? Unpack the powerful prophecies in Luke 21:25-27 and Daniel 7:9-14, illuminating the Son of Man’s coming, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the kingdom that will replace all earthly rule. Learn the cosmic disturbances that will accompany Jesus’s second coming, the symbolism of the cloud as God’s presence, and how repentance prepares us for His arrival. https://youtu.be/eVMI3ssvKUI Table of contentsDaniel Prophesies of the Great White Throne JudgmentWhat Happens to the Little Horn?Do the Kingdoms End or Continue?Daniel Prophesies of the Son of Man’s ComingDaniel Prophesies of the Son of Man’s Kingdom Replacing Earthly KingdomsNebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Son of Man's Kingdom Replacing Earthly KingdomsCosmic Disturbances Accompany the Son of Man’s CominAssociate the Cloud with the Father’s PresencePrepare for the Son of Man’s Coming by RepentingWhy People Don't Repent Jesus is the God-Man: He is fully God and fully man. In the Gospels, we see verses that reveal Jesus’s deity and humanity. Think about whether these verses describe the Son of God or the Son of Man: Matthew 4:2 says Jesus was hungry. Son of Man Matthew 4:3-9 says He was tempted. Son of Man Matthew 8:24 says Jesus slept in a boat during a storm. Son of Man Matthew 17:2 says He was transfigured, His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. Son of God Matthew 24:36 says He didn’t know the day or hour of His return. Son of Man Matthew 27:50 says He died. Son of Man Mark 6:3 says Jesus had brothers and sisters. Son of Man In Luke 5:20, Jesus told the paralytic, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” Son of God John 1:14 says He showed us the glory of the Father, full of grace and truth. Son of God John 1:18 says nobody has seen God the Father, but Jesus has made Him known. Son of God John 4:6 says He was weary from his journey and had to sit down. Son of Man In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Son of God In John 10:30, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Son of God In John 17:21, Jesus said the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father. Son of God In John 19:28, Jesus said He was thirsty. Son of Man John 20:19 describes Jesus as being able to pass through walls. Son of God Now for this morning’s verses: In Luke 21:27, Jesus said He would come in a cloud with power and great glory. Son of God or Son of Man? I would think the Son of God! But we read: Luke 21:27 [people of the earth] will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. So, what is this all about? How is this the Son of Man versus the Son of God? The answer is in Daniel 7. Daniel Prophesies of the Great White Throne Judgment Daniel 7 and Revelation 20 describe the Great White Throne Judgment. Daniel 7:1-8 record Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, which represent four kingdoms: The first beast is a lion that represents Babylon The second beast is a bear that represents Medo Persia The third beast is a leopard that represents Greece The fourth beast, Rome, the antichrist’s kingdom, combines the previous kingdoms and has ten horns. The Antichrist has many names in Scripture, including the little horn: Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns (on the fourth beast), and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one (the Antichrist), before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man (so we know the horn is a man, versus another kingdom), and a mouth speaking great things (he’s proud and boastful). 9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days (this is a fascinating Old Testament title for God the Father) took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
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    26 m