The concept of a struggle, a controversy, between good and evil is found in many cultures. The idea has persisted through the millennia often expressed through myths. Today, because of the influence of higher criticism and modernist rationalism, many Christians deny the reality of a literal devil and evil angels. These were, the argument goes, … Continue reading –>
The book of Job brings up many important issues. But many of these same issues do not get answered there. We need the rest of the Bible. And even then we still “see through a glass, darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12). As we saw yesterday, for example, the book of Job says nothing about how Satan’s rebellion … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Great Controversy” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School … Continue reading –>
The opening scenes of the book of Job show us a few crucial points. First, as we have stated, they reveal the reality of another dimension beyond what, of ourselves, we can now know-a heavenly dimension with heavenly beings other than God. Second, they also show just how interconnected our earthly life here is with … Continue reading –>
The book of Job pulls back a veil and reveals a dimension of existence that our eyes and ears and worldly philosophies could never show us. (If anything, these verses should show us just how limited our eyes and ears and worldly philosophies are when it comes to understanding the big picture!) And what these … Continue reading –>
The book of Job begins on earth, in a place of peace and tranquility. However, by the sixth verse of the first chapter, the venue changes. It instantly shifts to an entirely different aspect of reality, one that is not seen by humans unless through divine revelation. And interestingly enough, this other aspect of reality, … Continue reading –>
The book of Job begins on a relatively positive note. From a worldly perspective at least, we see a man blessed in every way. Read Job 1:1-4. What do the texts reveal about the kind of life that Job lived? What were the positive aspects of Job’s existence? Job certainly seems to have it all, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Job 1:1-5, Job 1:6-12, Zech. 3:2, Matt. 4:1, Ezek. 28:12-16, Rom. 3:26, Heb. 2:14. Memory Text: “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2). Scattered … Continue reading –>
Despite all the horrific calamities that befell Job, not only did he stay faithful to God, but he was given back so much of what he had lost. Yet even here, as with much of the book of Job, questions remain unanswered. Sure, Job is just one book of the Bible, and to build an … Continue reading –>
Read Job 14:14-15. What question is Job asking, and how, in his own way, does he answer it? One of the themes in the book of Job deals with the question of death. How could it not? Any book that looks at human suffering would, of course, have to look at death, the source of … Continue reading –>
