The Special Representative: About the Apostle Paul’s special assignment. Part 4. The story of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9 also provides a summary of what he stood for in his life as an Apostle. An Encounter with Jesus It all began with Paul’s question: “Who art thou, Lord?” (Acts 9:5). Someone once said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” That’s exactly the philosophy that Paul made a reality in his life. Paul

Scripture reveals that when God saw everything that He created, it was “very good” (Gen 1:31). Scripture reveals Adam’s creation as follows: “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (2:7). God then planted a garden, “and there He placed the man whom He had formed” (v. 8). Later that day, the Lord “caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and … took one of his ribs” to fashion “int

The judgment seat of Christ is the place where rewards will be distributed. This will take place after the Rapture. Then, when the Lord returns to earth with His bride at His second coming to reign here, she will have already been tested, purified, and rewarded. There are several New Testament passages that speak about this. Second Corinthians 5:10 is one of the most succinct: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due

Language is not merely a means of conveying messages, but an essential component of culture. Through language, memory, identity, values, and worldview are shaped. This becomes clear when we consider American, British, or Indian English: Not only do we encounter differences in pronunciation or vocabulary, but also entire cultural worlds. The same applies to the German language as it is spoken in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. Even the way people greet one another reveals h

The Special Representative: About the Apostle Paul’s special assignment. Part 3. The Bible mentions Saul/Paul for the first time in Acts 7:58: “And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” The Lord didn’t call Paul without reason; He’d appointed him to his role from the womb (Gal 1:15-16). And so, God gave him access to new revelations and developments in redemptive history. Yet beyond tha

Having never seriously read or studied the Bible prior to faith in Christ, the experience of this writer was similar to that of Peter in reading the letters of the Apostle Paul, “in which are some things hard to understand” (2 Pet 3:16). Searching for quality works that would explain the Bible was rather futile in the local bookstore, as most of the books in the religious section were obviously heretical or distortions of Scripture (even to a new believer). Locating a couple

It seems as if Leah had no one in her life whom she could rely on, or who would truly love her. Not her father, her sister, or even her own husband. But what about God? God saw Leah. In Isaiah 11:1 we read, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” Roots are underground, lying in the darkness where you can’t see them. You plant, wait, and hope that new life will one day grow from those buried roots. And this also h

The catastrophe of World War II not only accelerated the Jews’ return but also Israel’s resurrection from the ashes of history. The State’s founding literally occurred in the fire of history and could never have been anticipated, humanly speaking. In light of this, something else is also significant. In 2022, Israeli historian Dan Diner published Another War. In the book [unavailable in English], Diner shows the developments of World War II from a Jewish perspective, as well

Paul and the Exalted, Glorified Christ The twelve Apostles were called by the humbled Jesus, while Paul was called by the exalted and glorified Christ. Yet, the exalted Christ also remains the previously humbled Son of Man, who has not discarded the name Jesus. Saul was called by the Lord with the phrase, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest” (Acts 9:5). Almost all of Paul’s letters begin with the wording, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto

Many people worldwide are asking questions with regard to the work of God among the nations of this world. God is indeed active in the affairs of humanity, and He is absolutely sovereign to accomplish His eternal decrees. Throughout the Bible, it is apparent that the people of God have always struggled with living holy and godly lives in the midst of a very perverse and wicked world. Leviticus is a book that is solely concerned with the holiness of God’s people (cf. Lev 19:1-

In the first four trumpet judgments of Revelation 8, we see how the foundations for life on earth are being increasingly destroyed. According to verse 11, many people die after drinking the water, which was rendered bitter. And finally, with the sixth trumpet (Rev 9:15), one third of what remains of humanity perishes. Doing the math, this would mean that half of humanity perishes through the judgments of Revelation 6 and 9. And, the shocking thing is that the rest of the peop

Israel was born through fire in Egypt, gathered through fire in history, was resurrected as a nation through fire in 1948, and will be saved through fire in the future. A biblical survey through Scripture and redemptive history. In 2004, when Ariel Sharon (Israel’s Prime Minister at the time) addressed the Knesset about the Gaza “disengagement plan,” he said that Israel had been born in blood. He was referring to the events surrounding the nation’s founding on May 14, 1948. A

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal His son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen…” (Gal 1:15-16). About the Apostle Paul’s special assignment. There are, I think, four things that can be said of Paul. First, no one ever experienced such a radical conversion and calling as he did. Second, no one else can so radically testify to turning away from his old life and devotion to a new life in Christ. Th

The day prior to Halloween in 1938, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre deceived the United States. They performed a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds,” transforming the four decade old novel into fake news bulletins dramatizing a Martian invasion of Earth. The broadcast was too realistic, with the actors’ voices and sound effects convincing listeners that the bulletins were genuine. Confusion and fear led to phone calls to the police, newspaper offices

During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will masquerade as God. We are already seeing the end-time tendencies that lead to this pinnacle of delusion about our own divinity. Today, these mostly appear in the way people deal with death and the climate. The answer that God gives in Revelation is as striking as it is highly relevant. Revelation 13 shows us the emergence of the beast, the Antichrist. Verses 5-6 make it clear that it is a human being. The beast has a large mouth for

Third Consolation: Perceive What Jesus Did for You “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). This is Jesus’ explanation for leaving the disciples. He’s going to prepare a place for them. We read, “In my Father’s house are many rooms” (John 14:2a). Therefore, the phrase “to prepare a place” must mean something else, since the rooms are already there. The word “prepare” doesn’t necessarily mean to construct a building. This verb often refers to making preparations for some

John G. Paton was a pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides Islands (now Vanuatu) of the South Pacific Ocean. One night, hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters. The natives intended to set the building ablaze and to kill the Patons as they exited. Paton and his wife prayed all night for God’s protection. When morning came, they were amazed to see none of the hostile tribesmen remained, and had no idea what led to their departure. Years later, the chief of the trib

God’s coming kingdom: the biblical evidence for the Millennial kingdom on earth. The expectation of heaven is an essential hope of the Christian faith. It is the goal toward which we strive, the promise that strengthens and comforts us. So, why does the Bible also speak of an earthly kingdom of God? Isn’t the promise of heaven enough? Yet the early Christians were convinced that the earthly kingdom is just as important as the heavenly one. Why? Because it will complete God’s

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Rom 15:13). An interpretation and application for everyday life. Hinduism requires about 6,000 gods to convey a little hope, which then comes to nothing. In the best-case scenario, Buddhism’s highest hope ends in Nirvana; that is, total dissolution or non-existence. Muslims place their hope in an unpredictable god who provides no certainty, and

On the consolation that truly comforts, which the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples in His farewell discourse. When we suddenly find ourselves faced with unexpected, threatening situations in our lives, families, or at work, we wonder how we should live going forward. Where can we find direction? In the Bible. And John 14:1-3 concretely provides an answer in the form of a very personal invitation. The Lord extended it to His disciples when explaining how they should behave in