Fresh fruit can be expensive, especially when organic or not in season. While the average price of fruit at the local grocery store may only cost a few dollars, some fruits can sell for thousands. The most expensive fruit is the rare Kanyao Durian, which costs nearly $50,000. Most of the world’s costliest fruits are grown in Japan, but the greenish-yellow Durian is found in Thailand. Durian is slightly controversial because of its pungent scent, which is compared to rotten me

How Nehemiah’s reaction to the plight of his people in Jerusalem is an example for us today. Nehemiah, who was part of the Jewish exile, served as a cupbearer to the Persian king. He selected the appropriate wine for each food and sampled each meal. He was a confidant of the king, and most likely discussed problems with him. The cupbearer would have informed the king of opinions and rumors from the court. One day, Nehemiah received news that his fellow countrymen in Jerusalem

What has occurred in the Gaza Strip over the last 20 years is actually a textbook example of why a Palestinian state must never be created. To understand this, we need to look back to recent history. The USA’s role as mediator After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Israel was growing increasingly dependent on the United States (although Israel doesn’t like to hear it). The US mediated the peace agreement with Egypt in 1979, and the later 1994 peace agreement with Jordan. Both of t

There is virtually no news platform that doesn’t mention a war somewhere in the world. And, unfortunately, many wars don’t even attract media attention, as experts claim that dozens of military conflicts are happening in different parts of the world. Furthermore, this is not the only problem. There are also private “wars”—family disputes, fights between neighbors, conflicts at work ... and, of course, widespread crime. Hundreds of thousands of cases of domestic violence also

George Frederick Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers in church history. His oratorio Messiah is the most popular of his works, as it has captivated and inspired many with its biblical lyrics and musical score. King George II of England was present during the first performance in London on 23 March 1743. When the famous “Hallelujah Chorus” was sung, which contains the words, “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” the King stood unexpectedly. His act of homage

The Jewish State is no coincidence, nor is it the product of the whim of the nations. The Jewish State is the work of God, who is pulling the strings behind the scenes and using the nations for His affairs. This State is necessary for the Lord’s return: Only in this way can biblical prophecy be completely fulfilled. Israel’s current existence is like a guarantee of Jesus’ return. It is a reality, and is inexorably approaching. The final fulfillment of God’s history with Israe

Encouragement from Biblical Prophecy Many Christians who concern themselves with biblical prophecy are accused of being pessimistic or negative about the world. They’re seen as “prophets of doom and gloom.” While this may be true of a few of them, the opposite is really the case. Christians with a sound theology of biblical prophecy are encouraged, joyful, thankful, able to look to the future with confidence, and able to encourage others. Their enthusiasm is contagious. They

Endurance under sail, Antarctic Ocean, c. 1915 Paget colour photograph by Frank Hurley (The “I Am” Sayings) In August 1914, he set sail for his third trip to the South Pole. Shackleton departed from London with 27 men (and their dogs) aboard his ship, the Endurance . In January 1915, his ship became trapped in sea ice off the coast of Antarctica, and the crew was compelled to vacate the ship, which was eventually crushed. Shackleton and his men were marooned upon four feet o

Israel will come back from a hopeless situation. If we look at the entire history of the diaspora, as well as the Nazi death camps, then we see that they will return and become one people again. Some commentators view Ezekiel 37 as already having been fulfilled at the return from Babylonian captivity. This could indeed be one fulfillment, but did everything recorded in the chapter happen at that time? The wind comes from all four directions, whereas the return from Babylonian

“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). While this verse may be applied to the whole world—and even on the spiritual level to the Church on earth—we must take careful note that it was addressed to “ye children of Benjamin” (verse 1a). The chapter ends, “the LORD hath rejected them” (verse 30b). That, incidentally, is the message of virtually all the prophets. Israel chosen, Israel re

We should always bear this in mind: We live set apart to the Lord, so we don’t let ourselves get carried away with each new development. But we are always concerned for people, that they may come to know Jesus and be saved. In 2 Peter 3:14, Peter addresses Jesus’ followers as “beloved.” What warmth and care radiate from his words! Then he calls for diligence (making a real effort and giving our all) in light of the coming judgment and Jesus’ return, so that we can be found “w

When we con­sider Ezekiel 37 in its overall context, its primary focus isn’t the resurrection of the dead, but the miracle of the restoration of Israel and the Jewish people. The theme is the return of Israel to its land and the people’s spiritual renewal. I’d like to begin this topic with two men who lived at the same time and shared the same first name. One lived in Europe, and the other across the pond in the US. Both were Bible-believing Christians who were convinced the

Zechariah 12 talks about the national repentance of Israel in turning to Christ. This is a future event. About a quarter of the Scripture is prophecy. In Amos 3:7 it says, “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” There’s a famous verse from Proverbs 25:2, which says, “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” God gave us a brain, and he expects us to use it … to invest brain pow

The Thunderbird application has five default tags for messages: important, work, personal, to do, and later. The tags serve as reminders to maintain a proper perspective each day, to identify which tasks are the priority. John 11 reveals how Jesus’ sense of urgency is fundamentally different from the average person. “Now a certain main was sick, Lazarus of Bethany” (v. 1a). His two sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word of the illness to Jesus. Next are what seem to be irreconci

In his second letter, Peter speaks of the final developments that take place before Jesus returns. He states how deception will begin to unfold, and how all moral barriers eventually crumble. One sign of these end-time developments is mentally putting off Jesus’ return to a day that never comes. Peter warns of the danger of end-time deception, and shows how we can resist it: 1. We remain steadfast by orienting ourselves toward the Lord’s return. 2. We remain steadfast by sett

(The “I Am” Sayings) To destroy something is generally easier than the act of creation, for the latter necessitates careful arrangement and effort to achieve a specific outcome. The scientific concept of entropy—or the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that natural processes tend to progress toward a greater degree of disorder or randomness over time—is one of the most observable facts of life. From physical structures to personal relationships, building something re

When darkness one day falls, We can maintain full confidence. For sometimes the greatest miracles Happen in the dead of night. (Author unknown) According to the Bible’s prophetic statements, the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, more than 100 kilometers (around 62 mi.) away, and the two of them made no preparations to travel to Bethlehem. If Jesus had been born in Nazareth, the biblical prophecy would not have been fulfilled. Y

There were two things to which John, as the forerunner, testified: First, he proclaimed the Lamb of God to the whole world. Second, he proclaimed the entire divine plan as it was revealed at the time. In a world of bad news, the gospel is the good news. The forerunner emerges before the coming Lord. There are seven things we can learn from him. An exegesis for our lives. So, who is the forerunner? We read in the Gospels: “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Hi

It’s been nearly two years since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and brutally murdered over 1,200 people on October 7, 2023. Since then, Israel has had to expand its fight to more fronts, and is being threatened from all sides. That’s why it’s time to stand up and cry out for the Jews just as Dietrich Bonhoeffer did, who said, “Only he who cries out for the Jews is permitted to sing Gregorian chant.” I’d like to preface my own thoughts with these words: “Comfort, comfort my

Prophesying about his three sons Ham, Shem, and Japheth, Noah pronounced, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant” (Gen 9:25-27). The Almighty refers to Himself as “the Lord God of Shem”—not of Ham (Canaan) or of Japheth. The Lord later refers to Himself as: • The God