Biblical Studies

"For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Hebrews 2:2-4 ESV)  "God is still speaking to us. In the second chapter the author tells us again that God was bearing witness to the message. That is the whole case for the Bible from beginning to end. We do not meet in the church to consider some human idea or theory as to how we can all be healed and relieved and made happier in this world. There is nothing wrong with the study of psychology and so on, but this message starts on a different plane altogether. The Bible does not pretend to be a human book; it claims to be a divine Book. It claims from beginning t...

And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations." (Revelation 17:5 ESV) One of our Bible study groups is going through the book of Revelation. There is much helpful background and exposition on this book by Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, who served as professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, as well as being a teaching elder at Believers Chapel in Dallas, Texas. Many of his messages are available at the SLJ Institute website here .  Here are a few excerpts on the background of the "mystery" of Babylon...  John wrote in his first epistle, “We know we are of God and the whole world lies in the evil one.” Nowhere do we see that spirit more clearly than here in the building of the great tower of Babylon. “Grandiose in its imagination, rebellious in its pretensions, yet reflective of a basic insecurity,” someone has said. God said when He gave the original comman...