Building on the Foundation

  Can you imagine a world with no war and no crime? No murder, no stealing, and no kidnapping? No drugs or drunkenness? No cancer, no heart disease, no Alzheimer’s? Imagine a world with no adultery, no domestic violence, and no broken homes. Imagine a world with no lying, thieving politicians and no crooked cops or judges. Imagine a world “in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13). Well, I’ve got good news: this world exists, and we will all one day see it! Not everyone will ultimately live in it — more on that later — but everyone will have a chance. This wonderful world, of course, is the Kingdom of God. This is the heart of the gospel. When Jesus Christ came to earth in the flesh, we read that He “came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). This was the purpose of His ministry: “But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to th...

Guest post by Richard Gray . This is the final installment in a series on the fall holy days .  Ethanim is the Biblical name for the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar (1 Kings 8:2). It is Strong’s #388 from #386. “ perennial, constant, especially used of water. A perennial stream constantly flowing” ( Gesenius). “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty [386, ever-flowing ] stream” (Amos 5:24). Pure water is a symbol of God’s Holy Spirit. As water is essential for life, the Holy Spirit is essential for eternal life. The seventh month will be the first opportunity to receive salvation for those who never had that opportunity during the 6,000 years of man. On the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles (temporary dwellings) the final judgment will occur. On the 21 st of Ethanim, on the sixth day of the week. “…the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein sh...

Have you ever wondered what will become of Satan the Devil? The one who deceives the whole world (Rev. 12:9), who accuses God's people continually (Rev. 12:10)? Will God destroy him outright, or confine him to eternal torture in the lake of fire? Will there be any place for him after God creates the new heavens and new earth? Rev. 20:10 seems to indicate that Satan will live forever in the lake of fire: "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Is this it? Or is there more to the story? Mat. 25:41 tells us that "everlasting fire" has been prepared for the devil and his angels. Similarly, a few verses later, in v. 46, Jesus warned the wicked of everlasting punishment. Yet we're told that the unrepentant wicked will not be tortured forever, but will in fact be destroyed forever: "'For behold, the day is coming, burni...