Recently, a friend asked me to explain the terminology used to indicate times and seasons in the Bible and among modern prophets. I wrote my friend the following letter, and I hope that it is helpful for you also.

Dear .....,

You asked about the "'times and season" issues that prophets face when prophesying.

First, I admit it is easy to get the timing of a prophetic word wrong. I have done so. I had to repent because I accidentally misled someone. I specifically remember [back when Mike was a resident] about prophesying that a disastrous storm was coming. I said it would happen within two weeks. It did come, but it was more like two years. Fortunately, our pastor, Max Flynn, stepped in and corrected that word so folks didn't panic.

When giving a prophetic word, I often warn people that God's timing differs from humanity's. God exists outside of time and steps into time as He will.  

•  Jesus said He was coming "soon." It has been 2000 years.
• God spoke through Samuel, "this day,"
...

Why is the Bible so important? Why must a person consider the claims of the Bible carefully? In other words, what's the point of the Bible?

We've previously talked about letting the Bible speak for itself and considering what it says about itself. These include the claims that:

•  The Bible is a record of the revelations of God given to men.
• The Bible is inspired; God showed the various authors what to write down.
• The Bible is inerrant.
• The Bible has received divine protection to ensure its existence continues throughout history.

However, numerous lies and distortions concerning the Bible's teachings are still bandied about. One often repeated fallacy is that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament. Richard Dawkins, in his book The God Delusion, states,

The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a ...

Publishing houses have repeatedly declared that the Bible is the most published book. Originally written on papyrus and leather scrolls, the Bible is not available in various sizes, languages, exterior colors, and translations. Online and d editions of the Bible also exist.

Yet it is also true that the Bible is one of the most neglected books in the Western hemisphere. Even among those who call themselves believers, few can honestly say they have time set aside daily for Bible Study.

The younger generation often ignores the Bible, while this generation chases spirituality through various causes, occultic practices, and strange religions. Yet the Bible still speaks. It speaks with authority and power to those who will listen to its words. It defines a narrow road that leads to righteousness and eternal life and debunks the claims of other religions.

The Bible also declares it has its supernatural origin. The Bible proclaims its unique status as a document that speaks to each generati...

The Bible claims to be a unique writing, a writing that contains the thoughts and plans of the Elohim. This Biblical claim forces humanity to face a series of “If” questions: 

• If the Bible is the Word of God, then a person had better pay attention to It (Isaiah 34:16). 

• If the Bible is truly God's Word, then this communication from God is more important than one's home, job, or present circumstances. Even one's concern for others whom one might love or hate pales next to the significance that Almighty God desires to instruct an individual (Isaiah 1: 18-20). 

• If the Bible is God's Word, it is vitally important that the individual knows what information is in the book (Psalms 119:104). 

• If the Bible is God's Word, then the Bible alone can fully explain man's feelings of confusion and lostness over his existence (Genesis 3), and the Bible alone will contain the solutions to the questions one faces. 

• If the Bible is God's communication to man, it alone states God's p
...

Like Moses, David, and even Jesus, the Psalmist treasured the written Word of God.

The Psalmist also knows that he can trust God to protect him and © fulfill His promises (Ps. 56:4). God had already demonstrated the power of His truth (Ps. 33:4) and His covenant promises. God had spoken and acted upon these promises throughout the ages (Ps. 105:8, 147:19). Thus, the promises of God, contained in His Word, give men hope during various trials. "My soul fainteth for salvation, but I hope in Thy Word." (Ps. 119:8l see also 119:116. 107, 154, 41). Over and over again, the Psalmist declares that

• " I hope in Thy Word." (Ps. 118:81).
• "I trust in Thy Word." (Ps. 119:423).
• "I have hoped in Thy Judgements" (Ps. 119: 43),
• and "in His Word do I hope." (Ps. 130:5).

God's Word also brings comfort and renewal during trials and afflictions (Ps. 119:50, 67, 82). Thus, when the Psalmist needs God's help and protection, he turns to God's Word and His promises as a basis for his pleas for help. "...

We have looked at various issues concerning the Bible--Its revelatory nature, Its authority, Its inspiration, etc. But how did the Bible become the Bible? Why were Isaiah, Nahum, and Revelation included in the Bible but the Gospel of Thomas Book of Jasper omitted? In answering these questions, we are discussing the canonicity of the Bible.

The canonicity of the Bible refers to the authoritative books inspired by God for inclusion in Holy Scripture. C. The antiquity or authenticity of a book [nor the prestige of a religious community] could make a book canonical or authoritative. A book is valuable because it is canonical and not canonical because it is or was considered venerable. Its authority is established by God and merely discovered by God's people. [Dr. Norman Geisler, 2005. https://jashow.org/articles/the-canonicity-of-the-bible/]. In other words, the Holy Spirit revealed which books were to be made part of the Canon and included within the modern Bible. 

Ultimately, one's att...

It was recently revealed that Communist China is rewriting the Bible to control Christians and deceive them into giving their allegiance to the Communist Chinese party.

• The Chinese Communist Party, China's ruling regime, has been on a mission to rewrite the Bible. This quest has reportedly resulted in shocking distortions of Scripture and Gospel truth. [https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2022/february/china-rsquo-s-communist-government-is-reportedly-rewriting-the-bible-and-calling-jesus-a-lsquo-sinner-rsquo-but-that-rsquo-s-not-all-hellip,
• "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced plans to update the Bible to 'keep pace with the times.' The revisions will include adding 'core socialist values' and removing passages that do not reflect communist beliefs," a VOM Facebook post read.
  [https://gospelnewsnetwork.org/2022/02/18/chinas-communist-government-is-reportedly-rewriting-the-bible-and-calling-jesus-a-sinner-but-thats-not-all/]
• The Chinese Communist Party is demanding that the Bib
...

One aspect of the Bible that creates stumbling blocks for many folks is the Bible's accounts of miracles. Many non-believers and Liberal theologians doubt the veracity and inspiration of the Biblical record because the Bible recounts various miracles.

What is a miracle? According to the Bible, a miracle is an event or activity only God can perform. It involves the direct and decisive action of God. This action usually supersedes one or more natural laws. Miracles defy behavioral expectations [such as the plague of frogs] or natural laws [Jesus' walking on the water]. Miracles testify to the supernatural work of God. Miracles demonstrate God's mastery over the physical universe and His interest in the lives of individuals and groups.

The incredible nature of some of these recorded miracles leads some people to reject the Bible. However, these miracles are actual historical events. Although these occurrences may appear fantastic and almost unbelievably extraordinary to man's limited in...

The early Church Fathers accepted the Old Testament Scriptures based upon the testimony of Jesus. Jesus had revealed to His disciples that His life and ministry fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [Mt. 5:17-19, KJV]

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”  And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself...

I have written about the supernatural nature of Scripture, focusing on the revelatory nature of God's Word. I have also written about how humanity "got the message" [so to speak] of God's revelation. Through the process of "inspiration," God directed men to write down what He revealed to them.

Authority of Scripture

Today, let us consider the authority of Scripture. The Bible claims to be authoritative because it reveals God's decrees and laws.

• The Scriptures are the commandments of the Lord (1 Co. 14:37; Heb. 1:2). Since God created humanity, we must obey the old and New Testaments as God's orders to us. The primary revelation "in these last days" is Jesus. Jesus demonstrated by His life, as well through his words, the love of the Father. The New Testament writings of Paul, Peter, and others serve as part of this Written revelation concerning Jesus that helps to clarify Jesus' sacrificial role and to prepare the Church for Jesus' return.
• Over one-third of the Bible consists of p
...