Posts Tagged ‘ Gilgal ’

Representing Christ with Integrity

May 18th, 2012 | By | Category: Special Features (click on Article name)

The position of ambassador, messenger, or envoy requires a loyal and trustworthy person who possesses firm principles and integrity. Integrity implies consistency in actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. Integrity suggests having an intuitive sense of honesty and truthfulness in one’s actions.

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Hosea Chapter 4: God’s Complaint Against the 10 Tribes for Lowering the Righteous Standard

Mar 4th, 2010 | By | Category: Hosea, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)

The fourth chapter of Hosea is directed to the ten tribes. Proof that Judah is not included is verse 15: “Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend.” God had a controversy with the inhabitants of the land because there was “no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God.” This condition existed in Israel in Hosea’s day, and it is also true today.

“No truth” means no righteousness, no fair play, no justice. In other words, there is no standard of righteousness. Everyone is out for himself, and hypocrisy and ulterior motives are the norm. Demands along all lines are getting more and more unreasonable. The standard of truth is missing in politics and in everyday life—even in the home. This condition will get much worse as the trouble comes on the world.

Also, there was no mercy in the land. That was the prevalent condition in the prophet’s day. How dreadful! Of the last days, the Bible says that men shall be “without natural affection,” that is without tenderness and compassion (2 Tim. 3:3). Patience, reasonableness, and consideration are lacking. The women are getting hard today, like the men, and the men are losing their masculinity. Imagine a condition so bad that it could be said, “No truth, no mercy, and no knowledge of God”! Things are not that bad yet, but trouble is coming. Hosea was speaking doubly—to Israel in his day and, unwittingly, to the end of the present age.

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1 Samuel Chapter 11: Nahash the Ammonite, Saul’s Call to War and Made King Again

Feb 12th, 2010 | By | Category: 1 & 2 Samuel, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)

What a dreadful reply—Nahash, the Ammonite, agreed to make a covenant with the Israelites of Jabesh-gilead on the condition that he could thrust out all their right eyes and “lay it for a reproach upon all Israel”! Ammon and Moab were the two sons of Lot, so the Ammonites and the Moabites were derived from them.

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1 Samuel Chapter 10: Saul Anointed by Samuel, Two Signs

Feb 11th, 2010 | By | Category: 1 & 2 Samuel, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)

1 Samuel Chapter 10: Saul Anointed by Samuel, Two Signs 1 Sam. 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 1 Sam. 10:2 When thou art departed from me [...]

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1 Samuel Chapter 7: Ark is Brought to Abinadab’s House, Israel Repents

Dec 30th, 2009 | By | Category: 1 & 2 Samuel, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)

“All the house of Israel lamented after the LORD” for 20 years. After Eli and his two sons died, conditions were in a state of flux, and the people lamented because there was not a proper priesthood. We believe Samuel was a Levite, although most Bibles do not so state. At any rate, Samuel was very different from an ordinary Levite, for he had other duties and journeyed throughout the land, judging the nation of Israel, whereas the normal practice was to abide by the Tabernacle.

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2 Kings Chapter 2: Elijah’s Journey and Translation

Dec 27th, 2009 | By | Category: 1 & 2 Kings, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)

The sons of the prophets who were in a school at Bethel came forth to Elisha and said, “Don’t you know that God will take away Elijah, your master, from off your head today?” How unusual that all the sons of the prophets had been informed of the expectation, as well as Elisha, who said, “Yes, I know it.” The details are not supplied as to how the expectation was known.

What in the antitype indicates that they would be aware of the imminence of the departure of the Elijah class? Current events will become so conspicuous that they will know the time is drawing close for the completion of the Elijah class, the Church, the Little Flock. As Jesus said, “When [you see] these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption [deliverance] draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

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Elijah’s Fiery Chariot Part 5

Jun 2nd, 2009 | By | Category: Special Features (click on Article name)

SINCE Bible students have recognized that Elijah’s life was a prophecy—that he typed, or represented, the entire Church in his earthly experiences—his history has become the more interesting and the more intelligible. He was a faithful servant of God; but his greatest prophecy, that of his life, was not understood, even though the Lord declared, subsequently, “I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of the Lord.” (Malachi 4:5) This antitypical Elijah, beginning with Jesus in the flesh, has been coming and giving his message to the world for now more than eighteen centuries. We believe that the taking away of Elijah in the chariot of fire, narrated in today’s lesson, is about to be fulfilled as respects the Church of Christ in the flesh. Soon they shall be no more in the flesh; for the Lord will take them, will glorify them with Himself. As the Apostle explains, they will meet the Lord in the air, in the realm of spiritual control of the earth—in Kingdom power and great glory. —1 Thessalonians 4:17

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