Dr Paul Allen

Emperor Caligula, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Jesus prophesied that before the end and his return, false prophets and false messianic pretenders would come, and that “the abomination of desolation ” would be standing in the temple before its destruction.  Some point out that Jesus’ prophecy of the “abomination of desolation” standing in the temple was nearly fulfilled in the attempt of emperor Gaius Caligula , who insisted on receiving divine honors, to set up his image in the temple.  Some argue that Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled in the occupation of the temple mount by the leaders of the Zealot movement who usurped the high priesthood.  Some suggest that Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled when the Roman commander (and later emperor) Titus entered the temple, set up the Roman standards in the temple court complete with attendant sacrifices, and subsequently destroyed the temple.  Whatever the specific event, connecting “the abomin...

Zechariah's vision of the four horsemen (Zechariah 6:1-8), engraving by Gustave Doré. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.” ( Zechariah 1:8 ) The Lord divulges ten visions to Zechariah in one night. All of them are among myrtle trees in the “bottom” of a dark, mysterious, and somewhat eerie ravine near Jerusalem . The first vision reveals a man on a red horse responding to questions from the “ angel of the LORD ” and “the LORD of hosts ” ( Zechariah 1:8-17 ). It is likely that the angel of the Lord is a pre-incarnate form of Christ speaking to the First Person of the Godhead. Two other horsemen are cited, which ties these heavenly envoys to the four horsemen of Revelation and to the horsemen driving the four chariots revealed in Zechariah 6 . When Zechariah asks, “ What are these? ” (8:9), he is told ...

The Prophet Hosea, by Duccio di Buoninsegna, in the Siena Cathedral (c. 1309-1311) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD” (Hosea 1:2). God instructed Hosea to marry a woman named Gomer . There is no reason to think that Gomer was a woman of ill repute at the time of her marriage to Hosea, but God told Hosea from the start that she would be unfaithful to him.  She would prove to be an adulterous wife, and her children would be of questionable parentage. God was calling Hosea to experience a little taste of what He Himself had experienced with Israel . God had married Israel in her youth, knowing in advance that she would prove unfaithful to Him. How painful this must have been for Hosea. Yet, because of his love for her, and God’s command, he married her anyway, ...

English: Nadab and Abihu consumed by fire from the Lord; illustration from "Figures de la Bible", illustrated by Gerard Hoet (1648-1733), and others, and published by P. de Hondt in The Hague in 1728; image courtesy Bizzell Bible Collection, University of Oklahoma Libraries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Leviticus 16. Leviticus 16 is the central passage describing and explaining the Day of Atonement ritual. Following the death of Aaron ’s sons Nadab and Abihu , (Lev 10), the text focuses on issues of cleanness and uncleanness of the sacred space. Chapter 16 deals with purification of the sanctuary, the high priest (16:1–4), and the people. After the high priest had achieved atonement through sacrificing a bull, he was qualified to serve in the sanctuary. The Day of Atonement ritual required two goats which were used to bring atonement for the people’s sins. The high priest would cast lots to determine which would go to God and which would go to “ Azazel .” He would then...