Dr Paul Allen

Is the book of Revelation a linear chronology of distant future events? Or does the book describe the Roman persecution of Christians and Rome’s destruction of the temple—events that occurred in John’s lifetime? The first view opts for a mid-AD 90s authorship (long after the temple was destroyed), the second supports a pre-AD 70s authorship (when the temple was still standing). Each of these readings is complicated by Revelation 11:1–2: Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.” Taken literally, these verses indicate the Jerusalem temple still stands—apparent proof that Revelation was written before ad 70. If so, the idea that John is describing the Roman persecution and invasion—empowered by Satan and his hatred for the Ch...

English: A painting created by Leonardo Da Vinci depicting St John the baptist (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah . We might expect to see this important advance work unfolding in the capital city of Jerusalem. Instead, just as was prophesied, John preached, taught, and made disciples in the remote landscape of the Judean Wilderness (Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1; Matt.3:1–3). And he did so for a reason. John’s father, Zechariah, was serving as a priest in the Temple when an angel of the Lord told him what to name his son, that his son would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth, and what his son’s assignment would be ( Luke 1:8–22). Though unable to speak because of his disbelief, Zechariah later rejoiced when his tongue was loosed after the birth of John. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and said, “And you, my child, … will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,” which confirmed specifically what ...

Jesus baptism site - River Jordan 015 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) During the first century, the land promised to Abraham was filled with Roman soldiers who had taken possession of the country by force. An extension of that Roman power lay in the hands of the Roman-appointed priestly aristocracy who had taken control of Jerusalem ’s Temple. They had used their wealth and political influence to obtain and maintain their fraudulent authority over the Temple institution. In the midst of these claims of authority, there was Jesus . All authority in heaven and on earth actually belonged to him (Dan. 7:13–14; Matt. 28:18). In contrast to others, his was the legitimate authority. From place to place he revealed his authority through his words and actions that resulted in the overthrow of evil. In part 2 we will look at various ways Jesus revealed his authority and see again how certain places were often part of that process. In these eleven chapters we will examine events that occurred in...

English: Painting of David with his harp, Paris Psalter, c. 960, Constantinople (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) In the OT the words for praise mainly used are hālal, the root meaning of which is connected with making a noise; yādâ, which was originally associated with the bodily actions and gestures which accompany praising; and zāmar, which is associated with the playing or singing of music. In the NT eucharistein (lit. ‘to give thanks’) is the favourite word, implying on the part of the person who praises the attitude of one more intimate with the person praised than in the more formal eulogein, ‘to bless’. The whole of the Bible is punctuated with outbursts of praise. They rise spontaneously from the ‘basic mood’ of joy which marks the life of the people of God . God takes pleasure and delight in his works of creation (Gn. 1; Ps. 104:31; Pr. 8:30–31), and all creation, including the angels, expresses its joy in praise (Jb. 38:4–7; Rev. 4:6–11). Man also was created to rejoice in God...

Hillsong Conference  (Photo credit: Jiaren Lau ) In the OT the words for praise mainly used are hālal, the root meaning of which is connected with making a noise; yādâ, which was originally associated with the bodily actions and gestures which accompany praising; and zāmar, which is associated with the playing or singing of music. In the NT eucharistein (lit. ‘to give thanks’) is the favourite word, implying on the part of the person who praises the attitude of one more intimate with the person praised than in the more formal eulogein, ‘to bless’. The whole of the Bible is punctuated with outbursts of praise. They rise spontaneously from the ‘basic mood’ of joy which marks the life of the people of God . God takes pleasure and delight in his works of creation (Gn. 1; Ps. 104:31; Pr. 8:30–31), and all creation, including the angels, expresses its joy in praise (Jb. 38:4–7; Rev. 4:6–11). Man also was created to rejoice in God’s works (Ps. 90:14–16) and fulfils this purpose by ac...

StJohnsAshfield StainedGlass JohnTheBaptist Paul (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Psalm 145:4–7 is a beautiful Scriptural summary of our responsibility as parents. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. As parents, we do many things for our children. We feed, clothe, shelter, and nurture them. We provide for them, guide them, and prepare them for adulthood. But out of all the things we do as parents, one of the greatest and most important things we must do is show our children the glory of God. We need to recount to them his glorious deeds. We need to proclaim to them his wonders and show them his goodness. We need to teach them that they were created to be in communi...

English: The Shekinah Glory Enters the Tabernacle; illustration from The Bible and Its Story Taught by One Thousand Picture Lessons. Edited by Charles F. Horne and Julius A. Bewer. 1908. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." ( Psalm 27:4 ) The theme of the house of God is prominent in the book of Psalms . The phrase "the house of the LORD" occurs seven times, plus once each for "the LORD's house" and "the house of the LORD our God." There are three references to "the house of God," one to "the house of my God," and one to "the house of our God." Then, "thy house" is mentioned eleven times, making a total of at least 25 explicit references to the house of the Lord in the book of Psalms alone. Many of these passages...

Image via Wikipedia "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD , So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD." ( 1 Kings 8:10-11 )   This remarkable glory cloud filling Solomon's Temple at its dedication had also been present when the tabernacle in the wilderness was dedicated. At that time, Moses recorded how "a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, . . . and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." Furthermore, this "cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel , throughout all their journeys" ( Exodus 40:34-35, 38 ). There could be no doubt as to His presence.   It is well known that this cloud of divine glory was called the Image via Wikipedia Shekinah . Although this actual word never occurs in the Bible i...