Faith Matters Podcast

The Bible urges us to forgive – totally. It is very surprising, therefore, to learn that there is no teaching of this kind for forgiveness in Judaism.

Last time we read together we covered lessons learned from Joseph’s example. Do not let anyone know what someone said about you or did to you? Do not allow anyone to be afraid of you or intimidated by you. We will want them to forgive themselves and not feel guilty. But there’s more. Let’s cover those tonight.  

Last time we talked about how Joseph’s actions toward his brothers demonstrated total forgiveness. So what lessons about total forgiveness can the example of Joseph teach us?

The story of Joesph provides a heart-searching frame of reference by showing us how he was able to totally forgive his brothers.

Forgiveness isn’t approving of, excusing, justifying or pardoning an offense. It doesn’t have to include reconciliation and it doesn’t mean we deny, turn a blind eye or forget the sin against us. We don’t have to refuse to take a wrong seriously or pretend that we weren’t hurt by it. But forgiveness is necessary. “Just as God forgives people without approving of their sin, we also must learn that...

Last week we started chapter 1 and left off with this quote: Total forgiveness does not mean closing our eyes to those who will continue to harm others. Before going any further, let me clarify what total forgiveness is not.  

One must totally forgive those who will not be reconciled. It must happen in the heart, and when it does, peace emerges – with or without a complete restoration of the relationship. What matters is that the Holy Spirit is able to dwell in us ungrieved, able to be utterly Himself.

He has chosen to share many of those prophecies with us, if we will only heed what they say.

We’ve now spent twenty-nine chapters exploring the reality of the Rapture. A moment is coming when our world will change “in the twinkling of an eye”. The Lord Jesus will appear in the clouds and gather His people to Himself – first those who’ve died in Him, and then those who are fortunate enough to witness His return in the sky.

When Jesus leads His heavenly offensive against Satan and the Antichrist at that battle, He will follow a similar strategy as the US forces in Iraq – although He will have no part with conventional ammunition. His weapon will be glory. Christ’s transcendent splendor and power will be fully aimed at the evil that has bedeviled humanity for so long. In that final showdown, the rebellion of the Tribu...

When Jesus leads His heavenly offensive against Satan and the Antichrist at that battle, He will follow a similar strategy as the US forces in Iraq – although He will have no part with conventional ammunition. His weapon will be glory. Christ’s transcendent splendor and power will be fully aimed at the evil that has bedeviled humanity for so long. In that final showdown, the rebellion of the Tribu...

Signs play an important role in the modern driving experience. They tell us what’s coming. They alert us to possible problems. And they help keep us safe. The same is true for the “signs” identified throughout God’s Word. Thankfully, those signs cannot be altered or adulterated!

In order to have a firm grasp of God’s prophetic plan for the future, we need to notice the distinctions between the Rapture and the Second Coming.

There are many times when silence is a powerful witness to the facts, and that’s true when it comes to the Rapture of the chruch and the events of the Tribulation as we find them in the book of Revelation. So far, we’ve already established our conviction that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation. The “curious incident” of dead silence regarding the church in the core chapters of Revelation co...

The Rapture is a biblical promise stating that one day Jesus will drop everything, bring His people to Himself, and make our deepest dreams come true by welcoming us to His Father’s house for all eternity. In this chapter, we’re going to closely examine one verse of Scripture that indicates a before-the-Tribulation Rapture. It’s one of the most important verses in the entire New Testament on this...

All of us who know Christ are His ambassadors, His representatives in a deteriorating world. Just before the storm of the Tribulation’s violence hits the gates of the church, our great Commander is literally going to airlift us to safety, rescuing us before the storm. We’ve talked about that rescue often in these pates – it’s the Rapture. What you may be surprised to learn is that God has followed...

From Dr. David Jeremiah's book, The Great Disappearance We saw in the previous chapter that the Rapture is Imminent, meaning it can happen at any moment. Yet our Lord Jesus has not yet returned. For two thousand years, Christians have watched and waited for the catalyst of the Rapture to coalesce into the next phase in God’s prophetic plan. And we are still waiting. It's fair to ask the question:...

One of the key teachings about the Rapture that is recorded in several places in Scripture is often called the doctrine of imminency. When something is imminent, it could happen at any moment. There are no barriers that need to be removed or qualifications that need to be met before it occurs. Importantly, an event that is “imminent” is not necessarily “immediate.” Saying an event is imminent does...

Join us every week as we read through another chapter from our book review series. SALVATION IN THE TRIBULATION CH 20 The grace of God will pull many people out of the rubble of the Tribulation. There will still be hope for those left behind after the Rapture. The gospel will still be available, even if the church is gone. There will be at least four streams of gospel truth that will cut a channel...

Reading about the horrors of war as a student of biblical prophecy causes me to think about what our entire world will experience in the future. Reading about the trials and tribulations of people in a war-torn country reminds me that the Tribulation is coming — and perhaps coming soon. Remember, the Rapture will not occur in a vacuum. The moment Jesus steps through the gates of heaven and returns...

Now that we know a little more about what heaven is and what we will experience there, let’s learn how the reality of heaven impacts our lives here on earth. The New Testament constantly affirms that what we believe about heaven affects how we live now. How we view the future has a tremendous influence on how we conduct ourselves in the present.

We’ve spent many pages exploring and seeking to uderstand the Rapture of the church, during which Jesus will escort believers to heaven to live with Him forever. We know amazing new experiences are in store for believers in heaven, and we will learn about some of them in this chapter. But what, specifically, can we expect to encounter there? What will we find? In a word, everything! Everything tha...

Perhaps you’ve been wondering about the relevance of the Rapture. If the Rapture is coming in the future, why does it matter now? And if the Rapture is the moment when all Christians – living and dead – are reunited with our Lord in heave, why should that event affect my life on Earth? In the same way death can help all people recognize the value of life, the reality of the Rapture must motivate f...

What happens to children when they die is key to understanding what will happen to them should they be lifing on earth when the Rapture takes place. Many ask what will happen to young children on the day of the Rapture? What will happen to those little ones who are too young to make a decision about eternity when eternity crashes into our world? Does the Bible offer any clarity for parents and gra...

The Rapture must never become just an academic journey. The revelation in the New Testament of this future event is meant to encourage, challenge, and motivate us. If we really, truly comprehend the reality of the Rapture, it will change the way we go about life in the here and now. Let’s look at four words that describe the Rapture effect – four words that will help you determine if you are raptu...