The past three decades have yielded increasing evidence that the Book of Daniel is remarkably arranged according to literary structures found throughout the Old Testament. Far from being a product of haphazard socio-political forces, this book was intricately composed to…
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What Is Satan’s Throne? | Q&A
Question: What is Satan’s throne? (Rev 2:13) Answer: The mention of Satan’s Throne is found in Revelation in the letter to the church in Pergamum (or, Pergamos). And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The words of…
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Unjamming The Genres: Part One
What if the Book of Daniel is not a product of sociopolitical movements but a divinely designed document? In other words, what if this book was carefully and significantly arranged to convey a clear, inspired message to its readers? The…
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Who Are The Spirits In Prison (1 Peter 3:19)? |Q&A
Question: In 1 Peter 3:19, what does it mean that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison? Who are these spirits in prison? Answer: This passage has been the subject of much controversy. The problem seems to be that a…
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The Second Riddle: Some Assembly Required
Most scholars hold that this part of the book was heavily redacted—rewritten, repurposed, and connected to additional material (chapters 1, 7–12)—taking its final form for the sake of Jews living during or after the persecutions of Antiochus Epiphanes. But this…
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When Should An Offering Be Collected? | Q&A
Question: Why do some assemblies pass around the money basket immediately after passing the bread and wine? Is there any Scriptural basis for this? Does it not distract from the focus of the Breaking of Bread? I know of some…
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When Your Whole World Collapses, Part 3
In December 2004, an earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean created the deadliest series of tsunamis in history. How helpless the people on higher ground must have felt! They had the perspective to see the disaster coming, yet there was nothing…
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The Second Riddle: More Troublesome Toys
Biblical scholars have contributed to our understanding of Daniel by helping us to understand the genres and literary structures that make up this book. Unfortunately, however, an unwillingness to acknowledge the book’s divine origin consigns them to forcing square pegs…
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Why Should I Read Job?| Q&A
Question: Why should I read the book of Job? Answer: I received the following email and think it is worth including in its entirety. It reflects a perplexity about the book of Job that resonates with many. This morning I opened…
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When Your Whole World Collapses, Part 2
As we grow up, we all develop a sense of eagerness to reach certain stages of life. But what happens if those dreams are interrupted? It can be very difficult, even depressing. The prophet Ezekiel provides an excellent example of…
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The Second Riddle: Troublesome Toys
Liberal scholarship continues to grapple over fundamental questions surrounding the Book of Daniel. The trouble stems primarily from the nature of the book’s two halves: the stories of chapters 2–6 and the apocalyptic visions detailed in chapters 7–12. These two…
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Who Was Melchizedek? |Q&A
Question: Who was Melchizedek? Did he really exist as an historical person and was just pointing us to Jesus, or was he an appearance of Jesus [theophany]? Answer: The meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek is recorded in Genesis 14:18-20. The…
