Will Isaiah 11:6-9be fulfilled literally or figuratively? Since are strong views both ways, let’s look at what the Bible itself reports, and then analyze
“And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a young boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing baby will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will do no evil nor act corruptly in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh As the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6-9 LSB).read more
Should Christians fight in wars? What does the Bible say? Are there any alternatives?
Should Christians fight in wars? Jesus said there would be “wars” (Matthew 24:6,7).
“The weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ”—2 Corinthians 10:4,5 NRSV
According to the Bible, Christians are to engage in “warfare,” but not with “human” weapons.” They are fighting with “divine power” to “destroy arguments ” and ‘obstacles . . . against the knowledge of God,’ not people.read more
Spiritual, not fleshly, descendants of Abraham are the real Israel that counts with God
Who was God talking about when he made the promise to Abraham about his seed? Was the promise only referring to his physical offspring? Or, is there such a thing as “Spiritual Israel?”
“Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,’ though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.” (Romans 9:6-8 NLT)
The key point to keep in mind is that “Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God”. The “children of the promise” are spiritual – not fleshly – descendants of Abraham.
“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:6 NIV, emphasis added)
The three uses of the word “together” here indicate the unique aspect of the equality and mutuality that Gentiles have in the church with Jews as one body. “Israel,” as used here in Ephesians 3:6, represents Jewish Christians.
“Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule–to the Israel of God”—(Galatians 6:16 NIV)
The church is the true Israel, “the Israel of God,” the new seed of Abraham.
“The Kingdom of Heaven, still to be completed, but already strongly associated with the community which Jesus founded, is the fulfillment of God’s plan for Israel. So the Church is the true Israel, the recipient of God’s promises, which goes out to all nations in the power of Chrible” (Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, New Jerusalem Bible [NJB]). “It is stressed that Christianity is the logical outcome of Judaism and is in conformity with it” (Introduction to Acts, NJB).read more
Were Jesus’ Resurrection Appearances Physical or Spiritual?
Was Jesus resurrected as a spirit or with a fleshly body?
It is widely preached and believed that Jesus was resurrected with a physical body. It is even asserted that if one doesn’t believe Jesus was resurrected with a physical body, then that person denies that Jesus was resurrected. According to the Bible, was Jesus resurrected as a spirit or with a fleshly body? Let’s examine the scriptures to find out.
Hebrews 10:10 – “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ.” (NIV) Jesus’ physical body was consumed by God as a whole burnt offering.
1 Corinthians 15:35 – “How are the dead raised? With what body will they come?” (NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – “It is sown in a natural body, it is raised in a spiritual body.” (NIV) Jesus was resurrected with a spiritual body
1 Corinthians 15:50 – Fleshly bodies can’t go to heaven. Jesus went heaven. He could not have had a physical body since he went to heaven.
1 Peter 3:18 – “Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit” (NAB). read more
