“And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.” (Ezekiel 43:2 ESV). The prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of a new Temple, one yet to be built. In this vision,
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4 ESV). Who did James accuse of adultery? Wasn’t it those who claimed to be Christians and therefore members of the Bride
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. … For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:24, 26 ESV). At first glance, this statement about faith from James seems to contradict Paul’s letters to the Romans and
‘And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord”‘ (Ezekiel 37:3-4 ESV). The Lord gave the prophet Ezekiel a spiritual vision of
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to
“And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:23 ESV). Amidst His words of divine judgment, God gave Israel a promise of a coming shepherd who would lead and feed them as God’s own flock. This shepherd
“and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24 ESV). Not only is the new covenant sacrifice of Jesus “better” than the old one instituted under Moses, it is also “better” than the blood sacrifice offered by Abel.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 ESV). Who is this “great crowd of witnesses?” They are those who have already run
“Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation” (Psalm 111:1 ESV). The Psalmist announced his intent to praise and give thanks to the Lord in the company of the congregation. He describes what he will do, with what motive he
“Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down” (Ezekiel 24:16 ESV). The Lord gave the prophet Ezekiel, whom He often referred to as the “Son of man,” a prophecy concerning