2023 Issues

News and Views

January 1, 2023

Religious Northern Ireland has more Catholics than Protestants for the first time, census results showed, a historic shift that some see as likely to help drive support for the region to split from Britain and join a united Ireland. — Reuters, 9/22/2022 Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom criticized a recently renewed Vatican deal with China, saying it emboldens the Chinese government to crackdown on Christian communities. The secretive provisional agreement originally signed in 2018 and renewed Oct. 2, […]

Today in Prophecy

January 1, 2023

Changes in Christianity “For a season will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 RVIC). In 2014, Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research began a biennial survey seeking what Americans believe about God, salvation, ethics, and the Bible. In this year’s report, titled, The State of Theology, the survey found a […]

King Joash of Judah, the Ingrate

January 1, 2023

The End Thereof are the Ways of Death “The ear that harkeneth to the reproof of life shall abide among the wise. He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul” (Proverbs 15:31‑32 ASV). By Mark Blicharz Jehoash, also known as Joash, appears frequently in the narratives of Kings and Chronicles and means “God has given.” Joash, son of Ahaziah and the seventh King of Judah, ascended the throne at the age of seven, after his wicked grandmother Athaliah had been killed at […]

The Repentance of Manasseh

January 1, 2023

A Sinner Not Beyond Hope “And when he was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 33:12). By Keith Belhumeur The scriptural record of the reign of King Manasseh is a cautionary account of his initial rejection of Jehovah and of a king contributing to his nation’s decline into idolatry. It is, however, also one of repentance, humility, mercy, and hope. It shows us what can happen if we stray […]

King Zedekiah, the Oath Breaker

January 1, 2023

A Lesson from the Life of King Zedekiah “Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). By Percival Blenman It might be the weekend, and you are headed to the supermarket when you stumble upon a friend you have not seen in months. As you open your mouth to say “Hello,” you realize that you made a promise to that friend months ago that you completely forgot to keep. If you have […]