Seven Periods “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20). by David Rice The view is widely held among our fellowship that the seven churches of Revelation chapters 1-3 have prophetic meaning to seven successive periods of time during the Gospel Age. Not that this is the only meaning. […]
Acts 1-2 “Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14 RVIC). by Todd Alexander If, as proposed in the previous article, the books of Luke and Acts are a two-part compilation of Paul’s legal defense before Roman authority, Acts chapters 1-2 unfold the critical proof of the endowment of power from Jesus Christ to his disciples. The most powerful evidence was the promise and descent of the holy Spirit. Paul’s work in […]
Acts 3-5 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence [face] of the Lord” (Acts 3:19 RSV). by Jeff Earl In one of the most beautiful and compelling accounts in Acts, the apostles, Peter and John went to the Temple in the ninth hour (3 PM), the hour of prayer. Every day, a man who was lame from birth was carried to the gate of the Temple, where he […]
Acts 6-9 “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalemgreatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). by Joseph Ledwinka In the development of God’s precious disciples, change is the undeniable constant. God uses change as a tool to accomplish His sanctifying work. Change in relationships, responsibilities, direction, motivation, behavior, and ultimately change of heart, lead his people, sometimes through adversity, but always toward their sanctification. The thread […]
Acts 10-12 “And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter” (Acts 11:13). by Micah Hess The faithful witnessing and evangelical work of the early church added thousands to the church (Acts 2:41, 4:4, 5:14). But this early success of preaching the gospel also brought intense persecution from Jewish religious leaders, which in turn sent Christians fleeing from Jerusalem. As […]