Disciples Digital Library

The False Prophet employs economic pressure to coerce men and women to render homage to the “beast from the sea”  –  Revelation 13:16-18 .  The “ false prophet ” uses all the economic power of the first “ beast ” against anyone who refuses to give allegiance to the beastly system. The “ mark of the beast ” is an economic tool, a blunt instrument used to impose conformity on populations, for this figure’s ability to level economic sanctions against nations and peoples is the key to its power - [ Photo by maria pagan on Unsplash ].

The Law was an interim stage with a termination point. Therefore, Christians are no longer under it, and instead, are “in Christ.”   In  Galatians , Paul argues that adopting the rite of circumcision is regression to something rudimentary, a reversion to an earlier stage in the redemptive history of God’s people. If Gentiles adopt a  Torah -compliant lifestyle, they will return to bondage and once more experience the social divisions inherent in the Law - [ Photo by  Susan Holt Simpson  on Unsplash ].

Jesus is the true “son of Abraham,” the heir of the covenant promises, and the one who implements the inheritance .  The introduction to  Matthew  declares Jesus to be the “ son of David, the  son of Abraham .” These are more than names on a genealogical list. They prepare the reader for the theme of fulfillment that dominates this gospel. He is the Davidic Messiah and the promised heir of the Patriarch, and in him, the covenant promises are fulfilled - [ Arrival - Photo by  Gran Canaria For Nomad List  on Unsplash ].

The “inhabitants of the earth” represent the men and women who are excluded from the “book of life” by their own decisions .  The “ inhabitants of the earth ” are unrelenting in their hostility to Jesus and his servants, even rejoicing in the violent deaths of his “ witnesses .” Unlike the “ nations ” and the “ kings of the earth ,” they are beyond redemption, and their names are excluded from the “ book of life ”  - [ Photo by  CHUTTERSNAP  on Unsplash ].

Jesus is the “word made flesh” and the true tabernacle in which the glory of God is revealed and now resides  –  John 1:14 .  The opening paragraph of John’s Gospel presents major themes that are explicated in the body of the book. For example, Jesus is the “ Word made flesh ” in whom life and light are found, and the true and final “ tabernacle ” where God’s “ glory ” resides. Moreover,  John  employs imagery from pivotal events in the history of Israel to illustrate what God has done in Jesus - [ Photo by Damir Spanic on Unsplash ].

Believers prepare for the “apostasy” and the coming “man of lawlessness” by “standing firm” in the apostolic tradition .  Having explained the coming “ apostasy ” and “ man of lawlessness ,” Paul then provided instructions on how believers avoid the coming deception and find themselves standing “ blameless ” before Jesus when he “ arrives with all his holy ones .” And above all, they must “ stand fast ” and cleave to the teachings received from the apostles - [ Photo by Madhu Shesharam on Unsplash ].

Considering the future arrival of Jesus, Paul summoned believers to become sanctified completely by that day  –  1 Thessalonians 5:23 .  Paul concluded his first letter to the Thessalonians with a series of exhortations summoning believers to righteous living in the interim between their conversion and the “ arrival ” of Jesus “ from heaven ,” and ended with a call for their complete sanctification by that day. His final exhortation included verbal links to the preceding sections of the letter - [ Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash ].