Daniel 9:25-27

Title: And he shall confirm

(The Lord Jesus, the Messiah, will confirm a covenant with the Jews in [9:27])

The modern mainstream interpretation of (Dan. 9:25-27) hinges primarily on the anti-Christ, when the traditional view of the first part or (v.27) points to Messiah.

The word "confirm" in (v.27) is the Hebrew word "gabar" (H1396), which literally means "to put strength to something existing". Obviously, only God had a prior covenant with the Jews, and was confirmed by the Lord Jesus during his 3 1/2-year ministry which culminated in his sacrificial death on the cross, and also signalled the end of the law and the sacrificial system of the temple; although there was maintained, after the veil to the holy of holies had been torn in two, animal sacrifices that were already an abomination to God.

(v.27b, will destroy) destruction of the temple in AD 70.

(The remaining 3 1/2 years?) Points to 3 1/2 years of tribulation before the Parousia, the bodily return of the Lord Jesus at the end of this age.

Addendum:

A literal temple has to be in existence for these verses to go the way of an "anti-Christ" interpretation. At present there is none, and no temple will be built for two main reasons (and there could be more): The priesthood has been abolished, and we are now the temple of God.

(The Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath Rapture Theories are a hoax!)

Romans 8:38

Title: I am convinced

Freedom from fear of the unknown is attained by the consciousness, as the mind progresses from self-righteousness to imputed righteousness. The mystery of the victory of eternal life over the aftermath of sin is revealed in the surety of the experience of the resurrection and the underlying comfort and peace which the Holy Spirit has sealed onto the spirit of the Christian. The worst of the world can no longer deny us the best of eternity.

John 1:1

Title:  In the beginning was the Word

The Big Bang Theory engenders more questions than explanations to the subject that has puzzled the heathen since the time man chose himself over God or stopped believing in God altogether: the origin of the universe.

At first glance, the quest may seem legitimate, but actually starts with the wrong foot.  Origin necessitates a maker, for the simple reason that nothing can create itself; there has to be an outside entity that would cause something into existence.

At this point may we ask the Big Bang Theory advocate where the elements that surround the concept originate: space, time, matter, energy?

Actually a ten dollar Bible would have told the pseudo-scientist that the universe had no physical origin:  The universe started with God and was spoken into being by his Word.  The origin of the cosmos is spiritual; and true to form, scientific investigation could not come up with the building-block or the essence of matter, because matter was created out of nothing according to the Scriptures.

God through the Lord Jesus created all things, and unless scientists and philosophers confess the Creator, they will always come up with theories that are laughable and generate more questions than answers.

John 21:22

Title:  If I will that he tarry till I come

If the Lord Jesus was not Deity, his claim to authority over life and death was nothing short of high-minded arrogance and blasphemy.  If the Lord Jesus was not God in the flesh, his assertion to possessing the prerogative of the Father was irreverence and an outright lie.

The Lord Jesus was God.  Every person who has been born from above knows that the Lord Jesus is God by the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.

The Lord Jesus being God was the purpose, sustainer, and summation of his life and ministry.  If he was merely a man, he had no business determining the termination of physical life, let alone provide for eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 4:15

Title:  Unto the coming of the Lord

Adam Clarke (Adam Clarke Commentary, published 1810-1826) argues against the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory

Was the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory a prevalent and accepted teaching prior to 1830?

In consideration of the Commentary and Critical Notes by Adam Clarke which was completed in 1826, I beg to contend to the contrary.  Clarke, in his notes on (1 Thess. 4:15) saw the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, that “We may suppose that the judgment will now be set, and the books opened, and the dead judged out of the things written in those books.”

How in the world did a Bible commentator of Clarke’s caliber and scholarship fail to mention a Pre-Tribulation Rapture event in conjunction with (1 Thess. 4:13-18)?  The answer is simple: he did not fail, because prior to 1830, when the false Pre-Tribulation Rapture Doctrine came out of Scotland, it was unknown among the churches and in Christian literature.

Clarke was justified in interpreting (1 Thess. 4:13-18) as the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, and not a snatching away of the church seven years prior to the Second Coming.

John 3:16

Title:  Perish

Although we joyfully quote this verse in reference to assurance of eternal life, in my estimation it is the most frightful statement in all of Scriptures, in view of the fate of those who would not place their confidence or entrust their spiritual well-being to the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

That final destination is total destruction and full separation from God, signaled by death and with finality and from which there is no escape or second chances.

Yes, the good message is eternal life, but occupying the same stage is a dire warning to those who would not heed to the invitation from God who sent his Son to save sinners who would repent and believe; an awful state of interminable condemnation/ punishment to those who would neglect so great salvation.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Title:  Fear God

I pray that we would not wait to the end of our lives to come to the conclusion that life is about God, not us. Not all suppositions are the result or summary of a process, but can be a formulation by which the whole course of action is guided. Let us look at life as a seamless piece of cloth from start to end, where its dawning is not independent of the closing stages of dusk.