L.33: The Prophetic Books

Transcription

1 L.33: The Prophetic Books A prophet does not only predict, but he also proclaims God s message. Answer the following questions from what you know about the office of a prophet 1. According to the above definition of a prophet, do we still have prophets today? (1 Cor. 12:28 29)? yes 2. What does Scripture call people who are gifted to proclaim God s message today? preachers, pastors, ministers, evangelists 3. The Old Testament prophet got his message from dreams, visions, or even the audible voice of God. Where do today s speakers find God s message (2 Tim. 3:16 4:2)? in the Bible 4. Define a false prophet. one who claims to speak for God, but who does not have God s message 5. What are two scriptural ways to distinguish between true and false prophets (Matt. 7:15 20; 1 John 4:1 3)? (a) (b) by their fruit (their lives) by their message (denial of Christ s deity)

2 L.34: Christ in the Prophetic Books Look up the following passages and answer the questions. 1. Why was it necessary for Christ to die? a. Matthew 20:28 b. Matthew 26:28 to be a ransom for many for the remission of sins c. Acts 20:28 to purchase His church d. 1 Corinthians 5:7 to be the Passover lamb 2. According to 1 Corinthians 15:12 22, what would it mean for us personally if Christ hadn t risen from the dead? a. 15:14b b. 15:15 c. 15:17 d. 15:18 e. 15:19 Our faith would be in vain. We would be false witnesses. We would still be in our sins. Christians who have died wouldn t be with God. We would be of all people most to be pitied. 3. What is one promise you have because Christ rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:55 57)? We have victory over death. 4. What is one effect Christ s Resurrection should have on our service (1 Cor. 15:58)? It should make us firm and unmovable.

3 L.35: Isaiah: Prince of Prophets Read the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14 30), and answer the following questions about accepting responsibility. 1. Are all people given the same abilities and privileges? no 2. Are the same results required of everyone? no 3. What is required of each servant? that he be faithful with the abilities that are given to him 4. When will you be judged for your faithfulness (25:19)? when Christ returns 5. What reward does a faithful servant receive (25:21)? joy and the rule over many things 6. What reward does an unfaithful servant receive? the loss of everything, outer darkness, suffering

4 L.36: Isaiah: Prophet of the Gospel Look up the references below and write down whether they refer to Christ s ministry as Prophet, Priest, or King. 1. Revelation 17:14 King 2. Luke 24:19 Prophet 3. Deuteronomy 18:18 Prophet 4. Hebrews 4:14 16 Priest 5. Isaiah 6:1 King 6. Hebrews 10:11 12, Priest 7. Matthew 7:28 29 Prophet 8. Isaiah 40:10 King Read the references below and write down whether they describe Christ as God or as man. 9. John 1: John 7: John 10:30 man man God 12. Romans 1:3 man 13. Titus 2:13 God 14. Hebrews 1:8 God

5 L.37: Jeremiah: Troubled Prophet Read the following passages on persecution and answer the questions below. 1. Why does the world persecute Christians (John 15:18 20)? because the world hates Christ 2. Read 1 Peter 4: a. What does Peter say about persecution (4:12)? It should be expected; it isn t unusual. b. How should you respond to persecution (4:13)? I should rejoice. c. How does God benefit when we respond rightly to persecution for the name of Christ (4:14)? He is glorified. 3. What should encourage you when you re going through persecution? a. Matthew 5:11 12 the fact that I ll receive a reward if I suffer for Christ b. 2 Timothy 2:12 the fact that I ll reign with Christ if I suffer with Him

6 L.38: Jeremiah: Prophet Against Hypocrisy List the seven errors of the hypocritical Pharisees that angered Christ (Matt. 23:13 32). Then write the one judgment that will befall the hypocrites in the end (Matt. 23:33). 1. First error (23:13) [Hint: Neither suffer ye means you also don t allow. ] They kept people from coming to Christ. 2. Second error (23:15) [Hint: Compass means go over ; proselyte means convert. ] They made converts who were then worse off than they had been before. 3. Third error (23:16) [Hint: Debtor means under obligation to keep an oath. ] They didn t keep their word through an underhanded system of taking oaths. 4. Fourth error (23:23) [Hint: Mint, anise, and cummin refer to small spice plants usually grown indoors.] They tithed these small, insignificant house plants but neglected other more important issues. 5. Fifth error (23:24) [Hint: Strain at means remove. ] They were picky about unimportant things but ignored the really big things. 6. Sixth error (23:27 28) [Hint: Whited sepulchers means tombs painted white on the outside. ] They looked good on the outside, but were rotten inside. 7. Seventh error (23:29 32) [Hint: Garnish means decorate ; sepulcher means tomb. ] They fought against and destroyed God s prophets. 8. Final judgment (23:33) [Hint: Damnation means condemnation. ] They ll ultimately be condemned to hell.

7 L.39: Ezekiel: Prophet of Warning Read the verse and answer yes or no regarding your responsibility. Leviticus 5:1 1. Does God consider you guilty if you cover for someone else s wrongdoing? yes 2. When you cover for someone else s wrong, is it as if you were helping him do the wrong? yes 3. Does God consider you guilty of the crime, even if you weren t directly involved? yes 4. Does God consider you guilty if you only knew about the wrongdoing but didn t say anything about it? yes Read the passage about your responsibility to other people and answer the questions. Ezekiel 33: What was the watchman s responsibility to the people in his city? He was to watch and then warn the people of danger. 6. What would happen to the people of the city if they didn t heed the watchman s warning? They might be killed by the enemy. 7. What would be done to the watchman if the people didn t heed his warning? He would not be punished; his only responsibility was to warn the people. 8. What would happen if the watchman didn t sound a warning? He would be held guilty for any loss of life that occurred. 9. What do the following two passages have to say about your responsibility to another believer who falls into sin? a. Galatians 6:1 I m responsible to try to restore another believer who is living in sin. b. Matthew 18:15 If there s a problem between another believer and me, I m to take the initiative to go to him and resolve it.

8 L.40: Ezekiel: Prophet of Salvation Read the following verses and summarize what each one says about Christ s mission here on earth and our proper attitude toward sinners. 1. Matthew 1:21 Jesus came to save His people from their sins. 2. Mark 2:17 Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. 3. Luke 19:10 Jesus came to seek and save the lost. 4. Romans 5:6 8 Jesus died for us while we were still sinners Timothy 1:15 Jesus came to save sinners.

9 L.41: Daniel: Prophet of History Read the following verses, and answer the questions about how God uses kings and nations for his purpose. 1. In Whose hand is the king s heart (Prov. 21:1)? God s 2. What happened when the judges died and the people began to do evil (Judg. 2:16 23; 3:12 13; 4:1 2)? God raised up enemy nations to conquer Israel. 3. How did God plan to use Assyria (Isa. 10:5 6)? God raised up enemy nations to conquer Israel. 4. To what three things does God compare the nations and rulers of the earth (Isa. 40:15)? What is the bottom line when He evaluates the nations (40:17)? a drop in a bucket dust on the balance scale a very little thing Before God, the nations are nothing, less than nothing, and useless. 5. What does God call rulers (Rom. 13:4)? His ministers

10 L.42: Daniel: Prophet of the Future Match the verse references with the names they suggest for Antichrist. a. Daniel 7:8 b. Daniel 9:26 c. Daniel 11:21 d. Daniel 11:36 e. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 f. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 g. 1 John 2:22 h. 1 John 4:3 i. Revelation 13:1 1. the prince that shall come 2. the man of sin or the son of perdition 3. the willful king 4. the Wicked (lawless one) 5. the Beast 6. the little horn 7. the vile person 8. the Antichrist 9. the liar Write the word true beside each accurate statement. For each false statement, cross out the incorrect word or words, and write one word in the blank that will make it true. Daniel 11:30, The Antichrist will show favor to those who honor the holy covenant. 2. Such as do wickedly against the Antichrist shall he corrupt by flatteries. 2 Thessalonians 2: The Antichrist has satanic power to work signs, glorious wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness (every sort of deceptive evil). (cont.)

11 4. The Antichrist can deceive lost people because they refuse to love the truth and be saved. 5. Satan will send the lost people a delusion so that they will believe the Antichrist s lie. Revelation 14: An angel will announce what will happen to those who worship the Beast and his image and who receive his mark on their foreheads. 7. These false worshipers will become objects of God s blessing. 8. These false worshipers will be tormented temporarily with fire and brimstone. 9. We may conclude from this study that one of the main reasons people compromise their faith is that they really are not saved.

12 L.42: Daniel: Prophet of the Future Daniel 10 is a lengthy introduction to the vision Daniel recounts in chapters 11 and 12. The revelation in chapter 11 is a very detailed prophecy of a coming era in Israel s history. We ve done the historical research for you. On this page and the next is a verse-by-verse narration of chapter 11 that includes all the names and dates known from secular history. Your job is to produce a sort of interlinear version by copying the historical account (or your own shortened and simplified paraphrase of it) above the biblical text (pages 2 9). In the example below, the gray print shows how you could rephrase the first four sentences of the historical account to line up with Daniel 11. Historical version: 2 Three Persian kings followed Cyrus: Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis, and Darius Hystapsis. Xerxes followed these kings. He was known for his great wealth and for his military expeditions against Greece. 3 Then Alexander the Great came into power and conquered the all the nations he chose to attack. 4 Very soon after conquering much of the world, however, Alexander died and his empire was divided among his four generals: Lysimachus, Cassander, Antigonus (replaced by Seleucus), and Ptolemy. None of these generals were members of Alexander s family, and none of them had as much power as he had. 5 At this time Ptolemy I Soter ruled Egypt. He gave refuge to the prince Seleucus I Nicator, who tried and failed to defeat Antigonus in Syria. But when Ptolemy and Seleucus joined forces, they were able to defeat Antigonus s heir in 312 BC. Later, Seleucus extended his kingdom from India through Asia Minor and into Europe. Thus Seleucus I Nicator became stronger than Ptolemy I Soter and had a greater kingdom than Ptolemy. 6 In 253 BC, Antiochus II Theos, an heir of Seleucus I, agreed to divorce his wife, Laodice, and marry Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. In 246 BC, Antiochus died at the house of Laodice, his former wife. Laodice then claimed that Antiochus s dying wish was for one of her sons to be king. Berenice responded by having her son declared king. She also asked for aid from her brother, Ptolemy III Eurgetes (Ptolemy II had also died in 246). Before Ptolemy III could establish Berenice s son as king, both she and the boy were killed. Thus neither she nor Ptolemy II succeeded. Instead she, her attendants, her father, and her husband all died. 7 Ptolemy III was able to conquer the Seleucid kingdom as far north as Asia Minor. 8 Ptolemy was forced to return to Egypt, however, due to an insurrection there. When he returned he brought with him statues of gods that had been carried away by the Persians. 9 Then Seleucus III was able to regain the territory Ptolemy III had conquered. In 240 BC, he launched an unsuccessful attack against Egypt. 10 The sons of Seleucus II were Seleucus III Soter ( BC) and Antiochus III the Great ( BC). Seleucus III fought primarily in Asia Minor and was assassinated only a few years into his reign. After putting down a rebellion in the east, Antiochus III steadily made his way down the Mediterranean coast (which had evidently been retaken by the Ptolomies). Theodotus, the Ptolemaic commander, gave little resistance. 11 As Antiochus III neared Egypt, Ptolemy IV Philopator realized his danger. He convinced Antiochus to agree to a four-month truce. Ptolemy used this time to build an army. Antiochus took the offensive again from the spring of 218 BC until that winter. He resumed military activity in the spring of 217 and met Ptolemy at Raphia ( his fortress ). 12 Ptolemy IV soundly defeated the 70,000 strong army of Antiochus III there. Though he won a great victory, Ptolemy regained only some of the land along the Mediterranean coast that Antiochus III had just taken. Ptolemy III still remained a strong force. [From 216 BC until 204 BC, Antiochus III turned his attention to Asia Minor and the east. He was able to expand his empire in both directions. When Ptolemy IV died in 203 BC, his six-year-old son, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, took the throne. Various factions battled for control over the young king.] 13 Antiochus saw his opportunity to attack. He retook Coele-Syria. 14 The Ptolemies counter-attacked but were soundly defeated at Panium (Caesarea Philippi) in 200 BC. 15 During this war there were uprisings against the Ptolemies, including one by the Jews. Their revolt, however, was put down by the Ptolemaic general Scopas. 16 In the end, however, Antiochus III prevailed and retook the contested land, which included Israel. 17 Antiochus didn t attack Egypt itself because Rome was becoming powerful in the region and may have allied itself with Ptolemy. Instead, Antiochus made a peace treaty with Ptolemy, which he sealed with the marriage of his daughter, Cleopatra, to the young Ptolemy V. Antiochus thought that perhaps he could control young Ptolemy through Cleopatra, but Cleopatra s loyalties ended up with her husband. 18 After his victory over the Ptolemies, Antiochus III tried to conquer Greece. Though he was at first successful, he was defeated by the Roman commander Lucius Cornelius Scipio at Magnesia. 19 Antiochus returned to his own land and was assassinated when he tried to plunder one of his own temples. 20 Seleucus IV Philopater succeeded Antiochus III. Because he owed a large tribute to Rome, Seleucus sent his chancellor, Heliodorus, to collect money from the Jerusalem temple. Heliodorus failed and returned to assassinate Seleucus. 21 At the time Seleucus IV was assassinated, his brother, Antiochus IV, Bible Truths D, Unit 1 L.42 Page 1

13 was traveling back from being a hostage in Rome, where Demetrius, Seleucus s oldest son, had just taken his place. In order to keep any of Seleucus s sons from taking the throne, Antiochus gathered an army from Pergamum and swept into the country. He married his brother s widow Antiochus was militarily successful. He also meddled in Jewish affairs. Jason, the brother of the high priest Onias, offered Antiochus money and a promise to permit the Hellenization of Jerusalem in return for being made high priest himself. Antiochus readily agreed to have Onias murdered. 24 Antiochus was noted for buying favors with plunder he exacted from his own people. During this time he also undertook several minor incursions against Egypt. 25 Cleopatra had protected Egypt by keeping her son, Ptolemy VI, from attacking Antiochus. But after her death his advisors persuaded him to attack. 26 Ptolemy VI lost decisively at Pelusium. 27 Antiochus IV sought to legitimize his new rule in Egypt by setting up a protectorate in the name of Ptolemy VI. As soon as Antiochus left Egypt, Ptolemy turned against him. 28 When Antiochus returned to his own kingdom, he plundered the Holy of Holies. This led to a revolt by Jason against the new high priest, Menelaus. (Antiochus had replaced Jason with Menelaus earlier because Menelaus had offered him more money). 29 In 168 BC, Antiochus IV returned to Egpyt and besieged Alexandria, where Ptolemy VI had fled. 30 While Antiochus was there, the Romans arrived in ships from Cyprus and demanded that Antiochus leave Egypt, which he did under the threat from Roman force. 31 In the fall of 168 BC, Antiochus transformed the Jewish temple into a sanctuary of Zeus Some of the Jews succumbed to Antiochus s flattery and began to follow his pagan practices. The faithful underwent persecution but were refined. After Cyrus came Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis, Darius Hystapsis, 2 Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia and Xerxes, who was known for his great wealth and the fourth shall be far richer than they all and by and for his military expeditions against his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against Greece. the realm of Grecia. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that conquered all the nations he chose to attack. shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. After conquering much of the world, however, Alexander died. 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, His empire was divided among his four generals. Not of his family, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; none of them had as much power as he had. and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. Ptolemy I Soter 5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and Seleucus I Nicator and one of his princes; Bible Truths D, Unit 1 L.42 Page 2

14 had a greater kingdom than Ptolemy. Their kingdom and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; stretched from India through Asia Minor and into Europe. his dominion shall be a great dominion. Antiochus II Theos, an heir of Seleucus I, 6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; agreed to marry Berenice, for the king s daughter of the south shall come who was the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she But both Berenice and the her boy were killed shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, before he could become king. nor his arm: but she shall be given up Ptolemy II had also died in 246. and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times. 7 But out of Her brother, Ptolemy III Eurgetes, a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, was able to conquer which shall come with an army, the Seleucid kingdom as far north as Asia Minor. and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: 8 and shall He brought statues of gods that had been also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, carried away by the Persians. and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. Ptolemy was forced to return to Egypt, 9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, Bible Truths D, Unit 1 L.42 Page 3

15 due to an insurrection there. and shall return into his own land. 10 But his sons shall be Seleucus II s sons were Seleucus III Soter and Antiochus III the Great. stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: Antiochus III steadily made his way down the Mediterranean coast and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: and met Ptolemy at Raphia. then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. Ptolemy IV Philopator realized his danger and built an army 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, in order to come against Ptolemy at Raphia. and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a Ptolemy IV soundly defeated the 70,000-strong army of Antiochus III. great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. Even though he won a great victory, 12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down he regained only some of the land along the Mediterranean coast. many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it. Antiochus saw his opportunity to attack. 13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. During this war there were uprisings against the Ptolemies 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the including one by the Jews. king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt Their revolt, however, was put down by the Ptolemaic general. themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. Bible Truths D, Unit 1 L.42 Page 4

16 15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, e neither shall there be any strength to withstand. In thend, however, Antiochus III prevailed 16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand and retook the contested land, which included Israel. in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. Antiochus made a peace treaty with Ptolemy, 17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of which he sealed with the marriage of his daughter, Cleopatra, his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he to the young Ptolemy V, hoping to control young Ptolemy through do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting Cleopatra. But her loyalties ended up with her husband. her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. Antiochus III tried to conquer Greece. He was at first successful 18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take but was later defeated by the Roman commander many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach Lucius Cornelius Scipio. offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. Antiochus returned to his own land 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: and was assassinated. but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. 20 Then Bible Truths D, Unit 1 L.42 Page 5

17 Seleucus IV Philopater succeeded Antiochus III. shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the sent his chancellor, Heliodorus, to collect money from the temple. kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, Heliodorus failed and returned to assassinate Seleucus. neither in anger, nor in battle. 21 And in his estate shall stand Antiochus IV seized power and married his brother s widow up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with the arms of a flood Antiochus was militarily successful. shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after He also meddled in Jewish affairs. the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not Antiochus was noted for buying favors with plunder done, nor his fathers fathers; he shall scatter among them he exacted from his own people. the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast He also undertook several minor incursions against Egypt his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall Bible Truths D, Unit 1 L.42 Page 6

18 Ptolemy VI s advisors persuaded him to attack Antiochus IV. be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. Ptolemy VI lost decisively at Pelusium. 26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. Antiochus IV sought to legitimize his new rule in Egypt 27 And both of these kings hearts shall be to do mischief, by setting up a protectorate in the name of Ptolemy VI. and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: As soon as Antiochus left Egypt, Ptolemy turned against him. for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. When Antiochus returned to his own kingdom, 28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; he plundered the Holy of Holies. and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. Antiochus IV returned to Egypt and besieged Alexandria. 29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. The Romans arrived in ships from Cyprus 30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: and demanded that Antiochus leave Egypt. therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. L.42 Page 7

19 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the Antiochus transformed the temple into a sanctuary of Zeus. sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. Some of the Jews succumbed to Antiochus s flattery 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he and began to follow his pagan practices. corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God The faithful underwent persecution but were refined. shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. L.42 Page 8

20 L.43: Daniel: The Courageous Trio Moses was to lead Israel out of bondage. Listed below are three examples of godly men who struggled against pressure from the world just as all of us do. Read the passages, and write what God called them to do, their excuses, and God s response. Then consider how these truths apply to you. Moses (Exod. 3 4) 1. God s calling (3:10) 2. Moses s first excuse (3:11) Who am I to do this? 3. God s response (3:12) I will be with you. 4. Moses s second excuse (4:10) I m slow of speech. 5. God s response (4:11 12) I made your mouth; I ll be with you. Gideon (Judg. 6) 6. God s calling (6:14) Gideon was to deliver Israel from the Midianites. 7. Gideon s excuse (6:15) My family is poor, and I m the youngest child. 8. God s response (6:16) I ll be with you. Jeremiah (Jer. 1) 9. God s calling (1:4 5) Jeremiah was to be a prophet to the nations. 10. Jeremiah s response (1:6) I m too young; I cannot speak. (cont.)

21 11. God s response (1:7 8) I ll be with you to deliver you. Personal Application 12. What did these men base their excuses on? their own inabilities and weaknesses 13. What was God s consistent response to their excuses? I ll be with you. 14. What would you say is the source of your weakness and fear? looking to myself (Answers may vary.) 15. Who or what must be your source of strength? God

22 L.44: Hosea: Prophet of Love Read the following passages, and write down how true love is to be demonstrated in your life. (The first one is done for you.) Ask the Lord to give you grace to love as He desires you to. Only someone with a new heart from God can love what he or she is supposed to love. 1. John 14:15 If I love God, I will keep His commandments John 3:17 If I love other believers, then I will meet their physical needs John 4:18 If I love God, I will have no reason to fear. 4. Psalm 97:10 If I love God, then I will hate evil. 5. Romans 12:10 If I love other believers, then I will prefer them over myself. 6. Ephesians 4:32 If I love God, I will forgive others. 7. Philippians 1:9 10 If I love God, I will be discerning Thessalonians 1:3 If I love God, I will be willing to work.

23 L.45: Joel: Prophet of Repentance True repentance involves (a) grief over sin, (b) recognizing God s mercy, (c) forsaking sin, and (d) turning to God. Read the passages below. Write out the aspects of repentance that are obviously missing from the lives of the two lost people and the aspects of repentance that are obviously present in the lives of the two saved people. 1. Pharisee (Luke 18:9 12) All evidences of repentance are missing. 2. Publican (Luke 18:13 14) He grieved over sin, recognized God s mercy, and came to God. 3. Rich young ruler (Luke 18:18 25) He didn t forsake sin and turn to God. 4. Zaccheus (Luke 19:1 10) He forsook sin and turned to God.

24 L.45: Joel: Prophet of Repentance List the specific judgments that Joel predicted in chapter 1 to match up with the specific promises of restoration in chapter 2. The letters in parentheses give you clues about which part of the verse to look in. JOEL 1 Judgment on the Land Restoration of God s People JOEL 2 1:4 (a) (b) (d) (a) 2:25 (c) (b) (d) (c) (a) (b) 2:22 (b) (a) 2:21 1:10 (c) (a) 2:24 (d) (b) (a) (c) 2:26 1:11 (b) (d) 2:19 (c d) (b c) (a) (d) (b) (c) 2:22 1:12 (c) (a b) 2:23 Bible Truths D, Unit 1

25 L.46: Amos: Prophet with a Burden Scripture gives many warnings to the rich, not because they have money, but because they re in danger of loving it more than they love God. Read the following verses and write down each warning about money. Ask God to give you the grace not to fall into the trap of materialism or desire for riches. 1. Psalm 62:10 Don t put your trust in riches. 2. Mark 10:17 25 People can end up trusting riches rather than Christ. 3. Luke 16:13 You can t serve both God and money Timothy 6:10, 17 Loving money is the source of all kinds of problems. It can cause you to wander away from the faith, and it will ultimately bring sorrow Timothy 6:17 19 If you re rich, don t trust in your money but be generous in using it to do good things for others. 6. James 5:1 6 God will judge those who have gotten rich by cheating people.

26 L.47: Jonah: Reluctant Prophet First, read the following four verses and write down how obedience is a part of being a child of God. 1. Matthew 12:50 Those who obey are genuine brothers and sisters of Christ. 2. Luke 6:46 No one can call Christ Lord if he is not actively obeying Him. 3. John 10:27 True sheep follow the commands of Christ. 4. John 14:15 Obedience is an act of love towards Christ. Now, read the following verse and tell what good obedience is without love Corinthians 13:1 3 Without love, obedience profits nothing.

27 L.48: Nahum: Prophet of Condemnation and Consolation Look up the following references and fill in the corresponding space in the crossword puzzle with an adjective (or in two cases a noun) describing a characteristic of God. Across 2. Psalm 86: Peter 1: Revelation 19:6 11. Deuteronomy 33:27 Down 1. 1 Timothy 1:17 3. Psalm 139: Malachi 3:6 5. Isaiah 44: John 4:8 8. Romans 2: Nehemiah 9:33

28 L.48: Nahum: Prophet of Condemnation and Consolation Is all calamity and defeat a result of God s judgment? Was Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city of New Orleans in 2005, an example of divine wrath being poured out on a city s inhabitants because of their wickedness? Formulate your personal response to these questions by reading Amos 3:6 and Luke 13:1 5 as well as the views expressed by various quotations, excerpts, and letters to the editor below. Be prepared to discuss this in class. [Note: The views expressed in these items do not necessarily reflect the position of BJU Press.] The Spiritual Significance of Natural Disasters Letters to the Editor (Washington Post, Oct. 2, 2005) God does not cause natural disasters. Instead, God works through natural disasters. God works through love when humans open their hearts to help disaster victims. We are God s hands; when we are moved by love to help others, there is God. Through the devastation of the recent hurricane, which fell disproportionately upon the poor and people of color, God has shown us how we as a country have failed to live up to our ideals of opportunity for all. If, as a result of the hurricane, we recommit ourselves to those ideals, God would be working a miracle indeed. A reader in Maryland Natural disasters have no divine source and have no spiritual meaning themselves. Yet there is a religious and spiritual answer we Ethical Society members can give to the cries of suffering and pain caused by them. Our Humanist faith is one of duty to our fellow human beings rather than to any divinity. We are called upon to help those who, through either natural events or human action, need our assistance and support. The spiritual message of natural disasters should be... Get off your knees and roll up your sleeves. Quote (Beliefnet.com article) A reader in Virginia Stephen O Leary, a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California and an expert on the media and apocalypticism, says, God s got a two-fer here. Both sides are eager to see America punished for her sins; on one side it s sexual immorality and porn and Hollywood, and on the other side it s conspicuous consumption and Hummers. Excerpt (NPR interview, Sept. 18, 2006) All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that. The newspaper carried the story in our local area, that was not carried nationally, that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it would was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other gay pride parades. So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the Day of Judgment, and I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans. Pastor and author John Hagee Editorial (from the Jewish journal Tikkun) But this is a classic case of the law of karma, or what the Torah warns of environmental disaster unless we create a just society, or what others call watching the chickens come home to roost, or what goes around come around: Environmentalists are making a strong case that the escalated number and ferocity of hurricanes is a direct product of global warming, caused in large part by the reliance on fossil fuels. The persistent refusal of the U.S. to join the nations of the world in implementing the Kyoto Accords emission limits, and to impose serious pollution restrictions on the cars being sold in the US, is a major factor in global warming. The development for housing and commercial purposes combined with massive oil and gas investments destroyed the natural protections from storms that the coastal wetlands have previously provided. (cont.)

29 Funds that were specifically allocated for New Orleans which could have been used in rebuilding levees and for storm protection were cut from the federal budget so that President Bush could use those funds to wage the war in Iraq. Excerpt (from Beliefnet.com article) Rabbi Michael Lerner When a people particularly those in positions of leadership and responsibility scorn and reject the One to whom they will one day answer, embracing instead what He has declared wrong and abominable for pleasure and money God will act in judgment, using all at his disposal to accomplish His will, including the wind and the waves. Katrina was an act of God upon a sin-loving and rebellious nation, a warning to all who foolishly and arrogantly believe there is no God, and that if He did exist, would not have done such a thing! It is also a serious call to repent, to turn away from our wicked ways, from the heart of a loving Father. David Crowe Quote (from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals website) What about the people of New Orleans? Was Katrina God s swipe of judgment at Sin City? We do not have warrant to claim that this was a specific judgment like Sodom and Gomorrah. Moreover, if we think New Orleans was worthy of God s judgment, we need to remember that we also are worthy of judgment. Indeed, in this sense, I am personally responsible for Katrina just as is our whole sinful human race. I am reminded of G. K. Chesterton s answer to an essay contest that asked, What is wrong with this world? He submitted the shortest answer: I am. So if Adam and Eve are responsible for Katrina, and if sinners in the path of Katrina are responsible, then so am I responsible for this being a cursed world under the bondage of death. In short, sin Adam s, yours, and mine is responsible for the violent natural order that brought Hurricane Katrina. Pastor Richard Phillips to the Editor (WorldNetDaily, Sept. 7, 2005) I think you all are dancing around the real cause of the hurricane. Let me suggest to you that it is the wrath of God on our nation because President Bush pressured Sharon to take the homes from the Jews.... I knew we would be punished on a large scale. I faxed letters and contacted Bush every way I could begging him not to go forward with that plan to evacuate Gaza but he did so anyway, and as a result we were hit in a week with a hurricane that will make history. A reader

30 L.49: Zechariah: Prophet of Visions Answer the following questions about Zechariah s visions. It takes time to understand what God revealed through the book of Zechariah, but remember that by God s grace all Scripture is meant to be profitable for you (2 Tim. 3:16). The Rider Under the Myrtle Trees (1:7 17) 1. What color was the horse that the man was riding (1:8)? 2. How long had God been angry with His people (1:12)? red seventy years 3. What emotion did God show for Jerusalem and for Zion (1:14)? jealousy 4. What would be rebuilt in Jerusalem (1:16)? God s house The Four Horns and Four Carpenters (1:18 21) 5. What had the horns done to God s people (1:19)? scattered them 6. What kind of nations did the horns represent (1:21)? Gentile nations The Man with the Measuring Line (2:1 13) 7. Why would Jerusalem not have any walls (2:4)? because of the great number of people and cattle 8. Who or what would be Jerusalem s protection and glory (2:5)? the Lord The High Priest (3:1 5) 9. Who was present to resist Joshua (3:1)? Satan 10. How was Joshua dressed (3:3)? in filthy garments 11. According to the parallelism in 3:4, what did Joshua s clothing represent? iniquity The Candlestick and the Two Olive Trees (4:1 14) 12. What was on top of the lampstand (4:2)? a bowl 13. What kind of fuel did the lamps burn (4:3, 12)? olive oil 14. What were the two olive branches (4:12, 14)? two anointed ones (cont.)

31 The Flying Scroll (5:1 4) 15. What were the dimensions of this flying scroll (5:2)? twenty cubits by ten cubits. 16. What happens to those guilty of stealing and swearing (5:3)? They re cut off. The Ephah (5:5 11) 17. Of what was the talent [ lid ] of the ephah basket made? (5:7) lead 18. What does the woman in the basket symbolize (5:8)? wickedness The Four Chariots (6:1 8) 19. What did the four horses represent (6:5)? the spirits of the heavens 20. What did the black and white horses accomplish (6:8)? They quieted God s Spirit.

32 L.50: Zechariah: Prophet of Hope Look up each of the following references, and write down what it mentions that gives us hope. Ask the Lord to give you grace to believe the truth He has revealed in these verses. 1. Psalms 33:18 20; 130:7 God s mercy 2. Psalm 38:15 God s response to our prayers 3. Psalm 119:74, 81 God s Word 4. Romans 15:13 the power of the Holy Spirit 5. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 salvation 6. Titus 1:2; 3:7 eternal life 7. Titus 2:13 the Second Coming of Christ

33 L.51: Malachi: Prophet Against Ritualism Read the following passages and answer the questions. Ask the Lord to give you the kind of heart He seeks. Only by His grace can you have such a heart. 1. By what aspect of human nature does God judge people? a. 1 Samuel 16:7 by the heart b. Psalm 44:21 by the heart c. Proverbs 21:2 by the heart d. Luke 16:15 by the heart 2. What then does God expect from believers? a. 1 Chronicles 28:9 They should serve him with a perfect heart. b. Psalm 51:17 They should have a broken and contrite heart. c. Matthew 23:25 26 They should keep the inside (motives and heart) clean so that the outward actions will be clean also.