Was the descent at the time of Pentecost gradual?

Was the descent at the time of Pentecost gradual?

If the question refers to the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, the answer is in verses 2 to 4 of Acts 2" TARGET="_blank">Acts 2: "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, … And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." With unexpected suddenness (Strong’s Dictionary), the sound filled the house, divided tongues (ESV) appeared and rested on the believers, the Holy Spirit filled them, and they spoke in tongues.

However, perhaps the question addresses the descent or decline of Israel’s place of privilege. During the period covered in the Book of Acts, the gospel went "to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 1:16). In Ezekiel’s visions, the glory of the Lord gradually moved away from the temple, the land, and the nation. The Lord did not rush to withdraw from His people. The prophet received the message of judgment before the glory departed, but God carried out the judgment with apparent reluctance, which is both instructive and touching. So during the book of Acts, Israel’s removal from its position of privilege took place gradually. The Lord had announced it before the cross, and made it clear that the reason was the slaying of the beloved Son (Matthew 21:33-43)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 21:33-43). He taught that after He ascended back to heaven, the nation would seal its doom by sending after Him the message, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 19:12-14)" TARGET="_blank">Luke 19:12-14) and by declining the invitation of the King’s messengers (Matthew 22:1-7)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 22:1-7). The same leaders who plotted the death of Christ sent their message of determined rejection ("We will not have this Man . . .") back to heaven when they stoned Stephen (Acts 7)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 7). They imprisoned and beat the messengers (ch 5). They proved that their slaying of Christ was not accidental; they were not manslayers (Deu 19:1-4)," TARGET="_blank">Deu 19:1-4), but, as Stephen said (Acts 7:52)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 7:52), were murderers (Deuteronomy 19:11, 12)." TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 19:11, 12). They had no refuge from the sword of judgment. As the gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome in Acts, the Jewish leaders affirmed the nation’s rejection of Christ and His messengers, although individual Jews were saved.

The nation rejected Christ and His kingdom when they crucified Him. As the gospel spread, the nation’s rejection of the message spread; the pall of darkness and blindness (Romans 11:25)" TARGET="_blank">Romans 11:25) settled over Israel. With apparent reluctance, God gradually removed the place of privilege from the nation that had rejected His Son. That generation crucified the King and therefore would not share in His kingdom. That was settled before the beginning of Acts. During Acts, God gradually removed their place of privilege as the message went from Jerusalem to Rome. After the end of Acts, the army came from Rome to Jerusalem to destroy the city (Matthew 22:7)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 22:7). The decline was gradual, but the result inevitable.

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Would assembly-sponsored summer camps be helpful?

Would assembly-sponsored summer camps be helpful?

The New Testament provides us with all the teaching God intended for the functioning and service of the local assembly. One cannot find any teaching or references to assembly-sponsored summer camps in Scripture. The primary activity in summer camps has been recreational, rather than spiritual. A number of such camps do have campfire gospel messages for the young people every evening. The campfire environment tends to have an emotional impact on young people. Unfortunately many children and teenagers, who have vacationed at church-sponsored summer camps, have made campfire professions which have turned out to be false. Such professions have often hindered them from coming to Christ until they have given up their false professions and admitted they were lost. It would be much safer and more profitable to hold daily children's meetings or Gospel meetings for teenagers in a manner that would reach their hearts and consciences rather than their emotions. Summer camps are very common in the evangelical, denominational religious world. God warns His people both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament of the danger of copying the practices of the religious world around us. This has always resulted in a gradual drift from God's plan for His people and eventual discipline from the hand of God.

A. Joyce

Other pages in this section

About this site

Are overseers failing to do their work because of the burden of deacon work they assume?

Are overseers failing to do their work because of the burden of deacon work they assume?

Overseers bear a heavy responsibility, given to them by the Lord (Acts 20:28;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28; Heb 13:17)." TARGET="_blank">Heb 13:17). To handle God’s Word in a way that discourages them would displease the Lord (1Co 12:7)." TARGET="_blank">1Co 12:7). Overseers, sharing the same weaknesses that we all have, may unconsciously fall into counterproductive habits. Being able to step back and view their habits objectively could be helpful.

While qualifications for overseers are listed separately from those of deacons (1Ti 3:1-13)," TARGET="_blank">1Ti 3:1-13), this does not eliminate the possibility that an elder could also be a deacon. Since spiritual service is the primary responsibility of deacons (1Ti 3:9, 10)," TARGET="_blank">1Ti 3:9, 10), overseers who are "apt to teach" likely serve as deacons. The question, however, likely deals with deacon service noted by the apostles as serving tables (Acts 6:2)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 6:2).

The priority for overseers is protecting and shepherding the flock (Acts 20:28)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28). If the Lord has given them this work, He will not also give them work that interferes with this service. He never presses us beyond our limits (1Co 10:13;" TARGET="_blank">1Co 10:13; Psa 103:14), but gives us the needed physical help to fulfill our responsibilities (1Ti 4:10," TARGET="_blank">1Ti 4:10, "Preserver of all . . ." JND).

Perhaps some overseers need to make adjustments in their scheduling. The shepherds need to "know well the face of thy flock" (Pro 27:23," TARGET="_blank">Pro 27:23, YLT), to visit with them, and to have appropriate food that will meet specific needs.

D. Oliver
Other pages in this section

About this site

Bible Verse Search

The Bible Verse Search program will help you find a Bible verse by searching a keyword or a Bible reference.

Bible Verse Search

The Bible verse search program at Gospel Hall provides a free way search for a Bible verse or phrase. The Bible verse search is available along with the dictionary under the link titled "Online Bible Search" or here.

Instructions for the Bible verse search

1. Select this link Bible Verse Search.

2. Choose a Bible version in which to search for your verse (ASV -American Standard Version, BBE - Bible in Basic English, DBY - Darby "New Translation", GFR - God's Word for Readers, KJV - King James Version, WEB - World English Bible, YLT - Young's Literal Translation, or the ESV - English Standard Version)

3. Click "Go" to launch the finder.

The results of your bible verse search will be different with each Bible version since the language in each Bible version is slightly different.

About the Bible Versions

The King James or Authorised Version of the Bible is an English translation of the Christian Bible first published in 1611. The New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus (Received Text) edition of the Greek texts, so called because most extant texts of the time were in agreement with it. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text.

(Modern English Bibles such as the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version decline to use the Textus Receptus, opting instead for what many modern scholars feel are more reliable critical editions.)

The King James Version has had a profound effect on English literature. The works of famous authors such as John Milton, Herman Melville, John Dryden, and William Wordsworth are deeply inspired by it.

The Bible In Basic English (also known as BBE) is a translation of the Bible into Basic English. The BBE was translated by Professor S. H. Hooke using the standard 850 Basic English words. 100 words that were helpful to understand poetry were added along with 50 "Bible" words. The New Testament was released in 1941 and the Old Testament was released in 1949.

The American Standard Version (ASV) of the Holy Bible was first published in 1901. It has earned the reputation of being the Rock of Biblical Honesty. Although the English used in the ASV is somewhat archaic, it isn't nearly as hard to understand as some passages of the King James Version of nearly 3 centuries earlier. This translation of the Holy Bible is in the public domain, since its copyright has expired. You are encouraged to download, copy, publish, and use this translation freely.

John Nelson Darby Version

First published in 1890 by John Nelson Darby, an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher associated with the early years of the Plymouth Brethren. Darby also published translations of the Bible in French and German.

The English Standard Version (ESV) was Published in 2003 as a translation to bridge the gap between the accuracy of the NASB and the readability of the NIV.

The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. As such, its emphasis is on “word-for-word” correspondence, at the same time taking into account differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages. Thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original.

In contrast to the ESV, some Bible versions have followed a “thought-for-thought” rather than “word-for-word” translation philosophy, emphasizing “dynamic equivalence” rather than the “essentially literal” meaning of the original. A “thought-for-thought” translation is of necessity more inclined to reflect the interpretive opinions of the translator and the influences of contemporary culture.

For example,

Other pages in this section

About this site

What are the Protocols?

THE PROTOCOLS
What are the Protocols?
The word is derived from the Greek: prötos, first, and kolla, glue, and originally meant the first leaf glued to a papyrus roll. This bore the year of the king ruling at the time, and thus dated the roll. Reading the other day of the discovery of some papyri, the words occurred:
“They found a stray leaf close by which was supposed to be a protocol of one of the papyri.” Later the name was applied to the original copy of any writing, e.g., a treaty, and then it came to mean the rough draft of any transaction.
As showing the importance of these dated “protocols,” the following facts are of interest. The Higher Critics have sought in their general attack on the Old Testament Scriptures to unsettle the Biblical dates of the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Daniel. “Their scholarship makes it impossible (!) to believe it otherwise.” “All (!) scholars are agreed” that these books could not have been written in their place, as we have them. Such persons as are described in the two former books did not exist, and two Greek words for musical instruments* in the book of Daniel most probably bring its date down to the second century instead of the sixth, in which it claims to be written (!). However, in 1904-1907, some papyrus rolls written in Aramaic by Jews of Jeb were discovered in the island of Elephantine or Jeb, in the Nile, opposite Assouan, all dated with the names of Persian Kings of the fifth century, B.C.. In these occur the names of Biblical persons such as Sanballat and the high priest, Jehoiada, and his son, Jehohanan, and also three Greek wordsf more unlikely in their character to be found, than the two Greek words occurring in Daniel. These flimsy papyrus-leaves, preserved in the dry sand of Egypt, are found to negative the premature conclusions of the critics. Daniel belongs to the same epoch.
The word “Protocol” has come rather prominently before the public in late years in connections with “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” a book purporting to be records of a world-wide conspiracy engineered by Jews. This work has proved to the satisfaction of very many to be a forgery by enemies of the Jews. It is, however, still used by Anti-semites on the Continentt (e.g., in German schools to-day) to stir up race- hatred against God’s earthly people.

William Hoste

Other pages in this section

About this site

Free Bible Games

Some of the free Bible games here include:

1. The Bible board game Lost Bible Searchers Game . This free Bible game requires each player to travel the map of the Bible world collecting lost pages from books of the Bible.

2. Books of the Bible Game . This collection of six free Bible games uses the names of the books of the Bible to help students learn their order and some facts about each book.

3. Criminal Suspects of the Bible . This free Bible game requires students to identify the bad guy based on a police record of his/her crime.

4. Tribulation Survivor Game . This is one of the many free Bible games in the downloads section. Students are put into the Great Tribulation with the goal of surviving great disasters, persecution of the Antichrist and famine.

For more traditional free Bible games, browse the350 Sunday school worksheets that contain a coloring page, crossword puzzle and other activities to review a Bible story.

Use one of the puzzle makers below to create your own free Bible game.

Word Find

Word Scramble

Crossword Puzzle Creator

Cryptogram Puzzle Creator

Fallen Quotes

Other pages in this section

About this site

Does the New Testament contain references to musical instruments in the church?

Does the word "singing" (1 Corinthians 14:15;" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:19) imply musical instruments?

The basis of this question is the derivation of the word, "psallo," used 5 times in the New Testament and translated "sing," "sing psalms," or "making melody." The noun translated "psalm" (psalmos) comes from this verb. W. E. Vine gives the meaning as "primarily ‘to twitch, twang,’ then, ‘to play a stringed instrument with the fingers,"’ and adds that it means "in the New Testament, ‘to sing a hymn, sing praise."’ Similarly, Vincent states, "The verb, however, is used in the New Testament of singing praise generally."

The derivation of a word adds color to the meaning but does not define the word. Ephesians 5:19" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:19 uses both forms of the word in a way that clearly removes them from the thought of an accompanying instrument. The noun, "psalms," is linked with speech and not music, "speaking to yourselves in psalms. The verb, "sing," cannot involve instrumental music when Paul says, "making melody in your heart."

D. Oliver

Other pages in this section

About this site

Why was the veil of the temple torn in the middle when Jesus died?

Why was the veil of the temple torn in the middle when Jesus died?

The tearing, or rending, of the temple veil when Jesus died on the cross was a strong symbolic act of God. The rent veil shows physically that a believer's access to God is open through the value of the work of Christ.

Matthew 27:50-51" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 27:50-51 is the Bible reference that tells about the veil of the temple being torn:

(50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
(51) And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

What was the Temple and its significance?

For centuries the temple was the central point of Old Testament Jewish worship. Many chapters from the books of Exodus and Leviticus give great detail as to how sacrifices were to be conducted, how the priests were to act and dress and what days were to be celebrated. All of this ceremony centered first on Moses' Tabernacle that was carried through the wilderness journeys and then was reconstructed on even a grander scale in the building of Solomon's Temple. The central point of the Temple was the innermost room, called the Holiest of Holies, which was hidden by the heavy Veil of the Temple. Here the Ark of the Covenant was housed. Only once a year a single priest was permitted to enter to atone for the sins of the people. The Shekinah Glory of the presence of God filled the room with unapproachable light.

Hebrews 9:1-9" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 9:1-9 gives the New Testament commentary on the innermost sanctuary…

Hebrews 9:1-9" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 9:1-9

(1) Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.
(2) For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.
(3) Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,
(4) having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
(5) Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
(6) These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,
(7) but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.
(8) By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing
(9) (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

Leviticus 16:11-19" TARGET="_blank">Leviticus 16:11-19 tells of the annual ceremony that was conducted inside the veil.

(11) "Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
(12) And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
(13) and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.
(14) And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
(15) "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.
(16) Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.
(17) No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.
(18) Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
(19) And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.

How big was the veil?

The veil was an immense piece of heavy cloth. Accoring to 1 Kings 6:2" TARGET="_blank">1 Kings 6:2 "The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high." Thirty cubits high would make the veil about 45 feet tall.

The Jewish historian Josephus claimed that the temple height was raised to 40 cubits (60 feet) tall. Alfred Edersheim, in his book, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah tells about its thickness. "The Veils before the Most Holy Place were 40 cubits (60 feet) long, and 20 (30 feet) wide, of the thickness of the palm of the hand, and wrought in 72 squares, which were joined together; and these Veils were so heavy, that, in the exaggerated language of the time, it needed 300 priests to manipulate each."

There is also an apparently false reference in the Ryrie Study Bible in Exodus 26:31-35" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 26:31-35 about what Josephus claimed about the veil. “Josephus reported that the veil was 4 inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart." But no such reference can be found in Josephus' writings (see Josephus Wars 5.5.4 for Josephus' original description of the veil).

What is the symbolism of the torn veil?

When the veil was torn open, at least three teachings of Christ became evidently clear.

First, the atonement ceremony that the priest had to perform once a year was shown to be obsolete. The sacrifice and shed blood of Christ provided a new way into the holiest of all.

Hebrews 10:19-22" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 10:19-22

(19) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
(20) by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
(21) and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
(22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

The famous quote from Jesus in John 14" TARGET="_blank">John 14 is a reference to our ability to speak directly to our heavenly Father. John 14:6" TARGET="_blank">John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Second, the pathway into the very presence of God is opened once and for all for both Jews and Gentiles. The Temple was strictly off limits to any Gentile worshipers ever since its grand opening. But the death of Christ created a new unity between the two groups as stated here in Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:11-22" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 2:11-22

(11) Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--
(12) remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
(13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
(14) For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
(15) by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
(16) and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
(17) And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
(18) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
(19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
(20) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
(21) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
(22) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Third, the opening of the Holiest of All revealed to the priests and to the whole world that the Shekinah glory had left the Temple. Jesus spoke on several occasions about the abandonment of the Temple by God.

Luke 13:35" TARGET="_blank">Luke 13:35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

Luke 13" TARGET="_blank">Luke 13 refers to a coming time of judgment against Israel in which the city, the temple and the land would be plundered and abandoned during a period of exile. It can be assumed that the priests repaired the torn veil and continued their empty rituals, but the torn veil showed the world that God had already abandoned the place.

Conclusion

Sin has always been an obstacle for man to approach God since Adam was exiled from the Garden of Eden. God chose to dwell among his people in the Holiest of Holies from the time of Moses to Christ but with severe restrictions. One priest, once a year, could come to the Holiest of All with the blood of an animal to cover his sins and the sins of the people. But when Jesus died, he completed the requirements of the sacrifices once and for all. The rending of the temple veil was physical evidence that the way was opened forever and for all people. We now approach God with the boldness of one who carries the value of the blood of Christ.

Other pages in this section

About this site

Main Menu

Create a Crossword Puzzle to print in 3 mouse clicks.

1.

2.

3.

Bible Verse Search