Words of the Bible

Judgment of Solomon

Two women came before King Solomon for judgment. Each woman claimed to be the mother of a child. “My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”…

Jesus’ First and Second Coming

When we look at the state of the church during the time of Jesus, we can understand what will happen to the church in the age of the Holy Spirit. It’s because what happened in the past is a prophetic foreshadowing of what is to take place in this age. The Bible prophecies clearly show us that God is to come in human form to save humanity both at His first coming and His second coming. Nevertheless, ever since the time when Jesus Himself preached the gospel, the church has been persecuted by the world. This is something that all believers, who want to walk the true path of faith, must keep in mind. Let us see through the Bible…

Structure and Characteristics of the Bible

1. Languages of the Bible The word “Bible” originates from the Greek word βιβλος [Biblos=Book]. (1) The Old Testament was written in Hebrew ※ Some books in the Old Testament (Ezr 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26; Jer 10:11; Da 2:4-7:28) were written in Aramaic [Chaldean], a language used in Babylon. It is said that the Jews spoke both Hebrew and Aramaic languages after the time of the Babylonian exile. (2) The New Testament was written in Greek, a language which was used throughout the world at that time. Greek became the official language of the Roman Empire in the 1st century. ※ The reason why the New Testament was written in Greek, not in Hebrew or Aramaic, was because the gospel should be…

Matador

The bull is excited at the deft hands of a bullfighter who wields a red cape. Several spears have been stuck on the back of the rushing bull. Finally, when a sharp blade pierces the bull’s skull, it falls on the spot. The bullfighter who stabs the skull of a bull lastly is called the matador in Spanish. Nowadays, matador refers to black propaganda that distorts facts and manipulates public opinion to slander the other person. Matador spreads from mouth to mouth unlawfully, and strikes a fatal blow to the other person just as the sharp sword of the bullfighter who enticed the bull pierces its skull. A man struck by matador, which was originally meant to harm others, is…

What We See Isn’t Everything

Humans have remarkably developed civilizations up to the title of the “most intelligent species.” However, we have a big weakness that overshadows us in terms of being “on top” on this planet. This big weakness is that we understand the world through our imperfect sense organs. In other words, the level of our awareness of the world is determined by our sense organs, and we can perceive the world as much as our sense organs allow. We understand the world by using our five senses: vision, audition, olfaction, gustation, and somatosensation. We tend to trust our vision more than any other senses, just as the saying goes: “It’s better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand…

Don’t Be Afraid, and Remember God

Around 444 B.C., when Nehemiah returned to the land of Judah and began the work of rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem, the Gentiles, including Sanballat and Tobia, were jealous of it and plotted to hinder the work. Sanballat ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said: “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble―burned as they are?” His right-hand man Tobiah, who was at his side, also said: “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” Then…

Manna and the Sabbath

When the Israelites were freed from Egypt and headed toward the promised land of Canaan, they had to pass through the vast wilderness. The journey took forty years. The wilderness is a barren desolate place where there is a lack of food and water. In such a place, an estimated three million people and their livestock did not starve for forty years. It was truly a miracle. This was because God rained manna from heaven for them to eat. Manna fell for six days, but none on the seventh day. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual. During their 40-year journey in the wilderness, God repeated the weekly cycle of manna to teach them a commandment.…

“The People Are Bringing More Than Enough for the Work”

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments from God a second time, he told the Israelites God’s instructions for the building of the tabernacle where the Ten Commandments would be placed. “Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering for the work on the tabernacle and for the sacred garments for the priests!” The Israelites brought freewill offerings every day, giving thanks to God for forgiving their past sin of idolatry. Bezalel and Oholiab, whom God had filled with skill and ability in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs for the tabernacle, left their work and said to Moses. “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the…

Sing Hymns and Spiritual Songs With Gratitude in Your Hearts to God

“A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in En Gedi.” Jehoshaphat was alarmed when he heard about the attack from the allied forces of the Moabites and Ammonites, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. So people from all the towns of Judah came together to seek help from God. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of God in the front of the courtyard, and he prayed to God: “O our God, the men of Ammon and Moab are coming to drive us out of this land. We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking…

Insects’ Love for Their Children

An oak tree twig with four or five leaves “suddenly” falls from the air. In fact, the quiet trail is full of twigs with acorns attached to them. The edges of the twigs are straight as if they were cut with a knife, so it must’ve been done by someone. It is August when the sunlight feels strong as if the summer wants to stay longer and the trees are greener. Who ruined these acorns that are still green and unripe? Acorn weevil The ones who did it are acorn weevils. If you take a close look at the fallen acorns, you can see that each one has a black dot. They are holes acorn weevils made with their long…

“Come and See! Could This Be the Christ?”

Jesus came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, where there was Jacob’s well. Being tired from His journey, Jesus sat down by the well. At that time, a Samaritan woman came to draw water. When Jesus asked her for a drink, she wondered why a Jew talked to her. (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” “Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well?” “Everyone who…

Mitochondria, the Inheritance of Life from Mother

We see how mitochondria are essential for life. What is interesting is that all mitochondria in our cells are from our mothers; it is maternal inheritance. “What is life?” Though it seems like a philosophical question, this question is being studied by many scientists because they haven’t found an answer to it yet. It is a very common truth that all living things have life. However, it is not a simple matter to define life in one word. Many scholars have tried to define life, but they haven’t established one perfect theory. The current definition of life is the generalization of the common characteristics of life. Living beings have the following characteristics: homeostasis, organic system, growth and development, reaction to…

You Will Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost came, Jesus’ disciples were all together in one place. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. When the Jews who came from every nation of the world to keep the feast heard the disciples speaking in their own languages, they were bewildered. Some made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. This happened…

We Invite You to Zion Where God’s Festivals Are Celebrated

We Invite You to the Passover Whereby You Are Protected from Disasters

Have You Heard About Heavenly Mother?

Who gives the water of life?

We Invite You to the Passover, the Feast of Life

When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong

“You, Israel! Did you come out for battle? Then, send a man to fight me. If he kills me, we will become your subjects; but if I kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us! Why doesn’t anyone come out? Is there no warrior among you?” When the Philistine army attacked the land of Israel, the Israelite army assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. Then a champion came out of the Philistine camp and provoked the Israelites, taunting them. His name was Goliath. He was over nine feet tall. Being armed with…

I Will Make You Fishers of Men

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. They used to be just ordinary fishermen in Galilee, but from that day on a new life was spread out before them. Since Peter followed Jesus immediately when he was called by Him, he was able to live the most valuable life by preaching the Savior whom the people of that time were waiting for. He recognized the opportunity to be blessed and immediately decided to take action. This was why he…