Truth Be Told: A Blog by Pastor Bill Alderson

After the return from the Babylonian captivity, the priesthood formed the center of the new religious life, and the pious in Israel who were anxious to practice the commandments of the Lord naturally attached themselves to the divinely - appointed and the time-honored tribe of Levi. The Jews who followed the high priest even when he contradicted the Torah became known as Sadducees. Those committed to following the Torah refused to follow the high priest and became known as the Pharisees (dissenters). The new method of Torah interpretation, called “Derush,” meant that oral tradition would be enforced and binding on all, just as the written Torah had been. This was the religious and political environment at the time the Messiah appeared. At the same time, the high priest stopped being from the lineage of Zadok. The remaining priests of Zadok formed a community in Qumran, located northwest of the Dead Sea. They were known as the Essenes, and their community is likened to the early Chris...

  After the incredible power that the Lord displayed at Mount Carmel through Elijah in 1 Kings 18 with the killing of 450 prophets of Baal, Jezebel threatened Elijah that his life was now in jeopardy because of these prophets of Baal. In response, Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. In 1 Kings 19:14, he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” He was not able to discern the 7,000 who “ have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him (Verse 18).” Paul quoted this Verse in Romans 11:4-5 in reference to the remnant, those that return or remain, speaking of those who would be overcomers, spiritual Israel.   The term is often used to identify the Hebrew people who remain firm in their faith despite significant life challenges and threats. They continue to trust i...

Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him. Where will you be stricken again as you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot, even to the head, there is nothing sound in it, only bruises, welts, and raw wounds, not pressed out or bandaged nor softened with oil. Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your fields— strangers are devouring them in your presence; it is desolation, as overthrown by strangers .            Isaiah 1:4-7 Isaiah begins his writing with a complete indictment of His covenant nation for their consistent breaching of the Mosaic Covenant and yet offered His complete forgiveness to those who would repent but judgment to those who continued to rebel. The Lord is prophesying...

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them and that from childhood, you have known the sacred writings which can give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus . All Scripture [ graphe – that which is written] is inspired by God [ theopneústou – God-breathed] and profitable [advantageous] for teaching [doctrine] , for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.                  2 Timothy 3:14-17 There are 66 books of the Christian Bible recognized by the Christian community as canon, meaning an acknowledgment as inspired by God and, thus, given divine authority. Paul understood the importance of this when he wrote the following in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 to the church: For this reason, we also constantly thank God that whe...

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth [ aletheia - a reality that is firm, solid, binding, and hence true] . John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" For of His fullness, we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized [ ginomai - came into being] through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him .           John 1:14-18                 The Greek word for truth is aletheia , and Spiros Zodhiates defines it this way: Truth as evidenced in relation to facts; therefore, al¢theia denotes the reality clearly lying before our eyes as opposed to a...

The disciples of the apostles would be a good place to start in determining an accurate eschatology (events concerning the end of the world). These early church fathers taught premillennialism that the Church's Rapture would occur before a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ known as the Kingdom Age or Millennium. Christ will reign from the city of Jerusalem, preceded by a seven-year period during which the Antichrist will rule the earth. During these last days, the Jews will rebuild their temple in Jerusalem.   A movement occurred during the third century (200-300 AD) arguing that much of the end times teachings were symbolic, brought on by the Schism of Nepos and causing the whole Church to become amillennial. This period was in the middle of the Church determining the canon of the New Testament, namely which writings would be considered inspired by God. This schism centered on questioning the literal interpretation of the book of Revelation, particularly the 1,000 years of Reve...