Learning resources

05/26/2024 Biblical-literacy The lesion begins with Mark talking about where we are so far in the book of Revelations and then talks about the persecuting Dragon, which starts in Revelations Chapter 12. Where are we so far in Revelations? Revelations was the type of writing that was common 2000 to 2500 years ago that Scholars […]

5-19-24 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in The Study of Revelation with the 7 visions that happen in parallel construction. The focus of today’s lesson is the interlude period: the sixth seal and the sixth trumpet prior to the second coming. This age of the church period is a call and a warning for people to repent before […]

5-12-24 Biblical-Literacy Brent Johnson taught today’s lesson on the topic of what we should do while waiting on the 2nd Coming of the Lord. Brent’s primary passage was from 2 Peter 3:11-18. Peter wrote the letter around 64-67 AD. Brent opens by explaining the letter’s purpose: to remember truth, faith supplements, and be aware of false teachings because time is running out for the Lord’s return.

4-28-24 Biblical-Literacy Dr. David Capes taught a class in the Study of Revelation with a focus on the apocalyptic themes noted by the Apostle Paul. Dr. Capes reviewed more traits of apocalyptic themes including analysis of the academic definition, literature of the time, and how it encouraged faithfulness for the persecuted believers.

5/5/24 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in The Study of Revelation with a comparison of chapters 4:7 and 8:11 The lesson showed how John’s two visions compare and relate to the people at the time of writing and those living in the age of the church. Revelation 4-7: The 7 seals,what each signify and there effect on […]

Jarrett Stephens taught the Biblical Literacy class lesson with a focus on “Remember; that God offers the believer hope. He asked us to focus on these times: 1. Remember your salvation 2. Remember your calling 3. Remember when the Lord first used you 4. Remember when you met your spouse and/or your first child.

4-21-24 Biblical Literacy Mark continued in A Study in Revelation expanding the theme of visions. Revelation replicates the same visions in different ways. Today’s agenda focused on Revelation 8-11: the 7 angels and 7 trumpets, similar to the 7 seals in Revelation 4-7. We learn that: 1.The visions are happening at the same time. 2.Bible trumpets are the sound of the warning of God’s judgment. God is at work. 3.Many of the trumpets came out of the plagues of Egypt.

4-7-24 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in our class study of Revelation with a reminder that what God says is reality. Mark's lesson had three areas of focus: 1. Reading Revelation in time: The reader is encouraged to understand literature during the time of writing Revelation. 2. Deeper study of Revelation 4-7 and the seven seals: We see heaven's perspective of earth. We must remember that God is the center of the universe, all things. 3. Revelation 8-11 can be read as a parallel passage with seven horns. Mark will dig deeper into this study next week.

Mark continued the Study of Revelation, Part 10, with a focus of Revelation in Context. Mark begins with an overview of Apocalyptic literature and continues with three points. 1.Revelation in context: type of literature, time of literature, and intense persecution of Christians. Two themes in Revelation: comfort the church in its struggle of evil, and Christ wins over the dragon or satan. 2.Reading Revelation in time: some read the book chronologically. Mark recommends reading it as 7 vignettes or parallel reading, much the way Daniel is read. The Bible teaches us how to read the Bible. Daniel: repeated dreams and visions that show what God is about to do. In Revelation we find three terminal time periods: first coming, age of the church, and the 2nd coming or age to come. 3.Revelation 4-7: God’s plan in history.

March 17, 2024 Pastor Dr.David Fleming Revelations Pastor Fleming opens the class by explaining the effect of how we approach the study of Revelations. Approaches to the study of Revelations include Views, Genres and Interpretation. He goes into detail on how we approach the text of Revelations can determine what we see when we get there. For example, we tend to see what we want to see in the scripture. He refers to this as Confirmation Bias and discusses the meaning of that in great detail.

Mark continued teaching in the series on Revelation in three sections: 1. Two remaining letters to the churches – Philadelphia & Laodicea. The church of Philadelphia receives commendation. The church of Laodicea is warned about its lukewarm status. 2. Two different ways to read Revelation: Timeline reading: Chronological Vignette reading: Vision, story, ending, and repeat. 3. Revelation worship scene as described in Chapters 4 & 5 Not all images are symbols Never lose focus of the message. All space all time and all there is has God in the center - Theocentric. Perfect divine praise in 3’s

Mark interviewed Dr. Alister McGrath from Oxford University in England. Dr. McGrath was born in Ireland. He became an atheist and Marxist as a way to deal with the struggle between Catholics and Protestants during the 60s in Belfast known as The Troubles. He became a Christian soon after starting his studies at Oxford.