All Articles For Bible Study Guide

God wrote His Word with a view to the many needs which His people have while they sojourn here below. This letter focuses upon the special needs of the pilgrim, especially the pilgrim who must face suffering for righteousness’ sake. The Holy Spirit assures him that there is good reason to have hope in the midst of fiery trial. We need this word today. 

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. We are busy outlining the section of Exodus that deals with the covenant broken at Sinai by the worship of the golden calf and how God renews His covenant (Ex. 31:18-35:3). Moses interceded for the people’s sins, asking that his name be blotted out. God replied that each one must bear his own sin. Moses was to lead Israel to Canaan in the presence of the Angel (Ex. 32:30-35). The Lord assured Moses He would give the land of Canaan to Israel, but the people must first...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. We continue with our outline of the first main part of the book of Numbers, the preparation for Israel to depart from Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1:1-10:10). 5. The law of the Nazarite is given (Num. 6:1-27). Details of the vow are enumerated: man or woman should separate from strong drink, eat nothing of the vine, have no razor come upon his head, nor touch a dead body (Num. 6:1-8). In the event that the Nazarite is defiled, certain ways are prescribed to make atonement for such sin: e.g.,...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. The name “Leviticus” is derived from the Septuagint Bible, Levitikon (Levitical) as an adjective added toBiblios (books), hence Levitical books. This reference is made to the laws which were administered by the Levites in their duty in the temple. We must be careful not to limit these laws to the priests; rather we must concentrate upon the sacrifices, which typified Jesus Christ in His suffering and death. Since Leviticus is part of the Pentateuch, the author was Moses, as we have considered in detail in previous articles. We also noted...

Jason L. Kortering is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. We are dealing with the section of the book of Numbers that describes how God chastened His people during their wanderings in the wilderness for the forty years (Numbers 15:1-19:22). Instruction is given for the preparation of the water of purification. A red heifer, without blemish and never having worn a yoke, was to be killed (the blood sprinkled before the tabernacle) and the bodyconsumed in fire (the ashes mixed with water as a purification, Num. 19:1-10). Mention is made as to the use of this water; whoever...

The one outstanding feature of this short letter is that the author draws a contrast between Gaius and Diotrephes concerning their hospitality or lack of it in their dealings with the brothers who brought the gospel in their midst.

The Book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse (from the first word of the Greek text), unveils for us the things that must come to pass that lead to the return of Christ. With His return, all things are brought to the final conclusion. In Genesis, we learn of the beginning of all things, the creation of the universe, of Adam and Eve, and of Paradise. The beauty did not endure, for man disobeyed God and the whole world was plunged into sin and death. The history of redemption follows in the rest of the Scriptures.

Before considering an outline of this book, we should take note of two things. First, that the seals, trumpets, and vials mentioned in the book must not be interpreted to be historical sequence, as if the first seal introduces a series of historical events that are followed by events pictured in the trumpets, followed by events pictured in the vials. Rather, they are to be viewed as historical events running parallel. The seals, trumpets, and vials deal with events that began at the ascension of Christ and end in His personal return.

13. The pouring out of the seven vials (bowls), (Rev. 15:1-16:21). The seven angels who have the seven last plagues are introduced (Rev. 15:1). Before they come forth, the saints who are victorious are pictured as standing upon a sea of glass which is mingled with fire. They are singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb, praising God and acknowledging that all glory is His.

Having completed the study of the New Testament books of the Bible, we now turn to the Old Testament for a brief analysis of each of the books, especially seeking to understand the unique place of each book within the collection of all sixty-six. In this article we begin by way of introduction to summarize a few of the unique features of the Old Testament Scriptures.