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Spiritual Disciplines of the Early Church: Ancient Practices for the 21st Century

...alter end pointing Eastward. For it is required that you pray toward the east, as knowing that which is written: ‘Give ye glory to God, who rideth upon the heaven of heavens toward the east’ (Ps 67.34 LXX [Ps. 68:33 – 34]). Didascalia, Ch. XII (c.250) The various spiritual benefits to fasting are marked throughout the Church Fathers' works on the subject, but I find this quote from Augustine sums it up succinctly: “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter a...

BOOK REVIEW: Four Views on Hell 2nd edition

..., further pointing out the Protestant tradition of belief in pre-mortem sanctification in this life or, at the latest, on the point of death (e.g. Wesley, Hodge). Parry has more time for Walls, allowing for some flexibility of interpretation: “Scripture itself does not directly teach purgatory, so the proposal is of necessity speculative. Nevertheless, it can still claim to be biblical in an extended sense. It is an inference from and extension of ideas taught in Scripture (e.g. the eschatological trial by fire for believers in Malachi 3:3 and 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).”67 Parry then draws the distinction between CU and purgatory, as tradition distinguishe...

Who is the New Jerusalem?

...s worth pointing out here that if the New Jerusalem really is a literal city on a brand new planet Earth, after the judgement etc. – then who are the people outside of it?   There is one passage in Revelation which talks about reigning on Earth, though. But it isn’t Jesus doing it, not physically at least. Revelation 5:10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.   Who are the “they” mentioned in this verse? All those who were “redeemed for God by [Jesus’] blood” (Rev 5:9, cf. Rev 1:6)! This is also a fulfillment of what Daniel foresaw in his visions: Daniel 7:18 But the holy ones of the Mos...

Lent: Day 9 - Ignatius to the Philadelphians

...n more by pointing out that, “the Gospel possesses something transcendent [above the former dispensation]” and that is: “the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ” along with his death and resurrection. The “prophets announced Him, but the Gospel is the perfection of immortality” and so, why would we need anything more? Judaism pointed the way to the Gospel and to the Messiah, but now that his appearance has been made known, the old is superseded by the new. As the writer of Hebrews says; Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of “a new covenant,” he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear. This was writt...

Does The UN Statue Resemble The End Times Beast From Daniel And Revelation?

...eople are pointing out the phrase, “like a lion” due to the similarities of the animals. But these details are really besides the point. The first, and most obvious point to me when I first saw this was that the “beasts” in Daniel 7 (all four of them) are representative of nations and kings. The visions Daniel has are about future kingdoms and their leaders. You only need to read the rest of the chapter to see this, as the angel with Daniel gives the interpretation to him! See below: Daniel 7:16–17I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: “As...

Palm Sunday and the End Times

...arable is pointing to the departure of Jesus (the king) who leaves his servants in charge (his disciples then and now) while he goes to receive “royal power for himself” (v.12) and has a delayed return in which he will slaughter those who opposed his kingship once he is back (v.27). This leads into the “Palm Sunday” day of Jesus coming as a rightful king and then later being rejected and leaving to receive his authority: (v.12) So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant region to receive royal power for himself and then return. This ties into Daniel 7 when the Son of Man (Jesus) goes to the Father (the “Ancient One”) and is given authority and a...