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The Coming of Jesus: Revelation Fulfilled?

...suffering persecution at the time of writing: Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.   Both of these Roman Emperors persecuted the Christians, though none quite so severely as Nero did. There’s varying accounts of when Revelation was penned by John. I won’t spend too much time on this as many, many others have wrote books on the topic of dating, so I’ll just give a brief overview of both sides of the argument.   One of the earliest accounts mentioning a possible early date f...

26 Differences Between Muhammad and Jesus

...s no more persecution and religion is only for Allah” (Qur’an 8:39)  ? Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) Muhammad ordered the brutal murder of a half-blind man (al-Tabari 1440)  ? Jesus healed a blind man (John 9:13–15) Muhammad ordered a slave to build the very pulpit from which he preached Islam (Bukhari 47:743).  ? Jesus was a servant and even washed his disciple’s feet (John 13:5) What are the Greatest Commandments? Muhammad’s answer: “Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause” (Muslim 1:149; Sahih al-Bukhari 36)  ? What are the Greatest Commandments? Jesus’ ans...

Implications Of The Frankfurt Silver Amulet: Insights Into Early Christian Practice And Belief

...times of persecution. However, the invocation of St. Titus in the “Frankfurt Silver Inscription” predates these later developments by over a century, suggesting that the practice of seeking the intercession or spiritual protection of saints may have roots earlier than traditionally believed. This discovery contrasts with historical accounts that identify the late 3rd and early 4th centuries as the period when such practices began to gain prominence within the wider Christian community. As such, the amulet not only sheds light on early Christian devotion but also challenges prevailing assumptions about the origins and development of saintly veneration. I...

Lent Day 29: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 81-94

...foresees persecution At one time while Anthony was working, he fell into a trance with loud groans and trembling. Those with him “trembling and terrified, desired to learn from him what it was” that he saw, and after a while, Anthony explained that persecution was coming upon the Church from the Arian heretics. Athanasius interjects here to say that two years after Anthony saw these things, the “plunder of the churches took place, when [the Arians] violently carried off the vessels” from the churches along with “the heathens” who they also conscripted to help them. But Anthony encouraged his brothers and told them that things would be put right and...

Google, Jesus and Artificial Intelligence

...You may have seen the videos and articles being shared around social media lately about Google's new voice-activated digital assistant, Google Home, not knowing who Jesus is. Shock, horror — right? No. It's just more faux outrage and fuel for America's persecution complex. I mean, so what? Google isn't a Christian run company, they have no obligation to Christ or the Church. Why are we letting something like this bother us so much? It's just another thing in the ever growing list of things-to-be-mad-about-that-don't-really-matter on social media. Where is our faith rooted? What is the foundation and rock upon which we stand? Is it in how well a 'smart speak...

Lent Day 18: Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 1-9

...Day Eighteen: St. Cyprian: On the Unity of the Church: 1-9 Who: Third century bishop of Carthage (in modern Tunisia), and martyr from Africa What: A letter to encourage the unity of the church against schisms and heresy during massive Roman persecution Why: A disturbance had happened in the church because of a priest called Novatian — a schismatic of the third century, and founder of the sect of the Novatians. Cyprian wrote to counter this and argues that there can only be one united Church, and the Novatian breakaway was a false church and that Novatian was an antipope.When: Around 249 AD You can find today’s reading on page 92 here: lentfatherscomplete...