Posts Tagged ‘figurative language’
Are the plagues in Revelation literal?
Question: While much is figurative in Revelation, are the plagues that John sees in his visions literal? Did those things actually happen at some point? Answer: A better question is why select the plagues to be literal in a book filled with symbolism and figurative language? What indications are there that these should be treated…
Read MoreTypes and Their Abuse
by Jerry C. Ray The Gospel Guardian, 5 January 1961 and 12 January 1961 Webster’s Dictionary defines type as “a person or thing regarded as the symbol of someone or something that is yet to appear.” The word “type” (Greek — tupos) is from the Greek word, tuptein — to strike, as when a hammer…
Read MoreSymbolism in Revelation
by Hugh DeLong As you are reading through Revelation, one of the things that should be abundantly evident is that the book is not about literal events. We see dragons with tails able to knock a third of the stars of heaven onto the earth (and yet the earth not only survives but is only…
Read MoreHard Sayings
Hard Sayings – Part 1Hard Sayings – Part 2 Text: Hebrews 5:5-14 I. There are hard sayings in the Bible A. When Jesus was followed by a crowd looking for free food, he began explaining that they needed to seek spiritual food that only he could offer – John 6:35 1. Eventually Jesus said something hard to…
Read MoreThe Sabbath as a Type
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Sabbath-as-a-Type.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 4:1-11 I. Paul, in arguing that the Old Law was not in effect, concluded – Colossians 2:16-17 A. There were reasons why the Israelites were to worship as they did. Their worship foreshadowed both things in the Christian age and in the age to come – heaven B. This is…
Read MoreIs the bread Jesus’ body or does it represent Jesus’ body?
Question: Good morning. I have looked at your site for many years and have found the devotion and the knowledge skill set to be very helpful, in my walk of life with God. Thank you. So often, in the Lord’s Supper, the men presiding will say, “which represents His body” and “which represents His blood”…
Read MoreHow could Peter say that God has given us everything through the Bible prior to the Bible’s completion?
Question: Was the New Testament written prior to A.D. 70? I realize scholars claim the book of revelation was written around A.D. 95, but if that were so, does it pertain to life and godliness? I Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and…
Read MoreMust Christians wear white?
Question: I have a question after reading an article online. It seems to indicate the proper dress code must be white because Christians wearing white clothing is a sign of purity. So it is sinful for men to wear black clothing on services on Sunday? Is a black shirt or trousers immodest and wrong? Answer:…
Read MoreIs Obadiah saying that man would live among the stars?
Question: On your website is a question about “What does the Bible say about man inhabiting space?” Wouldn’t that include man living on other planets and their moons? I think Obadiah 1:4 in the New King James Version says it all: “‘Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest…
Read MoreThe Misunderstood Jesus
by Doy Moyer Understanding people is often difficult. What do they mean? How are they using phrases? Are they being literal or figurative, or both? In person, we can ask and clarify, but when we are reading what others said, we can easily misinterpret because we are not hearing the inflections or seeing their gestures.…
Read MoreMust the Old Testament be taken as symbolic?
Question: Hello! I’m a former atheist who recently found God again, but I have one thing I’m really struggling to get, and that is how I can weave together science and the Bible, in particular the Old Testament. I have, after reading different approaches, personally come to the conclusion that it must be read as…
Read MoreDoes ‘this form of doctrine’ in Romans 6:17 refers to a type?
Question: Good day, Does ‘this form of doctrine’ in Romans 6:17 refers to a type? This means things we do now will only get their true meaning in heaven. Answer: Good to hear from you! “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that…
Read MoreFigures of Speech
Figures of Speech – Part 1Figures of Speech – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 13:10-17 I. A common confusion in reading the Bible is understanding text when figures of speech are used A. A bit odd because all languages of men contain figures of speech, so you think that people would be used to…
Read MoreWhy was Jerusalem compared to Sodom?
Question: I have questions about the book of Ezekiel. Why does God refer to Jerusalem as Sodom in various verses in Ezekiel 16? Did Jerusalem become as bad or worse than Sodom was, but God did not destroy them because of his promise to Abraham? Homosexual activists always cite this chapter as “evidence” that God…
Read MoreWhen Jesus said he didn’t know the day or hour of his return, was he speaking in hyperbole?
Question: In Mark 13:32, it says that “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” During our Bible study, somebody said that Jesus really does not know the day of His return. Is this true? Can we take this…
Read MoreWhen the Israelites said the giants made them feel like grasshoppers, was this an exaggeration?
Question: In Numbers 13:33, how could there have been giants that made them feel like the size of grasshoppers? Or is this just a figure of speech or are they just exaggerating? Answer: “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight,…
Read MoreHow do we know that one day equals a year in Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks?
Question: I understand how they came up with the 483 years in Daniel 9, but how do we know from scripture that the 69 weeks is supposed to mean 69 weeks of seven years? Why do they do this or are they just figuring this backward and then saying well it must have meant years…
Read MoreCan you explain Zechariah 13:1-5? I don’t see how it talks about the ending of prophecy and demons
Question: Could you explain to me the passage in Zechariah 13 where it talks about the prophets, the idols, and the unclean spirit? Because if God removed the unclean spirit, why is the devil still here tempting Christians? And what does “from the land of Israel” mean? Is it actually the place Israel or is…
Read MoreShould we always understand a passage literally?
Question: I have a friend who told me that, when we read Bible, if it is possible for us to do so, we should take it literally, but I do not think it is always the case. For example, in Matthew 6:17, Jesus said we should “anoint your head” when we fast, but I do…
Read MoreWhy did Jesus say to let the dead bury the dead?
Question: When I read Matthew 8:21-22, I felt quite confused. It says ” And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” What does this mean? I think “honor your parents” is…
Read MoreIs the reference to a new earth given so we can understand heaven better?
Question: The new heaven and the new earth in Revelation is being taken literally by my friend. I know it’s referring to the spiritual earth. My grandson and I studied this scripture last night (Revelation 21:1-2). He brought up the fact that in Rome, the Christians were oppressed and God is promising them, in this…
Read MoreWas Mark Peter’s son?
Question: In I Peter 5:13 Peter said, “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus, my son.” Since Peter was married, could Marcus be his son? Answer: It wasn’t unusual for preachers who worked closely with younger men, who would eventually succeed them, to refer to them…
Read MoreBiblical Figures of Speech: Ellipsis
Text: Galatians 4:21-31 I. In our everyday speech, we employ figures of speech constantly and rarely think about what we are doing. A. Figures of speech are important tools because they make points standout in a statement. B. When we recognize that a figure of speech in use, it helps us understand what is being said more…
Read MoreWhat is the significance of the number 40?
Question: What is the significance of the number forty in the Bible? In my reading, I have notice numbers to be very significant. For example, the twelve Israelites went to search out the promised land and it took them 40 days, but because of their bad report, they spent the next 40 years in the…
Read MoreDoes Psalm 58:3 show that at least some children are born sinful?
Question: Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. I looked up in one concordance what “estranged” means: to be strange, be a stranger (Qal) to become estranged strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle) loathsome (of breath) (participle) strange woman, prostitute, harlot…
Read MoreFigurative Speech: “The Kingdom Is Like …”
by Robert Turner Plain Talk, vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 4-5–December 1976 Is the church (God’s people) the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:23); or is it like (in some respects) a “body,” and since He is “head over” these people, therefore like the body of Christ? Are we literally His hands, feet, etc? Or are we figuratively…
Read MoreIs God referred to as Satan?
Question: Is God referred to as Satan in II Samuel 24:1 and I Chronicles 21:1? Also, is Satan referred to as angel in Numbers 22:22, 32? Please help me explain these verses. Answer: “Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and…
Read MoreWhy does Revelation 5:1-6 contain changing symbols?
Question: Can you please help me with this question? Can you please explain the reversal of images and transformation of symbols, such as a slain Lamb appearing right after the proclamation that a Lion is worthy to open the scroll (Revelation 5:1-6)? Answer: “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on…
Read MoreThe mistranslation of “Jesus” is the 666 in Revelation
Question: Does it mean that the verb “count” in Revelation 13:18 must be ignored? Does it mean that the counting operation in Revelation 13:18 leads to no result at all? I have found that if you assign numeric values to the alphabet from 1 to 26, then Iesvs (74) + Jesus (74) + Joshua (74) + Messiah (74) =…
Read MoreTypes Seen in the Tabernacle and Temple
by Michael Hatcher Taken from “John 9:31″ in Defender, November 2004 The physical structures of the Tabernacle and the Temple were typifying the spiritual aspects of the New Testament system (Hebrews 8-10). God gave specific instructions as to the making of these structures, and the Israelites were to follow the pattern God gave them (Exodus 25:40).…
Read MoreThe Needle’s Eye
by Irvin Himmel A rich young ruler came running to Jesus and, kneeling before the Master, posed the question, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus called attention to some of the basic commands of the law. The young man answered, “Master, all these have I observed from my…
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