The standard histories of Zionism have depicted it almost exclusively as a Jewish political movement, one in which Christians do not appear except as antagonists. In the highly original Zeal for Zion, Shalom Goldman makes the case for a wider and m
The inability of American society to tolerate the peculiar institutions embraced by Mormons was one of the major events in the religious history of nineteenth-century America. Zion in the Courts explores one aspect of this collision between the Mormons and the mainstream: the Mormons' efforts to establish their own court system--one appropriate to the distinctive political, social, and economic practices they envisioned as Zion--and the pressures applied by the federal legal system to bring them to heel. This first paperback edition includes two new introductory pieces in which the authors discuss the Mormon emphasis on settling disputes outside the court, a practice that foreshadows current trends toward arbitration and mediation.
Establishing Zion: Preparing the Earth for the Return of Jesus Christ is a review of all the Zion societies that have been attempted and/or achieved since the Zion of Enoch. This includes the Zion of Enoch, the Zion of Melchizedek, the attempted Zion of Moses, the Zion of the early Christian Church, and the Zion achieved by the Nephites in the New World. The book then discusses the attempt in our own last days to establish a Zion society in anticipation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. The essential characteristics of a Zion society, such as the Law of Consecration, are described, along with a review of the efforts of the Latter-day Saints to establish such a community. Finally, the book describes the eventual triumph of Zion at Jerusalem and New Jerusalem, along with the return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign in these celestial cities. The cover features a beautiful image of the New Jerusalem descending through the clouds of glory.
Imagine what might happen if the solid foundation of what you believe suddenly begins to shake... That’s exactly what happened to Lisa Brockman, a six-generation Mormon with lineage tracing back to the early church. In college, Lisa found herself challenged to defend her faith, and the beliefs she knew to be true began to unravel. In Out of Zion, Lisa shares her journey of discovering the biblical Jesus and the key conversations that led her from the faith of her ancestors to conversion to Christianity. If you have reached a place of questioning what you believe, or you long for confidence to share your faith with others, Lisa provides the framework you need to… understand the nuances of the history and evolution of Mormon culture learn to identify the vital differences between the Mormon and biblical plans of salvation compassionately engage in conversation with your Mormon friends and neighbors As you follow the evolution of Lisa’s faith, you will face the same challenge to defend what you believe and, ultimately, learn to share the gospel effectively with others.
For three thousand years Jerusalem has held a special place in the hearts of Jews and Christians. More than any other site in the Bible, Jerusalem signifies God's judgment and hope. It is the focus of much of the Old Testament, and acquaintance with this background is essential for understanding the importance of the city in Jesus' time, in our own age, and in the prophecies of the world to come.
Many Bible believing Christians are convinced that God blesses those nations that stand with Israel and curses those that don’t. This belief has had a significant influence on attitudes towards the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. Claims made in books like the Scofield Reference Bible and Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth have fed into contemporary Christian Zionism, with radical implications for how we view our faith and the world in which we live. Stephen Sizer contends that this view is based on misinterpretation of the Bible. He provides an introduction to Christian Zionism and a clear response and positive alternative based on a careful study of relevant biblical texts. His intention is to encourage dialogue on the relationship between Israel and the Christian church and offer a more constructive view of the future and our role in it. This accessible volume includes numerous tables and diagrams, questions for Bible study and further reflection, and a glossary of terms. It concludes with a previously unpublished sermon by John Stott on ‘The Place of Israel.’
The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections: Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible. Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved. This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.
Passing on is simply the separation of the natural body from the spirit. The natural body returns to dust and the spirit joins the spirit world. Indigenous peoples, including Batswana and their descendants, Bapedi, two ethnic groups in South Africa with which the author has blood links, believe that when the separation occurs the spirit then joins the spirit world. This is where everybody who passes on goes to. A reading of the Bible reveals in the book of Genesis that the fathers also knew this fact, and it is recorded in their passing on that they joined their kin. The true person being the spirit, which simply resides within the natural body, is not restricted by the grave in its power to communicate once the person leaves the natural body. There is no basis why a spirit still resident within a natural body cannot communicate with a spirit which has joined the spirit world. The only Biblical condition is that there must be discerment of whether the spirit spoken to is a good spirit or a bad spirit. The book seeks to explain the knowledge systems of the Indigenous people and seeks to demonstrate that the thinking, in general, that Indigenous knowlegde is inferior, unBiblical or UnChristain can no longer be sustained. This is done through scriptural references. An explanation is also given of some practices, traditions and the hierarchical organogram of Indigenous Churches in South Africa through scriptures. Indigenous Churches are generally excluded and as a result do not generally engage in discusions and as a result they are most often misrepresented by the main body of Christ. The chapters are an exposition of what is Zion, who and what is a leader in Zion terms, the ecclesiastical polity or leadership hierarchy and/or organogram of the church, what is a family unit, creating my future my way, a discussion of the rift within the body of Christ as it relates to Zion and the church's dress code.
Dr. Paul Caram writes an inspirational commentary on the book of Acts, showing how it is a divine account of a new move of God. The Lord had come to give life to those who were new wine skins and built His church upon the foundation of the Apostles of the Lamb. Dr. Caram also describes how we as believers are to be a part of the move of God in establishing His Kingdom here on earth and how it is Christ's church that will do the "greater works" because He has gone to His Father and sent us His Holy Spirit.
A Study Guide and a Teacher’s Manual Gospel Principles was written both as a personal study guide and as a teacher’s manual. As you study it, seeking the Spirit of the Lord, you can grow in your understanding and testimony of God the Father, Jesus Christand His Atonement, and the Restoration of the gospel. You can find answers to life’s questions, gain an assurance of your purpose and self-worth, and face personal and family challenges with faith.