There are many misunderstandings about universal reconciliation, both among opponents and proponents. Universal reconciliation is the view that God will ultimately reconcile all people — and, in a broader sense, all of creation — to Himself, through the work of… Lees verder
As we saw in 1 Corinthians 15:22, in Adam all die and in Christ all are made alive. Romans 5:18 expresses this same principle, encompassing all people, but approaches it from the perspective of condemnation and justification. Romans 5 GES18… Lees verder
I want to conclude this series of blogs by mentioning a number of Scriptures that present us with a true gospel, that is, good news. This message is largely unknown in the Christian world, mainly because people lack insight into… Lees verder
In the previous blog post, we considered the meaning of aeonian judgment and related terms, such as aeonian punishment. In many translations, these expressions are rendered as “eternal judgment” and “eternal punishment,” which assumes a judgment or punishment without end.… Lees verder
Several expressions in Scripture contain the word aionios, the adjective of aion. An incorrect reading or translation of these texts creates a hopeless picture, because the age-bound is then interpreted as endless. Eternal fire, punishment, and judgmentAn example of such… Lees verder
“Aeonian times” are successive periods of aeons. In the Bible, these periods are distinguished because God fulfills His “purpose of the aeons” in them (Eph. 3:11). In other words, God works out His plan of salvation in the aeons. Different… Lees verder
The Greek word aion means age and should therefore be rendered consistently. Translations with words like “world” or “eternity” are incorrect and cannot be a consistent rendering of aion. That translators have been aware of this is evident from the… Lees verder
In the previous blog post, I showed that aion does not mean “world,” but an era. The translation “world” eliminates the temporal aspect and thus obscures the view of God’s actions in the successive aeons and of His plan of… Lees verder
If the Bible teaches that the unbeliever will go to “eternal destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9) or “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2), it is crucial whether this refers to a period of time with a beginning and an end, or rather to… Lees verder
In the closing verses of Gideon’s story, we read that Gideon dies and the people fall back into idolatry. From Judges 9 onward, the story of Gideon’s son Abimelech is described, marking a new low point in the history of… Lees verder
The refrain in the book of Judges is that the people did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, meaning that they served other gods (Judg. 2:11; 3:7). This is how the story of Gideon begins (6:1) and… Lees verder
Gideon made the ephod from the gold of victory and placed it in Ophrah. What happens next is often misunderstood in many commentaries. The text is often read as if Gideon had seduced the people into a form of worship… Lees verder
In the verses describing Gideon making an ephod, we find many details with hidden meanings. For example, the weight of the collected gold is explicitly mentioned: seventeen hundred shekels. Commentaries usually convert this to about twenty kilos, but this misses… Lees verder
Earlier, we saw that Gideon was to tear down the altar of Baal and Asherah and build a new altar to the LORD in the same place, using the materials from the old sanctuary (6:25-26). Here he takes the religious… Lees verder
The story of Gideon is primarily known for the sheepskin on the threshing floor and, of course, that of his band of 300 men with jars and torches. The last passage, which we are now concerned with, may be less… Lees verder
The story continues with a conversation between Gideon and the two kings of Midian: Zebah and Zalmunna. This conversation reveals that these kings killed Gideon’s brothers, something not previously described in the story. Judges 818 Then he said to Zebah… Lees verder
The victory is complete, because Gideon has captured the two kings of Midian. After this triumph, Gideon returns to Succoth and Penuel, the places where he could not find food for his hungry men and where he was mocked. Judges… Lees verder
Gideon and his army pursued the Midianites, intending to capture the two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. The following account reveals that the two kings felt safe where they had sought refuge. Judges 810 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor,… Lees verder
After the episode with the men of Ephraim, we now have a new window into history. Gideon pursues the Midianites, because he also wants to capture the two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. However, he encounters considerable opposition along the way.… Lees verder
We now enter the final chapter of Gideon’s story, and this section is relatively unknown. The battle has been fought, and we find a description of the aftermath of the victory, a kind of epilogue. Perhaps this is why it… Lees verder
In the previous blog post, we saw that the two rulers of Midian were captured and killed. Oreb was killed on the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb in the winepress of Zeeb. They were likely given these names after this… Lees verder
What remained of the Midianite army fled, and Gideon first called upon all the men from the tribes of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh to pursue them. Then he also called upon the men of Ephraim to cut off the fleeing… Lees verder
The confrontation between Gideon and his small army and the Midianites in the Valley of Jezreel points to the future end-time battle prophesied to take place in the Valley of Megiddo, which is called Armageddon in Revelation. Har means mountain;… Lees verder
Gideon’s 300 men smashed their jars and held torches in one hand and ram’s horns in the other, blowing them. They shouted, “The sword for YAHWEH and for Gideon!” That’s enough! Judges 721 And they stood, every man in his… Lees verder
Gideon and his army are a type of Christ and the ecclesia, which will appear in the future: the revelation of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19). When the vessels are broken, what was hidden is revealed, and the light… Lees verder