by Stuart | 21 Dec 2016 | Blog
As you consider the many ancient prophecies of Christmas, certain themes blend together. We have seen, for example, that several messianic prophecies highlight the justice that Messiah would bring. Several focus on the peace that Messiah would bring. Another common...
by Stuart | 19 Dec 2016 | Blog
The last three articles in the ancient Christmas series have focused on Isaiah’s prophecy. Around the same time that Isaiah ministered to Judah, a lesser known prophet ministered in the small Jewish town of Moresheth, some 35km south of Jerusalem. Though less famous...
by Stuart | 17 Dec 2016 | Blog
As we continue tracing the prophecies of an ancient Christmas, I trust you have noticed that the prophecies tend to arise in response to crisis. God first helps his people to see their deep need of his help before he gives the various prophecies we have been...
by Stuart | 16 Dec 2016 | Blog
In the previous article in this series, we considered Isaiah’s prophecy of the virgin. The background to that prophecy will prove helpful here, too, for Isaiah delivered this prophecy likely during the reign of the same king: Ahaz. As we noted previously, Isaiah...
by Stuart | 13 Dec 2016 | Blog
Throughout the Bible, God’s promises frequently appear against the backdrop of deep darkness. It is usually in the midst of our gloom that the rays of divine hope shine brightest. That is what we have seen so far in our series on an ancient Christmas. It was when Adam...
by Stuart | 11 Dec 2016 | Blog
The prophet Isaiah ministered to Judah around six hundred years before Christ. His ministry spanned the reigns of at least four Judean kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Three of those kings were godly, but Ahaz was a particularly despicable character. Second...
