Struggle is good.
Month: August 2025
Bible 101:2 – How We Got The Bible
In this second short episode in the Bible 101 series from Bible Rebel, we continue the discussion of how we got the Bible
Is the Bible just another book written by men a long time ago? Or is it more than that?
You can watch the 10-part Bible 101 series on YouTube here.
Bible 101:1 – How We Got The Bible
This is the first episode in the Bible 101 series from Bible Rebel.
Is the Bible just another book written by men a long time ago? Or is it more than that?
In this first brief episode we begin the discussion.
You can watch the 10-part Bible 101 series on YouTube here.
Watchdog Alert: Latest From The Middle East
Bible Rebel continues to keep a watchdog’s eye on events in the Middle East. That is not to say that we are watching for any fulfillment of biblical prophecy there, we keep our eyes and ears open to news that affects people of faith from every region around the world.
The Holy Land is of particular interest for three reasons:
- It is a geographical crossroads, referred to by some the “Center of the Earth”.
- It is also the historical birthplace of the two largest religions of the world; Christianity and Islam, as well as the ‘Father’ of both those religions – Judaism.
- It is of major military and strategic importance because of oil production and logistics.
Are the biblical prophecies focusing on geographical locations in the Middle East, especially in and around current-day Israel, relevant to the Church in our times today?
Or will those prophecies only come to pass and be revealed in some future time after the destiny of the Church has been realized? This is a subject Bible Rebel will be exploring in some depth going forward. Stay tuned.
For now, here’s the latest from the Middle East.
Provocation at Al‑Aqsa & Deepening Gaza Crisis
Date: August 3, 2025
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir visited and prayed at the al‑Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, flouting long‑standing religious protocols. His actions were condemned by Palestinian authorities, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia as a serious provocation. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is intensifying: 119 Palestinians were reported killed in the past 24 hours, raising the overall death toll in the Israel‑Gaza war to over 60,800—including 175 hunger-related deaths (93 were children). Israeli forces reportedly killed 27 Palestinians at food‑aid sites, and a Palestine Red Crescent staff member was among those killed.
From The Guardian
U.S. Envoy Inspects Aid Sites Amid Accusations of ‘Bloodbaths’
Date: August 1–2, 2025
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff—on his first visit to Gaza since the war began—inspected aid operations run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Rafah. The United Nations had rejected collaborating with GHF, warning that distribution sites had become unsafe and were linked to over 1,000 deaths—many due to Israeli military action. Witkoff aimed to develop a new aid strategy, calling the situation a severe humanitarian crisis.
From Reuters
Hamas Denies Readiness to Disarm Amid Diplomatic Tensions
Date: August 2, 2025
Hamas has rejected U.S. envoy Witkoff’s statements suggesting they were willing to disarm. The group criticized his visit as a “staged show,” aimed at misleading the international community. Since May, over 1,300 Palestinians have died near GHF-run aid sites due to violence, prompting concerns about the organization’s operations. Parallel to these developments, France and the UK have indicated possible recognition of a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not meet conditions including a ceasefire, as supported by EU and Arab League resolutions.
From Al Jazeera
Hostage Footage Sparks Outcry and Urgency for Ceasefire
Date: August 3, 2025
Hamas released new footage showing Israeli hostages in visibly emaciated condition, triggering widespread outrage and renewed calls for urgent action. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Tel Aviv and publicly expressed support for hostage families, advocating for a ceasefire.
From Deutsche Welle
Rethinking The Rapture: Send In The Clouds?
R.T. France’s interpretation of the “Son of Man coming in clouds”
R.T. France, who passed away in 2012, was a respected New Testament scholar and commentator who interpreted Mark 13:26 and Mark 14:62 as references not to a future, visible second coming of Jesus, but to His heavenly vindication and enthronement, drawing heavily on Daniel 7:13 and the literary/theological context of Jewish apocalyptic imagery.
Following is a summary, enhanced by Mr. AI, of France’s view.
Mark 13:26 – “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”
- France’s View: This is not a literal, visible return of Jesus to earth.
- He argues that Jesus is drawing on Daniel 7:13, where the Son of Man comes on the clouds to God (the Ancient of Days)—not to earth.
- Therefore, this “coming” is not about return, but about the transfer of authority and the vindication of Jesus after His suffering and death.
- “They will see” should be understood figuratively, meaning people (particularly those who rejected Jesus) will recognize the consequences of His vindicated status, especially through:
- The destruction of the temple (A.D. 70),
- The spread of the gospel,
- And the judgment upon Jerusalem.
🔹 “The ‘coming’ of the Son of Man in clouds is an enthronement scene, not a return-to-earth scene.”
— R.T. France, The Gospel of Mark, NICNT (2002)
Mark 14:62 – “…you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
- France sees this as a prophetic declaration of vindication, spoken directly to the high priest and the Sanhedrin.
- The phrase “seated at the right hand of Power” implies divine authority, referring to Psalm 110:1.
- “Coming with the clouds” again echoes Daniel 7:13, but not in the sense of descending from heaven. Instead, it describes Jesus’ ascension to divine status and authority.
- The Sanhedrin would “see” this through the events that followed: Jesus’ resurrection, the birth of the church, and the judgment on Jerusalem.
🔹 “Jesus’ response is a claim not of eventual return, but of imminent exaltation… a challenge to those who are about to condemn Him.”
— R.T. France, The Gospel of Mark, NICNT
Summary of France’s Key Points
| Phrase | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| “Coming on the clouds” | Danielic imagery of heavenly exaltation, not return |
| “They will see” | Figurative: people will recognize the implications of Jesus’ divine authority |
| Mark 13:26 | Public vindication of Jesus as the Son of Man, seen through judgment and gospel progress |
| Mark 14:62 | A warning to the high priest: the one they condemn will soon be exalted over them |
Rethinking The Rapture: Introduction
Rethinking The Rapture: Questions
Rethinking The Rapture: More Questions
Rethinking The Rapture: N.T. Wright’s ‘Farewell to the Rapture’
Rethinking The Rapture: What 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Doesn’t Say
Rethinking The Rapture: Millions Of Christians Were Not Delivered From Wrath
Rethinking The Rapture: What Does ‘Delivered From Wrath’ Mean?
Rethinking The Rapture: What Does ‘Delivered From Wrath’ Mean? Part 2
Rethinking The Rapture: In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Rethinking The Rapture: Matthew 24:40-42
Rethinking The Rapture: N.T. Wright’s ‘Farewell to the Rapture’ Redux
They Said It: Quotes About The Apostle Paul
They Said It is a regular feature from Bible Rebel, highlighting quotes from various folks on various topics of interest and relevance to our readers. Here are some memorable quotes about the Apostle Paul – the one from Thomas Jefferson is especially interesting.
Martin Luther (German Reformer):
“The epistles of Paul are the clearest gospel of all. He deals with the true essentials of Christian doctrine with such simplicity, clarity, and depth that they must be treasured above all other writings.”
John Chrysostom (4th-century Church Father):
“Put the whole world on one side of the scale, and you will see that the soul of Paul outweighs it.”
David Hume (Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, skeptic of religion):
“The conversion of Paul… is a strong proof of the truth of Christianity.”
(Paraphrased from his Essay on Miracles, where he acknowledges Paul’s radical transformation as a historical argument worth serious consideration.)
Thomas Jefferson (3rd U.S. President):
“Paul was the first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus.”
(From a letter to William Short, 1820. Jefferson admired Jesus’ moral teachings but believed Paul distorted them with dogma.)